Report: The NFL shut down the Saints' wild plan to sign Jadeveon Clowney
Despite being stuck in perpetual salary cap hell, the Saints have always found a way to move some money around during the offseason to bring in a big name or two. And it would’ve happened again if not for the meddling NFL.
According to a report from NFL Media’s Ian Rapaport and Tom Pelissero, the Saints came up with a wild plan involving a third party that would have helped the front office navigate its lack of salary cap space in order to bring in Jadeveon Clowney, who ended up signing with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Via NFL.com:
The sides discussed parameters of a deal in which Team X would’ve signed Clowney to a one-year, $15 million contract and paid him a $5 million signing bonus. Then, Team X would’ve immediately traded Clowney to the Saints, who would’ve sent Team X a second-round draft pick, as well as a player to take additional salary off New Orleans’ books. The Saints would’ve paid Clowney’s remaining $10 million salary.
Just one problem: The teams got word late Saturday the NFL was unlikely to approve such a deal.
The source did not reveal the identity of “Team X” to Rapaport and Pelissero but they reported that the Browns are the best guess, as they have extra cap space and have “bought” draft picks in the past. Cleveland famously took Brock Osweiler’s contract off of the Texans’ hands in exchange for a second-round pick.
Because the NFL hates fun, they apparently snuffed out the move, which prevented the Saints from giving Clowney the money he was seeking. It would have been a good addition for New Orleans but it’s not one the team needed to make. The Saints are still the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl and have more than enough depth on the defensive line.
Clowney ended up finding a good home in Tennessee, where he’ll play under Mike Vrabel, who was his defensive coordinator in Houston when he had the most productive season of his career.