More than half of 2014’s first-round picks have already reached agreements with their new NFL clubs, and now we can add the No. 1 overall selection to that list. According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), the Texans have agreed to terms with Jadeveon Clowney on his four-year rookie contract, which will include a team option for 2018.
After a dominant sophomore season at South Carolina, Clowney’s junior campaign didn’t go quite as smoothly, as he missed two games due to injury and some observers questioned his work ethic. Still, his pure athleticism and talent made him the consensus No. 1 overall pick last month. As a sophomore, Clowney helped lead South Carolina to a 11–2 record, setting the school record for sacks (13.0) and tackles for loss (23.5) while also registering 54 tackles and three forced fumbles. In 2013, Clowney finished his junior season with 35 tackles, 10.5 for a loss of yardage, and three sacks.
Per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, Clowney’s four-year rookie contract will have an overall value of about $22.273MM, including a signing bonus of approximately $14.519MM. With Clowney locked up, the Texans have now reached agreements with nine of their 10 draft picks. As our tracker shows, only second-round guard Xavier Su’a-Filo remains unsigned.