Baltimore Ravens

17. CJ Mosley  ILB  Alabama

48. Timmy Jernigan  DT  Florida St.

79. Terrence Brooks  FS  Florida St.

99. Crockett Gillmore  TE  Colorado St.

134. Brent Urban  DT  Virginia

138. Lorenzo Taliaferro  RB  Coastal Carolina

175. John Urschel  OG  Penn St.

194. Keith Wenning  QB  Ball St.

218. Michael Campanaro  WR  Wake Forest

Immediate Impact:  ILB CJ Mosley, DT Timmy Jernigan, FS Terrence Brooks

It’s hard not to see these three players stepping in as starters at their respective positions and once again Ozzie Newsome proves he’s better at this draft thing than most GMs.  Mosley should slide in ahead of veteran Josh Bynes and 2^nd year man Arthur Brown next to Daryl Smith at ILB.  Mosley is tailor-made for the Raven defense and he will excel.  Jernigan isn’t a natural fit as five-technique DE but he’s more talented than Brandon Williams and Chris Canty is aging so he should win a job outside of NT Haloti Ngata.  FS Terrence Brooks is a great fit because he allows Matt Elam to move to his more natural position of SS and Brooks is an experienced player coming from a major program his transition should be quick.

Best Value:  Mosley, Jernigan and Brooks

I told you Newsome was better at this than pretty much everyone.  Mosley was the top ILB and he got him at #17.  Jernigan has 1^st round talent but dropped due to some character concerns but Newsome knows his locker room and organization can handle him.  Brooks is just a great get in the third round at a need position and Newsome stole him.

Sleeper:  WR Michael Campanaro

I haven’t scouted Campanaro but I remember watching one Wake Forest either this last year or the year before and I remember he was all the Demon Deacons had on offense.  Wake Forest hasn’t been very good and Campanaro has had some injury issues but if he’s healthy he could be a find at #218 in the draft.

Overall Analysis:

Three immediate starters out of a draft is pretty hard to beat and Newsome added developmental players like G John Urschel, QB Keith Wenning and WR Campanaro.  Wenning could easily win the third QB spot behind Joe Flacco and Tyrod Taylor and eventually replace Taylor as Flacco’s backup.  Urschel is a brilliant guy (seriously he already has a Master’s degree in Math and is working on a second one) and he could develop at guard.  The one big miss here is at RT where Newsome failed to get any offensive line help other than Urschel.  This leaves Ricky Wagner as the man to beat and that could prove to be a problem.  Wagner is a nice player to have as a backup swing tackle but as a full-time starter he is a liability.  Perhaps if Urschel can prove to be a worthy starter at OG they could move Kelechi Osemele outside to RT but I think that weakens two positions.  They should look to sign a free agent RT for a year I’m thinking Eric Winston would be nice stop-gap.

Cincinnati Bengals

24. Darqueze Dennard  CB  Michigan St.

55. Jeremy Hill  RB  LSU

88. William Clarke  DE  West Virginia

111. Russell Bodine  C  North Carolina

164. AJ McCarron  QB  Alabama

212. Marquis Flowers  OLB  Arizona

239. James Wright  WR  LSU

252. Lavelle Westbrooks  CB  Georgia Southern

Immediate Impact:  CB Darqueze Dennard, RB Jeremy Hill

Dennard becomes the starter opposite Leon Hall on day one because he’s a major upgrade from the aging Terrence Newman.  Hill gives the Bengals the option of dropping BenJarvus Green-Ellis completely and going with a backfield of Giovani Bernard and Hill.

Best Value: CB Darqueze Dennard

Beauty was in the eye of the beholder when it came to CB’s in this draft but Dennard was definitely one of the top ones and getting him 24^th overall was a steal.  He adds youth and physicality to a secondary that needed both.

Sleeper:  C Russell Bodine

C Trevor Robinson is penciled in as the new starter after the release of Kyle Cook but Bodine will give him a run for his money.  Bodine was the strongest guy at the combine doing 42 reps on the bench press and has two years of starting experience in college.  Robinson has the inside track but if he doesn’t perform he will lose the job.

Overall Analysis:

Dennard is a starter, Hill is the new thunder to Bernard’s lightning and Bodine is a player that at the very least adds depth at center which was needed.  DE Will Clarke fits the Bengals profile at DE given that he’s 6’6 and that will allow him to work into the rotation and maybe take some playing time if last year’s rookie Margus Hunt isn’t up to the task.  QB AJ McCarron was a value pick in the 5^th round, although I thought that was about right for him.  He slots in as the third QB behind starter Andy Dalton and new backup Jason Campbell my only issue with him is that if the Bengals really are dissatisfied with Dalton why draft his carbon copy?  Perhaps McCarron’s championship pedigree leads them to think he could have more success in the playoffs than Dalton since that is Dalton’s one big issue.  I’m not a McCarron believer so I think if the Bengals really want to do better at the QB position they will have to try again next year.  The other three draft picks are unlikely to make the roster although OLB Marquise Flowers does play a position of need.

Cleveland Browns 

8. Justin Gilbert  CB  Oklahoma St.

22. Johnny Manziel  QB  Texas A&M

35. Joel Bitonio  OL  Nevada

71. Christian Kirksey  LB  Iowa

94. Terrance West  RB  Towson

127. Pierre Desir  CB  Lindenwood

Immediate Impact:  CB Justin Gilbert, QB Johnny Manziel, OL Joel Bitonio

Gilbert takes over the starting CB spot opposite Joe Haden and kicks Buster Skrine inside to cover the slot where he belongs.  Manziel has a bigger impact on the franchise as a whole and he will eventually replace Brian Hoyer and it may be sooner rather than later.  Bitonio has versatility and while he may be penciled in at OG to start he could beat out RT Mitchell Schwartz moving Schwartz inside instead.

Best Value:  QB Johnny Manziel

Getting Manziel at #22 may seem like a bad omen given former #22 picks for the Browns Brady Quinn and Branden Weeden.  However, Manziel is a value pick there because he’s a legitimate starting QB candidate and he’s the new face of the franchise.  Manziel’s presence helped the Browns sell tickets like crazy and created buzz like they haven’t had in years.

Sleepers:  LB Christian Kirksey, RB Terrence West

It surprised me that Kirksey went in the third round only because he wasn’t being talked about much leading up to the draft.  While he spent his career at Iowa playing outside linebacker he will move to ILB in the Browns 3-4 defense and he will be a great fit.  Kirksey can cover better than most linebackers and he’s a great tackler.  He can blitz when needed and he covers a lot of ground with his speed.  Craig Robertson is penciled in as the starter next to Karlos Dansby but don’t bet on him remaining there, Kirksey can take that job.  RB Terrence West was a record setting RB at Towson and he is a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense and the new zone blocking scheme.  Ben Tate is the new starter but he has a history of missing time and West could take advantage of those opportunities.

