NFL Draft: Jadeveon Clowney May Just Fall Out of the Top Spot

Just in time for the draft, analysts are starting to question the hype surrounding Clowney. And they just might be right.

Khalil Mack out of Buffalo is challenging him for that top spot. Sure, Clowney has immense talent and plenty potential, but the same goes for Mack. Mack currently holds the NCAA record for most tackles for a lost and most forced fumbles, and his play at Buffalo shows that he is perfect for a 3-4 defense. The stats speak for themselves with Mack, while with Clowney the analysts like to live in the past with his Sophomore season, and ignore his injury-ridden Junior season, and the rest is just speculation.

We have seen the video of Clowney’s huge hit in the Outback Bowl against Michigan a million times, but remember this was almost a year and a half ago. It may be hard to pass up on Clowney, who definitely has more upside, but Mack may be the safer pick.

Look at Mack’s stats from his career at Buffalo. Yes, we know that it was at Buffalo, and not in the top competetive SEC Conference, but these are still record breaking numbers.http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/482263/khalil-mack

Mack has been pronounced as a guy who can show heart in the locker room, which is trait that not many see in Clowney. Mack is most known for forced-fumbles, and this is an attribute that is very appealing to NFL teams.

Also, the Defensive End is not necessarily the top position of need for the top picks, the reason Clowney would be picked would be for the “best available” excuse. The Texans need a QB, and although they have led on to drafting one in the 2nd Round, they may surprise us and draft one with the Number 1 Pick. If they do, I think Teddy Bridgewater is the way to go. I think he is the best Quarterback available in this draft, and I think that the media hold responsibility for his fall on the draft board, by making a huge deal out of Johnny Manziel, for instance. The General Manager for the top picks in Round 1 need to make the decision that’s best for their TEAM, even if it earns them criticism. Don’t pick Clowney just because everyone says to.

Clowney’s behavior on campus, as well as his worth ethic in his Sophomore year, have come up as red flags to the NFL. This could be a potential excuse for the Texans, or whatever team ends up with the top pick, to go ahead and take Khalil Mack over Clowney. Some say Clowney is lazy, but when he is in the game, he is one of the most active players on defense. However the “once in a decade talent” quote for Clowney may or may not be over exaggerated. It’s hard to tell with his injury-staggered Junior season. Jadeveon Clowney is till the consensus Number 1 Pick in the draft, he just may not be unanimous any more.