Jadeveon Clowney - Pro Football Rumors

AFC East Notes: Jets, Gordon, Lawson

March 23rd, 2020 at 12:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Devoting significant resources to retooling their offensive line, the Jets have not address their edge defender situation. Jordan Jenkins remains a free agent, but the team has not made a strong effort to re-sign their sack leader of the past two years, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY notes. As far as the bigger names out there, the Jets are still not prepared to pay up for Jadeveon Clowney and do not have Yannick Ngakoue on the front burner, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes. The Jets have explored an Ngakoue tag-and-trade move but are not planning to pursue the disgruntled Jaguars defensive end, Cimini adds. Gang Green will need to make multiple moves outside, however. Tarell Basham resides as the top edge rusher on the Jets roster; he registered two sacks last season.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

The Bills may or may not have expressed interest in Melvin Gordon. While 9News’ Mike Klis tweets that the Bills submitted an offer better than the Broncos’ two-year, $16MM proposal, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter indicated Buffalo did not do so (Twitter link). Regardless of whether an offer emerged, Schefter adds (via Twitter) Gordon’s agent did contact the Bills about a deal. The Bills are all set to go with Devin Singletary again; Frank Gore is a free agent.
George Fant‘s three-year, $27.3MM Jets deal essentially doubles as a one-year, $9.25MM investment, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News notes. If the veteran tackle is still on the Jets’ roster by Day 5 of the 2021 league year, $4.45MM of his $8MM 2021 base salary becomes guaranteed, per OverTheCap. This still represents a nice deal for Fant, whom Mehta adds was only targeting $6MM per year before the Jets swooped in with their offer.
Shaq Lawson signed a three-year, $30MM Dolphins deal. While many teams prefer to backload free agency contracts, the Dolphins set Lawson’s up so he has a $10.3MM 2020 cap number, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes. Miami did this in order to lessen Lawson’s 2021 and ’22 cap hits, which OverTheCap lists as $9.3MM (’21) and $10.3MM (’22) figures.

Seahawks, Jadeveon Clowney “Moving Toward a New Deal”

March 21st, 2020 at 12:02pm CST by Ben Levine

Jadeveon Clowney may end up back in Seattle after all. ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio is hearing that the two sides are “moving toward a new deal” (Twitter link).

The pass rusher was initially seeking $20MM per season, and he was reportedly disappointed at the lack of suitors. The 27-year-old has since changed his asking price to a more palatable one- or two-year deal, and he’s presumably had to lower his financial demands, as well.

The Seahawks have continually been linked to the pass-rusher, and there were whispers that the organization had extended a contract offer. That deal didn’t match Clowney’s requirements for salary or length, and the player was seeking another suitor with the hope of driving up the price.

We later learned that the Cowboys were one of the teams that wouldn’t be pursuing the defensive end. Earlier this month, the Giants and Colts were both said to have interest in Clowney, but they’ve since addressed their needs.

Clowney posted just three sacks in 2019, but he was still effective against opposing passers and running backs. For his work, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 20th best edge defender in the NFL.

Cowboys Won’t Sign Everson Griffen, Jadeveon Clowney

March 20th, 2020 at 2:58pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys are in need of help on the edge after losing Robert Quinn in free agency. However, they’re unlikely to pursue two of the biggest names left: Everson Griffen and Jadeveon Clowney, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com and Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star Telegram (Twitter links).

Griffen, we learned, won’t be back in Minnesota either. On Friday, his agent released a statement to share that the Vikings will not be re-signing him. On paper, he’d be a logical fit for the Cowboys – Griffen has a solid track record of generating pressure and he’s coming off of a strong comeback year. In 2019, the veteran notched eight sacks en route to his fourth career Pro Bowl nomination.

Clowney, meanwhile, is having trouble generating interest. Injuries are likely a factor, but the asking price is a bigger issue. At one point, we heard that the Seahawks free agent is seeking ~$20MM per season. Despite his pedigree as a former No. 1 overall pick and the ever-ballooning market for defensive ends, that’s probably an unrealistic ask.

The Cowboys – who still have multiple needs to address and limited room to fill them – appear poised to take a less splashy route as they look to replace Quinn.

Latest On Jadeveon Clowney’s Market

March 19th, 2020 at 9:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While most of the the NFL’s top free agents have already come off the board, one still resides on the open market. Jadeveon Clowney, viewed as arguably the best available, non-franchise-tagged edge defender, still hasn’t found a new club, and reports of interest around the league have been few and far between.

Clowney had been (and still may be) seeking a $20MM annual salary, but it’s unclear if any club is willing to meet that asking price. The 27-year-old is now reportedly open to a one- or two-year pact, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported Wednesday, adding that many around the NFL now believe Clowney will re-sign with the Seahawks.

Speaking on NFL Network earlier today, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero indicated Clowney does have an offer on the table from Seattle, but it doesn’t meet the pass-rusher’s requirements for salary or length. Clowney, meanwhile, is reportedly hoping that rival clubs will express interest and pressure the Seahawks into raising their offer.

