Jadeveon Clowney was nothing less than a revelation for the Cowboys defense last season. After five seasons and three Pro Bowl berths with Houston, 2014's No. 1 overall draft pick bounced around the league, suiting up for five different teams over the next six years before landing in Dallas just after the start of the 2025 campaign on a one-year deal.
The then-32-year-old veteran may have been viewed originally as a rotational rental piece, but Clowney seemingly breathed new life into his career as a Cowboy. He led the NFL's worst defense in sacks and finished top 10 in tackles, and he did it despite starting just six games and taking only a third of the defensive snaps on the season.
And yet, Clowney may be on the move once again.
Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones said back in December that he "absolutely" wanted Clowney back in 2026 and hinted that the front office would "be talking to his guys right away" on a longer-term deal. But Jones sounded less committed to that plan this week at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, suggesting that the new defensive coaching staff may have something to say about Clowney's potential fit in their still-evolving scheme.
The Cowboys are trying to decide if free agent DE Jadeveon Clowney fits Christian Parker’s defense. pic.twitter.com/x9MebMhcw8
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) February 24, 2026
"We're going to work through Christian [Parker]," Jones said of the newly-hired coordinator. "A lot of it will happen this coming week in terms of the type of player [we want]. We're going to continue to have those talks, then we'll make final decisions on who we think will be productive in this particular system."
Clowney has expressed a desire to stay in Dallas, citing a strong brotherhood that he says developed quickly inside the Cowboys locker room. Even Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott made a case for Clowney staying put after the season finale, telling reporters, "We need him. We want him."
But that may not be enough.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys brass won't commit to wanting Jadeveon Clowney back for 2026