2014 Mock Draft

1. Oakland Raiders (3-13) - Johnny Manziel (QB/Texas A&M)

Yes, Jadeveon Clowney is my top player available in the draft, but if Oakland is picking here, a quarterback will be a big need.  Unlike the 2013 Draft, this one is filled with quality quarterbacks who could turns a franchise around.

Oakland's franchise is a mess right now because they have spent the past few seasons in salary cap purgatory.  Additionally, the Raiders did not have a first round pick in 2011 or 2012.  Oakland has been a notoriously bad drafting team as well.  If Darren McFadden leave the team next year (he is in his contract year), the only players selected in the first round by the Raiders on the roster will be Sebastian Janikowski and 2013 pick DJ Hayden.

Matt Flynn was acquired this offseason by Oakland, but he is likely a stop-gap solution.  There are concerns about Manziel's size (6'1", 200 lbs.) but both Drew Brees and Robert Griffin III are at a similar height.  Manziel will need to add at least 10 pounds to his frame.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13) - Jadeveon Clowney (DE/South Carolina)

 Quarterback could be an option here too, but Jacksonville is desperate for pass rush help as well.  Jadeveon Clowney is a freak of nature at defensive end and has terrorized offenses in the SEC.  If the Jaguars want to compete in the AFC South, they will need to find a way to get to the quarterback.

3. Cleveland Browns (4-12) - Teddy Bridgewater (QB/Louisville)

 If Cleveland is picking this high, Brandon Weeden will be out.  The Browns have an entirely new regime, including a new owner, so there is nothing owed to Weeden.  Cleveland has made some nice additions over the past two seasons, but they are limited as a team due to Weeden as well as playing in a tough AFC North.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12) - Anthony Barr (DE/UCLA)

Kansas City could be a team on the rise in 2013.  They had a good deal of Pro Bowl players, but they will still want to build on their pass rush in 2014, especially with Peyton Manning taking over the division.

5. New York Jets (4-12) - Marqise Lee (WR/USC)

 New York drafted Geno Smith last year, now they will need to supply him with weapons if they want to avoid another Mark Sanchez situation.  Santonio Holmes could become a cap casualty in 2014, while Stephen Hill is still a very raw player.

6. Buffalo Bills (5-11) - Aaron Colvin (CB/Oklahoma)

 Buffalo took Stephon Gilmore in 2012, but they need help across from him.  If they actually want to defeat New England at least once in this next decade, they need to bolster their secondary.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (6-10) - A.J. McCarron (QB/Alabama)

 The Eagles will only have Michael Vick on their roster for one more season after restructuring his deal.  Besides him, Nick Foles and Matt Barkley are on the roster, but neither are a long-term solution at quarterback.  McCarron has become a consistent winner at Alabama, but it is questionable whether McCarron will evolve into a Pro Bowl caliber player or a career game manager.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10) - Tahj Boyd (QB/Clemson)

 Josh Freeman is in his contract year and head coach Greg Schano has never been a fan of him so it is likely he will walk in the offseason.  There is even a chance that he will not even start this season is Mike Glennon outplays him in training camp.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10) - Timmy Jernigan (DT/Florida State)

 Geno Atkins is a free agent in 2014 and unless the Bengals franchise tag him, a team could wind up making him an offer that is too good to be true.  Jernigan may serve as a nice replacement.

10. Detroit Lions (7-9) - Bradley Roby (CB/Ohio State)

 Detroit has had a leaky secondary for years now and will need to patch it up as soon as possible.

11. St. Louis Rams (7-9) - David Fales (QB/San Jose State)

 The Rams spent the offseason giving Sam Bradford an offensive line as well as weapons to throw to.  If he fails, he could become a cap casualty in the final year of his deal.

12. Tennessee Titans (7-9) - Stephon Tuitt (DE/Notre Dame)

Needing help in the pass rush has been an issue for several years now in Tennessee.  The team does not have much depth at defensive end, Kamerion Wimbley has not performed up to par since signing with the Titans and Derrick Morgan has looked like a bust draft pick.

13. San Diego Chargers (7-9) - Aaron Lynch (DE/South Florida)

 If San Diego wants to dethrone Denver, they need to desperately improve at getting to the quarterback.  San Diego has not had more than 40 sacks in a season since 2010.

14. Dallas Cowboys (7-9) - Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix (S/Alabama)

 Dallas needs help at safety now that Gerald Sensabaugh has retired.  Will Allen was only signed to a one-year deal.

