How do you follow up making one of the most unexplainable trades in franchise history by dealing Micah Parsons to an NFC contender? Why, of course, you just go out and sign a former no. 1 overall pick who plays the same position.
That's exactly what the Cowboys did but, all jokes aside, it was obvious that Jadeveon Clowney was never going to fully replace Parsons in this defense. But, he was still a welcomed addition, nonetheless.
As the season winds down, fans start looking ahead to free agency and potential moves the Cowboys could make to try and improve this roster going into the 2026 campaign. Speaking on 105.3 The Fan, Stephen Jones had some insight on Clowney and his impending free agency:
"We'll be talking with his guys right away...With his willingness to want to be here and us wanting him to be here, hopefully we can figure something out."
Jones added that the Cowboys "would love" to have Clowney back next year, which sounds promising for a guy who has had a hard time finding a long-term home over the latter part of his career.
Jadeveon Clowney has quietly put together a nice season for the Cowboys
As for why Clowney should be back in Dallas, it's pretty simple. He shouldn't be (and wasn't) brought in to be this team's premier pass rusher. The Cowboys still need to go out and find their next guy in that position group. But, what Clowney has done is prove he can still be a reliable veteran and a solid second or third pass rusher in the rotation.
Even at his age, Clowney has clearly led Dallas' defensive line this year when it comes to making plays. Now, that's not necessarily saying much, but it's worth mentioning.
Here's where Clowney ranks among defensive linemen in Dallas this season (mind you, he's played in 12 games through Week 17):
Sacks: Tied for 1st
Tackles for loss: 1st
Pass deflections: 1st
Fumble recoveries: Tied for 1st
Total tackles: 3rd
Once more, to say that you're the best among a pretty woeful group isn't saying much. But, Clowney has certainly proven his worth. He has plenty of football left in him and, with the right players around him, he can still be a highly-effective pass rusher in key situations.
Dallas is going to have to dig deep, this offseason, in order to try and fix that defense. It'll more than likely start with firing defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, but in terms of personnel, there are some big decisions that have to be made.
Hopefully, among those decisions, Dallas' brass ensures the pass rush looks much, much stronger heading into the coming year.