CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney cannot wait to deliver to his hometown Carolina Panthers the prove-it mode he has been in since his falling-out with the Cleveland Browns on the finish of the 2022 season.
The three-time Professional Bowl choice from close by Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Wednesday signed a two-year, $20 million cope with the Panthers that might attain as much as $24 million with incentives primarily based on sacks.
Clowney, 31, earned the deal after tying his profession excessive in sacks (9.5) final season in what he known as his “Kobe [Bryant] 12 months” with the Baltimore Ravens.
“That was crucial, actually for myself as a result of I already knew I might play the sport and make performs,” Clowney mentioned throughout a Zoom name on Friday. “I inform individuals on a regular basis if I play in 16, 17 video games, it’ll seem like a Professional Bowl season. That is all I obtained to do, is simply be on the market taking part in.
“I do know I could make the performs it doesn’t matter what group I am on. I’ve simply obtained to be accessible and deal with myself. The older I get the extra I work out how you can keep more healthy.”
Due to accidents, Clowney hadn’t performed a full season earlier than final 12 months since 2017, when he had 9.5 sacks for the Houston Texans, who chosen him with the highest decide of the 2014 draft.
After sporting No. 90 most of his profession, he selected 24 final season to represent what he hoped could be a 12 months of development after having solely two sacks in an injury-plagued 2022 season with the Browns. He says his reasoning was just like Bryant’s when he switched from No. 8 to 24 with the Lakers in 2006 after Los Angeles moved on from star heart Shaquille O’Neal.
“That was my Kobe Bryant 12 months, the return of the killer,” Clowney mentioned. “I mentioned Kobe [year] as a result of after I was in Cleveland numerous stuff occurred my final 12 months there after I did not have my greatest season.
“They put out that article about me saying all this about what was occurring.”
In an article revealed in Cleveland.com, Clowney mentioned the group was favoring star defensive finish Myles Garrett over him.
“As an instance it. Let’s be trustworthy,” Clowney mentioned within the article. “[It seems to me] they do not need me to outplay no one.”
The Browns disciplined Clowney for his feedback, sending him residence earlier than a observe previous to the season finale on the Steelers and leaving him in Cleveland for the sport.
Clowney performed final season for the Ravens on a one-year, $2.5 million deal.
“Like I mentioned, the girl with the pen will get the final say, so I by no means actually obtained to reply to that or say something about what was mentioned,” Clowney mentioned. “I simply swallowed that and went to work and obtained again to grinding and figuring out.”
His 9.5 sacks in 2023 made Clowney a sizzling commodity in free company, notably for the Panthers after they traded two-time Professional Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants.
The New York Jets additionally tried to signal Clowney to assist anchor a protection that may take a number of the strain off their offense as future Corridor of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns from harm.
Clowney selected Carolina partly as a result of he grew up solely 25 miles from Charlotte, performed his school soccer at South Carolina simply 90 miles away, and idolized longtime Panther and 2024 Corridor of Fame inductee Julius Peppers. He additionally believes the Panthers, regardless of six straight shedding seasons and coming off an NFL-worst 2-15 document, have the expertise to make a run on the playoffs.
He hopes to assist deliver five-time Professional Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore, his teammate at South Pointe Excessive and South Carolina, again to assist the trigger.
Clowney mentioned he and Gilmore talked earlier than he signed his new deal. He mentioned Gilmore advised him he has been making an attempt to get the Panthers to signal him after he spent the 2023 season with the Dallas Cowboys.
“I believe we will flip this factor round and have some enjoyable right here,” Clowney mentioned. “I am in search of one thing nice for this upcoming season.
“The division [NFC South] was tight final 12 months no matter what individuals say. It is no cause to suppose the Panthers cannot come out on high of the division this 12 months and make the playoffs.”
Clowney first requested for No. 24 when arriving at Carolina, however after being advised No. 7, which he wore in highschool and school, was accessible he selected that quantity as a result of 24 already had served its goal.
“I mentioned I simply want one alternative to indicate these individuals I nonetheless can do that at a excessive stage and I am not the man they make me out to be,” Clowney mentioned of final season. “That is all I wished to do this entire offseason, show that to individuals.
“Baltimore gave me that chance to return on the market and play.”
Now, Clowney added, he is having a homecoming that is “permitting me to reside out my dream.”
