3 early Cleveland Browns defensive free agent targets

1. Carl Lawson, Defensive End

It’s hard not to feel for Olivier Vernon. He has struggled with health for years and things finally started to come together for him this season. Vernon recorded nine sacks which were the most he has had since 2013 and was playing the best football of his life.

While Myles Garrett is still the leader of the line, Vernon was out-performing him at times this year which is a testament to the talent he has. Then, he unfortunately ruptured his Achilles in Week 17 and at the age of 30, it’s safe to assume he might not be ready by the start of the 2021 season.

Cleveland might have been interested in bringing him back had he been healthy but following the latest injury, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them go in a different direction. Here, that direction leads them to a younger player who has yet to be a full-time starter in the NFL.

Carl Lawson was a fourth-round pick in 2017 of the Cincinnati Bengals who used him in a rotational role for his first three seasons. In 2020, he started 11 of 16 games as they finally began to give him the playing time he deserves, but now he’s set to hit the open market.

He won’t be cheap by any means but the Browns will have some cap space to spend with Vernon’s contract running out — plus they are sure to make other moves as well.

Landing a second pass rusher to compliment Garrett would be huge for this defense and Lawson is a player who is already good in this department, but is also still improving.