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With actual football done until next season, it's time for the silly season that is the NFL Draft process to take hold. This year we have plenty to debate, particularly when it comes to where South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney should end up going.
Clowney seems to firmly believe he should go No. 1 overall, and when he was asked about going to the Falcons and staying close to home, he told the Dan Patrick Show as much Thursday.
"I'd really be happy anywhere I go. But if I go [to Atlanta] I'd be excited. I'd be close to home still," Clowney said. "I just think I should be the No. 1 pick taken overall in the draft."
Asked specifically about going No. 1, Clowney was quite clear that he should go first overall.
"Yes sir, I should," Clowney told fill-in host Chris Mannix.
One thing that will cause the Texans, who hold the first pick, to debate whether to take Clowney at the top of the 2013 NFL Draft is his health. (For what it's worth, NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang has Clowney going No. 1 in his mock draft; Dane Brugler has him No. 2 behind Blake Bortles.) Clowney dealt with foot issues but said Thursday he won't need surgery before or after the combine, though he would do so if his employer wanted.
"Right now, no. I'm not. I feel great right now," Clowney said. "I doubt [surgery is on the table]. Depends on what the team wants that gets me in the draft. If they want me to get it, I'll get it. If they don't, it shouldn't bother me. I'll probably wait until the next offseason to get it done."
That's good news for those of us that are hoping Clowney goes full freak-fest at the combine. He said he wants to bench 225 pounds 25 times (and joked Thursday about running a 4.4, which would cause the roof to pop off Lucas Oil Field).
If he can pull off his goals at the combine, there's a pretty good chance Clowney can achieve his other goal of becoming the top pick in the draft.