Overall Analysis:

The Browns only drafted six players but they made them count.  Even seventh rounder Pierre Desir brings a lot of potential and he might beat out Leon McFadden as the fourth corner behind Haden, Gilbert and Skrine.  This draft will ultimately be judged by Johnny Manziel’s success or failure but I’m glad the Browns only gambled with the 22^nd pick and not their original 4^th overall selection.  As a matter of fact the trade they made with the Bills to move back from #4 netted them an extra 1^st rounder next year.  They didn’t address the WR position even with Josh Gordon’s impending suspension and that may mean taking on an injury risk veteran like Santonio Holmes or Miles Austin.  Regardless this draft was done extremely well and even if Manziel bombs out grabbing starters like Gilbert and Bitonio and potential starters like Kirksey and West should pay dividends down the road.  Out of all of the smaller draft classes this is my favorite and I don’t think the Browns missed on any of their picks.

Pittsburgh Steelers

15. Ryan Shazier  LB  Ohio St.

46. Stephon Tuitt  DE  Notre Dame

97. Dri Archer  RB  Kent St.

118. Martavis Bryant  WR  Clemson

157. Shaquille Richardson  CB  Arizona

173. Wesley Johnson  OL  Vanderbilt

192. Jordan Zumwalt  OLB  UCLA

215. Daniel McCullers  DT  Tennessee

230. Rob Blanchflower  TE  UMass

Immediate Impact:  LB Ryan Shazier, DE Stephon Tuitt

Shazier becomes a starter at ILB next to Lawrence Timmons and he brings youth and blazing speed to the Steelers defense.  Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will find ways to use Shazier’s skills both in coverage and as a blitzer making Pittsburgh’s pass rush that much more effective.  Stephon Tuitt is the quintessential five-technique DE and the Steelers needed a new starter there.  Many believed Tuitt’s skills could fit as a DT in a 4-3 but he is a much more natural fit at DE on a three man line.

Best Value:  NT Daniel McCullers

Let’s just say pound-for-pound the Steelers are getting their money’s worth out of this 6^th round pick.  McCullers is almost 6’7 and 355 lbs. on a good day.  He is a run stuffing NT in every sense and he could not have ended up on a better team.  The Steelers only ask their NT’s to hold the point of attack, occupy blockers and keep them off of their linebackers.  The slightly undersized and speedy Ryan Shazier is going to love having McCullers in front of him because it will keep guards and centers busy and unable to get to him.

Sleepers:  RB Dri Archer, WR Martavis Bryant, OLB Jordan Zumwalt

Archer is a small speedy back with excellent hands and he will be a great complement to LeVeon Bell out of the backfield.  Martavis Bryant was overshadowed at Clemson by Sammy Watkins but now his 6’4 frame can cast a shadow over the smaller WR’s like Antonio Brown, Lance Moore and Markus Wheaton.  Bryant isn’t going to out play those guys but he’ll bring the size Ben Roethlisberger has been asking for ever since Plaxico Burress first left.  Zumwalt was overshadowed also while at UCLA by more heralded teammates Anthony Barr and Myles Jack but he could be a fantastic fit as a pass rushing OLB for the Steelers and gives them some depth.

Overall Analysis:

As always the players the Steelers drafted were good ones and they will give them some new young players at key spots (LB, DL, and WR). Shazier, Tuitt, Archer, Bryant, McCullers and Zumwalt should all contribute this year.  The issue with this draft was virtually ignoring the secondary and the offensive line.  CB Shaquille Richardson isn’t an upgrade on the aging Ike Taylor and while OL Wesley Johnson brings a lot of versatility they needed more help on the offensive line than one man can provide.  Many consider Dri Archer a reach in round 3 and he may have been but he has electrifying speed and great hands which is something missing from the Steelers backfield.

 

Buffalo Bills

4. Sammy Watkins  WR  Clemson

44. Cyrus Kouandjio  OT  Alabama

73. Preston Brown  ILB  Louisville

109. Ross Cockrell  CB  Duke

153. Cyril Richardson  OG  Baylor

221. Randell Johnson  OLB  Florida Atlantic

237. Seantrel Henderson  OT  Miami

Immediate Impact:  WR Sammy Watkins, OT Cyrus Kouandjio

The Bills traded next year’s 1^st  and 4^th round picks to move up to get Watkins and then traded top WR Stevie Johnson so Watkins is going to step in as the lead WR immediately.  Watkins is a game breaker and he’ll be QB EJ Manuel’s top target.   Kouandjio had some health issues and his play was inconsistent last year but he will step in at RT in place of Eric Pears and start.  If he holds up he is a serious talent upgrade over Pears.

Best Value:  OG Cyril Richardson

Richardson fell in the draft due to some poor workouts and his weight is a concern but he’s a powerful experienced blocker.  The Bills signed free agent Chris Williams to play LG and while he is solid he’s never been spectacular and I won’t be shocked to see Richardson steal that job.

Sleeper: ILB Preston Brown

Brown is not a household name but he’s talented and the Bills are looking for a way to move Kiko Alonso outside.  They signed Brandon Spikes in free agency but Brown gives them another option inside.

Overall Analysis: 

Watkins was the top skill position talent in the draft and the Bills made a bold move up to get him.  Watkins will lead a solid WR corps along with Robert Woods, Mike Williams and Marquise Goodwin giving EJ Manuel some very good weapons.  Cyrus Kouandjio needs some work but he upgrades the RT spot which was a must.  Brown and Cockrell add depth to what was a pretty good defense last season.  The Bills took a chance on 7^th rounder OT Seantrel Henderson a supremely talented lineman with serious off-the-field baggage.  Henderson has never lived up to his talent and he tested positive for marijuana at the combine.  His father has been known to be an issue since his high school days (he’s a little overly involved in his son’s life) and his work ethic is more than a little suspect.  I really didn’t think Henderson should get drafted but the Bills are rolling the dice.  The additions of Kouandjio and Richardson could really help the offensive line and if the Bills could get Henderson’s head on straight they could have a steal (I don’t believe that will happen, he is a lifetime ban waiting to happen).

Miami Dolphins

19. Ja’Wuan James  OT  Tennessee

63 Jarvis Landry  WR  LSU

67. Billy Turner  OL  North Dakota St.

125. Walt Aikens  CB  Liberty

155. Arthur Lynch  TE  Georgia

171. Jordie Tripp  OLB  Montana

190. Matt Hazel  WR  Coastal Carolina

234. Terrence Fede  DE  Marist

Immediate Impact:  OT Ja’Wuan James, WR Jarvis Landry

James is an immediate starter at RT which is why the Dolphins reached for him at #19.  James isn’t an elite tackle but he is a huge upgrade over Jason Fox who was penciled into the spot before the draft.  Landry is a savvy receiver that doesn’t have elite speed but he has excellent hands.  This is a good place for Landry because he can be the third WR and play in the slot which will utilize his skills.  QB Ryan Tannehill will be very happy to have both of these guys.

Best Value:  OL Billy Turner

The small school prospect from North Dakota St. proved he could play with the big boys at the Senior Bowl and even though he’s played tackle he can move inside to RG and play next to Ja’Wuan James.  The Dolphins needed offensive line help and getting a starter at #67 is great value.

