With Chase Young now on the New Orleans Saints, Jadeveon Clowney is unquestionably the best free agent pass rusher remaining on the market. After spending the first five years of his career with the Houston Texans, the former first-overall pick has spent the past few seasons bouncing around the league on one-year deals.
The 2024 season could be more of the same for Jadeveon Clowney, even though the free agent is coming off one of the best years of his career. Appearing in all 17 games for the Baltimore Ravens, the 30-year-old pass rusher finished the season with 9.5 sacks, 43 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and 19 quarterback hits while playing a key role on one of the best defenses in the game.
The Ravens are trying to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney, but NFL Network’s Nick Shook believes that the free agent should take his talents to Miami. In a recent article, Shook identified a top landing spot for each of the top remaining free agents, and he believes the Dolphins would bring out the best in the South Carolina product.
Free Agent Jadeveon Clowney Linked to Miami Dolphins
Shook’s argument for the Dolphins signing Jadeveon Clowney steps from the Jaelan Phillips Achilles injury. Noting that the pass rusher won’t be back for a while, the NFL analyst believes Clowney could be an upgrade.
Send [Clowney] to Miami, where the Dolphins aren’t going to have Jaelan Phillips for a while because of the Achilles injury he sustained in November, leaving a hole on the edge. Replace Phillips with Clowney, a veteran who proved he still has the juice last season, tying a career-high with 9.5 sacks. The Fins have some money to spend and expectations to meet, conditions that match the situations Clowney has traditionally sought. Why not take his talents to Miami Gardens?
Jadeveon Clowney could make sense as a free agent replacement for Phillips, but they might not have as much money as Shook believes. While the team currently has $13.6 million in cap space, they’re setting a decent amount aside for the inevitable Jaylen Waddle and Tua Tagovailoa extensions. If the Dolphins had money to burn, they wouldn’t have let star players like Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt leave in free agency.
The Dolphins have not expressed any reported interest in Jadeveon Clowney, and while they could be a dark horse suitor for the free agent, he’s probably going to sign somewhere else. Whether it’s a return to the Ravens or a new home entirely, the pass rusher should have plenty of options for his next team.
Other Team Fits
Carolina Panthers
No single free agent can replace Brian Burns, which is why the Panthers will need to bring in Jadeveon Clowney if they want to have a dangerous pass rusher. While D.J. Wonnum is a fine player, he can’t do it all on his own. While Clowney’s presence won’t turn this defense into the 1985 Chicago Bears, he will help create a unit that can get after the quarterback with decent regularity.
New York Jets
The New York Jets are all-in on the final years of the Aaron Rodgers Era. After signing Mike Williams and solidifying the offensive line, it’s time for this team to turn their focus to the defensive side of the ball. Jadeveon Clowney is the best free agent pass rusher available and should help New York clinch a Wild Card spot, at the very least.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars had the fewest sacks in the league last year, and they have done nothing to rectify this problem. While Josh Allen will be back for another season, the team needs another player capable of getting after the quarterback. After striking out on Calvin Ridley, the team can use a portion of that money to sign Jadevon Clowney as a free agent. With the AFC South becoming significantly more competitive, the Jaguars will need to do something if they want to win the division in 2024.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are one of the most improved teams of the 2024 offseason. Following the L’Jarius Sneed trade, this team has addressed just about every major issue on their roster. The biggest holes are at edge defender and left tackle, and while they can easily draft their next tackle, Jadeveon Clowney could solve their issue on the edge as a free agent. While Will Levis will determine the ultimate ceiling of this team, Tennessee’s front office has created a safe baseline for this club.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs didn’t get a single player or draft pick in the L’Jarius Sneed trade who can help the team in 2024. They did, however, free up plenty of cap space. While a portion of that money could go to signing a free agent cornerback like Stephon Gilmore, Kansas City could use those resources to boost their pass rush with Jadeveon Clowney. 2023 first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah had a disappointing rookie season, and Clowney would be a good insurance policy in the event the Kansas State product can’t make the Year 2 leap.
Main Photo: Mitch Stringer – USA Today Sports
