Tag could be it for Clowney
If linebacker doesn’t receive deal by deadline, team is likely to use franchise designation
An expensive, complicated game of tag is about to unfold between the Texans and outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney.
Tuesday marks the first day NFL teams can use the franchise tag to prevent a player from becoming an unrestricted free agent. If the Texans are unable to negotiate a blockbuster contract extension for Clowney — an undertaking that could cost them $100 million or more over the length of a new deal — by a March 5 deadline to use the tag, then the AFC South champions are expected to designate the former top overall pick as their franchise player, according to sources not authorized to speak publicly who also say no new deal is imminent for the Pro Bowler.
Clowney has established himself as one of the most dangerous pass rushers and run stoppers in the NFL, excelling particularly against the run.
Although a new contract hasn’t been ruled out this year, the franchise tag would buy the Texans and Clowney time. They would have until a July 16 NFL deadline to negotiate a new deal. Otherwise, Clowney would be slated to play the 2019 season under the franchise tag.
It will be a costly exercise to keep Clowney on the roster under the franchise tag, and it would likely involve his utilizing his right to miss part or all of the offseason and training camp.
How much it will cost to make Clowney the franchise player will hinge on which position he’s classified as playing the majority of his snaps. Under a projected $190 million salary cap for this league year, the defensive end franchise tag
would be roughly $17.144 million. The projected linebacker designation is $14.953 million.
The franchise-tag number is derived by either an average of the top five salaries at a position or 120 percent of a player’s previous salary, whichever figure is higher.
Another scenario, albeit one considered unlikely: If a team signed Clowney to an offer sheet and the Texans opted not to match, they would be owed two first-round draft picks.
The Texans have employed the franchise tag only once in their history, using the designation in 2009 for cornerback Dunta Robinson when former general manager Rick Smith was running the personnel department.
Now, as general manager Brian Gaine enters his second year in charge of the Texans’ personnel department, it’s up to him, working in tandem with coach Bill O’Brien, to make the big decision on Clowney.
The Texans paid Clowney an extra $1 million at the end of last season to settle a dispute on how he was classified under the fifth-year club option. He was originally due $12.306 million.
It’s up to the NFL management council to determine which position Clowney should be classified under depending on the amount of snaps he lined up at defensive end and linebacker.
Clowney played 795 snaps as a pure defensive lineman last season, according to Pro Football Focus. The analytics-based site counted 255 outside linebacker snaps for Clowney.
It’s possible the Texans and Clowney could split the difference between the defensive end and linebacker tags and reach a financial compromise. If the Texans opted to use the franchise tag again on Clowney in 2020, they would have to pay him 120 percent of the 2019 compensation.
Clowney has made major strides as a player since his days as a South Carolina standout. He recorded nine sacks, 16 tackles for losses, 21 quarterback hits, three fumble recoveries with one touchdown, and a forced fumble last season. He has 18½ sacks over the past two seasons.
Figuring out how much to pay Clowney is complicated.
Last year, Chicago Bears pass rusher Khalil Mack signed a sixyear, $141 million deal that includes $90 million guaranteed with a $34 million signing bonus.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald signed a sixyear, $135 million contract that includes $86.892 million guaranteed with a $40 million signing bonus.
The Texans aren’t expected to pay Clowney anywhere near that much.
“Always, always,” Clowney said this year when asked if those contracts provide him with additional motivation. “I came out (in 2014) with them guys. Of course I want to be up there with them.
“It’s all about timing in everything about this league. Injuries happen. You get paid at a certain time. You hit the market at the right time. I think those guys deserve those contracts.”
The expiration of Clowney’s rookie contract coincides with the resurgence of defensive end J.J. Watt. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year is playing under a six-year, $100 million contract that he signed in 2014, the year the Texans drafted Clowney. Watt is due a $13 million base salary in 2019.
Clowney doesn’t want to leave the Texans, but he also wants to be rewarded with a new contract. He has shed durability concerns and has upgraded his work ethic in recent years.
“Of course I want to come back,” Clowney said. “I promise to the Texans and whoever else is watching that I’m going to be a much better, improved player next season.”
During the NFL scouting combine next week, Texans senior vice president of football administration Chris Olsen and Clowney’s Mississippi-based agent, Bus Cook, are expected to meet to discuss Clowney.
The Texans want Clowney back. How they go about securing his services remains a fluid situation.
“I think very highly of him,” O’Brien said. “Jadeveon is a big part of what we’ve done here. When he feels good health-wise and he’s ready to rock and roll, he’s hard to handle. So we’re going to work hard to try to get something done. But we’ll see how it goes.”