If Jadeveon Clowney Was Draft-Eligible...

SchizophrenicBatman · 12-18-2010, 06:44 PM

Where would he be picked?

By all accounts this guy is one of the best DE prospects coming out of high school in years. He emasculated multiple OTs in the North Carolina/South Carolina Shrine Bowl today and has been getting big time hype for a while now. People say he is way better than DaQuan Bowers was at the same age, and Bowers is looking like a Top 5 pick if he declares even though he really only had a huge impact this season (other big time DEs such as Mario Williams and Julius Peppers also had inconsistent college production before spells of dominance and their athleticism got them drafted at the top)

His age would obviously be a concern, but Amobi Okoye went top 10 at age 19 and scouts have been quoted as saying Adrian Peterson could have made it in the NFL as a freshman.

So basically, how much is proving it on the field in college worth? Workout warriors have risen big time without a ton of production in college, but they did at least get on the field. Of course, you also have stories like Chris Ivory and Willie Parker who hardly played, along with a ton of guys who played at DII and DIII schools where the competition isn't a whole lot higher than big time high school ball. Of course, most of these guys go undrafted or get picked in the late rounds

What do you think?

goldenbear.cal · 12-18-2010, 07:38 PM

This isnt basketball or baseball. A 19 year old kid has no business playing in the NFL, Amobi was an exception because he played college and received the proper strength conditioning to prepare him in the NFL. NFL has no minor league, so you either play or you sit on the bench. If he was available to be drafted, I really doubt he is drafted earlier than 2nd round. It will take him 3-4 years (which is the equivalent of going to college) to be NFL ready, and I dont think an NFL team is willing to spend money and years developing a DE for 4 years and be a free-agent when hes ready to contribute.

SchizophrenicBatman · 12-18-2010, 09:00 PM

This is why I think it's an interesting question. Clowney is as close to a lock as you could get for a guy as young as this - but even if you grant that, what does that mean for an NFL team? If guys like Bowers, Mario Williams and Peppers take a couple years in college before they really break out an NFL team basically has to accept that he'll be worthless for a year, possibly two.

Now, he should develop quicker in an NFL training program but it really is an odd situation. You'll want to be reasonably sure that you can re-sign him once he reaches free agency since his prime will be during his second contract, and when an NFL team takes a guy in the 1st round they usually want some type of immediate return.

But would a team in the late first use a luxury pick on him? The second? Eventually the value would be worth it, and I bet it'd be earlier than most suspect

He might end up a total washout and four years from now not even get drafted, but I doubt it. The things people are saying about this guy are nuts and his play has backed it up so far. I plan on bumping this topic after the televised All America games to see if that gets some more discussion on this

BuddyCHRIST · 12-18-2010, 09:05 PM

I wouldn't be surprised to see him go in the 2nd round, but he would definitely need time. The S&C programs are a major leap from HS and then the NFL is another leap. But I could see someone falling in love with the talent and upside. Playing across the D-Line is a very hard transition at every level, those guys are the toughest to find. But if theres FCS guys getting drafted in the first, I could see that as a possibility.

His HS tape is damn amazing, but the most noticeable thing is how much bigger and faster he is than everyone, and he wouldn't be that much bigger and faster than people in the NFL.

Morton · 12-18-2010, 09:17 PM

I want to see what he does on the college level first.

Just because he does well against high school level LTs doesn't mean anything yet.

dannyz · 12-18-2010, 09:23 PM

What if the UFL let HS Players play right after College? There he would be going against atleast Pro Players and he would get a good S@C Program there. What would happen if he tore up the UFL? Would that help him more because he is going against Pro Players or not because the Players are Average?

ElectricEye · 12-18-2010, 09:25 PM

Obviously this is a hypothetical, but appreciating that; 3rd or 4th round. Obviously you couldn't expect something right away so you would draft'em and stash'em for a couple years. That takes away the 1st and 2nd round options because you expect impact players with those picks.

jrdrylie · 12-18-2010, 10:24 PM

I've seen him play a few times on tv and he is a freak. Some team late in the first without many needs would take him and then not let him see the field except in preseason for the first year. The second year, he might play a little. And then by year 3, they have a young guy who is ready for the NFL.

