#1 Houston Texans- Jadeveon Clowney DE – South Carolina
Houston holds the key to having the most terrifying pass rush in all of football pairing Clowney with JJ Watt. The Texans pass on a QB here and grab A.J. McCarron with the first pick in the second round.
#2 St. Louis Rams- Greg Robinson OT- Auburn
The Rams have their QB in Sam Bradford and now the need to protect him. They pass on a playmaker like Sammy Watkins to keep Bradford healthy. Bradford tore his ACL in 2013. The Rams may also trade out of the second pick.
#3 Jacksonville Jaguars- Johnny Manziel QB-Texas A&M
I debated this pick and #4 for hours. Johnny Football or Sammy Watkins. At the end of the day no team goes to the Super Bowl because of number one WR, the same can not be said for quarterbacks.
#4 Cleveland Browns- Sammy Watkins WR- Clemson
With Johnny Football off the board, the Browns grab the best player available. Playing across from Josh Gordon could give the Browns the best WR duo in the league.
#5 Oakland Raiders- Khalil Mack OLB- Buffalo
The Raiders spent free agency declaring that they are a team that wants to win now, not later. Khalil Mack is a deadly pass rusher and when paired with Justin Tuck opposing QBs might not actually have a field day. Blake Bortles may also be in the conversation for the 5th pick.
#6 Atlanta Falcons- Jake Matthews OT- Texas A&M
With the two best pass rushers off the board the Falcons fill a huge hole at tackle and protect their franchise quarterback. There is also a (small) possibility the Falcons trade up for either Clowney or Mack.
#7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Mike Evans WR- Texas A&M
The Bucs have very little depth at WR past Vincent Jackson. Adding Mike Evans would give the Bucs two 6’5 WRs and solidify their passing game. With the return of Doug Martin and the addition of Josh McCown the offense could be playoff caliber.
#8 Minnesota Vikings- Blake Bortles QB- Central Florida
The underwhelming Christian Ponder era comes to an end here with pick number 8. With Adrian Peterson and some young talent on offense, Bortles wouldn’t have to carry the team year 1.
#9 Buffalo Bills- Eric Ebron TE- North Carolina
Young recovering QB E.J Manuel needs more weapons on offense and Ebron appears to be a Vernon Davis clone. Ebron is also an excellent blocker who could open up some holes for C.J. Spiller.
#10 Detroit Lions- Justin Gilbert CB- Oklahoma St
A strong argument could be made for OT Taylor Lewan but the Lions go for the best corner in the draft. The Lions front seven on defense isn’t bad by any means but the secondary needs serious rebuilding.
#11 Tennessee Titans- Anthony Barr OLB- UCLA
One of the best pass rushers in the draft would help really help the Titans get to opposing quarterbacks. At 6’5 255 lbs, Barr is a freak athlete who easily could go off the board anywhere in the top 10 but I see him finding his new home in Tennessee.
#12 New York Giants- Taylor Lewan OT- Michigan
The Giants had a miserable season led by Eli Manning. The reports that Eli might be in decline are ridiculous. All quarterbacks need a good line to succeed. Taking Lewan is the first step back towards success.
#13 St. Louis Rams- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix FS- Alabama
The best safety in the draft will anchor the Rams’ secondary for years to come. The Rams have not had a quality safety since the years of O.J Atogwe. Adding Clinton-Dix to a group that already has Janoris Jenkins makes this secondary young and dangerous.
#14 Chicago Bears- Ra’shede Hageman DT- Minnesota
The Bears lost Julius Peppers but quickly replaced him with Jared Allen. Adding Hageman gives you a pass rushing presence in the middle to collapse the pocket from all angles.
#15 Pittsburgh Steelers- Darqueze Dennard CB- Michigan St
The Steelers defense is aging and they need a top corner to replace Ike Taylor. Dennard is a tough, fast, man coverage corner that can shut down most number one wide receivers out there. The Steelers window is closing but adding Dennard delays the inevitable.
#16 Dallas Cowboys- Calvin Pryor FS- Louisville
The Cowboys have needed an upgrade at safety for years and Pryor is just that. This big, fast, punishing run stopper is a steal at 16 overall.
#17 Baltimore Ravens- CJ Mosley LB- Alabama
I read the other day that Daryl Smith “Made the Ravens forget about Ray Lewis”. My response to that is this.
#18 New York Jets- Odell Beckham Jr. WR- LSU
Beckham is a do it all player. He would be a great slot option as well as a returner for the Jets. With the addition of Eric Decker the Jets (hopefully) have their #1 and could use Beckham as their #2.
#19 Miami Dolphins- Zack Martin OT- Notre Dame
The Dolphins offensive line was blown up not only by opposing defenses but by the media and NFL officials. Jonathan Martin and Incognito are both gone now and Zack Martin is the first step in rebuilding.
#20 Arizona Cardinals- Dee Ford DE- Auburn
The Cardinals pass on a quarterback at #20 hoping to get one at least one more good season out of Carson Palmer. So the Cardinals get the best pass rusher available.
#21 Green Bay Packers- Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE- Washington
With the departure of Finley, the Packers have a huge hole to fill at TE. Seferian- Jenkins gives Aaron Rodgers another weapon with a lot of room to grow.
#22 Philadelphia Eagles- Kelvin Benjamin WR- Florida St.
Desean Jackson out-Kelvin Benjamin in. I’m not saying he can replace Desean Jackson but he does give the eagles a third option at WR.
#23 Kansas City Chiefs- Marqise Lee WR- USC
Lee is a true playmaker and could really elevate Alex Smith to the next level. Dwayne Bowe isn’t getting any younger and virtually disappeared last season so Lee could step in as the #1 in 2014.
#24 Cincinnati Bengals- Ryan Shazier OLB- Ohio St.
Shazier is a three down linebacker who is excellent in coverage and tackling. Put him opposite Burfict and the Bengals have an excellent linebacking core.
#25 San Diego Chargers- Jason Verrett CB- TCU
The second coming of Cortland Finnegan will find his home in San Diego. Verrett is undersized as a nickel corner but because of his athleticism and toughness he has the ability to be a solid #2 corner in the NFL.
#26 Cleveland Browns- Teddy Bridgewater QB- Louisville
The Browns got the best WR in the draft at #4 and now they grab a guy who can start day one or at least compete and learn from Brian Hoyer.
#27 New Orleans Saints- DeMarcus Lawrence DE- Boise State
At 6’3 251 lbs, Lawrence is a versatile edge rusher who could play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4. Rob Ryan would love to add Lawrence to his line and keep the Saints in contention in a tough division.
#28 Carolina Panthers- Brandin Cooks WR- Oregon St.
In a perfect world, Cook would be best in the slot but the Panthers begin to fill a huge hole at WR by adding the potential playmaker.
#29 New England Patriots- Louis Nix III NT- Notre Dame
Vince Wilfork is not getting any healthier or younger, adding Nix gives them a rotational run stopper who can play behind Wilfork and learn a lot from the defensive leader of this team.
#30 San Francisco 49ers- Bradley Roby CB- Ohio St.
The 49ers let Carlos Rodgers hit the open market and now they need a replacement. Roby has excellent ball skills and tackling ability that will make him a great nickel corner in the NFL.
#31 Denver Broncos- Gabe Jackson OG- Mississippi St.
Keep Manning standing= Broncos keep winning.
#32 Seattle Seahawks- Xavier Su’A-Filo OG- UCLA
This would have been WR Jarvis Landry but since the team re-signed Sidney Rice I think they go for the safer pick and protect their all-star passer and keep beast mode rolling.
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