Strange tumble may ultimately benefit Clausen

NEW YORK – Jimmy Clausen completed the greatest freefall in NFL draft history by landing what could be the best job of the top quarterbacks selected.

He may even save an embattled coach and general manager in the process.

When Clausen went No. 48 overall to the Carolina Panthers in the second round Friday, it ended a drop of 40 or so picks based on where he had been projected by many analysts before the draft. As the draft neared, the feeling was that Clausen would be the latest version of Aaron Rodgers(notes) or Brady Quinn(notes), a pair of high-profile quarterbacks who had been considered possible top 10 picks before falling into the 20s.

The difference is that Clausen surpassed Rodgers and Quinn. Really, he obliterated them, passed over throughout the first round and then again in the second round by several teams in need of quarterbacks. The Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills all let Clausen go by the board, with the Browns later taking Colt McCoy of Texas.

The situation left Clausen with a rather large tweak to his ego.

"It's frustrating sometimes," Clausen said. "It's definitely going to be in the back of my mind every single time I step on the field, every time I step into the facility to work out and watch film to make me that much better."

It also left one AFC executive a bit baffled: "I don't know what those teams were thinking. I like the kid, we just don't need him. … He was overvalued early, but he still should have been picked before No. 48."

An NFC executive generally agreed, saying he considered Clausen a "very good player."

"He's not as good an athlete as Sam Bradford(notes), so he doesn't have that upside," the executive said. "But if you put him on a team with good players, he'll be very good. That stuff about him not being a great leader, he's a better leader than Bradford.

"Bradford is a really quiet, understated guy. Clausen is a bit of a [jerk]. He's not afraid to tell guys what needs to be said. He'll get in somebody's face in a hurry. You need that from your quarterback, as long as he does it in the right way."

The good news for Clausen is that he goes to a place where he has the best chance to play right away. More importantly, coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney will be highly motivated to play him.

First, the only thing standing between Clausen and the starting job is Matt Moore(notes), a former undrafted free agent who had a nice run over the final seven games last season after replacing departed starter Jake Delhomme(notes). Moore's season included three impressive performances in wins over the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Giants and the New Orleans Saints at the end of last season. Then again, the Saints weren't exactly motivated in the season finale.

Second, Clausen joins a team that has some proven weapons around him in running back DeAngelo Williams(notes) and wide receiver Steve Smith. That's better than what either Bradford or Denver Broncos first-round pick Tim Tebow(notes) has going into their situations.

Third, Clausen played three years under Charlie Weis in an NFL-type offense. Bradford barely played last season because of injuries and was in a spread offense. Tebow has the most work to do between his own mechanics and learning a pro-style offense after playing in Florida's spread-option attack.

"Clausen can go on the field right now and get you through a game," the NFC executive said. "Will he be great? No, but he won't embarrass himself."

The point is this: Clausen is the kind of player who can give a team hope and do it soon. That's exactly what Fox and Hurney need. Their futures were both the subject of great speculation at the end of last season. Fox is returning this season, but he's going into the final year of his contract. Hurney's contract runs out in June, although the word around the league is that Hurney will get a one-year extension and the team will go from there this season.

Quick development by Clausen could help erase the bad memories of Delhomme's implosion last season after Fox and Hurney gave Delhomme a contract extension.

Certainly Clausen sounded confident about his chances.

"I just want to tell you that you guys made the best pick in the draft, and I'm going to make you guys proud," Clausen said. "It's been a dream come true. I always said I wanted to get picked as high as I could, but everything happens for a reason. I couldn't be happier to be a Carolina Panther. I'm going to be there Thursday, I think they are going to bring me in and just get right to it and start getting to work."

No question, he'll get that chance in a hurry.