NFL Rumors: Raiders Not Pursuing Jadeveon Clowney, Seahawks Moving On

The Las Vegas Raiders are not pursuing Jadeveon Clowney, according to ESPN’s Dianni Russini. The defensive end is still available nearly two months after the official start of free agency.

With rumors that Las Vegas was exploring a possible trade for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, Clowney seemed like a possible fit for the Raiders. The team doesn’t appear interested in making Clowney one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive players.

Clowney was reportedly initially asking for between $20 and $21 million a year. Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark are the NFL’s only players at the position that have an average yearly salary of at least $20 million.

According to Russini, Clowney is now seeking around $17.5 million per year. The three-time Pro Bowler has reportedly turned down multiple contract offers from the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans.

The Seahawks traded two players and a 2020 third-round draft pick for Clowney before the start of the 2019 season. Seattle now appears ready to move on from the veteran.

“We took a good run at it,” Seahawks general manager John Schneider told KJR-AM last week. “It didn't happen. He's a great guy. He fit in great in the locker room, did a really nice job for us, but we need to be conducting business, and he just was not in a position to make a move. So we gave it a run and now you've got to keep going, and that's what we've done.”

The Indianapolis Colts have been considered to be potential Clowney suitors.

Only seven teams had fewer sacks than the Raiders in 2019. The team has had one of the league’s worst pass rushes since trading linebacker Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears in 2018.

Mack has an average $23.5 million average yearly salary with Chicago.

Clowney had 3.0 sacks last season, recording his lowest total since he was a rookie in 2014.