2014 NFL Mock Draft
This mock draft has taken a while for me to write because the Houston Texans hold the first pick and it isn’t very clear where they are headed with that pick. There are four legitimate possibilities and they seem to refuse to tip their hand. Jadeveon Clowney, Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater are likely all still under consideration and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they trade the first pick. Free agency has certainly cleared up many possibilities throughout the first round as teams have filled areas of need with their new found cap space. A lot of major free agents have changed teams and changed projected picks in the draft. This mock draft is based on a few factors; what I think a team should do, what I think a team will do and what a team is projected to do. All of those factors come into play but to varying degrees with each pick. This mock draft is for entertainment purposes only and I will not be held to it in any way…that means I already know it’s probably wrong. Enjoy.
1. Houston Texans (2-14): Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville
I have no earthly idea what the Texans plan to do if they keep this pick so I’m giving them the guy I think they should pick. The over analysis of Bridgewater is astounding and I can’t figure out why this isn’t a no-brainer for them. This team is built to compete right now all they need is a competent QB. Bridgewater is the one QB that can step in and play immediately and make a difference. Bortles and Manziel are obviously talented prospects but both will need an adjustment period and a team that has Arian Foster and Andre Johnson as it too biggest weapons doesn’t have a lot of time to waste. Clowney is the top prospect on almost everyone’s board but I just see him as a bad fit in the Texans defense under Romeo Crennel. They have lost Antonio Smith and Earl Mitchell in free agency so it wouldn’t be a shock if they just take Clowney but they would have to make some adjustments to take advantage of his skills. There has been some talk of the Texans looking at OLB Khalil Mack as the top pick and he certainly fits their scheme but with Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus at OLB they have much bigger holes to fill.
Really bad idea: Johnny Manziel. Out of all five possible #1 picks (Clowney, Bridgewater, Bortles, Mack and Manziel) Johnny Football is the risk the Texans can’t take. Manziel is a boom-or-bust pick and the Texans are built to win quickly and a bust the size of Manziel would set the franchise back years.
2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington 3-13): Greg Robinson LT Auburn
The Rams just re-signed Roger Saffold after his Raiders deal was voided over a medical issue. He is best suited to play inside at guard and Jake Long is recovering from a knee injury and may not be ready at the beginning of the season which means the Rams still need help at OT. Jake Matthews would be my preference here but the Rams seem like they will take a chance on the potential of Robinson. Robinson is a fantastic prospect but he is still maturing and Matthews is a plug-and-play player at either LT or RT. Robinson can play and he will certainly be an upgrade at OT for the Rams but he will have some growing pains and for a team that is looking to make a move in the toughest division in football those growing pains could be costly. The Rams are in the perfect position to trade out of this spot and GM Les Snead has done that a lot the last few years. This pick is the last payment from the Redskins for the Robert Griffin deal a couple of years ago and if Snead can trade down, still get a starting OT and pick up even more help that is definitely the way to go. They don’t need Clowney because of the presence of Robert Quinn and Chris Long but that doesn’t mean he is completely out of the question.
Bad idea: Jadeveon Clowney. The Rams could go the route of the New York Giants and grab Clowney and team him with Quinn and Long and make an amazing pass rush on their defense but they have too many other pressing needs. If they decide they don’t want an OT then WR Sammy Watkins would be the best possible alternative.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12): Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina
The signings of DE Chris Clemons, DE Red Bryant and DT Ziggy Hood would seem to mean that the Jaguars don’t need Clowney but head coach Gus Bradley knows the value of a good defensive line. Clemons is 33 years old and Bryant isn’t really a pass rusher he is more of a base end and he can slide inside to DT when needed. The Jaguars re-signing of QB Chad Henne to a two year deal leads me to believe that they are planning on taking a QB later and giving that QB time to develop. They could grab Bortles or Manziel here and do that but taking a QB third overall puts a lot of pressure on the team to play them right away and just because they have Henne doesn’t mean they can’t let a rookie compete. Coach Bradley may be planning to do what the Seahawks did when they drafted Russell Wilson and allowed him to compete but they didn’t necessarily expect him to win the job. Wilson won because he was the best choice not because he was drafted early and the Seahawks are better because of that fact.
