The Green Bay Packers took steps to improve their pass rush this offseason, but the final piece remains available in free agency ahead of this week's OTAs.
As things stand, the Packers will rely on new defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington to help Rashan Gary recapture his best form and Lukas Van Ness to avoid the first-round bust label in his third season. They also need rookies Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver to make an instant impact.
Jadeveon Clowney would change that.
The former first-overall pick and three-time Pro Bowler is still surprisingly available after the Carolina Panthers released him earlier this month.
Clowney believes he can still make a big impact for a team this season, and the numbers back it up. According to Pro Football Focus, Gary was the only Packers pass-rusher to register more pressures than Clowney last season (47 to 44), but he played in three more games.
Packers need to make a move for Jadeveon Clowney as the offseason program shifts into the next stage
Despite Matt LaFleur making some interesting comments when asked about the possibility of adding Trey Hendrickson, a trade for the reigning NFL sack leader remains highly unlikely.
Adding Clowney is the kind of low-risk move that can significantly help this defense.
He has started 127 games in his 11-year career, including 14 for the Panthers last term, and still has plenty left to offer. The veteran would instantly become the Packers' No. 2 edge defender behind Gary.
And it's a win-win. If Van Ness finally lives up to his potential? Great. He can become the regular starter next to Gary, with Clowney remaining a key part of the rotation. But it gives the Packers options and means they don't have to rely on Van Ness becoming the consistent performer we have yet to see from the former 13th overall pick.
There's no such thing as having too many talented pass-rushers. The Packers don't have the luxury of hoping last year's group, plus two Day 3 rookies, can produce better results. They need to take more swings to upgrade the front seven.
Clowney knows how to pressure quarterbacks, and the Packers need to sign him while they still have the chance.