The Cleveland Browns' elite defense will have an uphill battle heading into the 2026-27 NFL season following the departure of star EDGE Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason.Garrett, the former No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, was the cornerstone piece of the organization since his arrival nearly a decade ago. Still, despite the loss of the future Hall of Famer, the Browns' defense will try to prove itself without Garrett on the field this season.When asked how the defense will move on from Garrett in 2026 and beyond on 92.3 The Fan, veteran defensive end Alex Wright claimed that the defense has a "chip on our shoulder" this season."Myles is Myles. The spotlight will be on Myles, but at the same time, we were top 3 in sacks," Wright stated on 92.3 The Fan. "There were other people producing also. That's the chip on our shoulder. Just because he's not here...he's just one person. [There's] 10 other people out there making plays and producing."Browns' defensive outlook post-GarrettWith Garrett off to Los Angeles this offseason, the Browns will now need to find a new anchor on its elite defensive unit heading into the upcoming season.Luckily for the struggling organization, the trade that sent its star pass rusher to a Super Bowl contender gave the Browns 2024 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse in return. The 2024 first-round pick was nothing short of impressive in his first two seasons, recording 124 tackles, 21.5 stuffs, 12 sacks, and five forced fumbles. Verse's ability to consistently apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks (99 total regular-season quarterback pressures since 2024) will create more opportunities for the rest of the defensive line in 2026 and beyond.The addition of Verse, however, will force Cleveland's other pass rushers, such as Wright and Isaiah McGuire, to take the next step in their careers. Both defensive ends were terrific complementary pieces for Garrett, combining for 38 tackles and 7.5 sacks last season. But without the potential of Garrett recording a 20+ sack season for the Browns this year, it's clear that the veteran duo will take on a bigger role on defense.Fortunately for the newly revamped defensive line, the linebackers and defensive backs will play a significant role within the unit this year. Second-year star Carson Schwesinger is primed for another incredible season after being named the 2025 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, while the secondary unit features the likes of cornerback Denzel Ward and a lethal safety rotation of Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, and 2026 second-round pick Emmanuel McNeil Warren.This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns' defense has "chip on its shoulder" for 2026-27 NFL season