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RotoBaller's Mitchell Jacobs (@MitchyJ3) is taking a look at the approaching 2014 NFL Draft with his NFL mock draft analysis. This is RotoBaller's 5th take on the draft, including the order NFL teams will pick and which college stars will be selected by what teams. Below you can see all five mock drafts football nut Mitchell Jacobs has put together so far. For additional team-by-team mock draft analysis and details, including free agent losses and positions to address via the 2014 draft, click on each of the NFL team links below.
2014 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock Before the Draft
The 2014 NFL Draft is almost here and 2 weeks late! I certainly hope the NFL pushed the draft back to the last week in April. One thing I can't kick is reading mock drafts.
I wonder if anyone will offer a billion bucks to guess the 32 picks in exact order?
Like so many sites, Rotoballer does it's own mock draft during mock draft season and for the first time, we have a projected trade. Trades are what make the draft so difficult to project. Last year we saw Miami jump from the 12th pick to the 3rd overall not giving up too much in the process (no future 1st rounders), while the year before, in 2012, we saw Washington go from the 6th pick to the 2nd overall, from St. Louis, while giving up 2 future 1st round picks.
2014 should be filled with surprises and here are some of the things RotoBaller will be watching for during the draft:
- Will Carlos Hyde, the consensus #1 rated running back, be drafted in the 1st round?
- Will the Texans take Clowney, Mack or a quarterback?
- Will Bridgewater fall to the second round yet secure that $5 million in insurance money? (Must Read)
- How far does Johnny Manzeil fall?
- Almost each year a QB surprises us by being drafted in the 1st round, will it be AJ McCarran, Aaron Murray, or someone else?
| Pick | Team | Player | Notes |
| 1 | Houston Texans | DE - Jadeveon Clowney, S. Carolina | I want to put Mack here so bad. If there wasn't this extra time for the Texans to think about this pick Mack would be taken here. I think the Texans are pressured here but it's not going to be a bad move. Clowney is as advertised and will be one great and exciting player to watch in the NFL. |
| 2 | Oakland Raiders (TRADE W RAMS | WR - Sammy Watkins, Clemson | The Raiders will pull off a trade and pony up a their second round pick and a pick or 2 in 2015, they don't break the bank and get the most talented players in the draft. It gives Shaub a little bit more to work with. |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | QB - Blake Bortles, Central Florida | Our 1st QB is taken and I think it's a great move for Jacksonville. Jacksonville needs to build a team from the ground up. Any other QB presents the team with a bit of risk and pressure. The Jags don't have much on offense or defense so this is step 1 in rebuilding the team. |
| 4 | Cleveland Browns | LB - Khalil Mack, Buffalo | Talk about a team that will not stop talking about the draft, from players to coaches, heck even the GM is talking. Josh Gordon is convinced the team is taking a QB and the GM's perfect situation is them not drafting a QB. Mack is a real football player and the Browns need players like this. They can address a rookie QB with their second 1st round pick or even in round 2. |
| 5 | St Louis Rams (Via Redskins)(TRADE W RAIDERS) | OT - Greg Robinson, Auburn | If the Rams stay at pick 2, I think they draft Robinson so it is extremely beneficial to trade down. The Rams have a lot of needs but keeping the QB upright tops them all. |
| 6 | Atlanta Falcons | OT - Jake Matthews, Texas A&M | Matt Ryan was third in the league… in sacks taken. Not a good stat. The line is not completely to blame but beefing up the position would be smart. |
| 7 | Tampa Bay Bucs | OLB - Anthony Barr, ULCA | Tampa would love for Atlanta to pass on Barr as he is the best player on the board defensively, and also meets a need of theirs. |
| 8 | Minnesota Vikings | OLB - CJ Mosley, Alabama | The Vikings are in a tough spot. Peterson is entering his 8th year in the league but the Vikings just don't look like a playoff team. They need to make the team better and if they want to add competition to Ponder and Cassell, using a 1st round pick to do so would not be the best decision. They need to pull the trigger on either Mosley or a corner like Darqueze Denard. As you can see, I think Moseley will be their guy. |
| 9 | Buffalo Bills | TE - Eric Ebron, UNC | Ebron will give the Bills the opportunity to do more with second year QB EJ Manuel. The Bills could go in a million directions but they are coming off their best defensive performance in a few years. They need to be able to move the chains on offense. |
| 10 | Detroit Lions | CB - Darqueze Dennard, Mich. St. | The Lions would be taking the top receiver had they not grabbed Golden Tate from the defending champs Seattle Seahawks. That being said they can address their defense, and specifically the secondary which needs help to say the least. |
| 11 | Tennessee Titans | DE - Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame | Tuitt is extremely underrated. He stands at 6'7" and can play all over the defensive line. I would be shocked if he is passed up by the Titans |
| 12 | New York Giants | WR - Mike Evans, Texas A&M | Hakeem Nicks is gone and while Nicks may do well elswhere, he won't be missed. It was not a good match and Mike Evans will easily replace him. A bounceback year by Eli Manning will make Evans a ROY candidate. |
| 13 | St. Louis Rams | WR - Marqise Lee, USC | The Rams could have the best offensive players in the draft, as Robinson and Lee will boost the team a lot more than Watkins and say….. Taylor Lewan. While WR is not a pressing need, it too tempting. Brian Quick and Lee with Tavon Austin in the slot is a solid group of receivers. I am not sold on Kenny Britt making any impact on offense. |
| 14 | Chicago Bears | FS - Hasean Clinton-Dix, Alabama | Ha Ha Dix could spark some trade talk. He is the next big hitter to enter the NFL. The Bears need defensive players that can attack the ball. |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | WR - Odell Beckham, LSU | Many peg Beckham as a very underrated receiver in this draft. I think this would be the ideal place for him to land, where he will not be needed to be the #1 guy. It's the Steelers continuing their circulation of receivers, replacing each one who leaves with another serviceable one. |
| 16 | Dallas Cowboys | OT - Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama | Cyrus is extremely underrated. He had a relatively bad offseason but hes a versatile offensive linemen who can and will protect the QB. |
| 17 | Baltimore Ravens | S - Calvin Pryor, L-Ville | The Ravens need help in the secondary. Pryor is a ball hog and just a tad bit under Ha Ha in terms of talent. |
| 18 | New York Jets | CB - Jason Verrett, TCU | Verrett would quietly be the third cornerback that head coach Rex Ryan used a 1st round pick on, following Kyle Wilson in 2010 and Dee Miliner in 2013. Sharing a division with Tom Brady, it's not the worst attempt but it sure will be talked about if their secondary gets picked on like they did in 2013. |
| 19 | Miami Dolphins | OT - Taylor Lewan, Michigan | Tackle is just too important a position for any team to pass up on a possible starter. They picked off Brandon Albert in the offseason to put at LT and now they can draft their starting RT. |
| 20 | Arizona Cardinals | QB - Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M | This seems like a possible trade spot. The Cards won 10 games last seaosn in one of the toughest divisions in football. It would make way more sense for the team to continue to ride out Carson Palmer. If the Browns are sold on Johnny football they could be a trade partner. The Cardinals have been quiet on their draft intentions and at this point it's anyones guess. Palmer doesn't have a lot of time left, backup Drew Stanton is just that, a backup and Ryan Lindley's spot on the roster is not safe. There is no future on the current roster. |
| 21 | Green Bay Packers | DT - Louis Nix, Notre Dame | BJ Raji signed a 1 year deal. They neep depth and more talent on the roster, Louis Nix fits both. |
| 22 | Philadelphia Eagles | CB - Bradley Roby, Ohio State | Roby's legal issues are over before the draft. The outcome keeps him out of any looming trouble with the league. His talent is too great to be looked over and the corner position is becoming extremely important as the passing game continues to takeover. |
| 23 | Kansas City Chiefs | WR - Allen Robinson, Penn State | Robinson is quick, has great hands and can jump. He outperformed all receivers drafted before him in the broad jump. He is a playmaker and the Chiefs need more on the roster. |
| 24 | Cincinnati Bengals | G - Gabe Jackson, Miss. State | Defenses in the AFC North are not getting easier. The Bengals need help on the offensive line and Gabe Jackson is solid and sturdy and can come in and start from day 1. |