Seattle is likely proposing something in the range of $17-19MM per year, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, who adds Clowney’s health issues are likely a factor in his weak market. While Clowney’s January core muscle surgery typically wouldn’t be viewed as much of a barrier to a deal, COVID-19 restrictions currently prevent him from taking a proper physical.

Seahawks Return In Play For Clowney?

March 18th, 2020 at 8:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

A slower-than-expected Jadeveon Clowney market has prompted the free agent pass rusher to make some adjustments. He is now open to a one- or two-year deal, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.

Clowney remaining in free agency on its third night may increase the former No. 1 overall pick’s chances of returning to Seattle. Many around the league expect Clowney to now re-sign with the Seahawks, Fowler adds.

Interested in Clowney before the market opened, the Seahawks were not believed to be ready to give their 2019 trade acquisition a top-tier deal. Clowney wants a $20MM-per-year deal, but teams have been hesitant to oblige due to the franchise tag prices. A defensive lineman tag costs $17.8MM this year, with a linebacker tender coming in at $15.8MM.

The Seahawks re-signed Jarran Reed, so bringing Clowney back would be a significant development for a Seattle pass rush that featured nearly all of its cogs entering free agency. While Clowney only registered three sacks last season and has not blossomed into a dominant pass rusher as a pro, he remains one of the league’s most versatile edge defenders. Seattle presently holds just less than $20MM in cap space.

A one-year deal would be an interesting development for Clowney, who saw the Texans fail to extend him prior to his fifth-year option season and then franchise-tagging him in advance of his sixth season. The Seahawks agreed not to use their 2020 tag on Clowney, allowing him to test the market for the first time. It could all end with yet another Clowney one-season arrangement.

Jadeveon Clowney Seeking $20MM/Year

March 18th, 2020 at 6:18pm CST by Ben Levine

Jadeveon Clowney is seeking some big money, and teams are unwilling to meet his demands. ESPN’s Dianna Russini reports (via Twitter) that the pass rusher is seeking $20MM per year, and “interested teams aren’t coming up that high.”

We heard earlier today that Clowney had been disappointed by his offers so far, and there’s a feeling that the best offer might come from his 2019 squad, the Seahawks. As our own Zach Links pointed out, many of the top free agent pass rushers were retained via franchise tag, leaving Clowney practically alone atop a barren market. However, as Russini points out, some teams may be using that franchise value – which is about $5MM less than what Clowney is seeking – as a basis for their offer.

Earlier this month, the Giants and Colts were both said to have interest in Clowney, but they’ve since addressed their needs. At this point, a reunion with Seattle may be one of 27-year-old’s only choices.

Clowney posted just three sacks in 2019, but he was still effective against opposing passers and running backs. For his work, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 20th best edge defender in the NFL.

Weak Market For Seahawks’ Jadeveon Clowney?

March 18th, 2020 at 10:08am CST by Zachary Links

Jadeveon Clowney has been disappointed by his offers thus far in free agency, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (Twitter link) hears. The Seahawks have made an effort to keep him and the feeling is that their offer could be the best he gets, Garafolo adds.

It’s a surprising development, considering that many of this year’s top pass rushers have already been spoken for. Matt Judon, Yannick Ngakoue, Chris Jones, Leonard Williams, and Bud Dupree were all yanked back via the franchise tag and DeForest Buckner was shipped from the 49ers to the Colts, which should have left Clowney as the belle of the ball. Instead, his market has stagnated.

Earlier this month, the Giants and Colts were both said to have interest in Clowney, but they’ve since addressed their needs. Our best guess is that Clowney’s injury history is scaring clubs off and his asking price probably hasn’t been adjusted to factor for that. And, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, teams might not be able to give the former No. 1 overall pick a thorough physical.

Clowney posted just three sacks in 2019, but he was still effective against opposing passers and running backs. For his work, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 20th best edge defender in the NFL, ahead of notables such as Olivier Vernon, Vinny Curry, Von Miller, and Dupree.

NFC West Rumors: Cousins, 49ers, Seahawks

March 13th, 2020 at 3:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Prior to the Patriots sending Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers for merely a second-round pick, rumblings of a Kyle Shanahan–Kirk Cousins reunion occurred. Shanahan admitted Cousins was in the 49ers’ pre-Garoppolo plans. Although Garoppolo just quarterbacked the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV, the prospect of the 49ers jettisoning Garoppolo and signing Cousins in 2021 has popped up on some radars around the league, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Cousins’ fully guaranteed Vikings contract expires at season’s end, and Garoppolo’s 49ers-friendly deal contains no more guaranteed money.

Cousins played under Shanahan with the Redskins from 2012-13, though Robert Griffin III was Washington’s starter for most of that span. Cousins will turn 32 this year, and the cap-strapped Vikings are expected to explore an extension for their third-year starter soon. If no deal gets done by Week 1, the throwback Cousins-to-San Francisco plotline may gain steam.

