Browns Still Aren't Out of Clowney Sweepstakes: Here's Why
The Cleveland Browns have been attached to free agent Jadeveon Clowney for months and while there are reports that Clowney is talking to as many as three teams currently, there have been no further talks with the Browns since the renegotiated contract with Olivier Vernon this year.
Yes, the Browns could afford to sign Clowney and keep Vernon, but they really want to roll over the significant amount of cap room they have into next year. With what is likely a reduced salary cap in 2021, the Browns want to ensure they have the ability to sign players like Denzel Ward and Baker Mayfield to contract extensions while still being able to be aggressive on the trade and free agent market.
That's where the Browns re-enter the picture. After reportedly offering Clowney one, two and three-year deals for up to $17 million per season, the former #1 overall pick still wouldn't bite. How much of that is entirely about avoiding training camp and how much of it is based in specific preferences is still unclear, especially as he's still unsigned with training camps now ended.
The Browns didn't want to wait forever and leave Vernon, who has been a professional every step of the way, out on a lurch. They set an internal deadline and moved on it when they couldn't get Clowney to sign, committing to Vernon for this season.
The New Orleans Saints are trying to go all in this year and sign Clowney in what they hope is the final piece of their Super Bowl puzzle. A one-year deal would be ideal for the Browns, since Vernon is only signed through this season. The Browns could keep Vernon longer, but they want to have options. Given just how aggressive the Browns were with Clowney this year, it stands to reason that they would still be interested in putting him across from Myles Garrett next year if he's a free agent.
The key is that if the Browns don't get him this year, now that they've signed Vernon to a deal that could be worth up to $13 million, they aren't then unable to roll over the money they would be spending on Clowney in addition to what he'd be making in 2021.
Using the figure of $17 million this year, it would cost them the ability to rollover that much money into 2021. If he's earning $17 million next year, the total chunk Clowney would take out of the cap would be $34 million. The Browns still may really want Clowney, but they will be patient to avoid that substantial surcharge to get him this year.
In the mean time, the Browns can figure out exactly what they have with their team now and get a sense of whether they are ready to compete for the Super Bowl in 2021 and 2022. If they have a productive season and earn a spot in the playoffs in 2020, they would have more reason to go after Clowney and a stronger case to make. Having proven they are a functional enough franchise to get into the playoffs and potentially go further, that might be enough to convince Clowney to take their pitch more seriously.
