The Cleveland Browns are exploring a reunion with free agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, and the visit caught plenty of people off guard. Cleveland hosted the 33-year-old edge rusher on Wednesday during training camp, and the two sides are expected to stay in touch over the coming days and weeks.

Clowney, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, previously played for the Browns during the 2021-22 seasons, appearing in 26 games over those two years. His tenure in Cleveland did not end well, and the fallout leaked over publicly. Still, the Browns would like to sign the veteran pass rusher if everything works out as planned.

The visit raises questions about Cleveland’s direction

The move comes as a surprise given the direction the Browns have taken this offseason. Cleveland traded Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams and has leaned into a youth movement with the influx of talent brought in over the last two drafts. Bringing in a 33-year-old pass rusher with 12 years of experience would seem to run counter to that approach.

General manager Andrew Berry set the record straight on Thursday. 

“You can’t look at roster construction in a vacuum. Certainly, we’ve had a bit of a youth movement here, but that doesn’t necessarily mean every transaction is going to be a 24-year-old player or something along those lines. Other things come into play, the role and fit, the financial cost and how it fits into the broader construction of either the position group or the side of the ball.”

Berry’s comments make it clear the Browns aren’t locked into a one-dimensional rebuilding strategy. The right player at the right price can still make sense regardless of age.

Where Clowney fits in the Browns’ pass rush

As things stand, Cleveland is likely to start Jared Verse, acquired in the Garrett trade from the Rams, and Alex Wright on the edge. Isaiah McGuire projects as the third pass rusher, and from there it’s an open competition for the fourth spot.

The Browns lost Cameron Thomas in free agency and haven’t brought in a replacement. That gap has left players like Spencer Fano battling for the back end of the edge rusher depth chart. Adding Clowney would give Cleveland much-needed depth along the edge, and he would likely slot in as their second or third pass rusher based on his production.

Clowney is coming off a strong season with the Dallas Cowboys, recording 8.5 sacks in 13 games played. He has posted at least 5.5 sacks in four of the last five seasons, showing he can still produce at a high level.

Signing Clowney would be a clear upgrade for the pass rush rotation. The fit makes some sense from a roster construction standpoint, and Berry’s comments reinforced that Cleveland isn’t building the roster with blinders on. The Browns need depth at the position, and Clowney provides proven production at what would presumably be a reasonable cost.

The visit was reported as successful, and the two sides will remain in contact. Whether a deal gets done remains to be seen, but the Browns have made clear how a veteran addition like Clowney fits into what they’re building.