Jadeveon Clowney Drawing Interest
Twelve years since he went No. 1 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, edge defender Jadeveon Clowney has played for seven teams. While he has only lasted more than one season with two of those clubs, the nomadic Clowney has been an effective pass rusher throughout his career.
With 66.5 sacks on his resume, the 33-year-old Clowney is one of the top defenders still available in free agency. He is now drawing interest from “some of his former teams,” Mike Garafolo of NFL Network says.
We are nearing the one-year anniversary of the Panthers releasing Clowney on May 8, 2025. After the Panthers cut ties with him, it took Clowney until mid-September to land in Dallas on a one-year, $3.5MM contract. Although the Cowboys’ defense ended up as one of the worst in the NFL, Clowney was a legitimate bright spot. Over 13 games (six starts) and 373 defensive snaps, Clowney recorded 41 tackles, 12 TFL, a team-high 8.5 sacks and four passes defensed. Along with Clowney’s solid traditional stats, he ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 16th-best edge defender out of 119 qualifiers.
As of late December, it looked as if the Cowboys were going to re-sign Clowney. However, plans changed after the team fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and replaced him with Christian Parker. It appears the Cowboys no longer regard Clowney as a fit in their defense. They have addressed their pass rush this offseason with the additions of Rashan Gary, whom they acquired from the Packers, and 23rd overall pick Malachi Lawrence.
Although the Panthers cut Clowney a year ago, a reunion with the South Carolina native might make sense heading into next season. Carolina made a major free agent splash when it signed former Dolphin and Eagle Jaelan Phillips to a four-year, $120MM pact, but it could arguably use even more pass-rushing help to join him, Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen. The Panthers finished last season with the league’s second-lowest pressure rate (16.5%) and third-fewest sacks (30).
Before his season in Carolina, Clowney had a one-year stop in Baltimore in 2023. He put up a career-high 9.5 sacks as a Raven, and Clowney expressed interest in a reunion earlier this spring. It is unknown whether the Ravens feel similarly, having signed Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112MM deal and spent a second-rounder on Zion Young.
Clowney divided 2019-22 among Seattle, Tennessee and Cleveland. If a Seahawks reunion was ever under consideration, it may be off the table after Tuesday’s signing of veteran edge defender Dante Fowler. Meanwhile, with new head coach Robert Saleh at the helm, the Titans have made a couple of notable investments along the edge. They acquired Jermaine Johnson from the Jets and traded back into the first round to draft Keldric Faulk 30th overall. The Browns, on the other hand, have done little to bolster their pass rush this offseason. They had a deal in place with former Bill A.J. Epenesa, but it fell apart over a failed physical. The Browns could still use a capable complement to Myles Garrett, but it is unknown if Clowney is on their radar.
Clowney opened his career in Houston, where he played five seasons and earned all three of his Pro Bowl nods. Seven years since they traded Clowney to the Seahawks, the Texans are not in dire need of a pass rusher. They boast the all-world Will Anderson–Danielle Hunter tandem, though picking up Clowney as a reserve would boost an already ferocious defense. The Texans finished first in yards, second in points and seventh in sacks in 2025.
While Clowney is one of the league’s best unsigned players, he is not the only familiar pass rusher without a contract. Cameron Jordan, Von Miller and Joey Bosa are also among those looking for deals. They will be among the most intriguing players to watch in the post-draft wave of free agency.
Jadeveon Clowney Interested In Ravens
Despite sitting on the free agent market until mid-September last season, edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney emerged as a rare bright spot on a porous Cowboys defense. Playing on a one-year, $3.5MM deal, Clowney notched 41 tackles (12 TFL), 8.5 sacks and four passes defensed in 13 games.
A return to Dallas looked like a strong possibility toward the end of the season, but it may not be in the cards after the hiring of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. As things stand, the Cowboys do not see Clowney as the right fit in Parker’s system, Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS reports.
If the 33-year-old Clowney signs elsewhere, he could join his eighth team ahead of his 13th season. Along with the Cowboys, the 2014 No. 1 overall pick has spent time with the Texans, Seahawks, Titans, Browns, Ravens and Panthers. In 2023, his only year in Baltimore, Clowney put together his lone 17-game campaign and tied a career high with 9.5 sacks. Three years later, Clowney would be willing to rejoin the Ravens.
“They got a lot of good guys that I can relate to in that locker room,” he told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. “I’ll definitely be open to going back to Baltimore, playing with Lamar Jackson now. It was a great time for me.”
