Jadeveon Clowney won’t improve Ravens as much as you might think

The Baltimore Ravens are including one other massive title to their roster by agreeing to a take care of defensive finish Jadeveon Clowney, according to multiple reports.

Between the additions of Clowney and huge receiver Odell Beckham Jr., the Ravens could be having an unbelievable offseason if it was nonetheless 2019. Unfortunately for them, it’s not. That is why the Ravens and their followers ought to method the Clowney signing with some warning — it might not present the impression they’re hoping for.

While Clowney remains to be an enormous title, his degree of manufacturing has not been all that spectacular in recent times. He can be coming off one of many least productive seasons of his profession in 2022 as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

In 12 video games he recorded simply two sacks and solely 4 quarterback hits earlier than being despatched residence on the finish of the season for his feedback relating to his future with the crew. 

Clowney entered the NFL with large fanfare as the No. 1 general choose with the Houston Texans in 2014, however he hasn’t at all times been the impression participant and celebrity he was projected to be, particularly as a pass-rusher. While Clowney has been a persistently good run stopper, his impression as a pass-rusher has by no means actually been elite.

It has solely gotten worse in recent times, tallying simply 14 whole sacks over the previous 4 years. He simply is not anyone who’s going to disrupt an opponent’s passing sport, and there may be normally a cause a 30-year-old free agent stays unsigned deep into August. 

If the Ravens are going to compete for a Super Bowl within the AFC the place they need to ultimately cease the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Justin Herbert, an efficient move rush goes to be important. The Ravens did have 48 sacks as a crew final yr, however two of their top-three gamers in sacks (Justin Houston and Calais Campbell) left in free company. 

Those departures, plus a skinny secondary that has been quickly weakened with the preseason harm to Marlon Humphrey, have left the Ravens with some query marks on protection. They are hoping Clowney might help remedy not less than a few of these.