Jadeveon Clowney pegged as Cleveland Browns most overrated player

USA Today named the most overrated player on every NFL team in 2022 and for the Cleveland Browns, Jadeveon Clowney was given this unwanted distinction

It took two offseasons for the Cleveland Browns to be able to land Jadeveon Clowney, proving general manager Andrew Berry thought very highly of the former No. 1 overall pick.

Clowney then recorded nine sacks in 2021 for the Browns, and was retained on a one-year deal rather late in the free agency process this year. While Cleveland is expecting a lot from Clowney once again, there are those who say he might be an overrated player.

USA Today’s Touchdown Wire released an article naming one player on every NFL franchise that’s overrated entering the 2022 season. For Cleveland, that player was Clowney — who was selected by Jared Mueller, who writes for Browns Wire.

"“The former top overall pick and physical marvel is really good at setting the edge with his length and strength but he’s never been a pure pass rusher. Playing opposite Myles Garrett helped Clowney compile nine sacks in just 14 games last year but he is rarely the disruptive force many think of with the former South Carolina star. Good, just not great” — Mueller, USA Today"

For Clowney, this is a label he’s battled with for quite some time. After being selected at No. 1 overall by the Houston Texans in 2014, he’s never become the consistent force he was expected to be.

Injuries slowed him as a rookie as he played in just four games with seven tackles and no sacks. He then had just 10.5 over the next two seasons before finally recording a personal-best 9.5 in 2017.

He followed that campaign with 47 tackles and nine sacks in 2018 but was then traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. That year, he had just 31 tackles and three sacks before joining the Tennessee Titans. Back in the AFC South, and playing for Mike Vrabel who was an assistant in Houston when Clowney played there, expectations were again high.

However, Clowney played in just eight games due to a shoulder injury and recorded no sacks. 2021 was a bounce-back year for him, but as Mueller pointed out, he has always been good — but never really great.

Still, he’s someone that really made a difference for the Browns. His ability to set the edge in the run game is an underrated trait and he’s a solid No. 2 pass rusher across from Myles Garrett.

He might not be the answer beyond this season, but he did what he was supposed to in 2021 and if he repeats this in 2022, Cleveland will be more than happy.