A path to the Titans has been paved for Jadeveon Clowney

Jadeveon Clowney is still available, but a path to signing with the Titans is being paved.

Jadeveon Clowney is the best player available on the NFL free agent market now, with a case for a chunk of teams to sign him. The Tennessee Titans have lingered as a suitor, with finances and his asking price as potential considerations. Clowney has seemed willing to wait for the right deal, maybe even right to the doorstep of the season as currently scheduled.

But now, Clowney to the Titans is sure to pick up some steam.

After it seemed Derrick Henry would play the coming season on the franchise tag, the Titans signed their star running back to a four-year $50 million deal ($25.5 million guaranteed) on Wednesday. But the structure of the deal has the $25.5 million in guaranteed money all in the first two years, with a $12 million signing bonus that reduced Henry’s cap hit to $6 million for this year.

Jadeveon Clowney to the Titans seems perfect

According to Spotrac, the Titans now have just over $24 million in cap space for this year (the fifth-most cap space in the league). Clowney’s asking price has been rumored to be right in the middle of the $15-$20 million range. Tennessee is one of two teams (the Seattle Seahawks are the other) reported to have made multiple offers to Clowney. Another popular suitor, the Cleveland Browns, appears to be out after restructuring Olivier Vernon’s contract. The Las Vegas Raiders reportedly made a low-ball offer in recent weeks.

A return to the Seahawks has seemed possible for Clowney, but they don’t have the cap space to get real close to his asking price. With their immediate situation now clearer after signing Henry beyond 2020, the Titans can now make an offer Clowney will have to take more than a passing look with the idea of a multi-year deal anywhere all but gone.