Las Vegas Raiders should definitely add Jadeveon Clowney

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Connor Cook #8 of the Oakland Raiders is pressured by Jadeveon Clowney #90 of the Houston Texansin their AFC Wild Card game at NRG Stadium on January 7, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)"n
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Connor Cook #8 of the Oakland Raiders is pressured by Jadeveon Clowney #90 of the Houston Texansin their AFC Wild Card game at NRG Stadium on January 7, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)"n /
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Jadeveon Clowney (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
Jadeveon Clowney (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

Las Vegas Raiders should definitely add Jadeveon Clowney

How does Jadeveon Clowney compare to the other defensive linemen?

If Jadeveon Clowney does come to Las Vegas he would not just become the best defensive lineman on the team, but would be by far the best defender and perhaps just a notch below Rodney Hudson for best overall player.

Clowney is not a traditional pass rusher that regularly racks up double digit sacks but he can be an absolute game-wrecker and is someone that opposing coordinators would have to account for.

He has never recorded more than 9.5 sacks in a season, but he has had three seasons with more than 15 tackles for loss, and has 80 quarterack hits and has 71 tackles for a loss in his career.  In comparison, Maxx Crosby who is currently the Raiders best pass rusher, had ten sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 201,9 and was among the league’s best in both statistics.

Carl Nassib, a solid pass rusher in his own right has 18 sacks, 40 quarterback hits, and 31 tackles for a loss in his four-year career.

The Raiders defensive end group is currently best described as solid given the question marks around Clelin Ferrell‘s development and how Crosby would respond to more attention from offenses, but adding Clowney would make them among the best in the league.

Clowney was incredible in limited action for the Seahawks due to a lingering injury, and was a devastating force in the run game. Gruden is right to be in hot pursuit of this potential game changer and the impact would be immediate in overall defense and a key category for success, turnover differential.

The former Texan has eight forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries in his career and his pressure on the quarterback would generate interceptions for the revamped Raiders defensive backfield.