Texans reunite with former No. 1 overall pick from Cowboys

Former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney is heading back to where it all started. The veteran edge rusher agreed to terms with the Houston Texans on Sunday, bringing his career full circle after stops with six other franchises.

Clowney comes off a strong one-year run with the Dallas Cowboys, who signed him after Week 2 last season once they'd traded away Micah Parsons and needed help off the edge. He didn't debut until Week 4 but grew into the role, finishing 2025 with a team-high 8.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, and a forced fumble across 13 games. 

Houston drafted Clowney No. 1 overall out of the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2014. He spent his first five NFL seasons with the Texans, racking up all three of his Pro Bowl nods there and helping the franchise reach the playoffs three times.

He left the team in 2019 via a trade to the Seattle Seahawks and has since bounced through several other teams, never staying anywhere for more than a season or two.

Now, at 33, he's back in Houston as  NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted, "Reunion: The Texans are signing their own former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney, who played last year for the #Cowboys, stays in his hometown to play."

Clowney had 29 sacks with the #Texans during the early part of his career there. Now, at 33, back for more. https://t.co/vGDalYp10d

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo confirmed the deal was locked down by Clowney’s agent, Andrew Ross of UpperEdgeSports. Before deciding on Houston, Clowney actually visited the Cleveland Browns and got some serious interest from the Seattle Seahawks, but the Texans ultimately won the sweepstakes. 

According to contract details from KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, it is a one-year deal with a $5.5 million base salary that can reach up to $8 million if he hits his incentives.

It's a $5.5 million base value for Jadeveon Clowney and a maximum value of $8 million, per a league source, for three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher with #Texans @KPRC2

Clowney slots into a Texans defense already loaded up front, joining Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, who combined for 27 sacks in 2025. With Houston's pass rush already among the league's best, Clowney gives the franchise a proven defensive asset as they chase another playoff run just weeks before their Week 1 kickoff against the Buffalo Bills on Sep. 13.

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