Jadeveon Clowney is set to test the waters of free agency (again), the Cleveland Browns should let him walk.
When the Cleveland Browns signed Jadeveon Clowney prior to last season there was cautious optimism. Sure, Clowney has shown previously to be a talented player, but injuries and poor production in previous seasons led to questions about what he could actually contribute. 2021 saw Clowney play at a level not seen since his final season in Houston with nine sacks and 11 tackles for loss. This should lead to a lofty payday, a scenario the Browns should avoid at all costs.
Considering that Jadeveon Clowney was able to meet or exceed his numbers in 14 games with the Browns that he had in his 21 previous games should be a bit of a warning. Add in the fact that Clowney has a lengthy injury history, it is very possible that these numbers are not reached again for the rest of his career.
As far as contract is concerned, Jadeveon Clowney has signed one-year deals in back-to-back seasons. This is an attempt to perform at a high level and cash in on a multi-year deal, something he has not been able to acquire as he has played for four franchises in four seasons. The reality is that Clowney was channeling his inner Dennis Reynolds and Dennising not only the Browns this year, but Tennessee last season.
For those unfamiliar with the D.E.N.N.I.S. system from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, let the clip refresh your memory.
As far as how Jadeveon Clowney Dennis’d the Browns, it is simple.
D: Demonstrate Value
Clowney was able to produce at a level that nobody realistically expected, end of story.
E: Engage Physically
It’s football, football is a physical game.
N. Nurturing Dependence
Here is where the tone starts to change. Clowney was able to appear more important than he actually was. Without Myles Garrett on the other side of the line, Clowney is not able to be in the situations he found himself in leading to his production. A similar not so surprising phenomenon happened when playing with J.J. Watt.
N: Neglect Emotionally
The NFL is a business. Front offices and coaching staffs don’t let emotion interfere with their decisions, a player shouldn’t either.
I: Inspire Hope
Unless a player specifically closes the door on a return there is hope. Although a report stating the the Browns will let Clowney test free agency to gauge his value, ultimately this will fall on the player fair or not.
S: Separate Entirely
Here we are, the end. Moving on and finding a new home that will pay a ton of money over multiple years. Jadeveon Clowney was Andrew Berry’s white whale. After failing to sign him the year prior, Berry was able to bring Clowney to town and it was successful. The issue is that the Clowney signing was supposed to be the icing on the cake. Cleveland ended up being a middle of the road defense by the end of the season, an expectation that was more than fair.
Now the Browns find themselves in a situation where they are further from contention than a year ago. The front office will have to evaluate their priorities and who fits in with their team building process. Considering Andrew Berry said that the team will add talent like an expansion team, another year of Clowney seems out of the picture. Clowney will be looking for a bigger deal than what Cleveland would like to offer and will use his 2021 season as a bargaining chip in contract talks. Clowney’s production should attract many teams looking to overpay a player with an alarming injury history and inconsistent play. The Browns would be wise to let someone else pay Clowney and avoid a scenario which could very well blow up in their face.
