Are you clowning me?
When it comes to which NFL team would sign free-agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, I would’ve gone through 31 guesses before I got to the Steelers.
Maybe 32. Are the Canton Bulldogs still around?
After all, they only have roughly $4 million of cap space. And the Steelers have Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt on the edges, along with Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt as defensive ends.
Meanwhile, Clowney has reportedly turned down multiple offers over $15 million per season.
But Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network says the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are the two favorites to sign Clowney.
Although the cap issue is likely prohibitive.
“A source close to Clowney told me the Pittsburgh Steelers have been poking their nose around to see if they can sign him. I don’t think he’s going to end up with the Steelers,” said Pauline. “With the Steelers, they’re strapped at the cap. They don’t have a lot of room. They’d have to make room, and the situation would have to be right.”
The one caveat might be if the Steelers trade Dupree and his $15.8 million franchise tag. If they find a partner that wants him at that number or can work out a long-term deal with him, then that’s a possibility.
But then they’d likely have to sign Clowney, 27, to a contract that is not only close to that number this year, but somehow also extremely friendly next season, too. After all, the team’s cap situation is dreadful in 2021, and they may have to trim even more current players to get into compliance.
Pro Football Network says that Baltimore’s release of Earl Thomas will save the team $10 million in cap space and that may be enough room to work out a deal with Clowney.
The Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints may also be in the mix.
