2014 NFL Mock Draft

Last update: Thursday, April 24, 2014. Round 6 added.
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 (11/23)
(More links to previous NFL mock drafts at the bottom of this page)

2014 NFL Mock Draft

archived mock draft

@walterfootball

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 last week, as it appears as though Houston is inching toward selecting Clowney with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

The Texans aren’t 100-percent settled on Clowney just yet. They could still decide that they want to take a franchise quarterback in Blake Bortles. But 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 both Manziel and Bridgewater will fall.

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By the way, I’m doing this live because I thought it’d be fun to get instant feedback. I’m going to post my mock anyway, so why not do it this way? Follow @walterfootball for NFL Draft updates.
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.

Pick change; previously Mike Evans, WR (No. 8)
Cleveland Browns: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
There have been many reports linking the Browns and Derek Carr. It was speculated earlier that Cleveland would take the Fresno State quarterback at No. 26, but as I wrote about a month ago, I’ve been hearing more and more that multiple teams in the top 10 prefer Carr over both Teddy Bridgewater and/or Johnny Manziel. We’re trained to think that Bridgewater and Manziel will go before Carr because of what we’ve heard on TV or read on news-aggregator Web sites, but “strange” things happen on Draft Day because teams simply think differently at times. This was confirmed by Charlie Campbell’s report that three teams in the top 10 have Derek Carr as the No. 2 quarterback.

Though some may deem Carr a reach, the Browns need to take him if they believe he can be their new franchise quarterback. They need to give their morbid franchise some sort of spark. Besides, there’s no way Carr is lasting until the 26th-overall pick.
Minnesota Vikings: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
TRADE! The Vikings are primed to trade up for Blake Bortles, as Charlie Campbell reported. While a move to No. 2 (or perhaps No. 3 as well) is more likely, there’s a chance Minnesota can swing a deal with the Raiders. We’ve reported that Oakland is desperate to trade down because of its lacking depth, so Reggie McKenzie would happily take one of the Vikings’ third-rounders to slide down just three spots.

Bortles has been Minnesota’s quarterback of choice this entire time, as he fits exactly what Norv Turner looks for in a signal-caller. Unfortunately, the Vikings are currently out of position to take him, as Houston, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Oakland and Tampa Bay could all snag the Central Florida product (Buccaneers will pick Bortles if he falls to them.)
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: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
There are three quarterback-needy teams I know of who won’t draft Johnny Manziel in the top 10. However, there are six quarterback-needy teams overall in that span, meaning I don’t know anything about what the other three organizations want to do pertaining to the former Heisman winner. One such franchise is Tampa Bay.

As recently written in the NFL Draft Rumors page, there have been reports linking Manziel to the Buccaneers, as Lovie Smith has talked up the Texas A&M signal-caller. Adam Schefter also said that Manziel will go in the 3-13 range. Considering that I can confidently cross some teams off, that only leaves a limited amount of landing spots.
Oakland Raiders: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
The Raiders traded down once again, but hopefully that doesn’t mean that they’ll take a second-round prospect with a heart condition. Luckily, this draft class is so much better than last year’s, so Oakland can grab a stud wideout like Mike Evans at No. 8. The Raiders have a couple of above-average receivers on the roster, but they have nothing resembling a No. 1 target. Adding Evans would definitely change that.

Pick change; previously Sammy Watkins, WR (No. 5)
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: Anthony Barr, DE/OLB, UCLA
I’ve mocked Justin Gilbert here in the past couple of updates, but the Lions have a couple of young cornerbacks they like, so they may opt to go in a different direction even though I consider the Oklahoma State product to be the best player available at this juncture.

One such direction is Anthony Barr. Jim Caldwell discussed the need for a pass-rushing linebacker, and Barr fits perfectly. Also, Detroit has shown a lot of interest in Barr, so the team could draft him if Mike Evans isn’t available.
Tennessee Titans: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
The Titans addressed a bunch of areas on their roster this offseason, but one position of need that they didn’t get to fix was cornerback. They lost Alterraun Verner to the Buccaneers, so they need a new starter across from Jason McCourty. Tennessee has to get past Andrew Luck to win the AFC South, so acquiring as many talented corners as possible is a must.

Justin Gilbert, the consensus No. 1 cornerback, also happens to be one of the top players available, so that means this pick makes more sense.
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: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
Bradley Roby at No. 13 may surprise some, but there’s been talk of the Ohio State product moving up in the first round. Though Roby had a poor 2013 campaign, his 2012 film was excellent. He has character issues, but St. Louis won’t mind them.

Taylor Lewan is a strong option, as he falls because of off-the-field problems as well. However, Jeff Fisher believes that he can take offensive linemen later in the draft, so he could pass on Lewan if he likes Roby or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix enough.
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: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
The Steelers will never pass up the opportunity to grab a great offensive play-maker if one is available to them. I mocked a receiver to them for quite some time – and they will take Mike Evans if he somehow fell to No. 15 – but they’re likely to go with another position now unless they move up.

Eric Ebron could be considered the top prospect available who makes sense for Pittsburgh. He would serve as a great intermediate weapon for Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben currently loves throwing the ball to Heath Miller, but Miller appears to be on his last legs. Besides, the Steelers can have Miller and Ebron on the field at the same time in the short term.
Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
This pick may not make much sense on the surface, but hear me out. 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 Jerry 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.

Taylor 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.

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.