Jadeveon Clowney turns down offers from Browns, Seahawks and other teams to join the Tennesee Titans.
The Clowney Saga is finally over. Clowney’s market was far less than what he expected it to be. After waiting for a long 6 months, he found a home for the upcoming season. Various teams had a range of different offers but Clowney decided to reunite with his former HC Mike Vrabel.
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Jadeveon Clowney Contract
- $6.25 million signing bonus
- $5.25M base salary (guaranteed)
- $1.5M in per-game active bonuses
- $500K for 75% playtime
- $250K for 75% playtime + playoffs
- $250K for Pro Bowl
- $1M for 10 sacks
- Base value $13M. Max $15M.
Also read: Will Antonio Brown ever make an NFL comeback
Clowney rejects multiple offers from Browns
Recently, Clowney was offered single and multi-year deals all in the $17 million range. He declined all of them proving he isn’t looking just for money. Clowney would have formed the best edge-rushing duo in the league along with Miles Garrett who’s racked up 30+ sacks in his past 3 seasons.
The Browns had various attempts to sign Clowney all through the year. They had the most cap space in the league with more than $30 million and could easily afford Clowney but it just wasn’t meant to be. Towards the end, the Browns were apparently involved in a Sign-and-Trade deal with the saints.
Saints attempted a creative historic deal
The Saints attempted to sign Clowney but have just under $8 million in cap space. So they just couldn’t match the Titans offer. However, they found a creative method in order to try and acquire him.
As per Tom Pelissero & Ian Rapoport
“According to sources informed of the talks, the Saints didn’t feel they could compete financially with the Titans’ offer – $12 million, plus $3 million in incentives – given budgetary reasons. So, they approached another team to find a workaround. (Sources didn’t confirm the other team, which hereafter is referred to as “Team X”, but it is believed to be the Cleveland Browns, who have ample cap space and a front office known for having a propensity for creativity, most memorably on display in their 2016 trade for quarterback Brock Osweiler.)
The sides discussed parameters of a deal in which Team X would’ve signed Clowney to a one-year, $15 million contract and paid him a $5 million signing bonus. Then, Team X would’ve immediately traded Clowney to the Saints, who would’ve sent Team X a second-round draft pick, as well as a player to take additional salary off New Orleans’ books. The Saints would’ve paid Clowney’s remaining $10 million salary.”
So this means, from New Orleans’ perspective, the Browns would have signed Clowney and traded him to the Saints. As per Saint’s Headcoach, Sean Payton claims the NFL didn’t allow this. Similar blockbuster trades have happened in the past and were granted permission. The NFL just found this trade to be “unfair”.
Jaguars also tried a Sign-and-Trade method
As per the ESPN, the Jaguars were monitoring the Clowney situation throughout. However, the Jaguars never wanted Clowney, but wanted to trade him to the RAVENS. The Ravens didn’t have enough cap space, thus needing a team that could absorb some of the cap hit. It made sense, in the past the Jaguars traded Calais Campbell to the Ravens, so the teams seem to have a good relationship.
Hence just like the Saints-Browns situation, they could not go forth with the deal. Sources indicated that Clowney wanted to land with the Ravens. Calais Cambell, Matthey Judon and Jadeveon Clowney are the top rushers in the league and could have created an absolute storm for any offensive line. However, Clowney joins the Titans disruptive defensive line with Vic Beasley and Harold Landry who combined for 17 sacks last season.
Seahawks were in the mix
The Seahawks have been monitoring the Clowney situation since the start of the year. They offered Clowney a 2 year – $27 million deal when attempting to resign him but Clowney declined this as well. In the past week, the Seahawks apparently made a last few pushes to try and sign him but weren’t offering him enough.
Seahawks and Clowney always had a mutual interest and the Seattle Defensive-line definitely needs a star player but a deal couldn’t fall through in the end. The Seahawks feel confident about their pass rushers but will they manage without Clowney? We’ll have to wait and watch.
