Here is my first mock draft of the offseason. Just remember, I don't predict trades because it's rather unpredictable, so I have everyone picking at their pre-set draft positions no matter the likelihood of them trading down or up.
2014 NFL
Mock Draft
1. Houston
Texans: Jadaveon Clowney, DE South Carolina – The Texans need a quarterback,
however there isn’t a quarterback that’s a sure thing like Andrew Luck was for
the Colts in this draft. Heck, many believe there isn’t a quarterback in this
draft that should be taken in the first round. I think the Texans play it as
safe as possible here and take Clowney. Pair him with J.J. Watt and you have
the best defensive line in the league. He’s not your prototypical 3-4 DE, but
the guy is an athletic freak that can maybe even play some OLB in certain
situations. You’re in a division with Andrew Luck. Getting to the QB is going
to be a priority. With the trade of Matt Schuab and the signing of Fitzpatrick, I think the Texans feel they can find and develop a quarterback in the second round.
2. St. Louis
Rams: Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson - I originally thought they were going to take
an offensive tackle. But with Rodger Saffold coming back to the Rams, I have a
hard time having them pick a tackle here, maybe in the second round. Instead, I
have them taking Watkins, giving former first overall pick Sam Bradford another
weapon on offense.
3. Jacksonville
Jaguars: Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M – Johnny Football is a boom or bust
pick. But the Jaguars need to turn this ship around fast, and that’s what
Manziel did for Texas A&M. They left the Big 12 for the SEC, and with
Manziel at quarterback they shocked everyone by becoming a top team in the
conference. The Jaguars need a spark, and Manziel may be the guy that is that
spark. He’ll darn sure put butts in seats, and that’s another thing
Jacksonville needs.
4. Cleveland
Browns: Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville – The Browns have had zero luck at
quarterback since coming back into the league in 1999. They’ve had 20 different
quarterbacks start a game for them since then, Bridgewater would make number
21. The Browns released two of those former starters, leaving plenty of room on
the depth chart for the next “franchise” quarterback for the Browns. He makes
sense at this pick for the Browns.
5. Oakland
Raiders: Greg Robinson, OT Auburn –The Raiders lost their LT, then Rodger
Saffold failed his physical and is now resigning with the Rams. The Raiders
literally have nobody of note on their roster. The good free agents they had
fled like rats on a sinking ship. Nobody wants to stay in Oakland, and they
only way they can sign a free agent is to overpay. They could go any direction
here, it’s really hard to say. I think the take Robinson, and then maybe they
take a QB in the second round. Because in the end, it doesn’t matter who’s
playing quarterback if he can’t get any protection.
6. Atlanta
Falcons: Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M – The Falcons can go a few ways here.
They need a pass rush, they could use a pass catching tight end to replace Tony
Gonzalez, or they could take a tackle. I think the Falcons take Matthews
because protecting Matty Ice has to be the top priority. They can find a
quality defensive end in the second round, take a franchise left tackle is the
best thing they could do with this pick.
7. Tampa Bay
Buccaneers: Anthony Barr, OLB UCLA – While OLB isn’t the top need on the
Buccaneers, Lovie Smith built his Bears Super Bowl run on the back of a strong
defense, and that’s how the Bucs won their only Super Bowl. While in Chicago,
Smith always had great linebacker play. Barr would become the next great
Buccaneers LB, and would be a force coming off of the edge on blitz packages. Anthony
Barr could become a cornerstone player for Tampa’s defense.
8. Minnesota
Vikings: Stephon Tuitt, DE Notre Dame – Even if the Vikings re-sign Jared
Allen, they don’t have a pass rusher on the other side of him. The Vikings gave
Matt Cassel a new two year deal, so I doubt they go QB with this pick. If Jared
Allen leaves or retires, Tuitt takes over his position. In a division with
three first round picks at quarterback, the ability to rush the passer is a
must.
9. Buffalo
Bills: Mike Evans, WR Texas A&M – The Bills took E.J. Manuel with their
first round pick last year. Stevie Johnson can’t do it alone, so drafting Evans
would give Manuel another target and would take some pressure off of Johnson. I
really can’t see the Bills going any other direction if Evans is still on the
board.
10. Detroit
Lions: Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma State – The Lions have a glaring need at
cornerback, especially in a division with Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers. Gilbert
turned heads at the combine, and that made his stock skyrocket. With the Lions
signing Golden Tate in free agency, I don’t think they take a receiver in the
first round.
11.
