Ex-Falcons DE Adrian Clayborn, Browns Agree to 2-Year, $6 Million Contract

The Cleveland Browns added a veteran presence to their pass rush Tuesday.  

ESPN's Field Yates noted defensive end Adrian Clayborn's agent, Blake Baratz, said the University of Iowa product signed a two-year deal with Cleveland. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the contract is worth $6 million and can go to $7 million with incentives.

Clayborn has been in the league since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft, and he has played for the Buccaneers, New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons.

Clayborn wasted little time making an impact with 7.5 sacks in his rookie season, although durability was a concern early in his career. He played just three games in his second campaign and one game in 2014 with a torn ACL and torn biceps, respectively.

He has at least three sacks in six of his seven healthy seasons, including in 2017 when he tallied a career-best 9.5 for the Falcons. He then joined the Patriots and won a Super Bowl during his only season in New England.

That didn't stop the Patriots from releasing him after a single campaign, and the Falcons brought him back in 2019 on a one-year deal.

He responded with 18 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles.

Cleveland needs to bolster its pass rush after finishing a mere 20th in the league in total sacks with 38 last season. Clayborn gives it a veteran rotation option who can help make strides in that category.

He isn't far removed from his impressive 2017 campaign and is a postseason-tested player for a team seeking its first playoff berth since the 2002 season.