Training camp may be underway, but should Bill Belichick and the Patriots be looking to upgrade their pass-rush?
Three-time pro-bowler Jadeveon Clowney has still yet to find a home, and is the highest profile free agent remaining on the market. The Patriots pass-rush took a hit this offseason as they lost their two leading sack leaders from 2019 in Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy. Even with Collins and Van Noy last season, the Patriots still ranked only 12th in the NFL in sacks per game. Now with the loss for those two, the Patriots immediately project to finish in the bottom third of the league in sacks. But, if Clowney was to enter the picture, everything changes.
First off, if Clowney and Belichick were to unite, Clowney would likely have to swallow one-year contact that would likely be under market value and would likely be tied to a plethora of incentives. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Clowney already rejected an offer from the Seahawks that was worth $15 million for one-year. Bill Belichick certainly won’t break the bank for Clowney, but from a football standpoint, it’s tough to resist. This could be similar to when the Patriots inked Darrelle Revis in 2014.
The front-seven of the Patriots’ defense is certainly the weakest part of their defense, and it really isn’t up for debate. Losing Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy, and Danny Shelton in free agency was already a big enough loss in itself. But, then losing their anchor Dont’a Hightower for the season was a huge blow to the Patriots’ defense. Their front-seven will look lightyears different in 2020. As currently constructed, the Patriots would have to rely on John Simon, Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler, and Chase Winovich to provide a constant spark.
That’s a lot to ask for, for that particular group of players. Jadeveon Clowney would instantly be an upgrade, and would instantly have the chance to flourish with the Patriots. Clowney even has a connection with Bill Belichick. Clowney played under defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who was under Bill Belichick in New England, and has had a relationship with Belichick since their days with the New York Giants.
Clowney is coming off of a season in which he only recorded three sacks, bringing his career total to 32. Clowney struggled in his one and only season in Seattle, and never was able to get into a rhythm. This is part of the reason why he still remains unsigned to this point. After all the hype surrounded Clowney when he was the first-overall pick of the 2014 draft, it’s fair to say that Clowney has underachieved to this point in his career. If Clowney wants to take his career to new heights, teaming up with Bill Belichick would be the best path to stardom.
Bill Belichick has had some gifted pass-rushers come through his system over the year. Most recently Chandler Jones and Trey Flowers, who both left the Patriots and cashed in. The path to landing a lucrative contract for Clowney might start with a quick stop in Foxboro.
According to spotrac, the Patriots currently have about $35 million in cap space remaining. After being pressed up against the cap for most of the offseason, the Patriots now find themselves with a plethora of remaining money. However, with these unprecedented times the cap will more than likely be lowered in 2021, so the Patriots would be wise to leave a good chunk of change for 2021.
But, if the Patriots want to offer Clowney a one-year deal that is incentive based that could be worth a total of $10 to $12 million, it would be worth wild for both parties.
The Patriots need some kind of pass-rush to go with their high flying secondary. The Patriots will likely have to rely on their defense if they want to be successful in 2020. With a new quarterback at the helm, question marks at receiver and tight end, the offense will likely be off to a rocky start.
If the price is right, the Patriots would be foolish to pass up on Clowney, and Clowney would be foolish to pass up on Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
