Patriots rumors: Jadeveon Clowney linked to New England

Free-agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney could possibly be seeking to sign a deal with the New England Patriots, according to CLNS' Evan Lazar.

Now that the Patriots have an additional $6.55 million in cap space following settlements with Antonio Brown and the estate of Aaron Hernandez, they'll have money to spend on current free agents. CLNS' Evan Lazar believes that Clowney signing a deal with the Patriots will be perfect for him because he'll get a chance to prove what he's worth again, similar to what Cam Newton is doing.

Here's what he said:

“Before you tell me to stop dreaming, hear me out. According to some reports, Clowney is looking for a top-of-market deal worth close to $18 million. But he is still unsigned and is starting to give off Cam Newton vibes as someone that might need a “prove it” year to reset his value. Last season, Clowney only managed three sacks in Seattle, a sticking point for many teams in negotiations, and hasn't developed into the pass rusher that evaluators expected. According to Pro Football Focus, he has never topped 64 quarterback pressures in a season, and the highest pass-rush grade of his career was 79.7.

Furthermore, CLNS' Evan Lazar believes that Clowney's game is perfect for the Patriots defense.

“Clowney's versatility and stout run defender are perfect fits in Belichick's scheme. He can line up anywhere on the line of scrimmage, set the edge, and generate pressure at a high rate on stunts and other schemed pressures. Clowney played in a similar system under Romeo Crennel in Houston, and always gave the Pats problems. If they can get him on an incentive-laden deal a la Newton, giving Clowney to Belichick would be unfair to the rest of the league.”

At the beginning of the NFL free-agency, Clowney was demanding a multi-year deal around $20 million per year. However, since he hasn't been signed yet, Clowney could possibly be seeking a deal worth less money. Nevertheless, when healthy, Clowney is arguably one of the best defensive ends in the league. Although his stats weren't spectacular last season, his presence was still felt.