Sunday, May 4, 2014

Mock Draft (4.0)

1.  Houston Texans:  Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina
Baring some team throwing the kitchen sink at Houston, the Texans will stay here and likely take Clowney. Even without being a good fit in the Texans defense, Clowney gives them the pass rusher they need.

2.  Atlanta Falcons: Khalil Mack OLB Buffalo
When it comes to the Falcons drafting we know that when Thomas Dimitroff wants a player he gets him. The Falcons need a edge rusher and since they can't get Clowney he'll get Mack who'll thrive in the Falcons 3-4 defense.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Sammy Watkins WR Clemson
Even if Mack was here I think they would have gone with Watkins.  They've add so many pieces on defense and need help on offense.  Add in GM David Caldwell stated Blackmon might not play this season and it makes this pick all the more likely.

4. Cleveland Browns:  Derek Carr QB Fresno State
For all indications Carr is the Browns top choice at QB. They is a chance they trade down and get him later, but they may feel that they have to take him here to get him.

5. Oakland Raiders:  Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh
If you think I'm crazy for this pick think about last year when they took DJ Hayden with the 13th pick. Donald is highly regarded and won't get out of the top ten. Head Coach Dennis Allen loves to get pressure out of the front four and Donald will help them do that.

6. St. Louis Rams: Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M
After the Raiders pick and now St. Louis passing up Greg Robinson you probably think I'm crazy.  However lets not forget that teams pick players they know. Head Coach Jeff Fisher's roommate at USC was Jake's dad who he also with Fisher in Houston and Tennessee for years.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Mike Evans WR Texas A&M
I believe they could take Johnny Manziel here, but he just doesn't seem like a Lovie Smith type of player. Instead look for the Bucs address the WR position where they are very thin outside of Vincent Jackson. Gives McNown two big WRs like he had in Chicago.

8. Minnesota Vikings: Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma State
Don't see the Vikings taking a QB here at eight, they'll go after Zach Mettenburger in the second round. Instead look for new coach Mike Zimmer to look for a piece on defense. They'd love Mack and could chose Anthony Barr, but Gilbert could be too much to pass up to face off against the tall corners in the division.

9. Buffalo Bills: Greg Robinson OT Auburn
Head Coach Doug Marrone wants to run the ball and would be estatic to get Robinson here.  But I think what happens is the Bills move up to get him if he falls past the sixth pick.  Robinson could start at right tackle as a rookie before eventually moving to LT.

10. Detroit Lions: Odell Beckham WR LSU
All signs point to the Lions taking a WR with their first round pick. They'd love to get Watkins but would have to move up to two to get him.  Instead they'll have to go with Beckham who is a pretty good fallback candidate.

11.  Tennessee Titans:  Anthony Barr OLB UCLA
With the Titans moving to the 3-4 under DC Ray Horton they need a pass rushing OLB badly.  Add in that former UCLA DC Lou Spanos is now on the Titans staff.  QB could be an option, but they could wait till round two.

12. New York Giants: Zach Martin OL Notre Dame
A draft full of surprises has another one with Martin going ahead of Taylor Lewan.  However the Giants will pass on Lewan because of off the field concerns. Martin will get a look at LT, but could end up being the solution at guard or even center for a team that loves to run the ball.

13. St. Louis Rams: Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix S Alabama
One thing we know about Jeff Fisher coached teams is they need to have good safety play.  TJ McDonald looks to be set at the strong safety spot, but what about the free?  Enter Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix who has the range to play deep in coverage or match up with tight ends and slot receivers.

14. New York Jets: Eric Ebron TE North Carolina
If Ebron starts to fall I really see the Jets moving up to get him.  They missed out on the guy they wanted last year and won't let it happen again.  The Jets used the TE quite a bit last year and just imagine what they could do with Ebron.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan State
Wide Receiver has been a hot pick for the Steelers, but with Beckham gone they likely wait till round two. Dennard is the top corner according to some teams and his physicality and playing style fits the Steelers mold.

16:  Dallas Cowboys: Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M
Where Johnny Football goes is a complete mystery to me.  He could go to the Browns at four or could fall into the second round.  But if he's here at 16 it's going to be very hard for the Cowboys to pass on him and I just don't think Jerry Jones can do it.

17.  Baltimore Ravens:  Brandin Cooks WR Oregon State
Baltimore always ends up with somebody whose ranked higher and they fall into their lap.  That could happen here.  But trying to figure out who that is is going to be tough. I could see them taking Cooks here who gives Flacco a deep threat that even he can't over throw.

