Dallas eyes Clowney's return, but starter money and a limited snap count create a perplexing contract dilemma for the Cowboys.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys recognize their 2025 defensive problems but they also believe that side of the ball features roster members worth salvaging.
And they are very open about veteran mercenary Jadeveon Clowney being exactly that.
COO Stephen Jones called his re-signing a "priority,'' and it does help that Clowney himself has stated he'd like to return - and is even willing to change his usual style by signing early enough with the team to participate in the offseason program here.
"I enjoyed this season more than I have in the past few years. It was a blast, even though we ain't win like we needed to, I met a lot of great dudes in this locker room, man," Clowney said recently. "They have a great mindset, especially in that D-line room, one of the special groups I'd have been with in my career. … Oh, I love those guys."
And so ...
“We’ll be talking with his guys right away,'' Jones said. "With his willingness to want to be here and us wanting him to be here, hopefully we can figure something out.”
All of the talk is the easy part. Clowney was a late-September addition this season, a move made due to Dallas struggling to generate a consistent pass rush following the trade of Pro Bowler Micah Parsons to Green Bay..
In 2026, he will be entering his 13th NFL season at age 33. ... after having led Dallas in sacks with 8.8 in just 13 games.
But now comes the issue of "value.''
In September, Clowney signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Dallas. Can he be had for something similar?
I'm dubious about that; there is speculation he might be able to get twice that number on the open market.
And then there is another sort of "value.''
In 2025, he played 33 percent of the snaps. There was - and might be again - the desire to give him more action than that ... but I'm told the Cowboys staff believes that fewer snaps will mean greater rewards.
Can you justify doubling the salary of a guy who plays 33 percent of the snaps?
Not only did Clowney contribute on the field, but he also had a locker-room presence. Those guys he "loves''? They looked up to him, and that can be reinforced if he's signed early enough to spend all offseason here.
He was once the No. 1 overall pick in his NFL Draft. He's a three-time Pro Bowl selection. He's accomplished a great deal.
But a word like "priority'' fits better with, say, a trade for the Raiders' Maxx Crosby (see above) ... with Clowney - at the right price - as a supplemental-but-valued move to those sort of improvements.