CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Imagine being Joe Burrow and seeing 2017 No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett ready to pounce on you from one side and 2014 No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney on the other.
That will be the plight of the Browns’ opposing quarterbacks this season now they’ve added Clowney to the mix.
The Browns signed Clowney, 28, to a one-year deal on Wednesday worth $8 million -- with incentives that increase it to $10 million -- after he passed his physical in the morning and met with the team a second time, a league source told cleveland.com. He also visited the Browns on March 24th, and they kept in contact as both sides made sure it was the right fit at the right salary.
The No. 1 overall pick of the Texans in 2014 out of South Carolina, Clowney heads into his eighth NFL season and his fourth team in as many years. He’ll step in as the starter opposite Myles Garrett, but will share time with the Browns other new edge-rusher Takk McKinley, who signed a one-year deal worth $4.25 million last month.
The Browns tried hard to land Clowney last offseason, but he opted for a one-year deal worth $13 million with the Titans, where he was reunited with his Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel. The Browns offered him more money than anyone else on a one-year deal last offseason, and were competitive on their multi-year offer.
5 reasons the Browns signing Jadeveon Clowney is a smart move
Coming off a surgically-repaired torn meniscus that cost him the second half of last season with the Titans, Clowney didn’t have the free agent market he hoped to this offseason, but as Browns new defensive Malik Jackson observed, he might get something better here: a chance to win his first Super Bowl.
“I don’t think I have to [recruit him], to be honest with you,’' Jackson said last week on Zoom conference. “It’s one of those things that the team speaks for itself and what we’re trying to build speaks for itself. If you want to hop on board, come hop on board. I understand the free agency market is not what he probably wants, but things are bigger than monetary value, and you get a chance to be on a good team and set yourself up in the future.”
Clowney, who can rush from either side or from inside, joins a formidable edge-rush unit that includes two other fellow former first round picks in Garrett, and Takk McKinley, the 2017 No. 26 overall pick of the Falcons. The Brown also retained Porter Gustin on an exclusive rights free agent tender. Clowney, who also drew some interest from the Ravens and Colts, became expendable in Tennesee last month when the Titans signed former Steelers edge-rusher Bud Dupree to a five-year deal worth $82.5 million, for an average of $16.5 million a year.
The Browns passed on all of the high-priced pass-rushers in free agency, but now have two new ones with a lot to prove for the price of one in Clowney and McKinley, who’s determined to get his career back on track here. While McKinley brings a fierce pass-rush, Clowney brings elite run defense and an almost unparalleled ability to set the edge. The two should make a terrific combo package opposite Garrett, who finished sixth in the NFL with 12 sacks.
The move also doesn’t preclude the Browns from drafting another premier edge rusher with their No. 26 overall in the draft on April 29th. Two on their radar are Tulsa’s Zaven Collins and Georgi’a Azeez Ojulari, with whom they’ve both spent extra time.
Clowney (6-5, 255) started eight of the first nine games last season before being placed on injured with seven games remaining. He failed to notch a sack, but was still disruptive with six quarterback hits. He was also tied for ninth in the NFL with 22 hurries through 10 weeks of the season, same as Dupree, Joey Bosa and T.J. Watt, and two fewer than Myles Garrett.
Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 19 edge-rusher out of 108 qualifiers, a spot ahead of Olivier Vernon, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the season finale. Since entering the NFL, Clowney has been in the 95th percentile in run defense, and 77th percentile in pass rush ability.
By the time the Browns defeated Tennessee 41-35 on Dec. 6, Clowney was already on injured reserve.
PFF ranked Clowney as their No. 4 free agent edge-rusher this offseason, behind Shaq Barrett, J.J. Watt and Carl Lawson. They estimated his market value at one year at $13 million. Spotrac.com projected it at one year at $6.5 million.
“Just like any free agent signing, the key is understanding what a player is bringing to the table,’' PFF wrote. “Clowney has elite tools, but he’s never been an elite pass-rusher, as he has posted a pass-rushing grade in the 70s in each of the last three years and a 69.6 mark in 2020. The sack totals will fluctuate from year to year, so don’t let that change the narrative: Clowney is a good, not great, pass-rusher.
“He does his best work in the run game, using those elite tools and heavy hands to win at the point of attack. Since entering the league, Clowney is a 95th percentile run defender and a 77th percentile pass-rusher, so his future team should expect similar snap-to-snap production at this point.”
In 74 starts over seven seasons, Clowney has notched 32 sacks, 255 tackles, 75 for a loss, 86 QB hits and nine forced fumbles. He’s had only three sacks in his last two seasons, three with Seattle in 2019, and none in Tennessee last year.
But the Browns are hoping that when paired with Garrett, he’ll menace the quarterback like he did when playing with three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt in Houston.
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Browns sign Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million to pair with fellow No. 1 overall pic - cleveland.com
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