Are the Bills looking to add another veteran pass rusher to the defensive mix?
Last week, the Buffalo Bills made NFL headlines thanks to a trade with the Cleveland Browns that brought wide receiver Amari Cooper to One Bills Drive. Cooper’s first game with Buffalo went well, and the hope is that his addition more fully solidifies the entire wide receivers room moving forward.
Is it possible that general manager Brandon Beane isn’t done adding talent to Buffalo’s roster this season? With Brandon Beane, Bills Mafia has learned that anything’s possible. There are those in the national media who believe that Beane and company may try to get a trade deal done with the Carolina Panthers to add veteran defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
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Consider the following from Sports Illustrated writer Matt Verderame in an article about the upcoming NFL trade deadline:
If the Panthers decide to move off some of their veteran talent, keep an eye on the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo and Carolina have longstanding ties in their front offices, with Carolina general manager Dan Morgan having worked under Buffalo GM Brandon Beane from 2018 to ’20. Additionally, Beane came to the Bills from the Panthers, where he spent the first 19 years of his career. While Buffalo already added a receiver in Amari Cooper, getting another pass rusher could make sense. Carolina has a good one in Clowney, who at 31 years old is set to be a free agent after this season.
Okay, consider our interest piqued. Among the many interesting things about Clowney’s professional career is that after his five-year rookie deal with the Houston Texans ended, he’s bounced around the NFL almost exclusively on a year-to-year basis between five teams. His longest stay was with two campaigns with the Cleveland Browns immediately after leaving the Texans.
Why should the Bills trade for Jadeveon Clowney?
Longtime readers of Buffalo Rumblings are undoubtedly familiar with Clowney, as he was a pre-draft crush of many within this digital space. This play alone from his college days had many dreaming about what Clowney could bring to the Bills as a full-force defensive end:
Yes, that tape is from almost 12 years ago at this point, but Clowney is still a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron. At 31 and with a birthday on Valentine’s Day, Clowney’s best days are admittedly behind him. But he’s not ready to listen to any of that talk just yet.
Buffalo’s defense has struggled against the run this season, as you may well understand after noting performances from the likes of running backs Derrick Henry and Breece Hall. Adding a player as stout against the run game as Clowney is would be a huge win for the Bills.
Additionally, Clowney’s presence as a pass rusher would be a huge benefit for Buffalo, were they to add him to the mix with the likes of defensive ends Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa, plus edge rusher Von Miller.
Why are the Panthers trading Jadeveon Clowney?
The Panthers are woefully inept again this season, laying claim to a 1-6 record and losing by two scores or more in six defeats. The only thing Carolina is contending for is another top draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Head coach Dave Canales benched second-year quarterback Bryce Young — the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft — in favor of veteran journeyman signal caller Andy Dalton. He paid immediate dividends… which quickly and predictably wore off in the following weeks.
So, the Panthers may be looking to clear cap space off the books via veterans who want a fresh start somewhere else that offers them a better chance at winning games now.
What is Jadeveon Clowney’s contract?
As noted above, Clowney is in the final year of his current deal, and set to be a free agent at season’s end. Per Spotrac, Clowney signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Panthers ahead of the 2023 NFL season. The contract included an $8 million signing bonus, with $12 million guaranteed, and has an average annual salary of $10 million in each of the two years. Clowney’s cap hit, per Spotrac, is $6 million for the 2024 NFL season.
Jadeveon Clowney stats
In five appearances this season, Clowney has made 12 tackles (6 solo), two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and one sack. In 2023, Clowney played in 17 games (starting 15) and made 43 tackles (24 solo), nine tackles for loss, 19 quarterback hits, 9.5 sacks, five pass defenses, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Per Pro Football Reference, in his 11-year NFL career, Jadeveon Clowney has started 118 games (131 appearances), with 375 tackles (254 solo), 101 tackles for loss, 130 quarterback hits, 53.5 sacks, 28 pass defenses, 15 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries (for 85 yards), three fumble return touchdowns, and one interception — returned 27 yards for a touchdown.