John Kuntz, cleveland.com

The D-ends are ready to rock

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns are so bullish on defensive ends Myles Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah that they passed on North Carolina State edge-rusher Bradley Chubb with the No. 4 pick in the draft in favor of Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward.

The Chubb Snub initially rankled fans, but the Browns are convinced it was the right move. Now, it's prove-it time for Garrett, the No. 1 pick in 2017, and Ogbah, a second-round pick in 2016.

"I would have loved to have Chubb, but I don't think he covers the deep ball well enough as a press corner, nor does he intercept the ball well enough," defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said with a laugh. "I have an Ogbah, and I've got a lot of other guys out there.''

Garrett was particularly anti-Chubb pre-draft and fiercely protective of the bond he's developed with Ogbah.

"We already have a good friendship and that makes the chemistry easy," Garrett said during minicamp last month. "No strain on how we work together. It'd be a little harder with me and Chubb, having to rebuild that all over again. There's no guarantee it would have flowed as easily. Just how well we work together, inside or outside rush, I think we can go for a really historic year."

But the Browns, who finished 21st in the NFL with 34 sacks last season, didn't stand pat. They drafted end Chad Thomas out of Miami in the third round and signed former Bengals end Chris Smith in free agency. They also have returning rushers Carl Nassib and Nate Orchard.

The Browns are hoping that passing on Chubb directly benefits their existing ends: with Ward blanketing receivers, they should have another split-second to get to the QB.

Here's a look at the key defensive ends heading into camp.

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John Kuntz, cleveland.com

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1. Myles Garrett

Garrett finished with seven sacks in 11 games as a rookie, but wants to be a dominant force in the league. Missing 2017's first four games with a high ankle sprain and another with a concussion didn't help, and he endured a six-game, one-sack slump. But he further chiseled his frame, and plans to make quarterbacks quake in their cleats this season.

"The best quality is availability, so I have to be out there,'' he said. "My presence definitely changes the flow of the game and I feel like I can be a big impact every time I'm out there."

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Gregg Williams sees a breakout year for the No. 1 pick

Williams, who's had Garrett watching film of premier rushers such as Julius Peppers, has had to back him off in the weight room at times.

"He works so hard because he doesn't want to be good; he wants to be great,'' said Williams. "Sometimes he can be his own worst enemy in that respect. If you were to ask anybody on the offensive staff or the offensive line who gives them nightmares, it'd be him. Myles has taken another big step. Staying healthy, I see a big breakout year.''

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But Garrett's position coach says he must do this

Defensive line coach Clyde Simmons, who once led the NFL with 19 sacks and finished 11th on the NFL's all-time career list, says Garrett must first show 'em who's boss.

"He has it in him," said Simmons. "If somebody feels like they can bully you all the time, they'll keep bullying you. You just have to stand up there and only one of two things is going to happen: He's going to get a butt-whipping or you're going to get one.''

If Garrett stays healthy, he's capable of the double-digit sacks expected of a No. 1 pick.

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Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

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2. Emmanuel Ogbah

Ogbah was off to a terrific start with four sacks in his first 10 games before suffering a season-ending broken foot Nov. 19 against the Jaguars. After surgery he participated in OTAs and minicamp. He expects to be full-go by the start of the season.

Besides, Ogbah loves his simplified assignment as an end in Williams' attack-minded 4-3 scheme.

"I'm a different type of player," Ogbah said. "I'm not really reading like I used to be; I just 'go' in this new defense."

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Williams has noticed

"I'm so excited to see how well (Ogbah's) doing out here this year," said Williams. "He's night and day more relaxed and doing things more instinctively, not overthinking and not as afraid to make a mistake as he was last year because we moved him into a new position.

"Knock on wood, staying healthy, he's going to really stand out this year."

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Simmons thinks Ogbah is underrated

"A lot of people don't give Emmanuel enough credit for what he does as a run stopper and a pass rusher,'' said Simmons. "When he broke his foot last year, things were really starting to come for him. He was starting to get a little bit more free on his rushes. He was already doing a great job for us in the run game."

Ogbah and Garrett played in only five games together last season. But by pushing each other, they could both have double-digit sacks this year.

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John Kuntz, cleveland.com

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3. Chad Thomas

The Browns didn't land Chubb, but they hope Thomas, the No. 67 overall pick out of Miami, has an impact.

"We thought that Chad at (6-5 and) 275 pounds was one of the most physical defensive linemen in the draft," Vice President of Player Personnel Andrew Berry said on draft weekend. "We think his run defense will play immediately in the NFL as a left end in our system. He can kick down inside and rush the passer from inside, as well."

A hip-hop artist known as "Major Nine'' who produced "Apple of My Eye," the opening track on Rick Ross' album, "Rather You Than Me," Thomas produced 5.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in 13 starts last season, and 4.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 12 games in 2016.

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Simmons sees Thomas' upside

"Chad has a lot of potential,'' said Simmons. "He's still learning how to play the professional game of football. He's still bringing some of that college stuff in there and finding out that some of it works and some of it doesn't. It is a growing thing for him.

"As he gets better and as he starts learning how to be a pro, you're going to see his game step up."

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John Kuntz, cleveland.com

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4. Chris Smith

The Browns liked what they saw from Smith in his first season with the Bengals enough to sign him to a three-year free agent deal worth $14 million. Heading into camp, he'll aim to be part of the end rotation.

Acquired by Cincinnati in a trade with the Jaguars last season, he enjoyed career highs in games played (16), tackles (26) and passes defensed (three). He also tied a career-high with three sacks and forced a fumble.

"He can play inside, he can play outside, he brings a lot of energy to the room,'' said Simmons. "He's got a high motor and I think it's going to be great competition.''

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John Kuntz, cleveland.com

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5. Carl Nassib

With new pass-rushers in Smith and Thomas, Nassib must step up his game. So far, he hasn't lived up to his 2016 third-round status or the 15.5 sacks he led the nation with in 2015 at Penn State. In his rookie season, he started three of 14 games and managed 2.5 sacks. Last season, he started 12 because of injuries to Garrett and Ogbah, and managed only three sacks.

Nassib will have to fight for playing time if Thomas is what the Browns hope for.

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John Kuntz, cleveland.com

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6. Nate Orchard

Like Nassib, Orchard must take it up a notch in 2018. Last season, the 2015 second-round pick out of Utah saw action in all 16 games but started only one. He registered 25 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and one recovery.

After finishing second in the nation with 18.5 sacks as a senior, Orchard hasn't yet produced at this level. He flashed edge-rush ability at the end of his rookie season, but missed most of 2016 with an ankle injury. He must stand out in camp.