5 crucial moves the Cleveland Browns have to make this offseason

4. Sign a defensive end

Ahead of the 2019 season, former general manager John Dorsey made an interesting move. While we were all watching rumors regarding Odell Beckham, Jr. (who was added later on) Dorsey agreed to a deal with the New York Giants for another player — Olivier Vernon.

A former Pro Bowl defensive end, Vernon was added in exchange for right guard Kevin Zeitler, and the hope was that they would have an elite pass-rushing duo with him and Myle Garrett working together. Unfortunately after two seasons, we have hardly seen the two play together at 100 percent.

Vernon struggled with health in 2019 and when he finally came on strong in 2020, Garrett was dealing with the after-effects of COVID-19. Then when Garrett was coming back around, and Vernon was starting to play out of his mind, OV tore his Achilles.

With that injury coming in Week 17 — and given Vernon’s age — there’s a chance he won’t be back with the Browns in 2021. This leaves Adrian Clayborn and possibly Porter Gustin (an exclusive rights free agent) as the primary candidates to start opposite Garrett. Both are capable in a rotation but the Browns need to land another starter and with some of their other needs on defense, it would make sense to get a free agent that’s ready to step in and contribute now.

There are big-name options such as Yannick Ngakoue, and Carl Lawson as well as some reclamation projects such as Takkarist McKinley. Whichever route they go, they need some help in this area.