Jadeveon Clowney to the Lions feels pretty unlikely at this time, here's why
Man, Detroit Lions fans really want that edge rusher. They want it so bad they can taste it. That's why it wasn't a big shock that when the Carolina Panthers released Jadeveon Clowney on Thursday that Lions fans immediately flocked to him as an option to fill that role opposite Aidan Hutchinson. It makes sense […]
Man, Detroit Lions fans really want that edge rusher. They want it so bad they can taste it. That's why it wasn't a big shock that when the Carolina Panthers released Jadeveon Clowney on Thursday that Lions fans immediately flocked to him as an option to fill that role opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
It makes sense on paper, right? He's a former first overall pick, he's a former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler. That's not bad at all. The problem was that the draft was in 2014, the All-Pro selection was in 2016, and his last Pro Bowl was in 2018. You're not getting the Clowney you think you are. You're getting the 32-year-old Clowney.
He is coming off an ok season with the Panthers in which he put up 44 pressures and six sacks. That's not bad, but is it " oh my god we got to go out and get this guy" good? I'm not sure it is.
The other thing is that had the Panthers kept him, he was due to make $13.75 million in 2025. The Lions are the team that didn't want to pay a $5.75 million cap hit for Za'Darius Smith, who is the better player. Brad Holmes said flat out that they couldn't afford to do that at the league meetings at the beginning of April.
Granted, Smith had a void year in 2026 that would have doubled the cost regardless of whether or not he was on the team, but still. It's clear they want to keep costs down.
That's not to say $13 million will be Clowney's asking price, but he's not a player that you should expect to come in for pocket change. He did sign a one-year deal worth $2,5 million with the Ravens in 2023, but a decent year there turned into two years for $20 million in Carolina.
If Clownery were to take a sweetheart deal like he did with the Ravens, then go for it, right? That's basically nothing. The thing is that it's really hard to see him doing that again. Doesn't mean he won't, it's just hard to see.
We'll see what happens in the coming weeks before camp starts, but you might see a better chance that Smith returns before Clowney comes to Detroit.
The Lions have a chance to score an edge rusher that the rest of the league forgot to draft, a guy who also has a connection to Detroit’s staff
The one thing Detroit Lions fans wanted really bad going into the offseason was en edge rusher. The Lions walked out of the draft with Boise State's Ahemd Hassanein and we think he's going to be big time thing for Detroit, but there's still opportunities to get more. There's one guy in particular that I […]
