Shockingly, one of the best edge rushers in the league is still unsigned.
Three-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney continues to sit and wait for the right deal from the right team, and the Jets were among those seemingly interested. Those rumors appear a bit overblown, though, as ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported this week the Jets never seriously considering signing Clowney. The Jets have a lot more cap room now after Trumaine Johnson’s contract came off the books, so Clowney could still be on the table if Douglas wants to inject Gregg Williams’ defense with a powerful edge rusher for the right price.
Clowney probably won’t be a Jet, but that won’t stop us from going over the pros and cons of signing him.
Pro: Pass rush upgrade
The Jets do not have a dominant pass rusher. While Williams worked wonders with the roster he had, the Jets were among the least effective at pressuring the quarterback in 2019. Jordan Jenkins and Jamal Adams led the team in sacks last season and Douglas drafted Jabari Zuniga in the third round of the 2020 draft, but the Jets need someone who would step in and strike fear into opposing offenses.
That’s where Clowney would step in and immediately have a presence. Though his sack totals dipped in Seattle, he tallied 18.5 sacks from 2017-18 and added six forced fumbles and 42 quarterback pressures over that span. He would be the Jets’ best trench defender and elevate what was already a surprising defense.
Con: No more cap space
Clowney reportedly lowered his asking price to $17-$18 million back in April, but signing him would eat up most of the Jets’ cap space. New York currently has about $25 million to spend and the team still has plenty of holes to fill.
Cornerback, wide receiver and offensive line are among the other positions of need for the Jets and they could bolster three positions for the same price as one if they chose not to sign Clowney. Defensive back Logan Ryan wants $10 million and that would still be a better move than giving Clowney $18 million.
Pro: Elite run defense
The Jets boasted the second-best run defense in 2019 when they allowed only 86.9 rushing yards per game and 3.3 yards per rush and they look to build on that performance after keeping most of their young front-seven players. Bringing in Clowney would push the Jets over the top as arguably the best run defense in the NFL.
Clowney, despite his reputation as an imposing pass rusher, is actually a better run stopper. Since 2017, Clowney has 51 run stops, 27 tackles for a loss and the third-best Pro Football Focus grade against the run (91.3). No one would be able to run on the Jets with Clowney in the lineup.
Con: Injury concerns
Clowney is a great player who also comes with massive durability concerns. He’s only completed a full 16-game schedule once and has dealt with a litany of injuries over his six-year career.
He missed games in 2019 with hip and core injuries and he’s currently recovering from core muscle surgery that forced him to miss the final game of the 2019 season. Clowney missed all but four games his rookie season with the Texans in 2014 with a torn meniscus and missed time in 2015 while dealing with a foot injury.
Teams like the Jets will absolutely weigh Clowney’s injury history before paying him top-dollar.
