Browns' Free Agency Fails, Smart Alternatives Emerge

0:00On March 31st, the Cleveland Brown snagged what looked like a steal in Free Agency, lining up experienced Ed rusher AJJ, Epinessa for a one-year $5 million contract. But it all fell apart after he failed his physical, leaving the team back to square one on that key defensive need. General manager Andrew Berry now faces a thinning market for vets who can pair with Miles Garrett, but he's got to pivot quick before the good ones. Fans are buzzing about proven alternatives like Kyle Van Noy, the 34-year-old journeyman who's thrived in the AFC North. Last season with Baltimore, he started 13-15 games, racked up 20 tackles, two sacks, and even an interception all while playing, inside or out. SpotTrack pegs his value at just $3.5 million, a budget-friendly fit for new coordinator, Mike Rootenberg. Then there's Dante Fowler Jr., who dipped last year in Dallas with only three sacks in 11 starts, but he exploded for 10.5 the year.

1:02Before, at around $5.1 million, he could back up Alex Wright and rebound in the right scheme. Don't sleep on Jadevian Clowney either. The 32-year-old who posted 8.5 sacks with the Browns back in the day and still wants to. Ball. Berry's got smart plays here to shore up the pass rush without breaking the bank, keeping Cleveland's defense humming as training camp nears.