Sleeper:  TE Arthur Lynch

Lynch is not an elite prospect but the Dolphins depth chart at TE isn’t stellar by any means.  Charles Clay is the starter and he proved to be fine last year but Lynch could make the team as a backup and he’s a willing blocker which they need.

Overall Analysis:

I’m usually against reaching for a need but once Zack Martin went off the board three picks before their choice the Dolphins had to take the next tackle on their board.  James isn’t making the Pro Bowl anytime soon but he’s solid and experienced and that’s more than they had.  Adding Turner to the line at RG helps even more and while having two rookies line up next to each other usually isn’t good just look at the Chicago Bears last year with two rookies on the right side of their line, that worked out.  Landry adds a steady player in the WR corps while Matt Hazel adds big time potential.  Walt Aikens could surprise in the secondary because the depth chart behind starters Brent Grimes and Courtland Finnegan isn’t set in stone.

New England Patriots

29. Dominique Easley  DT  Florida

62. Jimmy Garoppolo  QB  Eastern Illinois

105. Bryan Stork  C  Florida St.

130. James White  RB  Wisconsin

140. Cameron Fleming  OT  Stanford

179. Jon Halapio  OG  Florida

198. Zach Moore  DE  Concordia-St. Paul

206. Jemea Thomas  S  Georgia Tech

244. Jeremy Gallon  WR  Michigan

Immediate Impact:  DT Dominique Easley

Easley is coming off a knee injury and he’s had multiple knee injuries so he’s a pretty big risk but when healthy he’s a disruptive interior force.  If the Patriots have Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly back healthy Easley will be a great rotational player and a nice change of pace with his penetrating style.

Best Value:  No one

The Patriots didn’t get anyone far beyond where they were slated to go but they got more than one sleeper.

Sleepers:  C Bryan Stork, OT Cameron Fleming, RB James White

Stork was the starting center on the National Championship Florida St. Seminoles and the Patriots are looking to replace Ryan Wendell.  Stork is a technically sound player with strength and loads of experience.  If he beats out Wendell as the starter I won’t be the least bit shocked.  Fleming will be a nice swing tackle behind LT Nate Solder and RT Sabastian Vollmer and given Vollmer’s injury history that’s a need.  RB James White was overshadowed most of his career at Wisconsin by either Montee Ball or Melvin Gordon but he could be a steal because he’s a very talented back.

Overall Analysis:

The Patriots didn’t really “reach” for anyone but they didn’t grab anyone well after their value.  Easley was moved down some teams’ boards due to his injury history but he has 1^st round talent and DT is the Patriots sore spot.  QB Jimmy Garoppolo went late 2^nd round which is where he should have been rated.  The Patriots got a guy that has talent but needs time and they could trade backup QB Ryan Mallett or they could keep him this season and then just let him walk next year as a free agent knowing they have Garoppolo.  Garoppolo gives them someone to groom either to take over for Brady someday or to trade down the road.  C Bryan Stork, OT Cameron Fleming and OG Jon Halapio bring some much needed depth to the offensive line and RB James White and WR Jeremy Gallon could add depth at the skill positions.  DE Zach Moore and S Jemea Thomas may not stick but Thomas does play a position of need so that could help him.  The biggest issue with this draft was the lack of a TE’s and WR’s.  Given Gronkowski’s injury history and that other loss they had of a TE you may have heard of it was strange they didn’t try to get one.  They should have passed on Garoppolo and grabbed CJ Fiedorowicz given the fact that there was still good value at QB into the fifth round, Fiedorowicz was the last good TE and he went 1^st in the third round.   I’m not sure Gallon is the deep threat WR the Patriots need and given the depth of the position they should have found someone better.

New York Jets

18. Calvin Pryor  S  Louisville

49. Jace  Amaro  TE  Texas Tech

80. Dex McDougle  CB  Maryland

104. Jalen Saunders  WR  Oklahoma

115. Shaq Evans  WR  UCLA

137. Dakota Dozier  OG  Furman

154. Jeremiah George  ILB  Iowa St.

195. Brandon Dixon  CB  Northwest Missouri St.

209. Quincy Enunwa  WR  Nebraska

210. IK Enemkpali  DE  Louisiana Tech

213. Tajh Boyd  QB  Clemson

233. Trevor Reilly  OLB  Utah

Immediate Impact:  S Calvin Pryor, TE Jace Amaro

Pryor becomes the immediate starter at SS and will pair with Dawan Landry to improve the backend of the Jets defense.  He brings a big hitting style and intimidating presence the Jets were lacking over the middle last year.  Amaro may not beat out Jeff Cumberland as the starting TE but that’s only because Amaro isn’t the blocker Cumberland is in the running game.  Amaro’s impact will come in the passing game though because he excels there.  Whether it’s Geno Smith, Michael Vick, Matt Simms or Tajh Boyd at QB (nothing would shock me at this point) Amaro will be the QB’s best friend.

Best Value: OG Dakota Dozier

The fourth round lineman out of Furman, Dakota Dozier, could also be classified as a sleeper but I’m saying value here because he could step in and take the LG spot from Brian Winters and upgrade the interior of the line.  If nothing else he gives them nice depth and some competition at guard they didn’t have before.

Sleepers:  WR Jalen Saunders, OLB Trevor Reilly

Saunders is a small, fast WR with a lot of talent and the Jets could use a lot of help at the position.  Eric Decker is the bigger receiver type so Saunders should be a nice complement and he will excel in the slot.  Reilly is an older prospect (he’s 26 because he took a 2 year Mormon mission) and he’s a perfect fit at OLB for Rex Ryan.  Calvin Pace isn’t getting any younger and Reilly is a very good pass rusher that Ryan can develop.

Overall Analysis:

The Jets helped their secondary with the Pryor pick but Dex McDougle was a reach and there were better prospects still on the board (Bashaud Breeland, Keith McGill, Jaylen Watkins).  McDougle and Dixon are not the type of corners that will solve the Jets problems quickly if at all. They seriously helped their depth at WR with Jalen Saunders, Shaq Evans and Quincy Enunwa  but Evans was taken before some higher upside guys like Martavis Bryant and Devin Street and Enunwa is going to struggle to make the roster.  ILB Jeremiah George and OLB Trevor Reilly add depth to those spots.  My biggest concern is the lack of help added to the offensive line.  RG Willie Colon isn’t getting any younger and free agent addition RT Breno Giocomini is average at best.  Dakota Dozier was a nice addition but he wasn’t enough.  QB Tajh Boyd was well worth the seventh rounder they spent on him and he’ll give Matt Simms a run for the third QB job.

Here’s the start to my division by division breakdown of the 2014 NFL Draft.  I don’t assign grades because its simply not worthwhile to try to grade a draft before players have even moved to the city they will call home.  I don’t have specific criteria for each category so yes I do call a 1st rounder as a “Sleeper” and fourth rounder an “Immediate Impact” guy and I actually do it for the same team.  I’ll try to get these out as quickly as I can but I like to spread them out a little because no one wants to read all I have to say about the draft all at once.

