Jadeveon Clowney, who equaled his career high with 9.5 sacks last season in his first season with the Ravens, has reportedly agreed to a free-agent deal with the Carolina Panthers, dealing a significant blow to the Ravens’ edge rush group.
Speaking at the owners meetings last week, head coach John Harbaugh had expressed optimism that Clowney would return to the Ravens after thriving during a one-year deal he signed last summer. But Clowney quickly drew interest from multiple teams during free agency, and The Athletic reported that the former No. 1 overall pick had agreed to join the Panthers on a two-year, $20 million deal.
Clowney, 31, signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Ravens last summer after a two-year stint with the Cleveland Browns ended acrimoniously. Clowney proved to be one of the team’s best bargains in 2023 and he quickly found a home with the Ravens, frequently praising the atmosphere and culture of the locker room.
He played in all 17 games — just the second time in his career he has not missed a game — and totaled 43 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 19 quarterback hits.
Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, another veteran signing who joined the team in September, became the team’s most accomplished edge rushers. Clowney (9.5) and Van Noy (9.0) finished second and third on the team in sacks behind Pro Bowl defensive tackle Justin Madubuike (13).
Led by Madubuike, Clowney and Van Noy, the Ravens led the league with 60 sacks last season. Sixteen different players recorded at least one sack, but beyond Clowney and Van Noy, the edge group did not have a big impact. Tyus Bowser missed the entire season while on the Non-Football Injury list with a knee injury. David Ojabo landed on injured reserve after three games. Odafe Oweh finished with five sacks in 13 games.
Clowney’s departure leaves the Ravens right back where they were 10 months ago, with major questions about the edge rush position.
Harbaugh expressed optimism that Ojabo and Oweh, one-time high school teammates at Blair Academy in New Jersey, would be ready to step up this season, though that was also expected last season.
“I think [they] are going to be partners in crime,” Harbaugh said at the owners meeting. “I think those guys are going to play great together. They are ready to roll. … I can’t wait to get to work with those guys.”
Tavius Robinson returns for his season after seeing limited duty on defense as a rookie fourth-round pick. He totaled 25 tackles and one sack in 2023.
Harbaugh also expressed optimism that Van Noy, 33, would return in 2024, but he remains a free agent. Van Noy joined the Ravens in late September and ended up setting a career-high with nine sacks in 14 games, and it’s possible the 10-year veteran will wait until late summer again before signing another deal.
RAVENS OFF-SEASON ROSTER MOVES
Here is an updated list of Ravens player movement thus far in 2024 free agency:
Signed from outside organization:
RB Derrick Henry
ILB Chris Board
T Josh Jones
CB Ka’Dar Holman
Re-signed:
WR Nelson Agholor
LB Malik Harrison
QB Josh Johnson
DL Justin Madubuike
CB Arthur Maulet
DL Brent Urban
DB Ar’Darius Washington (exclusive rights free agent)
Signed by other teams:
OLB Jadeveon Clowney (Panthers)
DB Ronald Darby (Jaguars)
WR-KR Devin Duvernay (Jaguars)
RB Gus Edwards (Chargers)
QB Tyler Huntley (Browns)
LS Tyler Ott (Commanders)
LB Del’Shawn Phillips (Texans)
LB Patrick Queen (Steelers)
G John Simpson (Jets)
S Geno Stone (Bengals)
G Kevin Zeitler (Lions)
Released/traded:
WR Odell Beckham Jr.
LB Tyus Bowser
T Morgan Moses (traded)
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