Jadeveon Clowney is returning to where it all started for him in his NFL career.
Clowney is signing a one-year contract with the Houston Texans, according to Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Aaron Wilson of KPRC reported that Clowney signed for a $5.5 million base salary that could rise as high as $8 million.
It's a $5.5 million base value for Jadeveon Clowney and a maximum value of $8 million, per a league source, for three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher with #Texans @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 2, 2026
Clowney also attracted interest from the Cleveland Browns, who he played for in 2021 and 2022. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported that the Browns wanted to bring him back, but the opportunity to return to Houston was too good for him to pass up.
#Browns would have liked to bring Jadeveon Clowney back to Cleveland, but he’s rejoining the #Texans. He lives there and trains there. Their No. 1 pick in 2014.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 2, 2026
The Texans drafted Clowney first overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, and he spent the first five seasons of his career in Houston. He tallied up 29 sacks over that span and was named to the Pro Bowl three times.
Clowney is certainly still capable of contributing at this point in his career. The 33-year-old tallied 8.5 sacks in 13 games with the Dallas Cowboys last season, and matched his career high with 9.5 sacks with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023.
The Texans are absolutely loaded in the pass-rushing department. They already have Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, and will now add Clowney to the mix. Opposing quarterbacks will not want to deal with them next season.
