Last year, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry took a chance on defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, a player who had battled injuries. And the NFL rumors would seem to indicate he will make his way back to Cleveland.
Though he was only a rotational player last year, the chance paid off as Hurst made several big plays over the season. Hurst was able to stay fresh, come off the bench, and pressure the quarterback plenty with an impressive 14.1 percent pass rush win rate. Being able to turn to players like Hurst off the bench helped Jim Schwartz keep his players fresh late into games to seal victories.
Though his season ended early with injury, the Browns’ decision to sign him back to a one-year deal worth $3.2 million was a no-brainer. When you have a defensive line that was so disruptive and dominant at times, you should make sure you keep the key players responsible for that.
Stay tuned into BrownsWire as we cover the NFL free agency period with the new league year just around the corner.
