Problem (for the Texans) is he can’t sign an extension this season. So he is basically a one year rental therefore reducing his value.
It would actually be a perfect situation. Allen has two more years before he can be extended. If they got Clowney for this season, not only would we not have to extend him, but we wouldn’t be able to.
They could franchise him (and let him walk after 2020, netting a 3rd rd comp pick) or extend him the following year when we have more information about what tre White and Dawkins and even Allen/Edmunds extensions might be worth.