3 pass rushers the Jaguars can target in free agency to bolster the rotation
1. Jadeveon Clowney, Baltimore Ravens
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has been somewhat nomadic in recent years, and that's fine. The first overall pick in 2014 began his NFL career with the Houston Texans. He was later traded to the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Cleveland Browns, where he signed a pair of one-year deals.
Update: Jadevon Clowney is meeting with the Panthers. No deal has been signed, as of this writing.
After a two-year stint in Cleveland, Clowney crossed enemy lines and signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens last offseason. But before that, he spent several months unsigned. At one point, he met with the Jags but no deal came to fruition. It wouldn't be shocking to see the former South Carolina Gamecock once again wait to get a deal and it would make sense for Jacksonville to kick the tires on him a second time.
Last year, Clowney signed a modest $2.5 million deal with Baltimore. Looking back, the Jags should've swooped in and locked up him. While K'Lavon Chaisson and Dawuane Smoot accounted for 3.5 sacks last season, Clowney had 9.5, tied for his career best, with the Ravens. Although he wasn't the sole reason they made it to the AFC Championship, his presence certainly helped fellow pass rushers Justin Madubuike, Kyle Van Noy, and Odafe Oweh find more favorable matchups.
In Jacksonville, Clowney could join the already formidable duo of Josh Allen and Travon Walker. Together, they had 27.5 sacks between the two. By adding a player of Clowney's caliber, they could have even better numbers than they had in 2023.
There's a chance that signing Clowney will be a tad more expensive than either Derek Barnett or Calais Campbell. That said, he's still available and his market isn't particularly strong. Maybe if the Jaguars wait a bit, they can get him at a relatively affordable price.