Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports that “no deal is imminent” between the Texans and franchise DE Jadeveon Clowney and “negotiations aren’t active” at this point in time.
Reports from the past week mentioned that the decision to not sign Clowney to a long-term team may have played some role in the decision to fire GM Brian Gaine.
Although Wilson adds that Texans’ senior vice president of football administration Chris Olsen is in charge of football operations, Wilson writes that “nothing is expected to change” with Clowney right now.
Clowney is not with the Texans for the start of mandatory minicamp.
“No, as you know, he’s been franchised,” Texans HC Bill O’Brien said of Clowney. “He’s not here [today]. It is what it is. The situation is what it is.”
“I have every belief and trust that JD is working on his own and getting ready for whenever he does decide to show up,” O’Brien added. “JD has played good football for us. He knows what it takes to be ready for training camp and stuff like that.“
The Texans used the franchise tag on Clowney for the 2019 season and have until July 15 to finalize a long-term extension.
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 which paid him $12.306 million for 2018.
Houston the franchise tag on him back in March, which will cost them $15,967,200 for this season.
In 2018, Clowney appeared in 15 games for the Texans and recorded 47 tackles, 9 sacks, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown and a pass defense. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 9 overall edge defender out of 103 qualifying players.
We’ll have more on Clowney and the Texans as the news is available.
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