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Factoid

Jadeveon Clowney / Top-1o pass rushers

The Houston Texans selected South Carolina pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney with the No. 1 pick in the draft, and will pair him with JJ Watt in their defense. What kind of production should be expected from Clowney as a rookie?

Since 1990, there have been 30 pass rushers selected in the top 10, so a little more than one per year. Close to half (14) of those players have recorded at least 5 sacks in their rookie seasons, including two just last year (Ziggy Ansah and Barkevious Mingo). Five have started their careers with double-digit sacks.

There have been some noteworthy busts selected in the top 10 (Jamal Reynolds, Vernon Gholston), and Dion Jordan had a very quiet rookie season. But plenty of those early selections have gone on to be stars even after having quiet rookie seasons, like Mario Williams and Chris Long.

Clowney seems to have the talent to be one of the elite guys -- as in, a chance at double-digit sacks from the get-go, and a nice career.

The 30 defensive ends selected in the top 10 since 1990 are presented below.

TOP-10 DEFENSIVE ENDS, 1990-2013
YearPickSacksPlayer, Team
1996312.5Simeon Rice, Ariz.
2002212.0Julius Peppers, Car.
20031012.0Terrell Suggs, Balt.
1997411.5Peter Boulware, Balt.
2003910.5Kevin Williams, Minn.
200148.5Justin Smith, Cin.
201358.0Ziggy Ansah, Det.
200176.5Andre Carter, S.F.
200746.0Gaines Adams, T.B.
199566.0Kevin Carter, St.L.
199575.5Mike Mamula, Phil.
199835.0Andre Wadsworth, Ariz.
201365.0Barkevious Mingo, Cle.
199365.0Eric Curry, T.B.
200614.5Mario Williams, Hou.
200014.5Courtney Brown, Cle.
199444.5Willie McGinest, N.E.
200824.0Chris Long, St.L.
199164.0Eric Swann, Ariz.
200883.5Derrick Harvey, Jac.
199353.0John Copeland, Cin.
199863.0Grant Wistrom, St.L.
199883.0Greg Ellis, Dall.
1990102.5Ray Agnew, N.E.
201332.0Dion Jordan, Mia.
2001102.0Jamal Reynolds, G.B.
200930.0Tyson Jackson, K.C.
199650.0Cedric Jones, NYG
200860.0Vernon Gholston, NYJ
200780.0Jamaal Anderson, Atl.
20141???Jadeveon Clowney, Hou.

--Andy Richardson

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