South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney won’t be running up and down a field for NFL suitors anytime before draft day. Peter King reports at MMQB, “He still will visit teams and interview with coaches and GMs, but his next show-and-tell football performance will be after the draft in a mini-camp, with whichever team picks him.”
Clowney’s decision stems from the misfortune of Brandon Thomas. The Clemson tackle blew out his knee working out for the New Orleans Saints earlier this month. Thomas looked to go in the middle to late rounds of the draft. His injury may encourage prospects, particularly highly-rated ones like Clowney, to skip team workouts and let pro days and combine performances speak for themselves.
Mock drafts generally show Clowney taken within the first few picks of the upcoming NFL Player Selection Meeting. Sports Illustrated‘s Don Banks sees Clowney going first. Eric Galko of the Sporting News similarly forecasts the Texans to pick the athletic defensive end. ESPN’s Mel Kiper also sees the Texas taking Clowney first.
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