Mocking the 2014 NFL Draft

The 79th version of the NFL Draft comes to us May 8-10, from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Since 2010, the First Round of the Draft has been held on Thursday night, with rounds 2 and 3 on Friday and rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday. The prime time move for the first round really amplified the importance of the Draft.

If you’ve been a reader of my blog for any extended period of time, you’ll already know that I absolutely love the NFL Draft. It’s like a springtime version of Christmas to me. I’ll watch every minute of coverage that I can. I’ll read as many mock drafts as I can find. I know they don’t mean anything, but they’re often closer to the truth than we give them credit for.

And I like to make my own predictions for how I think things will go down once the Draft begins. As such, here’s my prediction for the top ten picks. I’m not mocking any trades in this round of predictions. If I were, I can name at least two teams I think are willing to move up after coveted players.

1. Houston Texans (2-14):

The Texans really need a quarterback. Matt Schaub is gone and there’s not really anyone else on the roster than can serve as a franchise guy. This draft is deep with QBs, but no single quarterback has distanced himself from the pack. Unlike a couple of years ago, when Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were, far and away, the top QBs in the Draft, this year’s class has several QBs that are now almost interchangeable on any team’s depth chart. The Texans have also, apparently, fallen in love with South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney. There really is such an embarrassment of riches in this class that it would be hard for Houston to make a bad pick.

With the first overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans select…Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end, South Carolina.

Alternate Pick: Houston could trade out of this spot and gain more picks later. The obvious choice to trade up is probably Atlanta. Rumor is the Falcons could move up by swapping firsts this year, a 2014 3rd Round pick, a 2015 1st Round pick, and maybe a lower pick this year or next. If the Texans decide to pick a QB first overall, the likely target is Central Florida QB Blake Bortles.

Jadeveon Clowney Delivers a Monster Hit

2. St. Louis Rams (7-9) (*pick from Washington, 3-13)

St. Louis has a lot of power in the Draft this year, seeing as they control a lot of picks. They could move around the Draft almost anywhere they wanted to go. However, they have several areas of need themselves, as evidenced by a 7-9 record. Sam Bradford needs more weapons if he is to ever be an effective quarterback. The defense could always use more strength on the edge. Depending on what Houston does, the Rams could trade out of the second slot. If Houston takes a QB, Atlanta and others may start quickly calling Rams GM Les Snead in an effort to trade up.

With the second overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select…Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson.

Alternate Pick: Barring the Rams trading out of this spot, one of the big Des is the likely pick. Clowney would be great for St. Louis, but the other option in mind here is Khalil Mack, DE, Buffalo. Some mocks have Mack as the actual pick, but I think St. Louis would rather upgrade Sam Bradford’s complement of WRs. 

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)

The options available to Jacksonville at this point are vast. Like Houston or St. Louis, trading down is a big possibility, as the QB Jacksonville reportedly likes will likely be a second rounder anyway. You can always take the best available player in this slot (which is what I’m mocking). Jacksonville needs so much help in so many places…they’re basically Cleveland South. Take the best player on the board and pray your QB is there in round 2, Jags.

With the third overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select…Khalil Mack, DE, Buffalo.

Alternate Pick: A QB has to come off the board at some point. Jacksonville needs to sell tickets. Why not kill two birds with one stone and draft Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel?

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

Oh, Cleveland…whatever did you do to deserve such horrid sports history? Here you are picking in the top ten again, as you have every years since 2008. I don’t think the Jets or Falcons will bail you out on a trade this year, unfortunately. The best thing you can do is try to draft a true franchise Quarterback. Of course, you’ve done that very thing twice in the last six years and it’s not really paid off yet. Still, give it another try, Browns. At some point you have to stop being a factory of sadness.

With the fourth overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select…Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida.

Alternate Pick: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State. Apparently Cleveland is not sold on Manziel or Bridgewater.

