The Dallas Cowboys wasted little time looking for reinforcements after trading away Micah Parsons. According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, the team will host veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney on a free-agent visit this week.
Clowney, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft, spent last season with the Carolina Panthers. In 14 games, he posted 46 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and nine tackles for loss. It was a full-circle year for the Rock Hill, South Carolina native, who once terrorized SEC quarterbacks at the University of South Carolina and had his No. 7 jersey retired in Columbia. Just a season earlier, Clowney tied a career high with 9.5 sacks for the Baltimore Ravens, showing he can still be disruptive when healthy.
Over the course of his 11-year career, Clowney has logged 58 sacks across six franchises, with his peak years coming in Houston. He earned three Pro Bowl selections and a second-team All-Pro nod during his time with the Texans before moving on to Seattle, Tennessee, Cleveland, Baltimore, and most recently Carolina.
Dallas’ pass rush is looking thin
Without Parsons, Dallas leaned on Sam Williams, Dante Fowler Jr., rookie Marshawn Kneeland, James Houston, and Donovan Ezeiruaku in the opener against Philadelphia. Kneeland provided the only sack in what turned into a frustrating night for the Cowboys’ front seven.
Adding Clowney wouldn’t fix everything, but it would give Dallas a proven veteran with experience in big moments. His ability to set the edge in the run game and collapse pockets could complement the younger talent already on the roster. Pro Football Focus graded Clowney among Carolina’s most consistent defenders last year, particularly for his run defense.
The Cowboys are no strangers to rolling the dice on veterans, and Jerry Jones has often been aggressive when roster holes emerge. For Clowney, who has played on a string of one-year contracts in recent seasons, the opportunity in Dallas could mean a chance to prove he still belongs in the playoff conversation.
Dallas will host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2, and if a deal gets done quickly, Clowney could find himself back on the field against one of the league’s most physical offenses.
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