With the #1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft...

[CashmoneyDrew]

Obvious number one pick next year. However, if I'm a coach I'm giving him **** for leaving his feet to get past a one-on-one block from a runningback.

[PeterMurray]

Clowney has to be the number one guy on the board but that doesn't mean he has to go first... Quarterback is still the position that goes with the first pick especially with the new draft payments. Logan Thomas (if he doesn't go this year) or Teddy Bridgwater could go ahead of him despite the fact that Clowney is the best player. Clowney would be the first guy on my board this year too.

[Babylon]

Clowney reminds me of a young Lawrence Taylor and i don't throw accolades around as a rule. Looks much the part of an All World OLB at the next level.

[AcheTen]

Taking a DE #1 overall is stupid, no matter how great that DE is as a prospect.

Just look at Courtney Brown as an example.

Look at the Rams picking Chris Long over Matt Ryan / Joe Flacco. Long was a great prospect and is a solid player in the NFL, but do you think the Rams (especially Spagnuolo) might want a re-do of that right now?


If you're picking #1 overall it usually means you don't have a franchise QB. And if you pick a DE instead of a QB with that #1 overall pick, then you are committing a fire-able offense. A team without a franchise QB has absolutely no business whatsoever picking any position except for QB in the top 5.

[AcheTen]

Originally Posted by Shane P. Hallam

It is inteesting to look at DEs who went #1 overall. Unless your last name is Smith, they have had their struggles (depending on how you view Mario Williams). Though, I'm sure the expansion Texans wish they had taken Julius Peppers over David Carr.

If the Texans had taken Peppers, they wouldn't have been any better, and in fact, might have been worse.

The Texans were in simply a very bad situation as an expansion franchise without much talent.

They did the right thing: picking a franchise QB because they did not have one on the roster.

They were simply destined to fail early on, however. There just wasn't enough talent on that roster.

Clowney is such a monster, unless injury or arrest hits, it is tough to imagine him not going Top 5. Maybe a QB emerging budges Clowney from #1, but he is the clear favorite.

This is what we were saying about Suh in 2010. He was such an elite DL prospect that people were actually wondering if the Rams would pick him with the #1 pick. Obviously, reason prevailed and the Rams passed on Suh to take a franchise QB (long overdue).

The same thing will happen with Clowney. As good of a DE prospect he is, the team picking #1 overall will probably be in need of a QB, and will rightfully pass on the DE to take the far more important position of QB.

[Babylon]

Originally Posted by AcheTen

Taking a DE #1 overall is stupid, no matter how great that DE is as a prospect.

Just look at Courtney Brown as an example.

Look at the Rams picking Chris Long over Matt Ryan / Joe Flacco. Long was a great prospect and is a solid player in the NFL, but do you think the Rams (especially Spagnuolo) might want a re-do of that right now?


If you're picking #1 overall it usually means you don't have a franchise QB. And if you pick a DE instead of a QB with that #1 overall pick, then you are committing a fire-able offense. A team without a franchise QB has absolutely no business whatsoever picking any position except for QB in the top 5.

I think you're right in your philosophy but the players involved have to be somewhat close in their rankings. I wouldn't pass on a Clowney who is probably as close to a ten as you're going to get, for a QB, just because i might need one. If the QB is going to be Troy Aikman and the OLB is going to be Derrick Thomas then your philosophy is the right one.

[mdmgrand]

Looking at Courtney Brown, Julius Peppers and Mario Williams... I still think Clowney has a bit to go. He's close to Williams, who was good on the field but really wowed people with his ridiculous combine results at his size.

Watch highlights of Brown and Peppers and they are simply just amazing and you can tell they are the best player on the field. Brown may have been helped by having Arrington, but just looking at him he had so much power and speed; it's a shame what injuries did to him.

[MassNole]

Originally Posted by AcheTen

Taking a DE #1 overall is stupid, no matter how great that DE is as a prospect.

Just look at Courtney Brown as an example.

Look at the Rams picking Chris Long over Matt Ryan / Joe Flacco. Long was a great prospect and is a solid player in the NFL, but do you think the Rams (especially Spagnuolo) might want a re-do of that right now?


If you're picking #1 overall it usually means you don't have a franchise QB. And if you pick a DE instead of a QB with that #1 overall pick, then you are committing a fire-able offense. A team without a franchise QB has absolutely no business whatsoever picking any position except for QB in the top 5.

So then the Houston Texans GM should have been fired for taking Mario Williams over "the next Barry Sanders" and 2 Franchise QBs?

[AntoinCD]

QB value normally does trump everything, however this is not something which is written in stone every single time.

Clowney looks as good, or better than any defensive player in recent times, including Suh (bear in mind Clowney is still only a sophomore and Suh didn't really look like a top pick until his senior year). Unless there is a very good QB prospect (which is questionable at this point) then it doesn't make much sense to simply take the QB.

The difficult question is how much added value does a QB add when compared to Clowney?

I do suppose it also depends on who makes the selection. For instance of Cleveland picks Mingo this year that would give them Sheard and Mingo on the edges. However it would be clear if they pick 1st next year that Weeden isn't the answer. QB at this point makes sense.

However, if Kansas City pick 1st in 2014 after drafting Geno Smith this year then it would be foolish to select a QB over Clowney.

