Jaguars Listed as a Potential Landing Spot For Jadeveon Clowney

Another day, another pass-rusher who analysts believe would make sense for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This time, it is former No. 1 overall pick and Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, with Bleacher Report noting the Jaguars and the New Orleans Saints as the best potential fits for the free agent.

"At this point in Jadeveon Clowney's career, he's more of a big name than a marquee defender. Yet when healthy, he can wreak havoc in the trenches. Clowney hasn't earned a Pro Bowl nod since 2018. Since then, his tackle and sack numbers have dropped significantly with the exception of the 2021 campaign. After logging nine sacks, 32 pressures and 11 tackles for loss in 14 contests with the Cleveland Browns two years ago, he followed up with a modest 2022 term, registering 28 tackles, four for loss, two sacks and 12 pressures in 12 games,"

Bleacher Report

said.

"If Clowney comes into training camp with a clean bill of health, he could perform at a level comparable to his 2021 campaign. A team may not be willing to sign him on an eight-figure contract without incentives, but he's worth a gamble on a $6-7 million deal because of his recent production with the Browns."

With that said, it doesn't actually seem like Clowney is the type of players the Jaguars would pursue, even with a new in the pass-rush unit.

The Jaguars' pass-rush remains one of the biggest question marks on the entire roster following the departure of Arden Key, the injury and expiring contract of Dawuane Smoot, and a NFL draft that saw the Jaguars not add a true pass-rusher until the fifth round.

A year after the Jaguars finished No. 26 in sacks and failed to sack an injured Patrick Mahomes once in their AFC Divisional Round loss, the Jaguars' pass rush has lost two of its most efficient rushers ... but Clowney still doesn't seem like a fit.

For one, Clowney had a falling out with the Browns because of his usage, with Clowney believing the Browns were more willing to put Myles Garrett in advantageous positions to produce on game day. Considering the Jaguars would likely want to do the same for both Travon Walker and Josh Allen, it is hard to imagine Clowney would be open to be a willing soldier.

Even after a year with just 3.5 sacks, the Jaguars are all-in on Walker, and they won't let any free-agent change that.

“I think Travon, like all these rookies, it was a season of growth. You’re always looking at young players, and usually that step between year one and year two is the biggest jump that these guys have as players, but I think he did a lot of nice things," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said after the season.

"Like I talked to him a week ago, that stat number that everybody has in their mind of sacks is, in a lot of ways, very overvalued. There’s a lot of ways to influence a game, and I think Travon, you saw him do it, whether it be the run or the pass, he had an impact this year, and it’s only going to get better from here.”

Then there is the fact that Clowney just doesn't make sense for the Jaguars schematically. Clowney has always been better as a 4-3 defensive end than as a 3-4 outside linebacker, with Clowney himself in 2019 pointing out why he prefers to play in a 4-3 defense. The Jaguars, meanwhile, run a 3-4 under defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell.

“It’s just different,” Clowney said in 2019.

“I get to get back in there going vertical and not dropping, just get to put my head down and grinding. When you going forward you don’t think about a lot. So that’s the best thing about this defense, you got guys behind you who can make all the plays and guys in front who just get moving and get going. So that’s what I like about this.”