Browns Still Interested In Jadeveon Clowney, Offering Him Most Money

Update:

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns are still interested in signing free agent DE Jadeveon Clowney, but he’s currently weighing his options.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said in an interview with ESPN Cleveland on Wednesday that the Browns have been the “most aggressive” team in terms of their offer to free agent DE Jadeveon Clowney.

However, Schefter explained that Clowney has balked at the Browns’ offer.

“I think they’ve been the most aggressive team with him financially. And, I just think he has balked at going to Cleveland for whatever reason. I think he’s been hesitant to go because if he wasn’t, he would’ve gone already because it’s the most money,” Schefter said, per Jake Trotter. “It’s the richest offer on the table and he hasn’t taken it. So why is that? I don’t know. Is that not wanting to be in that city? Is that a lack of belief in the organization? I don’t know what it is. But there’s no doubt that Cleveland has offered the most money to date. For whatever reason he has not been willing to take it so far. That doesn’t mean that it couldn’t change, but it hasn’t changed just yet.”

A few weeks ago, Clowney told Mark Berman that he hasn’t ruled out returning to the Seahawks. 

“Whoever I sign with is gonna get the best version of me. I know what I got to do to get where I need to get,” Clowney said. “I love Seattle. I love everybody on the coaching staff.”

Clowney admitted that his situation has been delayed, due in part to the fact that teams are unable to bring him in for a physical right now. 

“I know what’s going on in the world. It’s a slow process until teams can see me and see what I got and can give me physicals. I’m just waiting on the right opportunity,” Clowney said, per Berman. 

Clowney also confirmed that he’s fully recovered from offseason core muscle surgery and has been working out four days a week. 

“I want to let people know I’m ready,” Clowney said, per Berman. 

Berman reports that the Browns, Ravens, Titans, and Eagles are among the teams expressing interest in Clowney.

Before that, Dianna Russini of ESPN reported that the Seahawks and Titans are still interested in signing him. In fact, Russini says both teams have made multiple offers to Clowney, but none have matched his desired asking price tag.

Sources tell Russini they believe “he is just not in a hurry to sign.”

According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, the Jets were fishing around Clowney and would have a good shot at him with a legitimate offer.

Clowney was looking for around $20 million per year this offseason, but was reportedly moved closer to $17-$18 million a year. 

Clowney, 27, is a former No. 1 overall pick of the Texans back in 2014. He was in the final year of his four-year, $22.272 million contract when the Texans picked up his fifth-year option which paid him $12.306 million for the 2018 season. 

Houston franchised Clowney last year before trading him to the Seahawks at the start of the regular season. 

In 2019, Clowney appeared in 13 games for the Seahawks and recorded 31 tackles, three sacks, an interception, two defensive touchdowns, four forced fumbles, two recoveries and three pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 2o edge rusher out of 108 qualifying players.

We have him featured in our Top 100 Available 2020 Free Agents list.