General trends and rules of thumb are great to use to predict what might happen, however circumstance will determine whether or not Clowney goes first overall - it is almost a lock he will be the best player

[vidae]

I would be both shocked and upset if the Chiefs pick first overall two years in a row. I wouldn't be upset drafting Geno and Clowney though..

[descendency]

Tennessee OT Richardson just threw Clowney 3-4 yards with 1 arm.

[P-L]

Originally Posted by descendency

Tennessee OT Richardson just threw Clowney 3-4 yards with 1 arm.

Clowney has really struggled against Richardson today, but he did get the last laugh. Just blew by Richardson and forced the game clinching fumble.

[DcmRulz]

Clowney had a decent game with an injured foot. Is he a man or machine?

[ph90702]

Originally Posted by AcheTen

Taking a DE #1 overall is stupid, no matter how great that DE is as a prospect.

Just look at Courtney Brown as an example.

Look at the Rams picking Chris Long over Matt Ryan / Joe Flacco. Long was a great prospect and is a solid player in the NFL, but do you think the Rams (especially Spagnuolo) might want a re-do of that right now?


If you're picking #1 overall it usually means you don't have a franchise QB. And if you pick a DE instead of a QB with that #1 overall pick, then you are committing a fire-able offense. A team without a franchise QB has absolutely no business whatsoever picking any position except for QB in the top 5.

So, if a team takes a 1st round quarterback in the prior year, then they can take a DE #1 overall the next year?

It's not dumb to take a DE #1 overall if the best quarterback available isn't a franchise quarterback.

[Ozzy]

descendency Tennessee OT Richardson just threw Clowney 3-4 yards with 1 arm.

That was one hell of a play by Richardson, but overall when it matter most Clowney got him, but that Tennessee line did impresse a lot.

[hall12]

I looked up the thread

9 people, or about 25% of the poll would've taken him in the first round. We knew

[socentre44]

Clowney is the clear #1 for now but keep your eye on Oregon's RS Frosh QB Marcus Mariota.

If he continues to develop, I think he'll be a legitimate top 3 pick after his redshirt sophomore season and potentially considered an RGIII type prospect. He reminds of Aaron Rodgers when he was in college but much faster.

[Docta]

Originally Posted by socentre44

Clowney is the clear #1 for now but keep your eye on Oregon's RS Frosh QB Marcus Mariota.

If he continues to develop, I think he'll be a legitimate top 3 pick after his redshirt sophomore season and potentially considered an RGIII type prospect. He reminds of Aaron Rodgers when he was in college but much faster.

He's a freshman brah. Wouldn't even be eligible for 2014.

[jrdrylie]

Originally Posted by Docta

He's a freshman brah. Wouldn't even be eligible for 2014.

He's a sophomore.

[socentre44]

Originally Posted by Docta

He's a freshman brah. Wouldn't even be eligible for 2014.

He's a redshirt freshman this year and 2014 draft eligible.

He'll be making an Andrew Luck type decision after the 2013 season on whether to declare or stay for his redshirt junior year.

[jrdrylie]

Originally Posted by socentre44

He's a redshirt freshman this year and 2014 draft eligible.

He'll be making an Andrew Luck type decision after the 2013 season on whether to declare or stay for his redshirt junior year.

Edit: Nevermind

[villagewarrior]

Originally Posted by FUNBUNCHER

THere's different ways to approach it but I definitely would have Clowney playing with his hand in the dirt and not try to convert him to OLB. But yeah I do think KC has the personnel to switch to a 4-3 if Hali can play DE.
Really most teams play so many different packages throughout the course of a game, a 'base D' is just a general term.

Hali can play 43 end. That's where he played when drafted orginally and that is essentially what he plays now as a 34 OLB. Very rarely have I seen him drop into coverage.

[Babylon]

Originally Posted by socentre44

Clowney is the clear #1 for now but keep your eye on Oregon's RS Frosh QB Marcus Mariota.

If he continues to develop, I think he'll be a legitimate top 3 pick after his redshirt sophomore season and potentially considered an RGIII type prospect. He reminds of Aaron Rodgers when he was in college but much faster.

I like Mariota but not sure if he's not the next Colin Kaeperick. Plenty of time for him to get some more arm strength. I'm still plugging Jeff Driskel for either the first or second pick in two years. He has all the tools to be a star and plays in a league that is getting him ready for the NFL as opposed to some run and shoot version like they run at some of these schools nowadays.

[gpngc]

I was thinking about this a few days ago and this thread is perfect to bring it up...

2014 is going to be a MUCH stronger draft class than 2013...

I can think of 5 marquee STUDS not including some big-time OT prospects:

1) Clowney
2) Sammy Watkins
3) Marquis Lee
4) Terry Bridgewater
5) DAT

On the topic of DAT. Every year when smallish guys who make plays regardless are given the 'small' tag they prove it wrong. EVERY YEAR. The NFL is archaic with their size-range prototypes for each position.

T.Y. Hilton, Percy Harvin, DeSean, Darren Sproles. DAT *should* be a top-10 pick easily. We'll see if anyone has the courage to take him there.

[Shane P. Hallam]

Clowney will require surgery on his foot this offseason for an undisclosed injury