Could Olivier Vernon be back with the Browns in 2022?

The Cleveland Browns would be smart to give Olivier Vernon a look in 2022.

Olivier Vernon saw his 2020 end in the most painful way possible, with a massive injury to his ankle. Vernon suffered a torn Achilles tendon, which is often a career-altering injury for athletes like Vernon. He missed the playoffs, the first in 18 years for the Browns, and his injury proved costly to a defense that wasn’t that good with him, let alone without him.

The Browns were likely to upgrade the position regardless due to him demanding a huge figure and quite living up to it. The injury only expedited his departure. Out went Vernon, in came Jadeveon Clowney.

Clowney had a good 2021, and now he’s going to want to get paid for it. That in itself isn’t a bad thing, but Clowney is oft-injured and often under-performs in the stat categories he’s expected to. As good as he is against the run, he’s not always half as efficient against the pass. So the Browns will likely try to feel out what it’s going to take to bring him back but have proven to walk away from a player if the figure gets too high for their liking.

Enter Browns Wire, who suggests that Vernon could be a real option to replace Clowney should the former No. 1 overall pick opt not to return to Cleveland.

Olivier Vernon should not be the Cleveland Browns’ primary focus

I didn’t like Vernon for $10+ million per year, yet, after an injury and needing to prove he can still hang with the big boys, Vernon’s worth a look. He’ll likely demand very little money and will likely do it on a one-year deal. That makes him enticing.

Even if the Browns re-sign Clowney.

The Browns need more than two pass-rushers, and that’s true for the entire NFL. Clowney and line-mate, Myles Garrett are two of the most versatile guys in the league. They can be lined up inside and still be as effective as they were outside.

If you couple that with at least one solid defensive tackle, and a returning and efficient Vernon, then you could have a real severe passing threat. Second and long and third and long would be nightmare scenarios, especially if Vernon is closer to his old self. That not only opens up a complicated front four on passing-downs, but Vernon used to play linebacker as well and could join Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on third and long situations as a potential blitzing linebacker.

I wouldn’t start Vernon, and I wouldn’t assume him to be an every-down end at the moment, but on a reduced contract, in situational settings, Vernon could be an ideal acquisition for a defense in need of creating more pressure.