That's overdue. Clowney racked up three sacks last season, and has never lived up to his first overall draft status. His last two contracts were one-year "prove it" deals, and he hasn't proven much.
To be sure, Clowney is a really good player. PFF rates him 80 overall, in the high 70's vs the pass and run, and elite in coverage. He's actually similar to Olivier Vernon, except younger, healthier, and a little better.
But he was drafted to terrorize opposing Quarterbacks, just like Myles Garrett was, and he hasn't done that.
This is why 20 million was rediculous, and even 17 million is too much.
However, he's coming closer...
I just read a bad article which said that apparently the Browns were going to "have to" pay Olivier Vernon his 15.5 mil for 2020, right?
Well...even if Clowney does get his 17 mil, that's only 1.5 mil more than Vernon!
Clowney is healthier, 4 years younger, and better. Wouldn't you pay the extra 9.5% to upgrade and cover that other edge slot for 3-4 years?
The market is what it is. Both Free Agency and the draft are thin on edge-rushers, and like it or not, for anyone who can't draft Young, Clowney is the best available.
Again, guarantee the front end and pay the most in the first season. He becomes tradable in 2021 and releasable in 2022, while his cap hit shrinks relative to the market.
Why would I do this for a guy who only got 3 sacks last season?
The PFF grades are accurate. He gets tackles for losses, bats passes, rushes throws, and can cover. He's not the QB nightmare Myles Garrett is, but he's just an excellent all-around player who would benefit as a passrusher from having Myles Garrett opposite him.
He's got to have a chip on his shoulder after 2 one-year contracts, and now being compelled to accept less money than he feels he's worth.
He might go apeshit. He sure as hell is physically capable of it (he's a freak; remarkably similar to Myles Garrett).
Like the Offense doesn't need another Joe Thomas, the Defense doesn't need another Myles Garrett. If Clowney could get 6-7 sacks, continue to dominate vs the run, bat passes, blow things up in the backfield, and hurry Quarterbacks, that works.
So as long as I'm fantasizing, I'll say that by the time they draft, the Browns will have spent one more mil or so to replace Vernon with Clowney.
In that case, I won't risk the raw Terrell Lewis with his injury history with my 39th overall pick. So so far, we have LT Josh Jones or Ezra Cleveland, and LB Patrick Queen in the first round (Zack Baun could replace Queen).
At 39th overall...it's getting too unpredictable for me here. Will S Delpit still be there? Is Dugger the better player? Who is best available?
I'll go with Delpit I guess. The Browns need a FREE Safety at this point (assuming they don't do the obvious and re-sign Rodney Randallfield, who is by far the best FA Safety still available.)
But you can't allow need to trump talent. Delpit can play Free Safety and ranks the highest, but takes poor angles in tackling, and isn't a hitter.
Terrell Lewis might be the pick after all--or a disruptive DT, or a freaky wide receiver.
Ok I suck at mock drafts so sue me. Thanks to me, you got 4 more picks in the 2nd and 3rd round to go with your new Left Tackle and a stud linebacker and Jadeveon Clowney.
And by the way, I know Woods said he'd run a 4-3 but with Billings, Richardson and Clowney he could mix in some 3-4s. Clowney can and has played linebacker.
Anyway unless they sign Randall, the 2020 Browns will have Sendejo at Free Safety with little depth behind him.
What the hell is wrong with Randall!?! Am I the only one who noticed that Gregg Williams and Steve Wilks are different people who run different systems?
You think Randall just sorta forgot how to play football between 2018 and 2019? And 2+2=5?
Andrew? -snap-snap Andrew? Anybody home?
John Breech thinks the Browns should trade for Patriots guard Joe Thuney.
NOT. Thuney is a terrific young player, but he's tagged at almost 15 mil/year and would require an extention in that range. He'd have to move from Left to Right Guard, and Lord Insideous will demand at least a high second round pick and then some.
Belichick is rebuilding. He franchised Thuney so that he could trade him. He's got cap issues, and has little hope of holding onto this player beyond 2020.
The Browns will probably draft a guard to challenge Teller and Forbes for the Right Guard slot.
Forbes, a converted Left Tackle, was challenging to start when he was injured in preseason. Teller had a rough start when he took over RG, but rapidly improved, and was doing a good job by the end of the season.
You can't pay your Offensive Line over 30% of your salary cap. You can't throw your draft picks around like confetti. You have to accept that not all of your starting players can be all-pros. That's exactly why the salary cap (and the rookie salary structure) exist.
Another Editor's nephew or beer buddy wants me to quit talking about trading OBJ.
I do hear him: OBJ played hurt in 2019, and we haven't seen him at his best. He's been one of the 2-5 best WRs in the NFL for several seasons, and is still in his prime.
This writer thinks that in the current market (with the draft jam-packed with WRs), the most the Browns could get for OBJ is a 2nd round pick.
That is logical, and makes sense. It would also have been logical and made sense to NOT trade 17th overall and Jabrill Peppers and another draft pick for OBJ, but Dorsey did it anyway.
Some GM is likely to cough up a 1st round pick (or multiple picks, and/or a 2021 1st-rounder and stuff) for this proven veteran he can count on (even though he's missed over 33% of his carreer games to injuries).
Yeah I know: It's stupid. But it happens over and over.
Of course, if this writer is right (ie that a 2nd round pick is all Berry could get for OBJ) I'm with him: KEEP him. His salary is irrelevant for 2020 and he's a great weapon...
My issues with OBJ are with the type of WR he is (compared to Landry; scheme fit) and his injury history.
If this writer is right that nobody will
This writer also thinks that the Browns kinda have to stick with Olivier Vernon, since they haven't yet been able to replace him (or what he could do when healthy).
He's 31. He's missed big chunks of his last THREE seasons with redundant ankle and knee injuries. At this point, Chad Thomas has a brighter 2020 future than Olivier Vernon.
Vernon is breaking down, and will never be as good as he was, even if he can manage to stay healthy for 3 games in a row.
(Excuse me)...yes, Captain Obvious concurs.
Pete Smith again (I love you man!):
The 2020 Browns aren't forced to overpay free agents because they expect the Browns to suck.
Jack Conklin could have made lots more somewhere else, and Hooper's contract was a tad high, but mostly in line with the most recent cap increase.
The team isn't interested in dumbasses in the first place, and intelligent players can differentiate Stefanski from Jackson/Kitchens, haven't written off Baker Mayfield, and are aware of the talent already on this roster.
Jedeveon Clowney might take less to play opposite Myles Garrett, and on the other side of a run-oriented offense supporting Baker Mayfield.
That ought to mean fewer snaps for him to play, and more of those snaps having the opposing offense trying to come back.
I have no idea how smart Jadeveon Clowney is, but if he is sentient, Andrew Berry should be able to sign him.
- I HAVE SPOKEN
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