| 25 | San Diego Chargers | WR - Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State | The Chargers have players on the roster at receiver but Benjamin would give Rivers a guy that he can count on. You can pair him with Keenan Aleen and move Vincent Jackson to the slot. Eddie Royal can also provide help but was inconsistent at times. |
| 26 | Cleveland Browns (via Colts) | QB - Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville | So many pegged David Carr as their guy. I think they like coming out of nowhere and taking Mack, they are also not giving up info on who they like at QB. Many people were disgusted with Bridgewater's Pro Day. Time will tell but Bridgewater is a QB who can come in, learn a little from Hoyer and be successful in the future. |
| 27 | New Orleans Saints | WR - Brandon Coleman, Rutgers | Drew Brees makes his receivers better. The Saints are in need of some youth at the position and Coleman would be a great fit. |
| 28 | Carolina Panthers | OT - Cameron Erving, Florida State | It's no secret the Panthers need offensive line help and receivers. Erving can come in and protect Newton immediately. I think the Panthers can find receiver help later on in the draft. |
| 29 | New England Patriots | OLB - Ryan Shazier, Ohio State | Talk about a team in dire need of a tight end. I just can't see them taking Jenkins or another potential 1st round TE. Who knows when Gronk will be back but the Pats are sure to address the position at some point. Shazier will make immediate impact on a playoff team. Not bad. |
| 30 | San Francisco 49ers | DT - Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota | Hageman is another player who is unlikely to fall this late in the first round but playoff teams like the 49ers are not going to complain. |
| 31 | Denver Broncos | DT - Aaron Donald, Pitt | Donald is underrated and a very talented defensive player. He was the top performer, for a DT, at the combine in the 40 yard dash. Not bad for almost 290 lbs. |
| 32 | Seattle Seahawks | TE - Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Wash | Zach Miller has been extremely solid in Seattle but Jenkins would give the offense another dimension. He is 6'6'' and can catch. He is fast for his height and wieght and will be able to make immediate impact. |
Additional Potential 1st Rounders:
DE - Ed Stinson, Alabama; DT - Will Sutton, Arizona State; QB - Tajh Boyd, Clemson; RB - Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona; G/C - Anthony Steen, Alabama; DT - Anthony Johnson, LSU; OLB - Kyle Van Noy, BYU; QB - David Fales, San Jose State; CB - Marcus Roberson, Florida; OT - James Hurst, UNC; CB - Louchiez Purifoy, Florida; DT - Tim Jernigan, Florida St.; TE - CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa; QB - Derek Carr, Fresno State; OLB - Adrian Hubbard, Alabama; MLB - AJ Johnson, Tennessee; G - Cyril Richardson, Baylor; G - Spencer Long, Nebraska; DE - Trent Murphy, Stanford; G - David Yankey, Stanford
Out of the 1st Round:
QB - Brett Hundley, UCLA; CB - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon; QB - Marcus Mariota, Oregon; QB - Aaron Murray, Georgia; RB - De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon
2014 NFL Mock Draft: Take Six
The combine is behind us, the free agent frenzy has calmed down and draft day is quickly approaching. The rumors are swirling and smoke screens are developing. With the rookie wage scales the draft is going to be tougher and tougher to project. Before the rookie wage scale the top picks earned an enormous amount of money regardless of their position. This would force the hands of teams into taking players who deserved that type of money: quarterbacks, offensive tackles and cornerbacks. But times have changed and now teams draft a with a combination of need and talent available. An example of this last year was the Cardinals drafting Jonathan Cooper with the 7thoverall pick. In 2010 the 7th overall pick, Joe Haden received a 5 year deal worth $50 million. A few years later Cooper drafted in the same slot received a 4 year deal worth $14.5 million. If there was no rookie wage scale, would the Cardinals have given an offensive guard a $50 million dollar deal? Nope! They would looking at a combination of need and a player worth the large deal Joe Haden sized deal.
The rookie wage scale has been and will continue to be a great thing for the NFL draft. It’s also a major reason it’s impossible to project what teams are going to do in the draft because despite the rumors, despite what the scouts say, and despite what GMs say at the owners meetings it’s impossible to know what GM’s are thinking. I wouldn’t be shocked to see these consensus top QBs fall. Could Johnny Football drop out of the first round? Could the Texans draft Clowney with their first pick and Johnny Football with their second pick? Could the Browns be selecting their QB to compete with Brian Hoyer in the middle rounds? Could Jimmy Grappolo or AJ McCarron sneak into the first round via trade? It's all possible now. Let's take a look at RotoBaller's updated 2014 NFL Mock Draft:
| Pick | Team | Player | Notes |
| 1 | Houston Texans | DE - Jadeveon Clowney, S. Carolina | Bill O'Brien does not needed to gamble with his first draft pick as a first time HC. Clowney will haunt anyone who passes him up. Texans included. |
| 2 | St Louis Rams (Via Redskins) | Greg Robinson, Auburn OT | This is a spot the Rams could really look to trade out of. With so many needs it would also be a sensible decision. If they look for similar packages Washington paid two years ago, they will wind up siting tight and be drafting here. Greg Robinson has had a wonderful offseason and draft prep that has him plugged as the best OT in the draft. I wouldn't be shocked if someone traded up just to draft his services. |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | QB - Blake Bortles, Central Florida | Jacksonville is happy and has the opportunity to draft the QB of their choice. They will go ahead and pull the trigger because this is the only time they will have the opportunity to draft any QB they want. |
| 4 | Cleveland Browns | LB - Khalil Mack, Buffalo | The Cleveland Browns could go several ways. They could pair Watkins with Gordon, draft a QB or lock up some depth at the OT position. They also have a glaring need at linebacker. They replaced an aging Jackson with Dansby and while they have plenty of depth at OLB they could use a middle LB. Mack makes a lot of sense and they will still have so many options later on in this draft. |
| 5 | Oakland Raiders | WR - Sammy Watkins, Clemson | WR is not a position of need for Oakland, but Watkins is just to talented to pass up. |
| 6 | Atlanta Falcons | OT - Jake Matthews, Texas A&M | If Clowney were to slip, the Falcons are a team that would not be scared to pull the trigger on a deal with the Rams. It wasn't to long ago they traded a future #1 pick for the rights to draft Julio Jones. |
| 7 | Tampa Bay Bucs | TE - Eric Ebron, UNC | This draft has a ton of depth at tight end so the Bucs could wait for the position. They could use a pass rusher or an offensive lineman but Ebron has really established himself as the best TE and is a need for Tampa. |
| 8 | Minnesota Vikings | QB - Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville | Minnesota is likely not anticipating Bridgewater falling to them, prepared, yes, but anticipating. It's their best chance to succeed. |
| 9 | Buffalo Bills | WR - Mike Evans, Texas A&M | Mike Evans is not that far from Watkins. The Bills need weapons around Manuel. Match. |
| 10 | Detroit Lions | CB - Darqueze Dennard, Mich. St. | The Lions made a great move by signing Golden Tate. It gives them all the options in the world here. They still need a slot guy but Dennard is about as prepared as they come. |
| 11 | Tennessee Titans | OLB - Anthony Barr, ULCA | A trade is destined to happen with Barr, Johnny Football and Stephon Tuitt available. The Titans have been quiet but Barr would fit nicely and give the defense some versatility. |
| 12 | New York Giants | DE - Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame | The Giants are in dire need of offensive line help however defensive line is so important for this defense to keep up. Tuitt is rock solid and will fit it great on the other side of JPP. |
| 13 | St. Louis Rams | QB - Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M | The Johnny Football slide ends however I would not be shocked if the Rams trade out of here as well. By this point in the draft the Rams are going to be experts on draft day trades. While that may be, it doesn't mean they make a deal happen. The Rams have repeatedly claimed they are committed to Sam Bradford but they have not denied anything besides they are not looking at a QB with #2. |
| 14 | Chicago Bears | FS - Hasean Clinton-Dix, Alabama | This is a match made in heaven. Ha-Ha Dix is a starting safety from day one. |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | WR - Allen Robinson, Penn State | Robinson's speed and size make him an intriguing option/go to guy in the NFL. He has good hands and will be a great target for a QB who is confident in his receivers. |
