The Washington Commanders have an obvious need for another accomplished edge rusher to improve their playoff hopes in 2025. Adam Peters has been patient up to now, but Jadeveon Clowney's shocking release could force the general manager to move a little quicker.
Clowney didn't take long to speak out about his departure from the Panthers. And his desperate plea for someone to rescue him from the proverbial scrap heap won't go unnoticed by those around the league looking for help on the edge.
Jadeveon Clowney's come and get me plea might provoke response from Commanders
The former No. 1 overall pick out of South Carolina might not have lived up to his generational hype coming out of college, but Clowney is a dependable pro and an exceptional locker room leader. He wasn't particularly thrilled with the way general manager Dan Morgan handled his release, but he's convinced there is a lot of good football left in the tank based on comments via Joe Person from The Athletic.
"I’m definitely gonna play well. You can mark my word on that. I don’t care where I end up playing at, I’m gonna play extremely well. I think I played well for Carolina (last) year, considering the circumstances that was unfolded for me. I played with a bunch of guys that was hurt this past year. And I ended up playing extremely well for them. So it is what it is. I can play the game. I can play football. There are 31 other teams. I just hope another team gives me that opportunity so I can prove myself again. I feel like I can do that."Jadeveon Clowney
The Commanders are a contending team, which will intrigue Clowney immediately. It's an ambitious project heading in the right direction. The aggressive moves made by Peters this offseason are proof that Washington wants to improve, and they'll stop at nothing in pursuit of perennial contention.
What Peters must decide is whether Clowney has enough left to move the needle. One could argue he's an upgrade on anything the Commanders have right now. He could be used as an edge-setting 4-3 defensive end. He could help fill the void left by Dante Fowler Jr., who left in free agency for the Dallas Cowboys. Either way, it's better than what Washington has currently.
It would be a surprise if something didn't happen quickly. Clowney's played on a lot of teams, in a lot of systems, and had great success. He's the sort of proven performer that every team harboring postseason ambitions should be striving to acquire. Peters will consider the possibility, but it remains to be seen whether it goes any further.
