Berry Is Hopeful on Clowney, but There's at Least One Other Team in the Room

Andrew Berry said Wednesday he is "hopeful" the Browns can bring Jadeveon Clowney back after the veteran defensive end visited the facility — which is a reasonable thing to say, and also not a signing. At least one other team is reportedly in the mix, so Cleveland is competing for him rather than simply waiting on a formality.

The need is real. I wrote in late July that Maliek Collins opened camp listed out with a knee injury, and nothing has changed on that front — he remains out. Behind him, the Browns have no one who logged meaningful snaps at defensive tackle last season. Clowney is a defensive end by trade, but adding any credible veteran presence to a defensive front this thin is better than the alternative, which is hoping the camp roster sorts itself out.

The secondary money has already been spent — Ward and Delpit locked up in back-to-back days. If Berry lands Clowney, that's three significant defensive investments before the first preseason game. If he doesn't, the defensive line situation heading into the regular season looks about as precarious as it did when Collins first showed up hurt.