Jadeveon Clowney: Miami Dolphins
If word is true that Clowney wants a deal in the range of $22 million to $23 million per year … well, the six-year veteran may be in for a bit of a market adjustment. That kind of deal would make Clowney the highest-paid defensive end in football, and the second-highest-paid edge-rusher behind Khalil Mack, which is a lot for a guy who has never recorded 10 sacks in a season. Obviously, sack numbers aren’t the ultimate arbiter when it comes to the effectiveness of pass-rushers, but Clowney has never put up more than 64 pressures in a season. To put that in perspective, Green Bay’s Za’Darius Smith led all edge-rushers last season with 104. So, Clowney will have to decide between a team with a whole lot of money that desperately needs pass-rushing credibility and a team with less cap to spend and greater championship-level aspirations.
If it’s the former, why not the Dolphins? Miami currently has a league-leading $87,850,174 in cap space, and although the Dolphins have needs up and down their roster, signing a player with Clowney’s talent and potential would be a big boost to their defense. Alternatively, the Dolphins could prefer to address their pass-rushing needs in the draft or with less-expensive veterans. Either way, it’s unlikely Clowney will get an overwhelming payday.