Over the next two weeks, as the 2021 NFL Draft gets closer and closer, we're spotlighting a different position group each day at ClevelandBrowns.com.
Our Road to the Draft series will dive deep into the top players available at each position group. In this series, we'll be analyzing what the Browns have on hand and how that may affect the team's decision making with its nine selections.
We're continuing with the defensive ends, a position that saw quite a bit of change since the start of the new league year.
What's Happened: Well, a lot. Veteran Adrian Clayborn was released before the start of the new league year and Olivier Vernon remains a free agent. They combined for 12.5 sacks and played hundreds of valuable snaps throughout the 2020 season. Cleveland responded accordingly in free agency, first with the signing of Takkarist McKinley and then with last week's addition of three-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney. Both players are loaded with talent and looking for redemption from their respectively frustrating 2020 campaigns. Additionally, the Browns re-signed Porter Gustin, who was an exclusive rights free agent. Gustin was a valuable member of the rotation all throughout last season.
Where that leaves things: ...and then there's Myles Garrett. Arguably the league's best player off the edge is coming off a 2020 All-Pro season in which he racked up 12 sacks and found himself at the center of some of the defense's biggest plays of the year. He's hitting his prime, and the Browns are working to ensure he'll be surrounded by players who can help make his job JUST a little easier. Garrett will draw the double teams — there's no questioning that — but opponents may have to think twice about it if Clowney, McKinley or both tap into the relentless danger they've displayed at points throughout their respective careers. The Browns also have three other faces in the room at the start of their offseason program: Joe Jackson, Cameron Malveaux and Curtis Weaver. Jackson and Malveaux saw limited action last season while Weaver, a 2020 fifth-round pick of the Dolphins, spent the year on injured reserve.
Who's still available in free agency: The Browns' signing of Clowney came nearly a full month after the start of the new league year, but a handful of veterans remain on the market. The group includes Ryan Kerrigan, Melvin Ingram, Justin Houston, Everson Griffen, Ezekiel Ansah, Tyrone Crawford, Bruce Irvin and Trent Murphy.
What's next: The Browns have been linked to edge rushers with the No. 26 pick since the start of mock draft season. Though some analysts have backed away from that prediction in the wake of the Clowney signing, many others haven't while pointing toward the team's need to secure a potential long-term option to play alongside Garrett in the coming years.
Another factor: This year's draft does not have a clear-cut, elite, No. 1 pass rusher. It will be almost certainly the first time since 2012 an edge rusher is not selected in the top five. Instead, this year's draft has a glut of players projected to land in the late part of the first round and early part of the second round. And, well, that's where the Browns are picking.
If Cleveland looks to add to its group of edge rushers in the first round, names such as Gregory Rousseau (MIami), Kwity Paye (Michigan), Azeez Ojulari (Georgia), Jayson Oweh (Penn State) and Jaelan Phillips (Miami) are the likeliest to be considered. If the Browns look to address the position Day 2 and beyond, names such as Joseph Ossai (Texas), Rashad Weaver (Pittsburgh), Ronnie Perkins (Oklahoma) and Osa Odighizuwa (UCLA) are worth knowing.
Over the next few weeks, as the 2021 NFL Draft gets closer and closer, we're spotlighting a different position group each day at ClevelandBrowns.com.
Our Road to the Draft series will dive deep into the top players available at each position group. In this series, we'll be analyzing what the Browns have on hand and how that may affect the team's decision making with its nine selections.
Miami defensive lineman Gregory Rousseau (15) celebrates a turnover and wears the turnover chain during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Central Michigan, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
UCLA defensive lineman Jaelan Phillips, right, and linebacker Josh Woods, left, is seen against Texas A&M an NCAA college football game, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA won 45-44. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
Defensive lineman Payton Turner of Houston (98) warms up during the American team practice for the NCAA college football Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
Oklahoma defensive end Ronnie Perkins (7) celebrates his team's 27-21 win over Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. . (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Oklahoma defensive end Ronnie Perkins participates in the school's Pro Day football workout for NFL scouts on Friday, March 12, 2021, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
Joe Tryon, an edge linebacker, runs a drill, Tuesday, March 30, 2021, during Washington's pro day football workout for NFL scouts in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Joe Tryon, an edge linebacker, pauses between drills, Tuesday, March 30, 2021, during Washington's pro day football workout for NFL scouts in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Defensive player of the game, Georgia linebacker Azeez Ojulari holds the championship trophy after the Peach Bowl NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in Atlanta. Georgia won 22-21. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
American Team defensive lineman Payton Turner of Houston (98) walks on the field during the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh (28) watches pregame before an NCAA college football game against Illinois in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Texas linebacker Joseph Ossai takes part in the school's Pro Day, Thursday, March 11, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas outside linebacker Joseph Ossai carries during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Ossai was selected to The Associated Press All-America first-team offense, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Michigan defensive lineman Kwity Paye is seen during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh (28) lines up against Ohio State in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Texas' Joseph Ossai is pursued by Oklahoma State safety Tre Sterling (3) during an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh (28) warms up for an NCAA college football game against Michigan State in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Georgia linebacker Azeez Ojulari (13) celebrates after a sack during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Michigan defensive lineman Kwity Paye (19) defends against Minnesota in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Minneapolis. Michigan won 49-24. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Jaelan Phillips of Miami celebrates a defensive stop during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia Tech Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Blacksburg, Va. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool)
Houston defensive lineman Payton Turner (98) rushes during an NCAA football game against Central Florida on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Miami's Gregory Rousseau (15) tackles Duke's Deon Jackson (25) during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Miami and Duke in Durham, N.C. Rousseau was selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America first-team, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)
FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Michigan defensive lineman Kwity Paye (19) sacks Rutgers quarterback Artur Sitkowski (8) in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Michigan has been good, not great, under coach Jim Harbaugh. Michigan defensive end Kwity Paye said the 19th-ranked team is under the radar and the Wolverines have taken a lot of punches from people, criticizing the relatively underwhelming state of the program. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Washington linebacker Joe Tryon gestures during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Utah, on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 in Seattle. Utah won 33-28. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Georgia defensive Azeez Ojulari (13) against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Utah wide receiver Derrick Vickers (8) is lifted off the ground as he is hit by Texas linebacker Joseph Ossai (46) during the second half of the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Georgia linebacker Azeez Ojulari (13) in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Oklahoma defensive lineman Ronnie Perkins (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
Georgia linebacker Azeez Ojulari rushes the Arkansas State line during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Michigan defensive lineman Kwity Paye (19) plays against Army in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Florida offensive lineman Jean Delance (56) blocks against Miami defensive lineman Gregory Rousseau (15) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Clemson's Trevor Lawrence (16) is sacked by Wake Forest's Carlos Basham Jr. (18) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Oklahoma defensive lineman Ronnie Perkins answers a question during an NCAA college football media day in Norman, Okla., Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
UCLA defensive lineman Jaelan Phillips blows a kiss to the crowd before the first half of an NCAA college football game against Memphis Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Houston Cougars defensive tackle Ed Oliver, left, helps Houston Cougars defensive lineman Payton Turner (98) with his pads during warm ups before the start of a NCAA college football game against the Rice Owls Saturday, Sep. 1, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
UCLA linebacker Jaelan Phillips (15) celebrates after sacking Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
