Clayborn at 28

This guy is probably a real possibility at 28 if he's still there, 17 is probably too high but 28 would be a great spot to pick him up. He doesn't look much like a defensive end for the Patriots but he looks like he could convert to outside linebacker. He runs very well sideline to sideline but may struggle in coverage but can work on that over time. The good part about this pick is that Clayborn has a lot of upside as a pass rushing outside linebacker but also has time to develop and not be thrown into the fire due to the prescence of Ninkovich and Cunningham. Clayborn plays with a ton of passion and could be a huge pay off pick for the Patriots.

He's a 3-4 Tweener IMO. No way would I use No. 28 on him.

It's interesting but I find myself disagreeing with pretty much everything you say.
No to Clayborn at 28. His value would be at 40-50.

If you're going to draft a DE the style of Clayborn why wouldn't you go for Bowers, who is seemingly a much better fit as a 3-4 DE. Bowers is thick and muscular throughout and has good size, strenght and power. He's could slide due to meniscus issue.

On the surface Clayborn looks like he could play 3-4 DE but his right shoulder issue (erb's palsy) will be a big problem for him the pros where guys like Carimi (who he struggled vs big time) are the norm.

Not a 3-4 fit

I too must disagree with your thoughts on Claiborn, No way he is converting to OLB. He is 4-3 all the way. All these guys are going to get bigger once they get into their teams strength and conditioning program, he is already too big to make the conversion. I say pass even if he is available at 60 or 72.

He's a little short and way too slow for a 3-4 OLB. I think he'll be a solid 4-3 DE and possibly even DT though.

Another no for Clayborn. He'd be Jarvis Green in this system, a non-starter at best, and Green was a 4th round pick.

What's BB gonna do with a one-armed undersized DE?

Actually quite a lot...

Am I imagining things, or around Combine time didn't Clayborn say something like "anybody who thinks of asking me to play OLB is fooling himself"?

patchick said:

Am I imagining things, or around Combine time didn't Clayborn say something like "anybody who thinks of asking me to play OLB is fooling himself"?

Click to expand...

I forget the exact wording, but essentially yes.

patchick said:

Am I imagining things, or around Combine time didn't Clayborn say something like "anybody who thinks of asking me to play OLB is fooling himself"?

Click to expand...

Yeah, that's a winners attitude!!!

I'd love to see the exact quote from Clayborn because it's a little hard to believe that a prospect would limit their options like that.

I don't get how you could look at his combine and pro day numbers and just assume that he could never play linebacker. He is was a star linebacker and tight end in high school.

4.78 40
1.61 10
35.5 VJ (pro day)
4.13 short shuttle
7.08 3 cone (pro day)

What about those numbers say he can't move?
I look at his Junior season games and I think he looks MUCH more flexible than Aldon Smith (Who is the next coming of D. Ware to everyone).

I am ABSOLUTELY not saying that Clayborn is going to be a pro bowl linebacker, but I'm saying don't write off any prospect because you just haven't put in the work that NFL teams do. There are plenty of prospects coming out of college who were written off as pure D-linemen and have become good linebackers.
Tamba Hali anyone?
I would love to see how Clayborn moves at 270-275.

Now if you want to argue about the Erbs Palsy then that is a different story. Not sure how it effects his strength, but he seemed to be plenty strong in all the film I saw.

I think you can get Clayborn even lower than that.

But he isn't tall enough to play end in a 3-4.