Why the New York Giants must stay far away from Jadeveon Clowney:
One of the more problematic units for the New York Giants heading into the 2020 season is their pass rush. Prior to placing a free agent tender on Markus Golden, which still doesn’t guarantee he will remain with the team for their future campaign, the Giants were heavily looking into Jadeveon Clowney, formally of the Seattle Seahawks.
Interestingly enough, Clowney remains available on the free-agent market, but most teams are not willing to part with the money he is asking for. General manager Dave Gettleman is focused on lower priced options, like Kyler Fackrell, who had a stellar 2018 campaign but fell into a secondary role in 2019.
Only a few months ago Clowney mentioned he would be open to joining New York, but he was more interested in playoff contending teams. He was reportedly seeking a deal upwards of $20 million per season, and no team has been willing to bite at that price point.
Ultimately, if Golden fails to sign elsewhere, he will earn 110% of his 2019 salary, which comes out to about $5 million. That is a steal for a player who recorded double digit sacks last season and has experience with some of the younger players currently on the roster. While Golden doesn’t match up with Clowney in terms of overall influence, he will serve a greater purpose in lowering their cap hit and giving them the freedom to look elsewhere in 2021.
Clowney most recently rejected an offer from the Cleveland Browns, as he believes his worth is far more significant. Even the Philadelphia Eagles have taken a shot at landing him, but it seems he is keen on waiting it out until he gets a bigger deal. Injuries are frequent in the NFL and eventually, a team will have to cough up the dough. Hopefully, it is not the Giants who have to do so.
It is also important to mention that the Giants will be looking to bolster their team with available cap next season, and signing Clowney on a multi-year deal worth potentially over $15 million per season, which would significantly hinder their ability to sign free agents. The 2020 season is meant to continue their rebuild, as the team is not in a prime position to contend for a playoff berth. With that being said, looking to the draft or free agency next year might be more practical.