Here is the latest from the NFC West, moving first to the defensive side of the 49ers’ depth chart:

DeForest Buckner‘s fifth-year option price will drop from $14.36MM to $12.38MM, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). This reflects Buckner’s place as a defensive tackle, and not an end, in the 49ers’ 4-3 scheme. The 49ers hope to finalize a Buckner extension this offseason, and this adjustment figures to play into the talks. The Pro Bowl inside defender is entering a contract year.
Linked to being less than eager to wade into deep salary waters to retain Jadeveon Clowney, the Seahawks may be concerned with the free agent-to-be’s injury history. That could well be the reason the Seahawks are not prepared to pay Clowney north of $20MM AAV, John Clayton of 710 AM Seattle notes. A few other Clowney suitors have emerged — including the Giants, Colts and Titans — and Clayton expects the 2019 trade acquisition to leave Seattle soon.
Not only is Clowney a free agent, but so are D-linemen Jarran Reed, Quinton Jefferson and Ziggy Ansah. The Seahawks would like to re-sign Jefferson, but Clayton adds that the defensive tackle has generated steady interest on the market. Jefferson has 6.5 sacks over the past two seasons and, thanks to plus run defense, graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 27 interior defender in 2019.
The 49ers will be in the market for receiver help, but Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes (subscription required) the cap space-starved franchise’s likely goal will be for a modest Emmanuel Sanders market to entice him to re-sign. Shanahan and John Lynch may be waiting to see what teams offer the soon-to-be 33-year-old wideout, with Sanders revealing this week he and the 49ers had not engaged in an extension talks this offseason.
Despite the 49ers using Tevin Coleman as their RB2 in Super Bowl LIV, Raheem Mostert and Matt Breida remain low-cost options and may have better routes back to the 2020 roster. In addition to Jerick McKinnon needing to redo his lucrative deal to stay on the team, Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News writes Coleman might have to do the same. It would be interesting to see Shanahan cut bait on Coleman, whom he’s now coached for two teams. Coleman is set to make $4.55MM in base salary in the final year of his deal.

Jets Targeting Pass Rushers

March 7th, 2020 at 12:15pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jets are seeking some pass-rush help, and they’re eyeing some of the top names on the market. Sources tell Connor Hughes of The Athletic that “the Jets are doing their homework on Jadeveon Clowney” and are among the teams “in on him.” The Jets are also planning to “actively pursue” Rams pass rusher Dante Fowler.

The team could alternatively look to the trade market for help. Hughes writes that the Jets are expected to make a call on Ravens defensive end Matt Judon, who is expected to receive the franchise tag after finishing 2019 with a career-high 9.5 sacks. However, Hughes cautions that the organization may be wary to give up too much draft capital, especially when they’re looking to fill holes via the draft.

Hughes also expects the Jets to be in on a number of offensive lineman, including Joe Thuney and Graham Glasgow. We heard yesterday that the organization was planning on pursuing Redskins lineman Trent Williams. The front office could even pursue cornerback James Bradberry, according to the writer.

The Jets will have a whole lot of money to throw at a pass-rusher, as they’re currently sitting with more than $60MM in projected cap space. Hughes notes that the organization could easily move on from the likes of cornerbacks Trumaine Johnson, lineman Brian Winters, and others, which would open up an additional $20MM to $27MM in cap space.

Jadeveon Clowney Interested In Giants Deal

March 6th, 2020 at 9:00am CST by Sam Robinson

One of a few teams to express early interest in Jadeveon Clowney, the Giants may have a leg up on the competition. If they’re willing to use it.

The free agent edge defender is interested in signing with the Giants, with SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano reporting the six-year veteran has Big Blue on his “wish list” for what would be a third NFL destination. The Giants feature a major need at the edge rusher position, and unlike last year, their top-six pick does not fall in range to select one.

Clowney, however, will come with a high price tag. The Giants are unlikely to go into the $22-$23MM-AAV range for Clowney, Vacchiano adds. Big Blue stands to enter free agency with more than $70MM in cap space.

Dave Gettleman dismantled predecessor Jerry Reese‘s previous edge tandem of Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon over the past two offseasons, and the Giants’ third-year GM then bypassed Josh Allen with last year’s No. 6 overall pick to select Daniel Jones. Although the Giants did well on their Markus Golden flier, the former Cardinals draftee is expected to hit free agency. Golden is interested in re-signing with the Giants but will come with a higher price tag this offseason, after having registered a Giants-most 10 sacks in 2019.

If the Giants bow out of the Clowney sweepstakes, there may be a steep drop to the second tier of this market’s edge defender class. Shaquil Barrett, Yannick Ngakoue, Bud Dupree and Matt Judon are set to be franchise-tagged. Tag-and-trade scenarios will exist, but the Giants’ next set of options will include Dante Fowler, Robert Quinn, Mario Addison and Shaq Lawson. Arik Armstead may not be tagged, but he profiles as more of a pure defensive lineman than an edge player.

The Giants’ No. 4 overall pick will likely arrive after decorated Ohio State pass rusher Chase Young goes off the board, and this year’s pass rusher class is not as strong as 2019’s. This could put the Giants to a decision when the legal tampering period begins March 16. The Colts and Titans may be ready to pay Clowney a top-market deal.