The Indianapolis Colts took a couple of edge rushers in the 2026 NFL draft, but neither in the high rounds. This implies the players are expected to be more projects than immediate producers. Indy might need to look elsewhere to help Laiatu Latu at the position, and Jadeveon Clowney should be getting a close look.
Clowney is 33 years old, sure, but he hasn't shown much evidence that he is slowing down in terms of production. In 2025 with the Dallas Cowboys, he had 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. That last number was his best since 2018. He has tended to be great one year and not so much the next, but 2026 might be the outlier for that.
The reason is that clearly, the edge rusher knows his time in the NFL is closer to the end than the beginning, and if he wants to keep playing beyond 2026, he needs to produce this season. An off-year likely means he can't find a home in 2027.
Indianapolis Colts have perfect opportunity to chase edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney in free agency
For the Colts, they know Laiatu Latu is developing into a very good player, but he also can't be the only edge rusher for Indianapolis who is good. Opponents would adjust to what Latu does and where he is aligned, and that would limit his effectiveness.
Signing someone like Clowney not only gives Latu a much better chance of success, specifically, but would help the defense in general. If defensive lineman DeForest Buckner can stay healthy in 2026, the pressure on the interior of the line will be good. Adding Clowney to Latu would allow the Colts to squish the offensive line.
But Jadeveon Clowney is not solely a pass rusher. He has always been elite against the run, and that means he is a three-down player capable of being disruptive at any point.
The expectation is that he wouldn't be overly expensive, either. According to Spotrac, Clowney's market value in 2026 is only $5.7 million. The Indianapolis Colts can certainly afford that, and wouldn't need to give the edge rusher a multi-year deal to try to lure Clowney to Indy.
Clowney has made a career out of one-year layovers. Since 2018, he has only played back-to-back seasons with one team once. Still, he has achieved a high level of success in most places, which means he understands how to adapt quickly to different defensive schemes. He would be able to do that with the Colts, too, if given the chance.
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