Could Jadeveon Clowney end up in Arizona?
The Cardinals still have a clear opening on the edge, even after a busy offseason that brought in a new crop of players and a revamped coaching staff. Monti Ossenfort has done plenty to reshape the roster, but one big question remains: who is going to consistently rush the passer from the other side of Josh Sweat?
Sweat is listed as an outside linebacker, but in practice he’s the Cardinals’ EDGE threat. The problem is that the opposite side still feels unsettled.
Arizona passed on one of the three elite pass rushers in this year’s NFL draft and instead took the best running back available, which pushed attention toward other spots, including the offensive line. Darius Robinson was drafted in the first round a few years ago to handle that left-side role, while Zaven Collins has emerged as the main option there with Baron Browning backing him up.
Both have gotten a healthy workload.
The question is whether that’s enough.
Clowney, who is still a free agent, is one of the most recognizable names left on the market. It has been reported that two teams have reached out to him about the 2026 season, with the Cleveland Browns confirmed as one of them and the other described as an NFC West team. That naturally raises the question of whether Arizona is the mystery club.
It probably isn’t the Los Angeles Rams. Clowney and DE Myles Garrett clashed when Clowney was with Cleveland from 2022-2023, and Garrett is now with the Rams.
The San Francisco 49ers could also make sense on paper, given their push for a playoff spot and the possibility that they’d want another pass rusher. But the Cardinals are in the middle of a full rebuild, and pass rush remains one of the areas where help still makes sense.
Clowney’s career has never been smooth from year to year, but the production has been there in stretches. He had 29 sacks early in his time with the Houston Texans, then went through a quieter stretch after leaving Houston. Over the last three seasons, though, he has posted 23.5 sacks, showing a real bounce-back in that area.
His most recent seasons have been a mixed bag. In his final year with Cleveland, he managed only two sacks and 28 total tackles.
After that, he spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and Dallas Cowboys in 2025. He had 9.5 sacks with Baltimore, but the Ravens did not bring him back.
Dallas gave him a two-year deal, then moved on after one season.
Jordan Schultz reported that Cleveland has at least one other team in the mix for Clowney, and that the club is in the NFC West.
The veteran edge rusher has now played 12 seasons and made three Pro Bowls. His career totals include 450 tackles, 120 tackles for loss, 66.5 sacks, 36 batted passes, one interception, 16 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, 149 QB hits, 54 knockdowns, 95 hurries, 200 pressures, and 36 missed tackles.
Arizona’s defense does have some strong pieces already. The cornerback group and safety room are in good shape, the linebackers are better, and the defensive tackle spot could settle down if the injuries stop sending players to IR.
But if Ossenfort wants a low-cost answer on the edge, Clowney could fit that bill. He made under $5 million with Baltimore and Dallas, and just under $10 million with Carolina in 2024.
A one-year deal wouldn’t strain the budget, and it might give the Cardinals exactly what they still need opposite Sweat.
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