Report: Jadeveon Clowney weighing one-year contract

Jadeveon Clowney watch has reached its fifth day and while we’re yet to reach a resolution, the situation has become a bit clearer in recent days.

Clowney, one of the best free agents available in this year’s class, stayed largely out of the news in the legal tampering period and in the first few hours of the new league year. Presumably, a team—be it the Seahawks or another—hadn’t come in with the top-of-the-market offer Clowney had hoped for. On Wednesday evening, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler provided an update on Clowney’s status on the open market:

For Clowney, a short-term deal makes sense, after he was dealt an unfortunate concoction of circumstances for his foray into the open market. First, he had a down season by traditional measures, with just three sacks. Then, he underwent offseason surgery as a result of a core injury he played through. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic made flights, visits and physicals practically impossible. As a result, Clowney has yet to see that $20 million annual average he had hoped for.

As of Friday morning, the standstill remained, with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle providing an update:

At this stage, barring an unforeseen change of heart in Seattle, or a wildcard team appearing from nowhere, a one-year deal seems both most likely and most favorable for Clowney. As Wilson points out, the open market should be much kinder—and Clowney’s production much higher—next year.

For the Seahawks, the longer Clowney remains available, the more they risk losing their star defensive lineman—be it immediately or in a year’s time.