It is unclear if the Ravens are interested in Clowney, especially after replacing former head coach John Harbaugh with Jesse Minter. But the Ravens have emphasized upgrading their pass rush this offseason, and Clowney is among the top choices left in free agency. After a blockbuster Maxx Crosby trade with the Raiders collapsed, the Ravens pivoted to free agent Trey Hendrickson on a four-year, $112MM agreement. General manager Eric DeCosta has insisted (to much outside skepticism) Baltimore wanted both Crosby and Hendrickson. Meanwhile, Dre’Mont Jones left for the Patriots in free agency, and Kyle Van Noy remains unsigned.
As of now, Tavius Robinson, 2025 second-round pick Mike Green and 2024 third-rounder Adisa Isaac are the Ravens’ main complements to Hendrickson. Considering Baltimore has 11 picks, including No. 14 overall, it would not be a surprise to see DeCosta add at least one pass rusher in the draft. The Ravens also have $29.54MM in cap space, giving them ample room to pay Clowney if they are interested in a reunion.
Cowboys Notes: Pickens, Williams, Clark, Clowney, Dean, Liufau
Although the Cowboys placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on George Pickens, they should not exactly be worried about someone poaching him. An offer sheet is seen as highly unlikely, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. An unmatched franchise tag offer sheet would result in two first-rounders coming back to Dallas. Pickens’ standout 2025 season notwithstanding, he would not fetch that in a trade. While a tag-and-trade scenario has been mentioned here — as the Cowboys have CeeDee Lamb on a $34MM-per-year extension — the team looks set to retain its high-profile WR2 for 2026.
“We couldn’t take the chance on losing him,” executive VP Stephen Jones said, via AllDLLS.com’s Clarence Hill. “George was fired up, excited. He said I don’t want to play anywhere but with the Cowboys. That’s what we suspected. It was all good.”
Jerry Jones spoke with Pickens by phone from the Combine following the tag, per Hill. Pickens, 25, cannot be fined for skipping minicamp or training camp workouts until he signs his $28.3MM franchise tender. The Cowboys are a staggering $56MM-plus over the cap after tagging Pickens, but they will be able to restructure contracts — including Lamb, Dak Prescott, DaRon Bland and Osa Odighizuwa — to create considerable room ahead of free agency.
Here is the latest from around Dallas:
- Another way to create some cap space would be extending Kenny Clark or Quinnen Williams. The Clark-Odighizuwa-Williams trio is set to count a whopping $63.9MM against the Cowboys’ 2026 cap, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris notes the team is in discussions to improve that situation this week. Clark is due an $11MM roster bonus March 13, but Harris adds he is unlikely to be traded, pointing to an extension being in play. Clark is in the final year of a three-year, $66MM Packers-designed deal — one shipped to Dallas in the Micah Parsons trade — and going into an age-31 season. The Cowboys are not expected to deal a player from their three-DT logjam, with new DC Christian Parker exploring ways to maximize it. If one of the DTs is to be moved, though, Harris points to Clark being the top departure candidate.
- In December, a second Jadeveon Clowney Cowboys contract was in play. With Parker now running the defense, Clowney’s Dallas future appears foggier. Stephen Jones confirmed (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) no talks with the free agent-to-be have taken place. “We’re gonna work through with [Parker]. A lot of it will happen this coming week, in terms of the type of player (we’re looking for),” Jones said. “We’re gonna continue to have those talks, and then we’ll make final decisions on who we think will be productive in this particular system.” Clowney, 33 in April, has played for seven teams in 12 NFL seasons. The former No. 1 overall pick tallied 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss — his most TFLs since his 2018 Houston finale — as a bright spot on a bad Dallas defense.
- With Parker coming over from Philadelphia, some Eagles could be in play to follow him. The Cowboys should be expected to pursue Nakobe Dean, Hill adds. Parker and Dean overlapped for two seasons, and the latter is one of the top ILBs available. Dean’s injury history will make it unlikely he competes with Devin Lloyd or Quay Walker prices on this year’s market, but the former third-round pick should fare decently in free agency. Although Dean wants to stay in Philly, the Eagles paid Zack Baun and using a first-round pick on Jihaad Campbell last year. That makes Dean likely to relocate soon. The Cowboys have a clear need at linebacker, having cut trade pickup Logan Wilson this week. DeMarvion Overshown is also in a contract year.
- As Parker prepares to install a 3-4 defense, Marist Liufau will change positions. The off-ball linebacker is moving to a 3-4 OLB role, Machota adds. A 2024 third-round pick, Liufau has made 14 starts in two seasons.
Cowboys Hope To Re-Sign Jadeveon Clowney
In the wake of the Cowboys’ Christmas Day victory, Jadeveon Clowney made it clear he intends to play in 2026. His preference would be to remain in Dallas for next season.
That feeling is mutual. During a Monday appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said the team “would love” to bring Clowney back for next season. The former No. 1 pick has made 12 appearances for Dallas in 2025, serving as a key member of the team’s pass rush along the way. It would come as little surprise if a new pact were to be worked out as a result.
“We’ll be talking with his guys right away,” Jones said (via Tommy Yarish of the team’s website). “With his willingness to want to be here and us wanting him to be here, hopefully we can figure something out.”
Stability is certainly not an adjective which would appropriately describe Clowney’s NFL tenure. After five years in Houston, the three-time Pro Bowler has bounced around to the Seahawks, Titans, Browns, Ravens, Panthers and now Cowboys. Only his Cleveland spell (2021-22) lasted longer than one year upon leaving the Texans. A Dallas re-up would thus mark a departure from Clowney’s standard practice, as much as it would represent a logical fit for both parties.
The Cowboys have Dante Fowler and Payton Turner attached to one-year contracts. Sam Williams‘ rookie deal is set to expire in March, meanwhile, adding to the list of pending free agents along the edge. James Houston is under contract through 2026, while second-round rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku figures to have a role in the team’s pass rush plans for years to come. That still leaves room for at least one notable addition this offseason even if Clowney is to be retained.
The 32-year-old was cut by the Panthers in May, and he remained on the open market into September. Clowney took a $3.5MM pact to join the Cowboys, a deal which has allowed him to produce 5.5 sacks, 16 pressures and eight tackles for loss. Remaining a steady contributor while handling a rotational role would be key in this case as Dallas looks to make needed defensive improvements for 2026. It will be interesting to see if one of the team’s top priorities after Week 18 will be to finalize a new Clowney agreement.
Jadeveon Clowney Intends to Play in 2026, Interested In Re-Signing With Cowboys
After the Panthers released Jadeveon Clowney last May, the veteran pass rusher’s stay in free agency dragged into the regular season. He finally agreed to a one-year, $3.5MM deal with the Cowboys after Week 2, which enabled the 32-year-old to avoid the rigors of training camp.
The Cowboys’ 30th-ranked defense has struggled enough that coordinator Matt Eberflus is in serious jeopardy of losing his job, but Clowney has been a bright spot. The former No. 1 overall pick has recorded 35 tackles, 34 pressures, eight TFL, seven QB hits and 5.5 sacks in 12 games (five starts). Pro Football Focus ranks Clowney’s performance this year an impressive 20th among 112 qualifying edge rushers. He has offered strong work as a pass rusher and a run defender.
Clowney chipped in 1.5 sacks in the Cowboys’ win over the Commanders on Christmas Day. Afterward, he told Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com that he intends to play in 2026. He also has interest in continuing with the Cowboys.
“Oh yeah, [I’d re-sign in Dallas] if they’re willing to bring me back, but, yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m definitely gonna play,” Clowney said.
The nomadic Clowney, who began his career with the Texans in 2014, is on his seventh NFL team. Other than spending his first five years in Houston, where he earned three Pro Bowl nods, he hasn’t lasted more than two seasons with any of those clubs. Clowney has signed five one-year contracts since he first reached free agency in 2020. Three of those pacts – a 2020 deal with the Titans, a 2023 accord with the Ravens and his current agreement with the Cowboys – came together deep into the summer. Clowney missed camp in those instances, but that’s not something he’s aiming for in 2026.
“I got a lot left in the tank. I ain’t gonna go sit on my couch,” he said. “I’m gonna stay ready. Maybe sign a little bit earlier, and I’m trying to go to camp next year so I can get the rust off me and get going. I’m looking forward to it.”
Clowney’s willingness to sign early should only add to his appeal around the league. Although Clowney hasn’t lived up to the hype he received coming out of South Carolina, he has been productive at almost every NFL stop. He’ll head into Week 18 with 63.5 sacks on his resume.
Cowboys’ Jadeveon Clowney Expects To Play In Week 4
SEPTEMBER 28: Clowney is expected to make his Dallas debut against the Packers in Week 4, per Machota. As the Cowboys go up against Micah Parsons, the superstar they traded to Green Bay shortly before the start of the season, they will hope Clowney can give their Parsons-less pass rush a lift.
SEPTEMBER 21: Clowney is indeed inactive for Week 3, as noted by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. His debut will need to wait at least one more week. In more positive injury news, cornerback Trevon Diggs – who emerged on the injury report yesterday – will be active.
