3 free agents in 2023 Browns need to prioritize this offseason

2. Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE

As good of a player as Jadeveon Clowney can be, it’s also frustrating how often he misses time. The former No. 1 overall pick from South Carolina signed with Cleveland in 2021 on a one-year deal. This was after they chased him in 2020 but Clowney elected to sign with Tennessee, where he played just eight games due to injury and had no sacks.

In his first season with the Browns, he completely rehabbed his image by recording 37 tackles and nine sacks. Clowney then tried to test the open market again but with no offers, he re-joined Cleveland on another one-year contract.

Again, he’s missed time as he’s had to sit out three of the first eight games. He’s also not putting up great numbers. So far, he has just 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks — with those happening in Weeks 1 and 2. Although, his sack on Joe Flacco in Week 2 was a strip-sack that took points off the board.

With those numbers, it might be tempting to say it’s time to move on, but that shouldn’t be the case. Clowney might not be lighting up the stat sheet but he’s still been disruptive across from Myles Garrett and is ranked 26th overall by PFF.

He continues to perform well against the run and is the most capable defensive end outside of Garrett on this roster. Cleveland knows they’ll have to live with him missing a few games each season but it’s worth it for the talent he brings to the field.