Factory Of Sadness
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Cleveland Browns: 5 post-draft free agents who can still fill holes

By Chad Porto

Cleveland Browns Peyton Hillis (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Cleveland Browns Peyton Hillis (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 10: Cameron Wake #91 of the Tennessee Titans runs onto the field with soldiers before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Nissan Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Chiefs 35-32. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 10: Cameron Wake #91 of the Tennessee Titans runs onto the field with soldiers before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Nissan Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Chiefs 35-32. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

DE Cameron Wake

The Browns pass rush disappeared when Myles Garrett committed his felony last season. Guys like Everson Griffen and Jadeveon Clowney are the obvious names here, mostly because Oliver Vernon has to earn anything he gets this year. After all, he had a disastrous 2019. He’s the guy the Browns got after they sent their second-best offensive linemen over to the Giants to get him. He has to live up to that trade if he wants this spot.

So, we know that Griffen and Clowney are the obvious picks from free agency. What if, however, they don’t want to come to Cleveland or price themselves out of the conversation? Well, there’s no other starters on the market that provide much of an upgrade from Vernon, but what about a veteran who’s making a quiet case for Canton?

Cameron Wake was an NFL-hopeful who washed out, ended up in the CFL, and came back to the NFL as a pass-rushing god for the Miami Dolphins. He’s now 38, and a free agent, but he still has some potential in the Browns system.

Now, no way do you pay big money to Wake or even ask him to start. He’d be a situational third-down pass-rusher in the event there are no better players to be brought in for an upgrade at the left end spot.

There’s also the possibility that Vernon could get moved back to linebacker like he played in New York. This might be the best way to capitalize on Wake, by moving Vernon (or Wake) to an outside linebacker spot on third-and-longs, while the other lines up at the left end spot. This would give you some pash rush help for Garrett.

Again, this is only if you can’t land one of the former Pro Bowlers. In no world should a nearly 40-year-old Wake be the reason why you don’t go get Clowney or Griffen.

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