The Cleveland Browns hosted free agent edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney on a visit Wednesday, according to several media reports.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report the news.
An unnamed source told Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot that a signing “isn’t imminent” and it was more of an “exploratory meeting” should the Browns decide to acquire an edge rusher before the start of the 2021 NFL Draft on April 29.
The #Browns are hosting free agent pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney on a visit, per the wire. They tried to sign him a few times, now willl get a first look at him and how his knee has come around.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 24, 2021
The Browns are hosting Jadeveon Clowney on a free agent visit.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 24, 2021
Clowney, 28, is coming off surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee that limited him to eight games in 2020 for the Tennessee Titans.
Last season, Clowney finished with 19 tackles, zero sacks, six quarterback hits, four tackles for a loss, four pass deflections and a forced fumble.
Despite not having a sack in 2020, Pro Football Focus ranked Clowney as the No. 19 edge rusher.
Spotrac.com shows Clowney made $12.72 million in 2020.
The Browns tried to acquire the former No. 1 overall pick several times last offseason.
However, the Browns couldn’t meet Clowney in person because of COVID-19 protocols.
Several reports indicated the Browns offered Clowney a one-year, $15 million deal for the 2020 season.
Clowney hasn’t played a full 16-game season since the 2017 season when he played for the Houston Texans.
In Houston, Clowney played his best football paired opposite of edge rusher J.J. Watt, who has won NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times (2012, 2014 and 2015).
Clowney made the Pro Bowl in 2016-2018, and earned second-team All-Pro Honors in 2016.
It’s no secret Browns general manager Andrew Berry and the front office must find an edge rusher to pair opposite of All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.
The Browns signed Tank McKinley to a one-year, $4.25 million contract earlier this offseason, but his signing is more about his upside, especially considering the Atlanta Falcons chose not to pick up his fifth-year option.
Like Clowney, McKinley has also struggled with injuries.
McKinley hasn’t played a full 16-game season since his rookie year in 2017.
Plus, defensive end Olivier Vernon is a free agent.
This offseason, Berry has focused on improving the defense with the signings of McKinley, safety John Johnson III, cornerback Troy Hill, linebacker Anthony Walker and defensive tackle Malik Jackson.
In 2020, Clowney and defensive end Vic Beasley were not able to generate much of a pass rush for the Titans, who ranked 30th in the NFL with 19 sacks as a team.
The Titans waived Beasley in November 2020.
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