Tennessee Titans: C.J. Mosley, ILB Alabama – With the Titans moving to a 3-4
defense, they’re going to need some linebackers. Inside linebacker is a need
for the Titans, and I don’t think they have a stud on the inside on the roster.
Mosley comes from a 3-4 ran under Nick Saban, and he would be an instant
plug-and-play pick for Tennessee. Ken Whisenhut might be an offensive minded
coach, but spending those years in Pittsburgh, you know he learned a thing or
two about defense.
12. New York
Giants: Taylor Lewan, OT Michigan – The Giants did a poor job of protecting Eli
Manning, and that was a big reason why he threw so many interceptions last
season. The Giants have a couple of needs, but a left tackle that can protect
Manning’s blind side is paramount to the Giants getting back into the playoffs.
13. St.
Louis Rams: Hasean Clinton-Dix, S Alabama – The Rams helped their offense with
the second overall pick of the draft. With this one, they go after a need on
defense by shoring up their secondary with a player that goes by the nickname
“HaHa.” There’s nothing funny about his play, he’s athletic enough to make plays
in coverage and physical enough to support the run or take out a receiver who
caught a short pass.
14. Chicago
Bears: Calvin Pryor, S Louisville – The Bears have some need in their
secondary. They currently don’t have anyone that can be a successful starter at
strong safety. The Bears couldn’t stop the Packers from driving down the field
and winning the NFC North in the season finale. They’ve also got to face the
Lion’s Matthew Stafford twice a season, and the Vikings could take a QB in the
second round to groom for the future. If they want to win the division in 2014,
they’ll have to stop two of the better quarterbacks in the league.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kelvin
Benjamin, WR Florida State – The Pittsburgh Steelers picked up a safety in free
agency, and that’s good because in this mock I have both top safeties already
off of the board. Kevin Colbert has said they’re going to draft a receiver, and
I think they take the tall playmaker from the National Champions who made the
biggest offensive play of the game. Ben Roethlisberger has been asking for a
tall receiver since the Steelers let Plaxico Burress walk after
Roethlisberger’s rookie season. I think this is the year they
finally acquiesce
their franchise quarterback with this request.
16. Dallas
Cowboys: Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh – The Cowboys are in need of a stud
defensive tackle as they move from a 3-4 defensive alignment to a 4-3 which
employees two defensive tackles. Donald is the smartest choice here for the
Cowboys, who need to get better on that side of the ball in a division with Eli
Manning (who had an off year), Chip Kelly’s Eagles, and Robert Griffin III.
Donald can stuff the run and rush the passer from the DT position, making him a
great choice for the Cowboys.
17.
Baltimore Ravens: Eric Ebron, TE North Carolina – The Ravens traded away Anquan
Boldin before last season. They paid Joe Flacco huge money, and left him with
very little to work with, especially since TE Dennis Pitta injured his hip
before the season started and missed most of it. In their Super Bowl season,
many of Joe Flacco’s big players was throwing up prayers. Last season Flacco
looked like the typical Joe Flacco, not the guy the Ravens thought they paid
all that money to. Eric Ebron is a stud pass catching TE who could start right
away, and also allow the Ravens to run two tight end sets which I think would
be a big help to Joe Flacco.
18. New York
Jets: Marqise Lee, WR USC – The Jets need to surround either QB that starts for
them, Geno Smith or Mike Vick, with some better talent than what Geno had a
season ago. They added Eric Decker, but this offense needs more than just
Decker if they want to get into the playoffs, much less win a game in the
playoffs. Lee is fast, will force defenses to keep a safety up top, and can
blow the lid off of defenses.
19. Miami
Dolphins: Zach Martin, OT/G, Notre Dame – The Dolphins are in trouble on the
offensive line after the bullying scandal that rocked the club last season.
Gone are Richie Incognito and Jonathon Martin. They signed Branden Albert
formerly of the Chiefs, but they have two positions on the right side currently
open for starters because the two players that I said were gone were listed as
starters on that side of the line a year ago. Zach Martin would fill one of the
two holes, as he could play either tackle or guard.
20. Arizona
Cardinals: Darqueze Dennnard, CB Michigan State – The Cardinals want another
top-flight corner across from Patrick Peterson, and Dennard seems to fit well
here. The Cardinals also want to go best player available, something their head
coach learned from his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Dennard falls
into that category as well. If he is gone, they may go offensive line with this
pick.
