Jadeveon Clowney, star defensive end for the
Houston Texans, is not expected to participate in the team’s mandatory minicamp, according to ESPN’s
Adam Schefter.
The minicamp runs until Thursday, and is the only mandatory meeting until July’s full offseason training. The Texans had tagged Clowney as an important piece to the franchise back in March that will earn him around $16 million a season, but Clowney has been looking for a new long-term deal that would make him one of the top-earning defenders in the league to secure his future.
The issue revolving around the team not reaching an agreement with Clowney is because of the firing of GM Brian Gaine, who ended up holding the job for just 18 months. The team must reach an agreement with the edge rusher earlier than July 15, before the start of training camp. Until the Texans hire a new GM, the Clowney deal will stand at a deadlock, as the general manager in place will want some say as to how much money Clowney will receive, given that he has a history of repetitive injuries.
It’s unclear what Clowney favors in terms of his future, whether he wants to remain a Texan or to be traded. The first overall pick in 2014 remains a staple in the Texans’ defense, along with five-time Pro Bowler defensive lineman
J.J. Watt. Clowney has racked up almost 30 career sacks and 64 total tackles for a loss.
“I have every belief and trust that JD is working on his own and getting ready for whenever he does decide to show up,” head coach Bill O’Brien said, according to Sporting News. “JD has played good football for us. He knows what it takes to be ready for training camp and stuff like that.”
If the team fails to reach a deal in time, Clowney can stay on only a one-year contract. If that were to happen, the organization would lose significant leverage in terms of his future, with other teams more likely to pick him up the following year.