Jadeveon Clowney sets Browns up nicely in 2021 and for future

The Cleveland Browns are signing edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year contract, a big boost for the defense and the overall outlook of the franchise.

Reports surfaced over the weekend that pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney was in line to have a second free agency meeting with the Cleveland Browns early this week and that a deal would get done. On Wednesday, that came to fruition as the former No. 1 overall pick to a one-year deal with an $8 million base salary worth up to $10 million with incentives, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

Cleveland pursued Clowney last offseason as a running mate opposite Myles Garrett on the defensive line but came up short as he signed with the Titans. They weren’t about to miss out on him again this year, though, and they got their man, readying for a big run in the 2021 season.

Some may look at the contract and call it a steal but that’s not totally the case. Yes, he’s a former No. 1 overall pick but he also hasn’t been a completely dominant pass-rusher. He’s a great complement to someone like Garrett, though, and is a good run defender, something Cleveland definitely needed to address.

After a busy offseason, though, the Browns defense looks massively improved with Clowney, John Johnson III, Troy Hill, Malik Jackson and Takkarist McKinley coming aboard. Having said all of that, what’s impressive about this latest signing is the doors it opens for the team as they build for the future.

Jadeveon Clowney will help the Browns in 2021 but also sets the team up for the long term.

While the defensive line additions in Cleveland will do a phenomenal job in shoring up the front for the 2021 season, Clowney joins a group of players incoming only on one-year contracts. If they play well, they surely could earn another contract with the Browns.

More importantly, though, having these players ready to contribute right now opens up the doors for the Browns to best build for their future, particularly with the draft. Clowney joining the fray means that Cleveland doesn’t have to take a readymade contributor with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

They could still address the pass rush, to be sure — but Clowney and McKinley being in the building allows them to take a player who may not be a finished product. Guys like Jaelan Phillips or Gregory Rousseau come to mind in that light.

Furthermore and in a similar vein, it allows the Browns to possibly address other needs outside of edge rusher in the first round and then take a project player at defensive end on Day 2. But the totality of the situation is that they now have a more comfortable position to operate from early in the draft as they keep building.

Cleveland officially staked their claim last year as a team on the rise, making the playoffs and even winning a game (over the rival Steelers, no less). Their moves this offseason show that they aren’t done yet and, just as pivotally, set the franchise up to continue their upward trajectory.