The Browns free agency train kept on rolling Wednesday with the announcement that the Browns signed DE Jadeveon Clowney. This was the worst kept secret in the NFL. With the exception of signing an experienced outside corner, the Browns are pretty much done in free agency. And yes they still have their eye on a couple of corners. But what about the salary cap you ask? The NFL salary cap is hard to manage, but easy to manipulate. Browns GM Andrew Berry never does anything without being prepared for the consequences. You have to figure Berry has the parameters of a restructure or two ready to go. So what does the Clowney signing do for the Browns.
First of all, Clowney has never been a premier pass rusher. What he does extremely well is pressure the quarterback, stop the run and set the edge. He can play inside or outside. His win rate when rushing from the inside is 21.5%, which is top five in the league. He was top five last year (fourth) in being double teamed. Now opposing offenses will have to commit four to five guys on the field to block Clowney and Garrett, that’s insane. Clowney told the Cleveland media he knew he was going to sign with the Browns a week after their first meeting. He also said he wasn’t used right last year with the Titans. With the pieces the Browns have in the front four, Big Ben might star crying before the game.
With the addition of Clowney and another corner, the Browns draft plan is pretty easy. Draft for the future and depth. Teams like Baltimore, Pittsburg and New England have done it for years. As I’ve said before, Andrew Berry will not use all nine draft picks on players. He’ll use the Browns picks to move in the draft and to collect future capital. With the assumption the first five picks will be QB, QB, QB, QB and LT, a great player will fall into the late teens, early twenties. If a player the Browns want falls to around pick 20, it would only cost the Browns their first and one of their two third round picks. These signings also free up the Browns to take any position, wide receiver, edge, cornerback, safety or defensive tackle. This draft is going to be fun. Everyone stay safe, get vaccinated and Go Browns.