| 16 | Dallas Cowboys | WR - Marqise Lee, USC | WR depth in this draft is relatively deep but teams are going to be pulling the trigger early and often. Lee and Dez Bryant will be a force in the NFL. |
| 17 | Baltimore Ravens | OT - Taylor Lewan, Michigan | While the Ravens brought back Monroe, they lose Oher. They need depth at the tackle position if not a starter. |
| 18 | New York Jets | WR - Brandon Coleman, Rutgers | With receivers flying off the Jets draft board they cannot risk to let another potential starter taken. Like Robinson his size makes him a ideal go to player in the NFL. While they made the mistake a few years ago on Stephen Hill, Coleman is much less of a project. |
| 19 | Miami Dolphins | OT - Cameron Erving, Florida State | The Dolphins are going to aide their starting QB but getting some offensive protection. There are other options the Fins could be looking at the position but Erving is most NFL ready. |
| 20 | Arizona Cardinals | DT - Louis Nix, Notre Dame | Nix will fit nicely and will be able to learn a ton next to Darnell Dockett. Like many other players Nix is NFL ready and will make an impact immediately. The Cards are in win now mode in a tough division. |
| 21 | Green Bay Packers | TE - CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa | Rodgers throws to just about every player eligible to catch passes, that includes receivers, ends and backs. Fiedorowicz gives Rodgers a nice look two TE package for passing and blocking. |
| 22 | Philadelphia Eagles | S - Calvin Pyror, L-Ville | The speedy safety will provide Chip Kelly with a solid NFL player on defense. He will make tackles and force fumbles, can play the pass or the run. Proyor is also a very fun player to watch. |
| 23 | Kansas City Chiefs | OT - Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama | Many believe that Cyrus did himself no favors at the NFL Combine. While I agree he did show up a bit out of shape and ran slower than expected, I also think scouts are not used to a 6'7'' 330 lb machine running a 40 yard dash. Cyrus can play guard or tackle. He is arguably the most valuable offensive lineman on the Alabama football team over the past couple years. That includes a bunch of former early NFL draft picks. If he showed character and the will to get in shape and perform the position, the Chiefs will be able to do a lot more on offense. |
| 24 | Cincinnati Bengals | OLB - CJ Mosley, Alabama | All signs point to the Bengals drafting a cornerback. Which means they won't draft a cornerback. CJ Mosley will "replace" Michael Johnson. Ok he won't replace him but he will fit in nicely as a piece to their postseason aspirations. |
| 25 | San Diego Chargers | CB - Jason Verrett, TCU | Jason Verrett is a very unique CB. He is a bit undersized especially because CBs have been getting bigger. The use of so many empty backfields and pass heavy offenses make the needs for cover CBs increasingly important. |
| 26 | Cleveland Browns (via Colts) | QB - Derek Carr, Fresno State | Mock drafts are impossible. And with the Browns selecting here I would seriously question that their plans are to take Carr at pick #26. Why? Because if they want a QB, even Carr, I have a tough time believing they would pass anyone up at #4. . The Browns can't afford to gamble and if their "plan" is to take Carr with their second pick they are in trouble. |
| 27 | New Orleans Saints | DT - Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota | The Saints made questionable offseason moves many of which point to Kelvin Benjamin being a good fit here. He is a first round talent and a need for New Orleans. The Saints have not been known to draft receivers early and Hagemen happens to be a need as well. |
| 28 | Carolina Panthers | WR - Odell Beckham, LSU | I don't need to tell you the Panthers need a receiver or three. They will have their choice between Beckham and Benjamin, it's just a matter of preference. |
| 29 | New England Patriots | CB - Bradley Roby, Ohio State | Roby has a bunch of concerns but we know how it works, the Patriot way tends to steer players in a better direction (most of the time). Roby would be a steal here as he is top 15 talent. |
| 30 | San Francisco 49ers | WR - Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State | The 49ers need another wide receiver. They made some small attempts to acquire one this offseason but they made the right move as this is a deep WR class and no matter what grabbing a receiver like Benjamin here would be a steal for them. |
| 31 | Denver Broncos | OLB - Ryan Shazier, Ohio State | The Broncos continue beefing up their defense as they know the offense can score points as long as they have Manning. They made offseason moves that reflect that strategy. Shazier could be a steal this late in round 1. |
| 32 | Seattle Seahawks | G - Gabe Jackson, Miss. State | Seattle is a good place to be. Their defense remains in tact and not much has changed on offense. Gabe Jackson is a versatile offensive lineman who would be a great player for Seattle. While he is a G he can also play tackle and in emergency center. It would be strategic for Seattle to select Jackson |
2014 NFL Mock Draft: Take Five
(Published February 2nd) The regular season flew by and the playoffs will come to a close tonight as the two best teams in the NFL battle in what looks to be one of the greatest Super Bowls we football fans have seen in a long time. While the NFL season comes to a close, the NFL is a year long event. As soon as the Super Bowl ends, two weeks later, the franchise tag period begins. The franchise tag period is just the beginning of the offseason, which to many football fans including yours truly, is just as exciting as the regular season and playoffs.
The NFL has done an amazing job promoting the offseason. It begins with the franchise tag period in February. After the franchise tag period is the first organized chance for fans to see NFL draft prospects during the NFL Combine. Following the NFL Combine comes Phase I of free agency in which teams can negotiate with their own free agents exclusively. Then comes the real free agency period which I have already previewed here. And then the next event is the 2014 NFL Draft! Below is the calendar of events for the NFL offseason, followed by the latest edition of RotoBaller's 2014 NFL Mock Draft:
- Tonight - Super Bowl XLVIII
- February 17 - Franchise Tag Period Begins
- February 19-25 - NFL Combine
- March 8-11 - Free Agency Phase I - exclusive negotiation between teams & their free agents
- March 11 - NFL Free Agency Begins
- May 8-10 - 2014 NFL Draft
| Pick | NFL Team | Player Drafted | Mock Draft Notes |
| 1 | Houston Texans | DE - Jadeveon Clowney, S. Carolina | So many peg the Texans drafting a QB noting Manziel and Bridewater. I think new head coach O' Brien makes a wise decision and takes the best player in this draft. The reality is that it's been a long time since such a talent like Clowney is came into a draft. |
| 2 | St Louis Rams (Via Redskins) | OT - Jake Matthews, Texas A&M | I just don't think the Rams draft here if Houston passes on a QB. With teams like the Browns, Bucs and Vikings drafting shortly after the Jaguars, the Rams could move back easily and take one of many players available. |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | QB - Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M | The Jaguars start a new chapter in their history with Johnny Football. I have said it multiple times that he is going to have a hard time living up to the hype of a 3rd overall pick. I think he will struggle mightily with the speed of the NFL. |
| 4 | Cleveland Browns | QB - Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville | This pick is a huge question mark because there has been little light shed in the media on the direction of this Browns team. Bright side, they did sign a head coach. Brighter side, is that I think Teddy is the best quarterback prospect in this draft. Will Cleveland give him a chance to survive in the NFL? |
| 5 | Oakland Raiders | OT - Greg Robinson, Aubrun | The Raiders drafting a WR? Yes, I have had it mocked for well over a month but now I have dismissed this idea. They should move on from all quarterbacks on the roster and draft one here, but they go the safe route and draft the best available player which fits a need seamlessly. |
| 6 | Atlanta Falcons | OLB - Anthony Barr, ULCA | Not much more than filling in areas of the depth chart they need. I would not be shocked if they made a draft day move, as they have done in the past. |
| 7 | Tampa Bay Bucs | OLB - Khalil Mack, Buffalo | Mack's stock is fairly high and think will be one of the better players drafted in 2014. He has been projected as high as 6 and and low as 20 so we need to see how things progress as we get closer to the NFL draft. |
