Aaron Donald reclamation project: Jadeveon Clowney edition

[NJRamsFan]

PFF is projecting him to get a 1 year 13 million dollar contract in free agency. He is of the same mold as Fowler and Floyd in terms of a high draft pick with talent never really putting it all together. I think maybe we can get him on a 1 year prove it deal just as we did with Fowler and Floyd. It would make sense for him as he can see the trend here of players lining up next to AD and getting paid the following year. He’s still only 27. What say you?

Per PFF: “ Just like any free agent signing, the key is understanding what a player is bringing to the table. Clowney has elite tools, but he's never been an elite pass-rusher, as he has posted a pass-rushing grade in the 70s in each of the last three years and a 69.6 mark in 2020. The sack totals will fluctuate from year to year, so don't let that change the narrative: Clowney is a good, not great, pass-rusher. He does his best work in the run game, using those elite tools and heavy hands to win at the point of attack. Since entering the league, Clowney is a 95th percentile run defender and a 77th percentile pass-rusher, so his future team should expect similar snap-to-snap production at this point.”

 

[Psycho_X]

Idk, I'd rather just resign Floyd. If Clowney is 100% commited and can actually stay healthy for 16 games + playoffs he might be a better player than Floyd was for us this past year but I don't see either of those things happening with Clowney. Not to say he wouldn't be a good to great player next to AD like the last two guys we've plugged there but personally at a $13 million cap hit I'd rather just resign Floyd who we could have a smaller cap hit for in year 1 of a long term contract and I like his attitude and leadership a hell of a lot more than Clowney.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

I would not be surprised if we made a move. I'm not sure how, but I wouldn't be surprised. Some doubted we would acquire Suh and Ramsey, but we did, and we looked into getting Rodgers and Watson before Stafford.

 

[OldSchool]

In my mind I just can't justify paying him that much to be a pass rusher. I'd root for him if he was a Ram player but I'd personally rather spend that money in other ways.

 

[NJRamsFan]

In my mind I just can't justify paying him that much to be a pass rusher. I'd root for him if he was a Ram player but I'd personally rather spend that money in other ways.

Idk, I'd rather just resign Floyd. If Clowney is 100% commited and can actually stay healthy for 16 games + playoffs he might be a better player than Floyd was for us this past year but I don't see either of those things happening with Clowney. Not to say he wouldn't be a good to great player next to AD like the last two guys we've plugged there but personally at a $13 million cap hit I'd rather just resign Floyd who we could have a smaller cap hit for in year 1 of a long term contract and I like his attitude and leadership a hell of a lot more than Clowney.

I was thinking we’d get creative the same way we did with Floyd. The key being Clowney being willing to take a 1 year contract whereas I think Floyd cashes in to a multi year deal.

The rams signed Floyd to a 1 year 10 million dollar deal but 5 million was in signing bonus and the rest spread over 3 years despite him only being signed for 1. In this scenario Clowney would not be counting against our cap for 13 million.

 

[Ram_Rally]

I like it a lot. He's a great run defender and probably better than floyd as a pass rusher before last year.

 

[Psycho_X]

I was thinking we’d get creative the same way we did with Floyd. The key being Clowney being willing to take a 1 year contract whereas I think Floyd cashes in to a multi year deal.

The rams signed Floyd to a 1 year 10 million dollar deal but 5 million was in signing bonus and the rest spread over 3 years despite him only being signed for 1. In this scenario Clowney would not be counting against our cap for 13 million.

Would make it a bit easier to swallow I suppose. I just like the idea of Clowney more than the actual player lol.

 

[OldSchool]

I was thinking we’d get creative the same way we did with Floyd. The key being Clowney being willing to take a 1 year contract whereas I think Floyd cashes in to a multi year deal.

The rams signed Floyd to a 1 year 10 million dollar deal but 5 million was in signing bonus and the rest spread over 3 years despite him only being signed for 1. In this scenario Clowney would not be counting against our cap for 13 million.

