In the first couple of months of the offseason, there has been the underlying situation with Pro Bowl defensive end Jadeveon Clowney's contract entering the fifth-year option. This has pushed to the forefront talk of working out a lucrative extension with Clowney at some point over the summer.

The Texans have remained firm with their optimism that a new deal will be worked out with the 25-year-old in the near future. General manager Brian Gaine once again made that notion clear on Friday stating that the team feels comfortable that a deal can still be struck between both sides, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN.

“I won't discuss our negotiations publicly, but I'm optimistic that something can be done,” Gaine said Friday at his pre-draft news conference.

Throughout this process, Clowney's side has stayed firm on getting a new deal hammered out with the Texans over this offseason. He has continued to work his way into being a cornerstone of Houston's defense lined up opposite of All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt over his first four years in the league.

Clowney has developed into a dynamic talent at his position. He's coming off a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2017 that helped earn his second straight Pro Bowl nod. It has been a promising step forward from his first two campaigns where he struggled to work through injuries. He has begun to finally show the potential to become a true star player at his position that could form a long-term formidable tandem alongside Watt.

The only question that remains at this point is if he can work out a new extension with the Texans. The fact that the front office has continued to voice optimism about the situation could lend to the belief that a deal should be lined up in the near future that keeps Clowney in Houston for the long haul.