Cleveland Browns: 5 best remaining pass-rushers in free agency

1. Jadeveon Clowney

This choice won’t be very popular, but Jadeveon Clowney has always been a much better player than most fans give him credit for being. He doesn’t have gaudy sack totals (has never reached 10 in a single season), and that must mean he’s been a relative disappointment as a former first overall pick.

The facts are that Clowney has always been a terrific run defender, and while he hasn’t been able to turn a great number into sacks, he gets pressure on the quarterback. Pairing Clowney and Garrett would give the Browns probably the most athletic front-four ever assembled, regardless of who the defensive tackles are.

Clowney has dealt with plenty of injuries throughout his career, and underwent surgery for a torn meniscus this past season. Those will be factors in his market, and he could remain unsigned for longer than most others, as teams wait for him to become fully healthy in order to pass his physical. Clowney played for the Tennessee Titans on a $13 million deal last season, but probably won’t reach that number in 2021.

If the Browns are comfortable with his health, and he’s willing to take another prove-it deal (this one cheaper than the last), he could provide better play than Vernon has over the past two seasons, which is something that no other remaining EDGE can likely do.

The Browns shouldn’t feel comfortable heading into 2021 with McKinley or a rookie starting opposite Myles Garrett. The EDGE room needs another veteran starter, and that could very well be one of these five players.