Mailbag: Will Clowney hamper young DEs development?

Mailbag_9_17

(Editor’s Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in ‘Mailbag’ presented by Miller Lite.)

While I like the signing of Jadeveon Clowney, are you worried his presence will hamper the growth of some of our young defensive ends? – Richard Miller/Austin, TX

Mickey: ​That is always the consideration but first let’s see what he has left in the tank now on his seventh team. Actually, if he is that kind of player, his experience will help with this relatively young defensive line and that certainly is what the Cowboys hope for. But while they are ramping him up, likely starting off as a designated pass rush, those young guys will continue to get snaps in games, and at age 32 in year 12 of his career, not sure anyone is expecting him to play 40 snaps a game at this point without the prep in the offseason, training camp nor preseason. Look, he is not here to replace Micah Parsons. Got to make sure he earns his snaps, but will be incentive for your young guys to continue earning theirs, too.

Tommy: Not at all. If anything, having a veteran like that in the room will probably help more than it will hurt because the group overall is so young. Dante Fowler is the only other veteran that’s there right now, so I don’t think having another seasoned voice is going to be something that hurts at all. You also have to consider how much of a workload Clowney is going to get at this stage of his career. He might not be a 30-40 snaps a game kind of player and may be utilized situationally. If that’s the case, then everyone wins, with the Cowboys getting a veteran presence at defensive end and their young players at the position still getting valuable reps.

Related Posts

🚨 SAINTS FIND HOPE IN CHAOS: LATE-SEASON SURGE EARNS NFC SOUTH’S SECOND-BEST GRADE DESPITE LAST-PLACE FINISH 🚨 The Sаіntѕ mаy hаve fіnіѕhed lаѕt іn the NFC South, but а lаte-ѕeаѕon ѕurge hаѕ eаrned them the ѕecond-beѕt grаde іn the dіvіѕіon. Cаn they buіld on thіѕ momentum for 2026?

even wіth а lаѕt рlаce fіnіѕh, the New Orleаnѕ ѕаіntѕ ѕhowed enough рrogreѕѕ thаt went beyond the wіn-loѕѕ column.  а lаte ѕeаѕon turnаround, led by Tyler ѕhough, ѕраrked…

🦅TRENDING: Eаgleѕ Jаlen Hurtѕ, NFC hіlаrіouѕly аttemрt to execute tuѕh рuѕh аt Pro Bowl Gаmeѕ [VIDEO] 👇

Jаlen Hurtѕ mаy hаve juѕt аttemрted the tuѕh рuѕh for the lаѕt tіme. Durіng the fіnаl ѕecondѕ of the NFC’ѕ 66-52 vіctory verѕuѕ the аFC іn the 2026 рro…

🚨EXCLUSIVE: Packers’ Matt LaFleur speaks out on his brother becoming the new Cardinals head coach! The emotional moment comes with mixed feelings as Matt reflects on his sibling’s big career move. What does this mean for both their futures, and how will it affect their professional rivalry? 👇👇👇

Matt LaFleur Reflects on Brother Mike LaFleur’s Journey to Becoming Cardinals Head Coach By Tanner Tortorella | February 4, 2026 GLENDALE, AZ — Tuesday marked a monumental…

🚨EXCLUSIVE: Why Taylor Swift is going to ‘kill’ Travis Kelce for breaking item! The superstar couple’s playful dynamic takes a wild turn as Taylor reacts to Kelce’s latest mishap. What happened, and how will Travis handle this unexpected moment in their relationship? 👇👇👇

Travis Kelce’s Playful Comment About Taylor Swift Leaves Fans Laughing and Speculating It seems Travis Kelce may have landed himself in some lighthearted trouble with his fiancée,…

🚨 BREAKING: TUA TAGOVAILOA’S FUTURE IN MIAMI IN JEOPARDY AS COACH JEFF HAFLEY REFUSES COMMITMENT FOR 2026 🚨 The Tuа Tаgovаіloа erа іѕ hаngіng by а threаd аѕ new heаd coаch Jeff Hаfley heѕіtаteѕ to commіt to the veterаn QB. Wіth Tyreek Hіll exрected to be cut for cар ѕраce, а ruthleѕѕ regіme chаnge іѕ underwаy іn Mіаmі.

аfter а 7-10 ѕeаѕon, the Mіаmі Dolрhіnѕ аre uѕherіng іn а new erа іn 2026. The mаjor chаngeѕ hаve аlreаdy begun аѕ the teаm hіred а new…

🚨 RAVENS’ GAME-CHANGER: JORDYN TYSON READY TO REVOLUTIONIZE BALTIMORE’S OFFENSE WITH LAMAR JACKSON 🚨 Jordyn Tyѕon аnd Lаmаr Jаckѕon together could creаte а deаdly combo for the Rаvenѕ. Are they аbout to chаnge the gаme іn Bаltіmore?

аѕ the 2026 NFL Drаft аррroаcheѕ, the Bаltіmore Rаvenѕ аre рoіѕed to mаke а move thаt could rаdіcаlly reѕhарe theіr offenѕe. One nаme thаt’ѕ rіѕіng rаріdly uр mock drаft boаrdѕ іѕ Jordyn…