The money in future years he's not playing I'm not a fan of but it's not worth rehashing because people freak out about my opinion on it. The difference though between Clowney and Floyd is Clowney is coming off a season where he thought he deserved AD money. Not sure he's changed that stance but clubs obviously think he's not worth that and I'm sure all of us do as well. But how long is he going to refrain from signing so he can get all the money he wants or as much of it as he can? He didn't sign last year with the Titans until September because he wasn't getting anywhere near what he wanted then had a very disappointing campaign there. It's so hard to read how his free agency will shake out but honestly I wouldn't even sign him for the $10 million we signed Floyd to I'm just down on him as a player.

 

[Corbin]

Idk, I'd rather just resign Floyd. If Clowney is 100% commited and can actually stay healthy for 16 games + playoffs he might be a better player than Floyd was for us this past year but I don't see either of those things happening with Clowney. Not to say he wouldn't be a good to great player next to AD like the last two guys we've plugged there but personally at a $13 million cap hit I'd rather just resign Floyd who we could have a smaller cap hit for in year 1 of a long term contract and I like his attitude and leadership a hell of a lot more than Clowney.

I’m in this camp. I’m over Clowney and his BS, he over played his hand and would rather look at bringing Floyd or someone else back.

 

[NJRamsFan]

I like it a lot. He's a great run defender and probably better than floyd as a pass rusher before last year.

Agreed. He certainly has the tools. And they key is not what he has been, but what will he become next to AD...seems to be a winning formula and a great chance for Clowney to fool the league and say “see pay me top money”

 

[Selassie I]

He had microfracture surgery at the beginning of his NFL career. The long term effectiveness of that kind of surgery has always been in question. Most doctors don't believe it is effective over the long term... and even short term.

He's kind of beaten the odds already... but he's a ticking time bomb if you ask the medical experts.

His mind ain't right either.

Hard pass for me.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Agreed. He certainly has the tools. And they key is not what he has been, but what will he become next to AD...seems to be a winning formula and a great chance for Clowney to fool the league and say “see pay me top money”

Yeah I think you're onto something. And clowney was okay opposite Watt. So being next to Donald could do wonders.

 

[wize1980]

wouldnt it be grand to have clowney and floyd? that will be a treat. (wishful thinking since i dont know about cap numbers)

 

[Ram_Rally]

Von miller might be worth looking into as well. He may be cut.

 

[jrry32]

$13 million is too steep. If he'll sign a one year deal for a good bit less than that, sure.

 

[CGI_Ram]

$13 million is too steep. If he'll sign a one year deal for a good bit less than that, sure.

Yeah, me too. Big time.

I don't know what the line is to take the chance... but it's somewhere significantly south of that for me, for sure.

At the same time... not sure I want to perpetuate paying a guy for his draft position. Clowney has made a living off of that.

 

[Psycho_X]

Von miller might be worth looking into as well. He may be cut.

Now that intrigues me a little bit more depending on price. All though he's currently under investigation by Colorado police for an unknown reason isn't he? But if he's free (figuratively and literally) I would kick those tires.

 

[NJRamsFan]

$13 million is too steep. If he'll sign a one year deal for a good bit less than that, sure.

I don’t want him on a 13 million dollar cap hit but personally I could care less how much kroenke gives him outside of the cap. Floyd’s 10 million dollar deal was a 6 million cap hit. I was hoping for something similar

Edit: Nvm I misunderstood how it works. I thought the signing bonus also offset the number but they only pushed the money forward.

 

[OregonRamsFan]

Without deep thinking it, I think Clowney’s downside issues eclipse his upside merits. Still, who knows?

I guess I’m on the fence. I don’t want another unmotivated Suh type on the team, though.

 

[Rams43]

Clowney at $13M is an absolute hard no for me.

Hell, even at $10M I’m barely lukewarm. He seems like a classic ‘me, not we’ player.

I’m sure that Snead can get a better bang for the buck edge player eager to be the next beneficiary of the AD Effect.