2 former Pro Bowl defensive players predicted to sign with the Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns may be about to bolster their defensive line.

The Cleveland Browns have a lot of holes to still fill on their team. Despite there being an obvious need at receiver, the team isn’t very high on anyone remaining, so they’ll stand pat there. The safeties are another place of emphasis where the Browns are going to rely on Andrew Berry’s past drafts to secure the starting role of the second safety spot. Yet, one spot that the Browns are predicted to upgrade through free agency still is the defensive line.

Bill Barnwell of ESPN believes the Browns are the favorite for two former Pro Bowlers and is predicting that the Browns will land former Clevelander player Jadeveon Clowney and former Detroit Lion standout, Ndamukong Suh.

Barnell believes that both will end up in Cleveland and spoke highly of Suh (via Browns Wire), who’s 35 years old.

"Suh might not be the two-way force we saw during his time with the Lions, and the Bucs were careful to reduce his snap rate down from 77% in 2019 to 63% this past season, but he’s still a reliable interior disruptor. The man just doesn’t get hurt; Suh hasn’t missed a single game due to injury as a pro across 12 campaigns."

The Cleveland Browns would be wise to sign both men to short-term deals

Cleveland should’ve addressed the pass-rushing need in the second round, but they didn’t, and instead, we’re here. The team bringing in Clowney on a one-year deal makes all the sense in the world, but would Clowney take just a one-year deal? That remains to be seen. There’s no doubt that Clowney, who did have a mild year in 2021, is an upgrade over just about anyone the team has on the roster.

He wasn’t the dominant end so many thought he’d be and was out-paced and out-played by rookie defensive ends according to PFF. That doesn’t mean Clowney isn’t still an asset, just not one you’re going to want to spend gobs of money on beyond this one year. If the team has to overpay to get him on a one-year deal, so be it. Just don’t let it be a long-term deal.

For Suh, this makes all the sense in the world for a variety of reasons. The Browns don’t care about player reputations and Suh is as dirty as they come. Al Davis would be proud of the Browns’ hiring practices. Suh’s disgusting on-field history is well known, that doesn’t mean he’s not an asset on the field, however.

With the team employing a who’s who in less than reputable players, to not sign Suh for his transgressions would be hugely hypocritical by the Browns. He’s still a starter, even if you don’t want to play him every down and the squad needs starters.

So, why not?