Why did Cowboys sign Jadeveon Clowney? Dallas brings in former No. 1 pick as Micah Parsons replacement

Dallas, help is on the way.

On Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys reached an agreement to sign EDGE Jadeveon Clowney, per Jerry Jones. The move comes on the heels of the Cowboys’ Week 2 overtime win over the New York Giants and less than two weeks after Dallas traded three-time All-Pro Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.

Clowney, the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, is set to enter his 12th NFL season. He spent the 2024 campaign with his hometown Carolina Panthers, recording 5.5 sacks over 14 games.

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While Clowney has developed a reputation as a journeyman throughout his career, he has brought value at each stop. Here is more on Dallas’ decision to bring in the veteran pass-rusher.

Why did the Cowboys sign Jadeveon Clowney?

The Cowboys signed Clowney to bolster their pass rush following the move to trade Parsons.

Clowney ranks among the top 25 in the league’s active sacks leaders and racked up 15 total sacks over his past two seasons. While numbers dipped during the 14 games he spent with the Panthers in 2024, Clowney had a career year with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, recording 9.5 sacks for a 13-win team.

The idea is for Clowney to bring a similar approach to the Cowboys, who showed promise in the season opener against the Eagles. In its four-point loss, Dallas sacked Jalen Hurts once, hurried him once, and knocked him down four times.

Surrounding Clowney with better defensive talent should raise his level of performance for a Dallas team looking to contend.

With the signing, the Cowboys add Clowney to a front-seven rotation headed by DE Sam Williams, newly acquired DT Kenny Clark, DT Osa Odighizuwa, DE Dante Fowler Jr., and LBs Damone Clark, Jack Sanborn, and Kenneth Murray Jr.

The void left by Parsons is impossible to fill by just one player, but the addition of Clowney puts Dallas in a better position to replace that production by committee.

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Jadeveon Clowney career timeline

The Cowboys will be the seventh team that Clowney suits up for in his 12-year career. The Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns are the only two franchises with which Clowney spent more than one season.

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Jadeveon Clowney stats

Clowney has recorded 58 sacks over 11 seasons, including 15 over the past two seasons. He has four seasons with nine or more sacks, most recently surpassing the benchmark in 2023.

How old is Jadeveon Clowney?

Clowney is 32 years old. He was born on Feb. 14, 1993.