2014 NFL Mock Draft (1st Round)
Very few events in this world possess the ability to captivate millions with just a single person speaking at a time behind a podium for roughly one minute, in 15 minute intervals for nearly 12 hours quite like the NFL Draft. It has become almost like a holiday (now over the course of three days) where NFL faithful, team personnel and fans alike all look forward to the prospects of what could be for their respective franchises.
With big names like Jadeveon Clowney and Johnny Manziel headlining the 2014 NFL Draft should be quite exciting. Here is how I think this year’s draft could play out during the initial round scheduled for Thursday May, 8 at 8pm.
1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina
Clowney is the type of playmaker on the defensive side of the ball that is a no-doubt selection with the number one overall pick. This 6’5” 265-pound athletic freak is going to wreak havoc playing on the opposite side on J.J. Watt.
2. St. Louis Rams: Khalil Mack OLB Buffalo
Mack might just be as good as Clowney and could possibly have the better career of the two which is why the Rams take him here to sure up a lone hole on an already good, young defense.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles QB UCF
Many scouts have Bortles as the top quarterback in the draft and with the Jags desperately needing a signal caller for the future (and present) he seems to be their guy here especially with the team possibly wanting a more “sure thing” than Johnny Football.
4. Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M
Manziel has all of the potential and already the hype to become the A-1 bonafide superstar out of this class and with Cleveland not having one since Jim Brown (unless you want to count LeBron James and a pre-roided up Manny Ramirez) Johnny Football mania could sweep Cleveland off of its collective feet; especially if he plays well within the AFC North.
5. Oakland Raiders: Greg Robinson OT Auburn
It wouldn’t surprise me if the late, great Al Davis channels this pick in somehow and selects Sammy Watkins here but Robinson has got to be the selection here for the Raiders. They picked up Matt Schaub in the season and already have a couple of solid, young receivers; so why not upgrade the protection?
6. Atlanta Falcons: Jake Mathews OT Texas A&M
Mathews would definitely upgrade the offensive line in the A.T.L.; a year ago Matt Ryan was sacked 44 times (tied for 3rd in NFL) so taking Johnny Football’s former blind side protector could be beneficial for their franchise QB.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sammy Watkins WR Clemson
Watkins is by far the best offensive playmaker that is available in this draft and with the Bucs seeming to lack many of those this has to be there selection at number seven.
8. Minnesota Vikings: Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville
With the Minnesota Vikings numerous fails at the quarterback position since the final (for real, not for fake) retirement of Brett Farve they need to take one here and hopes that he pans out (not like Christian “Why am I an NFL quarterback I” Ponder). In my opinion there is no way that Bridgewater’s stock should have plummeted the way it did following his pro-day not to mention he is the third best signal caller in the draft so the Vikes need to him.
9. Buffalo Bills: Taylor Lewon OT Michigan
The Bills are all set at the the skill positions on the offensive side of the football now second-year quarterback E.J. Manuel just needs someone that can provide him with a little bit more protection and Lewon could be the answer.
10. Detroit Lions: Clinton Ha-Ha Dix FS Alabama
It seems risky to a safety this early in the draft but when you consider Detroit’s passing defense wasn’t able to contain anything over the middle and deep last season plus the fact that Dix not only the best safety in the draft, but also the best defensive back, the Lions front office would be crazy not to roll the dice on him at 10.
11. Tennessee Titans: C.J. Mosley MLB Alabama
The Titans haven’t quite been the same in the middle of their defense since the days of Keith Bullock; Mosley could change that considering he’s strong, quick and has a high football IQ.
12. New York Giants: Anthony Barr OLB UCLA
The G-Men are coming off of a very disappointing season and are looking to get back into the thick of things in the NFC East; Barr could be a part of the recipe to do so. At 6’5” 255lbs there is a good chance that he could succeed in the Giants 4-3 system as a defensive end.
13. St. Louis Rams: Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh
If the Rams select both Donald and Mack in the first round their defense could catapult to the best unit within the rough and tumble NFC West.
14. Chicago Bears: Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan State
The Bears allowed far too many passing yards and scores last season and with Charles “Peanut” Tillman getting longer in the tooth Dennard could be a great option for the Monsters of the Midway.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Evans WR Texas A&M
Pittsburgh is in dire need of additional offense and with the selection of Le’Veon Bell last year and possibly Evans here this year things could be looking up for the Steelers and their scoreboard too.
