Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, one of the top defensive free agents still available this offseason, has signed with the Browns.
Here are five things to know about Cleveland's big addition to the defensive line:
1. Clowney arrives in Cleveland after playing eight games with the Tennessee Titans last season. Despite not recording a sack, he was still one of the most impactful players on the defense and registered four pass deflections — his most in a season since 2015 — one forced fumble and six quarterback hits. Clowney was ranked by Pro Football Focus at No. 19 on their top edge rushers list and the fourth-best defensive end available at the start of free agency.
2. Clowney's prime years came from 2014-2018 with the Houston Texans, where he produced 29 sacks, 151 tackles, four forced fumbles and 11 pass deflections and thrived on the defensive line alongside perennial All-Pro J.J. Watt. The Texans traded Clowney to the Seattle Seahawks before the 2019 season, and he registered three sacks, four forced fumbles and two touchdowns — one from his first career interception, and another from a fumble recovery.
3. Clowney was drafted by the Texans with the first overall pick of 2014 after becoming one of the college football's best defensive players at South Carolina, where he recorded 24 sacks, 129 tackles and nine forced fumbles from 2011-2013. Clowney and Myles Garrett, his new teammate, are the only two defensive ends to be drafted No. 1 overall since Mario Williams in 2006. Together, they've combined to make five Pro Bowls while collecting 64 total sacks since 2017, when Garrett was drafted by the Browns.
Check out photos of Jadeveon Clowney
Jadeveon Clowney signs his contract on April 14, 2021 at the Berea Facility
Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) sacks Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney talks to the media after a victory over the Oakland Raiders in an AFC Wild Card NFL football game Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) rushes during a regular season Week 8 NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, in Houston. The Texans beat the Dolphins 42-23. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) is introduced prior to an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney talks with the media following an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2013, file photo, South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney looks to the sidelines between plays in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Columbia, S.C. Clowney finished last season with 11 1/2 tackles for loss and three sacks after getting 23 1/2 and 13 in 2012. He is a top prospect in the upcoming NFL draft. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt, File)
South Carolina football player Jadeveon Clowney arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 17, 2013, at Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Jadeveon Clowney signs his contract on April 14, 2021 at the Berea Facility
South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) celebrates with fans after defeating Clemson 31-17 in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney smiles as he sits on the bench during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt)
Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) lines up against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) rushes against Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Jadeveon Clowney, the Houston Texans No. 1 overall draft pick, holds up his new jersey and jokes about where to look during an NFL football press conference Friday, May 9, 2014, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
Jadeveon Clowney on April 14, 2021 at the Berea Facility
FILE - In this July 16, 2013 file photo, South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney talks with reporters during the Southeastern Conference football media days in Hoover, Ala. For the next four months, you likely won't be able to escape notice of All-American defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)
South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, center, talks during South Carolina's pro day in Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, April 2, 2014. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) walks off the field after an NCAA college football game against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. South Carolina won 52-7. (AP Photo/David Quinn)
Jadeveon Clowney signs his contract on April 14, 2021 at the Berea Facility
South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) rushes in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013 in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
NFL player Jadeveon Clowney accepts the award for best play at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 17, 2013, at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)
Jadeveon Clowney signs his contract on April 14, 2021 at the Berea Facility
Houston Texans' Jadeveon Clowney (90) runs on to the field before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans' Jadeveon Clowney warms up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Houston Texans' Jadeveon Clowney runs on the field before an NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Jadeveon Clowney signs his contract on April 14, 2021 at the Berea Facility
Houston Texans' Jadeveon Clowney (90) celebrates after he sacked Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, in Houston. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Jadeveon Clowney, from South Carolina, walks on stage for a group photo with fellow draft prospects before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, May 8, 2014, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Jadeveon Clowney, center, from South Carolina, walks off stage after standing for a group photo with fellow draft prospects before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, May 8, 2014, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
4. Clowney is an eight-year veteran but he's still just 28 years old. He spent the last two seasons with minimal time to prepare for a new team, too — both his 2019 trade to Seattle and 2020 signing with Tennessee were completed with less than two weeks until the regular season. 2021 will be Clowney's first complete offseason since 2018, when he recorded nine sacks, 47 tackles and was nominated to the Pro Bowl.
5. Clowney joins Takkarist McKinley, Porter Gustin, Curtis Weaver, Cameron Malveaux, Joe Jackson and Garrett as current Browns defensive ends. He is the sixth defensive free agent the Browns have signed this offseason. Several mock drafts have projected Cleveland to select an edge rusher at No. 26 overall, but now that Clowney has entered the room as a possible starter, the Browns could lean even heavier toward a "Best Player Available" approach, a luxury not many teams can afford in the first round.
