INDIANAPOLIS – The Cowboys’ sack leader from 2025, Jadeveon Clowney, might not fit new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme.
As the Cowboys go to a base 3-4 defense, Parker is looking for bigger defensive ends. Clowney is 6-5 and 266 pounds.
Parker would like to have defensive ends closer to 300 pounds. An example is how tall former Cowboys defensive end Jason Hatcher was, 6-6, 299 pounds, when he played in a 3-4 scheme.
Last year, Clowney led the team with 8 ½ sacks and was fifth with 35 quarterback pressures, while playing in 13 games.
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Clowney signed two weeks into the 2025 season, and, after a ramp-up period, became well-respected in the locker room for his veteran leadership and for his production.
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With Parker coming in wanting to play a variety of defensive schemes, Clowney’s body type is somewhat of an issue.
The Cowboys have expressed a desire to re-sign Clowney but will look at free agency and the draft to find some defensive ends that suit Parker’s scheme.
“We’re going to be working through that now that we have our defensive staff,” team co-owner Stephen Jones said. “Totally committed to what Christian wants to get accomplished. He’s going to do some things different than (Matt Ebeflus). It’s a work in progress.”
At the end of the 2025 season, Clowney expressed a desire to return, but that was before the Cowboys fired Eberflus, their defensive coordinator. The team can, potentially, bring Clowney back in a third-down pass rusher role if that works for Parker.
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