Before Jadeveon Clowney was drafted No. 1 overall in 2014, he drew comparisons to Julius Peppers, Jevon Kearse, Ndamukong Suh and Von Miller in mock drafts. The players in that group combined for 25 Pro Bowls, 17 All-Pros and Peppers is a Hall of Famer. Unfortunately, Clowney’s career hasn’t gone exactly as he’d hoped over the past 11 years. But, could a Ravens reunion help him turn things around?
Why Did the Panthers Cut Clowney This Spring?
Last week, Clowney told NFL insider Josina Anderson that he’s “still planning to play this season.” He added that he’s “been keeping in touch with four to five teams,” but did not specify which ones. Could a Ravens reunion be in the cards?
In 2024, the 11-year veteran spent his one and only season in Carolina, tying for the team lead with 5.5 sacks. He played at an above-average level in the pass rush and led the team in both tackles for loss (9) and quarterback hits (11).
Unfortunately, the Panthers fielded the worst run defense by a healthy margin. They also finished 29th in both hurries and sacks and last in knockdowns.
However, Clowney shouldn’t receive all of the blame for Carolina’s pass rush woes. His teammate, Derrick Brown, a Pro Bowler in 2023, suffered a season-ending meniscus injury in Week 1 last year.
Fifth-year pass rusher D.J. Wonnum didn’t play until Week 10 while recovering from quadriceps surgery in December 2023. But, after Wonnum returned to the lineup, Clowney caught fire.
He recorded 4.5 of his 5.5 sacks during the final seven weeks of the season. He didn’t even play in Week 14, either, so that was only six games. Imagine what he could do alongside Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh after a Ravens reunion.
While Clowney showed that he could be productive alongside another solid pass rusher, the Panthers front office made the decision to release him this May. Carolina head coach Dave Canales explained that the main factors were cap space and getting more reps for their rookie pass rushers.
I would argue that Clowney’s presence would be incredibly valuable for rookies Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, but what’s done is done. Now, let’s discuss why there could be a Ravens reunion ahead for Clowney.
Baltimore Writers Split on Benefits of Reunion with Clowney
While Clowney only spent one season in Baltimore, a Ravens reunion could be mutually beneficial. That is, as long as the price is right. The Ravens landed two spots on PFF’s list of the top 32 edge defenders this May. But, there’s always room for another pass rusher in Zach Orr’s defense.
That’s especially true, considering Clowney played alongside both Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy in 2023. The trio combined for 23.5 sacks during their lone season together.
In early May, USA Today’s Ayrton Ostly put together potential landing spots for Clowney following his release from the Panthers. He included a Ravens reunion among the possibilities, writing that the move “almost makes too much sense.”
“Baltimore spent a second-round pick at edge in the draft with Mike Green but that shouldn’t preclude them from looking for more depth in an ultra-competitive AFC,” Ostly wrote.
“If he’s looking for an elusive championship, there are few Super Bowl contenders ranked ahead of Baltimore,” he continued.
On the other hand, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic wrote the following about Clowney ‘pricing himself out’ of Baltimore:
“The Ravens were interested in bringing him back, but there was always the fear that he priced himself out of their range with how well he played last season. That’s exactly how it played out.”
The Ravens only have $17,476,466 in cap space, according to Spotrac. But, Spotrac projects that Clowney’s market value is a little over $11.4 million. A Ravens reunion could be the missing piece for their Super Bowl run.
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