Nothing like another Jadeveon Clowney story to ring in the weekend. The former No. 1 overall pick remains unsigned, with the Titans, Browns, and — perhaps to a lesser extent — Seahawks representing the most likely landing spots.
The Titans have reportedly made multiple offers to Clowney, but obviously those offers were unappealing to a player who was said to be seeking a lucrative multi-year pact worth around $20MM per year when the offseason began. Tennessee GM Jon Robinson had previously acknowledged that he discussed a contract with Clowney’s camp, but there have been no talks between the two sides for awhile.
In a conference call with reporters yesterday, Robinson said, “No conversations of recent. I think we’re going to continue to monitor it and see where [it goes]. I’ve seen what you guys have seen that’s been posted on social media. I know he wants to play. I think we would be a pretty good fit for him, and there was some mutual interest there when we started the discussion, but I would say that really hasn’t grown any legs since we spoke last” (h/t Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk).
The Titans have always looked like a good fit given the presence of head coach Mike Vrabel — the Texans’ LB coach and defensive coordinator during Clowney’s first four years in Houston — and given the club’s need for another pass rusher. The team did take a flier on Vic Beasley and will return Harold Landry, who posted nine sacks in a promising sophomore effort in 2019, but Clowney could provide a major boost to the Titans’ defensive front.
As for the Browns, we last heard that they recently floated an offer that would have paid Clowney $12MM/year in base salary, but in the story linked above, Williams cites a report indicating that Cleveland has also put forth a one-year, $18MM proposal. It’s unclear if that’s accurate or a typo, as Williams may simply have intended to reference the $12MM/year report. If Cleveland really did offer one year at $18MM, roughly the amount that Clowney would have made if Seattle had been willing and able to use the franchise tag, he should probably snap it up.
For his part, though, Clowney has said he is willing to be patient and does not feel rushed to sign before teams have the opportunity to look at him in person and evaluate his medicals. Given the gradual return to normalcy throughout the country, that may happen sooner rather than later.
If he has a one year deal at 18m he should snap at it but I seriously doubt that’s the case
That almost has to be a misprint. He’s be incredibly short-sighted not to take that deal at this point. I also highly doubt the Browns would be that aggressive
The Browns have tended to be aggressive in recent years (even in their first year with Andrew Berry), so I wouldn’t put an aggressive move past them at this point. Especially since they could make room by cutting Vernon to clear all $15 million he’s owed this year.
Yeah, but when the market’s topped out at about $12 million AAV to this point, $18 million is a borderline overpay
Maybe not for one year. You essentially trade a little more cap space for one year guaranteed of a player. Clowney is definitely an upgrade over Vernon, who would be making $15 million anyway-and if Clowney stinks, they’re only paying for a year of his being on the roster at a very slight increase over their previous rusher in Vernon.
I hope that was a misprint. Even if Clowney hates the idea of playing in Cleveland, his options are limited currently and he cannot have both the money and the perfect choice of situation/contract.
Yeah that’s my mindset too. Clowney is overrated, but he’s still a solid player and he also plays really well against the run. I think playing on the other side of Myles Garrett wouldn’t hurt either.
He’s not a perfect player, but on a one year deal in the neighborhood of $15 million (and subsequently cutting Vernon) would definitely be an upgrade to me.
That number does sound high, but they’ve said that Clowney has turned down bigger offers from the Browns than he got from either the Titans or Seahawks.
Just decide.
Ok I’ll have the spicy chicken sandwich
I think he signs with neither … I think the sleeper team in this is the Bengals … Clowny and Reader were tight …. they have the cap room and what a rotation of Hubbard , Dunlap, Reader , Clowny, Atkins ….. you heard it here first 🙂
Clowney is worth 18 mil. He didn’t have that many sacks last year but he was a wrecking ball in the backfield. He disrupted opposing offenses in a big way. The Seahawks focus on that more than sacks. He was a game changer, which you can see if you look at the Seahawks stats from before and after they got him.
Agreed, 18 is reasonable. I would think 15-16 is ideal, but 18 for one year seems okay to me. If it’s multi year that Clowney wants, 18 seems a bit high given what’s happened in this offseason and his recent surgery.