The Dallas Cowboys will immediately begin their offseason prep after their Week 18 contest against the New York Giants. Most Cowboys fans believe the team’s No. 1 priority should be to re-sign George Pickens, and then find a new defensive coordinator, as Matt Eberflus is clearly not the answer.
Then there’s also the conundrum at cornerback with Trevon Diggs and his future with the team. While all those things are important, the Cowboys will also need to figure out if they’re bringing back veteran pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
Clowney joined Dallas on a one-year, $3.45 million deal during the first month of the season to bolster their beleaguered pass rush. The veteran defender hasn’t been a game breaker, but has quietly been a solid addition to the Cowboys’ defensive line.
He’s racked up 16 quarterback pressures, eight tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, and 5.5 sacks across 12 games. On Monday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that they would love to have Clowney back for 2026, per team reporter Tommy Yarrish.
“We’ll be talking with his guys right away,” Jones admitted. “With his willingness to want to be here and us wanting him to be here, hopefully we can figure something out.”
Jadeveon Clowney’s Cowboys Return Seems Like Strong Possibility
Cowboys fans would love to have Clowney back in the fold, especially with what he showed this season on a defense under fire. However, as some pointed out on social media, it’s a possibility that a new deal won’t happen until August when training camp opens.
At this stage of his football career, Clowney doesn’t want to do the whole training camp routine. And can you blame him? He didn’t do that this year, and it turned out to be a solid year with the Cowboys.
That said, if you’re Clowney, the idea of coming back to Dallas isn’t bad. The Cowboys will likely give the veteran pass rusher a pay raise from the $3.45 million he got this year. It appears like he’s loved by the fans, but also appreciated by the front office.
In Dallas, he won’t be asked to carry the unit as they have one of the better interior defensive lines in the league, featuring Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams, and Osa Odighizuwa. When you have those three guys in the middle commanding attention, it leaves 1-on-1 opportunities for Clowney and others on the edge.
If the Cowboys can find an upgrade at defensive coordinator this offseason and make a few subtle adjustments on defense, things could be much improved in 2026. Bringing back Clowney would be a good start, as he’s now racked up 11 total sacks over the last two years and clearly has something left in the tank.
