Todd Salem Final 2014 NFL Mock Draft – 7 May 2014
May 7, 2014 · Todd Salem
1. Blake Bortles 2. Greg Robinson 3. Jadeveon Clowney 4. Johnny Manziel 5. Jake Matthews
| Round 1 | |||||
| 1 |  |
Houston | Blake Bortles | QB | Central Florida |
| Even with the dropping stock of the top quarterbacks in this draft and the seemingly unbreachable top four, Houston’s biggest need is still QB and Bortles seems like the top guy for them. Whether they take him first or trade back and grab him, Bortles will end up a Texan. | |||||
| 2 |  |
St. Louis (from WAS) | Greg Robinson | OT | Auburn |
| With Washington’s pick, the Rams grab their biggest need and the best guy at the position in offensive tackle Greg Robinson. Although his late push up draft boards since the end of the college season is slightly worrisome, Robinson is, by all accounts, a franchise-caliber anchor. | |||||
| 3 |  |
Jacksonville | Jadeveon Clowney | DE | South Carolina |
| Jacksonville lucks into the best player in the draft by Clowney dropping to them at three. This team still has a ton of needs across all levels of its team, but getting the best player is a good start to fixing those holes. | |||||
| 4 |  |
Cleveland | Johnny Manziel | QB | Texas A&M |
| While other options are intriguing, it would be hard to imagine Cleveland passing on a quarterback here if there is one they like. Bridgewater seems like the safer option, but Manziel is the higher-ceiling player who will sell tickets right away. | |||||
| 5 |  |
Oakland | Jake Matthews | OT | Texas A&M |
| Oakland traded for its quarterback in the offseason. Taking Jake Matthews up front solidifies the offensive line and makes the Raiders a pretty interesting offensive team. | |||||
| 6 |  |
Atlanta | Khalil Mack | LB | Buffalo |
| The Falcons will try everything in their power to trade up for Jadeveon Clowney. Of course, having Khalil Mack fall to them at six would be the next best thing. In fact, it could be the better option since it would mean they could keep their other assets. | |||||
| 7 |  |
Tampa Bay | Sammy Watkins | WR | Clemson |
| Arguably one of the top four talents in this draft, Sammy Watkins would be a superb complement to Vincent Jackson in the Tampa Bay passing game. Watkins brings more versatility and a better skill set than Mike Evans. He also fits in better with Jackson, which should make new quarterback Josh McCown pretty happy. | |||||
| 8 |  |
Minnesota | Teddy Bridgewater | QB | Louisville |
| Minnesota may end up with the best quarterback of the bunch in Teddy Bridgewater. Because of bad showings at his pro day and in workouts, Bridgewater has fallen from his previous perch in the top three. However, he was the best quarterback prospect prior to last season and through the 2013 campaign, when actual games were being played on the field. | |||||
| 9 |  |
Buffalo | Taylor Lewan | OT | Michigan |
| Buffalo will consider Mike Evans here as another weapon to add to their running back attack, but Taylor Lewan is the last of the elite offensive tackles available. It would be foolish to pass up on him. | |||||
| 10 |  |
Detroit | Darqueze Dennard | CB | Michigan State |
| Detroit has a strong need at the cornerback position. At 10, they will have their pick of whoever they feel is the best DB. While Justin Gilbert may possess more raw talent, Dennard is the better overall player. | |||||
| 11 |  |
Tennessee | Justin Gilbert | CB | Oklahoma State |
| Tennessee will be left with the “other” corner that Detroit passes on. It may end up being a coup for the Titans that Detroit is the one forced to choose between Dennard and Gilbert, especially if they are happy with either one falling to them. | |||||
| 12 |  |
NY Giants | Eric Ebron | TE | North Carolina |
| After a busy offseason, the Giants are still left with a number of holes. They need depth along the offensive line and at wide receiver. They could use another defensive lineman, as well as linebackers. However, tight end is barren, and Eric Ebron is far and away the best tight end in this draft. | |||||
| 13 | |
St. Louis | Mike Evans | WR | Texas A&M |
| It seems unlikely that Mike Evans would fall to 13 with all the buzz surrounding him. However, the plausible scenario would benefit St. Louis immensely. Even if they have stronger needs than wide receiver, Sam Bradford’s return would be much easier with Robinson in toe along the line and Evans split out wide to catch passes. | |||||
| 14 |  |
Chicago | Aaron Donald | DT | Pittsburgh |
| Chicago’s defense last year was very poor. If one of the top corners drops here, the Bears may consider taking him. However, Aaron Donald is a great pick either way. He is the best interior defensive lineman in this draft. | |||||
| 15 |  |
Pittsburgh | Morgan Moses | OT | Virginia |
| As has been the case for a number of years now, the Pittsburgh Steelers need help along the offensive line. Morgan Moses has seen his stock rise in recent weeks and could hear his name called as early as this selection. Otherwise, the Steelers may be targeting one of the second-tier wide receivers. | |||||
| 16 |  |
Dallas | Calvin Pryor | S | Louisville |
| While the Cowboys are pretty well set on offense, their defense needs some major work, starting with the player they believe to be the top safety in this draft. If that is Calvin Pryor out of Louisville, he will be their selection. The other option is Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, a player slotted similarly to Pryor. | |||||
| 17 |  |
Baltimore | Ha Ha Clinton-Dix | S | Alabama |
| Much like Tennessee and Detroit at 10 and 11 selecting the same position back to back, safeties could go back to back here at 16 and 17, with Dallas getting their choice and Baltimore settling for whoever remains. | |||||