18. Chicago Bears: Calvin Pryor S Louisville
With Aaron Donald gone I don't see the Bears drafting a defensive tackle.  Safety has been a big issue for the Bears and they let Major Wright leave without a fight.  They'll give Conte another shot at the FS spot, but Pryor allows them to continue to mix their safeties back and forth like they did last year.

19. Miami Dolphins: Taylor Lewan OT Michigan 
He could easily go to the Falcons at pick #6, but he could also fall this far because of teams needs.  But I don't see him falling past the Dolphins who need offensive line help. Lewan would start day one at right tackle and his ability to pass protect will fit in well with the Dolphins who want to chuck the ball around the field.

20. Arizona Cardinals:  Blake Bortles QB UCF
I've really come around on the Cardinals taking Bortles here.  One hand the Cardinals just missed out on making the playoffs, but Bortels fits what Arians likes in a QB and with Palmer having maybe one more year it could be a good thing to have Bortles sit and learn.

21. Green Bay Packers:  CJ Mosley LB Alabama
To some CJ Mosley falls here, to me this is right in his range. I still have questions about Mosley getting off blocks.  However I do think he fits perfectly with the Packers who need somebody next to AJ Hawk and Mosley's experience in the 3-4 will help him make an impact right away.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech
I don't see the Eagles take a WR here. If you remember Chip Kelly's teams at Oregon it was his RBs not the WRs that were the focal point of his offense.  Instead they'll go defense and Kelly wants tall athletic guys. That fits Fuller who could give them that #1 CB they need.

23. Kansas City Chiefs:  Marqise Lee WR USC
Andy Reid's draft tendencies tend to be lineman and receivers.  So they could go with a Guard out of nowhere, but I think they end up going receiver and give Alex Smith some help.  Lee's numbers weren't as good as many would have thought, but he gives them a player who can work the short to intermediate routes and help take some pressure off Bowe.

24. Cincinnati Bengals:  Deone Buccanon S Washington State
Bradley Roby could very well be this pick as rumors are flying.  However safety is a bigger need because their average at best.  Big safeties are in vogue and Buccanon will bring up comparisons to Kam Chancellor. Buccanon can play both free and strong safety and his size fits with what the Bengals like.

25. San Diego Chargers:  Bradley Roby CB Ohio State
This pick could be a receiver or cornerback, but I believe a corner is a bigger need.  They did finish 29th in pass defense after all.  Roby is high on a lot of teams boards (not mine) and would be an upgrade over everybody they currently have.

26. Cleveland Browns:  Ryan Shazier LB Ohio State
Where the Browns go with this pick is up in the air.  WR could be an option but they could wait till the second round to get a quality talent.  They are rumored to like Khalil Mack at 4 and that could lead them to taking Shazier who can run and tackle with the best of them.

27. New Orleans Saints:  Dee Ford OLB Auburn
Bringing in Rob Ryan has brought back the swagger for the Saints defense.  However they need help at outside linebacker and have shown a lot of interest with Dee Ford.  Ford has experience standing up and his athletic ability will come in handy.

28. Carolina Panthers:  Cyrus Kouandjio OT Alabama
For a team that was one of the best teams in the NFC to have this many holes is pretty remarkable. WR is a huge need, but they've made it clear that protecting Cam is top priority.  Kouandjio will get a look at LT right away, but at worst he's their new right tackle.

29. New England Patriots:  Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE Washington
This is a prime spot for a team to move up to get somebody and possibly a quarterback.  However if the Patriots stand pat they could nab Seferain-Jenkins who many believe is more complete than Eric Ebron. New England wants to continue to run two tight ends and ASJ will complement Gronkowski well.

30. San Francisco 49ers:  Corey Latimer WR Indiana
San Francisco is one of those teams that makes unique draft picks and everybody gives them the benefit of doubt because they end up hitting on more than half of them. One thing that has really held the 49ers back is they lack a deep therat.  That's Latimer's strong suit and his size and speed could really help take some pressure of their running attack.

31. Denver Broncos: Ja'Wuan James OT Tennessee
James has been a hot name for the Dolphins at 19, but I don't see that being the pick.  But he seems to be a good fit for the Broncos and they won't get him in the second round.  James is a good pass blocker and he'll allow them to move Franklin inside to guard.

32. Seattle Seahawks:   Joel Bitonio OT Nevada
The biggest wildcard team out there are the Seahawks.  They go for fit and not necessarly to the value most people have.  So who knows who they take here.  But it's hard to ignore the fit that Bitonio has.  His profiles very well to the zone blocking scheme the Seahawks run and with they declining James Carpenter's 5th year option makes this all the more likely.

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