Based on some recent contracts he's probably looking for around $110 million/5 years with a signing bonus and at least half guaranteed.
In 2015 Watt got 6 years 100 million, 10 million signing and effectively 60 million guaranteed.
The Tender offer that Clowney could get if he signs could be as high as 17+ million depending on whether they classify him as OLB or DE. A franchise tag pays the average salary of the top five salaries for the last five years for that position or 120% of his previous salary whichever is greater. I don't think he's been classified either way and that in itself will be a problem.
NE does a fantastic job of paying players without getting in a bind with the salary cap. That's why the Texans went after Nick Caserio(which they fucked up because they don't have a GM) They have a philosophy that no one is indispensable except Brady. I think O'Brien has that mentality. He's the one who started shopping Clowney for an OL. He knows they're fucked and he can't really do anything about it...Because they don't have a GM!
There was a piece in a Philly blog about Clowney this morning. They are 24 million under the cap so they could trade for him and this blogger was advocating for it but they don't really have much to give except maybe a receiver I've never heard of and some picks. Clowney is in a bit of a precarious position now. If he signs the offer sheet and then gets traded to say Miami for their LT, Miami has to commit to a long term deal or they can throw the franchise tag on him again next year apparently and he's right back in the same position.
IMO it's in Clowney's best interest to make amends with O'brien, take the 16 0r 17 million and play his ass off so he can get paid in FA next year.
Lloyds will insure anything...They're British, they love that shit.
If Clowney gets traded the Texans will end up looking like the goat BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK THEY'RE DOING AND THEY DON'T HAVE A GM. It's like trying to run Ford with a floor manager.