Clayton Echard will be the next The Bachelor leading man, and it's time to talk about why this The Bachelorette alum got the gig. Viewers met Clayton for the first time when he walked out of the limo during the premiere episode of Michelle Young's season in October. Even though he and Michelle didn't have instant chemistry, as she did with some of the other suitors, Clayton still made it pretty far in the competition.
Shortly after arriving in her hometown of Minneapolis, Clayton and Michelle went on their first one-on-one date at the Bell Museum of Natural History in Falcon Heights. Clayton began opening up about the rough patch he has been going through for the past five years, and Michelle appreciated his honesty. However, she ultimately didn't feel any sparks with him, so she decided to send him home during their date. Clayton may have left broken-hearted, but he is now on his own journey to find love.
Clayton was rumored to be The Bachelor after several photos of him filming in his hometown, presumably for the upcoming season, surfaced online. Since then, fans have been curious about why ABC chose him as the next lead. Throughout Michelle's season, Clayton and the Minnesota native never had a deep connection. She admitted the pair never had strong chemistry and ultimately sent him home before hometowns. So why did producers decide to choose Clayton as the next Bachelor over any other guy on the season? Well, Michelle did say during the one-on-one date that Clayton has a lot of qualities that she looks for in a guy. However, she just didn't feel that they were right for one another. Clayton wasn't a good match for Michelle, but that doesn't mean he isn't a great guy.
While Michelle's feelings for Clayton just weren't strong enough, she did keep him on for most of the season. Michelle saw something in Clayton, but in the end, she knew he wasn't her future husband. Since Clayton was officially announced as the next Bachelor by the network this week, ABC is marketing Clayton as the underdog from Michelle's season. Clayton didn't make a huge impression on The Bachelorette audience, but producers saw something in Clayton that they obviously believe viewers will appreciate. Clayton fits the bill of many past Bachelors since he's a former athlete who is tall, white, and successful. ABC is likely using Clayton as a way to appease their old-school viewers, who have been less enamored with the show over the past few seasons.
While Clayton does have a lot of good points, ABC may have chosen him to try and raise ratings. The show has always done well with young former athletes, and it seems as though Clayton fits that template perfectly. The network may have made the right decision since it's possible that Clayton has already found love via The Bachelor.