SEPTEMBER 20: Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on Friday afternoon (via team writer Patrik Walker) that edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney will be a game-time decision on Sunday, adding that “the lean is toward him not playing this week.”
However, owner Jerry Jones said on Friday morning (via the Athletic’s Jon Machota) that he expected Clowney to make his Cowboys debut, though his snap count might be limited. Clearly, the team has yet to make a final determination regarding their recent signing.
Even Clowney has waffled on his status for Week 3. When asked on Monday, he said that he expected to play in Chicago, adding, “That’s what I’m here for,” per Walker. On Friday, he was much less certain.
“Whatever they have planned, I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to get out there,” he said, according to Walker.
The former No. 1 overall pick missed training camp and is joining a different team for the third year in a row, so he needed some time to ramp up physically and get acclimated to a new scheme.
On Monday, Clowney also revealed that the addition of Kenny Clark was a major factor in bringing him to Dallas. He instructed his agent to reach out to the Cowboys “as soon as Kenny Clark signed here,” and days later, the deal was done.
Clowney has also been dealing with an unfortunate incident off the field. He was arrested in his hometown of Rock Hill, Texas while attempting to park at his aunt’s house before a high school football game, according to Clarence Hill of All City DLLS. Clowney was officially charged with trespassing and failure to provide his ID, per WSPA’s Doug Coats.
The 32-year-old also told Hill that he has dealt with similar situations in Texas in the past, but had never been arrested before. He is planning to fight the case.
Cowboys, Jadeveon Clowney Agree To Deal
10:10pm: Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Clowney’s new contract is a one-year, $3.5MM pact. If the veteran defender can maximize the value of the deal, he could earn up to $6MM in 2025.
4:08pm: Jadeveon Clowney will, in fact, be heading to Dallas for the 2025 season. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after the team’s Week 2 game (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) the veteran edge rusher has a deal in place. 
Clowney visited Dallas on Wednesday, a clear indication an interest existed between team and player. No deal was reached, and in the immediate aftermath of the visit it was reported a signing was not expected. Instead, Clowney has indeed managed to line up his next opportunity.
Shortly after the visit, Bryan Broaddus of 105.3 The Fan reported (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams) Dallas preferred a signing, with Clowney electing to wait. In the aftermath of a wild overtime win, the Cowboys have now added a veteran presence along the edge. The team’s post-Micah Parsons setup will see Clowney take on at least a part-time role.
Th3 32-year-old has bounced around the league since his Texans tenure ended. Following a five-year spell in Houston, Clowney has played for the Seahawks, Titans, Browns, Ravens and Panthers. Only his Cleveland tenure (2021-22) lasted longer than one season. Carolina preferred to open up playing time for the team’s younger options along the edge, something which informed the team’s decision to release Clowney.
A lengthy free agent tenure ensued, and the three-time Pro Bowler drew interest from a number of teams. Despite aiming to have a deal in place before Week 1, Clowney (who has posted nine sacks in a season three times, including 2024) remained on the market through to today. Now, his attention will turn to joining a 1-1 team aiming for an improvement compared to its defensive showing in Week 2. The Giants scored 37 points (including a go-ahead touchdown inside the final minute of the contest) before ultimately falling short against Dallas.
The Cowboys notched two sacks on Sunday, one of which was recorded by defensive tackle Kenny Clark (acquired in the Parsons trade). Only James Houston managed one amongst the team’s edge rushers. As Dallas looks to add production in that respect, Clowney will join a group featuring Houston, Dante Fowler, Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland and second-round rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku. It will be interesting to see when Clowney will make his debut and how much of an impact he will be able to make on his seventh career team.
Jadeveon Clowney Visits Cowboys
9:23PM: Clowney departed the Cowboys’ facility today without having signed a contract. According to Anderson, the plan was just to bring the veteran pass rusher in for a visit and physical with the intention to keep in contact with Clowney as they monitor their situation at the position moving forward.
Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS is less optimistic about Clowney’s chances of landing in Dallas. Hill reports that rumors from inside the building indicate that the Cowboys are “probably not going to” sign Clowney.
9:41AM: The Cowboys are veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney is visiting Dallas on Wednesday, according to Josina Anderson of The Exhibit.
Clowney, 32, will also work out for the Cowboys, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, bringing him one step closer to signing with a new team for the 2025 season. Pending a successful meeting, tryout, and medical evaluation, he could join the team right away, according to WFAA’s Ed Werder.
