The Cleveland Browns may not be bringing back defensive end Olivier Vernon for 2020, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Cabot notes that Vernon is due to make $15.25 million next season and that the Browns will either part ways with him or try to get him to take a pay cut.
Cleveland acquired Vernon in a trade with the New York Giants last offseason with the expectation that he would help turn a struggling defense around.
However, Vernon ended up being a massive disappointment for the Browns, as he played in just 10 games due to knee issues and logged 26 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in what was probably the least productive season of his NFL career.
The 29-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Miami, was originally selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round (72nd pick overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.
He spent the first four years of his professional tenure with the Dolphins, with his best season in South Beach coming in 2013 when he racked up 57 tackles and 11.5 sacks.
After his time in Miami, Vernon signed with the Giants in March 2016 and had a terrific first season in New York, totaling 64 tackles, 8.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Vernon's production then waned in 2017 and 2018, although he oddly made his first Pro Bowl in the latter year after finishing with 30 tackles and seven sacks.
Cleveland entered 2019 with Super Bowl aspirations, but won just six games and missed the playoffs altogether.
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