Cowboys Rumors: Jadeveon Clowney Hasn't Received Interest from Dallas in FA

Jadeveon Clowney will have his fair share of suitors in free agency, but the Dallas Cowboys reportedly aren't among them.

According to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram, the Cowboys "have not expressed interest" in the defensive end.  

That report contradicts former NFL player Joe Thomas' comments on the NFL Network, as he said he believed Clowney would sign in Dallas.

And a signing may not be imminent. It's possible Clowney's free agency will extend for a few days, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson:

The NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that Clowney is seeking a deal higher than the extension DeForest Buckner agreed to with the Indianapolis Colts after he was traded to the team ($21 million per season).  

Pelissero added that the Seattle Seahawks want to bring Clowney back, though the team may balk at the numbers he is seeking, while the New York Jets have also reached out to him.

Given the money that players such as Buckner and Robert Quinn—who reportedly agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal with the Chicago Bears, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com—have received, it isn't surprising that Clowney is hoping to get a major pay day.

The 27-year-old edge-rusher has registered 32 sacks, 71 tackles for loss and 80 quarterback hits in his six-year career, and his impact is often undervalued given his modest sack totals, as Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus wrote in January:

"His pass-rushing grade of 79.1 ranks 16th among all edge rushers thanks in large part to just how unblockable he looks at times ... Paired with another strong season in run defense, Clowney’s overall grade of 87.3 ranks 10th among players at the position. Three sacks or not, Clowney is one of the top impact edge defenders in the NFL."

It's hard to imagine the Cowboys will get into negotiations for Clowney if his contract expectations don't lessen, however, even after they lost key defensive contributors like Quinn and cornerback Byron Jones.

The team already agreed to shell out a five-year, $100 million contract to keep wideout Amari Cooper, and quarterback Dak Prescott will get a lucrative contract at some point this offseason after being franchise-tagged. 

The Cowboys don't have a lot of financial wiggle room, in other words. It's hard to envision a scenario where Clowney fits into that math.