The Browns had the NFL's No. 1 defense during the regular season last year. So they're trying their best to run it all back.

On the first day of the NFL's free-agent negotiation period, the Browns agreed to terms on deals with defensive end Za'Darius Smith and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal. Smith will sign a two-year, $23.5-million deal, while Hurst's deal is for one year and $3.2 million.

Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz was the first to report the Smith deal. ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first on Hurst.

Deals can't be official until the new league year begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., a team leader for the Browns the last three season, will be signing a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. Cornerback/special teamer Mike Ford Jr. will be signing with the Houston Texans.

None of the moves are surprises, unless it's about the timing of them. While it happened more than five hours into the negotiating period, it still happened on the first day, which wasn't necessarily expected.

However, it's been clear since the season ended in an AFC wild card loss at the Houston Texans that general manager Andrew Berry believed that bringing back many of the core players, especially on defense, was of importance. With the deals Monday, the Browns are assured of having at least 8 starters back on that side of the ball, with the chance still to bring back free agents Sione Takitaki at linebacker and defensive tackles Shelby Harris and Jordan Elliott.

"I was just really happy with the group that we had this year," Berry said at the combine. "In an ideal world, we'd like to bring everybody back. I think we all know the practical realities of it, that we do have to make decisions and trade-offs, but it won't be for lack of effort. If a guy was productive for us and a good fit, we try and make it work."

Both Smith and Hurst were chances the Browns took a year ago on players who were either slightly disgruntled at their previous stop (Smith) or had been hampered through their career by injury (Hurst). Both ended up being significant reasons why the Browns defense led the league in multiple categories, including total yards, passing yards and third-down conversion rate.

Smith, who will be 32 on Sept. 8, was picked up in a mid-May trade with the Minnesota Vikings. He provided the perfect counterweight to eventual NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, even though his 5.5 sacks was well below the three double-digit sack seasons he had posted in 2019 and 2020 with the Green Bay Packers and in 2022 with the Vikings.

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound University of Kentucky product was a constant presence in the opposing backfield for the Browns. He had 61 total pressures, which was tied for the third-best total in his nine-year career, and 40 quarterback hurries.

"He fit really well," Berry said of Smith at the combine. "Really pleased with his production. He was awesome in the room. We really loved having him around."

Hurst, who will be 29 on May 9, became arguably the Browns' second-best defensive tackle before he suffered a season-ending pectoral tear in a Week 14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The gregarious 6-foot-2, 290-pound University of Michigan product became a fan favorite, especially with his "belly rub" celebrations after sacks.

Hurst was originally signed last March to a one-year deal after injuries had limited him to just 42 combined games in four seasons with the Raiders and the 49ers. He played 13 for the Browns before the injury bug bit him again, but he still managed to get 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and 18 total pressures.

“It's definitely a special spot. I've been lucky to be at a few great spots,” Hurst told reporters, including the Beacon Journal's Nate Ulrich, backstage during the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. “Being here with the guys that we have in the room that we have and the coaches that we have, it's really something that you can tell that we're building, that we could be the team that wins it all at some point.”

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Za'Darius Smith, Maurice Hurst II agree to new deals with Browns