The Jacksonville Jaguars did a good job of revamping the defense in the offseason. However, they could still make upgrades to a few units. The pass rush, in particular, could still use a boost even after the signing of Emmanuel Ogbah. Fortunately for the Jags, the Carolina Panthers just made available what could turn out to be the cherry on top of their rotation.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that the Panthers are releasing defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Not long after, Carolina announced the move.
The news comes as a bit of a surprise because Clowney was one of the Panthers' best defensive players in 2024, registering 5.5 sacks and nine tackles for a loss. Releasing him creates $6 million but gives Carolina $7.7 million in cap space, which it can use to bolster other areas on the roster.
On the other hand, the Panthers might've felt comfortable moving on from the former South Carolina Gamecock after taking Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen in this past NFL Draft. Either way, Clowney is now a free agent and should most definitely garner interest from teams in need of pass-rush help.
Why the Jaguars must kick the tires on Jadeveon Clowney
The pass rush isn't among the Jaguars' biggest needs right now. After all, they have Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen in the fold. Moreover, they added depth at defensive end when they signed Emmanuel Ogbah following the draft.
Granted, Ogbah isn't a game-changer but is a solid No. 3. Having said that, signing Jadeveon Clowney would give the Jags' pass rush a massive boost and keep their rotation fresh through the whole game. Bringing him in would also allow the front office to check off a crucial box.
Defensive tackle is a bigger need for the Jags than the pass rush. Locking up Clowney would allow Ogbah to play snaps inside. This is reasonable when you take into account that he's lined up at both positions throughout his career.
It's also worth noting that the Jaguars will have around $27 million after releasing Gabe Davis, so they'll be in a position to pursue Clowney. The one roadblock they could face is that they probably wouldn't be the only team that would make a run for him. That could, in turn, drive up the price for his services to the point where it no longer makes sense for Jacksonville to pursue him.
Either way, it wouldn't hurt the Jacksonville Jaguars to do due diligence and see what it would take to sign Jadevon Clowney. They may not be the most logical destination for him, but he could certainly be of help.