Jadeveon Clowney NFL Draft Stock May Hinge on How Evaluators Perceive His Work Ethic; Agent Refutes 'Lazy' Label

Jadeveon Clowney is definitely the most talented player in the 2014 NFL Draft, but his stock seems to be dependent on how evaluators view his work ethic.

An anonymous scout told NJ.com last weekend he saw the South Carolina defensive end as "lazy" and "spoiled." James "Bus" Cook responded Wednesday and told USA Today Clowney is not even paying attention to the naysayers.

"We don't give any consideration to that," Cook said. "None of that has bothered us. It doesn't bother Jadeveon. That's not something that's been asked of me by any of the teams that I've talked to. Just go watch the tape."

The game tape on Clowney is beyond impressive. Not even a junior season where offensive lines focused solely on stopping the Gamecocks' lethal pass rusher could hurt his draft stock.

Clowney also dealt with some injuries in that last season and sat out games, but he is by all indications totally healthy. At six-foot-six and 275 pounds, Clowney is an imposing figure, but add in his 4.53 40-yard dash, and he is one of the most talented draft prospects in recent memory.

Both Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN's NFL Draft gurus, believe the Houston Texans will wind up taking Clowney first overall. Brian Cushing, the Texans' inside linebacker, likes the prospect of the South Carolina pass rusher joining a defensive line already featuring J.J. Watt, arguably the best already in the NFL.

"A guy like Jadeveon Clowney is obviously going to be an instant-impact player, whether it's us picking him or somebody else," Cushing said Monday Sirius XM Radio. "I think he's going to be a great football player in the NFL. He's going to do a great job."

Cook said most of the people he talks to have not expressed work ethic concern, especially two evaluators he spoke to at the 2014 Senior Bowl.

"At the Senior Bowl, two NFL scouts who have been around for a long time came to me and said, 'Bus, this business about this kid not going all-out is not the case,' " Cook told USA Today. "One of them said, 'Please, tell me what games are they referring to?'"