Bad idea: Reaching for a QB like they have done in the past. This team is at least a few years from competing and they need talent all over the field so passing on Clowney would be a mistake.
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Blake Bortles QB Central Florida
I went back and forth between Bortles and Manziel and I came to the conclusion that new GM Ray Farmer is looking at the long haul and not the flash in the pan. I said before that I wouldn’t blame the Browns for rolling the dice and reaching for greatness but Farmer doesn’t seem likely to take a chance with his first pick as GM. Bortles has all the talent you look for in a franchise QB and the Browns have been desperate for one since Bernie Kosar, that’s a long time. I’m not sure if the Browns ownership will have the patience to wait (they certainly haven’t shown it so far) but if they give Bortles a chance and give him some weapons they may finally find their solution at QB.
Bad idea: Firing your coach year after year is usually a bad idea but the Browns seem to do it anyway. Also drafting a QB and not giving him any skill position talent around him is a bad idea. The Browns have WR Josh Gordon and TE Jordan Cameron and they just signed free agent RB Ben Tate and that’s a pretty good start but they will need more help for whoever is playing QB.
5. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M
The latest rumors are that the Raiders are waiting for Matt Schaub and Mark Sanchez to be cut by their respective teams and then they will look at them along with Josh Freeman and Michael Vick at QB. Oh wait I’m supposed to cover the bad idea a little later. Manziel is a playmaker and the Raiders don’t have many (any?) of those on their roster. They tried out Terrell Pryor and Matt McGloin this last season and that helped their offense be quite abysmal. The Raiders probably need to take a shot just as much as the Browns do but I think they are far more likely to do so. Manziel will sell jerseys and he may even turn out to be a good QB but the Raiders are a long ways from being good and this is the kind of shot that could turn around a franchise…or it sets them back about five years, it’s a pick’em.
Bad ideas: Schaub, Sanchez, Freeman or Vick. Yep, four bad ideas.
6. Atlanta Falcons: Khalil Mack OLB Buffalo
The Falcons signed NT Paul Soliai and DE Tyson Jackson and signaled their intention to move to a 3-4 defense which means Mack has to be their preferred pick. They don’t have a pass rushing OLB on the roster and Mack is the best one in the draft. He is considered by many to be the best prospect in the draft and the one sure thing at the top of the draft. Mack’s skill set is exactly what the Falcons need to turn around their defense and while Jake Matthews would fill a huge need at LT Mack is the pick. The Falcons went into last season as a favorite in the NFC and completely fell apart but they are poised for a quick turnaround if they can fix a few key areas (o-line and d-line) and get healthy.
Bad idea: Letting Mack get away. The Falcons are trying to pull off a switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense and the Cowboys showed how difficult a change in scheme can be if you don’t have the proper personnel. Mack would fill one of the key components to the new defense and be an immediate difference maker.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Sammy Watkins WR Clemson
The Bucs went into the off season with a number of needs including DE, OL, TE, CB and QB and they went out and signed DE Michael Johnson, LT Anthony Collins, C Evan Dietrich-Smith, TE Brandon Myers, CB Alterraun Verner, and QB Josh McCown. That means they can take the best player available and it just so happens to be the best WR in the draft Sammy Watkins. Watkins is a star in the making and teaming him with Vincent Jackson at WR and adding a TE like Myers should give McCown (or Mike Glennon) some nice weapons in the passing game and open things up for RB Doug Martin. Lovie Smith has a chance to pull a Chiefs like turnaround with Buccaneers because they have plenty of talent on hand and now they have a legitimate coaching staff in the building.
Bad idea: Discounting the 10 years of evidence that Josh McCown isn’t anything more than an NFL back-up QB and handing him the starting job because he had about 5 good games last year. At the very least this should be a competition with Glennon. Mike Glennon wasn’t bad last year and putting what could be a big bounce back season in McCown’s hands could be costly. Don’t try to compare McCown to Alex Smith either because Smith played well for the 49ers for a few years before he was shipped to Kansas City.
8. Minnesota Vikings (5-10-1): Anthony Barr OLB UCLA
The Vikings obviously need a QB for the future but for now they are content with Matt Cassel who did a pretty solid job last year despite what some people think. Derek Carr is the next QB after Bridgewater, Bortles and Manziel but taking him at #8 would be just as bad as when they drafted Christian Ponder way too early. Barr is an exceptional athlete that is just scratching the surface of what he can do on defense after playing RB at UCLA until two years ago. The Vikings need a playmaker on defense after the loss of Jared Allen and while Barr isn’t a DE or a pure LB new head coach Mike Zimmer is a fantastic defensive mind and he will find ways to let Barr shine. It looked like the Vikings might be going for a CB here but they signed Captain Munnerlyn and Derek Cox so the need there isn’t as great. A pure DE would be nice here but there just isn’t the value at the position to take at #8.
Bad idea: Kony Ealy. Ealy is a nice defensive end but he would be a stretch almost as much as Carr.
9. Buffalo (6-10): Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M
The Bills invested a first round pick in QB EJ Manuel last year and now they need to get him the guy that can keep him on the field. Cordy Glenn has managed to be a nice LT since the Bills drafted him and they may leave him there but drafting Matthews and moving Glenn to RT would seriously upgrade two positions. Matthews could play RT and Glenn could remain on the left side but either way Matthews presents too much value to pass on here. WR Mike Evans and TE Eric Ebron would both be acceptable choices here because Manuel could use some more weapons but the Bills would be better served by better protection up front.
Bad idea: Overreacting to the loss of Jairus Byrd and grabbing a safety like Haha Clinton-Dix would be a stretch at this point.
10. Detroit Lions (7-9): Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma St.
The Lions had three major holes on their roster entering the off season at WR, CB and RT. Center Dominic Raiola is getting older but he can still do the job. The Lions have made one major move and it was a great one, they signed Seahawks free agent WR Golden Tate. Tate will be the first true threat to line-up opposite Calvin Johnson that opponents have to take seriously. This signing also means the Lions don’t have to draft a WR at #10 and they can concentrate on the other big need they have been ignoring for years, cornerback. Justin Gilbert and Darqueze Dennard are #1 and #1a depending on who you ask and I think the Lions will go with Gilbert. Gilbert is the smooth athletic type that can come in and match up with just about anyone from day one. He will take his lumps in a division that features Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Jordy Nelson, Randal Cobb, Greg Jennings and Corderrelle Patterson but he will compete.
Bad idea: Reaching for OT Taylor Lewan. Since his workout at the combine Lewan has been moving back up the draft boards and given the drop off after him at OT his value may sneak him into the top 10 but it shouldn’t. The Lions could take him and he would make a nice RT for them but there is better value at CB with either Gilbert or Dennard.
11. Tennessee (7-9): Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan St.
The Titans appear to be switching to a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Ray Horton and they would be wise to get an OLB for their new scheme but with Mack and Barr off the board the only legitimate prospect left would be Dee Ford and this would be a reach. They just lost CB Alterraun Verner in free agency and Darqueze Dennard would be a nice addition and he is certainly worth this pick. Dennard is an in-your-face physical corner that likes to jam WR’s at the line of scrimmage and his aggressiveness would seem to fit Horton’s scheme. The Titans signing of RT Michael Oher was a nice addition that allows them to bypass Taylor Lewan and focus on other areas of need. Another possibility here is WR Mike Evans as the Titans have let Kenny Britt go and could use a complement to Kendall Wright.
Bad idea: Reaching for Ford or Lewan when there is a highly ranked CB on the board.
12. New York Giants (7-9): Taylor Lewan OT Michigan
Originally I had the Giants taking LB CJ Mosley but after resigning Jon Beason and signing Jameel McClain from the Ravens it looks like the Giants are going to stick to their plan of playing terrible LB’s and never addressing the position in the draft. The only thing worse than their LB corps last season was their atrocious offensive line and while they have signed a couple of interior linemen they still need help at OT. Last year’s first round pick Justin Pugh played better at RT at the end of the year but the jury is still out on whether he should stick there. Lewan would give the Giants some flexibility and allow them to play the best players on the line. Lewan could be the LT or the RT and he might allow them to move Pugh inside and upgrade several positions. I think Eli Manning would like this pick very much.
Bad idea: Not drafting a LB in the first round since the Reagan Administration.
13. St. Louis Rams (7-9): Mike Evans WR Texas A&M
The Rams got their OT with the 2nd pick overall that they had from the RGIII trade with Washington and now they have to make a choice between taking a potential #1 WR or getting the safety they need. Evans is a legitimate #1 WR prospect and would make a very good outside receiver that would open things up for last year’s 1st round WR pick Tavon Austin. Evans formed a spectacular duo at Texas A&M with Johnny Manziel and his size makes him a match-up nightmare even in the NFL. If the Rams intend to give Sam Bradford one last shot at proving he’s a franchise QB it would behoove them to provide him with some serious help at WR. Austin didn’t set the world on fire during his rookie season but he was playing mostly with back-up QB’s and the other WR’s didn’t scare defenses at all. Passing on a safety like Haha Clinton-Dix will be tough but the Rams need offensive weapons.
Bad idea: Expecting Sam Bradford to show he’s a franchise QB with Tavon Austin as his top WR. Austin is a very talented guy but he does his best work out of the slot and someone has to take the top off of the defense for him to be effective. Evans brings serious deep threat ability to the offense.
14. Chicago Bears (8-8): CJ Mosley LB Alabama
The Bears defense sucked at all levels last year and they could use help everywhere. They have signed DE’s Lamarr Houston and Willie Young and they are bringing in safety help in the form of MD Jennings and Ryan Mundy. The two defensive linemen are upgrades but the safeties are just decent so it doesn’t preclude them from looking at Clinton-Dix or Calvin Pryor but it makes safety less of a priority. CJ Mosley was the heart and soul of Alabama’s defense and he could slot into the storied middle linebacker position for the Bears very easily. He could play outside if last year’s rookie Jon Bostic makes incredible progress but Mosley seems like a better bet to fill the legacy of guys like Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher. Mosley is smart, athletic and a true leader and those are things the Bears defense could really use.
Bad idea: As long as the Bears go defense I don’t think they can go wrong. Their best defensive players are getting older (Lance Briggs and recently re-signed Charles Tillman) and they have holes all over. After rebuilding their o-line last year and having Alshon Jeffery step up their offense should be good fixing the defense is the priority.
15. Pittsburgh (8-8): Hasean “Haha” Clinton-Dix S Alabama
The Steelers defense has been getting a makeover the past couple of years as we’ve seen NT Casey Hampton, LB’s James Harrison, Larry Foote and Lamarr Woodley and S Ryan Clark all move on. The Steelers signed Panthers free agent Mike Mitchell to replace Clark but much to the dismay of Steelers coaches and fans everywhere Troy Polamalu can’t play forever. Clinton-Dix is a different kind of safety and he wouldn’t be the intimidator at the line like Polamalu is but he brings good size and range and good cover skills and with the way the league is going that is the future of the safety position. Polamalu isn’t leaving just yet but having Clinton-Dix around to take some of the coverage pressure off of him might make him a more effective player at this stage in his career.
Bad idea: Much to the chagrin of everyone in the Steelers organization their recent draft picks at the offensive tackle position haven’t been great but reaching for the next best OT Zack Martin would be a mistake. There are a number of players besides Clinton-Dix that would be more appropriate if they don’t feel the need to take a safety like WR Marqise Lee, NT Louis Nix or CB Jason Verrett.
16. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh
The Cowboys are looking to replace virtually their entire defensive line as DeMarcus Ware was cut, Jason Hatcher left as a free agent and Anthony Spencer is not expected back. They transitioned last year to a 4-3 Tampa-2 style defense but it went poorly because they lacked the correct personnel. They have a chance to correct that this year and it starts with the human bowling ball Aaron Donald. He is too short and undersized according to many but all I see is the Cowboys own version of Warren Sapp when he was destroying offenses in Tampa Bay. Donald isn’t as big as Sapp but he is the same type of penetrating disruptive force in the middle that makes the Tampa-2 defense work. Donald should go higher but there isn’t an ideal place for him given his size and the Cowboys would be a perfect fit.
