Should the Cleveland Browns be interested in Aldon Smith?

Should the Cleveland Browns be interested in free agent Aldon Smith?

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry has been busy bolstering the defensive side of the ball during the first week of NFL free agency. With the additions of John Johnson III, Troy Hill, Takk McKinley, Anthony Walker, and Malik Jackson, Berry has given the defensive a much-needed facelift. One question still remains, are the Browns going to add another defensive end to the mix before the NFL draft?

With the annual Jadeveon Clowney watch starting again, it’s evident that Berry is not yet done stockpiling defenders in free agency. While Clowney is the name everyone is focusing on, should the Browns turn their attention to another player that was added to the free-agent pool yesterday? The Dallas Cowboys informed defensive end, Aldon Smith, that they will not be bringing him back in 2021. Should the Browns be interested in the former All-Pro?

The elephant in the room when it comes to Smith is his myriad of past transgressions. Smith left behind a laundry list of red flags in his wake during his first five years in the league. The last incident, a hit and run, triggered a suspension that last four seasons, and it was believed he had played his last down in the NFL. Smith had other ideas.

After serving his uber lengthy suspension, Smith was reinstated and attempted a comeback. The former 2011 first-round pick landed a one-year deal with the Cowboys. No one expected much out of Smith, regardless of how talented he once was, because of how long he had been out of the sport. However, the league took notice after Smith started the season looking like the impact player that he was early in his career.

Smith started the season by racking up three sacks and 20 tackles through the first four games. His production dwindled down as the season went along, which should have been expected due to his time away from the sport combined with the lack of structured offseason programs. Smith finished the season with five sacks, 48 tackles (31 solo), and 14 quarterback hits. The most significant number for Smith was 16, as in he started all 16 games for the Cowboys, something he had not accomplished since his second year in the NFL.

Berry and the Browns will no doubt wait on Clowney before moving on in their search to pair Myles Garrett up with another impact edge defender. However, if they are looking for low-risk high-reward candidates to fill that role, Smith should be near the top of the list. His price tag will be a fraction of Clowney’s, and with an offseason program and positive culture surrounding him, Smith could be exactly the player that the Browns need.