Browns draft: Would addition of Jadeveon Clowney redirect Browns to defensive tackle in first round?

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.

(One in a series on Browns needs and interests in the NFL draft.)

Position: Defensive line

The Browns have attacked this position group more vigorously than any other in GM Andrew Berry’s second offseason on the job.

First, they courted released Houston Texans legend J.J. Watt. The three-time NFL defensive player-of-the-year chose geography and a lucrative two-year deal from Arizona over a better chance of a championship in Cleveland.

Undaunted, the Browns signed defensive end Takk McKinley, a 2017 first-round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons whom Berry pursued relentlessly in 2020, and then defensive tackle Malik Jackson, who played for coordinator Joe Woods in Denver and most recently in Philadelphia, whence Berry worked in 2019 before returning to the Browns as GM.

Now the Browns could be on the verge of signing another Berry obsession -- defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 draft reportedly is making his second visit to Cleveland on Wednesday and could be under contract by day’s end if he passes a physical. Clowney snubbed a higher Browns’ offer last year to sign a prove-it deal with Tennessee. He played eight games with no sacks before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Clowney’s belated arrival probably would eliminate defensive end as an option for the Browns’ first pick at No. 26 in the April 29 draft. The 2021 class of edge rushers is unspectacular at the top, anyways. But the addition of Clowney would not necessarily end Berry’s quest to upgrade the defensive line.

There remains the chance the Browns could be in position to take Christian Barmore, the No. 1-ranked defensive tackle from Alabama.

Barmore, in fact, could be the top-ranked defensive player on the board when the Browns’ turn comes up at No. 26. That alone is a strong argument to take him. Another is that of the four defensive tackles on the roster, three are in the final year of their contract. They are Sheldon Richardson, Andrew Billings and Jackson.

Projected starters: Takk McKinley, Sheldon Richardson (dt), Andrew Billings (dt), Myles Garrett.

Also under contract: Porter Gustin, Curtis Weaver, Cameron Malveaux, Joe Jackson, Jordan Elliott (dt), Malik Jackson (dt).

Analysis

Of the Browns’ middle-of-the-road 38 sacks in 2020, 31.5 were turned in by defensive linemen. Fifteen of them belonged to departed ends Olivier Vernon (9.0) and Adrian Clayborn (3.5), and tackle Larry Ogunjobi (2.5). It seems the plan to replace Vernon as a complement to Garrett was with two situational veterans – McKinley and Clowney. At this stage of their careers, McKinley, 25, may have more rush potential, if fully recovered from a 2020 groin injury, than Clowney, 28, who has evolved into a more consistent run defender at the edge of the defense. A platoon system of those two veterans seems likely. As for a developmental edge rusher, the Browns jumpstarted that effort last season when they claimed Curtis Weaver, a Miami fifth-round pick whom the Dolphins waived after a foot injury in their fifth padded practice of the 2020 training camp. Weaver, 6-2 and 265 pounds, broke the Mountain West Conference record at Boise State with 34 career sacks and was defensive player-of-the-year in 2019. Last year, the Browns had 10 linemen register snap counts. They already have 10 under contract. Clowney would be the 11th. Expect at least one more via the draft.

Day 1 candidates

• Jaelan Phillips, Miami: He unretired after two years of injuries at UCLA and was reinvented at the U. as a long, high-energy pass rusher.
• Kwity Paye, Michigan: Only 11.5 sacks in 38 college games, but he has the desirable tools for the position.
• Azeez Ojulari, Georgia: A compact body type with long arms and quick feet, he might appeal more to 3-4 defensive schemes.
• Christian Barmore (dt), Alabama: Came into his own as a redshirt sophomore as a powerful force in Nick Saban’s 3-4 alignment, leading the Tide with eight sacks and dominating in its biggest games.
• Jayson Oweh, Penn State: No sacks, but a freakish pro day workout – a 4.37 40 at 6-5 and 257pounds – may result in over-drafting.
• Joe Tryon, Washington: Has the physical tools, but opt-out season in 2020 stunted his development.
• Gregory Rousseau, Miami: Only player other than Chase Young to have 15 sacks in 2019, he opted out in 2020 and an unimpressive pro day didn’t bolster his status.

Day 2 candidates

Carlos Basham, Wake Forest; Joseph Ossai, Texas; Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma; Payton Turner, Houston; Rashad Weaver, Pittsburgh; Levi Onwuzurike (dt), Washington; Daviyon Nixon (dt), Iowa; Milton Williams (dt), Louisiana Tech; Marlon Tuipulotu (dt), USC; Jay Tufele (dt), USC.

Day 3 candidates

Tommy Togiai (dt), Ohio State; Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt; Quincy Roche, Miami; Chauncey Golston, Iowa; Patrick Jones, Pittsburgh; Charles Snowden, Virgina.