2014 NFL Mock Draft: Final look where future fantasy football stars will end up

With the 2014 NFL Draft just a mere hours away, it’s time to take a look at my final 2014 NFL Mock Draft of the season.

Unlike some drafts in the past, this one really has a lot of unpredictability about it as from the first pick on down to the final pick, anything can happen as nothing appears to be set in stone.

Nov 16, 2013; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end

(7) leaves the field following their 19-14 win over the Florida Gators at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit:

-USA TODAY Sports

With the depth in this draft I expect to see a lot of movement in the first round.

But let’s take one final look at predicting where the future fantasy football stars will end up.

With that being said let’s get right into it as the Houston Texans are on the clock.

1. Houston Texans

Player Name: Jadeveon Clowney
Position, School: DE, South Carolina

The Texans need a franchise signal caller and in a draft that is top heavy at the position it makes sense for new head coach Bill O’Brien to target his quarterback of the future. However with none of the quarterbacks separating themselves and worthy of the No. 1 pick, I expect the Texans to take the best player on the board if they can’t move out of the spot.

That guy is Clowney.

Clowney that has the rare blend of speed, strength and potential rarely seen in a prospect will turn out to be a steal. It is not often that a Lawrence Taylor-type of prospect is on the board and Clowney is that rare type of player. If the Texans stay at No. 1, which I doubt they do, the pick is easy.

2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington)

Player Name: Greg Robinson
Position, School: OT, Auburn

If the Rams stay here they can go multiple directions, including Buffalo’s Khalil Mack. However I look for them to make the safe pick in Robinson.

Aside from perhaps Clowney, Robinson is the most physically impressive prospect in this class. His performance at the Combine was outstanding and his stock is way up. St. Louis needs to get more physical in the offensive trenches, and Robinson will certainly help with that. It doesn’t hurt that he possibly has more upside than anyone else in the draft.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Player Name: Khalil Mack
Position, School: LB, Buffalo

With Clowney off the board, the Jaguars could use a quarterback here or just take the best player on the board. To me the decision comes down to Mack or Sammy Watkins.

Jacksonville needs a playmaker in the worst way with Justin Blackmon’s troubles, but ultimately I think they will lean towards the disruptive Mack.

The Jags could use a solid tackler and use a dynamic pass-rusher. Mack is a three-down player who can make an impact right off the bat.

4. Cleveland Browns

Player Name: Sammy Watkins
Position, School: WR, Clemson

The temptation is here to take Johnny Manziel, but the Browns will elect to target a playmaker like Watkins and get their future quarterback later on.

Watkins gives the Browns a dynamic talent, a player who really can help any quarterback. They surely could use Watkins’ size and speed combination opposite Josh Gordon.

Nov 2, 2013; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Mike Evans (13) warms up before a game against the UTEP Miners at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

5. Oakland Raiders

Player Name: Mike Evans
Position, School: WR, Texas A&M

The Raiders elect to get new quarterback Matt Schaub a weapon.

Evans is a big body (6’5″, 225) who the Raiders could use and one that would probably flourish in single coverage against second-tier corners. He uses excellent size and ball skills to be a threat all over the field and will be a great fit for this Oakland offense.

The Raiders could elect to go with one of the top offensive tackles left on the board, but they haven’t had a playmaker at wide receiver in a long time.

6. Atlanta Falcons

Player Name: Taylor Lewan
Position, School: OT, Michigan

I doubt that the Falcons stay here, but if they do, there biggest need is a franchise caliber tackle to protect Matt Ryan. The pick is between Lewan and Jake Matthews and I’m giving a slight nod to Lewan.

Lewan is a prototypical left tackle who has the strength and long arms needed to hold the edge and protect Ryan’s blindside.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Player Name: Johnny Manziel
Position, School: QB, Texas A&M

I am too tempted to throw a curveball here and have the Bucs take Manziel.

They could use a dominant defensive tackle like Aaron Donald, but Lovie Smith is reportedly in love with “Johnny Football” and the temptation to get their signal caller of the future will be too great to pass on.

Manziel brings a high upside player at the most important position and plenty of excitement to the franchise. The Bucs are pretty solid on defense and make the splashy pick here.

8. Minnesota Vikings

Player Name: Aaron Donald
Position, School: DT, Pittsburgh

The Vikings could pull the trigger on Blake Bortles here, but I don’t see it with Donald still on the board.

They also could look at one of the top corners available, but they need a disruptive defensive tackle and Donald certainly fits that bill.

Donald can make an early impact and improve what was an awful defense last season.

9. Buffalo Bills

Player Name: Jake Matthews
Position, School: OT, Texas A&M

The rise of Robinson and Lewan is good news for the Bills as they get a tackle in Matthews that can start on either side right away. Matthews played right tackle for two seasons at Texas A&M while Luke Joeckel held down the blind side. It’s that versatility that makes this blue-chip prospect so intriguing as he could step in right away and play on either side.

Dec 7, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Darqueze Dennard (31) reacts after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Big 10 Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Michigan State defeats Ohio State 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

10. Detroit Lions

Player Name: Darqueze Dennard
Position, School: CB, Michigan State

The Lions could look at a wide receiver or tight end here, but cornerback and safety are the two biggest needs for Detroit right now.

That being said, they take the top corner on the board and get a good one in Dennard, who is very physical in run support and looked like a true shutdown corner at various points during the 2013 season.

He’s a pick that make sense and fills a huge need for the Lions.

11. Tennessee Titans

Player Name: Anthony Barr
Position, School: LB, UCLA

Barr is an outstanding athlete who will fit very nicely into new Titans’ head coach Ken Whisenhunt’s 3-4 scheme. He played defense for the first time in 2012, after being a former running back, and made an instant impact, recording 13 sacks.

He had 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks this past season. Barr has the speed and strength to come off the edge and is also decent in coverage, although he could stand to improve there some. The Titans can’t go wrong with this pick.

The temptation to take Bortles is here but I like the upside of Barr and he makes some sense for the Titans here.

12. New York Giants

Player Name: Eric Ebron
Position, School: TE, North Carolina

The Giants have a need on the defensive line but with Donald off the board, there is a huge drop off between him and the next best DT.

They also could beef up on the offensive line, but with the top three tackles already off the board, the G-Men elect to get Eli Manning a weapon.

New York could use a tight end and Ebron is an athletic guy who excels at working the hashes. He has the speed of a wide receiver in a tight end’s body, and showed improvement as a blocker and route-runner last season. Ebron is a Vernon Davis clone who could do big things in the Big Apple.

13. St. Louis Rams

Player Name: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Position, School: S, Alabama

Sure the Rams could use a wide receiver here, but there is also a big need at safety. Their defense came on at the end of last season, but they really need a safety to pair with T.J. McDonald.

Clinton-Dix give the Rams a player with great range and the ability to cover in a division where you need safeties with good instincts.

He has the size to be a hitter and the speed to play in coverage. He’s a dynamic three down player who has the talent to excel in any scheme right off the bat.

Aug 31, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback

(4) warms up before a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

14. Chicago Bears

Player Name: Justin Gilbert
Position, School: CB, Oklahoma State

With Clinton-Dix off the board, the Bears could target a safety like Calvin Pryor, but they likely should target either the cornerback spot or the defensive line here.

Donald is also off the board so the decision is rather easy and they take the next best corner on the board in Gilbert.

He’s big at 6’0″ and 200 pounds but also plays with the closing speed to attack the ball. Gilbert could become a No.1 corner early in his career and is a safe pick here for the Steelers.

Chicago was able to re-sign Tim Jennings, but Charles Tillman‘s contract is expiring soon. The Bears have to deal with Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford twice per year, so targeting a solid corner like Gilbert makes sense.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

Player Name: Kyle Fuller

Position, School: CB, Virginia Tech

Truth be told I would like to see the Steelers trade down, but if they stay here the choice is likely between Fuller and LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

I’m giving the nod to Fuller as he is the type of physical corner that the Steelers typically target.

Adding a long, rangy athlete like Fuller would help the Steelers a ton. They need a corner badly and Fuller is a pretty good option here.

Fuller is a good fit because he is willing and capable in run support in addition to having exceptional ball skills and very good instincts. Pittsburgh could opt to trade down a few spots and still get him, but he isn’t too much of a reach at No. 15.

16. Dallas Cowboys

Player Name: Calvin Pryor
Position, School: S, Louisville

The Cowboys would love a defensive lineman here and would love to see Donald fall to them.

That isn’t going to happen and they have to target a playmaker on defense.

Pryor is the best defensive player left on my board and his fierce hitting style and aggressive coverage tendencies are perfect for the Dallas defense. More importantly he fills a huge need.

17. Baltimore Ravens

Player Name: Morgan Moses
Position, School: OT, Virginia

Even though Baltimore re-signed Eugene Monroe they lost Michael Oher and could use another tackle to protect Joe Flacco.

Moses is a prototypical left tackle who has the strength and long arms needed to hold the edge and protect Flacco’s blindside.  He performed better at left tackle at Virginia than he did at right tackle, so the Ravens could be landing their left tackle of the future here.

Nov 23, 2012; Fayetteville, AR, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) runs after a catch against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. LSU defeated Arkansas 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

18. New York Jets

Player Name: Odell Beckham Jr.
Position, School: WR, LSU

The Jets need a weapon for either Geno Smith or Michael Vick and they get a gift that Beckham is still on the board.

The LSU product is a productive target that could make either Jets quarterback and the New York offense a little more offense potent.

He is polished and has the speed to make plays after the catch and is one of the more sure-handed receivers in the draft.

19. Miami Dolphins

Player Name: Zack Martin
Position, School: OL, Notre Dame

The Dolphins need to upgrade on the offensive line and Martin is a good fit coming off an outstanding Senior Bowl. He has short arms but could be used at left tackle, but even if not he could be a stud guard for years.

20. Arizona Cardinals

Player Name: Blake Bortles
Position, School: QB, UCF

Bruce Arians’ Cardinals were a surprise last season and while they have some needs, they aren’t dire ones that they can’t target later in the draft.

They can afford to target their signal caller of the future here as they don’t have a good No. 2 behind Carson Palmer, who will turn 35 during the 2014 season.

Bortles could turn out to be a steal this late as the UCF product was once thought of as a potential No. 1 overall pick.

21. Green Bay Packers

Player Name: C.J. Mosley
Position, School: LB, Alabama

Mosley is a steal here for the Packers. They can go defensive end, linebacker or safety position at No. 21 and Mosley is the best player on the board right now.

Green Bay just needs more speed in the middle of its defense and Mosely is a very quick linebacker and a tackling machine. The opportunity to add a linebacker the quality of Mosley will pay dividends down the road.

Oct 19, 2013; Berkeley, CA, USA; Oregon State Beavers wide receiver

(7) runs with the ball to score a touchdown against the California Golden Bears during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

22. Philadelphia Eagles

Player Name: Brandin Cooks
Position, School: WR, Oregon State

The wide receiver position is one of need for Chip Kelly’s team after the release of DeSean Jackson. Fortunately for them they have plenty of options to choose from at this point.

Going defense is still an option, but Cooks can be a dynamic element to the Eagles’ passing game. He’s an elite athlete that can both run past defenders and do well in tight spaces. It could be hard to pass on him here.

23. Kansas City Chiefs

Player Name: Marqise Lee
Position, School: WR, USC

The Chiefs need a weapon opposite Dwayne Bowe and get a steal here with Lee. The USC product is a productive target that could make Alex Smith and the Kansas City offense potent.

While Lee isn’t the biggest or most physical receiver, he has the ability to dominate. The junior is extremely fast and can burn defenses with speed that is too difficult to cover.  He also is a very polished route runner and would be a great value pick here.

Paired with Bowe and an already dominant running game, the Chiefs could have a potent offense rather quickly.

24. Cincinnati Bengals

Player Name: Bradley Roby
Position, School: CB, Ohio State

The Bengals need a corner badly and Roby is a pretty good option here.

Roby was recently arrested and has some other character issues, but the Bengals are one of the teams that apparently don’t care about stuff like that.

He has the natural physical tools to develop into a very good NFL cornerback. Cincinnati has rolled the dice with players with character issues before and players such as Vontaze Burfict and Carlos Dunlap have produced good results.  They won’t shy away from Roby and he fills a big need.

25. San Diego Chargers

Player Name: Jason Verrett
Position, School: CB, TCU

The Chargers need to upgrade the cornerback position badly as they simply cannot go into 2014 with Richard Marshall and Shareece Wright as its starters. Verrett isn’t the biggest cornerback on the board but he makes up for that with physical play against the run and in coverage.

Verrett has the man-coverage skills teams are in love with, and he brings the hands and range to be a turnover machine at the cornerback position.

Dec 28, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) rushes with the ball during the second half of the Russell Athletic Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports

26. Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis)

Player Name: Teddy Bridgewater
Position, School: QB, Louisville

The Browns added a dynamic playmaker at No. 4 and now get their quarterback of the future and it is a great pick.

I’m still very high on Bridgewater and apparently so are the Browns.

There’s not a more consistent or accurate quarterback in the draft and Bridgewater will be going into a good situation where he will be surrounded by weapons and may not have to play right off the bat.

27. New Orleans Saints

Player Name: Ryan Shazier
Position, School: LB, Ohio State

The Saints made the transition to a 3-4 defense quite successfully this past season under Rob Ryan, but rushing the passer was still a weakness.

Shazier is a disruptive defender capable of wreaking havoc off the edges as a pass rusher. He’s a guy that always seems to play faster than everyone else on the field and could be a nice fit in New Orleans.

28. Carolina Panthers

Player Name: Joel Bitonio
Position, School: OT, Nevada

The need for an offensive tackle is here, so is the need for a weapon for Cam Newton.

However the Panthers can grab a good receiver later and priority No. 1 should be protecting their franchise quarterback.

Bitonio is a versatile tackle who moves well in pass protection and is a relentlessness run-blocker as well.

29. New England Patriots

Player Name: Ra’shede Hageman
Position, School: DT, Minnesota

I have had Texas Tech Jace Amaro here every mock for New England, but am leaning more to the defensive line now.

Defensive tackle is a need area for the Patriots, with a pair of veteran players in Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly coming off serious injuries.

Hageman has a chance to be elite as he has a solid combination of height, weight and athleticism. He is a project, but the Pats have time to groom him.

Jan 6, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers during the second half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

30. San Francisco 49ers

Player Name: Kelvin Benjamin
Position, School: WR, Florida State

San Francisco’s group of cornerbacks isn’t very strong, as Carlos Rogers has declined at age 32, but I look for them to target a wide receiver here.

Benjamin is a steal this late and is a tall target that could add another dimension for Colin Kapernick and the San Francisco offense.

However the Niners have a ton of picks in this draft and I wouldn’t put it past them to package some of those and move up.

31. Denver Broncos

Player Name: Stan Jean-Baptiste
Position, School: CB, Nebraska

The Broncos could target a pass rusher here, but they also need secondary help pretty badly.

Jean-Baptiste is rising up draft boards and likely will sneak into the latter end of the first round.

He’s the top ranked corner I have left and has a ton of upside and could come right in and challenge for a starting spot opposite Aqib Talib.

32. Seattle Seahawks

Player Name: Stephon Tuitt
Position, School: DE, Notre Dame

The Super Bowl champs look like a team with very few needs, but with free agency coming up, there could be some holes created on the defensive line.

They have a tendency to select the best available player on the board and fortunately Tuitt also fills a need. He brings both size and quickness and Seattle doesn’t have the same depth on the defensive line that it did in the midst of the Super Bowl run.

Tuitt can be both an effective run-stopper and a disruptive power pass-rusher and should fit in rather nicely on an already dominant Seattle defense.