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It’s not all about the money this time for Jadeveon Clowney. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft has reportedly rejected a significant offer from the Browns, who have been “the most aggressive team with him financially” and “has offered the most money to date,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “I just …
It’s not all about the money this time for Jadeveon Clowney.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft has reportedly rejected a significant offer from the Browns, who have been “the most aggressive team with him financially” and “has offered the most money to date,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“I just think he has balked at going to Cleveland for whatever reason,” Schefter told “The Next Level” on ESPN Cleveland on Wednesday. “I think he’s been hesitant to go because if he wasn’t, he would’ve gone already because it’s the most money. It’s the richest offer on the table and he hasn’t taken it.”
Clowney, 27, remains on the market as the most prominent free agent due in large part to his high asking price and lingering health concerns. The oft-injured defensive end is recovering from core muscle surgery he underwent in February, and though he claims to be healthy now, teams have been unable to assess his progress in-person in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I don’t know if people think I’m hurt because of what I went through because of the core or because of previous years,” Clowney said earlier this month. “I’m ready, I’ll be ready to go whenever the time comes. Whoever I sign with will get the best version of me.”
If Schefter’s report is accurate, the Browns’ offer would be very close to his $21 million-per-year target having already turned down offers from the Dolphins and Seahawks (his former team) worth $18.5 million-per-year and $17 million-per-year, respectively. He is seeking a contract that would put his salary in line with top edge rushers like DeMarcus Lawrence — who signed a five-year, $105 million contract in 2019 — and Khalil Mack — who signed a six-year, $141 million contract in 2018.
“Why [hasn’t Clowney signed with the Browns]? I don’t know,” Schefter mused. “Is that not wanting to be in that city? Is that a lack of belief in the organization? I don’t know what it is. But there’s no doubt that Cleveland has offered the most money to date. For whatever reason he has not been willing to take it so far. That doesn’t mean it couldn’t change, but it hasn’t changed just yet.”
The Dolphins eventually signed lower-priced defensive ends Emmanuel Ogbah and Shaq Lawson and the Seahawks signed Benson Mayowa and Bruce Irvin, likely taking both teams out of the mix. Clowney has also been linked to the Eagles, Giants and Jets, though The Post’s Brian Costello thinks the odds of the Jets signing him at such a hefty price tag is unlikely.
“I just don’t see the Jets committing big money to Clowney,” Costello wrote on May 14. “It is not how GM Joe Douglas has done business this offseason.”
