For those who don't like the Carolina Panthers signing Jadeveon Clowney, that is short-sighted.
Namely, Bleacher Report's Ryan Fowler put together a list of 14 free agent signings he isn't a fan of. Somehow, Clowney's two-year contract with the Panthers made the list.
And Fowler is wrong.
Here is what Fowler had to say about the signing of Clowney.
"There's a ton of boom or bust coiled up in the frame of Jadeveon Clowney.
"At times, he can completely overwhelm opposing linemen. Other times, he disappears for weeks on end.
"While you could say Clowney is playing the best football of his career with 11 sacks in two of his last three campaigns, he'll take on a new role in Carolina where he's expected to lead a youth-infused group of pass-rushers behind him, something he's never done in his prior five stops.
"Although his deal won't break the bank, Clowney, 31, could end performing like a long-in-the-tooth pass-rusher."
The Panthers signed the Rock Hill, South Carolina, native to a two-year, $20 million contract.
On paper, it looks like a steep price to pay for a 31-year-old pass rusher. However, when looking at Clowney's production during the 2023 season, it is a deal worth far more than the paper it is printed on.
In 2023, Clowney broke out of a sack slump – collecting 9.5 in 17 games.
In Carolina, he will be empowered to do what he does best: Create pressure in the backfield.
A great pass rush isn't free in the NFL. Clowney may not have lived up to being the No. 1 overall pick, but he is still a very good football player – and the Panthers saw the value he brings to a Charlotte locker room desperate for quality production.
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