Monday, September 8, 2014

Week 1 Mock Draft

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) - Jameis Winston (QB/Florida State)



Josh McCown is not the long-term answer in Tampa Bay. Not to mention, he is 35 and was a journeyman before figuring out how to throw to Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery in a string of games. Mike Glennon, who will surely start a few games at some point this season because this is Tampa Bay and can't commit to anybody, sucks and we have already seen his ceiling.

If the Bucs fall all the way to the top pick, it's going to be used on a franchise signal caller. Both Winston and Mariota are available here, and despite his off-field issues, I give the edge to the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. If Winston keeps his nose clean, teams will likely forget last season.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) - Randy Gregory (DE/Nebraska)



Jacksonville was up 17-0 in the first half over Philadelphia and rattled Nick Foles, sacking him five times.In the second half, the Jaguars failed to reach him at the Eagles scored 34 unanswered points in a win. Jacksonville's pass rush looked good for a half and reverted back to their poor form in one half. Nobody on this defense strikes fear in an opposing quarterback and nobody should. The Jaguars need a bona fide pass rusher if they want to dethrone Andrew Luck.

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12) - Andrus Peat (OT/Stanford)



Donald Penn, who ate his way out of Tampa Bay, and Austin Howard are the starting tackles in Oakland after the team bungled an attempted signing of Roger Saffold and let their left tackle Jared Veldheer sign with the Cardinals. Apparently the Raiders aren't aware that in order to succeed in the NFL, you need to protect your quarterback. Maybe they will realize it at some point before another quarterback named Carr becomes a shellshocked corpse.

4. Minnesota Vikings (5-11) - Shilque Calhoun (DE/Michigan State)


Minnesota extended Everson Griffen and drafted Anthony Barr, but the teams needs don't match well with what is available. Not to mention, you can never have enough guys who can sack the quarterback in the NFL.

5. Washington Redskins (5-11) - Landon Collins (S/Alabama)



With Brandon Meriweather headed to free agency, maybe Washington will finally realize that Meriweather is an awful safety who only cares about doling out then big hit. Then again, Dan Snyder runs this team and he is delusional, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Meriweather receive a five year $60 million extension. If they let him walk, however, safety will need to be addressed.

6. Cleveland Browns (7-9) - Amari Cooper (WR/Alabama)



The pick Cleveland received in the Sammy Watkins deal with Buffalo, Cooper could become the new no. 1 target if the team moves on from used car salesman Josh Gordon, or line them up together and get a potent 1-2 combo for Johnny Manziel.

7. Tennessee Titans (6-10) - Marcus Mariota (QB/Oregon)



I think the only quarterback less durable than Jake Locker is Sam Bradford. The Titans did not pick up Locker's option for next year because he has never learned to slide instead of going shoulder first into a defender when he scrambles. Tennessee will go into the second year of the Ken Wisenhunt era looking for a new signal caller early in the draft. Luckily, Mariota is available at this juncture.

8. New York Giants (7-9) - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (CB/Oregon)



New York decided they did not want to cover Calvin Johnson until the second half of the Lions game. The team's secondary is a mess and needs to be upgraded.

9. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9) - PJ Williams (CB/Florida State)



Kansas City cut their best cornerback and let him sign with division rival San Diego. Kansas City's pass defense let Jake Locker look like a star, so the team should be looking to upgrade however they can.

10. New York Jets (7-9) - Brett Hundley (QB/UCLA)



I can't imagine Rex Ryan retaining his job after this season, but Woody Johnson has a huge mancrush on him, so it wouldn't be that surprising if he stays. That being said, Geno Smith is not an NFL quarterback. He shows zero patience in the pocket and takes off the second his first option is covered instead of checking down, additionally, he can't slide to save his life. Perhaps the Jets will hit the reset button again, this time with Hundley.

11. Arizona Cardinals (7-9) - Leonard Williams (DE/USC)



Believe it or not, John Abraham is still in the NFL. I can't imagine he has anything left in the tank (then again, every time I say that, he posts a double-digit sack season, so what do I know). The Cardinals will benefit from bringing in a young pass rusher to take over.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-9) - Cedric Ogbuehi (OT/Texas A&M)



Kelvin Beachum regressed last year after a solid rookie campaign. If he continues to struggle, the Steelers will look for a new right tackle.

13. St. Louis Rams (7-9) - Bryce Petty (QB/Baylor)



I have to imagine that every Rams fan did a jump for joy the second they found out Sam Bradford tore his ACL again in the final year of his contract. The fragile quarterback ruined any chance he had of receiving a contract extension in St. Louis the second his knee blew out again, and Rams fans won't have to deal with his subpar play ever again. Now the Rams need to find a new franchise quarterback because Shaun Hill is a fantastic backup, but not a starter.

14. Cleveland Browns (7-9) - Brandon Scherff (OT/Iowa)



Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see the Browns trade this pick down to no. 23 overall and then select a quarterback because that's just the Cleveland thing to do. Joe Thomas may be the best left tackle in the NFL, but an upgrade is needed on the right side.


15. Dallas Cowboys (8-8) - Shawn Oakman (DE/Baylor)



Dallas' defense is absolutely abysmal and Tony Romo looked terrible in his season debut. A new pass rusher is needed, hell a whole new defense is needed, but Oakman is the top defensive player available.

16. Atlanta Falcons (8-8) - Todd Gurley (RB/Georgia)



How Steven Jackson and his 31-year-old carcass is still a starting running back is beyond me. Atlanta will need a new workhorse next season.

17. Chicago Bears (8-8) - Ray Drew (DT/Georgia)



The Bears let Henry Melton walk in free agency and somehow forgot how awful their run defense was last year because they made no additions. Maybe they remembered now that Buffalo ran for 193 yards, including a key 38-yard run by Fred Jackson in overtime, en route to the Bills first win in Chicago ever.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8) - Nelson Agholor (WR/USC)



Keenan Allen has been a stud for the Chargers, but he is the team's only reliable receiving option. Adding another weapon can make a lethal 1-2 punch for Philip Rivers.

19. Baltimore Ravens (9-7) - Melvin Gordon (RB/Wisconsin)



Resident wife beater has been cut and banned from the NFL, Bernard Pierce is oft injured and Justin Forsett is a midget. If Baltimore wants to be successful, they need a running back because, despite what he says, Joe Flacco isn't elite.

20. Detroit Lions (9-7) - Jalen Collins (CB/LSU)



You know what's a huge slap in the face to Detroit? In 2011, the Lions traded with Seattle to move into the second round, surrendering their third and fourth-round draft picks while also swapping fifth-round picks. They key piece of that deal for the Lions? Mikel Leshoure, who just lost his job. For Seattle? Richard Sherman, one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. To make matters worse, the Lions secondary is terrible.

21. Miami Dolphins (9-7) - TJ Yeldon (RB/Alabama)



Knowshon Moreno/Lamar Miller played well against the Patriots, but the former is on a one-year pact while the latter can't be trusted. In a draft loaded with running backs, don't be surprised to see Miami find another bell cow for 2015.

22. Houston Texans (10-6) - Connor Cook (QB/Michigan State)



This win number will surely drop now that Clowney is out and the Texans are starting Ryan Fitzpatrick. The team waited to take a quarterback and Tom Savage and his 13 colleges aren't the solution.

23. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) - Eric Kendricks (MLB/UCLA)



DeMeco Ryans hasn't been the same person since being traded to Philadelphia. The Eagles notoriously have poor inside linebackers, and this year is no different. An upgrade to the front seven is necessary.

24. Green Bay Packers (10-6) - Devin Funchess (TE/Michigan)



Packer fans were salivating over Coly Lyerla only for him to not only not make the team, but to also get arrested for DUI again this week. Jermichael Finley, luckily, is not paralyzed and is gone, but Aaron Rodgers needs a new safety valve.

25. Carolina Panthers (11-5) - La'El Collins (OT/LSU)



Carolina surprisingly did not address the need for a tackle later year. Apparently, protecting Cam Newton is not that important in Carolina. Collins could shore up the position and protect Newton's blind side.

26. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) - Dante Fowler (DE/Florida)



Michael Johnson left in free agency and was never properly replaced. Cincinnati needs to find a new way to get to the quarterback.

27. New England Patriots (11-5) - Tre Jackson (G/Florida State)



Logan Mankins is gone and Dan Connolly will be 33 next year. An upgrade at guard is needed.

28. New Orleans Saints (11-5) - Vic Beasley (DE/Clemson)




Undersized, but with a great motor, Beasley has already picked up from where he left off last season, grabbing a sack in both games this season. New Orleans could use the help in the pass rush, especially after only sacking Matt Ryan once while he threw for 448 yards.

29. San Francisco 49ers (12-4) - Stefon Diggs (WR/Maryland)


Michael Crabtree is in his contract year, Anquan Boldin is old and Stevie Johnson is awful. You know it says a lot when Buffalo wants to get rid of you. If Crabtree does not re-sign, the team will need to find a new young receiver.

30. Denver Broncos (13-3) - Noah Spence (DE/Ohio State)


DeMarcus Ware is not spring chicken. Denver will need to bring in another pass rusher soon.

31. Seattle Seahakws (10-6) - Mike Davis (RB/South Carolina)


Marshawn Lynch is getting cut in the offseason so that Russell Wilson can sign a megadeal. Christine Michael has been demoted to third on the depth chart, so expect Seattle to find a new every-down back.

32. Indianapolis Colts (12-4) - Cameron Erving (OT/Florida State)


God Andrew Luck's protection was awful. The Colts need to find a way to protect their quarterback if they want to succeed.

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