| 8 | Minnesota Vikings | QB - Blake Bortles, Central Florida | Some really great QB's will be hanging around in round two that I think would make a better fit for Minnesota including AJ McCarron and even Taj Boyd. That being said, Bortles has potential and is certainly a need for the Vikings. |
| 9 | Buffalo Bills | WR - Sammy Watkins, Clemson | There is a lot of talent at receiver in Buffalo in Stevie Johnson and Robert Woods but the Bills need to get better offensively and this is a passing league. They have most of the offense needed but they need to ensure they support EJ Manuel. |
| 10 | Detroit Lions | WR - Mike Evans, Texas A&M | Evans, in my opinion, is the best receiver prospect in this draft and you put him next to the best all pro WR in the NFL and the Lions will be much better on offense. |
| 11 | Tennessee Titans | DT - Louis Nix, Notre Dame | Nix fits the mix as a player the Titans need. They will almost certainly draft defense. They will be deciding between Nix and Bama LB CJ Mosely. |
| 12 | New York Giants | TE - Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Wash | The Giants need pass protection. What better way to do that than a blocking TE will strong pass catching ability. This is a bit of a reach but Jenkins would be a great addition. |
| 13 | St. Louis Rams | FS - Hasean Clinton-Dix, Alabama | Clinton-Dix will excel at the pro level, he is quick and a disruptive defender in the secondary. |
| 14 | Chicago Bears | OLB - CJ Mosley, Alabama | Mosley is an NFL ready player. He is 6'2'' and is fast for a linebacker. |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | OT - Cameron Erving, Florida State | Pittsburgh needs help at offensive tackle. They need it in protecting Roethlisberger as well as developing holes for the running backs. |
| 16 | Baltimore Ravens (or Dallas) | CB - Louchiez Purifoy, Florida | The Florida secondary will have two 1st round draft picks in the NFL draft. Purifoy is a smart cover CB who will be able to hang with the best. Can handle breaking up the pass, over going for the pick. |
| 17 | Dallas Cowboys (or Ravens) | WR - Marqise Lee, USC | Just like the Lions need someone alongside Calvin Johnson, the Cowboys need someone alongside Dez Bryant. |
| 18 | New York Jets | TE - CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa | During the 2013 season the Jets QB's had success with TE and have in previous years as well. The Jets need to lock up the position which will serve consistency at the position and a safety net for their QB. |
| 19 | Miami Dolphins | CB - Bradley Roby, Ohio State | Like the emergence of tight ends in the passing game as well as passing entirely, corners are being tested these days. They will look closely at the two positions. Roby at this point is one of the best prospects available and would be more likely to head in that direction. |
| 20 | Arizona Cardinals | DE - Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame | I see many scenarios in which the Cards draft a QB here, let them sit for a year or two behind Palmer and then east transition right? Wrong. The Cards won 10 games last year and are contenders. They play in the toughest division in football, a division that went 42-22 this year. They build in their strength, defense. |
| 21 | Green Bay Packers | DT - Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota | At 6'6" with NFL development, he could be the steal of the draft. I love his size and he will be a disruptive defensive lineman. |
| 22 | Philadelphia Eagles | CB - Marcus Roberson, Florida | Robinson saw limited time last year. As my projected #22 pick in the 2014 draft, that didn't reflect his draft stock. Robinson will be a starter in the NFL for years to come. |
| 23 | Kansas City Chiefs | WR - Allen Robinson, Penn State | Robinson makes so much sense here. Bowe who can move to Y receiver, leaving Donnie Avery at the slot, Alex Smith will have never had the offensive weapons suggested here. KC has a great defense but they need to be able to score points. |
| 24 | Cincinnati Bengals | CB - Darqueze Dennard, Mich St. | Dennard cracks my top 32 for this first time. Teams avoided throwing the ball his way all season. He could continue to fly up this with a perfect offseason. |
| 25 | San Diego Chargers | OLB - Ryan Shazier, Ohio State | Shazier, and OLB would not be the #1 need for San Diego but he would beef up their linebackers and allow them to make more of an impact on defense. |
| 26 | Cleveland Browns (via Colts) | WR - Brandon Coleman, Rutgers | Brandon Coleman is a reach here but unless the Browns address WR, this draft is thin and it would be tough to find someone with starting potential. The Browns draft early in round two, so it's likely they could pass and address other areas. Gabe Johnson would be hard to pass up. |
| 27 | New Orleans Saints | DT - Tim Jernigan, Florida St. | Late in the first round is where many trades happen and while the Saints have some needs, they have the depth to make some moves and get younger. If they stay put Jernigan would be solid player for the Saints D. |
| 28 | New England Patriots | TE - Eric Ebron, UNC | This is too obvious which is why it's not going to happen. The Pats need receivers and a tight end because Tom Brady showed that he was getting frustrated with the dropped passes and well we know the Hernandez story. |
| 29 | Carolina Panthers | OT - Taylor Lewan, Michigan | The Panthers should go defense but by the time they draft again OT's will be thin which puts them in a predicament. Lewan is a safe pick here and is NFL ready. |
| 30 | San Francisco 49ers | G - Gabe Jackson, Miss. State | Corner is a big need for San Fran, as they just give up too many big plays. The young QB puts a lot of pressure on his offensive line with his scrambling. Jackson is a versatile offensive lineman who would beef them up immediately. |
| 31 | Seattle Seahawks | CB - Jason Verrett, TCU | Seattle will have many areas to address so we will need to see how free agency shapes up. If things get rough for them they could trade out of this pick to team needing a QB to obtain more picks. |
| 32 | Denver Broncos | OT - Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama | Peyton Manning was barely touched this year. That is a must and they need to ensure they have the depth at OT to provide that, as they did when Clady went down early on. Denver could also use this pick on a CB which they will address early on in this draft. |
2014 NFL Mock Draft: Take Four
(UPDATED 1/10) The 2014 NFL draft once labelled as the “Year of the Quarterback” is not really living up to that hype. Still, it’s a very intriguing draft for quarterbacks. Since 2000 four quarterbacks have been drafted in round 1 only 4 times. Heading into the bowl season, RotoBaller pegged Bridgewater, Boyd, Mariota, Hundley, Fales Manziel, Murray, Mettenberger, McCarron, Petty, Carr and Bortles as having attributes of a 1st round quarterback in any given year. What I mean is that McCarron really didn’t have much of a chance at being a 1st round QB in 2014, but if you stack him up against Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder in 2011 or Jamarcus Russell and Brady Quinn in 2007, he could sneak in to the first round. That is 12 quarterbacks, which is unheard of. Now that we have officially begun 2014, that number has declined as Murray and Mettenberger are recovering from injury, Mariota, Hundley and Petty are staying in college another year, and poor play from Boyd and McCarron have dropped them out of 1st round consideration . That leaves us with Bridgewater, Fales, Manziel, Carr and Bortles as potential 1st round quarterbacks. History tells us that no more than four of them get drafted.
Is this draft really about the quarterbacks? No it’s absolutely not. This is the most intriguing draft since 2006, the last time Houston Texans held the #1 overall. Many said that Reggie Bush was the most talented player in the draft (and a need for the Texans). Before the draft began The Texans had agreed to terms with defensive end Mario Williams (NC State) ending all speculation. Many questioned this move at the time however it ended up being the right one as it took Bush several years to get to NFL level while Mario Williams racked up 48 sacks in his first 5 seasons with Houston. Years later, 2014, the Texans are in a much different boat. They will take a quarterback or a defensive end. This will dramatically shape the draft in that following their pick, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Oakland, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Arizona could all use the services of a more talented quarterback. There are many story lines in this draft, how will St. Louis and Cleveland utilize their 2 1st round picks? Is Manziel truly a 1st round pick or has his character taken a hit? With the NFL becoming more of a passing game, just how many wide receivers and cornerbacks will be drafted? What teams will trade and which picks will be swapped? Will a running back be drafted in the 1st round? At Rotoballer, we are looking forward to May 8-10. We present to you our 2014 NFL Mock Draft (take four).
