2014 NFL Mock Draft

Last update: Tuesday, April 29, 2014. Major changes in all 6 rounds.
Next update: Next week. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

The order of this 2014 NFL Mock Draft is based on the full seven-round 2014 NFL Draft Order.

NFL Draft Recent Links:

2025 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 11/20): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2
Other 2025 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (11/22)
2026 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 7/24): Round 1 /Picks 17-32
Other 2026 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (10/26)
(More links to previous NFL mock drafts at the bottom of this page)

2014 NFL Mock Draft

archived mock draft

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Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
I’ve said all along that the Texans were 50-50 between Jadeveon Clowney and Blake Bortles, so Charlie and I decided that it would be a good idea to have our mocks begin with each of those players. That changed two weeks ago, as it appears as though Houston has settled on selecting Clowney with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

This pick is pretty close to being locked in. There’s still a chance it could be traded, but the rumored Atlanta deal is probably not going to happen. The Texans would love to get a Robert Griffin-type package for this choice, but it’s not going to happen.

From what I’m hearing, it seems like Houston believes there isn’t enough of a difference between the first- and second-round quarterbacks to warrant passing on the greatest pass-rushing prospect in years. Besides, there’s actually a chance the Texans can grab either Teddy Bridgewater or Johnny Manziel at No. 33; especially the former. Multiple teams believe Bridgewater will fall.

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St. Louis Rams: Khalil Mack, DE/OLB, Buffalo
This is what St. Louis’ preferred options look like, in order:

1. Trade down with a team wanting Jadeveon Clowney or Blake Bortles.
2. Draft Clowney if available.
3. Draft either Khalil Mack or Sammy Watkins.

Most mocks have Watkins or Greg Robinson here, but the Rams are deciding between Khalil Mack or Sammy Watkins at No. 2 barring a trade or Clowney being available. They are also “falling in love” with Mack, per Charlie Campbell’s report. And for those wondering, this is not a smokescreen; it’s the same source that gave us Alec Ogletree in 2013, which is why both Charlie and I had the Georgia linebacker mocked to St. Louis last year.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
The Jaguars probably want Khalil Mack if they don’t go with a quarterback at No. 3, but the Rams snatched him off the board. Fortunately, there are other great consolation prizes available, including Sammy Watkins.

Justin Blackmon is suspended indefinitely. Jacksonville has reportedly been conducting business as though it doesn’t expect him to be back anytime soon. Even if Blackmon does return, having Watkins on the team would give their second-round quarterback (Jimmy Garoppolo?) a very potent trio of receivers to work with.
Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
The Browns are expected to take a quarterback at No. 4, but which one? They’ve been linked to Derek Carr by numerous sources, as you can see in our NFL Draft Rumors page. However, Blake Bortles has surfaced as an option recently as well. Peter King mentioned him as a possibility, as did a source of ours.

Johnny Manziel can’t be counted out either. He has been linked to Cleveland as well. DawgPoundNation, which reported the Joe Banner and Michael Lombardi firings 24 hours before they happened, says that the front office loves Manziel.

This selection will almost certainly be one of those three quarterbacks. Manziel would make the most sense in terms of sparking a morbid franchise that hasn’t been in the playoffs since January 2003.

Pick change; previously Derek Carr, QB
Oakland Raiders: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
The Raiders are desperate to trade down. If they can’t move out of the No. 5 spot, this pick will come down to Mike Evans or Greg Robinson. I had previously listed a quarterback as a possibility, but this regime needs to win now.

Both Robinson and Evans make sense. The former might be considered a slightly better prospect, but he fills less of a need. Menelik Watson hasn’t shown much promise thus far, but the Raiders just spent a second-round pick on him and still considers him a viable option at right tackle. They might be willing to give him a chance, which would open up the possibility of drafting Evans, who would give Oakland a No. 1 receiver – something it doesn’t have at the moment.
Atlanta Falcons: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
It’s been speculated that the Falcons want to move up for Jadeveon Clowney, but that’s no longer a possibility if the Texans just take him. Thus, if Houston does go with Clowney, it’s likely that Atlanta will just stay put at No. 6 and draft the best player available who makes sense for them.

The Falcons would prefer a pass-rusher like Clowney or Khalil Mack, but Greg Robinson is not a bad consolation prize. He would fill an immediate need at right tackle and would eventually move over the blind side, unless Mike Tice does a great job of coaching up Sam Baker, which could easily happen. Either way, Matt Ryan’s protection will improve tremendously.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
The Buccaneers signed Josh McCown, but they need a long-term option for the future. They do not consider Mike Glennon to be that, so there’s a chance they’ll use the No. 7 pick on a quarterback – especially if Blake Bortles is still on the board.

Charlie Campbell, who used to cover the Buccaneers for Pewter Report, reported two weeks ago that Tampa Bay will pick Blake Bortles, but won’t trade up for him.

