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Jadeveon Clowney #42 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on before a game against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Dallas Cowboys seemed to have interest in re-signing veteran pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney heading into the 2026 NFL offseason.

While the rumblings suggested a potential reunion between the two parties, no deal has been worked out. Clowney remains a potential free agency target for other teams around the league.

After starting off the season with a clear need for pass rushing following the trade that sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys quickly brought Clowney onboard. He put together an impressive year in Dallas.

In 13 games played, the 33-year-old defensive end racked up 41 total tackles to go along with 8.5 sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and four defended passes.

With that being said, Clowney’s name has been brought up as a potential fit for a bitter rival. The Cowboys could still bring him back, but he’ll be looking to land a new deal from whoever is willing to offer what he wants.

Dallas Cowboys Rival Is Potential Threat to Sign Jadeveon Clowney

Bill Huber of On SI has suggested the Packers could be a fit for Clowney. It’s no report of the two sides talking, but Green Bay could use more pass rushing depth with Parsons set to miss the first few games of the 2026 season.

Clowney joining Green Bay would make sense for both sides. However, no Dallas fan would want to see the Packers end up landing him.

Jerry Jones has yet to make a free agency splash this offseason. He pulled the trigger on another trade with Green Bay to acquire pass rusher Rashan Gary for a 2027 fourth-round pick. That move could take the Cowboys out of the market for Clowney.

Dallas still has room for improvement. Bringing Clowney back would also make some level of sense to further beef up the pass rush. However, the Cowboys could use a cornerback and a linebacker as their top priorities on the defensive side of the ball.

A Closer Look at Jadeveon Clowney’s NFL Career

Originally drafted by the Houston Texans with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Clowney was expected to become an immediate superstar.

Unfortunately, his career trajectory has not gone according to plan. Clowney has been a quality pass rusher, but no superstar.

Throughout his 12-year NFL career, Clowney has played for seven different teams. He has totaled 153 games played to go along with 450 tackles, 66.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, an interception, a defensive touchdown, and 36 defended passes.

Even at this stage of his career, Clowney remains a quality role player. It will be interesting to see if Dallas ends up bringing him back. Should the Cowboys choose to pass, Clowney will almost certainly find a new deal elsewhere with the Packers being a potential fit.

Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey