The Baltimore Ravens didn’t have a dominant, go-to edge rusher in 2023. What they had instead was something different — production by committee. And nobody embodied that more than Jadeveon Clowney.
In what turned out to be one of the best one-year signings of Eric DeCosta’s tenure, Clowney posted 9.5 sacks, 43 tackles, two forced fumbles, and five passes defended. He stayed healthy, played all 17 games, and was one of the most disruptive defenders on a unit that led the NFL in sacks with 60. Clowney was awesome in Baltimore.
After leaving for Carolina in 2024, Clowney spent a year with the Panthers before being released on Thursday (as reported by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler). He tied for the team lead in sacks with a moderately underwhelming 5.5. Now, there’s a chance for the Ravens to bring him home. And they should absolutely explore it.
Jadeveon Clowney’s return could help unlock Mike Green
Second-round pick Mike Green is expected to become the guy in Baltimore. He has the burst, the flexibility, and the college production to do it. But the Ravens aren’t a team that likes throwing rookies into the fire without a fallback. They rotate their rushers, mix up their fronts, and trust their depth. This is the way.
Bringing back Clowney essentially covers all of those bases and then some. He doesn’t need to be the long-term answer — he won’t be — but he can absolutely be a piece of the pass-rushing puzzle.
A one-year deal makes sense for both sides, especially with Kyle Van Noy aging and Odafe Oweh still in prove-it territory. Clowney already knows the system. He already dominated in it. And he helped mentor guys like Oweh along the way, helping him become a member of the double-digit sack club this past season.
This is way more involved than a nostalgia play. It’s about putting Green in the best position to succeed. The Ravens don’t need Clowney to play hundreds of snaps or post another career high. They just need him to draw attention, bring pressure, and create openings for their younger edge rushers.
Per Over the Cap, the Ravens have about $7.5 million left to play with. While that’s not the biggest war chest out there, Baltimore offers Clowney more than money. They offer stability, familiarity, and a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl. At 32 years old, with declining sack numbers and real playoff aspirations, it’s not unrealistic to think he could come at a reasonable price.
If the Ravens are serious about winning now and setting up Mike Green to be the guy in 2025 and beyond, this is the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that makes too much sense. Clowney isn’t the future of the pass rush — but he might be the best thing for it in the present.