NFL Draft: Re-drafting the star-studded 2014 NFL Draft

Original Pick: Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE, South Carolina Gamecocks

The Houston Texans were in a search of a pass rusher when the 2014 NFL Draft rolled around. Jadeveon Clowney was the clear cut No. 1 overall pick after blowing up opposing backfields in the SEC while at the University of South Carolina.

While Clowney’s career to this point has been successful and he was franchise tagged by the Texans before free agency began, there is another pass rusher in the 2014 class that has been world’s better than him. That player would be Khalil Mack.

While Clowney has tallied 29 sacks, 64 tackles for loss, 67 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles, Mack has topped him in every statistical category with 53 sacks, 78 tackles for loss, 102 quarterback hits and 15 forced fumbles over the past five seasons.

Mack has been named to four Pro Bowls, an All-Pro three times and was named the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year while he was with the Oakland Raiders.

Aaron Donald was another contender to go No. 1 overall here, but with J.J. Watt already on the Texans roster, selecting another interior defensive lineman would have been redundant, instead of adding pressure off the edge as well. With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Re-draft, the Texans select Mack out of Buffalo instead of Clowney.