6 Free agent safeties Cleveland Browns should consider

4. Getting the last laugh with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was cut by the Dallas Cowboys in the preseason, despite the fact that they had just signed him to a one-year contract with $2.25 million guaranteed. Even more embarrassing, the new coach of the Cowboys is none other than Mike McCarthy, who had been his coach in Green Bay, and presumably was a supporter of his going into camp. They were able to recoup $1.5 million.

The Cowboys felt that he just did not play well enough to beat out Darian Thompson for the starting job opposite Xavier Woods. He also had not distinguished himself as a special teams player, which hurt his cause.

At the time, many observers thought that the move was made to clear salary-cap space for the eventual signing of Earl Thomas, who was an even larger name than Dix. That, however, never materialized.

Yet Clinton-Dix had been a first-round draft pick of the Packers out of Alabama and at one time was very highly regarded, starting for six seasons, and going to the Pro Bowl in 2016. He has experience at both free safety as well as strong safety. At age 27, he is too young to be washed up, and might not cost the Browns too much if he still wants to play.

There is no obvious reason to think that he has lost it, but he was unable to show the Cowboys that he still has NFL talent. Clinton-Dix seems like a candidate for a one-year Browns offer but not a multiyear deal.