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.
Panthers Aimed To Avoid Jadeveon Clowney Blocking Younger OLBs’ Paths
The Panthers did not offer a strong response at outside linebacker after trading Brian Burns. Although other issues led to Carolina’s defense sinking to last place across the board, the team struggled to replace the pass rusher it traded after endless extension talks.
Jadeveon Clowney became the top Panthers solution here, having signed his first multiyear deal (two years, $20MM) since his Texans rookie pact back in 2014. But the Panthers made the South Carolina alum’s homecoming short-lived, cutting Clowney after engaging in trade talks earlier this offseason. Carolina’s draft plan played into Clowney’s fourth NFL one-and-done, as the selections of second- and third-round edge rushers (Nic Scourton, Princely Umanmielen) directly influenced the team’s approach with its veterans.
The two SEC products will have direct routes to playing time, and the team wanted to ensure that by cutting Clowney. The Panthers were not exactly facing a lofty payment for the former No. 1 overall pick, and while they saved $7.75MM with the release, ESPN.com’s David Newton notes the goal of seeing younger talents enjoy extended auditions provided just as much reason for Clowney’s exit as finances did.
“When you watch the 2024 film, [Clowney] was a guy that gave us everything that he had on the field,” Dave Canales said, via Newton. “[But] we’re developmentally minded, and we understand bringing in outside linebackers and [drafting] two edge rushers — all those reps are valuable.”
In addition to Scourton and Umanmielen, the Panthers return D.J. Wonnum and signed Patrick Jones after four seasons as a Vikings rotational cog. Wonnum’s former Minnesota teammate will have the first crack at replacing Clowney in Carolina’s lineup, Newton adds. While Jones’ contract (two years, $15MM) suggested a starter chance, it does not provide open-and-shut first-stringer money. And the Panthers soon using two second-day picks on OLBs changed the position’s outlook from when Jones signed.
Jones started only five games during a four-year Minnesota run but generated free agency interest on the heels of a seven-sack season. Contributing to a Vikings pass rush housing Pro Bowlers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard (along with first-rounder Dallas Turner), Jones saw his Twin Cities path blocked. He will have a chance to prove himself as a starter, though the presences of Wonnum (31 Vikings starts from 2020-23) and the two rookies could may this a short-term partnership.
Jones, 26, will have a chance to up his value while in Charlotte, as another crack at free agency in his 20s would loom. Wonnum is coming off a season shortened by the quad injury he suffered in his Vikings finale, and Canales said Tuesday a back flareup emerged. That will be something to monitor for the Panthers, who did not have much committed to the sixth-year veteran ahead of his contract’s second and final year. Clowney, 32, remains a free agent but intends to play in 2025. He led the Panthers with 5.5 sacks last season and was the team’s only player to post more than eight QB hits (11).
Jadeveon Clowney Intends To Play In 2025
The Panthers explored a trade of Jadeveon Clowney before the draft, but nothing came about on that front. Given the team’s rookie additions, though, the possibility remained the veteran edge rusher would be let go after only one season in Carolina.
Indeed, the team proceeded with a release on Thursday. One year remained on Clowney’s pact, but he now finds himself on the market as a post-draft free agent. As could be expected, the 32-year-old has no intention of hanging up his cleats at this point.
“I’m definitely gonna play well,” Clowney said during an interview with Joe Person of The Athletic (subscription required). “You can mark my word on that. I don’t care where I end up playing at, I’m gonna play extremely well… There are 31 other teams. I just hope another team gives me that opportunity so I can prove myself again. I feel like I can do that.”
After a five-year run in Houston to begin his career, the former No. 1 pick has bounced around the NFL. Clowney played for the Seahawks, Titans, Browns and Ravens prior to last year’s season spent with the Panthers. Only the Cleveland portion of that stretch (2021-22) consisted of a multi-year run in an organization. A long-term commitment can surely be ruled out once again in this case, but any number of teams could be willing to make him a depth addition for the 2025 campaign.
Clowney handled a full-time starting role in Carolina last season, and he posted 5.5 sacks. The South Carolina product totaled 18.5 sacks across the 2021 and ’23 campaigns, with a much less productive season taking place in between. Regardless of the sack output which can be expected of him, Clowney – who has 108 tackles for loss in his career – will be counted on to remain a strong contributor against the run on his next team.
The Panthers committed $12MM guaranteed on Clowney’s two-year pact last spring. Even if suitors submit less lucrative offers this time around, several teams have the cap space necessary to add him as a rotational contributor (especially on a one-year pact). Clowney will look to find a new team no later than training camp, joining the likes of Von Miller, Za’Darius Smith and Matt Judon in that regard.
Panthers Release Jadeveon Clowney
The Panthers’ offseason roster cuts will include Jadeveon Clowney. The veteran pass rusher is being released, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The move is now official.
Clowney’s future in Carolina has been a talking point this offseason, with the team engaging in trade talks prior to the draft. No deal was worked out during the event, but the Panthers added a pair of edge rushers on Day 2. As a result, Clowney’s tenure remained far from certain. Now, the former No. 1 pick will face free agency yet again.
2025 marked the final year of Clowney’s deal, the most recent short-term accord in his journeyman NFL career. This release will generate $7.78MM in cap savings while incurring a dead money charge of $6MM presuming it is not processed with a post-June 1 designation.
A Rock Hill, SC native and South Carolina alum, Clowney’s homecoming last spring set him up to handle a key role as the Panthers began the post-Brian Burns era along the edge. He started all 14 of his appearances, totaling 5.5 sacks along the way. Carolina will move forward without him in the fold, though, with Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen on the books for the next four years.
The Panthers were widely expected to target a defender with the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft, and Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker were still on the board when they were on the clock. Instead, the team went the receiver route by drafting Tetairoa McMillan. That decision was based in part on Carolina’s view that Day 2 offered better options along the edge than at the WR spot. The team is certainly confident its new additions on defense will be able to make an impact right away since efforts to land draft capital in return for Clowney have now ended.
The 32-year-old had one-and-done tenures with the Seahawks and Titans following his five years in Houston to begin his career. Clowney then spent two seasons in Cleveland, a stretch which included a downturn in production with only a pair of sacks in 2022. He enjoyed a bounce-back campaign with the Ravens the following year, matching his career high with 9.5 sacks. Baltimore was interested in retaining him, and the Jets were in the market as well. In the end, Carolina’s two-year offer won out, although that has proven to only amount to a one-year commitment.
The Panthers ranked last in the NFL in scoring and total defense, and their 32 sacks placed the team 29th in the league. Improvement in that regard will be a key goal, but Clowney will not play a role in that effort. He will now join the likes of Von Miller, Za’Darius Smith and Matt Judon as veteran edge rushers still on the market.