4 Free agent edge rushers Cleveland Browns need to target in 2022
By John Suchan
Cleveland Browns edge rusher target No.3: Charles Harris, Detroit Lions
The 27-year-old Charles Harris was drafted at No. 22 in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. He was paid $1.75 million this past season with his new team, the Detroit Lions, but is likely to get a more lucrative deal now.
This was the first year with the Lions that he was a regular starter and he produced in that role. He picked up 7.5 sacks and had 65 tackles in what proved to be the best season of his career. He also made 16 quarterback hits and forced two fumbles.
He certainly will be looking to produce those types of numbers next season for some team. The Lions will likely try to bring him back, but the Browns might be a team that Harris would consider. The Browns are closer to getting back to the playoffs. The Lions could be ready to draft one of the better collegiate edge rushers in the upcoming draft and so having Harris back might not mean as much to them.
Cleveland Browns edge rusher target No. 4: Haason Reddick, Carolina Panthers
Haason Reddick was drafted No. 13 overall by the Arizona Cardinals back in 2017. He’s had a good career and is again a free agent after signing with the Panthers on a one-year deal. He recorded 11 sacks and had 68 tackles with Carolina. His last season in Arizona he recorded 12.5 sacks with 63 tackles. He’s had 34 quarterback hits over the last two seasons, and he’s forced 11 fumbles in his career. He had six of those in his last season with the Cardinals.
He signed a $6 million deal with the Panthers, but now Spotrac has him projected at earning closer to $15 million with his next contract. This would be a steep price for the Browns to pay an edge rusher however, Reddick, like Clowney and Garrett, can be a difference-maker in games.
Reddick will attract many other NFL teams this offseason. Will Cleveland pursue a player of Reddick’s value? If the team can’t get Clowney back, then Reddick would be the most talented player to replace him of the edge rushers that are available this year.
Harris, Ogbah, and Gregory certainly could all be a good replacement for losing Clowney. Harris in particular could be a nice younger player, who hasn’t had much success with his team in winning games and a team like the Browns might look tempting.
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We’ll have to wait a bit longer to see how things go between Clowney and the Browns but if they don’t work out there are many good replacements and having Garrett as your teammate will only make that new player’s season even more productive like it did for Clowney.