Panthers Shockingly Release Former No 1 Overall Pick

The Carolina Panthers have begun their roster purge well ahead of the deadline, and they have shockingly released former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney spent the 2024 season with the team and will presumably be headed for a new team in 2025.

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Clowney was drafted No. 1 overall by the Houston Texans in the 2014 NFL Draft, spending five seasons with the Texans before bouncing around to multiple other teams.

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Clowney impressed scouts early on as a member of the South Carolina football program, pulling in 24 sacks through three seasons. His most successful season was in 2012 when he secured 13 sacks en route to becoming a consensus All-American.

The Texans would draft Clowney No. 1 overall, but his contributions to the team would be minimal due to a meniscus tear that required surgery. Clowney was shut down for the majority of the season, only appearing in four games.

Following his rookie season, Clowney would put together four impressive seasons with the Texans, securing three Pro Bowl nods and a Second-team All-Pro nod.

Clowney would be traded to the Seattle Seahawks for Jacob Martin, Barkevious Mingo, and a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He spent only one season with the Seahawks, putting together a three-sack campaign.

Clowney would then find himself with the Tennessee Titans in 2020, but suffered another knee injury that sidelined him for half the season.

Clowney signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns in 2021 and experienced a big bounce-back season. He secured nine sacks, leading to another one-year contract.

There was drama between the Browns and Clowney during the conclusion of the 2022 season, where he was openly critical of his usage. This led to a rift, and he was released by the team.

Clowney would then join the Baltimore Ravens for the 2023 season, pulling in 9.5 sacks. This resurgence made it seem like he would land a longer deal with the Ravens, but he instead signed a two-year deal with the Panthers in 2024.

Now, he has been released by the Panthers and is free to sign with a new team. Clowney has had injury issues throughout his career, and only played a full season twice. Despite that, he is still a solid pass rusher and will likely land with a new team sooner rather than later.

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