3 backup plans for Cleveland Browns now that J.J. Watt is off the market

3. Jadeveon Clowney

A name that kept coming up last season was Jadeveon Clowney landing in Cleveland. The former No. 1 overall pick from 2014 has had a solid NFL career but has yet to live up to expectations. At age 28, this is likely his last chance to prove he is worth a major long-term extension, but he could be worth a one-year deal for the Browns.

After dragging out the process of singing last season, Clowney eventually picked the Tennessee Titans after multiple reports shared the Browns had offered him the most money. Clowney started eight games and ended the season with 19 tackles and zero sacks.

While injuries have been a concern, Clowney had only missed nine total games the previous five seasons before missing half the year in 2020. He also had back-to-back years of nine-plus sacks when he was paired with J.J. Watt in Houston.

After such a down in year in 2020, expect the market to be a lot softer for Clowney next offseason. However, he could be a perfect fit for the Browns because he doesn’t have to be the number one guy with Myles Garrett already on the roster. As the No. 2 guy, Clowney has proven he can be effective.

Clowney would not be a long-term solution for the Browns, but he certainly could be a one-year solution with solid production. Especially if the Browns could snag him for $13-14 million. This would also give the Browns a chance to draft a young pass rusher and give them a year to develop with minimal snaps.