The Carolina Panthers practically admitted that this is not going to be their year when they benched Bryce Young for Andy Dalton. That means they could look to trade big-name veterans like Jadeveon Clowney. Carolina spent big on the veteran to replace the departed Brian Burns. Clowney has yet to record a sack with his new team, but it’s worth noting that he recorded a career-high 9.5 sacks last year with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Panthers signed Jadeveon Clowney to a two-year contract, but that doesn’t mean they won’t trade him. Now in his 31st season, Clowney is closer to the end of his career than the beginning and likely won’t be good enough by the time the Panthers are ready to compete. Carolina can hit $2 million in salary cap space this year and $10 million in 2025, and teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs should be interested in signing the veteran.
Panthers could trade Jadeveon Clowney to Chiefs and Ravens
If one team knows how to get the most out of Jadeveon Clowney in a trade, it’s the Baltimore Ravens. The former first overall pick had a remarkable season in Baltimore, playing a crucial role on the league’s best defense and recording 9.5 sacks, 43 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss and 19 quarterback hits. Even though he left as a free agent, the Ravens would have loved to keep him. Unfortunately, salary cap constraints meant they couldn’t match Carolina’s offer of $20 million for two years. Thankfully, they were able to get him at a reduced price for just the cost of a draft pick.
Carolina has already paid out its $8 million signing bonus and two game checks, meaning those numbers won’t impact Baltimore’s salary cap. A Jadeveon-Clowney trade would mean about $2 million in salary cap space in 2024, which the Ravens can easily afford. Nnamdi Madubuike is still elite, but Baltimore could use another edge rusher to get out of its 0-2 hole, especially given Kyle Van Noy’s injury. Finding good pass rushers at this stage of the season isn’t easy, and Clowney shouldn’t need any time to adjust to the new defense.
Chiefs strengthen their forces
The Kansas City Chiefs enter Week 3 with a 2-0 record but a +8 point differential. They are just two breaks away from 0-2, meaning they are not clearly the best team in football. There is no such thing as a perfect roster, and Kansas City should consider trading Jadeveon Clowney to bolster a defense that may need some help in 2024.
Chris Jones is still his usual reliable self, as he has already recorded 1.5 sacks through the first two games. The same can be said for former first-round pick George Karlaftis, who continues to be productive despite only recording 0.5 sacks so far. Unfortunately, 2023 first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah continues to disappoint, meaning this team could use someone to fill the starting spot across from Karlaftis. Michael Danna is a decent edge rusher, but a Jadeveon Clowney trade would give this team two above-average edge rushers to pair with superstar Chris Jones. With passing attacks struggling across the league, a strong defense could ensure no team can match Patrick Mahomes’ offensive power.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – USA Today Sports
