Is Houston Texans edge defender Jadeveon Clowney worth the type of contract Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack or Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald received?
According to Solomon Wilcots, who joined the Texans Talk Podcast, the answer is no.
“For one I don’t think the Texans would do that, and no I don’t see him in that category,” the current NFL on CBS color commentator admitted. “I see a J.J. Watt in that category. Whitney Mercilus is a much more effective, say if you’re looking for a one-two punch with J.J. Watt, it’s Whitney Mercilus, it’s not J.J. Watt-Jadeveon Clowney. I know Clowney had nine sacks last year, when Mercilus is healthy, to me, I think he’s part of the package.”
As it stands, the former No. 1 overall pick from the 2014 NFL draft is set to earn just shy of one million dollars per game this season playing under the franchise tag. This comes after neither side has been able to agree on a new long term deal for the Pro Bowler.
While the three-time Pro Bowler and his camp seek a contract on par with Donald and Mack, Wilcots sees too much inconsistency in the former South Carolina Gamecock’s play.
“Now Clowney’s got some tremendous abilities, that’s the thing, I’m sure they’re waiting for that consistency to come around,” said Wilcots. “But, if you’re talking about the kind of numbers that Aaron Donald and J.J. Watt are getting, and top defensive players in the league are getting, Clowney’s not in that category, at least he has not proven to be.
Is he capable if you told me where’s his ceiling? I’d say yes, but in this league with those kinds of contracts you’ve got to earn it, you’ve got to prove it, there’s no more conjecture when you’ve been in the league four or five years as to who you are and where you fit in. No one’s going to break the salary cap, and I don’t think the Texans should do that, not from what we’ve seen so far.”
This may come as unwelcome news for fans of Clowney, but the fact of the matter is that to justify paying bank-breaking sums of money, you need to be a league-leading force. In all candor, Clowney simply hasn’t been to this point.
