CLEVELAND, Ohio – Part of the Browns’ approach during this off-season has been the tried and true “If you can’t do it at first, try it, try again.”
Or, as Takk McKinley said after signing: “They tried to catch me three times after I was released (last season), and then they also tried to negotiate for me. I thought the fifth time would be the charm. “
The Browns are back, this time with another defensive end, Jadeveon Clowney, who visited the team on Wednesday. Clowney is leaving a season in Tennessee, where he played only eight games and failed to register a single sack. He landed with the Titans after the Browns became involved in the draw to win him.
Evaluating Clowney, however, has always been to look beyond bag numbers. He never had double-digit bags in one season during his career and, except for consecutive seasons in Houston, when he had 9.5 and nine bags, the bag production was not there.
Clowney, however, has generally been a productive passer. Pro Football Focus awarded him grades for approval in the 1970s in four of his last five seasons. According to data from the website, Clowney, in the first seven weeks of last year’s season, tied for 15th in the league in full pressures, was 11th for quarterback strokes, seventh for runs and tied for the lead in batting passes.
In 2019, Clowney was the seventh in pass rush winning rate among top defenders. Two seasons ago, his last in Houston, he was 18th in pressures, 14th in hurries and 11th in quarterback strokes.
So while Clowney doesn’t always take the quarterback down, he does make an impact.
He has also been good against the race. PFF ranked him 12th among the top defenders in percentage of race stops in 2019 and ninth in 2018. He was the ninth most senior defender against the race in 2019 and the second top defender with the highest score against the race in 2018.
If the Browns determine that Clowney will be healthy and back to the player he was, it makes sense to bring him in to pair with McKinley’s flyer opposite Myles Garrett. It would also create the possibility of drafting a high-end rusher on Day 2 of the draft – say someone like Payton Turner of Houston – who wouldn’t have to go in and start right away.
I’ve been cautious when the Browns show an interest in Clowney, making sure I’m judging the player, not just the name. A healthy Clowney could help the Browns.
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