Jadeveon Clowney Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns part ways with former No. 1 overall pick

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 3/15/23

Among a slew of transactions to kick off the start of the new NFL league year, the Cleveland Browns made perhaps the least surprising move, parting ways with former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney.

Last offseason, Clowney signed on with the Browns in what essentially amounted to a one-year deal with three voided years. Had Clowney still been on the Browns' roster on Friday, his $41.1 million in future base salary would've become fully guaranteed, so his release was expected.

Jadeveon Clowney would've had $41.165 million of future base salaries become fully guaranteed if he were still on the roster Friday. It was always structured as a one-year deal. And now -- for the fifth offseason in a row -- Clowney is on the market. https://t.co/1RDZrTKu5Q
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 15, 2023

This past season was a down year for Clowney, who was limited to 12 games while dealing with a concussion and an ankle issue. He recorded 28 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble when he did manage to make it onto the field. On the whole over his two season in Cleveland, Clowney tallied 38 tackles, 11 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 26 games.

In January, the veteran edge-rusher came under fire after he told cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot that he was 95 percent sure he would not be back with the Browns next season, adding that he "need[s] to be around somebody that believes in [him]." Cleveland responded to the comments by sending Clowney home from practice.

Selected No. 1 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, Clowney has recorded 43 sacks and 320 tackles over nine NFL seasons with the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Browns.

At 30 years old, Clowney more than likely has plenty left in the tank and should catch on with a new team looking for edge-rushing help relatively quickly.

On Tuesday, looking to retool its defensive line, Cleveland reportedly agreed to terms with several veterans in defensive end Obo Okoronkwo (three-year, $19 million) and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (four-year, $57 million).

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