Perfect landing spots for NFL’s top remaining free agents

Everson Griffen: Cleveland Browns

Longtime Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Everson Griffen parted ways with the team this offseason after 10 seasons, but is still a highly-productive pass-rusher. While Minnesota could no longer afford his services, Griffen could find a perfect home in Cleveland with former Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski.

The Browns ranked near the middle of the league in sacks in 2019, and Griffen had eight at age 32. The veteran can still contribute, and familiarity with Stefanski could help ensure that a deal gets done before the start of the regular season.

While Browns fans would likely rather see the team sign Clowney, the former Seahawk has expressed a desire to play for a contender, and would likely spurn Cleveland in favor of a more playoff-ready team.

Griffen is a fine second-place prize, however. A four-time Pro Bowler with 74.5 career sacks, he can provide a fantastic rotational piece alongside Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon. With Garrett signing a monster deal, Griffen could be a cheap pass-rushing option that outplays his contract.

With the coronavirus pandemic still looming, Cleveland could be a fantastic one-year landing spot for Griffen, and could elevate a team which failed to deliver on high expectations in 2019. It is rare to find such a mutually-beneficial partnership at this point in the offseason, but Griffen and the Browns certainly have the potential to help each other out.