The Dallas Cowboys have some decisions to make this offseason, and one of the first names on their radar is a familiar one: Jadeveon Clowney. After a productive, if unconventional, season in Dallas, the veteran edge rusher has made it clear he wants to return. The Cowboys, for their part, are open to it-very open, in fact.
COO Stephen Jones didn’t mince words, calling Clowney’s re-signing a “priority.” And Clowney himself?
He’s not just interested-he’s willing to break from his usual routine and sign early enough to participate in offseason workouts. That’s a notable shift for a player who’s often waited until late summer to pick his next destination.
“I enjoyed this season more than I have in the past few years,” Clowney said. “It was a blast, even though we ain't win like we needed to.
I met a lot of great dudes in this locker room, man. They have a great mindset, especially in that D-line room-one of the special groups I’ve been with in my career.
… Oh, I love those guys.”
That kind of sentiment doesn’t just come from a guy cashing a check. It sounds like someone who found a fit-on the field, in the locker room, and in the culture. And for a team like Dallas, which has leaned heavily on veteran leadership and rotational depth in recent years, that matters.
But now comes the hard part: the contract.
Clowney joined the Cowboys in late September, a move prompted by the team’s need for a spark off the edge after trading away Micah Parsons to Green Bay. And spark he did-leading the team in sacks with 8.8 in just 13 games. That kind of production, especially coming from a midseason addition, is hard to overlook.
Still, Clowney’s situation is layered. He’ll be 33 when the 2026 season kicks off, entering his 13th year in the league. That’s a long road for a pass rusher, and while his 2025 output was impressive, the Cowboys managed his workload carefully-he played just 33 percent of the defensive snaps.
That’s where the value conversation gets tricky.
Last season, Clowney signed a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. Can Dallas bring him back on a similar number?
That’s the hope, but it might not be realistic. Around the league, there’s buzz that he could command closer to double that on the open market.
And while his impact was clear, the question becomes: can you justify paying starter money to a player who’s on the field for only a third of the snaps?
The Cowboys might argue yes-if that third of the snaps continues to deliver high-impact plays. There’s a belief within the organization that keeping Clowney fresh is the key to unlocking his best.
Less wear and tear, more burst off the edge. It’s a calculated approach, and so far, it’s worked.
But it’s not just about sacks and snap counts. Clowney brought more than numbers to Dallas-he brought presence.
Younger players gravitated toward him, and his voice carried weight in the locker room. That kind of leadership can’t be measured on a stat sheet, but it’s often the difference between a good defense and a great one.
Signing him early would allow that influence to grow even stronger throughout the offseason program.
Let’s not forget the pedigree here. Clowney was once the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
He’s a three-time Pro Bowler. He’s seen just about everything this league has to offer.
And while he may no longer be the every-down force he once was, he’s evolved into a savvy, situational weapon-one who still knows how to get after the quarterback when it matters most.
Calling him a “priority” might be a stretch if the Cowboys are eyeing bigger moves-like a potential trade for a premier talent such as Maxx Crosby. But Clowney, at the right price, is exactly the kind of complementary piece that championship-caliber teams keep around. A rotational pass rusher who knows the system, fits the culture, and still has enough juice to tilt a game in your favor.
The Cowboys have work to do this offseason, and plenty of holes to fill. But bringing Clowney back-smartly, and at the right number-feels like a move that makes too much sense not to happen.