The regular season has come to a close, and most teams have already begun the complicated process of preparing for the 2023 season. In the coming months, we'll be covering the impending free agents most capable of shifting the balance of power in the NFL.
The Player: Jadeveon Clowney
The former first-overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, Jadeveon Clowney still sports the once-in-a-lifetime skillset that made him a three-time Pro Bowler. His production never allowed him to grow into a real superstar (43 sacks in 109 career appearances), but he remains an effective run-stuffer and a consistent source of pressure to the well-trained eye. He may have only tallied 2.0 sacks and four tackles for loss last season, but he earned a strong 75.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
The Fit:
Clowney forcefully declared his intentions to part ways with the Browns earlier this year, so they can be ruled out. The thinking that brought him to the team in the first place should apply to other franchises: he would benefit from a rotational role and a reduced profile, preferably across from a superstar. Expecting him to be a transformational player is a recipe for disappointment.
The Cost:
Clowney signed a one-year, $10 million deal to play with the Browns in 2022. His age (30 years old) and middling production will likely keep him from exceeding (or even matching) that number this year. His stature in the league will likely keep him from a bare-bones deal. He could land a deal similar to one-year, $8 million contract he first signed with the Browns in 2021 or the two-year, $19.055 million deal Uchenna Nwosu signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022.
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