Browns Continue Sneakily Brilliant Offseason With Cheap Deal for DE Adrian Clayborn

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry has been on the job for just a couple of months, and he's already solidified himself as one of the slicker NFL executives in the league. After adding the likes of Austin Hooper and Jack Conklin, Berry made yet another transaction on Tuesday.

The Browns signed former Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn, a deal confirmed by the player's agency, IFA.

Clayborn, 31, has been in the league since being drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After his stint in Tampa Bay ended, he had a three-year inital stint with Atlanta, before joining the New England Patriots in 2018. In his lone season in New England, Clayborn got a taste of glory in the form of a Super Bowl victory.

Insider Tom Pelissero was the first to report the terms of the contract: two years and $6 million, with the potential to jump up to $7 million with incentives.

The veteran edge rusher rejoined the Falcons last season, where he recorded 18 tackles, seven quarterback hits, four sacks, and two forced fumbles in 15 games. Clayborn actually ranked as the 37th-best edge rusher out of 107 qualified players by Pro Football Focus.

If you consider how much even a half-decent pass rusher with two working legs tends to command on the open market in the NFL, this deal is a steal for Berry and the Browns.

Now, Clayborn will serve as a veteran depth piece that will complement the likes of Myles Garrett and Sheldon Richardson in 2020. Berry has done it again with another quality signing to attempt to bring the Browns back to the playoffs, and he deserves credit by continuing to fly under the radar and avoid overpriced big names.