Houston Texans owner Bob McNair has heaped praise on South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney ahead of the 2014 Draft.

Clowney is widely considered to be the top overall talent available in this year's Draft, and the Texans will get first pick having ended the 2013 season with 14 consecutive defeats to fall 2-14.

It will be the first time since 2006 that the Texans have had the number one pick, and McNair compared Clowney to the man they chose on that occasion, Mario Williams, who is now a three-time Pro Bowler.

"He's one of these players who's a once in every 10 years kind of physical specimen that comes along. Mario Williams was that way. I think Clowney is actually a better athlete than Mario," McNair told reporters.

"Like many of these players that have great physical attributes, they didn't have to work as hard in junior high school and high school and in college to be a superlative athlete because they have this natural ability. [Clowney is] not a JJ Watt. JJ didn't have that natural ability. He worked; he developed his.

"I said, 'JJ, I don't know what will happen, but if we get Clowney, we want you to instill in him the same kind of work habits that you have.' He said, 'If he's in the same room with me, then he'll have them.'"

Despite his praise, McNair has previously hinted that he would be open to trading the top pick for the Draft.