He was in contact with multiple clubs throughout the summer, but his known aversion to training camp was always going to delay a signing until it was close to the regular season. Clowney didn’t put pen to paper before the regular season as expected and instead let teams evaluate their needs after Week 1.
Having lost Micah Parsons just before the season, Dallas could use some help in their edge rushing room. Dante Fowler is coming off an impressive 10.5-sack season with the Commanders, but the rest of the group has combined for just 11.5 sacks in the last three years. Clowney certainly can’t replace Parsons’ impact, but he can still add experience and depth to the unit. He’s also an underrated run defender, which is sure to appeal to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
However, it’s hard to know what to expect of Clowney as he enters his 12th NFL season. His initial production was underwhelming for a No. 1 pick, but he finished the last two years of his rookie contract in Houston with 18.5 sacks. Since then, Clowney has been inconsistent. Of his last six seasons, two featured at least 9.0 sacks – including 2024 with the Ravens – while three featured 3.0 sacks or fewer. Last year’s performance in Carolina was somewhere in between with 5.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss in 14 games.
Clowney signed a $10MM APY deal last offseason, but will likely receiver lower offers after a disappointing 2024. He could have a similar market to new Eagles edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, who signed a fully guaranteed $4.25MM contract for the 2025 season, per OverTheCap.
FA Jadeveon Clowney Plans To Sign Before Week 1
Jadeveon Clowney remains unsigned with roster cuts looming. The veteran edge rusher could soon have his latest NFL deal in place, however.
Clowney plans to sign before the start of the regular season, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports. If that is to be the case, an agreement will need to be finalized in the not-too-distant future. The former No. 1 pick said one month ago he has been in contact with a number of suitors while evaluating his free agent options.
No specific teams emerged as candidates to sign Clowney at that point, but it would stand to reason one of them will end up as his eventual destination. After playing for his hometown Panthers in 2024, Clowney was released in May. That move came as little surprise after Carolina added a pair of new edge rushers during the second and third round of the draft.
Since then, no deal has appeared imminent for the South Carolina product. Clowney has established himself as a high-profile journeyman following the end of his Texans tenure, playing for the Seahawks, Titans, Browns and Ravens prior to his one-and-done Panthers campaign. Between that track record and the nature of late-August free agency, a one-year pact should be expected in this case.
With three nine-sack seasons to his name – the most recent coming in 2023 – Clowney could represent a starting-caliber option along the edge for any new team. More realistically, though, a depth role should be in store for the coming campaign. The three-time Pro Bowler totaled 5.5 sacks and 22 pressures last year while handling a 64% snap share. A reduction in workload would be feasible with respect to most destinations, with teams aiming to sort out their depth charts in advance of roster cuts.
At the age of 32, Clowney is presumably eyeing a contender on his next pact. Wilson confirms he is speaking with teams at this point, so it should soon become clear where he will be playing in 2025.
FA Jadeveon Clowney In Contact With Multiple Teams
Jadeveon Clowney is among the veterans still unsigned at this point of the offseason. The journeyman edge rusher is aiming to play in 2025, though, and he could have multiple suitors.
When speaking with The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson, Clowney said he has been in touch with four to five teams this offseason. Conversations have been on and off since his Panthers release. That move ended his tenure with his hometown team after just one campaign.
As expected, Carolina targeted pass rushers during the draft. After adding Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen during the second and third rounds of April’s event, the team had a pair of new faces along the edge to develop. Parting ways with Clowney was aimed in part at an effort to give them more playing time as rookies. In the time since, no firm links to a suitor have emerged.
That is of course the case for a number of free agents prior to training camp. As teams start to evaluate their in-house options, though, Clowney is among the players who could be targeted for a signing in time for Week 1. The 32-year-old was a full-time starter for the Panthers last year, and he notched 5.5 sacks. Clowney has reached at least nine sacks four times in his career, including the 2021 and ’23 campaigns.
Duplicating that feat would not be expected from an acquiring team since he would presumably be signed as a rotational option. Even in that capacity, Clowney would offer value given his experience (140 games) and run defense (108 tackles for loss). Any number of teams could use a depth addition in their pass rush room, especially if injuries hit over the coming weeks.
Since receiving the franchise tag, Clowney played on a stretch of one-year deals with the Seahawks, Titans, Browns and Ravens. His Panthers pact (worth $20MM total) was the first multi-year accord of his career since his rookie contract. A long-term commitment would come as a surprise, but a market could take shape soon with respect to another one-year deal. It will be interesting to see where Clowney winds up for 2025.