The Cleveland Browns have signed defensive end Alex Wright with a new three-year, $33 million contract extension, locking him in through the 2028 season. The deal, confirmed Thursday by agents Drew Rosenhaus and Shawn O’Dare, includes $21 million guaranteed and prevents the 25-year-old from reaching unrestricted free agency this offseason.

Over his first 46 NFL games, Wright has tallied 85 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, nine sacks, seven passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two recoveries, showing steady development each season.

Wright, a third-round pick in 2022 out of UAB, has become a key contributor along Cleveland’s defensive front. Through nine games this year, he has recorded three sacks, nine tackles for loss and a forced fumble, despite missing Week 10 with a quad injury. His three sacks rank third on the team behind Myles Garrett and Maliek Collins.

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz highlighted that growth in late October, praising Wright’s expanded role opposite Garrett. “He’s playing with great effort,” Schwartz said back in October. “He’s a factor in pass rush. He’s such a big guy, long, he can affect the passer in a lot of different ways. He’s playing really physical run defense. There’s a lot to like there.”

Cleveland (2-8) faces the Las Vegas Raiders (2-8) on Sunday.

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