The Cleveland Browns and Jadeveon Clowney have agreed on a one-year reunion. Which players stand to gain the most from Clowney’s return to Cleveland?
Jadeveon Clowney and the Cleveland Browns have officially ended their offseason standoff. Clowney returns to Cleveland on a one-year deal worth up to $11 million — per Mary Kay Cabot.
Now with Clowney back in the fold, the Browns have a clearer picture of what their starting defense will look like in 2022. Andrew Berry and the Browns have made a litany of moves this offseason on the defensive side of the ball. Many of the players acquired will now serve a new role now that Clowney has decided to return.
Which players will benefit the most from Clowney re-signing with the Browns?
Cleveland Browns Beneficiary No. 3: Myles Garrett
Myles Garrett would be outstanding even if he were to be paired with one of the Browns groundkeepers. He’s just that much of an outlier when it comes to defensive ends in the NFL. However, the re-addition of Clowney opposite of Garrett will once again prove to be a huge boost for the sixth-year edge rusher.
As was evident last season, Garrett flourished when teams were unable to devote all their attention to his side of the field. Clowney’s presence is exactly the advantage the Browns need to even up the numbers game on the line of scrimmage.
Even if it only means that Garrett sees five-to-10 more snaps of being singled up with an offensive tackle, that is more than enough to shift the balance of power towards the Browns defense.
Cleveland’s defense gave up 16 or fewer points nine times in 2021. A massive factor in the defense’s success was Clowney’s ability to set the edge and aggressively play the run opposite of Garrett. With Garrett and Clowney bookending the line of scrimmage, there was no safe place on the field for offenses to routinely exploit.
A game wrecker like Garrett only needs a handful of opportunities to completely change an offense’s game plan. With the physicality and skillset that Clowney brings to the table, Garrett will once again be able to focus on being the quarterback disrupter that he is.
Cleveland Browns Beneficiary No. 2: Alex Wright
The Browns made an investment in their future when they selected edge rusher Alex Wright with the 78th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. For years, the Browns have attempted to groom someone to be the Robin to Myles Garrett’s Batman. In Wright, the Browns finally have a player that has the potential to be a long-term running mate for Garrett.
Cleveland certainly has a type when it comes to edge rushers, and Wright possesses every physical tool that the Browns covet in their defensive ends. Wright, listed at 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, is an explosive athlete who possesses both the power to set the edge and the speed to be a nightmare to opposing quarterbacks.
With Jadeveon Clowney reassuming his spot opposite of Garett, Wright will be afforded the time to develop his abilities while being given time to acclimate to the NFL. The difference between being a luxury and a necessity can mean the world to a rookie looking to establish himself as a professional. Clowney will provide the perfect amount of cushion for Wright to hone his skills while still demonstrating his abilities in small doses.
Because of Clowney’s inside/outside versatility, Wright could potentially have the opportunity to line up next to the veteran in some sub-packages. In addition to the time Wright will receive to develop, the biggest boost that Clowney can offer the rookie is a look behind the curtain at his own skillset. Although Clowney was a much more touted rookie entering the league, Wright shares many of the veteran’s physical gifts and could greatly benefit from molding his game after him.
If Wright can learn by watching, then Clowney’s return could have an enormous impact on the rookie and his career trajectory.
Cleveland Browns Beneficiary No. 1: Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome
The Browns defense hit serious strides in the second half of the 2021 season. Much of the success was due to the symbiotic union formed between the pass rush and their coverage ability on the back end. With Clowney returning, the Browns starting cornerback tandem of Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome could reap major benefits.
Timing is everything when it comes to the passing game in the NFL. Anything that can disrupt that timing automatically takes an offense off schedule. With Garrett and Clowney getting after quarterbacks, there should be plenty of disruptions for Ward and Newsome to take advantage of.
If the Browns cornerbacks are only tasked with covering primary routes for two to three seconds each play, it is going to be difficult for opposing offenses to have any tangible success in the passing game.
With how Cleveland’s defense is currently constructed, it’s hard to imagine that opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators are going to be licking their chops leading up to matchups with Cleveland. Other than utilizing an extremely short and quick passing attack, teams are going to be limited on how they attack the Browns through the air. That’s music to the ears of the Browns cornerback duo.
Cornerback is the most difficult position to play on defense in the NFL. With Clowney’s return to Cleveland’s defensive line, both Ward and Newsome’s jobs just got a little easier.