ESPN identifies Packers’ ideal Band-Aid fix for Micah Parsons’ absence to open 2026 season, and it’s a feasible move for the front office
Edge defender Jadeveon Clowney is still a free agent, and he has a recent track record of production and versatility.
The Green Bay Packers enter the 2026 season with a significant edge rusher concern. Star Micah Parsons is still recovering from an ACL injury and is expected to miss the first month of the regular season, leaving general manager Brian Gutekunst with a hole to fill at a premium position. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz recently identified the final missing piece for all 32 NFL teams, and for Green Bay, the suggestion was signing veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
“The Packers are counting on Lukas Van Ness to finally live up to his potential as the starting edge across from Micah Parsons. But because Parsons (ACL) isn’t expected to come back until at least mid-October, which pass rusher are they going to play? Brenton Cox Jr.? Barryn Sorrell? The Packers need another veteran who can help fill in for Parsons and then provide depth once he returns.
“Clowney’s 22.4% pass rush win rate last season would have been near the top of the league if he had enough pass-rush snaps to qualify for ESPN’s rankings. He had 8.5 sacks for Dallas, and the Packers could also use his ability to set the edge against the run.” — Aaron Schatz
The depth problem behind Lukas Van Ness
The Packers do have Lukas Van Ness as the projected starter and primary edge while Parsons recovers, but the secondary spot opposite Van Ness remains a question mark. Second-year player Barryn Sorrell has taken first-team reps during the offseason program, though relying on a young, unproven player in that role carries obvious risk.
Green Bay learned that lesson the hard way last season. After Parsons went down, the Packers’ defense cratered and became one of the worst units in the NFL. The drop-off was severe enough that adding veteran insurance should be near the top of the team’s priority list heading into training camp.
What Clowney would bring
Clowney was the first overall pick by the Houston Texans in 2014 and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2016 along with three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2016 to 2018. He never became the generational pass rusher his draft status suggested, but he carved out a long and productive career across seven different teams.
Over the past three seasons, Clowney has remained a useful edge defender for the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and Dallas Cowboys. Last season with Dallas, he generated 40 pressures after posting 44 for Carolina the year before. His best recent pass-rush campaign came in 2023 with Baltimore, when he racked up 71 pressures.
The extra appeal for Green Bay, though, is Clowney’s ability against the run. He posted 27 stops and a 70.6 run defense grade via PFF last season. That kind of reliability would give the Packers a safer floor at the position while Parsons works his way back.
Why the fit makes sense for Green Bay
At 33 years old, Clowney is not a long-term solution. But the Packers don’t need one. They need a veteran who can start opposite Van Ness for four or five weeks, stabilize the defense, and then slide into a rotational role once Parsons returns. Clowney checks every box in that scenario.
Green Bay’s early schedule offers some relief. The Packers face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 as their only divisional game during that opening stretch. The NFL did the Packers some favors with the early-season slate while Parsons is out. But a manageable schedule doesn’t eliminate the need for a competent starter, especially after what happened when the defense lost its best pass rusher last season.
The Packers have developmental pieces at edge rusher, but developmental pieces don’t necessarily execute in September. Signing Clowney would give Green Bay a proven, experienced option to bridge the gap and provide depth for the entire season.