| Pick | NFL Team | Player Drafted | Mock Draft Notes |
| 1 | Houston Texans | DE - Jadeveon Clowney, S. Carolina | Many are assuming the Texans will lock up a QB with the #1, by maybe they are jumping to conclusions. At this point it's anyones guess. As the offseason progresses, offseason workouts and the combine will dictate the direction of this pick. The Texans would be smart to take Clowney. While many questioned his motivation this season, they need to take a look at the tape from last season. He is a can't miss prospect and thats rare even with a #1 oveall selection. |
| 2 | St Louis Rams (Via Redskins) | OT - Jake Matthews, Texas A&M | The Rams simply can't afford to allow their quarterbacks to be sacked like they have been. In addition to protecting the QB, Matthews will also create holes in the running game. |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | QB - Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville | Teddy Bridgewater, in my opinion, has the most room to grow out of the QBs in this draft. He will have very little pressure on him which will benefit him tremendously. |
| 4 | Cleveland Browns | QB - Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M | I think this is a bad move for Cleveland. For one thing, I do not think Manziel will flourish in the NFL as many others do. People are taking a look at his size and saying "if Brees and Wilson can, why not Johnny Football?" The answer is that they are smarter football players and while I don't think Manziel is dumb, he got away with a lot of throws last season that would've been highly questionable in the NFL. Defensive ends and linebackers are quicker in the NFL and making those throws on the run like he has been doing in college will be much more difficult at the next level. The Browns made a nice trade by moving Trent Richardson to obtain a second 1st round pick, however that pick could be irrelevant if Manziel doesn't pan out. This pick could set the team back and completely waste what has been an extremely solid defense. |
| 5 | Oakland Raiders | WR - Sammy Watkins, Clemson | The Raiders have a capable set of receivers in Moore, Strater and Ford. They could use a pass catching tight end, or an upgrade at the position whose primary responsability is to get the ball in these receivers hands. That being said all signs point the Raiders giving Pryor another shot, hoping McFadden stays healthy and adding yet another reeciver to their depth chart. |
| 6 | Atlanta Falcons | OLB - Anthony Barr, ULCA | This is a highly likely trade spot and the Falcons are no strangers to draft day trades. Barr is the next best defensive player on the board. The reality is the Falcons need a defensive tackle and the talent at the position in this draft far exceeds what they can do in free agency (with the exception of maybe Henry Melton). They may be forced to gamble on the availability of a second tier DT. |
| 7 | Tampa Bay Bucs | OT - Greg Robinson, Aubrun | In one of the early surprises this bowl season, Greg Robinson declared himself available this April. Robinson has an offseason to prove he is the second best tackle in this draft and by April he will have proved it. With new head coach Lovie Smith taking over, I don't think he jumps the gun and pulls the trigger on a QB. Given the current roster, like the Rams above, a solid tackle would go a long way to improving the offense. |
| 8 | Minnesota Vikings | QB - Blake Bortles, Central Florida | Bortles has the size and tools to be a starting QB in the NFL. I personally think he is a bit overrated but the Vikings are in rebuild mode and that means pulling the plug on the Ponder project. With a solid offensive line, an okay running back and an improved defense, the Vikings could be a QB away from being a much better team. |
| 9 | Buffalo Bills | TE - Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Wash | Many teams are focusing on the pass catching TE and the Bills lack talent at the position. At 6'6" Jenkins has great hands and will be an easy target in the red zone and on third downs. |
| 10 | Detroit Lions | WR - Mike Evans, Texas A&M | It's no secret outside that of Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush the Lions lack pass catching ability. Many young receivers are making the jump to the pros more quickly these days, making it all the more intriguing to have a high talent wideout for Stafford to throw to while Megatron is being double covered. |
| 11 | Tennessee Titans | DT - Louis Nix, Notre Dame | Louis Nix will come in and be an instant starter for Tennessee. Teamed up with Jurrell Casey, the Titans can become one of the more feared defensive fronts in the NFL. |
| 12 | New York Giants | OT - James Hurst, UNC | Talk about a mess. The Giants will certainly bounce back from a rough 2013 and their biggest need is assistance in pass blocking and Hurst is the best and safe selection here with the 12th pick in the draft. |
| 13 | St. Louis Rams | DE - Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame | The Rams will add to their strength. A forceful defensive player like Tuitt will make them even better. Jeff Fisher will give Bradford another shot here but expect the Rams to find an alternate backup because this 7-9 team has a lot of potential. |
| 14 | Chicago Bears | DT - Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota | How do you make Julius Peppers, who's entered his decline, even more disruptive? Put somone next to him that will force opponents to avoid the double team and extend his life as an effective pass rusher. |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | OLB - Khalil Mack, Buffalo | The Steelers are very hard to gauge. Mack is one of the top defensive players on the board and would be a good fit in Pittsburgh. The problem is they have multiple needs and a receiver wouldn't hurt as they lose Cotchery who, despite getting older, was relied on many times on third downs this season. |
| 16 | Baltimore Ravens (or Dallas) | FS - Hasean Clinton-Dix, Alabama | Clinton Dix is almost too perfect a match for the Ravens. He is a ball hog on defense and is very disruptive. |
| 17 | Dallas Cowboys (or Ravens) | WR - Allen Robinson, Penn State | See Detroit. The Cowboys have one of the best receivers in Dez Bryant, but outside of Jason Witten, there is no one else for Tony Romo to count on. |
| 18 | New York Jets | WR - Marqise Lee, USC | The Jets should take a good hard look at available tight ends however they could find a TE with good hands later on in this draft. Lee has great hands and will be a nice offensive tool for an improving Geno Smith. |
| 19 | Miami Dolphins | TE - CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa | An AFC East following the Pats blueprint. I would not be surprised if 4 tight ends were drafted in the first round this year (even though I mock 2 at the moment). The Dolphins made a free agent splash in Dustin Keller however that did not pan out as he missed the entire season due to injury. |
| 20 | Arizona Cardinals | QB - Derek Carr, Fresno State | The Cardinals were actually a better team than people thought and Palmer played rather well. But Palmer is not the long term future of this team, and Carr could learn a heck of a lot sitting for a year or two under him. It's a roadmap that can work well if Palmer was supportive of the move. |
| 21 | Green Bay Packers | OLB - CJ Mosley, Alabama | It would be a wise decision for the Packers to pick up a linebacker and Mosley seems like a perfect fit for that defense. The Packers have been drafting extremely well over the past few years and in 2014 the trend would be continued if they make this pick. |
| 22 | Philadelphia Eagles | CB - Bradley Roby, Ohio State | I know I am stating the obvious when I say that the offseason will allow the CB position to take shape. By then my prediction is Roby will be the top corner. With the importance of the passing game in the NFL, solid corners are being asked to do more and more. They are extremely valuable these days. That being said, I would be shocked if the top corner, whoever he may be in April (likely Roby), fell to #22 . Based on the way things fell in this version of the RotoBaller Mock draft, here is where the best CB gets picked (pun intended). |
| 23 | Kansas City Chiefs | TE - Eric Ebron, UNC | One position the Chiefs lack is a solid pass catching tight end. Ebron is the best combo blocking pass catching TE in this draft. |
| 24 | Cincinnati Bengals | OLB - Ryan Shazier, Ohio State | The Bengals have a lot of needs including cornerback and offensive tackle. They also could boost their linebacking corp. Shazier is an incredible NFL prospect with NFL smarts. As draft day approaches we will get hints on team interests and with guys like Adrian Hubbard and AJ Johnson hanging around the second round, I could see a scenario of the Bengals drafting someone like Darqueze Dennard, one of the hotter CBs being talked about. |
| 25 | San Diego Chargers | CB - Marcus Roberson, Florida | The Chargers are going to wish they had someone to cover a Bronco receiver this weekend. It's a need for the team. As stated above Dennard is a hot name and it won't take much for him to sneak into round 1. |
| 26 | Cleveland Browns (via Colts) | WR - Brandon Coleman, Rutgers | The Browns stole this pick from the Colts. Trent Richardson was traded to the Colts for their 1st round pick. T-Rich averged less than 33 yards per game as a Colt. I don't mean to pick on the young RB as I do think he will have a career in the NFL once he stops dancing and learns how to find the holes. The Browns will pick again early in the second round and it looks like they are going to stress offense. Brandon Coleman is 6'6" tall, has great hands and is fast; a combination that will turn heads in the NFL. |
| 27 | New Orleans Saints | OT - Taylor Lewan, Michigan | Taylor Lewan has the size and strength of an NFL lineman. He would have been a top 10 pick in 2013 if he entered the draft. He is extremely talented and the only thing over his head is a pending assault investigation. He hasn't been charged and this should not reflect his draft stock at this time. We will see what the next 4 months has in store for him and that could change for better or for worse. |
| 28 | New England Patriots | CB - Louchiez Purifoy, Florida | I mentioned twice that Darqueze Dennard is gaining a lot of ground on his competition this draft but Purifoy is still ahead in my book albeit a little bit. Purifoy may likely end up the fastest corner in this draft and is a player that can cover even the quickest receivers. |
| 29 | Carolina Panthers | OT - Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama | The Panthers need help on the line. It will be interesting to see how the 49er defense attacks and expoits them. Cam makes his offensive line work harder than most, holding on to the ball longer than average , running with the football, and throwing on the run . While he makes good plays, this wears down the line. They simply need to get younger and quicker. |
| 30 | San Francisco 49ers | CB - Jason Verrett, TCU | Verrett makes up for his size with his smarts. I am a huge fan of Verrett and think the 49ers would be a great fit for him (and I think they would agree). |
| 31 | Seattle Seahawks | G/C - Anthony Steen, Alabama | The Seahawks have an excellent tackle in Russell Okung and Steen can come in and give the Seahawks some versatility on the o-line. |
| 32 | Denver Broncos | DT - Tim Jernigan, Florida St. | If Cyrus or Hurst fall to the Broncos, expect them to address depth at the position designed to keep Manning upright. Each year with Manning behind center it's Super Bowl or bust so each move is centered around Manning's ability to excel. If the two 1st round tackles are scooped up, Jernigan would just be a steal here as well as beef up the D-Line. |
UPDATED (12/2)
Marcus Mariota has decided to return for his senior season at Oregon. Looks like Jacksonville will NOT be drafting the junior Heisman candidate in 2014. As you could expect, we will report on any underclassmen that decide to forfeit draft eligibility or return to college to attend their junior or senior year. We will update our mock draft next week and reflect this change.
