Seahawks steal Jadeveon Clowney even if he's a one-year rental
The Seattle Seahawks badly needed a premier pass-rusher and paid a worthwhile price to get one.
The same thing that was true about Ezekiel Ansah in May is true now about Jadeveon Clowney, who is headed to Seattle in a trade with the Houston Texans.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Seahawks are acquiring Clowney in exchange for a 2020 third-round pick plus defensive ends Barkevious Mingo and Jacob Martin.cheap nike nfl jerseys wholesale
General manager John Schneider's latest blockbuster trade looks like a steal for the Seahawks considering what they've giving up for a 26-year-old pass-rusher who has made three straight Pro Bowls -- even if Clowney ends up being only a one-year rental (more on that in a bit). Mingo may have otherwise been released, and while Martin is a promising young pass-rusher with a quick twitch and three more years of team control, he was only slated to be a rotational piece entering his second season.
Clowney's résumé, on the other hand, includes 18.5 sacks over the past two seasons. According to NFL Research, the 2014 No. 1 overall pick is one of only four players (Aaron Donald, Cam Jordan, Chandler Jones) with 20-plus sacks and 50-plus tackles for loss since 2016.
It was hard to envision the Seahawks getting that type of production at pass-rusher when training camp began. Frank Clark was gone, Jarran Reed had just been suspended for six games and Ansah was still on the sideline as he worked his way back from shoulder surgery with no indication of when he'd be available. Even with Ansah returning to practice last week and seemingly on track to play in the opener, the Seahawks were going to have to count on complementary pass-rushers like Martin and Cassius Marsh to fill primary roles. It still looked like a potential Achilles' heel -- particularly with Reed absent for a tough early-season stretch -- no matter how loaded the Seahawks are at linebacker.
There is some risk for the Seahawks that this could turn out to be a dud like the trade for defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. They gave up more to get Richardson but only paid him about half as much in 2017 as they'll owe Clowney on his $15.967 million franchise tender. Richardson's contract only had one year left when the Seahawks acquired it. He wasn't re-signed, meaning Seattle gave up a second-round pick, receiver Jermaine Kearse and about $8 million for one underwhelming season.cheap nfl jerseys china nike
Even if Clowney ends up walking after a big season that makes him too expensive for Seattle's liking, the Seahawks would be in line for a high compensatory pick in 2021 to help offset the 2020 third-rounder they're giving up. They're already projected to get an extra 2020 third-round pick and entered cut-down weekend with 10 expected selections in next year's draft.
Not that it's a foregone conclusion that Clowney is merely a one-year proposition for the Seahawks. They don't have many big-budget expenses beyond 2019 aside from the recent Russell Wilson and Wagner megadeals, nor do they have any young players other than Reed who are in line for a massive payday. The Seahawks can use 2019 to gauge Clowney's long-term fit and would be eligible to sign him to an extension once the regular season ends, according to the rules involving franchise-tagged players.
