Olivier Vernon put some serious pressure on Chicago QB Chase Daniel during this game from December, 2018. (Elsa, Getty Images)

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- John Dorsey wants four pass rushers on the field at all times. The Browns took significant steps toward that goal today.

With the trade of guard Kevin Zeitler to the Giants for edge rusher Olivier Vernon, the Browns have strengthened a defensive line that needed to be addressed both inside and out before the 2019 season.

Just last week there appeared to be options available on the open market to rush the passer, but the best names were all swept away with the annual franchise tag and the Browns were left with an abundance of second- and third-tier options. None of whom can provide the type of three-down ability the likes of Vernon can provide.

Vernon began his career with the Miami Dolphins out of Miami (Fla.). Establishing himself quickly as one of the league's more complete ends, Vernon was one of the biggest names in free agency before the 2016 season, and signed with New York for $85 million over five years with $52.8 million guaranteed.

While his sack production hasn't quite matched the dollar figure, Vernon handles all duties of the edge position.

Let's take a look at what Vernon does well, and some of the issues he has faced in his seven-year career.

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Setting the edge

While Vernon isn't known for his ability to dominate the run game, he is an ample player holding down the edge against outside zone schemes. You will see him (No. 54 - bottom of the screen defensive end) take on the tight end here and then drive back the left tackle on this pin/pull scheme. His initial movement off the ball disrupts the pull and throws off the entire play.

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The Titans run a mid-zone isolation scheme here and Vernon holds down the backside by closing down on the tight end with active hands. When Tennessee's Dion Lewis cuts back, he disengages quickly and meets him at the line of scrummage and finishes strongly.

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Again against the pin/pull scheme here watch as Vernon wins with a sudden jab step and sheer power to split through three defenders. Then he has the athleticism to run down the back into the boundary for a minimal gain.

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Winning with speed

Vernon has the ability to finish with both speed and power, depending on his opponent. Here against the Eagles' Jason Peters, Vernon turns to the speed here with an outside jab step and quick swim to beat Peters inside and cause the quarterback pressure. He has to be held in order to stop him.

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Although he misses the sack here, Vernon again shows the speed as he uses the jab step to inside swim. He uses the inside hand to defeat the tackle's inside delivery and wins the angle. This move is tough to stop in space.

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Vernon can also win with traditional speed and bend off the edge. He uses the speed rush here, and watch the hands he swipes away at the top before making his bend -- this is important to keep the opposing tackle off your inside shoulder to make the turn. He finishes with a strip sack and turnover.

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There can be plenty of sacks made off the ability to stop on a dime and redirect for a moving quarterback. Vernon shows he can get the job done here with a quick redirect off the top of his rush and gets to Dallas's Dak Prescott for the sack.

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Winning with power

Vernon (No. 54) is aligned near the topside hash and we can see him flash the slingshot here as he uses the push/pull to blow past the tackle and make the play with speed in the backfield.

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Another example of the power with the push/pull. Lined up over the left tackle, on his traditional right side, Vernon quickly gets into Washington guard Shawn Lauvao's chest plate and slings him to the ground to propel him forward for the quarterback pressure and hit.

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Vernon can handle the chip from tight ends and backs as well. Aligned at the bottom of the screen near the hash, he splits the double team from the tackle and back to finish with a sack, as is using pure hand strength and leg power.

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Ability to cover

Vernon has only had 22 coverage targets since his arrival in the NFL in 2012, but he can do it when asked. It speaks to the athlete he is. In 2017, watch as he walls off David Njoku on the seam and runs with him across the field with ease and comfort to get the pass break-up. Not a big part of his game, but he can wall off or run with a tight end occasionally.

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Failure to finish

Where Vernon can run into the occasional issue is finishing plays. He often finds himself in the backfield due to his rush ability, but his tackling can suffer to finish the rep. Some of Vernon's worst overall grades according to Pro Football Focus has come in the tackle department, where he hasn't graded out above 64.7 since 2013.

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Another example here as Vernon is able to defeat Peters inside and split the running back protection but fails to bring down Carson Wentz. He can get there with the best of them, but his sack numbers remain lower due to this inability to finish the play.

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Per @rapsheet & @MikeGarafolo – the Giants are sending Olivier Vernon, fresh on the heels of a career-year in overall grade, to Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/l0wIPBZICI — PFF (@PFF) March 8, 2019

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Final notes

Vernon is the ideal positional flexibility for the Browns. He can line up inside or out, and he has played in both 3-4 bases and 4-3. He is most natural with his hand in the ground as a traditional defensive end.

According to Pro Football Focus, Vernon had the seventh-highest pass rush grade in 2018 among edge defenders, and the third-highest 1-on-1 grade per rush. The Browns will rely heavily on his consistency as he has graded out as at no lower than 75.3 since 2015.

Vernon was best in a secondary role to Jason Pierre-Paul, and he will get the role back in Cleveland opposite Myles Garrett.

For the Browns, the idea is simple enough. They don't see that type of every down defensive end in free agency who can make a difference. There are names such as Za'Darius Smith and Dante Fowler who can rush the passer well enough, but there is question whether they can be effective all three snaps of a series.

There will be pieces to iron out, such as alignment. Vernon and Garrett both typically align over the left tackle, or the defense's right. Garrett was effective in his nearly 50 snaps on the opposite side, but the move will take one of the ends out of their comfort zone.

Also, the Browns will be banking on Vernon to be consistently healthy. Vernon played in all 16 games each season in his first five years, but ankle issues have caused him to play in just 23 over the last few years. His full health will be vital to meeting expectations created by these last two years of his contract.

Free agency presented the option to spend top dollar on Trey Flowers, but that commitment would have been steep and over several years for a team who has their own big names to keep around in the coming years.

Vernon provides a two-year contract with essentially a salary swap with Kevin Zeitler. Odds are high the Browns will be banking on Austin Corbett stepping into that right guard role and reaching the potential they saw when they selected him at the top of the second round just last year.

John Dorsey knows he wants four pass rushers on his defensive line. He has said as much, as recently as the combine last weekend.

Vernon improves the roster in a spot more essential to helping the Browns win in 2019. The move frees the franchise to pursue other free-agent needs, and allows them to take the best player available in the April draft.

The NFL rarely has player-for-player trades. It's even more rare when it makes both teams better. That is the most likely outcome for both franchises.