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Texans sign former No. 1 pick Clowney to one-year deal

8/3/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Houston Texans signed former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year deal.
The contract includes a $5.5 million base that can rise to $8 million with incentives, per Aaron Wilson.
Clowney recorded 8.5 sacks in 13 games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, his best recent season.
Clowney said the move was “not about the money,” citing family, legacy and mentoring younger teammates after rejecting a reunion with the Cleveland Browns.

History

Historical Context

The NFL created the franchise tag in 1993, permitting teams to bind unrestricted free agents to a one-year contract equal to the average of the five highest salaries at the position or 120 % of the prior salary. Following that model, Houston signed former No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney in 2024 to a one-year, $5.5 million deal, echoing earlier uses such as Dallas’s 1993 tag on Charles Haley.

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Story summary

The Houston Texans signed former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year deal.
The contract includes a $5.5 million base that can rise to $8 million with incentives, per Aaron Wilson.
Clowney recorded 8.5 sacks in 13 games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, his best recent season.
Clowney said the move was “not about the money,” citing family, legacy and mentoring younger teammates after rejecting a reunion with the Cleveland Browns.

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