NFL Draft rumors: Browns will avoid Jadeveon Clowney at No. 4
By Josh Sanchez
South Carolina defensive standout Jadeveon Clowney is expected to be a top five pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, but there are questions about where he will fall within those first five picks.
If Clowney slides past the Houston Texans and St. Louis Rams, which would leave the Jacksonville Jaguars in position to make him their first-round pick.
Should Jacksonville pass on Clowney, it appears that he will still be on the board when the Oakland Raiders are on the clock at pick No. 4 because rumor has it that the Cleveland Browns will be avoiding Clowney.
From Steve Doerschuk of CantonRep.com:
From what we are hearing, the Browns will avoid Jadeveon Clowney at No. 4, even if their QB is gone.
— Steve Doerschuk (@sdoerschukREP) February 19, 2014
Many have questioned Clowney’s work ethic, so it isn’t a big surprise that he could have a minor fall on draft day.
That said, whichever team lands Clowney will be getting one of the top defensive talents to enter the draft in the past decade.
For the Browns, the decision to pass on Clowney may be driven by their desperate need for talent on the offensive side of the ball.
One player to watch if their top quarterback is off the board would be wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who would pair with Josh Gordon to create one of the most dynamic sets of starting receivers in the league.