Mock Draft 15/04/14
Mock Drafts are completely pointless…With that in mind, heres mine.
Been a while since I’ve done one of these. Anyway since my last Mock Draft I had a change of mind on a few things. Some QB’s have impressed and some…haven’t.
1) Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
I give up. He is clearly the top talent in the draft and easily deserves to go no. 1. I still don’t think this is a desperate need for the Texans and if they can move down, I think they do. But if they’re still at no. 1 when calling the 1st name, I think they have to take him. Bortles or Bridgewater could still be an option here too.
2) St Louis Rams: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
The more I thought about this the more I thought this. The Rams need someone now. Robinson is a physical freak but not as NFL ready.
3) Jacksonville Jaguars: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
The Jags were in the market for a no.1 wideout (sorry Justin Blackmon), when they tried to sign Emmanuel Sanders. Now they have to decide if they improve at Receiver with Watkins or Linebacker with Mack. In the end I think they go with the more immediate need, especially if Blackmon keeps playing the fool.
4) Cleveland Browns: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
If Watkins is here, I think this pick changes and once again Mack has to be tempting. But the prospect of picking up a QB that has great potential that can sit behind Hoyer has to be too tempting to miss on.
5) Oakland Raiders: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
There will be a lot of cheering in Oakland if Mack falls this far. A genuine Defensive player to build a franchise around. If the Raiders keep being the Raiders, then Manziel is a possibility here.
6) Atlanta Falcons: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
With revamped lines Robinson could be a great young fit to improve this team for the future and is a physical freak. I would put the Falcons as the no. 1 team that could move up for Clowney, but there will definitely be talent at no. 6.
7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
Having 2 big Receivers would be a great help for McCown and could immediately transform this team into contenders in a tough Division.
8) Minnesota Vikings: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
Yup had a terrible pro-day. But lets not forget, until then he was the no. 1 prospect. Don’t read too much into pro-days.
9) Buffalo Bills: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
Ebron is the top Tight End in the draft and would make the Bills immediately better. The Bills need to see what they can get from Manuel.
10) Detroit Lions: Ha Ha Clinton Dix, FS, Alabama
Might be a little early but it’s a definite need for the Lions, who in my opinion are a decent Secondary away from being contenders.
11) Tennessee Titans: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
Surprise! I would imagine this will be where I draw the most heat. Locker has had a chance to get it done and he can’t. Now with a bit of pressure he has 1 year to prove he can lead this team, if not we can see what Manziel has. Corner is another need here, but a guy that could instantly win games like Manziel has to be tempting.
12) New York Giants: C.J Mosley, ILB, Alabama
A great fit for pretty much any team, who can play anywhere along the line, also a player that will immediately improve a team that is desperate for Linebacker help.
13) St Louis Rams: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma St.
In the Off-Season they lost some talent at Corner in Cortland Finnegan. In comes Justin Gilbert, with Jeff Fisher lighting a fire in him that could make him dominant in both run stopping and coverage. Could be a great fit.
14) Chicago Bears: Aaron Donald , DT, Pittsburgh
The hype behind Donald just keeps growing, to an extent that it might be a bit hopeful for him to fall this far. If he does then he’d be a great fit in the Bears.
15) Pittsburgh Steelers: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan St.
Pittsburgh need to get good on Defence and in position more than at Corner. Dennard is a solid Corner who would work well with the Steelers.
16) Dallas Cowboys: Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville
This team has many holes on Defense. If there is a value D-lineman here then he’s got to go. If not then they could move back. But for the purpose of this draft, they probably take a value Safety who adds some nastiness to Marinelli Defence that could definitely use it.
17) Baltimore Ravens: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
If the Giants go Linebacker, then Lewan is a definite possibility for the Ravens. If not, then they probably go Martin. Corner could be possible too.
18) New York Jets: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio St.
Another “man of the moment”, here. Jets need a Corner who could get the most out of Milliner. If the Jets get 2 top Corners they improve immensely. Obviously Receiver is an option here too.
19) Miami Dolphins: Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
They currently have half an O-line. Martin could fill any gaps for the other half.
20) Arizona Cardinals: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
The Cards could be poised to topple the Niners in the NFC West. Anthony Barr could be the player to put them in the same league as San Francisco and also even the Seahawks.
21) Green Bay Packers: Jace Amaro, TE,Texas Tech
Huge need for the Packers. Finley has proved the usefulness of a Tight End that plays like a Receiver in Aaron Rodgers’ Offence. Amaro could be a huge addition for the resourceful Packers.
22) Philadelphia Eagles: Marqise Lee, WR, USC
If the Eagles manage to pick up Lee here, then DeSean Jackson could be a distant memory. No they don’t play in similar ways but Lee could be a decent No.1 for Chip Kelly.
23) Kansas City Chiefs: Odell Beckham, WR, LSU
There are a surprise number of needs for a team that went unbeaten in the first half of last year. O-line could be an option here if there is anyone of value. If not, give Smith a new weapon that adds an extra dimension to this Offence.
24) Cincinnati Bengals: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
Bengals have a few issues on the Defensive Line, so that’s a possibility here, but also Corner could be looking threadbare before too long. A draft deep with Corners could be too good an opportunity to miss.
25) San Diego Chargers: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
The Chargers drafted ridiculously well last year and it was instrumental to getting them into the Playoffs. But in a Division with Peyton Manning, they need to get better at Corner. Whilst Fuller may be a slight stretch here, it is a definite need. D-line is another option here, but Corner is the real need.
26) Cleveland Browns: Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri
Last season I thought the Defence would be a real strength. Really we only saw it in a few games, so maybe give Pettine some pieces to put in to improve a Defence that needs a kick. Guard could be a possibility here and even Receiver, but the Defence does need a little attention.
27) New Orleans Saints: Dee Ford, DE, Auburn
To get under the Cap and to bring in arguably the no. 1 free agent they had to get rid of a lot of their older players on Defence. Now’s the time to start adding some serious talent to this Defence and help Rob Ryan forge a great Defence.
28) Carolina Panthers: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon St.
They NEED Receivers…plural. That being said, if there is a decent Corner here, then they could fill another desperate need.
29) New England Patriots: Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame
Wilfork is still a Pat, but some back-up wouldn’t hurt. Nix could be a future replacement for Wilfork too, so long as he shows production. QB is also a possibility, but Brady has proved they don’t need to go round 1 for a future signal caller. A half descent Inside Linebacker in this range could see them go that way. Finally moving back could be possible, if they don’t see a player of any value
30) San Francisco 49ers: Ra’shede Hageman, DE, Boise St.
Versatility could be the key here. Hageman could be a great fit as they try to build up their stable of D-linemen, much like in Seattle. It also could be a move to fill the gap of Aldon Smith, depending on what happens with his current situation.
31) Denver Broncos: Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA
Protect Manning. They’ve got better in all the other area’s they needed too through free agency. Now they need to make sure they keep Manning upright.
32) Seattle Seahawks: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama
A project player with endless physical talent. Could be exactly what the current champs need.
If you got this far, then you’ve probably tutted more than once. So hit me up and let me know what you think. My final Mock will be just before the Draft, but I might have another in me before then.
Pip Pip!