NEW YORK - The Houston Texans have made South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney the first pick in the NFL draft.
Considered a budding NFL star even when he was a freshman, Clowney brings size, speed and power to a Texans lineup that already has 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt.
But his work ethic has been questioned after he slipped from 13 sacks to just three in 2013. Critics said he was protecting himself from injury before declaring early for the draft.
Houston previously made the top pick in two drafts, taking quarterback David Carr in 2002. He never lived up to that billing. They took DE Mario Williams in 2006, but he left for Buffalo in 2012.
Other first round picks following Clowney on Thursday were (refresh page for updates):
2) St. Louis - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
3) Jacksonville - Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
4) Buffalo (pick acquired from Cleveland) - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
5) Oakland - Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
6) Atlanta - Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
7) Tampa Bay - Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
8) Cleveland (pick acquired from Minnesota) - Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
9) Minnesota (pick acquired from Cleveland) - Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
10) Detroit - Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
11) Tennessee - Taylor Lewan , OT, Michigan
12) New York Giants - Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU
13) St. Louis - Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
14) Chicago - Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
15) Pittsburgh - Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State
16) Dallas - Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
17) Baltimore - C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama
18) New York Jets - Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
19) Miami - Ja'Wuan James, OT, Tennessee
20) New Orleans (pick acquired from Arizona) - Brandon Cooks, WR, Oregon State
21) Green Bay - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
22) Cleveland (pick acquired from Philadelphia) - Johnny Mannziel, QB, Texas A&M
23) Kansas City - Dee Ford, DE, Auburn
24) Cincinnati - Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
25) San Diego - Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
26) Philadelphia - Marcus Smith, DE, Louisville
27) Arizona - Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State
28) Carolina - Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
29) New England - Dominique Easley, DE, Florida
30) San Francisco - Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois
31) Denver - Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
32) Minnesota (pick acquired from Seattle) - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville