Home Articles/Editorials 2014 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

2014 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

My second mock draft is coming right off the heels of a very entertaining NFL Combine. I’m not going to go into the details of the weekend. Instead, I’ll just jump right into the mock draft and point some things out as I go forward.

1. Houston Texans – Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – The only reason I have Johnny Football here instead of Teddy Bridgewater is because Teddy didn’t do anything at the combine. Even Tajh Boyd called him out and said that they’re at the combine to perform. Despite what Ron Jaworksi says, Manziel will definitely be a first round pick and he might even be the first pick overall. Previous pick: Teddy Bridgewater

2. St Louis Rams (from Redskins) – Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson – Sammy Watkins really impressed people in Indy. He ran a great 40 and he looked really good. The Rams have two first round picks and they could get a tackle with the 13th pick that they have. Previous pick: Jake Matthews

3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – I mocked Blake Bortles to the Jags before I thought Teddy Bridgewater would be available to them. I think they’ve loved him from Day 1 when they knew they’d have a shot at him. If he’s available, they’ll take him. Previous pick: Blake Bortles

4. Cleveland Browns – Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida – Is there any way the Browns come out of this without taking a quarterback in the first round? They have their new coach, general manager and team president…now its time to get themselves a franchise quarterback. The Browns have three picks in the first 35 selections so they can use the other two to build around Bortles or whoever they take. Previous pick: Johnny Manziel

5. Oakland Raiders – Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina – There’s no way Clowney makes it past this pick. In fact, I think he’ll go sooner. I can totally see the Falcons trading up to take him. If not, the Raiders can certainly use someone with this kind of talent. Previous pick: Jadeveon Clowney

6. Atlanta Falcons – Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn – If they don’t trade up for Clowney, this is the pick. For analysis, see mock draft 1.0. Previous pick: Greg Robinson

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M – I think the Falcons are enamored with Greg Robinson even though Matthews is a better prospect. Plus, neither Clowney or Sammy Watkins will be available here so Matthews will probably be the best available prospect. Previous pick: Sammy Watkins

8. Minnesota Vikings – Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State – Refer to mock draft 1.0 for analysis. Previous pick: Derek Carr

9. Buffalo Bills – Khalil Mack, DE/OLB, Buffalo – Mack has really shown what he can do since the end of the college season and has really emerged as the best linebacker prospect in the draft. Previous pick: CJ Mosley

10. Detroit Lions – Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma St – If the Lions grab Gilbert here, he’ll be my pick for defensive rookie of the year. He looked awesome at the combine and solidified himself as the best corner in the draft. Previous pick: Anthony Barr

11. Tennessee Titans – Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA – The Titans will absolutely go defense here. Barr can rush the passer, play the run and is really athletic. He’ll fall to the Titans and they’ll be lucky to have him. Previous pick: Khalil Mack

12. New York Giants – Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan – The Giants need help along the offensive line. They also need to draft a corner but with Gilbert gone, they’ll go for a lineman. Lewan might be a bit of a reach here but maybe it would be smart to trade down and acquire more picks. Something tells me they could get someone valuable (like Cyrus Kouandijo) and get some picks in return. Previous pick: Justin Gilbert

13. St Louis Rams – Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame – I know the Rams really covet Lewan so if he’s available, they’ll take him. Previous pick: Ha Ha Clinton Dix

14. Chicago Bears – Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan St – I can see the Bears trading up to take a guy like Gilbert, but if they don’t Dennard is a solid alternative. I still like Jernigan here but they need to replace Peanut Tillman. Previous pick: Timmy Jernigan

15. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M – Evans really showed the scouts everything they already knew about him. He’s big, he’s strong and he’s got all the tools to be a playmaker. Previous pick: Stephen Tuitt 

16. Baltimore Ravens – Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida St – If Mike Evans were to be available here, they’d likely take him but Benjamin isn’t a consolation prize. He’s a little more raw but he’s every bit the talented receiver that Evans is. They could also go tight end here and take Eric Ebron but they just signed Dennis Pitta to a long term deal so the need isn’t as imminent. Previous pick: Mike Evans

17. Dallas Cowboys – Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh – Aaron Donald has been on a rampage lately. He won a ton of awards after the season, showed out at the Senior Bowl and carried that momentum into the Combine. He’s easily the best interior lineman in the draft and the Cowboys need help in that area. Previous pick: Louis Nix III

18. New York Jets – Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina – The Jets need receivers and Ebron isn’t just a good receiver out of the tight end spot but he can be a safety net for Geno Smith. Previous pick: Eric Ebron

19. Miami Dolphins – Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame – The Dolphins might have to focus on resigning Brent Grimes and may not be able to bring back Randy Starks and Paul Soliai. Nix would be a good replacement. Previous pick: Zack Martin

20. Arizona Cardinals – Dee Ford, DE, Auburn – Its only a matter of time before we start talking about this guy going higher. He called out Clowney and said he’s a blind dog. Ford also went out and had himself a great combine. If the Cards choose to go defensive line here, Ford may be the pick. They can also go offensive line but rumor has it they’ll address that need in free agency. Previous pick: Marqise Lee

21. Green Bay Packers – Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville – With Clinton Dix off the board, the logical selection for the Packers is Calvin Pryor. They have a huge hole in the secondary and Pryor is a playmaker. Previous pick: Calvin Pryor

22. Philadelphia Eagles – Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois – The Eagles lack a playmaker in the secondary and Ward can be one for them. I think they could mov up a couple of spots to grab a guy like Pryor or Clinton Dix as well. Previous pick: Darqueze Dennard

23. Kansas City Chiefs – Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri – Everyone’s talking about Michael Sam but his teammate Ealy is getting ignored. The Chiefs could use a guy like this. If he doesn’t land here, I don’t see him falling past the Bengals. Previous pick: Jimmie Ward

24. Cincinnati Bengals – Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio St – The Bengals take the hometown kid in Roby. If they really like him, they can even trade down to take him.Previous pick: Kony Ealy

25. San Diego Chargers – Jason Verrett, CB, TCU – Verrett had a great combine and has all the skills to be a number one corner in the NFL. Previous pick: Cyrus Kouandijo

26. Cleveland Browns (from Colts) – Marqise Lee, WR, USC – Remember when I said the Browns would draft guys to surround their new quarterback? Well, here’s Marqise Lee. You’re welcome. I previously mocked David Yankey here from Stanford but he hasn’t done much to help his cause. Previous pick: David Yankey

27. New Orleans Saints – CJ Mosley, LB, Alabama – Even though Mosley’s draft stock has been up and down this offseason, Mosley’s talent is undeniable. He’d be a great fit in Rob Ryan’s defense. Previous pick: Dee Ford

28. Carolina Panthers – Cyrus Kouandijo, OT, Alabama – Refer to mock draft 1.0.Previous pick: Taylor Lewan

29. New England Patriots – Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech – Refer to mock draft 1.0.Previous pick: Jace Amaro

30. San Francisco 49ers – Brandon Cooks, WR, Oregon St – Cooks ran a blazing fast 4.33 40 yard dash at the combine and was super productive at Oregon St. The Niners need a wideout that can stretch the field for Colin Kaepernick. Previous pick: Pierre Desir

31. Denver Broncos – Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida St – The Broncos need some depth along the interior defensive line. Jernigan can become a solid starter and he’s a lot quicker than he looks. Previous pick: Bradley Roby

32. Seattle Seahawks – Morgan Moses OT, Virginia – The Seahawks need an upgrade at right tackle and while Moses could be a reach here, he’s a solid tackle. Previous pick: Kelvin Benjamin

There you have it. The second version of the official Keeping It Real Sports Mock Draft. As always, you can email me at s_talouis@yahoo.com or follow me on twitter @FunnyManStan and don’t forget to support the cause – #KIRSvsTheStarters and tag @JeSkeets @TasMelas @TreyKerby and @LeighEllis so they know we’re serious about challenging them.
The Queens native handles all things football on KeepingItRealSports.com. Stan attended Holy Cross High School in Flushing, Queens and SUNY Old Westbury. He's spent his post graduate career in different parts of the media, as an editorial assistant, a production assistant and a board operator. He can be followed on twitter @FunnyManStan and routinely performs standup comedy all over New York City.

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