Bad idea: If Donald is still on the board it would be indefensible for the Cowboys to pass on him. If he’s not on the board they still need defensive line help so Tim Jernigan or Louis Nix are possible here. Keep an eye on S Calvin Pryor though because the Cowboys have needed a good safety since Darren Woodson retired, I think that was about a decade ago.
17. Baltimore (8-8): Zack Martin OT Notre Dame
The one team that changed its draft priorities with a free agent signing the most is the Baltimore Ravens with free agent Steve Smith. Everyone had the Ravens taking a WR in the first round and rightfully so given they had not adequately replaced Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith needed someone to take the pressure off of him. The recently released Panther legend quickly signed with Baltimore and even though he is 35 he still has plenty to contribute. The Ravens would be wise to draft a WR in this draft but the Smith signing and the depth of the position mean the Ravens can focus on their other pressing offensive issue, right tackle. Martin is the fourth ranked tackle and while some think he may have to move to guard he showed well at the Senior Bowl and his workouts have been good. Martin started a lot of games a LT at Notre Dame and playing the right side will be a transition but the Ravens have a pretty solid offensive line when healthy and lining up next to Pro Bowl RG Marshall Yanda will help make the transition easier.
Bad idea: GM Ozzie Newsome rarely has a bad idea during the draft and it’s one of the reasons the Ravens have rarely been bad during their existence. Not replacing Boldin last year was certainly an oversight but Steve Smith is a great pick-up and stabilizing the offensive line in front of their $100 million QB would be a wise choice.
18. New York Jets (8-8): Eric Ebron TE North Carolina
The Jets were another team that looked destined to take a WR with their first round pick right up until they signed free agent WR Eric Decker. It’s not clear that Decker is a #1 WR but he is an upgrade and while the Jets WR corps still could use some help Decker takes the pressure off and allows the Jets to grab the best TE in this draft. Ebron has top 10 pick potential and if he’s available at #18 for the Jets he would be hard to pass up. Ebron would give the team a huge upgrade at the position and give QB Geno Smith and very nice security blanket and weapon in the middle of the field. I’ve had Marqise Lee set for this spot for a while but Ebron is too much value here and the depth at WR means the Jets can still get a good one in round two.
Bad idea: Not fixing the offense would be a bad idea. They need a TE, another WR and offensive line help if they want to give Geno Smith a chance to succeed. Signing Michael Vick would also be a bad idea because it would muddy the waters around Smith, shake his confidence and it’s not a long term solution.
19. Miami Dolphins (8-8): Xavier Sua-Filo OL UCLA
The Jonathan Martin-Richie Incognito debacle has been talked about ad nauseam and with the trade of Martin to San Francisco, the release of Incognito and the signing of LT Branden Albert it is time for the Dolphins to move on. The Albert signing takes care of the immediate need at LT but this line still needs help inside and possibly at RT. This makes Sua-Filo the perfect choice because while he could be a Pro Bowl player inside at guard he could also be a future RT if need be. Sua-Filo is a beast and while he doesn’t get a lot of publicity (offensive guards rarely do) I’m certain the Dolphins would be perfectly happy if no one ever talks about their offensive line ever again.
Bad idea: Trying to build their team through free agency hasn’t turned out well for the Dolphins as they are stuck in no man’s land between making the playoffs and being bad enough to get a top draft pick. It finally cost GM Jeff Ireland his job and if they don’t start getting things turned around coach Joe Philbin will be following him out the door soon. Good teams build through the draft.
20. Arizona Cardinals (10-6): Dee Ford OLB Auburn
The Cardinals came into the off season with a gigantic hole at LT and they haven’t been adequate there in a long time. They filled that hole with a very good free agent Jared Veldheer and while they still could use help on the offensive line it isn’t where the value is at this point in the draft. John Abraham found the fountain of youth last season in Arizona but he’s 36 and time is going to run out sooner rather than later and the Cardinals need to find a pass rusher. Dee Ford was a DE at Auburn and he was a terror off the edge but he is woefully undersized to play DE in the NFL and he embraced the fact that he would have to move to OLB. His natural pass rush skills are obvious and the Cardinals defense would be a perfect place for him to ply his trade.
