Browns sign Jadeveon Clowney to one-year deal

After an injury-shortened, unproductive 2020 with the Tennessee Titans, former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has found a new team.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Cleveland Browns have signed Clowney to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million, which if nothing else shuts down the idea of the Seahawks bringing Clowney back for cheap. Clowney’s previous deal with the Titans was worth up to $13 million.

“I’ve been getting double-teamed an awful lot in this league, in my career,” Clowney said during the virtual news conference. “I’m looking forward to playing with somebody dominant on the other side in Myles Garrett who can draw a double-team. Maybe I can go one-on-one more.”

The 28-year-old Clowney failed to record a sack in his eight games played in Tennessee. He missed the rest of the season after undergoing meniscus surgery and it’s safe to say that between him and Vic Beasley (who was let go midseason), the Titans’ efforts to revamp their pass rush went bust. Pass rush win rate numbers love Clowney though, but the end product has been lacking over the past couple of years.

It’s hard to believe this can finally be said again, but the Cleveland Browns are on the rise after their playoff appearance and win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Myles Garrett has posted double-digit sacks in three of his four seasons in the NFL and perhaps this can revitalize Clowney’s career. Garrett will be the primary rusher and Clowney can feast off of that, much as he did at the height of JJ Watt’s time with the Houston Texans.

Cleveland has no doubt been busy in free agency retooling that defense, including signing both Troy Hill and John Johnson III away from the Los Angeles Rams to improve their secondary. Now they have a defensive end to pair with an established elite talent.