Jadeveon Clowney’s free agency aspirations likely eliminate Dolphins

Free agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney would like to “reset the market” for pass rushers — and so the Dolphins are likely to be out.

The Miami Dolphins were on the cusp of pulling the trigger on a deal that would have brought standout defender Jadeveon Clowney to South Florida at the beginning of the season. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be — Clowney made sure of that. When Miami and Houston apparently had a verbal deal in place, the Texans went to Clowney and asked him to sign his franchise tag tender so that the trade could be processed.

And Clowney said thanks, but no thanks.

Instead, Clowney was shipped to Seattle, where he posted his worst statistical season since 2015. Now? Clowney is set to hit the open market once again after playing 2019 on the franchise tag. And he’s got big aspirations for his value. How big?

Too big. According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, Clowney is looking to get a “market-setting contract” this offseason. Should that be the case, it’s time the Dolphins officially move on and set their sights elsewhere. Clowney, who would undoubtedly be an ideal fit for Miami’s multiple front defense, doesn’t really bring the kind of consistency off the edge as a pressure player (or the durability) to command such a deal.

And if the rest of the NFL wants to play ball with Clowney’s high expectations, more power to them. Clowney will, undoubtedly, get paid. His final contract numbers could potentially challenge $20M in annual pay. But the Dolphins, even in their bid to go from fun underdogs to upstart competitors, need to illustrate restraint with a player in Clowney that has some medical red tape and will be 30 years old by the time the rest of this team is likely ready to serve as serious competitors. And they’ll have paid a lot of money in the meantime for his services.

Clowney is a great football player. He’d be a great fit for the Dolphins defense. But this, once again, feels like a right place/wrong time scenario for the Dolphins. If teams seriously entertain Clowney’s contract goals, it’s time for the Dolphins to give Clowney the same treatment he gave the team in August.

Walk away.

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