Despite adding a pass rusher and wideout in the draft, the Browns could still re-sign defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and wide receiver Jarvis Landry. Speaking to reporters, Browns GM Andrew Berry said the team’s draft decisions wouldn’t preclude them from re-upping the two veterans, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Veteran Browns reporter Tony Grossi echoed that sentiment (on Twitter), saying the Browns continue to target Clowney and a receiver.
We heard last month that a Cleveland return was still in play for both Clowney and Landry. However, the organization obviously couldn’t rely on either player returning, so they selected UAB defensive end Alex Wright with the No. 78 pick and Purdue wide receiver David Bell with the No. 99 pick.
Clowney, 29, has famously never landed a long-term contract as a veteran, going from a 2018 fifth-year option to a 2019 franchise tag to one-year deals with the Titans and Browns in the following years. Playing opposite Myles Garrett, Clowney registered nine sacks last season. He played with Watson for two seasons in Houston.
The Browns still have interest in bringing back Landry despite releasing him earlier this offseason in a cost-cutting move. Landry’s five-year Pro Bowl streak stopped after the 2019 season, and he finished with a career-low 570 receiving yards last year. When Watson is available in 2022, the Browns should feature superior aerial capabilities.