Should Rams Pursue Ravens’ Clowney in Free Agency?

Unlike last offseason, when the Los Angeles Rams began their roster “remodeling” process, which saw them offload many of their star players on big contracts, absorbing over $70 million in dead cap, they now have money to spend. Money in which Pro Football Focus is suggesting be used to acquire former No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick and current Baltimore Ravens edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney. The 30-year-old pass rusher formerly out of South Carolina would be a welcomed addition to the Rams’ defensive front. Despite keeping star defensive tackle Aaron Donald as one of their roster “pillars,” the “remodel” gutted the Rams defensive line of experience.

Their once leading pass-rusher statistically, Leonard Floyd, was released, while other contributors like A’Shawn Robinson and Greg Gaines departed in free agency. Donald was all that was left of the Rams’ once Super Bowl-winning defensive line, as they relied on their rookies like Kobie Turner and Byron Young to make up for the loss of production.

And while Turner and Young exceeded expectations, combining for 17 sacks in their rookie campaigns, bringing in a veteran like Clowney can’t hurt. Despite having never lived up to his draft status, Clowney is coming off one of the best years of his nine-year career. The 30-year-old racked up 9.5 sacks, which tied his career-high, 19 quarterback hits, and 43 tackles, of which nine were for a loss.

“Clowney enjoyed a career year with Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald dialing things up for him, deploying simulated pressures and exotic blitzes out of various fronts,” PFF writes about Clowney. “It seems Clowney will probably ride out the rest of his career on successive one-year deals that fluctuate based on his production the year prior, and he certainly earned himself a raise this season.” With over $27 million potentially available in cap space this offseason, per Over TheCap’s projections, the Rams can more than afford Clowney’s projected one-year deal worth $9 million by PFF.