Jadeveon Clowney best NFL free agent remaining … and favored to return to Seahawks

With all due respect to ex-Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston, he's not the best free agent still left on the market. No, it's another former No. 1 overall draft pick in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Why hasn't he signed yet? Because reports are that Clowney is demanding at least $20 million a season and that no club wants to give him that.

Fair to say that Clowney hasn't lived up to the billing as the No. 1 overall pick in 2014 by the Houston Texans out of South Carolina, but Clowney has been a fine player (three-time Pro Bowler) when healthy. That has been a bit of a problem as he has played all 16 games just one in his six-season career.

On the eve of the 2019 season, Clowney was traded by Houston to Seattle for two defensive players, Jacob Martin and Barkevious Mingo, and a 2020 third-round pick. Clowney helped lead the Seahawks to a Wild-Card spot even though he had just three sacks. The guy was often double-teamed and did force four fumbles, recover two, pick off a pass and score a touchdown.

The Seahawks reportedly have offered Clowney around $18.5 million per season and the Dolphins $17.5 million. Miami has since moved on, signing pass-rushers Shaw Lawson and Emmanuel Ogbah to contracts that will essentially pay both combined about what Miami offered Clowney per season. Indianapolis also was interested but instead traded for 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and gave him an extension worth $21 million per season.

Some teams simply don't have the cap room right now to sign Clowney, the Baltimore Ravens below being one of them. They also could rescind the franchise tag they placed on linebacker Matthew Judon and that would clear up enough space.

The Jets have a big-time need for a pass-rusher, have a ton of cap space and have been relatively quiet in free agency. The Titans have signed former Falcons pass-rusher Vic Beasley but still have a need up front after trading Jurrell Casey to Denver.

Clowney has said he wants to play for a contender so that might rule out the Giants – unless they meet his price – as they have a win total of just 6.5 at William Hill sportsbook. The Giants placed a franchise tag on defensive end Leonard Williams, reserving $16.1 million for a one-year contract, but they could rescind that and give the money to Clowney.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team will sign the best remaining NFL free agent on the market in Jadeveon Clowney?

• Seahawks -120
• Jets +300
• Titans +400
• Giants +700
• Ravens +1000

NFL pick: Seahawks.