The Seattle Seahawks fell short in this year's playoffs, causing many to openly ask if they're still capable of making deep runs while Russell Wilson is still at the top of his game. One of the key players the Seahawks must keep in order to extend that run is Jadeveon Clowney.

He was one of the team's most important players during the 2019 campaign, but his contract is up this season. He is free to sign with any other NFL team if he so wishes. However, it's in the Seahawks' best interests to keep him tied to the team and compete for the 2021 playoffs.

One of the most important reasons why the Seahawks should keep him in the team is due to Clowney's abilities. He established himself as a solid defensive end through his stint with the Houston Texans. While his 2019 performance was nothing to write home about, he finished with a respectable 31 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, one fumble touchdown, 3 pass deflections, and a 27-yard pick-six.

Another reason why the Seahawks should keep him is the fact that they gave up assets in order to acquire him from the Texans. To acquire him, they had to give up two players in Jacob Martin and Barkevious Mingo. The Seahawks' 2020 third-round pick was also included to get him. If they were going to let him walk away for nothing, they were going to waste a good pick on what essentially was a rental.

Related NewsArticle continues below
Seattle Seahawks 3 best trade targets to round out 2025 roster
Seattle Seahawks 3 best trade targets to round out 2025 roster
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates running back Aaron Jones' (33) touchdown run with head coach Kevin O'Connell during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Exclusive: How Kevin O’Connell is still helping Sam Darnold with Seahawks
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll at a news conference introducing Ashton Jeanty as the first round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Raiders’ Pete Carroll makes major admission on why he left Seahawks

The third argument for Clowney staying with Seattle is the year of football he got. It's not easy to learn an entirely new system, and Pete Carroll's defensive schemes takes more than a year to get used to. Clowney should be given one more year with the Seahawks to fully integrate with Seattle's defense and fully make his mark with the team.

Moreover, plenty of contenders will be looking for quality defenders to add to their team. Clowney is a solid talent that teams will chase regardless of his performance with Seattle. They need to keep Clowney with the team to make sure opponents don't get the edge by winning his signature.

They will likely be in a battle to acquire his services, but it's vital for the Seahawks to keep him on their payroll. It's the very least they need to succeed in the coming season.