UPDATED (11/25)
Returning:
Marcus Mariota, QB - Returning to Oregon for his senior season. Huge news as he was likely a top 3-5 pick this year.
Bryce Petty, QB - Staying for his senior season at Baylor. Petty was projected as a third/fourth round pick with upside. His major question mark was having only 1 season under his belt. That question mark will not be considered in the 2015 NFL draft.
Entering the Draft:
Paul Richardson, WR - Will make an intriguing second round draft pick. Began his 2013 season with 21 receptions, 417 yards and 4 TD's in the teams first 2 games. He needs to put on weight this offseason.
Other News:
Zach Mettenberger, QB - The LSU senior has also torn his ACL which will push Mettenberger towards the later portion of the draft. He was projected as a late first early second round pick. Prior to his injury, he was considered a possible "steal" to any team that was in dire need of a QB that passed on one in the first round.
Aaron Murray, QB - The Georgia senior has torn his ACL ending a monumental collegiate career. Murray was projected as a 2nd or third round pick however he will fall towards the end of the draft with this type of injury.
“Year of the Quarterback” is turning out to be a potential bust (not really). This draft is changing dramatically as players decide A) they want to polish their game, B) play for a title, C) win a Heisman, or D) avoid playing for Jacksonville. With two talented quarterbacks going down with injuries (Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger), and underclassmen returning for their junior or senior year, this year could be watered down a bit, and next year could be huge. While it’s unlikely Bridgewater returns for his senior year (although he could), question marks loom for red shirt sophomores Brett Hundley and Johnny Manziel. One thing we know for sure is that Derek Carr, David Fales, and Taj Boyd are all seniors that will hear their names called early and the injuries and decisions to return may boost the names of players on the fringe like AJ McCarron.
2014 NFL Mock Draft Analysis - Take Three (Dec. 2013)
| Pick | NFL Team | Player Drafted | Mock Draft Notes |
| 1 | Houston Texans | QB - Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville | Could the Texans give one of the current QBs on their roster a shot? Of course, but they have a shot at grabbing a QB of the future. They could also trade the pick, but assuming they lock up the #1 pick it will be hard to pass up Teddy Bridgewater. |
| 2 | Jacksonville Jaguars | QB - Marcus Mariota, Oregon | Mariota has shined this season and he will have the opportunity to show off his speed again in the off-season. The reality is the Jags MUST take a QB with their 1st pick, call that person the starter going in to training camp and NOT go into the season with Henne or Gabbert as their starter. |
| 3 | St Louis Rams (Via Redskins) | QB - Brett Hundley, UCLA | The Rams defense looks solid however sloppy play at QB has held them back. Hundley is an NFL-ready player who could replace former 1st overall pick Sam Bradford. Last time the first 3 picks in the NFL draft were all QB's was 1999. They went to a combined 1 Super Bowl and never won a championship. Browns-Couch, Eagles-McNabb, Bengals-Smith. |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Bucs | DE - Jadeveon Clowney, S. Carolina | After three consecutive QB's are taken, Bucs break the trend and take the top defensive player. |
| 5 | Atlanta Falcons | OT - Jake Matthews, Texas A&M | The Falcons should look at Louis Nix here as the top prospect at DT, but they have the opportunity to beef up their offensive line or can dangle this pick to several teams further down that are in dire need of a tackle. Matthews is a 1st overall pick in terms of talent. |
| 6 | Minnesota Vikings | QB - Derek Carr, Fresno State | Derek Carr has been on a tear all season. He leads the league in passing yards and touchdowns. He has only thrown 5 picks to 45 touchdowns. He is completing more than 70% of his passes and is out performing just about every player in football. Time will tell if his game translates to the NFL, but he will most likely claim a top 10 pick. |
| 7 | Oakland Raiders | OLB - Anthony Barr, ULCA | Oakland will give Pryor another shot although he'll be on a short leash, so they don't need a QB the way the above teams do. Barr is a great NFL player and easily the 2nd best defensive player behind Clowney. Very close to a 1B to Clowneys 1A. |
| 8 | St. Louis Rams | OT - Taylor Lewan, Michigan | The Rams will lock up a tackle to protect the young QB. |
| 9 | Buffalo Bills | TE - Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Wash | At 6'6" Jenkins will give the young QB, EJ Emanuel, a target in the redzone. |
| 10 | Cleveland Browns | QB - David Fales, San Jose State | The Browns could be making an emotional decision after seeing 4 QB's taking with the first 6 picks. I fully expected the Browns to target Fales in this draft however they were hoping it would be with their 2nd 1st round pick. Regardless, they will draft their QB of the future. Fales stats don't blow me away but he looks like the type of player that can compete in the NFL. |
| 11 | New York Giants | CB - Bradley Roby, Ohio State | The Giants are just taking the best player on the board. |
| 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers | WR - Allen Robinson, Penn State | Allen Robinson has made a name for himself in 2013 racking up 97 catches, 1400+ yards and 6 TDs. He is a major deep threat in a division that features many good young CBs and high octane offenses. |
| 13 | New York Jets | WR - Mike Evans, Texas A&M | The Jets are a complete mess and need to make changes on offense. Evans is the best skill player available. He is about as sure handed as they come. |
| 14 | Miami Dolphins | WR - Sammy Watkins, Clemson | Similar to Evans Watkins will catch anything and Tannehill needs weapons. The Fins could also target a tight end however they could address that need in other rounds. |
| 15 | Green Bay Packers | DT - Louis Nix, Notre Dame | Green Bay could be in for a tough offseason. Nix is the obvious pick however they could pull the trigger on a young CB. |
| 16 | Tennessee Titans | CB - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon | The Titans need to use an early pick on a corner or a linebacker. With guys like Mack and Van Noy available, I would have a hard time thinking the Titans don't move this pick however they are not known to be traders. |
| 17 | Chicago Bears | OT - Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama | Like the Titans, the Bears have a glaring need, their need is in the secondary. With so many available CBs they could pull the trigger in other areas while addressing their CB needs later on. This is another spot where teams could be on the move. |
| 18 | Philadelphia Eagles | OLB - Khalil Mack, Buffalo | Like the Titans, the Eagles need a corner and many CBs will still be hanging around here late in the first round. Mack may be unlikely to fall this low however. The Eagles could also use some youth at LB and they would be drafting best available in that case. |
| 19 | San Diego Chargers | OLB - Kyle Van Noy, BYU | The Chargers could land Van Noy in their lap. The 6'3" senior from BYU can come in and make an immediate impact. |
| 20 | Arizona Cardinals | QB - Tajh Boyd, Clemson | One of the picks I find to be most intriguing. The Arizona Cardinals know that time is ticking on Larry Fitzgerald but 2014 could be a stop gap year to their future with Carson Palmer in town. Boyd has a big arm and legs and was once considered a top 5 pick but he had a bit of a down year. He could prove to be a more valuable pick here at #20 than any of the previous 5 QBs taken earlier in this draft. |
| 21 | Baltimore Ravens | FS - Hasean Clinton-Dix, Alabama | Players like Ha-Ha Dix are rare. He is a ball hog and can make a difference on this Raven defense. |
| 22 | Detroit Lions | WR - Marqise Lee, USC | The Lions need a star next to their star. They need a guy who can make immediate impact and with 35 career college games Lee can be that player. |
| 23 | Cleveland Browns (via Colts) | WR - Brandon Coleman, Rutgers | Many people in the industry suggest the Browns take a WR with one of their two picks. I am hesitant to mock them up here with Coleman however he fits the bill. With guys like Mosley and Shazier, both linebackers, both a need as well, it would be hard for them to pass them up. The bottom line is the defense has been gotten better over the past few years and the offense has not. |
| 24 | Dallas Cowboys | OLB - CJ Mosley, Alabama | The Cowboys won't take the full time to grab Mosley. The injuries to Cowboy LBs have really taken a toll on the team performance so it only makes sense for them to beef up the position. |