6270410908 · 12-18-2010, 10:38 PM

I'm gonna say 7th rd merely to secure his rights in the event he developed into an NFL player on the practice squad within 4 years.

Vikes99ej · 12-18-2010, 11:45 PM

What school is he going to?

Don Vito · 12-19-2010, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikes99ej

What school is he going to?

Most likely South Curilina.

SchizophrenicBatman · 12-23-2010, 11:29 AM

Highlight video available: http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com...sp?CID=1167980

BRAVEHEART · 12-26-2010, 01:48 PM

This thread is silly. That is all.

RealityCheck · 12-26-2010, 03:18 PM

He is an adult, he has the right to play professionally and we're not getting into this stupid discussion again, are we?

SenorGato · 12-26-2010, 06:11 PM

What a freak.

energizerbunny · 12-31-2010, 09:28 PM

I conservatively said 2nd round, he is physically the guy that comes round every 5 years who could jump straight to the NFL (DJ WIlliams, AD).

After all Aaron Maybin went high in the 1st, no reason Clowney wouldn't be a top 60 selection.

detroit4life · 01-02-2011, 06:20 PM

i said second. Depending on when i was picking purely based off of potential. I would expect him to barely touch the field for his rookie season but if the coaching staff was dedicated to teaching him up and developing him then it would be worth it.

FUNBUNCHER · 01-02-2011, 06:38 PM

Being dominant in HS for the most part doesn't mean a thing as far as the NFL is concerned.

So many guys in HS put up comic book type stats as preps, unless they do it in college you don't really have any idea if their skillset translates.
If he goes to the SEC and is a monster as a true freshman, that's different.

EDIT: After watching his highlight reel dominating those little biddy HS OTs, I think I'd play him at OLB.
6'6, 250, hustles his butt off.
But honestly, what is he gonna do against a 6'5, 300# college senior OT??

Too much hype.

I can't imagine any position other than maybe RB being able to make the jump to the pros.
There's too much skill and physical maturity that needs to take place for most positions in football.

dannyz · 01-02-2011, 07:01 PM

Clowney will be playing in the Under Armour All American Bowl Tuesday. Most of the top OT's in HS are also Playing in this game so we can see Clowney go against some good OT's.

SchizophrenicBatman · 01-02-2011, 07:22 PM

As I said, he stole the manhood of the OTs he went up against in the NC/SC Shrine Bowl. But the main guy he went up against was a mid tier recruit committed to unc

Can't wait to see what he does in this game. Bowers IIRC put on a show in the UA game a couple years back

Tyfighter · 01-02-2011, 07:25 PM

He made the #1 OT Cyrus Kouandijo look silly in the Under Armour practice today.

Sniper · 01-02-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUNBUNCHER

But honestly, what is he gonna do against a 6'5, 300# college senior OT??

Probably kill them. I fully anticipate Clowney being on the all-SEC team next year as a true freshman. He's so big, fast, strong, quick and agile. His offensive videos might be even sicker. I usually hold off on anointing college freshmen as instant contributors, but Clowney is incredible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SchizophrenicBatman

As I said, he stole the manhood of the OTs he went up against in the NC/SC Shrine Bowl. But the main guy he went up against was a mid tier recruit committed to unc

I heard he had something like six sacks and five holding calls drawn and it should have been a lot more.

FUNBUNCHER · 01-03-2011, 03:47 AM

Wow, Sniper.

Surprised you're going out a limb this early about a kid who hasn't played a down in college.

All-SEC as a true frosh is almost unheard of in that conference on the Dline.
If he's beating single blocks consistently by game 4, he's going to be doubled, at which point he'll disappear.

I will say that Clowney has an unusual motor for such a young player, ( the highlight where he comes in on a pass rush, loops around and pursues the ballcarrier roughly 30 to 40 yards downfield AND makes the tackle was classic Lawrence Taylor effort!)

IMO he's this generation's Alonzo Spellman until proven otherwise.