Denver Broncos

31. Bradley Roby  CB  Ohio St.

56. Cody Latimer  WR  Indiana

95. Michael Schofield  OT  Michigan

156. Lamin Barrow  LB  LSU

207. Matt Paradis  C  Boise St.

242. Corey Nelson  OLB  Oklahoma

Immediate Impact:  CB Bradley Roby

Roby will be the starter opposite Aqib Talib and the Broncos need him to live up to his immense potential.  He is a better athlete than he is a corner right now but the Broncos don’t have a lot at the position.

Best Value:  WR Cody Latimer

Latimer was a late rising prospect so getting him with the 24^th pick in the second round was pretty good.  Some people had him slipping into the late 1^st round and considering guys like Davante Adams and Paul Richardson were taken above him the Broncos got good value.

Sleeper:  LB Lamin Barrow

Barrow is undersized and while most project him to weakside linebacker he could line up in the middle where the Broncos need help. MLB Nate Irving was just okay and while Danny Trevathan played pretty well he’s not great on the weakside so Barrow could make some noise.

Overall Analysis:

A small draft class but given the fact that the Broncos made the Super Bowl and they made some big free agent signings this offseason it’s unlikely too many rookies will make this club.  Roby, Latimore and Barrow certainly will and OT Michael Schofield is an interesting pickup.  With the return of LT Ryan Clady the Broncos plan to move Chris Clark to RT and Orlando Franklin inside to guard.  Clark played well at LT replacing Clady until the Super Bowl and Peyton Manning will welcome Clady back with open arms.  Schofield might give Clark some competition at RT and even if he doesn’t he upgrades their tackle depth.  C Matt Paradis might make the team as a developmental prospect and perhaps OLB Corey Nelson makes it because of special teams but both of them are facing an uphill battle.

Kansas City Chiefs

23. Dee Ford  OLB  Auburn

87. Phillip Gaines  CB  Rice

124. De’Anthony Thomas  RB  Oregon

163. Aaron Murray  QB  Georgia

193. Zach Fulton  OG  Tennessee

200. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif  OT  McGill

Immediate Impact:  RB De’Anthony Thomas

Thomas is small and he really wasn’t a very highly regarded prospect because he isn’t an every down back and he has a very slight frame.  I hadn’t really considered him as a guy that would make a huge impact until he was drafted by the Chiefs.  The Chiefs lost Dexter McCluster in free agency and Andy Reid was the first coach to really understand how to use McCluster and now he has a younger replacement.  This is a great fit for Thomas because he can actually have a career playing for Reid.

Best Value:  QB Aaron Murray

My adoration for Murray is well chronicled in my previous draft postings and getting him in the fifth round #163 overall is highway robbery.  Alex Smith only has a year left on his contract and the Chiefs don’t want to give him a long extension and now they have some leverage.  Smith will be the starter this year and Chase Daniel is locked in as the expensive backup and that’s fine because Murray needs time to rehab his torn ACL and the Chiefs can put him on injured reserve and hold onto current 3^rd stringer Tyler Bray if they like.  Murray is a long term investment and he’s a good one.

Sleeper:  OLB Dee Ford

Normally I don’t call first round picks sleepers but this pick is being panned by many draft analysts and I guess I’m one of the few that likes it.  Yes the Chiefs have Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, two exceptional pass rushers, but Hali is 30 years old and his weight is up.  Hali has always been a very big OLB because he was originally a DE but if he isn’t in shape he becomes ineffective and Ford is the insurance against that.  Chiefs fans know what happened when Hali and Houston both were injured in the same game last season, the pass rush disappeared.  Ford is a natural pass rusher and if nothing else he will be in on nickel situations.

Overall Analysis:

I love the Ford pick and I think Andy Reid got away with one there.  Thomas is small and even though he didn’t time fast at the combine he plays fast and that’s obvious on tape.  Murray is a brilliant future investment and currently is leverage for the franchise.  Phillip Gaines is a good CB prospect and given the Chiefs unhappiness with Brandon Flowers and their lack of depth at the position he could play early.  The last two picks are developmental offensive linemen and given the free agent losses of Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz depth is needed.  OT Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is an intriguing athlete that could eventually make it as an OT.  The one major miss here is the lack of WR’s drafted at all.  The Chiefs have Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery and no one else of consequence at the position.  Murray is going to eventually need someone to throw too.

Oakland Raiders

5. Khalil Mack  OLB  Buffalo

36. Derek Carr  QB  Fresno St.

81. Gabe Jackson  OG  Mississippi St.

107. Justin Ellis  DT  Louisiana Tech

116. Keith McGill  CB  Utah

219. TJ Carrie  CB  Ohio

235. Shelby Harris  DE  Illinois St.

247. Jonathan Dowling  CB  Western Kentucky

Immediate Impact:  OLB Khalil Mack, OG Gabe Jackson

Mack instantly becomes the best player on the defense and they can use his considerable skills to line him up all over the field.  He will be the primary blitzer and nickel pass rusher from the start.  The Raiders can slide Justin Tuck inside on passing downs and line Mack up outside much like the Giants used to do with Tuck.  Jackson is a road grading OG and the LG job is his to lose.  He will make life much easier on Darren McFadden and newly signed Maurice Jones-Drew.

Best Value:  QB Derek Carr

The Raiders stayed put in the first round and wound up with Khalil Mack and then they stood pat in the second and got the QB they wanted all along.  Carr was the 4^th best QB on most boards but the Raiders have loved him from the start.  He won’t be thrown into the fire because of Matt Schaub but if Schaub plays like he did last year for the Texans the Raiders will feel comfortable moving onto the future a little sooner.

Sleeper:  CB Keith McGill

This guy is a Seattle style cornerback at 6’3 211 lbs. and while he’s had a few off-the-field issues that has never bothered the Raiders.  DJ Hayden is one starting corner but the other side is to be manned by Carlos Rogers who is getting a little long in the tooth.  McGill has loads of potential and he’ll have every opportunity to compete for a spot in the secondary.

Overall Analysis:

I don’t believe I’ve ever said this about a Raiders draft, and I’ve been watching closely for a long time, but I love this draft.  Khalil Mack might actually be the guy that turns around the Raiders defense (yes he’s that good) and Derek Carr has a chance to be the first good Raiders QB since Rich Gannon’s career renaissance.  Gabe Jackson is a starter on the offensive line right now and Justin Ellis brings some much needed size to the interior of the defensive line.  McGill was a talent worth gambling on in the fourth round.  TJ Carrie and Jonathan Dowling bring some youthful competition to the corner spot and I really don’t know anything about Shelby Harris out of Illinois St. but I’m willing to give Reggie McKenzie the benefit of the doubt after watching this draft.  The Raiders had so many needs it’s hard to say they missed addressing one and getting Mack and Carr could be the turning point for this franchise.  For the long suffering Raider fans out there, there is hope.

