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

The Houston Texans have signed former first-overall pick Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year contract, bringing the 33-year-old defensive end back to the franchise where he began his career. Clowney played five seasons in Houston, sharing the defensive line with J.J. Watt and contributing to three playoff appearances, before departing in 2019 and moving through Seattle, Baltimore, Tennessee, Carolina, Cleveland and Dallas.

He finished last season with the Cowboys as the team's sack leader, recording 8.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits and 12 tackles for loss. Houston does not expect him to start, relying on Will Anderson Jr. and four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter, but hopes he can bolster the rotation on third down and improve run defense while Derek Barnett is out. The Browns also expressed interest, meeting with Clowney and rookie Jared Verse, though his previous criticism of Cleveland's usage created tension. The move signals the Texans’ effort to add veteran pass-rushing depth ahead of their season opener against the Buffalo Bills on September 13.