The Cleveland Browns made it clear they wanted to add pass rush depth this offseason, but two veteran edge rushers with ties to the franchise chose to sign elsewhere. 

Former Browns pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney signed with the Houston Texans recently, and on Tuesday, news broke that Za’Darius Smith is signing with the Atlanta Falcons on a 1-year, $6 million deal worth up to $8 million, according to Jordan Schultz.

Cleveland hosted both players for visits in recent weeks, showing how serious the front office was about supplementing its defensive line room with a proven veteran.

Reuniting with either Clowney or Smith would have been a positive addition for what the Browns have on the field. Both spent time with Cleveland previously in their careers, and bringing in a familiar face with proven pass-rushing credentials made sense for a team searching for a fourth edge rusher.

Browns striking out on both targets isn’t a good look

The Browns brought Clowney in for a visit just a couple of weeks ago and followed that up by hosting Smith for a tryout at the end of last week. Hosting two veteran pass rushers who had both spent time with the organization was a clear move by Cleveland to find someone they’re familiar with, someone they know can still get the job done even at an older age.

Clowney chose Houston first, and the Browns turned their attention to Smith. Cleveland had hoped to sign Smith, but his visit with the Falcons went well enough for him to commit to Atlanta instead. Smith will play for former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski once again in his new home.

The $6 million base on Smith’s deal isn’t a massive number for a player who can still get you five to sveej sacks a year. Money could have played a factor if the Browns weren’t willing to match, but the optics of losing both players paints a broader picture.

Both Clowney and Smith had Cleveland as an option, but when other landing spots materialized, they took them. That pattern tells you something about where the Browns stand right now in the eyes of veteran free agents. Until Cleveland puts a winning product on the field, it’s going to continue to be more of the same.

The Browns have some young, exciting pieces on their roster, but until they figure out the quarterback position, they’re going to find themselves in this spot repeatedly. Smith choosing Atlanta over Cleveland is another example of that reality, and the Browns will need to look elsewhere for pass rush help heading into the regular season.