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The NFL draft conversation starts with one person. The person. Jadeveon Clowney. The most hyped prospect in years, he is the crown jewel of this year's draft. He joins the recent pantheon of Ndamukong Suh and Andrew Luck as elite, can't miss, won't miss players and is poised to take the league by storm.
The issue has been just the media coverage covering him. He had a down year in terms of statistics, but still flashed that otherworldly dominance. He could not possibly match the hype that was cast on him and so he appeared overrated by many. Played hurt for most of the year with rib injuries and bone spurs and will need minor offseason surgery.
Pros
- Best first step I've ever seen.
- Elite speed-to-power conversion.
- Consistent disruption despite being double- and even triple-teamed.
- Scheme versatile
- Devastating inside power move.
-Heavy and active hands.
- Extreme length.
Cons
- Takes plays off.
- Some character concerns.
- Small repertoire of pass rush moves.
- Poor production in 2013.
Does He Fit With The Giants?
Uh, yeah. The Giants pass rush was anemic. Justin Tuck is on his last legs with the Giants. Damontre Moore is an unknown. Jason Pierre-Paul is an enigma with injury concerns. Clowney is a bit rough around the edges, but with good coaching and a mentor has a strong chance of becoming the best defensive player in the league.
Prospect Video
Jadeveon Clowney vs Tennessee (2013) (via DCheeseB)
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - 1
Mocking the Draft - 1
CBS Sports - 2
Draft Countdown - 1
Draft Tek - 1
Final Thoughts
With pretty much a 99 percent consensus that he is the best player overall in this draft, the chances of Clowney in a Giants uniform is slim to none. He may not be the first or even second pick due to the quarterback slanted nature of this league, but he will certainly be a top 5 selection. He's not without his warts, and rumors about his work ethic and character concerns certainly add a bit of a "bust" factor in there, but more than likely a good coach should iron this out.