15. Carolina Panthers (7-9) - Sammy Watkins (WR/Clemson)

 Steve Smith will be 35 on opening day in 2014 and the Panthers do not have much else across from him at wide receiver.  If the Panthers want Cam Newton to excel, they need to bring him someone who can get the ball.

16. Arizona Cardinals (8-8) - Taylor Lewan (OT/Michigan)

 Arizona took Jonathan Cooper early in last year's draft, but they still need someone to protect the blind side.  Lewan could have been a top 10 pick last year, but opted to stay in school.

17. St. Louis Rams (7-9) - Jake Matthews (OT/Texas A&M)

 Jake Long was signed, but Roger Saffold will be a free agent in 2014.  There is much history behind this pick as well, Matthews is the son of Hall of Fame lineman Bruce Matthews, who was a college teammate of Rams head coach Jeff Fisher prior to Fisher coaching Matthews in Tennessee.

18. Green Bay Packers (9-7) - Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE/Washington)

Jermichael Finley is a free agent in 2014 and if he has another poor season, the Packers could let him walk.  Seferian-Jenkins is an elite prospect at tight end and could creep into the top 10.

19. Minnesota Vikings (9-7) - Aaron Murray (QB/Georgia)

 If Christian Ponder is awful again, he won't return in 2014.  Aaron Murray's arm strength will intrigue a lot of teams, but his size (6'1") and decision making may drop him out of the first round.

20. Miami Dolphins (9-7) - Louis Nix (DT/Notre Dame)

 Randy Starks and Paul Soliai are free agents in 2014 so the team will be looking for defensive tackle help in 2014.  Nix can replace Soliai as the team's nose tackle.

21. Baltimore Ravens (9-7) - James Hurst (OT/North Carolina)

 Baltimore brought back Bryant McKinnie, but almost in offseason since coming to Baltimore, McKinnie has debated retiring.  Hurst can step in if McKinnie walks away next year.

22. Chicago Bears (10-6) - C.J. Mosley (LB/Alabama)

 Chicago brought in guys to help fill the void at outside linebacker, but they still haven't replaced Brian Urlacher.  Mosley has the potential to continue the strong tradition of powerful middle linebackers in Chicago.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) - Brandon Coleman (WR/Rutgers)

 Pittsburgh lost Mike Wallace in 2013 and may lose Emmanuel Sanders in 2014, the team will need to bring in a new receiver for Ben Roethlisberger at some point.

24. Atlanta Falcons (10-6) - Anthony Johnson (DT/LSU)

 Peria Jerry has one more chance to retain his job in Atlanta, but if he struggles again, he will be let go in favor of someone else.

25. New Orleans Saints (10-6) - Scott Crichton (DE/Oregon State)

New Orleans didn't do much to address their need of a pass rusher this offseason, but their hand will be forced next year when Will Smith turns 33.

26. Indianapolis Colts (11-5) - Lache Seastrunk (RB/Baylor)

 The Colts have struggled to find consistency at running back over the years, but they will need to address the position soon.  Seastrunk could become the answer for them.

27. New York Giants (10-6) - Will Sutton (DE/Arizona State)

 Giants are a team that traditionally builds themselves through their pass rush.  Sutton was a monster last year at Arizona State and would fit well in the Giants system.

28. Houston Texans (11-5) - Loucheiz Purifoy (CB/Florida)

 Houston needs to add depth to their secondary in the near future, especially if they want to beat Denver or New England in the playoffs.  You can never have too many cornerbacks in today's NFL.

29. Seattle Seahawks (11-5) - Kyle Van Noy (DE/BYU)

Seattle added some short-term solutions to their pass rush this offseason, but they will need to find someone who can contribute to them for years to come.

30. New England Patriots (11-5) - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (CB/Oregon)

 Aqib Talib was brought back for one more season, but the team will need to replace him if they let him walk next year.  Ekpre-Olomu was a third team All American last year as a sophomore.

31. San Francisco 49ers (10-6) - Justin Gilbert (CB/Oklahoma State)

 Carlos Rogers turns 33 next year and the team will likely look to replace him.  Gilbert can step in and replace Rogers immediately.

32. Denver Broncos (11-5) - Adrian Hubbard (DE/Alabama)

 Denver lost Elvis Dumervil after a contract snafu last offseason.  A new pass rusher will be needed to help take the pressue off of Von Miller.