| 25 | Cincinnati Bengals | DT - Will Sutton, Arizona State | Will Sutton is a battle tested quick DT/DE that can stop the run. While D-line hasn't been such a need for the Bengals, they could employ the strategy of keeping their defense afloat by maintaining their strength. |
| 26 | New Orleans Saints | OT - James Hurst, UNC | This is a big need for New Orleans here. Hurst may be by far the best offensive player on the board and should be a solid pick for the Saints considering their needs. |
| 27 | Kansas City Chiefs | OLB - Ryan Shazier, Ohio State | Ryan Shazier has a lot of experience under his belt and this KC team will need to maintain its top defensive talent. He is a player than can come in and make an immediate impact. |
| 28 | Carolina Panthers | CB - Marcus Roberson, Florida | We knew that the top CBs would be off the board here, and since Carolina will look for the best available, Roberson could be that guy. The junior had a tough year but still has tremendous talent. |
| 29 | San Francisco 49ers | CB - Jason Verrett, TCU | A bit undersized, Verret would be an interesting pick here for San Fran who needs to put together a new and improved secondary. |
| 30 | New England Patriots | TE - CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa | Almost no way does New England draft here, I just don't think it will happen. That being said I would not be shocked if they pulled the trigger on one of the better tight ends in this draft. |
| 31 | Seattle Seahawks | CB - Louchiez Purifoy, Florida | Brandon Bowner is a pain in the ass and he is also a free agent. The CB position will be address in free agency or early in this draft. As you can see RotoBaller thinks Seattle addresses CB in the 1st round. |
| 32 | Denver Broncos | OT - Cameron Erving, Florida State | Protecting Manning is a must. Clady will be back but they need outstanding performance on the offensive line. |
2014 NFL Mock Draft - Take Two (October 2013)
| Pick | NFL Team | Player Drafted | Mock Draft Notes |
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | QB - Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville | Duh |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Bucs | QB - Tajh Boyd, Clemson | The Bucs should feel presured and if that is what it takes for them to pull the trigger. |
| 3 | St Louis Rams (Via Redskins) | DE - Jadeveon Clowney, S. Carolina | The Rams have 2 first round picks and I would not be shocked if they trade out of this pick. With Clowney and Matthews available here as well as potential high prospect QB's, the Rams can move back easily. Browns - QB, Raiders - Clowney, Giants - Matthews. |
| 4 | Buffalo Bills | OT - Jake Matthews, Texas A&M | Simple need for the Bills to protect their 1st round pick from a year ago. |
| 5 | Oakland Raiders | OLB - Anthony Barr, ULCA | The Raiders should follow suit with the Bills and snag some protection for Pryor. That is assuming they commit to him, which is no lock. |
| 6 | Minnesota Vikings | OT - Taylor Lewan, Michigan | Outside of Lewan and Matthews, all other OT's are on a much lower level. The Vikings clock with AP is ticking and they are unlikely to start over with another 1st round pick. They will address the QB position internally with another year with Ponder or free agency. Could they make a huge run at Jay Cutler? |
| 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers | WR - Marqiss Lee, USC | The Steelers have struggled in 2013 and need more weapons on offense to keep up with the talent in the AFC. |
| 8 | St. Louis Rams | TE - Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Wash | Both offense and defense is a need for the Rams who lack identity on both sides of the ball. A handcuff TE for the QB would really help. Cook is a nice player but Jenkins would really beef up the offense. |
| 9 | New York Giants | OT - Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama | The Giants need to work on the offensive line which has been neglected for the past couple years. |
| 10 | Houston Texans | QB - Brett Hundley, UCLA | Hundley should make a strong case for the #3 QB in this draft. The Texans have already moved on from Shaub which must me a huge dissapointment in Houston. |
| 11 | Cleveland Browns | QB - Marcus Mariota, Oregon | No one has any idea what the Browns have in store. After the T-Rich trade it was thought the Browns were stockpiling picks to move up to draft a QB. After Hoyer's 1st two starts before going down, many thought the Browns could use both first round picks on other areas, WR/OT/orCB. The Browns could go in one of many directions but Mariota is a wildcard for them. If you haven't been paying attendtion Mariota has 1724 yards, 17 TD's and zero INT's. He also has 8 rushing TD's. |
| 12 | New York Jets | OLB - CJ Mosley, Alabama | The Jets should take a good hard look at the remaining OT's. Mosely is an NFL MLB and will be a very sexy pick here. |
| 13 | Carolina Panthers | CB - Bradley Roby, Ohio State | With all the attention the top CB's have been getting for their immediate impact in the NFL recently, I would be shocked if Roby hangs around this long. |
| 14 | Arizona Cardinals | OLB - Khalil Mack, Buffalo | Mack is a very underrated NFL prospect and if he played in a more prominent conference he would be a top 5 pick. |
| 15 | Detroit Lions | WR - Allen Robinson, Penn State | The 6'3" Jr. WR is fast and can catch anything. He will be a solid option along side Megatron. |
| 16 | Tennessee Titans | DT - Louis Nix, Notre Dame | Nix will give the Titans many options on the D-Line. |
| 17 | Baltimore Ravens | WR - Mike Evans, Texas A&M | The Ravens need a playmaker alongside Torey Smith. Evans is a beast at 6'5" and can play the jumpball better than anyone. A nice complement to Smith's quickness. |
| 18 | Atlanta Falcons | TE - CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa | Down year for Atlanta but they bounce back from their 1-4 start. Regardless they are going to lose Tony Gonzalez and will need to find a replacement. They could go after one of the many talented free agent TE's which would change this pick but we will get there in the offseason. |
| 19 | Dallas Cowboys | DT - Will Sutton, Arizona State | The Cowboys could be in the mix for a trade should Nix fall to the teen's. If not Sutton is a solid DT, which is a solid need for them. |
| 20 | San Diego Chargers | CB - Kyle Fuller, VT | Fuller would add depth to a secondary that needs to stop the pass. |
| 21 | Philadelphia Eagles | QB - David Fales, San Jose State | Fales is not a Eagle QB but the Eagles will not draft in their spot, they will move up or move down. Fales is the next best QB in this draft and will be targetted here. The Browns could be a trade partner here if they pass on a QB with their own pick. |
| 22 | Miami Dolphins | OT - James Hurst, UNC | He has the phisical size of a starting tackle and will be taken in round 1 of this draft. |
| 23 | Cleveland Browns (via Colts) | WR - Sammy Watkins, Clemson | The Browns need weapons that will not drop passes. Watkins isn't the fastest nor is he the biggest but he makes plays and doesn’t drop balls. |
| 24 | San Francisco 49ers | WR - Brandon Coleman, Rutgers | Like many other teams, the 49ers need to surround their QB with weapons, especially to keep the QB from relying on his legs to make plays. |
| 25 | Green Bay Packers | OLB - Kyle Van Noy, BYU | Van Noy would be such a perfect match as a Packer LB. |
| 26 | Kansas City Chiefs | OLB - Adrian Hubbard, Alabama | The Chiefs are going to lose some players to free agency and an easy fix is to draft a position you may lose. |
| 27 | Chicago Bears | MLB - AJ Johnson, Tennessee | Johnson is a disruptive player on defense. He is fast and a great tackler (138 total tackles in 2012). |
| 28 | Cincinnati Bengals | CB - Marcus Roberson, Florida | The Bengals are one of the better defenses in the NFL. They have very few needs. On offense they need the QB, Dalton, to take the nest step as a leader and as a winner. |
| 29 | New England Patriots | G/C - Anthony Steen, Alabama | Patriots will ass depth to the o-line, just another year in New England. |
| 30 | New Orleans Saints | OLB - Ryan Shazier, Ohio State | Shazier is a very border line 1st rounder. We will see how his second half goes however right now Shazier is a very intruiging NFL prospect. |
| 31 | Seattle Seahawks | CB - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon | Seattle has been drafting so well as of late and we expect that to continue. Brandon Browner is a solid player but would make a much better situational corner, if Olomu would be the #2, behind Sherman. |
| 32 | Denver Broncos | OT - Cameron Erving, Florida State | The Broncos spent a lot of money on Clady who missed majority of the season with injury. Chris Clark has stepped up and done a nice job, but this team can't afford not to protect their QB and however many years he has left. |
