Adrian Clayborn made it official Thursday, signing with the Browns and giving the team another pass-rushing option alongside Myles Garrett and the rest of the defensive line.
Here are five things to know about the 10-year veteran.
1. Clayborn is entering his 10th NFL season after playing four of the last five with the Falcons. Though he's started just 15 games over the past five years, Clayborn has served as a valuable member for whichever defense he's been a part of because of his knack for getting to the quarterback. Appearing in all but six games over that stretch, Clayborn has collected 23.5 of his 36.5 career sacks over the past five years. He topped out at 9.5 sacks in 2017 before joining the Patriots in 2018. For his career, Clayborn, who returned to the Falcons in 2019, has 196 tackles, 36.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles.
2. Back to that 2017 campaign, when he posted that career high in sacks. Clayborn racked up a whopping six of them in a single game. He entered the contest with just two in the first eight games of the season before single-handedly wrecking Dallas' offensive plans and leading the Falcons to a 22-7 victory. The six sacks were the most in Falcons franchise history and were just one short of the NFL record, which is held by the late Derrick Thomas. Clayborn was so dominant in the game that it prompted the Cowboys to make a change at left tackle before it was over.
Check out photos of defensive end Adrian Clayborn
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn (99) during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. The Saints won 26-18. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn (99) celebrates with defensive tackle Dontari Poe (92) after a sack during a week 14 NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, in Atlanta. Atlanta won 20-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots defensive end Adrian Clayborn (94) lines up on the line of scrimmage during a week 15 NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh won 17-10. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Adrian Clayborn poses after being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn (99) waits for the snap during an NFL game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019 in New Orleans. The Falcons defeated the Saints 26-9. (Greg Trott via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn (99) stretches during warm ups prior to an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in New Orleans. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn (99) takes the field during player introductions prior to an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. The Saints won 26-18. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn (99) rushes against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn arrives before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn (94) walks off the field during NFL Super Bowl 53 against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 in Atlanta. (Greg Trott via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn (99) in action on defense during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons 34-33. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn (99) runs in a week 7 NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sep. 27, 2019 in Atlanta. (Michael Zarrilli/AP Images for Panini, via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn (99) knocks the ball loose from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during a 2017 NFL week 10 regular season game, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017 in Atlanta, Ga. The Falcons defeated the Cowboys, 27-7. (James D. Smith via AP)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) and defensive end Adrian Clayborn (94) celebrate during NFL Super Bowl 53 against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Patriots won 13-3. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Adrian Clayborn plays in a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, FL. October 3, 2011. ( AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn (99) during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Atlanta. The Falcons won 24-20. (Paul Abell via AP)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Adrian Clayborn (94) in action during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
New England Patriots defensive end Adrian Clayborn (94) runs around the edge as Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (77) blocks during an NFL Super Bowl LIII football game on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 in Atlanta. New England won 13-3 to win Super Bowl LIII. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Defensive end Adrian Clayborn (94) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reaches out to tackle quarterback Matt Ryan (2) of the Atlanta Falcons Sept. 25, 2011 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay won 16 - 13. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn (94) lines up on defense against the Kansas City Chiefs during an AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019 in Kansas City, MO. The Patriots defeated the Chiefs 37-31 in overtime. (Joe Robbins via AP)
New England Patriots Adrian Clayborn #94 in action against the Los Angeles Rams during NFL Super Bowl 53, Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
New England Patriots defensive end Adrian Clayborn (94) walks towards the field prior to an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 41-28. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn (99) warms up prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Atlanta. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Adrian Clayborn, left, and tackle Derek Hardman, right, work out for the first day in pads during NFL football training camp Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State running back Brandon Saine (3) is tackled by Iowa defensive tackle Adrian Clayborn during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
3. A moment like that against the Cowboys served as quite the feeling of redemption for Clayborn, a former first-round pick by Tampa Bay who missed the good part of multiple seasons because of serious injuries. After an impressive rookie season in which he started all 16 games, and posted 42 tackles and 7.5 sacks, Clayborn appeared in only three games in 2012 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He started all 16 games the following year and had a career-best 64 tackles but only saw the field for one game in 2014 because of a torn bicep muscle. The injuries became such a source of frustration that Clayborn admitted he considered retirement before the 2017 season. "I gave it thought for about a month," Clayborn told ESPN. "I shared it with my wife. I told Gerald (McCoy). I told my agent, Blake [Baratz]. My wife talked me out of it."
4. Clayborn was born with Erb's Palsy in his right arm, a condition that is characterized by weakness and loss of motion in the affected area. In a 2018 ESPN story, Clayborn said he'd embraced the adversity he's overcome throughout his career. "At first I was a little hesitant [to talk about it], but it came out in the draft process. Now I embrace it," Clayborn told ESPN. "I think I might be the only one in the NFL who ever played with Erb's palsy. I try to embrace it and reach out when people reach out to me, and give encouraging words to get through this tough process. Because it's not easy."
5. Clayborn grew up in St. Louis and starred at the University of Iowa. He caught the NFL's attention as a junior when he collected 20 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. He followed up with a senior season that was just as good, earning consensus All-American honors, including some first-team recognition. Clayborn was selected 20th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft -- one selection before Cleveland took DT Phil Taylor. Clayborn was the second straight first-round defensive lineman selected by the Buccaneers, joining DT Gerald McCoy.