San Diego Chargers:

25. Jason Verrett  CB  TCU

50. Jeremiah Attaochu  OLB  Georgia Tech

89. Chris Watt  OG  Notre Dame

165. Ryan Carrethers  DT  Arkansas St.

201. Marion Grice  RB  Arizona St.

240. Tevin Reese  WR  Baylor

Immediate Impact:  CB Jason Verrett, OLB Jeremiah Attaochu

Verrett became the best CB on the roster the minute he was drafted and he’ll make a big difference because their pass defense was horrible.  He isn’t the biggest guy in the world but he has great cover skills.  It would be nice if someone steps up to help him especially against bigger WR’s but he’ll hold his own for now.  Attaochu will be a terror off the edge and he can team with the returning Melvin Ingram to bring the pass rush.  The Chargers are hoping to squeeze another year out of Dwight Freeney and having Attaochu means Freeney can play less snaps and hopefully be more effective.

Best Value:  OLB Jeremiah Attaochu

He was one of the last really good pass rushers and the Chargers stole him at #50 overall.  He’s a perfect scheme fit and his presence probably means goodbye for Larry English.

Sleeper:  NT Ryan Carrethers

Short, squatty and powerful is the perfect description of a nose tackle and it’s the exact description of Carrethers.  The Chargers lost Cam Thomas in free agency and they need a new guy in the middle of their three man front.  He will slide in between Kendall Reyes and Corey Luiget and keep linemen off of ILB’s Donald Butler and Manti Te’o.

Overall Analysis:

The Chargers had a small draft class but all six players can make the team.  Verrett and Attaochu are important players.  OG Chris Watt will push Jeromy Clary at RG and may unseat him, if not he brings nice depth on the inside of the line.  Carrethers is a perfect fit.  RB Marion Grice doesn’t look like a need because they return Ryan Matthews and Danny Woodhead and they signed Donald Brown but Matthews has an injury history and Grice can make his money on special teams.  Tevin Reese also might be a sleeper because while he’s small he has speed to burn and we know the Chargers WR corps can’t stay healthy.  Keenan Allen was fantastic last year and Reese’s deep speed would be nice complement to him.

This is my quick analysis about what happened last night and as always I will refrain from giving actual grades.  A few general things that stuck out to me were some teams drafted good players that don’t really fit their scheme (and I’m not just talking about Clowney) and there were only a few notable reaches but one of them is understandable.

1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney  DE  South Carolina

It is no secret that I think Clowney is a poor fit in Houston but the pick has been made and now it is up to Romeo Crennel to find the best way to use Clowney’s considerable gifts and it’s up to Clowney to give maximum effort on every play.  Clowney should line-up as an OLB allowing the Texans to move Brooks Reed inside and he and JJ Watt should make life tough for Andrew Luck and every other QB they face.

2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington): Greg Robinson  OT  Auburn

This pick made too much sense not to happen.  Robinson is still a bit raw but he’s got “future star” written all over him.  If Jake Long isn’t back from his knee injury Robinson takes over at LT right now, if Long is back than Robinson can fight Joe Barksdale for the RT spot and if he loses he kicks inside to OG until Long’s days are up or until he beats him out.  In any scenario Sam Bradford ends up with better protection and he runs out of excuses.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars:  Blake Bortles  QB  Central Florida

There is no doubt that Jacksonville needs a franchise QB (they have since Mark Brunell left) and Bortles has loads of talent.  He isn’t ready to start right away and that’s fine because they have Chad Henne to hold down the fort until he is.  Bortles biggest issue is the lack of velocity on his passes and it’s not from a lack of arm strength it’s from poor footwork so he can improve that with time and repetition.  Jacksonville isn’t winning any time soon so they need to be patient and they may be rewarded with a franchise QB.

4. Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland):  Sammy Watkins  WR  Clemson

The first trade of the day saw Buffalo give up the #9 pick, and next year’s first and fourth round picks to move up and get the game breaker Watkins.  The Bills now have Watkins, recently acquired WR Mike Williams and last year’s 2^nd rounder Robert Woods for QB EJ Manuel.  I think this pick means they will look to trade Stevie Johnson because Watkins is there new WR1.

5. Oakland Raiders:  Khalil Mack  OLB  Buffalo

Apparently the Raiders luck is changing because Mack should not have made it this far.  He is a major playmaker on defense which is exactly what the Raiders need and while being an OLB in a 4-3 defense isn’t his ideal fit he is a good LB no matter what and he’s too talented to pass up.  The Raiders will have to figure out a way to use him as a pass rusher but he just became the best player on their defense.

6. Atlanta Falcons:  Jake Matthews  OT  Texas A&M

The Falcons hearts had to break just a little when Mack went to Oakland one pick ahead of them but Matthews is more than a consolation prize.  They had two major needs, a pass rusher and an OT and Matthews is a plug-and-play LT that will make franchise QB Matt Ryan very happy.  Atlanta’s offensive line was terrible last year and Jake Matthews is the most ready-made player at the position.  He should also help get the running game, i.e. Steven Jackson, back on track.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Mike Evans  WR  Texas A&M

The second pick that I got right (both number and team in my mock draft) this one was a great choice for the Bucs.  Evans gives them a starting WR opposite Vincent Jackson and should make life pretty easy for QB Josh McCown.  Having a great deep threat like Evans should also loosen things up for RB Doug Martin and I think Tampa Bay is in for a quick turnaround under Lovie Smith.

8. Cleveland Browns (from Minnesota):  Justin Gilbert  CB  Oklahoma St.

The Browns traded down to #9 and then back up to #8 to grab Justin Gilbert.  New GM Ray Farmer knew he needed a CB opposite Joe Haden and he grabbed the top one on the board.  Gilbert has good size, is an unbelievable athlete and brings value in the return game also.  Buster Skrine was the starter opposite Haden last year and now he can slide into the slot corner position he is better suited for.

9. Minnesota Vikings(from Cleveland):  Anthony Barr  OLB  Minnesota

I love the player but I hate the fit.  The Vikings obviously need LB’s but Barr is better suited to a 3-4 defense and while he could help as a situational pass rusher at #9 overall that seems a bit high.  Barr’s LB skills are very raw and will need a lot of time to develop and he doesn’t possess the size needed to be a DE in a 4-3 defense and he never will.

10. Detroit Lions:  Eric Ebron  TE  North Carolina

The Lions passed up WR Odell Beckham or help in their secondary to take Ebron who is basically a really big receiver that lines up as a TE.  Ebron isn’t going to be a blocker but he is going to be a huge threat in the middle of the field for Matthew Stafford and he will make teams pay for rolling coverage to Calvin Johnson.  Ebron, along with the addition of WR Golden Tate in free agency, is going to make the Lions passing game frightening.

11. Tennessee Titans:  Taylor Lewan  OT  Michigan

Lewan looks like a strange fit at first given the overall strength of the Titans line and the recent signing of RT Michael Oher but closer examination shows this makes some sense.  The Titans have had good tackles for years in LT Michael Roos and RT Dave Stewart but Stewart’s play dropped off considerably last season hence the signing of Oher as his replacement.  New coach Ken Whisenhunt knows with the fragile Jake Locker at QB he would rather get Roos’ replacement a year early and not a year too late.  Lewan might take the LT job this year or he’ll be the best swing tackle in the league.

