John McClain of the Houston Chronicle does not expect the Texans to sign OLB Jadeveon Clowney to a long-term extension.
McClain mentions that Clowney is still rehabbing his knee after undergoing other arthroscopic surgery back in January and until he proves he’s healthy able to consistently stay on the field, he can’t see the team committing to him long-term.
Texans HC Bill O’Brien expects Clowney to be ready to go for the start of training camp next month, which would leave Houston with around six weeks to work on a long-term deal. According to McClain, Texans GM Brian Gaine maintains the same philosophy as his predecessor, Rick Smith, who wouldn’t negotiate extensions during the regular season.
If the two parties aren’t able to hammer out a long-term deal before Week 1, the Texans would either have to open extensions talks next year or be prepared to use their franchise tag if they plan to keep him in Houston.
McClain says that “there’s no way they’d let him leave as a free agent.”
As of now, there have been any substantive negotiations between the Texans and Clowney, according to McClain.
A few reports from this offseason mentioned that the two sides were making progress on a deal. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
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 was 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 and comes out to a savings of $1.54 million.
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.
We have him featured in our Top 25 – 2019 NFL Free Agents list.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
