When Jadeveon Clowney visited the Ravens earlier this week, he ended up leaving Baltimore without signing a deal. However, John Harbaugh is still optimistic that the two sides can eventually agree to a contract. Speaking to reporters today, the Ravens coach said Clowney is still a realistic option, but Harbaugh also cautioned that the organization is talking to other free agent edge defenders.
[RELATED: Ravens Meet With Jadeveon Clowney]
“I haven’t heard otherwise,” Harbaugh said of a potential Clowney signing (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley on Twitter). “It’s ‘So you’re saying we still got a chance.’”
Clowney was in Baltimore for a visit on Tuesday, and we later learned that the front office made an offer to the veteran. Clowney will continue to consider his options, but it sounds like it’s only a matter of time before the pass rusher makes a decision.
The former first-overall pick was cut by the Browns earlier this offseason following a disappointing two-sack campaign. Clowney will be hard pressed to hit the $8MM deal he signed with Cleveland last offseason, but he could point to Justin Houston, Leonard Floyd, and Frank Clark all signing deals between $5MM and $7MM in 2023. The Ravens are currently armed with $9.5MM in cap space.
Elsewhere on defense, Harbaugh acknowledged that the team’s current cornerback depth is “an issue, no doubt” (per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic on Twitter). The head coach also noted that the cornerback position is an issue the Ravens will probably have to address, a hint that the team could be making an addition to their secondary.
Part of the team’s issues at cornerback are related to injuries. Rock Ya-Sin, Jalyn Armour-Davis, and Arthur Maulet are currently sidelined with injuries, while Pepe Williams has been limited during training camp. The team’s depth will only improve with time, but Harbaugh seemed to indicate that the front office would consider additions at the position regardless of health.
This guy’s always been overrated goin back to high school n what last yr opposite Garrett managed 2sacks, he’s done plus his effort has always questionable, Ravens made alota positive moves this off-season but this ain’t 1 of em, if they’re lucky they only offered what his “value” is n he’ll seek out diff deal w/diff team
This dude might hold the record for most money earned based on a single college play. Second place likely belongs to Colorado’s Michael Westbrook who turned one 1994 pass catch against Michigan into an 8 year NFL career.
Again, Clowney was the first overall pick by acclaim long before the Outback Bowl. This is supported by a wealth of articles predating the 2013 college season, when he played as a junior. You can find them easily by Googling that year’s draft coverage. The only other player to be considered competition by some (including himself) was Anthony Barr, who had the concerns of just having been converted to end from running back and having played at a worse conference.
Disappointing? Sure. But as I said on the other article, this popular sentiment is categorically false. Fun to say, but just not true.
If it doesn’t work out as a star defensive end for Jadeveon this year, he has several million dollar offers from Madison Avenue to join top advertising agencies as a high end PR expert. Clowney has only put the offers on hold until he sorts out this year’s NFL season or not.