Jadeveon Clowney is still on the market. Should the New York Jets inquire into his services? ESM lists the reasons why…and why not.
Jadeveon the Jet…has a nice ring to it, no?
The first wave of NFL free agency has come and gone, but a big name remains on the radar. Jadeveon Clowney, most recently of the Seattle Seahawks is still on the market, and the New York Jets are one of many teams…32 to be exact…that would likely benefit from adding the former South Carolina Gamecock.
The potential pursuit of Clowney has its ups…and downs:
Why They Should: This Team (Badly) Needs a Pass Rush
The halls of One Jets Drive are adorned with the likenesses of pass rushers of New York past. Turn one corner, you’ll run into Mark Gastineau. You’re greeted by in another corridor by Shaun Ellis. Lately, however, the Jets have had trouble upping the pressure. The Jets have finished 23rd or worse in sacks in three of the past four seasons and the lone outlier was a 16th place showing in 2018.
The Tom Brady nightmare is finally over, but the Jets play in a division where the multi-talented Josh Allen is poised to be a threat for the foreseeable future. It’s also possible that New England and Miami will attempt to use their first-round picks (the Dolphins have three alone) on future franchise throwers. Simply put, the AFC East is not a division where an average pass rush can be brushed off. The Jets need to bolster things up before it’s too late.
Why They Shouldn’t: Clowney May Cost Too Much
Sources have indicated that Clowney is willing to lower his asking price out of the $20 million a year range. According to Over the Cap, the Jets have just over $32.5 million in cap space to worth with.
The question then becomes if the Jets can afford to spend the majority of their remaining offseason budget on the pass rusher. Clowney’s current salary demands seem to appeal to a team that is “one move away” from a Super Bowl run. If the past few seasons have proved anything, it’s that the Jets are certainly more than that proverbial single transaction from a second Lombardi Trophy hoist. Sure, the offensive line underwent much-needed renovations, but reconstruction isn’t over yet. Secondary depth is sorely lacking, Brian Poole and Pierre Desir’s new contracts notwithstanding. A competition may be necessary for backup quarterback, where the current contenders are David Fales and Mike White. Rushing and receiving depth will be needed if both Bilal Powell and Ty Montgomery leave (not to mention Robby Anderson is already gone). Finally, the Jets will need to sign their draftees.
Clowney is perhaps a luxurious “one move away” signing the Jets can’t afford at this point. It’d be great to have him in the room, and he would certainly sell some jerseys and tickets, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not in the Jets’ wheelhouse.
Why They Should: Veteran Leadership Is Sorely Needed
Ready to feel old? Clowney’s internet-breaking hit in the Outback Bowl was six years ago.
The Jets are a team sorely lacking in some veteran leadership. Only three players on the active roster have at least seven years experience in the NFL. The front seven does have some of the more seasoned names (Steve McLendon, C.J. Mosley), but adding a name like Clowney certainly wouldn’t be frowned upon. On the defensive line, Clowney could potentially serve as a mentor to sophomore Quinnen Williams. This isn’t something you hear often but…the Jets are a team that needs to get…older.
Why They Shouldn’t: Cheaper Help Could Be Available
In his free agency comments, general manager Joe Douglas seemed to indicate the Jets’ free agency spending wasn’t over. While there may not be enough money to bestow upon Clowney, there are plenty of “consolation” prizes left on the market.
If the Jets are looking for help on the edge, particularly those of the experienced variety, Everson Griffin and former New York Giant Olivier Vernon are still around. Clowney’s current employers in Seattle recently dished out a one-year. $3 million contract to former Cowboy and Raider Benson Mayowa. If the Jets like his medical status, another former Giants rusher, Markus Golden, could be in the cards. Clay Matthews was let go from the Rams for salary cap reasons but he looked rejuvenated last season. Wise spending has allowed the Jets to earned a “win” in the offseason in terms of filling needs. That trend can continue if they resist the temptation of Clowney.
Why They Should: It’s Indicative of a Win-Now Mindset
The addition of a seventh playoff spot could have a lasting impact on what the Jets plan to do for the rest of the offseason. Last year’s Jets (7-9) would’ve finished a single game out of a playoff spot (albeit tied with several other teams). Perhaps they feel, with improvements to the offensive line, that they can work their way to the unpredictable NFL playoffs.
Division championship prospects, after all, still aren’t great. Even with Tom Brady gone, the Jets’ New England nightmare may not be over. The recent wild-card contenders from Buffalo only got better. The result is a crowded wild-card picture, but one the Jets could feel decently confident in standing out with an improved offensive line. A splurge on Clowney would be a firm message that the Jets are ready to contend immediately. It’d be a bold message, one uneasy to turn back on. But it would certainly be a direction of hope for a franchise sorely lacking in that department.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags