Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports that Jadeveon Clowney has been classified as an outside linebacker, which drops his fifth-year option figure from $13.846 million down to $12.306 million for the 2018 season, which comes out to a savings of $1.54 million.
The Texans have made it clear that they would like to sign Clowney to a long-term deal this offseason.
“That’s something that we’re currently evaluating right now, about the feasibility of that,” Texans GM Brian Gaine said at the Combine. “It’s certainly something we have interest in.”
Clowney, 25, is a former No. 1 overall pick of the Texans back in 2014. He was in the final year of his four-year, $22.272 million contract when the Texans picked up his fifth-year option last year.
Clowney will be an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
In 2017, Clowney appeared in 16 games for the Texans and recorded 59 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two recoveries with one being returned for a touchdown, and two pass defenses for the Texans. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 14 edge defender out of 108 qualifying players.
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