It didn't take nearly as long as several thought, but it finally happened.
Rock Hill, South Carolina, native Jadeveon Clowney chose the Carolina Panthers to play for after a two-week courting stretch that saw him talk to the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets.
Clowney, 31, joins the Panthers at a point where it is an awkward fit. Carolina is rebuilding and Clowney is well into a career full of ups and downs. But all of that didn't matter. Clowney chose to play for Carolina for reasons that extend far beyond football.
"We're going to be just 30 minutes from home," Clowney said to CBS Sports senior NFL insider Josina Anderson. "It's where we do all our community and foundation work going into season 11. Plus, my Grandaddy is getting older; last year we had a lot of losses in our family. So honestly, it just feels like a full circle moment being closer."
Clowney signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Panthers. With incentives, his contract could grow to $24 million, ESPN reported Wednesday night.
During the 2023 season, Clowney was on one of the best-value contracts in the NFL. He signed with the Ravens at $2.5 million. He enjoyed a career year on a bargain contract, collecting 9.5 sacks.
He will now be Carolina's defacto No. 1 pass rusher and he chose to play 30 minutes north of home for reasons far deeper than football.
"He spoke with Ravens," Najah Clowney, Jadeveon's wife, said to Josina Anderson. "He also liked his visit with the Jets. Both places were fits, but the Panthers pursued the hardest. This is a special day for us."
More must-reads: