The Armchair Quarterback’s Guide To The NFL: 2014 Mock Draft

The Armchair Quarterback’s 2014 Mock Draft

1. Houston Texans

Jadeveon Clowney – DE – South Carolina

While drafting a quarterback remains an option, I don’t believe any of the three top QBs are truly elite prospects and Jadeveon Clowney is. The ability to pair Clowney with JJ Watt is simply too tempting and will give the Texans a defense that will give every offense in the NFL fits.

2. St. Louis Rams

Greg Robinson – OT – Auburn

The Rams have the luxury of two high first round picks and can use this first one to add Greg Robinson who appears to be an absolute freak at offensive tackle. If Jake Long doesn’t come back he can fill his place and if he does it will give the Rams one of the best pair of tackles in the NFL to protect Sam Bradford.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Johnny Manziel – QB – Texas A&M

Gus Bradley saw first hand how a short but elusive quarterback can succeed when he was in Seattle. Johnny Football would add a dynamic element to the Jacksonville offense while Bradley continues to work on making the Jaguars defense a force. Plus, I’m guessing the front office would like Manziel’s ability to sell tickets both in Jacksonville and overseas when they travel to London.

4. Cleveland Browns

Blake Bortels – QB – Central Florida

The Browns need a quarterback and although the Johnny Football circus seems like a natural pairing with the Browns front office, he’s off the board. I actually like Teddy Bridgewater significantly better than Blake Bortels. Since Cleveland’s front office seems to do whatever seems like the opposite of what I would do that means Cleveland will likely take Bortels.

5. Oakland Raiders

Teddy Bridgewater – QB – Louisville

The Terrelle Pryor experiment just isn’t going to work out and I can’t see them rolling out Matt McGloin for next season. Drafting Teddy Bridgewater would give them the best pure passer in this draft. The Raiders have enough salary cap space to fill their other holes, franchise QBs are just too hard to pass up.

6. Atlanta Falcons

Khalil Mack – OLB/DE – Buffalo

The Falcons would probably love to move up to get Clowney, but they have so many holes to fill that they can’t spare any of their picks. Khalil Mack is a great consolation prize. In fact, in case you haven’t listened to the NFL Network at all this week, Mike Mayock likes Mack better than Clowney (for what that’s worth).

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

CJ Mosley – LB – Alabama

This pick may surprise some people, but think about Lovie Smith’s Chicago teams. He took a team to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman at quarterback on the back of a defense that was built around a great linebacking core. Pairing CJ Mosley with Lavonte David would give them a dynamic duo. Then you add Gerald McCoy up front and Darrelle Revis in the back and you’ve got the start of something great.

8. Minnesota Vikings

Anthony Barr – LB – UCLA

The Vikings would love for one of the top three QBs to fall to them here, but if they don’t I can’t see taking any of the remaining QBs with this pick. They’ll be similarly rated guys available in the second round. With Jared Allen likely on his way out they can use this pick to take one of the elite pass rushing prospects in Anthony Barr so that new coach Mike Zimmer can utilize him in his defense.

9. Buffalo Bills

Sammy Watkins – WR – Clemson

I don’t know that WR is Buffalo’s biggest need, but Watkins is simply too tempting to pass up. Giving EJ Manuel Sammy Watkins to go along with Stevie Johnson and Robert Woods (plus CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson in the backfield) would make the Bills dangerous on offense.

10. Detroit Lions

Justin Gilbert – CB – Oklahoma State

It seems like the Lions have had trouble stopping the pass for decades. The loss of Louis Delmas for cap costs hurts as well. Justin Gilbert appears to be the best defensive back in this draft and his dynamic speed on turf would make him a great pick here.

11. Tennessee Titans

Jake Matthews – OT – Texas A&M

The Titans don’t have to take an OT here, but to get one of the draft’s top prospects at the 11th pick is too tempting to pass up. Jake Matthews would help give Jake Locker the protection he needs to stay healthy.

12. New York Giants

Taylor Lewan – OT – Michigan

The Giants top priority has to be calming Eli Manning down and getting him comfortable in the pocket again. Taylor Lewan is the last of the three elite offensive line prospects in this draft and could protect Manning’s blind side for years to come.

13. St. Louis Rams

Mike Evans – WR – Texas A&M

The Rams use their second pick in the first thirteen to take the incredibly talented Mike Evans. Adding Evans and Robinson would give Sam Bradford every reason to succeed in this make or break season for him. Plus, since Evans is a physical specimen, he’s a great compliment to the small and speedy Tavon Austin.

14. Chicago Bears

Louis Nix III – DT – Notre Dame

This one is pretty simple. The Bears were dead last in the NFL at stopping the run last season. They struggled with their defensive tackle depth. Louis Nix is arguably the most talented run stuffing DT in this draft.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

Darqueze Dennard – CB – Michigan State

Ike Taylor isn’t the player he used to be. The Steelers need a physically gifted corner that can line up against elite level WRs. Darqueze Dennard has the size, speed, and athleticism to be a true #1 CB.

16. Dallas Cowboys

Aaron Donald – DT – Pittsburgh

The Cowboys defense took a big step backwards last season. With DeMarcus Ware banged up their pass rush was ineffective at best. Aaron Donald will give them a good interior pass rush similar to what Jay Ratliff used to do in his prime.

17. Baltimore Ravens

Marqise Lee – WR – USC

The Ravens have financially tied themselves to Joe Flacco for the foreseeable future so they might as well make sure he has the tools to thrive. With Anquan Boldin gone, the Ravens lacked a counterpart for Torrey Smith. I think Marqise Lee with his great route running and hands would be a perfect compliment to the speedy Smith.

18. New York Jets

Eric Ebron – TE – North Carolina

I believe that Geno Smith has the talent to win games at the NFL if he has enough playmakers around him. Last season, the Jets supporting cast was pathetic. Eric Ebron would give Smith a true playmaker and safety valve to go to when things break down.

19. Miami Dolphins

Zach Martin – OL – Notre Dame

This is another no brainer. The Dolphins offensive line is a disaster on a number of levels and they must get it resolved in order to give Ryan Tannehill a chance. Zach Martin is not only the best offensive lineman available, but can play guard or tackle which gives Miami some flexibility.

20. Arizona Cardinals

Kony Ealy – DE – Missouri

The Cardinals would really like an offensive tackle to fall to them here, but with Martin going the previous pick there isn’t one that I see as good value left. They could also use some more pass rush help and Kony Ealy is a great value at this point in the draft.

21. Green Bay Packers

HaHa Clinton-Dix – S – Alabama

The Packers safety situation is one of their biggest areas to fix this offseason. I went with HaHa Clinton-Dix here because I think Green Bay will value his coverage abilities on the back end. The Packers have struggled some in past years to stop the pass, HaHa should help.

22. Philadelphia Eagles

Calvin Pryor – S – Louisville

The top two safeties go off the board in back to back picks. The Eagles could also use safety help with former second round pick Nate Allen on his way out of town. Pryor has the skills to help in both the run and pass game.

23. Kansas City Chiefs

Ra’shede Hageman – DT/DE – Minnesota

This one will catch some people off guard. Most are mocking a WR to KC here, but there will be solid WR prospects still available later on in the draft. Ra’shede Hageman is a big time talent that would both replace free agent to be Tyson Jackson in the starting base 3-4 and at 6’6″ and 310 lbs he could team with fellow physical freak Dontari Poe to form an almost unblockable duo to push the pocket on passing downs.

24. Cincinnati Bengals

Bradley Roby – CB – Ohio State

Bradley Roby has first round ability and measurables. His only problem is that some question his concentration and character. Good thing the Bengals have never let that get in the way of drafting a player they like and they could use help at CB.

25. San Diego Chargers

Ryan Shazier – OLB – Ohio State

I think the Chargers will be looking for a CB and a pass rushing OLB with their top two picks and I like the CB depth better so I think OLB will be the pick here. I considered Auburn’s Dee Ford, but I like Ryan Shazier just a little bit more.

26. Cleveland Browns

Odell Beckham Jr. – WR – LSU

If you combine the speed/hands of Odell Beckham Jr. with the abilities of Josh Gordon and TE Jordan Cameron it gives new QB Blake Bortels some amazing weapons to help him succeed. Now if the front office would just get out of the way and let this team play……

27. New Orleans Saints

Brandin Cooks – WR – Oregon State

The thought of the Saints adding the fastest WR in the draft to go play in the Super Dome with Drew Brees is a little scary. What’s really scary is that Cooks isn’t just a burner, he was a highly productive WR in college.

28. Carolina Panthers

Kelvin Benjamin – WR – Florida State

Steve Smith is something like 47 years old so the Panthers really need to think about getting Cam Newton a new #1 WR. Kelvin Benjamin has the athletic ability to be a huge weapon. They could also use an OT to replace Jordan Gross, but Benjamin is too big of talent to pass up.

29. New England Patriots

Jace Amaro – TE – Texas Tech

Aaron Hernandez is in jail and Rob Gronkowski is always injured so its time to give Tom Brady a new TE weapon to play with. That’s where Jace Amaro comes in. Amaro would instantly be one of the best weapons on the Pats.

30. San Francisco 49ers

Stephon Tuitt – DE – Notre Dame

Most draft pundits have the 49ers taking a CB here, but I think they have a deep enough roster that they can strictly take the best player available and I think that player is Stephon Tuitt. Tuitt would fit nicely as a 3-4 DE and could even be an heir apparent to Justin Smith. His pass rush skills would make for a nice addition to the 49ers sub package rotations.

31. Denver Broncos

Jordan Matthews – WR – Vanderbilt

This is another pick that may surprise some, but I don’t see Denver giving Eric Decker a huge contract this offseason. The four headed monster of Decker, Wes Welker, and both Thomas’s were what made Peyton Manning so deadly. With Decker gone, the Broncos can reload by adding one of the most productive college WRs ever in Jordan Matthews.

32. Seattle Seahawks

Timmy Jernigan – DT – Florida State

Just like San Francisco, Seattle’s roster is deep enough that they can go best player available. An offensive lineman is an option here, but I think Timmy Jernigan is a much better value here than any offensive lineman still available. Plus, Jernigan could nicely fill the hole left by the release of Red Bryant for cap reasons.

Well, that’s it. I’d love to hear your feedback on what you think so feel free to fill up the comments section with your thoughts. Before you do you might want to check out the Armchair QB Odds and Ends of the Week………