New DT Jackson to Clowney: ‘Hop on board’

Malik Jackson might consider buying a few postcards of downtown Cleveland with FirstEnergy Stadium in the picture so he could sign them, “Having a great time. Wish you were here.”

Jackson is a 6-foot-5, 290-pound defensive tackle signed in free agency to replace Larry Ogunjobi, who used his own free agency ticket to sign a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jackson, 31, in his 10th NFL season, is a one-year rental for the Browns. He suffered a Lisfranc foot injury in the first game of 2019 when he was with the Eagles in the first year of a threeyear, $30 million contract. He had eight sacks and made the Pro Bowl in 2017 when he was with the Jaguars.

He and the Browns are hoping the Jackson of four years ago returns. He had 3.5 sacks with Jacksonville in 2018.

Jackson played in 15 games last season but started only six. He had 2.5 sacks and 28 tackles. He was cut with one year left on his contract.

“I had some mental blocks I had to get through with coming off of the Lisfranc. But this year, I ‘m way more comfortable, a lot stronger and there are no more mental roadblocks of having a foot injury,” Jackson said March 31 on Zoom. “I feel like I’m just going to come back and feel a lot more confident.”

“I’m around guys who know how to work, and I’m around a coach in (defensive line) Coach (Chris) Kiffin who’s going to push me and teach me things, and push me back to where I was.”

Browns executive vice president of football operations Andrew Berry has been on a mission to bolster the defense since the start of free agency March 15. Jackson, safety J.J. Johnson, cornerback Troy Hill, defensive end Takkarist McKinley and linebacker Anthony Walker have all been added through free agency.

And there is room for one more. The Browns met defensive end Jadaveon Clowney. Clowney left Berea without a contract.

Jackson said he does not know Clowney personally, but is encouraging him to sign with the Browns.

“I don’t think I have to (recruit him), to be honest with you,” Jackson said. “It’s one of those things that the team speaks for itself, and what we’re trying to build speaks for itself.

“If you want to hop on board, come hop on board. I understand the free agency market isn’t what he probably wants, but things are bigger than monetary value, and you get a chance to be on a good team and set yourself up in the future.”

Jackson said he signed with the Browns because they are “A Super Bowlcontender team, and that’s what I was looking for, especially with the climate of this free agency and a lot of one-year deals. I did not want to go anywhere that was trying to rebuild.”

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski envisions Jackson helping the defense in a variety of ways because the veteran can play multiple positions.

“What you’re getting in (Jackson) is someone who can line up across the front,” Stefanski said on Cleveland Browns Daily, the team’s in-house radio show. “We feel strongly that he’s a chess piece for Joe (defensive coordinator Joe Woods) and the defensive staff to move around based on the fronts we’re playing.”

Defensive tackle is now a strength for the Browns. Ogunjobi is gone, but Jackson fills a spot and Andrew Billings is back after opting out last year because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.