Jadeveon Clowney is still a free agent, and while the former first-overall pick is on the older side, he can still help a contender round out their defense. Originally selected by the Houston Texans, Clowney earned three Pro Bowl selections in his first five seasons before bouncing around the league. Playing for seven teams in the last eight seasons, the South Carolina product has become something of a pass rusher for hire, and while he’s not the player he once was, he proved he could still be effective in the right role.
Appearing in 13 games for the Dallas Cowboys last year, Jadeveon Clowney finished the season with 8.5 sacks, 41 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, and 10 quarterback hits. While nobody would confuse him with Micah Parsons, he can still get after the quarterback and consistently pressure the pocket. He may not be a full-time starter anymore, but Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes he could be a perfect situational fit for a contender like the New England Patriots.
“Even at age 33, Clowney could boost just about any defensive front as a rotational player,” Knox writes. “However, he would be a very strong fit for his former Tennessee Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel, and the New England Patriots.”
Jadeveon Clowney Linked to Patriots In Latest Rumor
This fit makes sense for plenty of reasons. After going 4-13 in 2024, the New England Patriots and breakout quarterback Drake Maye shocked the NFL world by winning the AFC East and making it all the way to the Super Bowl. While they fell short of their ultimate goal, there is no denying that this team is ahead of schedule in its rebuild. However, that doesn’t mean this is a perfect roster.
As of this posting, New England’s top outside pass rushers are veteran Harold Landry and free agent signee Dre’Mont Jones. Jones is a good player, but he’s not a great one, and Harold Landry is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. While the team invested a second-round pick in Illin0is’ Gabe Jacas, they shouldn’t put too much pressure on the rookie at this stage in his career.
Jadeveon Clowney is not the player he once was, and he never quite lived up to his billing as the first-overall pick. However, he is a solid rotational player, and the Patriots could use more depth on the edge. After all, the team lost K’Lavon Chaisson after a strong season, and Clowney could fill his role as a passing down threat.
The Vrabel Connection
Of course, you can’t discuss the possibility of Jadeveon Clowney signing with the Patriots without bringing up Mike Vrabel. Vrabel and Clowney have a long history together, as Clowney played on Vrabel’s Titans in 2020 and Vrabel was Clowney’s defensive coordinator for a portion of his Texans career. While the pass rusher has bounced around throughout his time in the league, it’s safe to assume that Vrabel knows exactly what the veteran can and cannot bring to the team.
Additionally, Vrabel has shown a willingness to reunite with former players since joining the Patriots, and Jadeveon Clowney could be the next to reunite in Foxboro. After all, the Patriots head coach pursued Landry last year and likely played a big role in the team’s decision to surrender a first-round pick for former Titans and Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.
In short, New England needs a pass rusher, Jadeveon Clowney will likely come cheap, and he has experience with Mike Vrabel. He shouldn’t need much time to adjust to the defensive scheme, and he could be the ideal signing for a contending team looking for more depth to take the roster to the next level.
