The Houston Texans must figure out what to do with defensive end/outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, whose contract is expiring. Do they want to give him the franchise tag, or do they want to give him a long-term deal? If the Texans want to give him a franchise tag, then that doesn’t really signal commitment to the future, just a commitment to the present. If that is the case, they will need to consider edge rusher, and here are four at the NFL scouting combine worth considering.
1. florida de/olb jachai polite
The junior Gator is 6-2, 260 and more of a typical outside linebacker in a 3-4. Immediately what Polite could bring is pass-rushing as he collected 11 sacks, six forced fumbles, and 17.5 tackles for loss in his final season at Florida. There is no question that the Texans would benefit from his quickness and his ability to affect the passer.
Polite wouldn’t be able to replace Clowney instantly in one area, run defense. The Daytona Beach native would be pedestrian in this endeavor, an area where Clowney has demonstrated a considerable presence. As the NFL becomes more a passing league, perhaps this undeveloped skill won’t be as much of a liability as it would have been even seven years ago.
Projection: Late first round
2. mississippi state olb montez sweat
The senior Bulldog is 6-6, 252 pounds, which is more along the lines of a DeMarcus Ware type edge rusher. Sweat collected 11.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2018. He had some good games in his senior campaign, including strong outings against Alabama and Florida. Sweat was also one of the winners from the Senior Bowl.
Sweat has that SEC speed, and he can find ways to get to the quarterback. His arm length also allows him to get his hands into passing lanes when he can’t get to the quarterback. The 22-year-old’s arm length also allows him to keep offensive linemen at bay and shed blocks.
Projection: Late first-round
3. Boston College DE Zach Allen
The 6-4, 280-pound former Golden Eagle would be more the defensive end version of what Clowney brings to the trenches and not the outside linebacker. However, Houston could still utilize such a talent. Allen had 14.5 tackles for loss in his final year at Boston College. He also managed to produce seven sacks along with swatting seven passes.
Allen would be more of a bull rusher than he would a speedster off the edge. The Texans would be able to possibly replace Clowney’s edge setting, run defending aspects with Allen, but they would have to find someone else to be the pass-rushing playmaker.
Projection: Middle second round
4. Wyoming OLB Carl Granderson
The 6-4, 246-pound Mountain West product didn’t have stats in 2018 that jumped off the sheet in terms of sacks (3.0) or tackles for loss (7.5). However, what he was able to do was compete with his peers at the Senior Bowl, players who come from larger conferences and more prominent schools. Granderson was able to hold his own.
If the Texans were to take Granderson, they would have to first use their first-round and twin second-round selections on more pressing needs such as offensive line and cornerback. Granderson would be the type of project that the Texans may need to wait a season, but they may have the luxury, if in such a scenario, they decided to franchise tag Clowney.
