The Dallas Cowboys have spent the offseason trying to keep pace with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders in the NFC East.
The Commanders becoming a legitimate threat in the NFC immediately following a change in ownership, general manager and head coach creates another hurdle for Dallas to end their NFC Championship Game drought, which is the longest in the conference.
It stings even more than former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn helped lead Washington out of the doldrums. The Quinn-Cowboys narrative has practically written itself amid his success with the Commanders and after his nightmare final game as Dallas’ DC.
The Cowboys stealing pass rusher Dante Fowler from Quinn is a prime example. The move did a number on Washington’s defensive line and they have yet to find a viable replacement. That has led Quinn and Co. to potentially zero in on a player who is well past his prime.
Commanders linked with Jadeveon Clowney after Cowboys stole Dante Fowler
The Commanders have been circled as a potential landing spot for Jadeveon Clowney, who was released by the Panthers this week.
The #Panthers are releasing edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, per sources. pic.twitter.com/apRKKoWcjN
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 8, 2025
They’ve been linked with myriad pass rushers this offseason, including disgruntled Bengals star Trey Hendrickson. They oddly failed to address the position in the draft despite it being a deep EDGE class, so it makes sense why they are at the center of the Clowney buzz.
While Quinn can do a lot worse than Clowney, it is important to remember they were once linked with a potential trade for Browns superstar Myles Garrett. As mentioned above, they were widely expected to be the landing spot for Hendrickson, who still hasn’t signed a new deal in Cincinnati.
Clowney has made three Pro Bowls in his career, but he would be a downgrade. He’d be tasked with spearheading Washington’s pass rush. Entering his age-32 season, it is fair to question if he’s up to the challenge.
The former No. 1 overall pick tallied just 5.5 sacks in 15 games with Carolina last season. He ranked 38th among edge defenders with 44 pressures, 24th with 33 hurries and 38th with 24 defensive stops, per Pro Football Focus. He posted a 73.2 pass-rush grade and 63.4 run defense grade.
Those are respectable numbers for a pass rusher approaching his mid-30s. Clowney also brings value in the leadership department, so his impact extends beyond the field.
However, Fowler’s 10.5 sacks were more than the rest of the Commanders’ defensive ends combined. Clowney has never reached double digit QB takedowns in his career.
Quinn is very clearly scrambling to replace Fowler’s production.
