2014 NFL Draft Top Pick Power Rankings Week One: Clowney Falling
Aug 31, 2013; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd (10) looks to pass the ball during the second quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
The college football season is officially underway.
On Thursday last week, we got to see defensive end Jadeveon Clowney in action, and he was solid but not spectacular. We saw a breakout game from quarterback Tajh Boyd on Saturday night against the Georgia Bulldogs, granted they lost eight starters on defense.
Then we saw Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater on Sunday carving up the Ohio defense, picking up where he left off last season against the Florida Gators.
Right now, it appears to be a two-horse race for the number one overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, but there are some dark horses you can’t count out. Here are the top candidates right now for the #1 overall pick.
1. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
Stock: UP
Bridgewater was surgical against the Ohio Bobcats–as he should have been. But you can see when a guy just has that ‘it’ factor and Bridgewater has it. He completed 23-of-28 passes for 355 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.
He was absolutely sharp as a tack and had a near-flawless QBR and looked every bit the part of a number one overall selection.
The reason why he is number one is because you can clearly see in the NFL right now there are too many teams with a need at the QB position and Bridgewater may just be the best in college right now.
Dating back to last season, no QB is building more hype than the junior out of Louisville, and he followed up his stellar sophomore finish with a brilliant season opener.
2. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Stock: DOWN
Clowney is still a freak, and is still going to be a top three pick. There’s really no question about that in my opinion. However, the demand for the QB position is too high in the top five this year (potentially) unless a team like the Raiders or Jaguars overachieve.
This is an elite defensive talent who could very well go #2 overall despite the fact that he is probably the better prospect in terms of overall grade.
3. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
Stock: UP
Boyd had a huge game against the Georgia Bulldogs in what could turn out to be the biggest win of his career so far. In his senior season, Boyd is seeking a national title, and he just might have a shot at it.
Clemson is probably the favorite in the ACC at this point, but they have had some let-down games in previous years. This year’s team is hungry, talented, and led by a very good QB.
Boyd’s game against Georgia could be his coming out party as a Heisman candidate as well as a top pick candidate. He completed 18-of-30 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for another 42 yards and two touchdowns.
Boyd has drawn comparisons to Russell Wilson, and if NFL teams could do it over again, I’m sure Wilson would have been a top 10 pick in 2012 as opposed to a third rounder.
Best of the Rest
4. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
5. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M