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The case for and against the Tennessee Titans re-signing Jadeveon Clowney

By Vincent Tacchi

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Jadeveon Clowney #99 of the Tennessee Titans walks on the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on September 14, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Jadeveon Clowney #99 of the Tennessee Titans walks on the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on September 14, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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Titans defense needs more of this
Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

His stock is at an all-time low (Tacchi)

Considered one of the most athletic and dynamic defensive ends in the league, Clowney simply failed to stuff the stat sheet during his eight healthy games last season and did not flash his playmaking ability for a defensive unit that desperately needed it. After spending the second half of the season on IR, on a small-market team that rarely picks up media buzz unless their offense is being praised, Clowney’s no longer the hot ticket item that he considered himself to be the last offseason.

His original plan to mirror defensive legend Darrelle Revis and continue signing one-year deals with competitive (and high paying) teams will need to take a detour due to his unfortunate 2020 season. Clowney turns 28 next week and will be better off signing a multi-year deal to re-establish himself as one of the league’s best defensive players.

This is a good opportunity for the Titans to sign a high-potential defensive player on a team-friendly deal while he’s still under 30. Clowney would be silly to not consider establishing roots with the Titans, a team that is built up to compete now and can provide contractual stability for the next several years. Clowney also has a young family, and one can assume he would not want to be moving them around the country on a yearly basis.

The defense desperately lacks talent (Tacchi)

It’s been discussed at length and is no longer a point of conversation: the Titans defense was abysmal in 2020. While the group was marred by poor coaching and many injuries, it was clear that there was a massive lack of talent, especially in the front 7.

Clowney will never be the 10+ sack per year guy that any team, let alone the Titans, desires, but he provides an immediate elevation in talent level to the defense. The Titans need to move away from the days of rotating guys like Derick Roberson, Brooks Reed and Tuzar Skipper opposite of Harold Landry and hoping their pass-rush-by-committee can hold up over a 16 game season.

Even if he’s not showing up in the box score every Sunday, Clowney’s first eight games with the Titans showed that opposing offenses do prepare for him on a weekly basis. His game-breaking ability is an inherent knack, and certainly, something that opponents are aware of and try desperately to avoid.

When considering the supporting cast on defense, and the defenses that out-lasted the Titans in the playoffs, Clowney’s abilities stand out even more. As Tampa Bay showed throughout their Super Bowl run, elite defensive talents are needed to survive and progress through playoff games, and the Titans lack of playmakers on defense reared its ugly head multiple times throughout the season. Once you start considering the Titans’ needs on defense and what Clowney can bring to the table, he starts checking a lot of boxes.

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