Report: NY Jets ‘highly motivated’ to sign Jadeveon Clowney

New York Jets are hoping to seal the deal with Jadeveon Clowney

In search of a replacement for Bryce Huff, the New York Jets have turned their eyes to Jadeveon Clowney. The free agent edge rusher met with the Jets earlier this week, and things are heating up as a deal seems close.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Jets and Clowney have been in constant contact since his visit with the team on Wednesday. They are now “highly motivated” to get a deal done.

Following Jadeveon Clowney’s visit with the #Jets, he and the organization have remained in constant contact, with one source describing New York as “highly motivated” to try and secure a deal with Clowney.

I’m told both the #Panthers and #Ravens remain interested in him as… pic.twitter.com/dqE67JIPJg

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 23, 2024

The Jets lost their top pass rusher in the free agent market when Huff left to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles. They’ve made it one of their priorities to fill that spot in free agency. New York was in contact with Shaq Barrett during the first 24 hours of free agency and nearly signed him before the Dolphins swooped in last-minute. Now it appears they may be closing in on a deal with Clowney instead.

Clowney signing with the Jets is not a done deal. The Panthers, whom he also visited this week, remain interested in adding him. You can’t count out the Ravens, who’d like to see him return after putting together one of the best seasons of his career in Baltimore last year. Clowney tied his career-high with 9.5 sacks and set a career-high with 71 total pressures, the 11th-most among edge defenders.

For the Jets, adding Clowney would be another all-in move for the 2024 season, as he’d likely be the fourth addition on a one-year deal, joining Tyron Smith, Mike Williams, and Morgan Moses. He’d also be the third player they added from last season’s No. 1 seed in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens.

This news may come as a disappointment to one Jet in particular. New York’s 2023 first-round pick, Will McDonald, was due to see a sharp increase in snaps after playing just 19% of defensive snaps last season. However, if Clowney were to join the team, it’s tough to see where McDonald’s snaps would come from.

It’s unlikely that the team would cut snaps for Jermaine Johnson or John Franklin-Myers, and Clowney would likely garner more than the 42% of snaps Huff played last year. For example, Clowney played 57% of snaps last year, and that was his lowest mark since his rookie season.

Perhaps another move is on the way. John Franklin-Myers is a potential trade candidate. Or, this could be an indication that the Jets aren’t fully confident in McDonald just yet.

Either way, adding Clowney would help the Jets rebound from the loss of Huff, further strengthening an already-loaded defense.