16. Dallas Cowboys: Zack Martin OG Notre Dame
Last season as almost everyone seemingly this decade the Cowboys had severe issues on their offensive line which is why Martin could truly help them out in that area especially in the run game.
17. Baltimore Ravens: Morgan Moses OT Oklahoma State
The Ravens sure could use some more protection for their $120 million dollar man which means Moses has to be the pick here considering he’s the best big guy remaining on the board.
18. New York Jets: Eric Ebron TE North Carolina
The Jets went out in the offseason and acquired a very good wideout (Eric Decker), a former All-Pro halfback (Chris Johnson) and a quarterback who has something left to prove (Michael Vick) now all they need is a good, young tight end who could take some of the pressure off of all of them; Ebron is the best available in the draft.
19. Miami Dolphins: Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma State
The Dolphins secondary is already pretty solid registering 18 interceptions (10th in NFL) and allowing 234 passing yards per game (16th in NFL) but they could use a bit more if they want to stop Tom Brady and the New England Patriots from owning the AFC East again. Gilbert is a good cover corner who could make things difficult for Brady attempting to get the ball to the receiver he’s covering.
20. Arizona Cardinals: Louis Nix DT Notre Dame
Nix is the type of big and physical defensive tackle that would fit perfectly with an already stingy defensive unit. At 330-plus Nix will be able to move multiple blockers around freeing up his teammates to make plays.
21. Green Bay Packers: Odell Beckham Jr. WR LSU
The Packers need to retool their wide receiving corps with the loss of James Jones and Beckham could be the perfect addition to that unit especially with Aaron Rodgers throwing to him in the slot.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech
Under Chip Kelly the Eagles offense wants to run 75 plays per game which means their defense is going to need to be deep; Philly needs help in the secondary more than any place else so Fuller makes sense.
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Brandin Cooks WR Oregon State
Last season the Chiefs won 11 games in every fashion from Jamal Charles carrying them to their defense scoring tons of points but never once was it their passing attack dominating. That’s because Dwayne Bowe needs help and Cooks could be exactly the assistance needed drawing coverage to the other side of the field.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Ryan Shazier OLB Ohio State
The Bengals defense suffered a few losses this offseason but the addition of Shazier to play opposite of Vontaze Burfict would place them right amongst the NFL’s best again.
25. San Diego Chargers: Jason Verrett CB TCU
Last season the Chargers snuck up on everyone and not only reached the postseason but also advanced to the Divisional Round; this year the Bolts won’t be sneaking up on anyone which means they need to get better on defense. Verrett could improve their suspect secondary.
26. Cleveland Browns: Marqise Lee WR USC
If the Browns follow my first selection and take Manziel with the fourth pick then they can get him another weapon in the form of Lee to go along with the already explosive Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron which could transform their offense into a dynamic one.
27. New Orleans Saints: Dee Ford DE Auburn
The Saints are always in need of defensive playmakers to match the ones that they have on offense which is why Ford could be the guy here to fulfill that role for them on the defensive line.
28. Carolina Panthers: Allen Robinson WR Penn State
The Panthers are badly in need of some players at the wideout position thanks to the departure of Steve Smith to Baltimore. With that being said Robinson would provide a huge target for Cam Newton to throw to with reliable hands and deceptive speed.
29. New England Patriots: Timmy Jernigan DT Florida State
The Patriots are always looking towards the future while competing in the present which is why Jernigan makes sense here with Vince Wilfork getting older and the Pats switching their defensive scheme up.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Xavier Su ‘a-Filo OG UCLA
The 49ers had problems keeping Colin Kaepernick on his feet last season despite his speed (sacked 39 times) which means more offensive line help is needed and Su ‘a-Filo could provide that up the middle.
31. Denver Broncos: Demarcus Lawrence DE Boise State
After getting destroyed in Super Bowl XLVIII the Broncos went out and spent a boat load of money of free agents to help them when the title. I say that to say this is a luxury pick so here why not stack even more talent in the form of Lawrence to what could shape up to be a dangerous defensive pass rush; call it “A Tale of Two Demarcus’”.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Rashede Hageman DT Minnesota
The Super Bowl champs don’t really need much but they could use another big body to plug up the middle with on the defensive line so at 6’6”, 310lbs Hageman would be a great fit to do exactly that.
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