Free agent Jadeveon Clowney said to be lowering asking price

Could we be getting closer to some resolution to the future of Seahawks free agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney?

Multiple reports Wednesday seemed to indicate potential movement, though not all of it necessarily good for the chances of Clowney staying in Seattle.

Specifically, Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson told reporters during a conference call Wednesday the team had been in touch with Clowney’s representatives and were “working through some things” with him. Tennessee has long been regarded as a team potentially interested in Clowney, and Robinson’s on-the-record statement confirmed it.

As Robinson spoke, a report from Dianna Russini of ESPN stated Clowney might be easing off on his asking price of $20 million a year or more to the $17-18 million range.

Tweeted Russini: “I am told by several sources the asking price has been moved off that $20mil+ number and it’s closer to $17-18mil. This could spark more interest. Also told Titans and Seahawks are still “‘interested.”’

Depending on which reports you believe, though, even that lowered $17-18 million per year range might be more than Seattle has offered Clowney so far — several have indicated Seattle’s offer has been more in the $13-15 million range.

The $17-18 million range is essentially what the NFL franchise tag price would be for this year for a defensive end, which is $17.78 million.

And the note that “this could spark more interest” seemed to indicate Clowney is more than happy to continue talking with other teams in the hope of getting the best offer he can.

The Jets might be one of the other teams who could show interest. Jets GM Joe Douglas said in a conference call with New York reporters Wednesday afternoon (many teams are holding media events this week since the league meetings were canceled) that he has talked to Clowney’s agents and “We’re going to do our due diligence on everyone who’s out there — especially at edge rusher.”

The Titans were rumored from the start as a team that might be interested in Clowney, and they apparently remain so despite having signed two other defensive end/rush ends in free agency — Vic Beasley and Kamalei Correa, the latter signing announced Wednesday.

If it comes down to just cap space, the Jets and Titans have the edge on the Seahawks. The Jets were listed with roughly $32 million on Wednesday by OvertheCap.com — third-most remaining of the 32 NFL teams — while Tennessee is listed as having more than $23 million.

The Titans also fits Clowney’s stated hope of playing for a winning team, having reached the AFC conference title game last season and retaining quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry in the offseason. (The Jets, on the other hand, do not after going 7-9 last season, though they did go 6-2 in the second half of the year).

Seattle is at roughly $15 million after releasing Ed Dickson and waiving Tedric Thompson on Tuesday (moves that opened $5.1 million in cap space) but without accounting for the salary of Bruce Irvin, who is thought to have agreed to a deal for one year in the $3-4 million range.

But Seattle could make other moves to create cap room such as releasing center Justin Britt ($8.5 million) or restructuring contracts, so this still comes down to largely an issue of how much the Seahawks want to pay Clowney and what they think his value is. The Seahawks balked last year at paying Frank Clark more than $18 million a year and ended up trading him to Kansas City.

One additional thing the Seahawks will weigh are ramifications for compensatory picks in 2021 for free agents lost. According to Nik Korte of OvertheCap.com, if Clowney were to sign, the Seahawks could be in line for a third-round pick.