On-The-Bubble for the First Round:
- DE - Ed Stinson, Alabama
- DE - Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame
- QB - Aaron Murray, Georgia
- QB - Derek Carr, Fresno State
- RB - De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon
- RB - Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona
- QB - AJ McCarron, Alabama
- CB - Jason Verrett, TCU
- CB - Louchiez Purifoy, Florida
- FS - Hasean Clinton-Dix, Alabama
- DT - Anthony Johnson, LSU
- DT - Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota
- G - Gabe Jackson, Miss. State
- G - Cyril Richardson, Baylor
- G - Spencer Long, Nebraska
- DE - Trent Murphy, Stanford
2014 NFL Mock Draft - Take One (September 2013)
| Pick | NFL Team | Player Drafted | Mock Draft Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | QB - Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville | Jags won't budge from this #1 overall pick which they deserve. |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Bucs | DE - Jadeveon Clowney, S. Carolina | With so many 1st round graded QB's in this draft, the Bucs will still have plenty to choose from with the 2nd pick in the 2nd round. |
| 3 | Minnesota Vikings | QB - Tajh Boyd, Clemson | The Vikings aren't playign around and know that time is ticking for Peterson. Ponder didn't develop and was a reach when he was drafted. When the 2013 college football season is oevr and the dust has settled, Boyd will be the second best QB prostpect. |
| 4 | Oakland Raiders | OLB - Anthony Barr, ULCA | The Terell Pryor project continues. The Raiders would have many QB's to kick the tires on, btu they wait another year to see if Pryor develops into a passer. Barr will head into the draft as the second best defensive prospect. |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Steelers | OT - Jake Matthews, Texas A&M | Matthews is just what the Steelers need. If the Steelers don't impriove this o-line quickly, they are going to be drafting higher and might need to start looking at a replacement QB as their current starter might lose his head. |
| 6 | New York Jets | OLB - CJ Mosley, Alabama | CJ Mosely is an absolute beast and a ball hog at LB. At 6'2'' he has 5 career interceptions, 3 of which were returned for a touchdown. In week 2 against Texas A&M he racked up 12 total tackles. |
| 7 | Cleveland Browns | QB - Brett Hundley, UCLA | No one has any clue who the Browns like at QB or their intentions with the QB's on the current roster. They traded away their starting RB for a 1st round pick which gives them ammunition to make a trade to move up. Hundley appears to fit the Norv Turner mold however they could also look at a CB like Bradley Roby here. If they don't think Mitchell Schwartz is a starter, they also have options at RT. |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | OLB - Khalil Mack, Buffalo | Mack is a solid NFL prospect and will get a lot of attention at the NFL combine. If his combine mirrors his speed on the field look for NFL teams to pull the trigger early. |
| 9 | St. Louis Rams | OT - Taylor Lewan, Michigan | Rams need another offensive lineman to keep Bradford upright. |
| 10 | New York Giants | CB - Bradley Roby, Ohio State | Roby is by far the best CB in this draft. The Giants would be very lucky if he slid to pick 10. Almost every team above them could use a CB but no one more than the Giants who through 3 games have given up 7 passing TD's. |
| 11 | Arizona Cardinals | TE - Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Wash | The Cards are expected to spend some early picks on offense. Austin is the #1 TE, and stands at 6'7" which is just the perfect red zone target. |
| 12 | San Diego Chargers | WR - Marqiss Lee, USC | Like Arizona, San Diego will spend picks addressing the offense. |
| 13 | Philadelphia Eagles | QB - Marcus Mariota, Oregon | Oregon coach Chip Kelly drafting his college QB. No QB on the current roster knows Kellys offense like Mariota and why risk someone else drafting him. |
| 14 | Buffalo Bills | WR - Sammy Watkins, Clemson | Yes, the Bills have Johnson and rookie receiver Robert Woods and yes this is not their #1 need. But this would really make a statement that they are committed to EJ and give him every opportunity to succeed. |
| 15 | St Louis Rams (Via Redskins) | G/C - Anthony Steen, Alabama | Rams go OT with their first selection and follow that up with Alabama's Anthony Steen. Steen is versatle on the o-line which is proving to be strategic with the importance of protection. |
| 16 | Miami Dolphins | OT - Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama | Kouandjio is the best tackle and could even go much higher. The 6'6" Jr is an absolute beast on the line and is especially good blocking tough pass rushers. |
| 17 | Detroit Lions | MLB - AJ Johnson, Tennessee | Detroit could be in the mix for a WR here, however they need to stop giving up points. Johnson still needs to prove he is a first rounder and has plenty of time to do so. |
| 18 | Tennessee Titans | DT - Louis Nix, Notre Dame | Nix is the best defensive tackle in this draft and if he came out last year would have been a solid 1st round pick. |
| 19 | Baltimore Ravens | CB - Kyle Fuller, VT | The Ravens need secondary help, if nothing else.. depth. Webb will go against the #1's but Graham can use some help on the other side. |
| 20 | Atlanta Falcons | TE - CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa | The Falcons could make a run at a free agent TE. They are likely to as well because they cannot afford to develop a TE, I still have Atlanta taking a TE for the future. |
| 21 | Cleveland Browns (via Colts) | WR - Allen Robinson, Penn State | The Browns need more weapons on offense. WR seems the most glaring needs beside QB. If the Browns can dodge a bullet avoiding trading both first round picks and upgrading those two needs within the first 21 picks of this draft, that would be huge. |
| 22 | Dallas Cowboys | DT - Will Sutton, Arizona State | The Cowboys have few obvious needs but several areas in which they can upgrade. Will Sutton is quick considering his weight and would be great on that d-line. |
| 23 | Houston Texans | QB - David Fales, San Jose State | Shaub was looking like a franchise QB, and a gun slinging offensive juggernaut in the AFC. Shaub peaked in 2009 with 4770 yards passing and 28 TD's. He has since regressed including a down year in 2010, and injury plauged 2011 seaosn and an up and down 2012 season. This would be a wise decision for Houston who would not immediately need to turn to a young QB with Shaub and could develop under his supervision. |
| 24 | Kansas City Chiefs | WR - Brandon Coleman, Rutgers | The Chiefs rely heavily on the run game with Alex Smith as the "game manager". Adding another solid receiver like Coleman would only help out the offense. Coleman is 6'6" and looks like an incredible NFL prospect. |
| 25 | Chicago Bears | CB - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon | He is a bit short for a CB but he is quick and will get in the heads of opposing receivers. |
| 26 | New England Patriots | DE - Trent Murphy, Stanford | I see New England trading out of this pick to one of the teams that need a QB. Aaron Murray, Derek Carr and AJ McCarron are all 1st round graded QB's. If NE stands pat Murphy is an excelent football player and would fit nicely in the Patriot defense. |
| 27 | New Orleans Saints | OLB - Adrian Hubbard, Alabama | Hubbard has yet to lock down a first round grade, but I have no concerns with that not being the case headed into 2014's draft. The 6'6" Jr. has all the tools to make immediate impact and will be an exceptional situational player. |
| 28 | Green Bay Packers | FS - Hasean Clinton-Dix, Alabama | So many Bama players making it into this first round. Dix sniffs out the ball, he racked up 5 interceptions in 2012 and started in 2011 as a true freshman. |
| 29 | Cincinnati Bengals | OLB - Kyle Van Noy, BYU | Van Noy will move up this board as the football season rolls on. This senior linebacker is NFL ready. As a junior he accounted for 13 QB sacks and 2 interceptions. |
| 30 | San Francisco 49ers | WR - Mike Evans, Texas A&M | The 49ers are going to aggressively attempt to add WR depth to this team however this could very well be one of the worst WR free agent classes in recent years. |
| 31 | Seattle Seahawks | OT - James Hurst, UNC | This is a team that can add depth with very little needs. Hurst is a versatle offensive lineman at 6'7", 300 lbs. |
| 32 | Denver Broncos | OLB - Ryan Shazier, Ohio State | Broncos are going to continue to build the defense. Shazier is excelent against the run and can tackle in open field even at his size. He racked up 115 tackles in 2012. |
Check back each month as we'll continue to update our 2014 NFL Mock Draft outlook.
G/C - Anthony Steen, Alabama
