Barry McCockinner Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 I don't see much talk about picking up Clowney as a FA. IMO he should be right near the top of the list if the Texans actually let him walk. He's been injured a bit but has been improving and we need a 4-3 edge rusher. Moving him back to his natural position could yield big returns. https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2018/11/26/18104735/jadeveon-clowney-houston-texans-rookie-contract-nfl-franchise-tag-2019 Jadeveon Clowney is a good NFL pass rusher. The problem is, he could be better. Clowney came into the league in 2014 accompanied by the breathless hype typically reserved for elite quarterbacks. And, with apologies to Michigan tailback Vincent Smith, it was easy to understand why. But while Clowney has been a Pro Bowl player for the Texans, he hasn’t reached the ridiculous heights a college and high school career spent as an untouchable prospect promised. Playing on a defensive unit bolstered by stars like J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus, and Benardrick McKinney was supposed to clear the space that prevented opponents from double-teaming him and give him the latitude to be a destructive force on par with Watt, Aaron Donald, Von Miller, and Khalil Mack. Instead, injuries — to both Clowney and his teammates — have spread him thin. The former No. 1 overall pick has been stuck at “good” when he’s got the body and brain to be “great.” But Clowney’s rookie contract expires when his 2018 season does, and barring any last-minute deals from the Texans, he’ll be one of the most sought-after free agents in 2019. The only question will be which team thinks it can level him up from Pro Bowler to perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Someone is going to pay Jadeveon Clowney ridiculous money because he is a ridiculous human being Clowney has been under an enormous microscope since he was named the nation’s highest-rated recruit of all time back in 2010. His 247Sports profile says that the five-star 6’5, 255-pound defensive end played, delightfully, a little running back, which should be all the data you need to make a judgment on his athleticism. He translated that do-everything talent to the field at South Carolina under Steve Spurrier, saving his best performances for the Gamecocks’ biggest games. He had five tackles for loss in three postseason appearances (including the attempted decapitation of Smith above). In his ludicrous sophomore year, he recorded 23.5 tackles for loss — 20 of which came against Power 5 competition. That made him an easy pick at No. 1 overall in 2014, just ahead of Greg Robinson (oof) and Blake Bortles (geez). But Clowney struggled to live up to that billing early due to injury. I’ll let Stephen White sum it up for me because, well, I’m not going to do it any better than this: A jackass offensive lineman cheap-shotted him in that first game and hurt his ankle. Then, at some point along the way, he had an injury to his torso that slowed him down at the end of that season. Come to find out, after the season, that injury — which his head coach had publicly called him out for after a game — ended up being a sports hernia he had to have surgically repaired. Then, he hurt his knee his rookie season and ended up having the dreaded microfracture surgery last spring, a procedure notorious for taking away a player’s explosiveness. After using all last offseason basically for rehab, Clowney didn’t get much time on the field to actually work on his craft. Then of course, he had a myriad of injuries during last season, culminating in a Lisfranc foot injury that ended his season, but fortunately for him did not require surgery. Man ... that’s a lot! But Clowney wasn’t just fighting against injury; he was suddenly up against a class of player he couldn’t just trash with absurd athleticism. He could make plays in spurts — he still managed 4.5 sacks in 17 games his first two seasons — but he needed to refine his technique and add some more strength before adding any kind of consistency to his game. Couple that with injuries and a continually shifting role as a pass rusher thanks to Watt’s own health problems, and you’ve got a steep learning curve even for a 6’5, 270-pound monster. He made the leap in 2016, his first Pro Bowl campaign. He wasn’t just an edge rusher — he was a player who could rag doll tight ends and break into the backfield to disrupt running plays. He thrived as an outside linebacker who didn’t have to deal with the constraints of lining up with his hand on the ground. Houston found a way to best utilize his speed and power. Getting Clowney, a man with 4.5-second 40-yard dash speed, out in space proved to be a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen. And while his pass rushing is the headliner, his waterbug lateral quickness and ability to shed blocks also made him a multifaceted flood to plan against in the running game. At his best, he can sniff out plays and eclipse the daylight create by opposing blockers with lightning-fast shifts. 2017 built off 2016’s breakout, culminating in career highs in sacks (9.5), tackles for loss (21), quarterback hits (21), and forced fumbles (two) in the first 16-game season of his career. But even though he was pushing up against the Mack-Miller-Donald ceiling in terms of his defensive impact, 2018 came without a contract extension. While the team exercised his $12.3 million fifth-year option, talks between the two sides on an expensive, multi-year contract fizzled out despite a promising start. Clowney was expected to reset the defensive player market before starting his 2018, but offseason knee surgery and 18 missed games in 4.5 seasons kept the two sides from seeing eye to eye. Talks between the two sides broke off in July. The impasse between Clowney and the Texans in terms of contract talks isn’t a product of the their salary cap. Houston has $16 million in space still in 2018 and is slated to have more than $68 million next spring, even with Demaryius Thomas’s non-guaranteed $14 million on the books. With Deshaun Watson creating around $20 million of surplus value thanks to his rookie deal (Clowney, to his credit, has been good for about $7 million in bonus production this fall), the team is in good shape to fit a couple massive contracts under the cap in 2019 and beyond. Instead, Houston is waiting to see if Clowney can stay healthy before backing up the Brinks truck for him. If the club isn’t convinced, it can always keep him in the fold on a one-year deal that would greatly benefit the Texans, albeit briefly. What’s Clowney gonna cost one enterprising team in 2019? There’s still time for the Texans to pencil Clowney in for next year and beyond, even if that’s by way of the franchise tag. The Texans could keep him under the one-year designation for an estimated $17.9 million depending on how the top five salaries at outside linebacker shake out next offseason. That’s expensive, but the multipurpose pass rusher is capable of outplaying that deal. The questions he’ll face are whether the Texans will be willing to give him the long-term contract he deserves, and whether he’ll get Khalil Mack money in the process. Mack turned out to be the player to whom all other defenders look up when it comes to contract negotiations. He inked a six-year, $141 million deal after his trade to the Bears that included $90 million in guaranteed cash — $20 million more in practical guarantees than Miller got in 2016 and $3.1 million more than Donald had received one day earlier. So will Clowney command more than Mack? The good news for Clowney is that pass rushers get paid. The bad news is he’ll have some competition on the market next spring. The 2019 free agent pool is slated to include young(ish) double-digit sack recorders Ziggy Ansah and Demarcus Lawrence, who are both playing out franchise tags in 2018. Less expensive veterans like Ndamukong Suh, Cameron Wake, Brian Orakpo, Clay Matthews, Bruce Irvin, Dante Fowler, Michael Johnson, William Hayes, and Shane Ray will likely be available as well. If Clowney hits the free market, teams in need of pass-rushing help who aren’t interested in shelling out $20 million+ annually won’t have trouble finding cheaper (but less effective) help. This, along with his injury history and lack of a consistent top gear — he’s never had double-digit sacks in a season, but is on pace for 11 this season — are all arguments against a record-setting contract. And they’re all good ones; Clowney isn’t the kind of wrecking ball disruptor Mack or Donald are. Yet. But some team, if not the Texans, is going to believe it can coax that kind of performance from a player who is still improving and who is, if his measurables are to be believed, still a long way from hitting his ceiling. The best version of Jadeveon Clowney is a player who can wreak havoc along the edge, collapse rushing lanes like a mudslide, and use his pterodactyl length to swat down passes and strip ballcarriers with impunity. If Houston doesn’t use the franchise tag to keep him in 2019, he’s looking at a deal in the neighborhood of six years and $135 million with $81 million guaranteed. That’s Aaron Donald money with a little extra protection for buyers in case of injury. That’s a lot for a player whose career high is 9.5 sacks, but it makes sense. Even if Clowney hasn’t had an Donald kind of impact yet, you don’t have to squint very hard to see how a player with his strength and athleticism can get there with a few subtle tweaks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post cant wait Posted January 18, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted January 18, 2019 not interested, knee microfracture = short career. give me frank clark, dee ford or d. lawrence 14 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New York Mick Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 There’s a handful of passrusher that are going to hit the market. They’ll land one of them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post More Cowbell Posted January 18, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted January 18, 2019 No chance he becomes FA. 4 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nico002 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 No thanks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeptable Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Grady Jarrett is the guy to get for Gregg Williams scheme Clowny is not going to be worth the money someone pays him 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joenamathwouldn'tcry Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 In the text of the article the term "Ridiculous Money" jumps out at you. No doubt that's what it would take to sign this player. Other terms to remember: " Ridiculous Talent", " Ridiculous Contract", and "Ridiculously Over-rated". No doubt a good player, but has never lived up to the hype. Was drafted number one on his "Ridiculous Potential". Not based on his "Ridiculous Achievements". Similarly in the NFL he has achieved Pro Bowl Status based on his "Ridiculous Perception" Has not lived up to the expectations. To sign this player at what it would cost would be, well, RIDICULOUS. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sackdance Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 24 minutes ago, Barry McCockinner said: Someone is going to pay Jadeveon Clowney ridiculous money because he is a ridiculous human being Some impressions last. His sophomore year at So. Carolina, he was about the most dominant DL I've ever seen (Suh at Nebraska was right there too) ... then junior year he showed up soft as a donut. I'm not saying he hasn't grown up, but how much can a leopard change its spots? The article said it, great potential stuck at good - yet demanding "great" contract. I could live with the Jets not getting caught up in with Clowney. Khalil Mack has enjoyed a reputation as a dedicated player with a real work ethic at every level of ball he's played. Injuries are a footnote in his career while it practically defines Clowney's. I'd break out the checkbook for a Mack, not Clowney. If there are no macks this offseason, so be it. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenseed4 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelScott Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 14 minutes ago, New York Mick said: There’s a handful of passrusher that are going to hit the market. They’ll land one of them. I've been trying to stop myself from getting too excited until I see who definitely isnt franchised. Would love Ford, who is young and coming off his rookie contract (if I'm not mistaken). But that is also the reason why I cant see him NOT getting franchised or resigned. KC still has Mahomes on his rookie deal. I could see them cutting ties with the older Houston who always seems hurt and resigning Mahomes. Feel like Texans fans have the same mixed feelings we have about Leo. Nice player to have but never really lived up to what he was supposed to be. I would be absolutely thrilled If the Jets managed to sign a top pass rusher and another second tier guy like Fowler and then go heavy OL in the draft 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoop24 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 He is top tier caliber player . That’s a red flag for some jets fans lol . Would be shocked if he hits FA. 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelScott Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 5 minutes ago, Greenseed4 said: I'm assuming those players arent listed by any kind of rank...? Btw, that's an awesome site, thanks for posting that. How accurate do you think their market values are? They have Clowney averaging 16.5mil ... Lawrence just under 20mil a year, which is Von Miller territory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack48 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 28 minutes ago, cant wait said: not interested, knee microfracture = short career. give me frank clark, dee ford or d. lawrence yes. and no Fowler either. Guy is an underachiever 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony MaC Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Well, yeah. If he hits the market there's no reason not to give his agent a call. He's started 46 out of his last 49 games, the injuries seem to be behind him. I'd be fine with giving him a deal with two years of guarantees or something, seems worth the "risk". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larz Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 He sure seems to break a lot 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe W. Namath Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 If the jets are smart, they will staw away from big money guys like clowney and leveon and build this through the draft. We need long term success which requires patience. What we will do is sign clowney and bell. Have 2 good years and then be back in the doghouse for the next 20 years. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry McCockinner Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 10 minutes ago, sackdance said: Some impressions last. His sophomore year at So. Carolina, he was about the most dominant DL I've ever seen (Suh at Nebraska was right there too) ... then junior year he showed up soft as a donut. I'm not saying he hasn't grown up, but how much can a leopard change its spots? The article said it, great potential stuck at good - yet demanding "great" contract. I could live with the Jets not getting caught up in with Clowney. Khalil Mack has enjoyed a reputation as a dedicated player with a real work ethic at every level of ball he's played. Injuries are a footnote in his career while it practically defines Clowney's. I'd break out the checkbook for a Mack, not Clowney. If there are no macks this offseason, so be it. He was a 4-3 de in college. The Texans moved him to 3-4 OLB and he's been good, not great. He's improved over time. I think a move back to his natural position could bring out the beast. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenseed4 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 6 minutes ago, MichaelScott said: I'm assuming those players arent listed by any kind of rank...? Btw, that's an awesome site, thanks for posting that. How accurate do you think their market values are? They have Clowney averaging 16.5mil ... Lawrence just under 20mil a year, which is Von Miller territory The screenshots may not be in proper order, but the “market value” is determined by previous deals that have been signed by players with similar stats/ages/player rankings etc. fwiw, that site has assigned Robby Anderson a market value of $11.7M, so it’s not an exact science...just estimates based on comparable players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CotcheryifyouCan Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 doubt he hits the market. dee ford prolly wont either but hes the guy i want. possibly anthony barr. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangerous Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 after watching how the patsies handled bosa this past sunday and even how jj watt and clowney have gotten handled i would question paying out so much for an edge rusher. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PS17 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 7 minutes ago, rangerous said: after watching how the patsies handled bosa this past sunday and even how jj watt and clowney have gotten handled i would question paying out so much for an edge rusher. Agreed. Also Ezekiel Elliott got stopped by the Rams defense so who needs a high paid RB. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 45 minutes ago, Joe W. Namath said: If the jets are smart, they will staw away from big money guys like clowney and leveon and build this through the draft. We need long term success which requires patience. What we will do is sign clowney and bell. Have 2 good years and then be back in the doghouse for the next 20 years. Building the draft is a great idea and hope we can build the nucleus of the team that way, but with $130 million in cap space after cuts and restructures we will have the opportunity to sign some big name bug gun free agents who will help the younger guys achieve that championship. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King P Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Trey Flowers is the guy we should really be pursuing in FA 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaSteve Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Not a chance. He has had microfracture surgery, and has played across JJ Watts his whole career. No way I hand that guy Khalil Mack-type money. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsTalk247 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Demarcus Lawrence Jadeveon Clowney Dee Ford These are the premiere pass rushers that are set to be FAs, the other thing they have in common is all of them will be returning to their current teams. The Texans have a ton of cap space, if they can't work out a long term deal then they will hit him with the franchise tag. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe the Breadman Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 31 minutes ago, King P said: Trey Flowers is the guy we should really be pursuing in FA He should definitely be one of the FA the team kicks the tires on. The beauty of signing Flowers is that it hurts the hated Pats. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexJet Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 2 hours ago, Scoop24 said: He is top tier caliber player . That’s a red flag for some jets fans lol . Would be shocked if he hits FA. Great player, would love him on the Jets, but not happening. Texans are working on locking him up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detectivekimble Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 3 hours ago, sackdance said: Some impressions last. His sophomore year at So. Carolina, he was about the most dominant DL I've ever seen (Suh at Nebraska was right there too) ... then junior year he showed up soft as a donut. I'm not saying he hasn't grown up, but how much can a leopard change its spots? The article said it, great potential stuck at good - yet demanding "great" contract. I could live with the Jets not getting caught up in with Clowney. Khalil Mack has enjoyed a reputation as a dedicated player with a real work ethic at every level of ball he's played. Injuries are a footnote in his career while it practically defines Clowney's. I'd break out the checkbook for a Mack, not Clowney. If there are no macks this offseason, so be it. The reason he didn't reach his potential is because of the knee injury. He clearly isn't nearly as athletic as he was coming out of school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurnleyJet Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 I don't see how any of the top 3 I'd want will reach FA. Demarcus Lawrence Jadeveon Clowney Dee Ford I think they all get tagged. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Ship Darron Lee back to The Shire and pay Anthony Barr. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nycdan Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 No one's interested in Muhammad Wilkerson? He was pretty good in college, no? 1 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsplayer21 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Offense should be 1-6 on our list, instead of being 9-20 past 10 years.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Losmeister Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 aftre his playoff performance ESPECIALLY, no. never liked him all thta much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HessStation Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Clowney is super overrated imo. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaSteve Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 33 minutes ago, HessStation said: Clowney is super overrated imo. Its amazing how one hit that knocks a guys helmet off and recovering the fumble goes such a long way with reputation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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