Bad idea: Not getting a young pass rusher. Perhaps John Abraham can squeeze another year out of his body but the Cardinals will need a replacement and passing on Ford if he’s available would be the wrong move.
21. Green Bay Packers (8-7-1): Calvin Pryor S Louisville
The Packers have a number of places they could go but the value at center, where they just lost Evan Deitrich-Smith, and at TE, where Jermichael Finley is unlikely to return, isn’t as great as it is at safety. Pryor is clearly the second best safety in the draft after Clinton-Dix and is well ahead of #3 and the Packers could use a good deep middle guy on the back of their defense. The Packers do have other needs on defense but they can afford to go with the best available player and that is easily Pryor at this point. Pryor can both cover the deep middle and come up and support the run and the Packers could use both of those assets in their secondary. The re-signing of DL BJ Raji and the signing of DE Julius Peppers makes the defensive line less of a priority, another team that has helped define their draft needs through free agency.
Bad idea: Reaching for a center here like Travis Swanson from Arkansas would be placing need far above value and that just isn’t GM Ted Thompson’s way.
22. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6): Louis Nix NT Notre Dame
The Eagles defense was terrible last season especially in the secondary and while most mock drafts to this point have had them taking a corner or safety once again free agency has changed the outlook. S Malcolm Jenkins and CB Nolan Carroll have been signed to bolster the secondary leaving the Eagles to address deficiencies elsewhere on defense. The team changed last year into a 3-4 alignment but they never really had a legitimate NT to line up over center and set the tone of their defense. Louis Nix is a versatile interior defensive lineman but his best work is done playing over the center and even though he dealt with injuries last season at Notre Dame he is an excellent prospect. Nix would change a weakness on the Eagles line into a strength pretty quickly and his presence would especially help the inside linebackers by keeping the offensive linemen off of them.
Bad idea: Drafting anything other than defense would be a mistake. The Eagles offense is a strength and they could justify drafting at virtually any position on defense.
23. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5): Marqise Lee WR USC
I tried for an hour to find a way to give the Chiefs an offensive lineman after they lost three starters in the first few days of free agency and Andy Reid almost always goes for linemen (either offensive or defensive) in the first round. The problem is that no linemen available come anywhere close to the value of Lee who has #1 WR potential. Dwayne Bowe has been good but his relationship with Reid and the organization has been strained in the past and even if he is completely happy the Chiefs still need another weapon. They also lost RB/WR Dexter McCluster to the Titans and Reid must see that his offense needs weapons. Lee is only available here because teams like the Ravens and Jets were able to address their WR needs in free agency but his loss is the Chiefs gain. Lee fought through injuries last year but he can be a dynamic playmaker and he is such a good route runner he will be ready to contribute on day one.
Bad idea: Reid has a penchant for drafting linemen in round one and his team has some holes to fill there but passing on talent like Lee to draft someone like Cyrus Kouandjio or David Yankey would be regrettable.
24. Cincinnati Bengals (11-5): Ryan Shazier LB Ohio St.
The Bengals just released starting LB James Harrison and it was mostly because he had lost his range and couldn’t cover anyone anymore. That won’t be a problem with Shazier as his athleticism is his greatest asset. Speed, range and coverage are Shazier’s game and he should fit nicely alongside Rey Maualuga and Vontaze Burfict in the Bengals LB corps. He is one of the fastest linebackers in the draft in many years and while he is a little light that shouldn’t be a problem playing beside Maualuga and behind DT’s Geno Atkins and Domata Peko.
Bad idea: The Bengals have needs at DE, LB, CB and S which means as long as they go defense they should be alright. They are content to give Andy Dalton more time so the only way they go wrong here is if they draft an offensive player when there is so much value at defense. DE Kony Ealy would also be a solid choice here as a replacement for the departed Michael Johnson.
