There have already been several blockbuster NFL trades ahead of the deadline, and more are sure to come.
The wild card race in the AFC is wide open, and only a handful of teams in the NFC look like sure bets to make the postseason. Given all the parity in both conferences, the 2022 trade deadline could see far more buyers compared to past years.
One team that will likely have to sell? The Cleveland Browns, who are falling out of the playoff race with a 2-5 record. Pro Bowl linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who’s slated to enter free agency after this season, is among the team’s top trade candidates.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote a list detailing one player that each club should look to acquire ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Knox proposed that the Kansas City Chiefs make a play for the No. 1 pick of the 2014 Draft:
Interestingly, standout pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney could be a realistic target for the Chiefs, if the Browns are willing to deal him. While Clowney is on a one-year, $10 million deal, it is structured to pay out over the next five seasons. Clowney’s cap hit in 2022 is just $1.25 million.
“Now, the Browns aren’t likely to deal Clowney if they feel that have any shot at all of getting back into the playoff conversation. However, it would behove the Chiefs to at least inquire about the three-time Pro Bowler’s availability.
While the Kansas City defense has tallied a solid 19 sacks this season, it ranks just 25th in yards and points allowed. A team can never have too many good pass-rushers, and Clowney—who had nine sacks in 2021—also happens to be a tremendous run defender on the edge.
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Clowney had a nice bounce-back season for the Browns in 2021 after a frustrating 2020 season with the Tennessee Titans that saw him record zero sacks. In 2021, he posted nine sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
But the 29-year-old has struggled through the first seven games of 2022, recording just 1.5 sacks on the year. For the second straight offseason, Clowney signed a one-year deal with Cleveland as opposed to taking a multi-year pact.
Star defensive tackle Chris Jones leads the Chiefs in sacks with five, and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is second with 3.5. Without a doubt, the Chiefs could use extra pass rush support to deal with elite quarterbacks in the AFC like Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson.
Clowney, a three-time Pro Bowler, has 42.5 career sacks in 101 games. Though he’s never recorded double-digit sacks in a single campaign, Clowney has tallied nine-plus sacks in three seasons (2017, 2018 and 2021).
