Browns Need to Put Their Money Where Their Mouth is and Sign Jadeveon Clowney

It's almost unfathomable, but Jadeveon Clowney, arguably the most coveted defensive player entering free agency this offseason, remains unsigned as we enter the final stretch of May. A reunion with Seattle seems unlikely as the Seahawks would severely cripple their financial flexibility by pursuing him.

That, according to Yahoo! Sports insider Charles Robinson, has led the Cleveland Browns to jump ahead the rest of the pack. Though their chances at signing the three-time Pro Bowler are highly contingent on his willingness to ink a one-year contract, Cleveland can't afford to let this opportunity slip.

There's simply no excuse for the Browns not to seal the deal here. Adding Clowney to a defensive line that already features the likes of Myles Garrett, Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon and Larry Ogunjobi would give them the best pass rush in the NFL, hands down.

The 27-year-old stud's price tag has dropped considerably after initially demanding to reset the market for his position. With $37 million (!) lying around in cap space, Cleveland could afford him a competitive offer without breaking a sweat.

At this stage in the free agency cycle, Clowney has zero leverage, meaning he should sign with the team that offers him the greatest salary for the 2020 season. We honestly wouldn't see a problem with Cleveland offering the former No. 1 overall pick a two-year deal. If that's what it would take, then why not?

If the Browns manage to botch this, fans should riot. They have too much money available not to make this work, especially from the lead dog spot.