Just a few short months ago, it was not a foregone conclusion that the Houston Texans would pay out the full amount of Jadeveon Clowney’s rookie contract.
The former No. 1 overall pick spent his first two NFL seasons existing in relative obscurity, recording a grand total of 47 tackles and 4.5 sacks. To some, Clowney was already considered a bust.
This left Houston with a seemingly unfriendly decision to make. Would it eventually pick up the fifth-year option on Clowney’s rookie contract for a total cost of $13.8 million?
But following a tremendous 2016 performance that saw him put up 6.5 sacks and 52 tackles while grading out as one of the top pass rushers in the NFL, this decision was made easy for Houston.
NFL Media’s James Palmer reported on Friday that it has indeed picked up Clowney’s option for the 2018 season, taking him off the market this upcoming March.
There’s definitely some hope here that a long-term extension could be agreed to by both sides. Though, by picking up Clowney’s option ahead of the May deadline, Houston has already made it clear that he figures into the team’s long-term plans.