12. New York Giants:  Odell Beckham Jr.  WR  LSU

The Giants were awful last year on offense and while I’m sure they would have loved it if Lewan had dropped another spot Beckham is a ready-made replacement for the departed Hakeem Nicks.  Nicks was a gigantic disappointment last year and Beckham’s great route running and game-breaking ability will be a nice new weapon for Eli Manning.  Beckham can team with former LSU Tiger Rueben Randle on the outside and allow Victor Cruz to remain as one of the best slot receivers in the NFL.

13. St. Louis Rams:  Aaron Donald  DT  Pittsburgh

The Rams play in a division with both San Francisco and Seattle and yet they may now have the best defensive line in the division and possibly in the NFL.  Teaming the undersized Donald with the 6’5 326 lbs. Michael Brockers inside flanked by DE’s Robert Quinn and Chris Long is going to make life miserable for opposing QB’s.  Brockers is the perfect partner for Donald because he brings size while Quinn and Donald will both be outstanding pass rushers.

14. Chicago Bears:  Kyle Fuller  CB  Virginia Tech

The Bears defense is aging all over but they definitely needed to get younger and deeper at CB.  Fuller is a natural eventual replacement for Charles Tillman and he will have a nice apprenticeship for the next year.  Fuller also gives the Bears the third corner for this year that every team needs.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers:  Ryan Shazier  LB  Ohio St.

The Steelers had plenty of needs and getting younger and faster on defense was towards the top of the list.  They don’t make LB’s faster than Shazier and he’ll look great lined up inside next to Lawrence Timmons.  Shazier’s skillset is vast and he can play in any scheme and I expect him to excel playing in a defense as versatile as Pittsburgh’s.  Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will figure out a way to use every skill Shazier has.

16. Dallas Cowboys:  Zack Martin  OL  Notre Dame

Someone must have tied up Jerry Jones and stuffed him in a closet so he wouldn’t take Johnny Football and they took the right guy.  RT Doug Free is replaceable and Martin has great versatility.  Keeping Tony Romo healthy had to be a priority over taking his eventual successor.  The defense needs help more but Martin’s value was too high to pass up and he becomes and immediate starter whether that’s at RT or inside at OG.

17. Baltimore Ravens:  CJ Mosley  ILB  Alabama

Ozzie Newsome is an Alabama alumnus and he loves Alabama players but this was no homer pick.  Newsome is always the guy that chooses talent over need and Mosley was just too good to pass up.  The Ravens re-signed Daryl Smith, they return starter Josh Bynes and they have 2^nd year man Arthur Brown so ILB wasn’t an obvious need.  However, Bynes is an average starter at best and Brown failed to impress enough to unseat him so Mosley could come in and steal the job.  Smith was fantastic last year but he’s no spring chicken so Mosley does make sense.

18. New York Jets:  Calvin Pryor  S  Louisville

The Jets probably needed offensive help (OL, WR, and TE) more than defense but there is a need at safety and Pryor was just too much value at #18 to pass on.  Obviously Rex Ryan likes taking defensive players and Pryor is a better free safety than Antonio Allen and he’s probably a better strong safety than Dawan Landry so his versatility will allow Ryan to play his two best safeties either way.

19. Miami Dolphins:  Ju’Wuan James  OT  Tennessee

This is the first real reach of the first round and while I’m usually against that sort of thing this one is completely understandable.  James was more of a second round talent but the Dolphins could not go into the season with Jason Fox as their starting RT and with the first four OT’s off the board James is an understandable choice.  James started for four years at RT for Tennessee and he will immediately start in Miami.  He may never be a Pro Bowl player but he’ll be a pretty good RT for a long time.

20. New Orleans Saints (from Arizona):  Brandin Cooks  WR  Oregon St.

The Saints lost WR Lance Moore and RB Darren Sproles so a speedy offensive weapon was on Sean Payton’s shopping list.  The Saints moved up to the spot once Cooks fell because they had to get ahead of Green Bay and Philadelphia two teams that would have strongly considered him.  Cooks is lightning in a bottle and teaming him with Drew Brees means I now have a favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

21. Green Bay Packers:  Haha Clinton-Dix  FS  Alabama

The Packers stand pat at #21 and end up with the best safety in the draft.  The Packers safeties had ZERO interceptions last season (no that’s not a typo) and Clinton-Dix can be that playmaker in the deep middle they are missing.  He’s solid in run support but patrolling the back end will be his main job and he will excel at it.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia):  Johnny Manziel  QB  Texas A&M

I’m obviously not the biggest Manziel fan but he’s a talent and getting him at #22 is far more palpable than in the top 10.  Ray Farmer played this great and Manziel has a chance to actually succeed because he will have to compete for the job, it won’t be handed to him, and if he wins it he will have some really good talent around him.  He’s a better QB than Brandon Weeden was so he will benefit from having WR Josh Gordon (his new version of college teammate Mike Evans), TE Jordan Cameron, recently signed slot receiver Andrew Hawkins and new RB Ben Tate.

23. Kansas City Chiefs:  Dee Ford  OLB  Auburn

This was a bit of a surprise due to the presence of OLB’s Tamba Hali and Justin Houston but the Chiefs seriously lack any sort of back-up to these guys.  Hali is 30 years old so Ford could be his eventual replacement but more stunning than taking Ford is passing on a WR like Marqise Lee.  The Chiefs had a major turnaround last season but they still need offensive playmakers.  The depth at WR and the lack of depth in pass rushers must have had a bearing on the Chiefs thinking.

24. Cincinnati Bengals:  Darqueze Dennard  CB  Michigan St.

The Bengals needed a LB and to get younger at CB and Dennard was far more valuable than any LB still on the board.  He is a steal at #24 and with Leon Hall’s injury issues, Terence Newman being 35 and Dre Kirkpatrick’s seriously underwhelming performance, Dennard is just what they need.  He is a physical CB that won’t back down from anyone and in a division that has Josh Gordon, Torrey Smith and Antonio Brown good CB play is essential.

25. San Diego Chargers:  Jason Verrett  CB  TCU

Verrett is underrated because of his lack of ideal height but even at 5’9 he’ll still be the best CB on the Chargers roster.  He’s seen by many as a slot corner simply because of his height and while he might struggle matched up against a guy like Demaryius Thomas this kid can hold his own outside.  He’s not physical like Dennard but he’s got great natural coverage skills and he reminds me of the old Patriots CB Ty Law, his lack of height never hurt him.

26. Philadelphia Eagles (from Cleveland from Indy):  Marcus Smith  OLB  Louisville

The first major reach of the draft had to have Eagles fans having Mike Mamula flashbacks when the first thing anyone talks about in regards to Smith is that he’s a “workout warrior”.  Smith put up some numbers at Louisville but it was his ridiculous athleticism he displayed in workouts that got scouts talking.  He played DE at Louisville and he will transition to OLB in Philly’s 3-4 defense.  He’s a talented player but his value was end of the second round/ 3^rd round not end of the 1^st round.

