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Send out the Clowney

Beat writers expect Houston to deal pass rusher

The Texans are a playoff contender -- maybe the favorites in the AFC South if the worrying reports about Andrew Luck turn out to be worst-case scenarios. But they didn't get a deal done with Jadeveon Clowney before the deadline for signing franchise players, and now credible sources believe he'll be traded.

The Houston Chronicle's John McClain says he'd be surprised if Clowney ISN'T traded, which is pretty definitive. What people need to understand, though, is that Clowney is playing under the franchise tag for the 2019 season, period (unless the Texans just release him, which would make no sense). A team trading for him doesn't have the option of giving him a new deal until after the season. So if Houston trades him they'll be trying to get fair value from a team that is only assured of keeping Clowney around for one year. Tough to do.

Clowney has an injury history, which wiped out virtually all of his rookie season and made him, initially, look like a suspect pick atop the 2014 draft. But he's also missed a total of only six games in four seasons since, and just one game the last two years, so those worries look a little overblown. The last three seasons, he's been one of the most productive pass rushers in the league.

Since 2016, 62 players have racked up at least 15 sacks. Clowney's got 24.5 in that span, while also totaling 53 tackles for losses -- 3rd-most in the league behind Aaron Donald (57) and Chandler Jones (56). His combined total of sacks and tackles for losses is better than all but seven players.

TOP PASS RUSHERS, 2016-2018
Player G Sk TFL Tot
Chandler Jones4841.05697.0
Aaron Donald4639.55796.5
Cameron Jordan4832.55284.5
Von Miller4838.04482.0
Ryan Kerrigan4837.04481.0
Calais Campbell4833.04679.0
Danielle Hunter4834.04478.0
Jadeveon Clowney4524.55377.5
Khalil Mack4634.03973.0
Michael Bennett4322.54365.5
Geno Atkins4828.03664.0
Joey Bosa3528.53563.5
Frank Clark4732.03163.0
Jason Pierre-Paul4428.03462.0
Mario Addison4629.53261.5
Terrell Suggs4726.03561.0
Akiem Hicks4823.03861.0
Melvin Ingram4825.53560.5
Yannick Ngakoue4829.52958.5
Demarcus Lawrence4126.03258.0
Brandon Graham4719.03857.0
Dee Ford3725.02954.0
Chris Jones4824.02953.0
Cameron Heyward3823.03053.0
Everson Griffen4226.52652.5
Justin Houston3222.53052.5
Vic Beasley4625.52651.5
Bruce Irvin4821.53051.5
Cameron Wake4628.02351.0
Carlos Dunlap4823.52750.5
Lorenzo Alexander4822.02850.0
Olivier Vernon3922.02850.0
DeForest Buckner4721.02950.0
Matt Judon4619.03150.0
Jerry Hughes4817.03350.0
Jurrell Casey4618.03149.0
Fletcher Cox4622.52648.5
Kawann Short4616.53147.5
Julius Peppers4823.52346.5
Trey Flowers4521.02546.0
Malik Jackson4818.02846.0
Jabaal Sheard4716.03046.0
Denico Autry4416.52844.5
Gerald McCoy4419.02443.0
Ezekiel Ansah3418.02543.0
T.J. Watt3120.02242.0
Bud Dupree3816.02642.0
Myles Garrett2720.52141.5
Clay Matthews4216.02440.0
Nick Perry3519.52039.5
J.J. Watt2417.52239.5
Preston Smith4816.52339.5
Brian Orakpo4519.02039.0
Robert Quinn4019.02039.0
Leonard Floyd3815.52338.5
Markus Golden3115.02237.0
Kyler Fackrell4515.51934.5
Derrick Morgan4217.01734.0
Dante Fowler4716.01834.0
Adrian Clayborn4316.51733.5
Erik Walden3215.01530.0
Chris Long4815.51227.5

Houston has other pass rushers, including J.J. Watt. But Watt is four years older than Clowney and has a more extensive recent injury history. Considering Houston is apparently going to operate without a general manager this season, small wonder they couldn't work a deal out with Clowney. But trading him now is unlikely to get them full value for a player of his caliber. Kind of looks like they've totally bungled things here. If they do in fact trade him, they'll likely be worse off this year and won't get full value either.

--Andy Richardson

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