Report: Browns sign DE Adrian Clayborn

The Cleveland Browns have reportedly signed veteran defensive end Adrian Clayborn.

The deal is reportedly for two years - general manager Andrew Berry must have been in a good mood - and up to $7 million with incentives, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:

The 31-year-old Clayborn spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons, where he played in 15 games and made one start. He finished the season with four sacks.

Originally a first-round draft selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2011 NFL Draft, Clayborn appeared in 110 games, making 52 starts, with 36.5 career sacks and 145 career tackles.

His best season may have been in 2017 when he had 9.5 sacks while playing in all 16 games for the Falcons.

According to Pro Football Focus, if there is one thing that Clayborn knows how to do it is to find the quarterback:

In Clayborn’s 2011 rookie campaign, his pass-rushing was living up to his first-round pick expectations as he owned the 20th best grade in that facet in the NFL. After playing in only three games in 2012 and one game in 2014 due to injury, we never saw the same dominance in the pass-rush from Clayborn until his 2017 with Atlanta. He was a rotational player that year and generated and 85.4 pass-rush grade ranking 11th. He dipped down in 2018 with New England but thrived in his return to Atlanta in 2019 ranking once again in the top 25 as a pass-rusher. His run-defense and tackling have always been subpar, but he still can consistently get after the passer.

If he can remain healthy, Clayborn looks to be a nice upgrade as a depth player along the defensive line.

Clayborn is the second former Atlanta player to sign with the Browns in free agency, joining tight end Austin Hooper, who signed with the club at the outset of free agency.