27. Arizona Cardinals (from New Orleans):  Deone Buchanan  SS  Washington St.

The Cardinals reach a little bit as Buchanan has been moving up the board steadily and while the end of the first round is a reach Buchanan is a player that will excel.  He’s known as an in-the-box strong safety and he could immediately replace Tony Jefferson in the starting line-up.  His physical presence will be a nice complement to the undersized FS Tyrann Mathieu.  The Cardinals division is filled with excellent defenses and they are just trying to keep up.

28. Carolina Panthers:  Kelvin Benjamin  WR  Florida St.

The Panthers desperately need WR’s and OL so grabbing Benjamin is not a surprise.  I had him falling and I would have taken Marqise Lee here because Lee is ready to play right now.   Benjamin has a lot of growing to do and a lot of learning to do.  He’s not a great route runner and he lacks discipline on the field and he relies on is sheer size to beat opponents and that won’t always work at the pro level.  I think Benjamin is a bust waiting to happen and passing over Lee for him will be a regrettable mistake for the Panthers.

29. New England Patriots:  Dominique Easley  DT  Florida

I love Easley but I’m a bit concerned about drafting an injury risk guy this high.  Easley is an undersized DT and is a relentless penetrator in the middle but his knees have been a problem in the past and this seems too high.  If he stays healthy he will be a dominant player and eventual replacement for aging DT’s Vince Wilford and Tommy Kelly and he gives the Patriots a different look at the position.  Wilfork and Kelly are huge run-stuffing guys that don’t really get into the backfield much anymore so Easley’s penetrating style will be a nice addition.

30. San Francisco 49ers:  Jimmie Ward  S  Northern Illinois

The 49ers are so stacked that there really isn’t a need position so they have the luxury of grabbing the top guy on their board and that was obviously Ward.  They signed Antoine Bethea as a free agent replacement for Donte Whitner and Eric Reid was fantastic last year as a rookie but Bethea is 30 years old and Ward is versatile.  He’ll make for a nice 3^rd safety until Bethea steps aside and then Ward and Reid will make a nice set of safeties.  The position is in good hands for years to come.

31. Denver Broncos:  Bradley Roby  CB  Ohio St.

I’m not a fan of Roby but he is the next best corner on the board and the Broncos need someone to line up opposite Aqib Talib because Chris Harris is coming off a knee injury and there is nothing beyond him.  With Talib on the other side Roby is going to get picked on so he better grow up fast but Talib is an outstanding corner he can learn from and Roby has all the physical attributes to be a top flight corner.

32. Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle):  Teddy Bridgewater  QB  Louisville

I’m not a Vikings fan but I love this pick so I won’t be cheering as hard against them this year.  They can show Christian Ponder the door and let Bridgewater go toe-to-toe with Matt Cassel for the job and while Cassel has the experience Bridgewater is a special talent.  Kudos to the Vikings for making the move up to #32 to snatch Bridgewater out from under the Texans who have the #33 pick.  If the Texans had ended up getting Clowney at #1 and Bridgewater at #33 they would have had the best draft possible.

Things to look for in Rounds 2 & 3 on Friday night.

• Do the Texans have the guts to draft Derek Carr #33 overall after the career his brother didn’t have after being the #1 pick 12 years ago for them? He is the best QB left on the board.
• Where will the “fallers” out of round 1 go? Marqise Lee is the biggest surprise not going in the first round but QB Derek Carr, OT Cyrus Kouandjio, G Xavier Su’a-Filo, DE Kony Ealy, DT’s Tim Jernigan, Ra’Shede Hageman and Louis Nix are all still available. This really is the deepest draft in a long time.
• Will a RB finally get drafted and how long will we wait in the second round to see it? All the good ones are available because no one went in the first round for the second year in a row. Carlos Hyde, Tre Mason, Bishop Sankey, Jeremy Hill or Ka’Deem Carey come on down.
• Only one TE off the board? I thought the league was going to these WR/TE hybrids like Jimmy Graham of course Eric Ebron was the only one of that caliber but Jace Amaro and Austin Seferian-Jenkins should go in round 2. Troy Niklas and CJ Fierdorowicz will also go Friday night.
• Where were all of the defensive linemen on night one? Clowney, Donald and Easley were the only real defensive linemen drafted meaning round 2 is full of them. DE’s Kony Ealy, Stephon Tuitt, Scott Crichton and Trent Murphy along with DT’s Louis Nix, Tim Jernigan, Ra’Shede Hageman, Will Sutton, DaQuan Jones and Ego Ferguson are all 2^nd round possibilities.

Smokescreens and Other crazy scenarios

• “Houston has narrowed their choices at #1 down to DE Jadeveon Clowney or QB Johnny Manziel”. They conveniently dropped the “if we keep the pick” tagline at the end. Clowney and Manziel are the two most talked about trade targets and Houston wants out of the top spot because they prefer OLB Khalil Mack and for good reason. Mack fits, Clowney doesn’t and they don’t want to take the heat for not taking Johnny Football. They have only hours now to make a trade or bite the bullet and take an OLB from Buffalo (the University not the Bills) at #1 overall.

 

• “St. Louis loves Johnny Manziel and they may take him and trade Sam Bradford”. This is my favorite because it’s absolutely crazy. St. Louis went 7-9 in the toughest division in football with Bradford hurt for a large portion of the season. It’s possible the Rams will give up on Bradford if he gets hurt again or completely sucks this season but not yet and not for Johnny Manziel. St. Louis suckered the Redskins into giving up this pick two years ago for RGIII they aren’t blowing it on Manziel so they can start over at QB. They too would like someone that wants Manziel or Clowney to make an offer for the second pick.

 

• “8-9 WR’s will go in the first round of the draft”. Don’t believe the Mel Kiper/ Todd McShay hype on this first round dominated by WR’s there is a reason neither of these two would ever be a GM. After the top 5 WR’s (Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Odell Beckham, Brandin Cooks and Marqise Lee) it’s a crapshoot. Teams still understand value and the 9^th best WR is not more valuable than a starting OT or DE. If any position gets overvalued in this draft it will be OT. Cyrus Kouandjio, Morgan Moses and JuWuan James might sneak into the end of round 1 because they can start at OT in the NFL. Maybe Cody Latimore or Allen Robinson sneak into the end of the round but that would only make 6 and I don’t see 2-3 more making it.

