Jadeveon Clowney

Career StatsB

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		153	66.5	450	90.5
2025		13	8.5	41	7
2024		14	5.5	46	7.5
2023		17

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

This Jadeveon Clowney signing earns an A- CVI and represents a steal for Dallas, landing an above-average pass rusher at bargain-bin pricing. At just $3.5M AAV with minimal guaranteed money, the Cowboys are paying rotational player wages for a defender who still generates consistent pressure and remains effective against both the run and pass. While Clowney's peak All-Pro days are behind him, he's proven he can stay healthy and productive in his early thirties, making this low-risk bet even more attractive. The one-year structure gives Dallas maximum flexibility while offering Clowney a chance to rebuild his market value in a contract year — classic win-win positioning. Jerry Jones just added legitimate edge depth without compromising future cap space, and if Clowney delivers anywhere near his recent form, this deal will look like highway robbery by season's end.

Performance Analysis

Jadeveon Clowney, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, remains one of the most physically imposing edge defenders in the league as he enters his 12th season — now anchoring the Dallas Cowboys' defensive front as a veteran presence who has outlasted most of his contemporaries from that draft class. Across 153 career games, Clowney has established himself as a legitimate force off the edge, earning Pro Bowl selections and commanding double-team attention that has defined his value even in seasons where the raw sack totals didn't fully reflect his impact. His current B grade reflects a player operating at a high level for his age and experience, with a clear upward arc in recent performance that suggests the best chapter of his twilight career may still be unfolding in Dallas. In a league where edge rushers typically decline sharply past 30, Clowney is bucking that trend in a meaningful way. On a per-game basis, Clowney is posting 0.65 sacks per game this season — nearly double the NFL average of 0.34 and just a hair below the elite threshold of 0.68 — a remarkable output for a 33-year-old who many had written off as a complementary piece. His tackles for loss rate of 0.54 per game similarly tracks just beneath the elite benchmark of 0.58, far exceeding the league average of 0.30, which underscores that his disruption isn't limited to the quarterback — he's consistently penetrating the backfield and wrecking run plays as well. The trajectory tells an equally compelling story: after a C+ campaign in 2023 that raised real questions about his longevity, he rebounded to a B- in 2024 and has surged to an A- grade in 2025, suggesting a rejuvenation that few analysts anticipated. The primary concern at this stage isn't production — it's durability, as Clowney's injury history makes every healthy stretch of games feel like a precious commodity. Looking ahead, if Clowney can sustain this level of production and stay on the field, he has the realistic ceiling of a first-team All-Pro caliber season at an age when most pass rushers are collecting a pension. The Cowboys' defensive staff will need to manage his snap count carefully to protect that investment through January, but the arrow is unmistakably pointing upward. If the A- trajectory of 2025 holds, Clowney could be writing one of the more remarkable late-career redemption arcs in recent defensive line history.

Current Sentiment

Jadeveon Clowney enters the 2026 offseason as a respected veteran pass rusher whose three Pro Bowl selections and 66.5 career sacks cement his legacy as a legitimate NFL contributor, even as his current market value reflects the realities of a 12-year career winding down. The Cowboys' public posture on his future, as articulated by both Jerry and Stephen Jones, has generated significant media attention but lacks the clarity needed to inspire strong confidence in his Dallas tenure continuing. Speculation linking him to the Chicago Bears as a top free-agent fit underscores that other franchises still view him as a meaningful edge option, which tempers any narrative of outright decline. Perhaps the most notable perception boost comes from Lamar Jackson's vocal endorsement, a rare and credible signal from an MVP-caliber peer that Clowney remains a valued locker-room and on-field presence. Overall, media and fan sentiment positions Clowney as a high-floor veteran role player whose best days are behind him but whose experience and pass-rush instincts still command genuine interest across the league.