Now that Patrick Mahomes has signed a mega 10-year extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Raiders (and the rest of the NFL) have to figure out a way to slow that offense down for the next decade. The best way to do so is to have a fearsome pass-rush that can get to the quarterback without having to blitz.
The Raiders appear to be on the right track to getting that done as both Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell showed promise as rookies. However, the unit lacks a “superstar” that can keep offensive coordinators up at now.
While those types of players are rare and don’t become available very often, there is one still available on the open market; Jadeveon Clowney. While the sack totals don’t always tell the whole story, Clowney has been one of the league’s most disruptive edge rushers for the past few seasons.
Could the Raiders actually be interested in bringing in the former Texans and Seahawks star at this stage in free agency?
According to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, the Raiders have indeed made an offer for Clowney. However, the report suggests that Las Vegas is a “distant third” in terms of actually getting a deal done. It’s been reported that the Browns and Seahawks are still in the bidding for Clowney and both seem more aggressive than the Raiders in their pursuit of the former No.1 overall pick.
The Raiders currently have just $9 million in cap space, but that wouldn’t be a problem if Clowney did decide to take his talents to Las Vegas. But as mentioned before, it appears the Raiders are lagging behind a few other teams in the current bidding war.
If Clowney decides to lower his price or if other teams bow out of negotiations, it’s feasible that the star edge rusher could come to Las Vegas. But as of right now, it appears the Raiders’ interest in Clowney is only at an exploratory level.
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