5. Oakland Raiders (4-12)

If Al Davis were still with us I would say that Kent State RB Dri Archer would go here, as he ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine and Al Davis loved him some speed. He’s fast. But that’s not happening. No offense to Mr. Archer. Oakland landed former Houston QB Matt Schaub, but that doesn’t mean the Raiders aren’t eyeing a QB at this spot. There are some big name QBs left on the board. The Raiders may just make the move that others are reluctant to make…

With the fifth overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select…Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M.

Alternate Pick: Keeping with the QB theme, Oakland may turn to Louisville signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater.

Johnny Football

6. Atlanta Falcons (4-12)

If ever there was a team with aspirations of moving up in the draft, this is it. Atlanta really loves Jadeveon Clowney, and they’re pretty enamored with Khalil Mack. Both are good choices, but neither looks to be available at #6. That does not mean the world is ending for the Falcons. In fact, it very well may be the best thing that could happen to the birds. Atlanta’s offensive line was terrible at times in 2013. If they can make that line better in one draft pick, why not do it. Word on the street is that they guy they’re getting might be the best all-around athlete in this draft, considering his position and size.

With the sixth overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select…Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn. (NOTE: Mel Kiper now has the Falcons taking Michigan OT Taylor Lewan. I happen to think Lewan has too many off-field issues for Atlanta to take.)

Alternate Pick: Seeing as the big DEs are gone, the alternate pick here becomes Texas A&M OT Jake Matthews.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)

The Bucs traded away one of their better receivers in the offseason. So it’s easy to slot a WR into this pick. The best receiver in the draft, Sammy Watkins, is already off the board in this mock, so Tampa Bay takes the next best thing.

With the seventh overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select…Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M.

Alternate Pick: I wouldn’t be shocked if Tamps took a QB at this point, but there are good QBs to be had in almost every round of this draft. Considering what is still on the board in this mock, the QB most likely taken here is probably Teddy Bridgewater, out of Louisville. As the draft wears on, don’t be surprised is someone in the first round stretches for Easter Illinois QB Jimmy Garoppolo.

8. Minnesota Vikings (5-10-1)

If the draft does in fact shake out the way I’m predicting, then from the moment the commissioner calls out Mike Evans’s name on Tampa Bay’s pick, Minnesota should already be heading to the podium. The Vikes, more than almost anyone else, are dying for a franchise QB. In my mock, they can stand pat and not have to trade up and still land the guy who, just a few months ago, was being projected as the first overall pick.

With the eighth overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select…Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville.

Alternate Pick: If this draft goes as I’m predicting, there isn’t another alternate here. Basically, for Minnesota, the first round pick has to be a QB.

9. Buffalo Bills (6-10)

Buffalo would love for one of the big DEs to fall to them, but that doesn’t look likely. Barring that, they’d love one of the big OTs to fall to them. Also unlikely. So they are stuck looking for the best player available to fit their needs. They could go after the next best OT or they could settle for the draft’s best TE. They needs weapons for QB EJ Manuel, so the TE option looks most likely.

With the ninth overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select…Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina.

Alternate Pick: Should Buffalo decide to take the next best OT, then the name called will be Michigan’s Taylor Lewan.

10. Detroit Lions (7-9)

What in the world is Detroit going to do? Some mocks have them trading up to #2 to land Sammy Watkins (imagine Watkins opposite Calvin Johnson with Matthew Stafford slinging it to them…scary, right?). Now, I’ve seen just about every possible combination of mocks out there, but there is one move I’ve not seen anyone mocking. So I’ll go out on a limb and do it. Detroit needs some help in the defensive secondary. They could take a cornerback here and be happy, as Bradley Roby (Ohio State) and Justin Gilbert (Oklahoma State) fit the bill. But what about the Safety position?

With the tenth overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select…Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Safety, Alabama. (NOTE: I honestly have not seen anyone mocking this until the time of this writing, and I've now learned that ESPN's Mel Kiper is making this pick in his latest mock draft.)

Alternate Pick: Detroit supposedly is okay at cornerback. A monster like Clinton-Dix on that defense means good things. If they did go CB, I could only see them taking Okie State’s Justin Gilbert.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Adds Insult to Injury Against Notre Dame