There is probably not another sport where draft position matters more than in the NFL. In particular, number one overall picks specifically and those taken within the first handful of selections are graded very harshly. There aren’t that many Hall of Famers. There shouldn’t be. Still, first overall sections are expected to be Pro Bowl level players and should be in contention for the Hall of Fame. At least that is the expectation.
If the Hall of Fame or the Pro Bowl is the bar then J.D. Clowney probably
fails the test for a first overall pick. He officially has been to three Pro Bowls. That feels very light when you compare that with Aaron Donald who was also selected in the first round. However, he is going into his 13th season and he has been highly productive overall even if he hasn’t amassed the season to season high sack totals that were expected when he first came out of Clemson.
So, obviously these numbers are a mixed bag. On the one hand, it is impressive to put together a 13 year career (counting this season). Two of those seasons are a virtual wash due to injuries, so he has had a solid ten year career. Most players can’t approach that and most players from his draft are no longer in the league building their resume.
The football Hall of Fame is not my personal wheelhouse like the baseball Hall of Fame, but if we look at the defensive ends and edge rushers in Canton then we will see that 100 sacks is usually the minimal litmus test to enter the door. In fact, if we look at the recent additions at the position over the last five seasons we can see what their career numbers are.
It’s at this point where I have to acknowledge two things. First, I absolutely love numbers. I think every reader of this feature realizes that. It eliminates a lot of the noise. When we look at these Hall of Famers we can see the clear separation between them and players like Clowney. We will also see guys like J.J. Watt fit comfortably in that group. Will Anderson certainly seems like he is on that path and Danielle Hunter is probably on that road as well.
Obviously, Anderson will take some projection since he has only finished three seasons. However, if we assume he continues on the pace he is on then the Texans have two Hall of Fame level defensive ends at or near the prime of their career. Watt obviously is now the number one CBS commentator, but his numbers serve as an area of reference.
We say all this to say that Clowney is certainly a starting quality defensive end and has been one for a decade. The fact that he is the first end off the bench is a huge plus for the Texans in terms of depth. He probably won’t get the snaps he got in Dallas last season, but he certainly has been a productive player even if he isn’t a dominant one historically. He feels like a Mario Williams level of player in terms of being a very good performer that wasn’t consistently among the league’s best.
Still, when you are a championship team, you need guys like Clowney. You need depth pieces that can come off the bench and perform to win a key game or two. It doesn’t work in this fay and age to have 11 good football players on each side and expect them to make it through the season healthy. Imagine a trade deadline in MLB and Nick Caserio got more done last week than anything happening over on Crawford street.
