Almost every football fan knows that you can never have too many pass rushers. Outside of quarterback, it’s arguably the most important position on the field and can completely change a game. The Green Bay Packers have invested in young edge talent, but with Micah Parsons expected to miss at least the first three games of the season, Brian Gutekunst may look to add Jadeveon Clowney to help offset the absence of his premier pass rusher.
With a few waves of free agency already in the books, the talent pool has started to dry up, and there aren’t many impact options left on the market. Clowney is a former first-overall pick who can still make an impact.
There's Jadeveon Clowney again 😤
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Last season, Clowney played in 13 games for the Dallas Cowboys but made just six starts. Still, he remained productive when on the field. He finished with 12 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, and 8.5 sacks, while also adding four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble.
He also ranked fourth in pressure rate among edge rushers with at least 200 pass-rush snaps. According to Spotrac, he’s projected to land a one-year deal worth around $5.7 million in 2026, which could make him a relatively affordable veteran option.
Clowney is 33, but he’s still capable of contributing at a high level. The question for Green Bay is how comfortable they are with their current edge-room mix. With Micah Parsons as the lone established veteran presence, the front office has to decide if that’s enough, especially early in the season.
If they expect Parsons only to miss a few games, they may choose to ride it out with the young group. But there’s also a case to be made for adding another experienced player anyway, someone who can stabilize the rotation and support that young pass-rushing unit, regardless of Parsons’ timeline.
It would make a lot of sense for Green Bay to bring in another veteran. Parsons will still be in the room, but he’s not going to be on the field for practice early in the season, and that matters. There’s value in having a veteran who can actually go out there, set the tone, and lead by example between the hash marks, especially for a young group still finding its footing.
Green Bay also has to take a hard look at its young options. Would second-year players Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver be in a position to step into starting roles by Week 1? Neither has much meaningful experience, and asking them to take on that kind of responsibility immediately would be a big leap.
That doesn’t mean they couldn’t grow into those roles as the season progresses and potentially win the job. Still, having a veteran in the mix would give the team a short-term safety net while those players develop.
Bringing in a guy like Jadeveon Clowney would be a low-risk, high-upside move. Best case, he comes in and takes on a bigger role while Micah Parsons works his way back, filling the snaps that Rashan Gary has handled,. Worst case, he’s still a dependable rotational piece, mixing in with the younger guys like Oliver and Sorrell.
And that kind of depth matters. We’ve seen what Green Bay’s pass rush looks like when Parsons isn’t out there, and it hasn’t been pretty.