25. San Diego Chargers (9-7): Jason Verrett CB TCU
The Chargers have plenty of holes to fill including NT, OLB, S and even WR but it was their secondary that was far below average last season and they need talent at CB to help improve it. Verrett isn’t a big corner like most teams are looking for nowadays but he is tough and plays more physically than you would think. He can cover and he’s tough and those are two things the Chargers secondary could use. Even if the Chargers are comfortable with the veteran starters they have Verrett could come in as the slot corner as a rookie and eventually take over outside.
Bad idea: QB, RT and ILB are about the only places the Chargers don’t need to address so everything else is still on the table, tough to go wrong when you need talent and depth throughout the roster.
26. Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis 11-5): Odell Beckham Jr. WR LSU
This is the first round pick the Browns got from the Colts for trading them RB Trent Richardson and it’s hard to imagine the Browns won’t do better than Richardson with this pick. They just picked up RB Ben Tate in free agency to solve their RB problem and that’s a good thing because it would have been tragic if they had possibly wasted this pick on a tailback. Instead they can get new QB Blake Bortles another weapon to pair with WR Josh Gordon and Odell Beckham would make a great complement. Beckham can line-up out wide or he can play in the slot and he would give the new Browns offense (when is it not new?) some nice versatility.
Bad idea: I never believed that the new GM Ray Farmer would take a RB here but given how bad they were in the backfield last season it was a possibility. When RB Ka’Deem Carey ran a slower than expected 40 at the combine it really seemed to end the possibility that a RB would go in the first round. With the Tate signing grabbing another WR seems like the best move.
27. New Orleans Saints (11-5): Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech
The Saints created a lot of holes in their defense with their roster purge of a number of veterans but they have in-house candidate to fill some of those spots. They also make arguably the most surprising splash in free agency by bringing in S Jairus Byrd after coming out of nowhere to sign him. The Saints have a set of starting CB’s in Keenan Lewis and Patrick Robinson but as anyone will tell you two is not enough in the current NFL. Kyle Fuller had a better junior season at Virginia Tech two years ago compared to his injury filled senior season but that talented player from two years ago is still in there somewhere. Fuller has NFL starting ability and this may be the best scenario for him, come in and not be expected to be the top CB but get some playing time and then take over later.
Bad idea: The Saints need an OLB for their 3-4 defense but there isn’t a lot of value here at that position. They could try to make a move and get up to get Dee Ford which wouldn’t be a bad idea but the only other pass rusher at this point with value is Kony Ealy and he is more of a 4-3 end.
28. Carolina Panthers (12-4): Cyrus Kouandjio LT Alabama
The retirement of LT Jordan Gross and the release of WR Steve Smith have created two huge craters in the Panthers offense and they have to address one of them here. Cyrus Kouandjio has some medical issues with his knee come up at the combine and his performance there didn’t help him either. It has been reported that Kouandjio has been given a clean bill of health by the renowned Dr. James Andrews and that should put him back on the first round radar of many teams. The Panthers can’t afford not to take a chance because they needed a RT before Gross retired and now that has to take a back seat to finding a blindside protector for franchise QB Cam Newton. Kouandjio has talent but he will have some growing pains and Newton will have to use his mobility to help out his new LT but the drop off after Kouandjio is pretty big so taking the chance here is worth it.
Bad idea: As bad as the Panthers look at WR after Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell, Ted Ginn and Dominik Hixon all moved on in free agency there are still free agent WR worth signing and this draft is very deep there too. The LT free agency well is pretty dried up and there is no sure-fire LT on the draft board after Kouandjio.
29. New England Patriots (12-4): RaShede Hageman DT Minnesota
Vince Wilfork is coming off an Achilles injury and Isaac Sopoaga has been cut and the rest of the DT rotation is less than stellar. With re-signing of WR Julian Edelman and the signing of WR Brandon LaFell the DT position has priority. Hageman is a mountain of a man at 6’6 310 lbs. and can start immediately which is what the Patriots need. Hageman has great versatility which is something Bill Belichick will love because he likes to play multiple defensive fronts. There are other solid DT choices still on the board like Tim Jernigan and Dominique Easley but Hageman looks like the best fit for what the Patriots like to do.