21. Green
Bay Packers: Ra’Shede Hageman, DE/DT Minesota – The Packers need more help on
defense, and they want to get tough and quicker on the offensive line. Hageman
could play DE in the base package and DT in the sub packages. He would be an
instant starter for the Packers, who would be able to help the OLB’s get to the
quarterback by taking up blocks.
22.
Philadelphia Eagles: Ryan Shazier, OLB Ohio State – The Packers had problems on
defense last season, hell they had problems in their playoff loss. I don’t
think there is a safety worth taking here, so I think they take Shazier who is
a tackling machine and will turn the corner on the blitz. He could replace
Connor Barwin at LOLB immediately.
23. Kansas
City Chiefs: Brandin Cooks, WR Oregon State – The Chiefs might be a candidate
to trade up ahead of Miami to take Martin of Notre Dame since they lost Albert
in FA. Since I don’t predict trades, I have them taking the speedy WR from
Oregon State because Alex Smith needs a speedy downfield receiver to be his
best in this offense. Cooks will cause matchup problems and now allow defenses
to stack the box against Jamaal Charles.
24.
Cincinnati Bengals: Dee Ford, DE Auburn – The Bengals lost Michael Johnson in
free agency and they need another pass rusher. Ford can come in and help with
that immediately. In the division you have three Super Bowl rings between Ben
Roethlisberger (2) and Joe Flacco (1). The Bengals haven’t won a playoff game
since 1990 either, getting to the quarterback can help break that skid.
25. San
Diego Chargers: Louis Nix, DT Notre Dame – He falls to the Chargers, who need a
nose tackle to anchor their 3-4 defense. He can play right away, taking up two
blockers most of the time to help free up a linebacker to make a big splash
play. The Chargers can then go linebacker or wide receiver in the second round,
but there’s no way they pass up Nix if he falls to them. Their guy in New York
should sprint that card up front.
26.
Cleveland Browns: Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG Notre Dame – The Cleveland Browns have a
glaring hole at right guard, and they have nobody who is currently ready to
step in and play. It’s not going to matter who plays quarterback for the Browns
if they can’t protect their signal caller. This guy’s name is a mouth full, but
he will provide protection for the quarterback and help open holes for new
starting running back Ben Tate.
27. New
Orleans Saints: Kyle Fuller, CB Virginia Tech – The Saints need a CB who can
start across from Keenan Lewis, so they draft Fuller to give them two young
studs at the starting cornerback positions. Defense has never been the
strongest side of the ball for the Saints, but they knew they need some
playmakers in the secondary if they want to compete for and in the playoffs
every year.
28. Carolina
Panthers: Odell Beckham, WR LSU – The Panthers WR corps has turned into a joke.
They signed Jericho Cotchery, but his ten touchdown season with the Steelers
last year (a career high) is probably more of a fluke than a projection for
future production. However, he is a heck of a possession receiver and should
help. But outside of a guy who was a third receiver a year ago, they have
nothing. That’s why I have them taking Beckham, or whoever is best available at
this position. If they want to get the most out of Cam Newton, he needs
weapons.
29. New
England Patriots: Jace Amaro, TE Texas Tech – The Patriots like big tight ends
who can catch, and Amaro falls into exactly the mold they like. Gronk finished
the season on IR once again, and they don’t really have anyone behind the
oft-injured tight end. Enter Amaro, who will allow the Patriots to go back to
the two tight end sets they used before Aaron Hernandez went to jail. Amaro
will bring new wrinkles to the Patriots offense, making them that much harder
to defend. Teams can’t defend Gronk, and Amaro would prove to be a challenge
himself.
30. San
Francisco 49ers: Bradley Roby, CB Ohio State – The 49ers not only got some
surprisingly poor QB play towards the end of the NFC Championship Game, they
also allowed the Seahawks to make plays at will. I am not impressed at all by
their secondary, and while Roby had an up-and-down season at Ohio State, he’s a
first round talent who the 49ers could use immediately.
31. Denver
Broncos : David Yankey, OG Stanford – The Broncos could use some more beef up
front, not just to protect Peyton Manning but to help bust open holes for the
running attack so they can balance the offense. At 6’6” and 315 pounds, he’s a
guy who could help where there’s a need on offense.
32. Seattle
Seahawks: Kony Ealy, DE Missouri – Free agency hasn’t been good to the
defending Super Bowl Champs, and it normally never is. The Seahawks lost Chris
Clemmons, and they could lose Chris Avril after this season. Ealy can step
right in and rush the passer on the defensive line for this team that plays a
rough and mean defense, which is what won them the Super Bowl.
