Lolley's Talking Point: Clowney vs. Williams, Dobbs taken on the South Side (Steelers)

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Jadeveon Clowney wraps up James Conner Oct. 25, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn.

On the same day the Browns doled out as much as $10 million for the signing of Jadeveon Clowney, the Steelers made two minor signings that might have been more substantive. They re-signed Vince Williams and Josh Dobbs on Tuesday.

Which of those moves got the most play on national web sites and television shows?

Clowney, the top pick in the 2014 draft, has always been more style than substance. He was once a good, not great player. But he also hasn't been that player in a few years. His best season came in 2017 when he recorded 59 tackles and 9.5 sacks.

In the NFL world, that's ancient history. In the three seasons since, he has 12 sacks in 36 games, including none in eight games for the Titans last season. It's no coincidence the Browns are his fourth team since 2018. 

In other words, the Browns paid for the name on the back of the jersey, so they could be talked about like this.

What would be truly "historic" is if Clowney could stay on the field. He's played 21 games the past two seasons and has played all 16 games just once in his career.

Does he make the Browns better? Perhaps. They didn't have an edge rusher opposite Myles Garrett, even after signing former Falcons' first-round pick Takk McKinley to a one-year deal worth $4 million that includes more than $3.5 million in guaranteed money. Clowney and McKinley combined for 7.5 sacks ... in the past two seasons.

Yep, that ought to replace the production of Olivier Vernon, who might have been Cleveland's best defensive player in the second half of last season but was not re-signed after tearing his Achilles' tendon.

Meanwhile, Williams, an inside linebacker who was a sixth-round pick in 2013, has 5.5 sacks as a part-time player for the Steelers the past two seasons. He was released by the team last month in a cost-cutting move to save $4 million against the salary cap, but brought back at a savings.

And Dobbs comes on a one-year deal, as well.

Both moves were made so the Steelers don't have to select a linebacker or quarterback in the draft in two weeks. They can still do so if the value arises, but Williams gives them much-needed depth at inside linebacker, while Dobbs can compete with Duane Haskins for the No. 3 spot behind Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph.

The Browns, meanwhile, are spending as much as $14 million for a pair of edge rushers who might not solve their issue. And because they've tied up $14 million in those two players, much of it in guaranteed salary, they aren't likely to do the right thing and draft a player to play opposite Garrett. At least not early.

That's not to say Clowney won't help the Browns. He's better than what they had. But his signing is no more important than the Steelers bringing back Williams and Dobbs, even though they flew completely under the radar.

Clowney's signing will help the Browns once again win the offseason. We'll see if it helps them win in the regular season.

YOUR TURN: Which signing day was better?

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