Cleveland Browns: 4 free agents still available after the draft

2. Nick Perry, EDGE

After adding Olivier Vernon, it meant the Browns finally had two players capable of bringing constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Myles Garrett has developed into one of the best in the NFL and while Vernon wasn’t what the New York Giants hoped he would be when they signed him, he’s about as good of a second option as there is in the NFL.

However, the depth behind those two is questionable at best. Chris Smith is a decent veteran option but he doesn’t bring a lot of heat as a pass rusher. In fact, their best edge rusher outside of Garrett and Vernon looks to be second-year linebacker Genard Avery.

Perhaps they could look to add someone else to the ranks, with a veteran option such as Nick Perry being a possibility. Perry was a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers back in 2012, but the USC product struggled to start his career. He never topped four sacks in his first four seasons, which led to the team declining the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. Instead, the signed him to a one-year prove-it deal in 2016, and he had his best campaign ever.

Perry finished that season with 52 tackles and 11 sacks, which led to him being given a five-year deal worth up to $60 million. He only played the first two seasons of that deal though as injuries slowed him down once he had the new contract. He still had seven sacks in 2017 but 2018 saw him record just 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks in nine games before being released.

Now at 29-years of age, Perry is looking for a new home. He will likely have to sign another team-friendly one-year deal and the Browns would be smart to offer that to him. He still has something in the tank and the last time he had something to prove, he was a stud.