2014 NFL Mock Draft Update With Trades: Who is Moving Up?
Feb 23, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel runs the 40 yard dash during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Who are the Texans taking number one overall? Clowney question, bro. On a more serious note, the Texans have a tough call here. It’s reportedly down to Clowney or Johnny Manziel, and Houston is faced with a similar decision to the one they had to make in 2006.
2. St. Louis Rams (f/WSH): Khalil Mack, DE/LB, Buffalo
The Rams’ pass rush is already really good. Adding Khalil Mack gives it the potential to be filthy.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
Anything the Jags get from Justin Blackmon in addition to the playmaking ability of Watkins is a bonus. With Mack/Clowney off the board, this is a no-brainer pick almost for the Jags if they are dead set on not taking a QB.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (f/CLE): Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
**TRADE**
The Bucs are not over-stocked on 2014 picks but they could throw a day two pick and a future day two pick the Browns’ way to entice them to move down here. The Browns accumulate some additional picks, and the Bucs get their QB of the future in Johnny Manziel.
5. Oakland Raiders: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
The Oakland Raiders have holes everywhere. They are particularly weak at defensive tackle, where Donald would be a major upgrade. This is one of the hardest workers in the draft and will have an instant impact in Dennis Allen’s unit.
6. Atlanta Falcons: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
The Falcons take the ultra-athletic tackle here to protect the blind side of their franchise quarterback. If Atlanta stays put with this pick, taking an OT seems a no-brainer.
7. Cleveland Browns (f/TB): Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
The Browns get another big pass catcher to pair with Josh Gordon and some of their other intriguing offensive weapons.
8. New York Giants (f/MIN): Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
**TRADE**
The Giants trade a day two pick and another later round pick to swap spots with the Vikes in the first round.
Here they select Taylor Lewan, the second tackle off the board despite Mel Kiper Jr.’s assertion that he could and/or will be a top six pick. This seems like a good spot for the Giants to jump up and get him.
9. Buffalo Bills: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
The Bills take advantage of the fall of Matthews, who can play right or left tackle to start his career but ultimately has the potential to end up as a top level blind side protector in the league.
10. Detroit Lions: Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA
The Lions could go a number of directions here, but pegging Barr in this slot seems to make a ton of sense. He has great potential at the next level and could be a major defensive weapon for them.
11. Tennessee Titans: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
The Titans make a bit of a shocker pick, going with the signal caller from UCF who has drawn comparisons to Ben Roethlisberger, whom new Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt obviously has some significant experience with.
12. Minnesota Vikings (f/NYG): Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
The Vikings are in a good spot here with some of the best defenders still on the board. They take Clinton-Dix, a guy who can pair with Harrison Smith on the back end and get some additional picks along the way.
13. St. Louis Rams: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
The Rams make Fuller the first corner selected in this draft and surprise a few people by going defense with their first two picks. They could opt for an offensive tackle with one of the picks but getting the top two players at LB and CB is an enticing option for St. Louis to jump at.
14. Chicago Bears: Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois
Jimmie Ward has been compared to Kenny Vaccaro, and Chicago’s current situation at safety is an embarrassment. With this pick, Ward would immediately become a fan favorite.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
The Steelers take what many consider to be the top corner in the draft and get a heck of a return man in the process.
16. Dallas Cowboys: Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
Dallas upgrades its front four with the athletic Hageman, who may have more upside than any defensive tackle in the draft.
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17. Baltimore Ravens: Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
Baltimore locks down their right tackle spot with Martin, one of the hottest names in this year’s group of players.
18. New York Jets: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU
The Jets have a tough call here between Beckham and Eric Ebron, but they opt for the electrifying playmaking skills of Beckham, who has a chance to be a top 12 pick when all is said and done.
19. Miami Dolphins: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
The Dolphins have Charles Clay, but Ebron shouldn’t fall this far so they cash in and get an incredibly athletic TE that can split out and create mismatches.
20. Arizona Cardinals: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
The Cardinals are serious about taking a QB early, and here they put their money where their mouth is. Carr has a very strong arm and would be a great developmental guy for this team to work with.
21. Green Bay Packers: C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
The Packers address a need and take the best player available in C.J. Mosley, a hard-nosed linebacker who can play all three downs.
22. San Diego Chargers (f/PHI): Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
**TRADE**
The Chargers swap spots with Philly in the first round, throwing a mid-round pick their way for the rights to draft Dennard and fill their biggest need defensively, arguably.
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
The Chiefs didn’t expect Pryor to be here, so they take the hard-hitting strong safety to pair with Eric Berry on the back end.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
The Bengals take the extremely athletic, hard-working Shazier to line up all over the formation and wreak havoc in the backfield.
25. Philadelphia Eagles (f/SD): Marqise Lee, WR, USC
Philly picks up an extra selection, maybe two, and still gets one of the best receivers in the draft in Marqise Lee, who would be an instant contributor for Chip Kelly’s offense.
26. Cleveland Browns (f/IND): Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
This would be considered a major win if you are the Browns, in my opinion. Getting Mike Evans in a trade down, and then cashing in with the falling Bridgewater late in the first seems like the ideal situation for Cleveland.
27. Houston Texans (f/NO): Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh
**TRADE**
Houston swaps their 2nd rounder and sends a third rounder to the Saints for the right to draft Tom Savage, their QB of the future. This is a risky move but Bill O’Brien puts his eggs in this basket and will have some time to work with one of the hottest prospects leading up to draft weekend.
28. Carolina Panthers: Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia
The Panthers need to fill some holes on their offensive line, and getting Moses here is a great way to rebuild the tackle position on their offensive line.
29. New England Patriots: Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame
Nix’s fall is the Patriots’ gain. This team got some decent play out of their young guys when Vince Wilfork went down last season, but it’s time to start grooming his eventual replacement as the penetrating giant up front.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
The Niners take a bit of a risk on Roby with this selection, but they have done so in the past with some questionable character guys. This is a guy who should start right away for them.
31. Denver Broncos: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
Verrett would be a fantastic addition to the Denver secondary, joining the likes of Aqib Talib, Chris Harris, and Kayvon Webster at the CB position to give Denver a really solid group of playmakers to create more turnovers.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama
The Seahawks get a big, powerful tackle who can fill their void at the right tackle position.