The Carolina Panthers will sell at the trade deadline, and one writer believes edge defender Jadeveon Clowney could end up with the Buffalo Bills. The first-overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Clowney battled injuries early in his career but overcame those ailments to establish himself as one of the league’s better all-around rushers. During the 2023 season with the Baltimore Ravens, the South Carolina product recorded 9.5 sacks, 43 tackles, and 19 quarterback hits while guiding the team to the AFC Championship Game.
Clowney parlayed this success into a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. Chosen to effectively replace the departed Brian Burns, the former first-round pick has recorded just one sack but could perform better in a more accommodating environment. Now 1-7, Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame believes the Bills and Panthers could orchestrate a Jadeveon Clowney trade.
If the Panthers decide to move off some of their veteran talent, keep an eye on the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo and Carolina have longstanding ties in their front offices, with Carolina general manager Dan Morgan having worked under Buffalo GM Brandon Beane from 2018 to ’20. Additionally, Beane came to the Bills from the Panthers, where he spent the first 19 years of his career. While Buffalo already added a receiver in Amari Cooper, getting another pass rusher could make sense. Carolina has a good one in Clowney, who at 31 years old is set to be a free agent after this season.
Panthers, Bills Could Agree to A Jadeveon Clowney Trade
Jadeveon Clowney won’t be a free agent until after the 2025 season, but Verderame’s point about the likelihood of a trade still stands. The Buffalo Bills are comfortably atop a weak AFC East and could clinch the division by November, but winning the division isn’t the ultimate goal for Josh Allen and company. After making it to the AFC Championship Game in 2020, Buffalo has yet to take the next step and hoist a Lombardi Trophy. After multiple heartbreaking losses, this team knows how every single player on the 53-man roster matters to achieving the ultimate goal.
With only one bye week in the playoffs, the 6-2 Bills have some work to do if they want to earn that competitive advantage in January. With upcoming games against the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions, Buffalo must have the best roster possible to come out on top in these matchups. The Bills have a strong pass rush, but adding Jadeveon Clowney via trade will only increase their odds of winning these difficult matchups and finally removing the playoff monkey from their backs.
Will the Panthers Do This?
It makes sense that the Bills would want Jadeveon Clowney, but can the Panthers afford to trade him? While the team won’t compete in 2024, they need someone to play the edge in 2025. Head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan did a remarkable job of fortifying the offensive line during the offseason, but they did it at the expense of the defense. This unit ranks at or near the bottom of every metric and they might not want to discard players who could help them next year.
Jadeveon Clowney is not playing up to his contract, but that doesn’t mean the trade candidate is an active liability. Seeing as the team will spend most of the offseason trying to find a new quarterback, they might not want to waste additional money on the defense. The Panthers will trade Jadeveon Clowney if the Bills offer a good pick, but they won’t give him away for free.
Main Photo: Albert Cesare – USA Today Sports