Bad idea: The Patriots have a pretty obvious need and it’s a position that offers very good value at this point in the draft. Hageman, Tim Jernigan and Dominique Easley would all be good choices. Drafting TE Jace Amaro would make sense but the Patriots could get similar value in round 2 so taking the best DT, a more important position to fill, would be a better idea.
30. San Francisco 49ers (12-4): Brandin Cooks WR Oregon St.
The 49ers have a pretty impressive roster without a lot of holes to fill and that comes from years of good drafting. CB is probably the biggest need on the team after losing Tarell Brown in free agency and cutting Carlos Rogers but that is more about depth. The 49ers should have Michael Crabtree back at 100% this season and they resigned Anquan Boldin but they could still use another playmaker and Cooks would be a great fit. He can play on the outside or in the slot and he’s got deep speed that isn’t really Crabtree or Boldin’s strength. Cooks put up video game like numbers at Oregon St. and adding him to the passing game of Crabtree, Boldin and TE Vernon Davis might just elevate the 49ers offense to the same level as their defense.
Bad idea: Being gun shy because of the colossal bust that was AJ Jenkins. Jenkins was far more of a project than Cooks is and it’s just not a fair comparison.
31. Denver Broncos (13-3): Bradley Roby CB Ohio St.
The Broncos are in the midst of a complete overhaul of their secondary as it looks like free agents Dominique Roger-Cromartie and Chris Harris won’t be back and Champ Bailey was already cut. CB Aqib Talib has already been signed as well as S TJ Ward so they might as well continue the turnover and grab Bradley Roby from Ohio St. I am admittedly not the biggest Roby fan but at the end of the 1st round he is a much easier choice to swallow than towards the middle of round. Roby is a supreme athlete and lining up opposite Talib means he won’t have to face the opponents best WR which should help. He will gamble a bit too much and while having Talib covering the opponent’s top WR is nice it also mean Roby will be targeted a lot more. Roby is a talent and maybe on a team with veterans like Manning, Welker, Terrence Knighton and Von Miller he will learn what it is like to be a professional and learn his trade.
Bad idea: John Elway is not stupid and he knows that his window of opportunity to win the Super Bowl closes more every year because Manning isn’t getting any younger. Counting on the very veteran defensive backfield last year came back to haunt them and Elway is trying to fix it. He also realized he didn’t have enough playmakers on defense which is why he signed DeMarcus Ware. The signing of WR Emmanuel Sanders from Pittsburgh should make up for the loss of Eric Decker so fixing the defense is top priority.
32. Seattle Seahawks (13-3): Kony Ealy DE Missouri
A team that just won the Super Bowl and re-signed its most important free agent DE Michael Bennett seems like a strange choice to take a DE in the first round of the draft but that isn’t the whole story. Seattle won the Super Bowl largely on the strength of its defense and their defensive line has taken some hits after cutting some players to free up money to bring back the likes of Michael Bennett. DE’s Red Bryant and Chris Clemons were jettisoned because their salaries outweighed their production and valuable back-up DT Clinton McDonald cashed in on his free agency. The Seahawks know they need to restock the defensive line and luckily for them Kony Ealy is a very good prospect who just so happens to fit their defense. Ealy has some versatility to his game and he reminds me a little of Justin Tuck. He could be a very nice complement to Michael Bennett and he is phenomenal value with the last pick of the first round.
Bad idea: The Seahawks have proven over the last several years that they don’t make a lot of bad decisions in the draft and given the sheer talent available in this particular draft it seems unlikely they will this year. The depth at WR means they could find a nice replacement for Golden Tate and Sidney Rice if they choose and Ealy isn’t the only defensive lineman worth taking here as guys like Tim Jernigan, Dominique Easley, Stephon Tuitt and Scott Crichton are viable options also.
As always this mock draft isn’t just subject to change it is an absolute certainty that it will change. The fact that there is just under two months before we get to the draft and that the Houston Texans could change their minds eight or nine times before that means at this point no one knows anything. The NFL Draft is my favorite sporting event and doing mock drafts is my favorite thing to do and that’s why I just wrote a 7200 word mock draft that is certain to be obsolete minutes after I publish it. Thanks for reading along and if you read through the whole thing that’s awesome, feel free to comment about your favorite team and what you think they should do.
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