Anthony Zettel is the newest member of the Browns. Cleveland claimed the third-year defensive end from the Detroit Lions after that team waived him on Wednesday.

What exactly are the Browns getting in Zettel?

As managing editor of the Lions Wire, I’ve seen every snap Zettel has played in his two years, as well as every preseason rep. Most of those plays I’ve seen more than once. Here’s my skinny scouting report on the 26-year-old, 265-pound DE.

Strengths

Non-stop motor and hustle

Decent hands and upper body strength

Good tackler, quick to wrap and drop his weight

Crashes inside as a pass rusher from the 7-9 DE technique well

Disengages from blocks in run defense

Weaknesses

Not a natural pass rusher or creator of pressures

Limited, linear athlete

Poor spatial awareness and recognition

Production came in short burst

Zettel played opposite recently released Browns DE Carl Nassib during their days at Penn State. They are not similar athletes or styles of players, however. Where Nassib was more of an edge-setter and power-oriented player, Zettel is more of a disengage-and-pursue defender.

That is especially true against the run, and it’s also one of the biggest reasons he’s not in Detroit anymore. Zettel’s inability to hold his containment responsibility was a bigger problem for the Lions, who don’t have the reliable linebacking corps behind him to cover his mistakes.

The Browns do have that in Christian Kirksey, Jamie Collins and Joe Schobert. Jabrill Peppers and Derrick Kindred can help too.

His 6.5 sacks in 2017 look nicer on paper than they did on the field. Four of those came in the first four weeks. He had just one-half sack in the final seven games. His last solo sack came at the expense of Shon Coleman in their meeting with the Browns. Outside of the 4-in-4 flurry to start 2017, Zettel bagged just 2.5 sacks in his other 25.

Zettel was a schematic misfit in Detroit, which changed defenses from a base 4-3 to a hybrid 3-man front. The change forced him to play more in space and negated his best asset as a pass rusher, his ability to quickly get leverage and then disengage working to his inside shoulder. He did not have the bulk or lower-body strength to kick inside, not even in packages. If the Browns expect that from Zettel, they’ll be disappointed.

He’s not as good of a pass rusher or athlete as ex-Browns Nate Orchard. He also doesn’t offer much on special teams. What he does offer is the ability to clean up plays generated by more talented teammates, and Zettel is pretty good in that kind of rotational reserve role.