NFL rumors: An NFC West team is ‘in the mix’ for Jadeveon Clowney after Browns visit

The Cleveland Browns continue to pursue free-agent edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney. After weeks of talks, the 33-year-old made a successful visit to Cleveland Wednesday, with both sides keeping the lines of communication open, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

However, Cleveland is not the only team interested in the former No. 1 overall pick. Schultz reported that an NFC West team is “very interested” in Clowney, but it remains unclear whether he will take another visit before deciding on his next team.

Clowney entered the offseason as a free agent after a productive 2025 campaign with the Dallas Cowboys. In 13 games and 373 defensive snaps, he recorded 41 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and four passes defensed. He ranked 20th in the NFL in sacks even after playing a shortened season. Pro Football Focus graded Clowney as the 16th-best edge defender among 119 qualifiers.

The Browns are familiar with Clowney after he spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons in Cleveland. He accumulated nine sacks during his first season with the team, but managed just two sacks in his second year.

The Browns’ interest comes after the team traded Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, to the Los Angeles Rams earlier this offseason. Cleveland acquired Jared Verse in that deal and now has Verse, Alex Wright, and Isaiah McGuire as its primary edge options.

Clowney was selected No. 1 overall by the Houston Texans in the 2014 NFL Draft and has since played for seven franchises. He has earned three Pro Bowl selections and has garnered 66.5 career sacks. He spent the 2019 season with Seattle after leaving Houston and has also played for the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers.