Latest news with #JadeveonClowney
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens roster theory reignites discussions of a potential reunion with an star pass rusher
There is hope that the Ravens can begin laying the groundwork for a major reunion. It wasn't the most important event of the 2023 Baltimore Ravens season, but it certainly qualifies as one of the most memorable. Jadeveon Clowney danced around after reaching 9.5 sacks during a game that coincidentally occurred vs. the hated Pittsburgh Steelers. He had reached an incentive, and in doing so, he assured himself of a bonus. Every sack is special, especially at football's highest level. This sack tied his 2017 career high and triggered a $750,000 contract bonus. They say money talks. Clowney had indeed received his share, as the old saying goes. However, by the end of the season, it became clear that it was a one-and-done situation. Last season, he played for the Carolina Panthers, a team located just 30 minutes from his hometown of Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he was born and raised. His recent release from Carolina's roster makes him an unrestricted free agent again. As you'd expect, lines were crossed, connecting the dots representing him and the Ravens. Nothing came of those conversations, but the rumor mill is once again swirling. The Ravens and Jadeveon Clowney are being mentioned in the same sentences again "You got somebody like Jadeveon Clowney, who's sitting out there. He knows this system, he knows this franchise, he knows this team. Do you bring him in later on in the season? Maybe it's a one-year, $5-million deal at the end of camp." Those were the words of CBS Baltimore's Rick Ritter. Those of you who are intrigued by a possible reunion will love listening to his recent take on the Locked on Ravens podcast. "Whatever it (a possible deal) may be, you can't have enough depth on the defensive line.' There's some truth to that... in theory, but only a handful of pass rushers will make Baltimore's 53-man roster. Kyle Van Noy is in, as are Odafe Oweh and rookie Mike Green. Undrafted rookie free agent Kaimon Rucker was added recently, and that was after Clowney became available. Might that have been the evidence we needed that the ship has sailed on the discussions of his reacquisition (if there were any)? We'll see if any genuine interest begins as we move through training camp and the preseason.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Green Bay Packers advised to sign three-time Pro Bowl defender
The Green Bay Packers didn't have much to complain about last season. Their offense ranked eighth in scoring, and the defense took another step forward too, allowing the sixth-fewest points in the NFL. But as any coach will tell you, what happened last year doesn't matter now that a new season is around the corner. While Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has worked hard to upgrade the roster, some NFL analysts still believe there is room for improvement. Advertisement Specifically, Bleacher Report's Matt Holder believes the Packers should sign three-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney. 'Lukas Van Ness hasn't lived up to his predraft billing so far, yet he's scheduled to be the Packers' starting defensive end opposite Rashan Gary this season. It wouldn't be a bad idea for the Packers to add Clowney to create competition for Van Ness during training camp.' Bleacher Report on Jadeveon Clowney to Green Bay Packers Clowney was set to play a second season with the Carolina Panthers, but they released him earlier this summer. Now the former No. 1 overall pick is seeking his seventh NFL team. Yet, he's still productive. Last season, he recorded 5.5 sacks across 14 starts. That may not be top-tier production, but it's clear that Clowney can still get sacks. Plus, there's always the chance that he has a bounceback season, like when he had 9.5 sacks in 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens. Clowney, 32, will eventually find a new home before the season starts, and the Packers would be a good fit for everyone involved. Advertisement Related: NFL defense rankings 2025: Evaluating all 32 defenses Related Headlines
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers Named Possible Landing Spot For Former No. 1 Overall Pick
Packers Named Possible Landing Spot For Former No. 1 Overall Pick originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The pressure is on the Green Bay Packers' pass rush to produce more consistent results in 2025. While Green Bay finished with 45 sacks last season, 20 of them came in just three games — including seven against a struggling Tennessee Titans offensive line. Beyond the inflated totals, the underlying metrics were concerning: The Packers ranked 27th in pass-rush win rate, and Rashan Gary, who led the team in pressures, fell short of the 50-pressure mark. Advertisement General Manager Brian Gutekunst made some moves this offseason to strengthen the trenches, drafting edge rushers Barryn Sorrell and Colin Olliver, along with interior lineman Warren Brinson. However, the absence of a high-profile free agent acquisition signals the organization's trust in Jeff Hafley and DeMarcus Covington to get the most out of the defensive line. Still, Green Bay should look for other alternatives. Just look at how the Philadelphia Eagles built a dominant pass rush rotation on their way to a dominant Super Bowl win against the Kansas City Chiefs. Bleacher Report's Matt Holder believes adding a former No. 1 overall pick to their defensive front would be a smart way for Green Bay to create competition for one of their first-rounders. Former Carolina Panthers linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (7) during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium.© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images "Lukas Van Ness hasn't lived up to his predraft billing so far, yet he's scheduled to be the Packers' starting defensive end opposite Rashan Gary this season," Holder wrote. "It wouldn't be a bad idea for the Packers to add Clowney to create competition for Van Ness during training camp." Advertisement Jadeveon Clowney has appeared in 12 or more games in five of the past six seasons. Last year, he tallied 44 pressures and 5.5 sacks with the Carolina Panthers—stats that would rank him just behind Rashan Gary as Green Bay's second-most productive pass rusher. "You're always looking. With pass rushers, you can never have enough," Brian Gutekunst said after the 2024 season. "I thought there were times this year we did that, we were able to rush with four men. Every team in the league, that's how you'd prefer to do it, rush with four and affect the quarterback with four. There were periods of times where we didn't do that well enough, everybody understands that. That affects your football team." Green Bay is placing its trust in internal development, which makes sense considering the significant investments they made upfront. Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary carry huge contracts, while Lukas Van Ness and Devonte Wyatt are first-round picks from just three and two years ago, respectively. Still, as Matt Holder pointed out, it wouldn't be a bad idea to add more competition—at least for training camp and preseason—to help elevate the group even further. Related: Packers Predicted To Trade 1,700-Yard Playmaker During 2025 Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams named as potential landing spots for two defensive free agents
With training camps drawing nearer, teams will once again look at free agency to shore up any positions of need. The Los Angeles Rams should be no different, especially on defense. Much has been written about the Rams' lack of depth at key defensive positions this offseason, and there are a few solid players left on the open market. Bleacher Report's Matt Holder went through some of the top names and listed the Rams as a potential suitor for two of them — one cornerback and one edge rusher. CB Rasul Douglas "Douglas is a long cornerback who uses his limbs well to make plays on the ball. The eight-year pro has racked up 19 interceptions and 79 pass breakups during his tenure in the NFL. "However, he's coming off one of the worst years of his career with no picks and just five pass breakups, which is tied for a personal low and the second-fewest of his career, respectively. The former Buffalo Bill also allowed a 123.7 passer rating when targeted and posted a 58.9 coverage grade last season, per Pro Football Focus. "Combine that with his age, and it makes sense why Douglas is available. Still, plenty of teams could use some help at cornerback and would benefit from at least bringing him into training camp. "After missing out on the Ramsey sweepstakes, the Rams could still use some help at cornerback as they make another Super Bowl push with the aging Matthew Stafford at quarterback." OLB Jadeveon Clowney "While Jadeveon Clowney never developed into the sure-fire Hall of Famer many expected him to be coming out of college, he has put together a long career as a solid all-around edge defender. "The 2014 No. 1 overall pick has racked up 58 sacks and 108 tackles for loss over the last decade-plus, and he was a decent contributor for the Carolina Panthers last year. He posted 5.5 sacks and nine TFLs to go along with 44 total pressures and 24 "defensive stops," according to Pro Football Focus. "However, Clowney missed three games due to injury in 2024, which has been a consistent theme throughout his career. He's only played in a full season's worth of games twice in 11 years. "That, combined with being on the wrong side of 30 years old, is likely why the Panthers let him go during free agency and is part of the reason he's still unsigned. But a team looking for help on the edge should at least give the veteran a call. "While Los Angeles has a couple of promising young edge defenders in Jared Verse and Byron Young, the position group and defensive line are young as a whole. The veteran could be a good depth piece and voice in the meeting room as the team looks to make a Super Bowl run." Both of these players would be sound additions, but neither is a game-changer. Douglas would just be a depth player in a position group that already isn't flashy. Clowney is also great depth, but he would be a situational player that might not be very cost-effective considering his past contracts. However, if the Rams are truly going all-in, then signing either or both of these veterans would just continue to support their Super Bowl push. The price would have to be right, though, as the Rams have about $20 million in salary cap space left.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'The Mercenary': Why Eagles Should Sign Jadeveon Clowney For One More Run
'The Mercenary': Why Eagles Should Sign Jadeveon Clowney For One More Run originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Eagles and Pro Bowl edge rusher Josh Sweat parted ways when he signed with the Arizona Cardinals. As a result, the team could be on the lookout for someone to replace him. Advertisement Maybe that help is already here. After all, Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt and Azeez Ojulari all either have "star quality'' or are anticipated to display it with more snaps coming to the group in 2025 as part of coordinator Vic Fangio's front seven. as the Eagles push to repeat as Super Bowl champions, a "mercenary'' might do. Enter 32-year-old edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney. Could he be a suitable fit as a helper? The Carolina Panthers announced this offseason that they were cutting former Pro Bowl edge rusher Jadeveon so incredibly, given the fact that he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, when he signs again he will join his seventh different team in the last eight seasons. Advertisement That's a mercenary. And there's nothing wrong with that. Oh, and in the last few years, he's also signed short-term contracts that end up costing his team various salaries. So he's not trying to break the bank. Just two seasons ago with the Baltimore Ravens, he racked up 9.5 sacks in 15 games started. In 2024, he missed three games, but he was still able to get 5.5 sacks and 46 total tackles. Could the Eagles use those 9.5 sacks? Those 5.5 sacks? While the reigning Super Bowl champions pay him the minimum to chase a ring? One year. One time. One mercenary. Related: Eagles' Saquon Barkley Reveals New 'Non-Retirement' Plan Related: Analyst Explains Eagles Linebacker Draft Philosophy This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