 

• “Chip Kelly loves Johnny Manziel and will trade up to get him”. This dumbass rumor comes from the fact that at one time Manziel was committed to Oregon when Kelly was the head coach and somehow now Kelly is going to give up on Nick Foles and go with Manziel. Stupid. Here’s the scenario I would love to see play out. Manziel gets passed over and is still available at pick #13, the Rams second 1^st rounder, and the talking heads are going crazy over the Rams taking him to replace Bradford. Then Roger Goodell steps to the podium and says “there’s been a trade, the Philadelphia Eagles are on the clock”. ESPN’s Chris Berman, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay and Jon Gruden start losing their minds over the prospect of Manziel in Kelly’s offense, Kiper’s head would explode except his hair won’t let that happen. They spend five minutes saying how Kelly is getting the guy he wanted so badly in Manziel. Finally ESPN’s only voice of reason Adam Schefter comes in and says “that not what my sources are telling me.” Roger Goodell strolls back to the podium and says “With the 13^th pick in the 2014 draft the Philadelphia Eagles select…Brandin Cooks, wide receiver, Oregon St.” Kelly gets the guy he wants but it’s DeSean Jackson 2.0 aka DeSean Jackson without the drama. Cooks is the Jackson replacement Kelly wants and he has no intention of giving up on Foles, who was magnificent last year running Kelly’s offense. Yes I wrote that entire scenario out just so I could take a shot at ESPN’s draft guys.

 

• Apparently no one is drafting Johnny Football. In the last 48 hours I’ve seen reports that the Texans (#1), Rams (#2), Jaguars (#3), Browns (#4), Raiders (#5) and Vikings (#8) have no interest in drafting Manziel with their first picks. The Falcons (#6), Bills (#9) and Lions (#10) don’t need a QB so that just leaves the Buccaneers at #7 in the top 10. See, my falling to #13 scenario isn’t so far-fetched.

 

• Every mock draft I read lately has the Vikings taking DT Aaron Donald. All of the sudden the underrated Donald is being over drafted. Donald is a disruptor and everyone is saying that the Vikings are getting “the next John Randle”, I get it they once had John Randle. What doesn’t make sense is they just signed free agent Linval Joseph (one of the best and most underrated signings of the offseason) and they drafted Sharrif Floyd last season. Grabbing a third DT would be nice but the Vikings have bigger needs.

Thoughts and Predictions

• 4 QB’s go in the first round (Manziel, Bortles, Bridgewater and Carr). There have been rumors about each one of these guys falling out of the first round during different parts of the draft process. I’m not buying it, it’s a QB league and too many teams don’t have QB’s.

 

• The San Francisco 49ers have more picks than they have room for on their roster so look for them to use those excess picks to move up and if I were guessing (and I am) I would say they move up in round 1 for either Odell Beckham or Brandin Cooks.

 

• Virginia Tech CB Kyle Fuller is the fast riser and he could go as high as #10 overall to Detroit, he probably won’t but he could be this year’s DJ Hayden. His injury-riddled senior year kept him from being at the top of everyone’s lists to begin with but as scouts went back and looked at his junior year his skills became apparent. Good CB’s are hard to find so he’s climbing the board
• Because of the lack of elite OT in this draft guys like Zack Martin, Cyrus Kouandjio and Morgan Moses will get over drafted. OT is one of the most important positions so teams will reach.

 

• Fuller is the late riser, I think Kelvin Benjamin is the late faller. Benjamin is the huge WR from Florida St. and he made the game winning catch for FSU in the National Championship Game. He lacks great speed and will struggle to get separation against NFL corners. If I were a team needing a WR there are about 15 WR’s I’d take before Benjamin, you think I’m kidding? Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Odell Beckham, Brandin Cooks, Marqise Lee, Allen Robinson, Cody Latimore, Jordan Matthews, Donte Moncrief, Davante Adams, Bruce Ellington, Jarvis Landry, Paul Richardson, Jared Abbrederis and Martavis Bryant. Yeah I’m not his biggest fan.

 

• It is a virtual certainty that this will be the second year in a row that no RB’s go in the first round; it would be a monumental upset if one gets picked. That doesn’t mean there won’t be big time contributors like last year’s class (Eddie Lacy, Giovani Bernard, LeVeon Bell and Montee Ball). Carlos Hyde, Bishop Sankey, Jeremy Hill, Tre Mason and Ka’Deem Carey are all very good backs. Sleeper choice: Devonte Freeman from Florida St. Damn that team was talented last year.

 

• Somebody is going to draft Cody Latimore before Marqise Lee and I’m going to want to throw something at the TV. Future prediction: unemployed GM regrets this decision.

 

• The Patriots will draft a QB at some point and it may be in round 2 or 3. Tom Brady will be 37 years old and he only has a few seasons left, the problem is that those few seasons will be enough to run out Ryan Mallett’s contract so the Patriots will have to trade Mallett just to get something out of him. That trade could happen this weekend at some point so the Patriots need a new QB of the future and this draft has some good candidates…I’m crossing my fingers for Aaron Murray.

 

• Haha Clinton-Dix and Calvin Pryor are the only two safeties I have going in the first round but Jimmie Ward from Northern Illinois could sneak in at the end. Ward is a very solid all-around safety and his coverage ability makes him valuable in today’s NFL. He’s a little short but so Matt Elam and he snuck into the first round last year.

 

• Every mock draft, including mine, has the Titans taking OLB Anthony Barr at #11 overall so there is no possible way this will actually happen (that’s just the way mock drafts work). He’s the perfect fit and the right value so someone in Tennessee will over think it and screw it up. The Titans are the dark horse team for a falling QB like Manziel. They could also possibly grab the first CB off the board if Detroit doesn’t take one at #10.

 

• I predicted TE Eric Ebron to the Buffalo Bills and apparently I wasn’t the only one throwing darts at the dart board on that one. I’ve seen WR Mike Evans, WR Odell Beckham, OT Jake Matthews, S Haha Clinton-Dix and I’m pretty sure I saw one with QB Blake Bortles but that makes no sense whatsoever. The point is NO ONE has a clue what the Buffalo Bills are going to do. I’m throwing out CJ Mosley as a possibility just because no one has mentioned a LB.

 

• There are reports that QB Zach Mettenberger and DT Tim Jernigan (along with some other players) failed their drug tests at the combine. If it’s true it could knock them down a bit meaning my Jernigan fall in the mock draft might actually happen. The reports mention marijuana and “diluted samples” and I’m going to refrain from making the obligatory “they can still play for Denver or Seattle” jokes, it’s just too easy.

 

• As an Iowa Hawkeye fan I always enjoy it when a Hawkeye gets drafted so if you feel the same way tune in late Friday because that’s when TE CJ Fiedorowicz is likely to get drafted, after that it’s a crapshoot. I think LB Christian Kirksey goes off the board in round 5 and fellow LB’s Anthony Hitchens and James Morris may go in round 7 but I wouldn’t bet on it. Don’t hold your breath for OG Conor Boffeli or OT Brett Van Sloten, maybe one of them pulls an Adam Gettis and shocks us all. K Mike Meyer, CB BJ Lowery and long snapper Casey Kreiter will get a shot as undrafted free agents and all three have a shot to make a roster. There will be absolute stunned silence across the state if FS Tanner Miller or WR Don Shumpert gets drafted and I’ll be shocked if anyone even brings them into minicamp but stranger things have happened (even James Vandenberg got a shot with the Vikings after his disastrous senior season).