Veteran defensive lineman Julian Okwara has surprisingly landed a new opportunity ahead of the 2025 season. According to ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi, the former Detroit Lions defender has signed with the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns have signed DE Julian Okwara, the team announced.
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) April 14, 2025
Okwara, 27, had one sack in 13 games with the Cardinals last season. 10 career sacks since entering the league as a third-round pick of the Lions in 2020.
The 27-year-old defensive lineman was most recently with the Arizona Cardinals last season, appearing in 13 games and recording a sack. Okwara was taken in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame by the Detroit Lions.
The six-foot-four defensive lineman appeared in six games as a rookie in 2020, as he had a long stint on injured reserve due to a right leg injury. Okwara eventually returned to the field in Week 16 to finish out the rest of the year.
He wrapped up his rookie campaign with three combined tackles. In his second year with the Lions, Okwara made a notable impact on the defense. The former Notre Dame defender had 27 combined tackles, nine quarterback hits, six tackles for loss, five sacks, two pass deflections, a forced fumble, and an interception in 13 games (one start).
Okwara followed up his breakout year in 2022 with only 17 combined tackles, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, and two sacks in 10 games (two starts).
The former Day 2 pick had his season cut short again by injury. Okwara was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 3, 2022, with an elbow injury. Okwara has had trouble shaking the injury bug in his career, as he was placed on IR before the 2023 season.
The veteran pass rusher eventually was activated off injured reserve and played in nine games with the Lions. Detroit waived Okwara on Jan. 18, 2024, but signed him to the practice squad a couple of days later.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Okwara in February 2024 to a reserve/future contract after his deal with the Lions expired. Okwara went to training camp with the Eagles but didn’t make the 53-man roster.
However, the Cardinals came calling, and that’s where he spent last season. Okwara will try to build off what he did in Arizona and add it to a Browns defense that could use depth and talent on the defensive line. The key for Okwara to stick in Cleveland will be staying healthy.