Cleveland Browns will get huge boost from a healthy Jadeveon Clowney

If Jadeveon Clowney can stay healthy, he might be ready to wreak havoc for this Cleveland Browns defense.

Coming into the NFL in 2014 as the number one overall pick out of South Carolina, Jadeveon Clowney was expected to be the next dominant defensive end in the league. While he has certainly flashed his talent at times with the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, and Tennessee Titans, he hasn’t quite lived up to the hype of being the first overall selection.

Whether it was Clowney having issues within a defensive scheme or the numerous injuries that he has dealt with, it’s been difficult for him to live up to his immense potential. Coming into the 2021 season he has missed a total of 29 games during his seven-year career and is yet to hit the double-digit mark for sacks in a season.

Clearly, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry are hoping that he can change all of that and become the commanding force opposite of Myles Garrett on the defensive line. Being healthy is going to be a key part of what he is able to accomplish on the field.

In a recent interview during training camp, Clowney stated “When you’re healthy you have a lot of fun”. That fun has translated to the football field as he has been abusing whichever offensive lineman is placed in front of him throughout camp thus far.

It certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed, as Clowney received the “bone collector award” on Tuesday which is given to the defensive player who “creates havoc on the ball”. While he was given the day off Wednesday, it’s certainly the start to training camp that he was looking for.

The thought of Clowney and Garrett on the same defensive line should terrify opposing offenses. Clowney clearly believes that the two can accomplish great things as he recently stated, “I think we’re going to be dangerous” in reference to what to expect from him and Garrett this upcoming season.

His 32 career sacks are nothing to sneer at, but defensive coordinator Joe Woods and the rest of the Browns would love to see his first double-digit sack season. Being able to bring that type of pressure opposite of Garrett will have opposing quarterbacks losing sleep at night.

One thing that Clowney has been consistently good at to this point in his career is his run defense. He is always one of the better run defenders in the league at the defensive end position and this should continue in Cleveland.

Having a full training camp and coming into the season in top shape is paramount for every NFL player. As this is his first full training camp, the Browns are hoping that he can make the most of it and continue his stellar play so far in training camp into the regular season.

As stated before, much of what he can achieve this year hinges on his ability to stay healthy and on the field. If he’s able to do so, there’s no reason that he can’t wreak havoc for this Cleveland Browns defense and finally reach the potential that has been placed upon him since he entered the league.