Should Everson Griffen be on the Cleveland Browns radar?

After upgrading almost every position on defense in free agency, what will the Cleveland Browns do next at defensive end? Past relationships could help solve this problem.

The Cleveland Browns appear to be on the back end of free agency, after an active week signing names like Austin Hooper and Jack Conklin. While the Browns were active, they managed to sign players responsibly giving the club flexibility moving forward.

The Browns appear dedicated to the draft with multiple one-year deals with players. This will allow Andrew Berry to evaluate the players before a long-term commitment and groom draft picks for a full season. The only issue with this strategy; if a guy like Karl Joseph has a breakout year the Browns would likely not be able to afford him in a long-term deal.

The one position the Browns still need to work on is defensive end. There are still many questions including what’s next for Olivier Vernon. Many expected the 30-year-old veteran would be a cap casualty as Vernon is due $15.5 million in 2020 with no dead money if cut. After failing to solve the issue in free agency, it appears Vernon could stay put.

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With Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon and Chad Thomas being the top three options at defensive end, an upgrade is necessary. Thomas has been far too inconsistent and Garrett has shown to be far more effective with proper rest. As Browns fans know, there is a likely chance of injury, so depth is always crucial.

Should Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry tap into previous relationships and sign defensive end Everson Griffen? Although Griffen is 32, he could be a great short-term solution after a pro-bowl caliber season in 2019 with 8 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Depending on the price, Griffen would be the perfect addition of depth for the Browns.

The former fourth-round pick has spent his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings and signed a monster four-year $58 million contract in 2017. At age 32, will Griffen be ready for a one or two-year contract with a lower salary but higher guarantees? This question is hard to answer, but after breaking off negotiations with the Vikings, experts believe Griffen is after at least $10 million per year.

If Andrew Berry could get Griffen on a one-year $10 million deal, he could bring tremendous depth and experience to the Browns. Not only that, but a dominant defensive front would also help cover up the clear area of weakness the Browns currently have at linebacker. Look for the Browns to draft at least one pass rusher in 2020 even if they sign Griffen, but it’s highly unlikely to find someone that productive.

The expectation, for now, is the Browns will draft the best available tackle at pick number ten and then start building on defense.