| 18 |  |
NY Jets | Odell Beckham | WR | LSU |
| New York has two major holes on its team: wide receiver and cornerback. They will attempt to fill both holes with their first two selections. Whether that means wide receiver in the first and corner in the second or vice versa depends on who’s available. In this case, Beckham is the selection. | |||||
| 19 |  |
Miami | Zack Martin | OT | Notre Dame |
| The Dolphins will be doing backflips if the draft shakes out like this and Zack Martin is available for them to take at 19. They need an offensive tackle perhaps more than any team needs any position. Furthermore, Martin is the last of the top tier of tackles in this draft. | |||||
| 20 |  |
Arizona | Derek Carr | QB | Fresno State |
| With a very good roster top to bottom, Arizona’s only weakness appears to be at the quarterback position. Carson Palmer is serviceable but nothing special, and he will not be around for more than one or two more seasons. Arizona will use this selection to bring in their QB of the immediate future. | |||||
| 21 |  |
Green Bay | C.J. Mosley | LB | Alabama |
| As the best linebacker in this draft, C.J. Mosley may be gone well before this selection. If he is still around, it will be to the benefit of the Green Bay Packers, who need some help in the linebacker corps. | |||||
| 22 |  |
Philadelphia | Marqise Lee | WR | USC |
| Adding another weapon to this already potent offense would be the dream of Chip Kelly. Marqise Lee is a player who was earlier thought of as a possible top five pick. Injuries and a less than stellar offseason have weakened his stock. However, he would be a great replacement for the departed DeSean Jackson. | |||||
| 23 |  |
Kansas City | Anthony Barr | LB | UCLA |
| Kansas City needs help along both lines. Grabbing one of the best pass rush talents in the draft would be a great start. Anthony Barr, like many others this draft period, has seen his stock fall as scouts and analysts pick apart his weaknesses. He is raw but still deserving of a first-round selection. | |||||
| 24 |  |
Cincinnati | Timmy Jernigan | DT | Florida State |
| If quarterback isn’t the way the Bengals go here, and by all accounts they will not, then they will probably just take the best defensive player available. Timmy Jernigan may be that player. He is a forceful inside tackle, and could be great insurance if Geno Atkins does not return to form. | |||||
| 25 |  |
San Diego | Kyle Fuller | CB | Virginia Tech |
| Other than a weak pass defense, the San Diego Chargers were a very good football team a season ago. Bringing in Kyle Fuller to hopefully take one of the starting corner spots would help out safety Eric Weddle and bring some much needed skill to the backfield. | |||||
| 26 | |
Cleveland (from IND) | Cyrus Kouandjio | OT | Alabama |
| With quarterback addressed with the fourth pick, Cleveland would be smart to beef up its offensive line in front of Johnny Manziel. Cyrus Kouandjio is another one of those players that has seen his stock drop during the draft process and could be a great value pick late in round one. | |||||
| 27 |  |
New Orleans | Jason Verrett | CB | TCU |
| New Orleans may need to look at an offensive skill player at some point in this draft. With Darren Sproles gone and Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham possibly in their final seasons with the team, the Saints may be in for a rude awakening on offense. However, if one of the top corners is still available, in this case Jason Verrett, he is the way to go with this top pick. | |||||
| 28 |  |
Carolina | Brandin Cooks | WR | Oregon State |
| For a team who had so much success last season, the Carolina Panthers are in a world of hurt heading into 2014. They have no upside at wide receiver and are deathly behind the eight ball on the offensive line. Brandin Cooks would be a great snag this late in round one to fill one of those two black holes. | |||||
| 29 |  |
New England | Stephon Tuitt | DE | Notre Dame |
| Wide receiver could be an option for New England here, but Stephon Tuitt is a talented defensive lineman that the Patriots could work into their rotation right away. With questions surrounding Vince Wilfork, Tuitt also possesses the size and strength to possible shift inside in certain formations. | |||||
| 30 |  |
San Francisco | Kelvin Benjamin | WR | Florida State |
| If the draft shakes out like this, San Francisco will do everything in its power to move up a few spots and grab Brandin Cooks. He is the perfect complement to the big, bruising wide receivers they have on the outside. Otherwise, the 49ers will have to settle for Benjamin who is in the same mold as the guys they already have under contract. | |||||
| 31 |  |
Denver | Ryan Shazier | LB | Ohio State |
| Denver made a number of big splashes this offseason. They already have an elite pass offense and manufactured what should be a stupendous pass rush on defense. The back seven of the defense still needs work though. After C.J. Mosley, Ryan Shazier is the only linebacker garnering first round consideration. He is the pick, especially if the top corners are all taken. | |||||
| 32 |  |
Seattle | Antonio Richardson | OT | Tennessee |
| The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks have a deep and talented roster. Areas of concern are limited to the offensive and defensive lines. Big-bodied Antonio Richardson isn’t the top prospect some of the earlier tackles are, but he is a great bet to be a contributor at the back end of the first round who could challenge for a week one starting spot. | |||||
