Breaking down a potential Jadeveon Clowney trade to Tennessee Titans
By Will Lomas
Is there a chance that this makes the Tennessee Titans defense the next great defense in the NFL?
First and foremost, I need to stress again how important it is that Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson and HC Mike Vrabel are familiar with Jadeveon Clowney.
Every big move that the Titans have made over the last two or three years has been because of a personal relationship with a player from a coach or someone in the front office.
They love dealing with people that they know will put in the work and who will help contribute to a winning culture.
If the Titans do attempt to make a move for Clowney, it means that Vrabel has given him a stamp of approval.
Why does that matter so much? Because Jadeveon Clowney’s career really didn’t take off until Mike Vrabel started calling plays for him.
When Vrabel moved up from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator, he finally got to work with Clowney extensively. In 2017 (his only year as DC), Clowney set career highs for:
-Forced fumbles (2)
-Sacks (9.5)
-TFLs (21)
-Tackles (59)
So basically every single category that is important for a defensive player. That is pretty important.
This may be the move that is best for all parties because Clowney gets to go to a team that will know how to use him best and the Titans get an EDGE opposite Harold Landry.
The Titans have speed off the EDGE, but what they don’t really have is an athletic, power rusher who can be disruptive consistently opposite Landry.
While I don’t think Clowney is an elite EDGE, I think he is a perfect fit for this defense and the Titans get to fill their biggest need on defense with a 26 year old talent. Even if you have to give him a big contract, you know exactly what you are going to get and it isn’t like you have to sign him until he is 34 or anything.
One move suddenly makes Harold Landry, Jurrell Casey and Jeffery Simmons better. While we are talking about it, let’s look at what the 2019 Titans defense would look like:
Jadeveon Clowney-Jurrell Casey-Jeffery Simmons-Harold Landry
Adoree Jackson-Logan Ryan–Malcolm Butler–Kevin Byard–Kenny Vaccaro
So that is two Pro Bowlers and two very promising young players on the front line, the best linebacker duo in the NFL (fight me) and an outstanding group of DBs headlines by the best safety in football.
Yea, I will take that.