Edge defender Jadeveon Clowney continues to languish on the open market, and though it sounded like he and the Seahawks were closing in on a re-up at the end of March, more recent rumors have indicated that other teams may be able to sign him away from Seattle.
In a video conference today, however, Seahawks GM John Schneider told reporters that the door is not closed on a new contract for Clowney (Twitter link via Brady Henderson of ESPN.com). But the team could not wait to address its pass rush, which is why it went out and signed Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa in free agency.
Seattle could also add a pass rusher in this week’s draft, but a rookie defender would not preclude a Clowney signing any more than the Irvin and Mayowa acquisitions. At his best, Clowney is an absolute game-wrecker against both the run and the pass, and even though he has never managed double-digit sacks in a single season, his impact goes beyond his raw statistics.
Most likely, the fact that Clowney remains unsigned has less to do with his sack totals — though those totals do get plenty of attention from his detractors — and more to do with the fact that teams have been unable to gauge where he is health-wise as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Though he has played in at least 13 games every year since his rookie campaign, he has dealt with knee problems at multiple junctures of his career and underwent core-muscle surgery this offseason after dealing with a midsection issue throughout much of 2019.
The former No. 1 overall pick has come down from his initial ask of a $20MM/year contract, but the Seahawks are reportedly unwilling to offer more than $15MM/year for him, and it does not sound as if Clowney’s camp is prepared to go that low. And, as NFL Insider Adam Caplan notes, the Seahawks do not plan on increasing their bid (Twitter link).
The outcome of the draft could change Schneider’s thinking in that regard, but for now, if Clowney does not reduce his asking price even further, he will not be suiting up for the Seahawks in 2020.
Take the $15 million, Clowney!
He won’t because he’s a clown
I don’t get it
Hi
Shalom
Take the 15 million before Hawks sign another OG! lol
The way they get their OLine they would get 2 or 3 guys for 15 mil. Quantity over Quality? Lol!
Just sign Griffen at this point.
Amen
I agree, give griffen 8-10 million and move on….
If the door was open last season he would have had many more sacks, overrated!
If the team is having trouble closing that door then I’ll fly up and do it for them.