Though Clowney definitely has the pure speed to be a 3-4 OLB, I agree with TMD's take that he would be better served as a 4-3 DE than a 3-4 OLB.

 

First off Belichick's/Crennel's 3-4 defenses traditionally haven't been outside LB blitz heavy teams-with the exception of their days with the Giants in the 1980s when they had Lawrence Taylor.  Their OLBs have dropped a lot in coverage.  Doing that with Clowney to me would appear to be a colossal waste of his talent, and would put him in positions he isn't accustomed to doing (i.e. dropping into coverage).

 

Furthermore, as I indicated in a different thread, the Patriots under Belichick and Crennel were largely size dependent 3-4 fronts, meaning all of their DLs (Seymour, Washington, Wilfork) were bigger guys.  The Texans don't have particularly big 3-4 DLs.  In fact, their LBs in New England (McGinest, Vrabel and Bruschi) were all college defensive linemen.  Admittedly that is an argument in support of them drafting Clowney.

 

If Clowney was the no brainer pick for the Texans at one, then it makes no sense for McNair to openly shop the pick around.  I think they will trade down, especially if they give away the 2nd for Mallet.  If they trade down, I could see them adding size to that front seven. 

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