Pick change; previously Johnny Manziel, QB
Minnesota Vikings: Anthony Barr, DE/OLB, UCLA
The Vikings would love Blake Bortles to just fall to them at No. 8. Unfortunately, that does not happen here, so they’ll have to look elsewhere. Derek Carr would be a possibility, but given that the current front office has been around for a while, it may just settle on a player at a different position.

Anthony Barr is a strong possibility. The Vikings need to bolster their pass rush in the wake of losing Jared Allen in free agency, and Anthony Barr, whom some consider to be a better prospect than Khalil Mack, would be a great fit as a pass-rushing linebacker in Mike Zimmer’s scheme.

Pick change; previously Blake Bortles, QB
Buffalo Bills: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
The Bills filled some of their holes in free agency, but there are three glaring positions of need that still have to be addressed: wide receiver, tight end and right tackle. Buffalo will likely choose the top player available who can fix those needs. As it stands in this mock draft, the order would likely be Jake Matthews, Mike Evans and Eric Ebron.

Matthews is just too good to pass up. He’d start instantly and could eventually be moved to the left side if the Bills think Cordy Glenn would be better at right tackle.
Detroit Lions: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
I’ve had Anthony Barr slotted here for a while, but he’s off the board in this update. Justin Gilbert would be a popular pick, but he was actually a selection for Detroit in my 2014 NFL Not Draft because the front office values its young corners.

I’ll go with the other popular choice. The Lions re-signed Brandon Pettigrew, but they’ve still been linked to Eric Ebron, who would give Matthew Stafford a much-needed potent target over the middle.

Pick change; previously Anthony Barr, DE/OLB
Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
TRADE! I had to have one, and I think this makes a lot of sense. Taylor Lewan is unlikely to fall past the Giants and Rams, so Dallas would have to leap both of them for a prospect Jerry Jones undoubtedly covets.

Doug Free is coming off a solid season, but he has just one year left on his contract. He was also tried at the guard position before the 2013 campaign began, so perhaps Jones will want him to shore up a huge hole at one of those slots. Free would be able to move there with this selection.

Lewan has the talent to be the sixth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, but character issues could drop him some. Jones has proven recently that he’s willing to take chances on players with concerns, provided they’re not too egregious.
By the way, I’ll give the Titans’ 2015 second-rounder to Dallas so nothing else gets screwed up in this mock.
New York Giants: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
These were the defensive tackles on the Giants’ depth chart before they re-signed Mike Patterson: Cullen Jenkins, Johnathan Hankins and Markus Kuhn. Think the team needs an upgrade at the position after losing Linval Joseph to the Vikings?

Aaron Donald is the best player available who makes sense for New York. He had a dominant 2013 campaign and has since strengthened his draft stock with strong showing at the Senior Bowl and Combine.
St. Louis Rams: Odell Beckham, WR, LSU
Once again, the Rams may eschew an offensive lineman because that’s what Jeff Fisher usually does. If so, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Justin Gilbert will be in play. However, Fisher may want to bolster his offense. The Rams are considering Sammy Watkins at No. 2, but if they pass on him, Odell Beckham would be an option at this spot.

Beckham would be considered a reach, but some teams might disagree. In fact, as posted on the NFL Rumors page (April 29 entry), some teams have Beckham as the No. 2 receiver in this class.

Pick change; previously Bradley Roby, CB
Chicago Bears: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
The Bears will be going with the top defensive player available who makes sense for them, and by my estimation, that’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Chicago has a huge void at the safety position; Major Wright is a free agent, while Chris Conte’s ineptitude was quite apparent in the win-and-in season finale versus the Packers. Clinton-Dix fits what the Bears look for in their draft prospects.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
The Steelers always manage to secure a falling prospect. It was David DeCastro two years ago, and it happened to be Jarvis Jones last April. There’s a good chance that it’ll be Justin Gilbert this time around. Gilbert is this top corner in this class, but there isn’t much buzz surrounding him for some reason, despite his excellent Combine performance.

Pittsburgh has to address the cornerback position. Ike Taylor was dreadful this past year, as the receivers he battled – save for A.J. Green, oddly enough – posted season-high totals against him.

Pick change; previously Eric Ebron, TE
Tennessee Titans: Kony Ealy, DE/OLB, Missouri
I’m not a fan of this pick, but I’m also not a fan of Tennessee moving to the 3-4 either. The Titans don’t really have many pieces for the 3-4, which includes exterior pass-rushers. They signed Shaun Phillips and retained Kamerion Wimbley, but they’re not nearly enough. They need to obtain another player who can get after Andrew Luck to give them a chance against the Colts.

Pick change; previously Justin Gilbert, CB

Go to 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 17-32

Sorry for cutting this 2014 NFL Mock Draft into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwith.