2014 NFL Mock Draft

Last update: Thursday, May 8, 2014. Final update posted, 6:05 p.m.
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.

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2014 NFL Mock Draft

archived mock draft

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Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
The Jadeveon Clowney pick is pretty close to being locked in; we reported Wednesday afternoon that the Texans are not considering Khalil Mack or Johnny Manziel at No. 1. 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.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Trade Down – No, not Khalil Mack. That would be ridiculous and wouldn’t make any sense. The only way Houston isn’t picking Clowney at No. 1 is if it moves down, and the only way that’s happening is if it gets a Robert Griffin-type package.

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St. Louis Rams: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
The source who told us to mock Alec Ogletree and a receiver to the Rams last year informed us about a month ago that the team was “falling in love” with Khalil Mack and was strongly considering him at No. 2 overall. That was the case, but the pre-draft process is very fluid. We’ve learned what has been circulated throughout the media in the past few days – that the Rams will be going with Greg Robinson if they can’t trade down.

Jeff Fisher has always waited on tackles, but Robinson is viewed as such a mega talent that the Rams are excited to have him on the team. Besides, protecting the fragile Sam Bradford is paramount.

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*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Trade Down – I wouldn’t buy into the Johnny Manziel scuttlebutt. It’s all a ruse to get the Browns to trade up. It may work though, just as it did when the Vikings pretended to like Morris Claiborne over Matt Kalil, prompting Cleveland to move up for Trent Richardson.

2. Jake Matthews, OT – The Rams also like Matthews a lot, but Robinson is viewed as the superior prospect.

Pick change; previously Khalil Mack, DE/OLB
Jacksonville Jaguars: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
Ugh. I’m so torn on this pick. I actually made an entire mock draft with Johnny Manziel here this afternoon before changing my mind. Everyone else has Khalil Mack, but that doesn’t make as much sense to me as Sammy Watkins. So, I’m going with Watkins, and I fully expect Jacksonville to once again ruin my mock draft.

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 (Teddy Bridgewater, Jimmy Garoppolo?) a very potent trio of receivers to work with.

I had Mack here in a previous update, but there are two reasons why I’m considering Watkins over the Buffalo pass-rusher:

First, there’s no guarantee Mack would start at the beginning of the season; Chris Clemons is expected to be the first-string LEO. The No. 3 overall pick should start right away. Second, Gus Bradley is a defensive coach. Conventional wisdom would say that he would want to bolster his stop unit, but defensive coaches like to go offense, and vice versa.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Khalil Mack, DE/OLB – With that said, Mack could easily be the pick here. I’m 55-45, leaning Watkins.

2. Johnny Manziel, QB – A quarterback is in play here, though the Jaguars seem to be focusing on either Teddy Bridgewater or Jimmy Garoppolo in Round 2.
Cleveland Browns: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
There has been a ton of Mike Evans hype here leading up to the draft. It may not be smoke. I wouldn’t buy Cleveland taking Evans over Sammy Watkins, but the team would certainly consider the A&M receiver if the top wideout is off the board. Jay Glazer completely destroyed all of the Johnny Manziel rumors, so if Watkins and Greg Robinson are off the board, the Browns don’t really have another strong option, barring a trade.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Johnny Manziel, QB – Could the Browns end up going Manziel? Absolutely. Glazer said no, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the Browns opted for the small signal-caller.

2. Sammy Watkins, WR – If the Browns don’t want a quarterback, and Greg Robinson happens to be off the board, Watkins would be the obvious choice.
Oakland Raiders: Khalil Mack, DE/OLB, Buffalo
The Raiders are desperate to trade down. However, if they can somehow nab either Khalil Mack or Sammy Watkins, they may not be so eager to trade down. That, or another team like the Falcons, Buccaneers, Bills or Lions could overpay.

If Oakland stays put in this scenario, the pick would have to be Mack. Reggie McKenzie signed a bunch of aging pass-rushers, so he could stand to add some young blood.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1.Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans, WRs – If Watkins is off the board, this pick will still probably be a receiver – assuming the Raiders stay put.

2. Trade Down – Again, the Raiders are absolutely desperate to move down. They have only four picks in the top 200.
Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
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 Jake Matthews 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.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Anthony Barr, DE/OLB – Greg Robinson would be the pick if he makes it here. It’s doubtful he will though, so if the Falcons don’t want a tackle, they could choose a pass-rusher who fits their system (this assumes Khalil Mack isn’t available either).

2. Trade Up – Would the Falcons move up for Mack? It’s doubtful, but not impossible.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
The Tampa Bay owners want Johnny Manziel. Reports on our NFL Draft Rumors page say that there is definite interest between Manziel and the Buccaneers. If he’s available at No. 7, and all of the top prospects (Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins, Khalil Mack) are off the board, as expected, Tampa could easily pull the trigger. The Buccaneers need a long-term solution at the quarterback position.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Derek Carr, QB (trade down) – The Buccaneers are aiming to trade down. They can probably do so for a team coveting Mike Evans. If they move down, they’ll strongly consider Carr as their future quarterback, assuming Johnny Manziel is off the board.

2. Mike Evans, WR – Evans is probably Tampa Bay’s No. 1 realistic choice.
Minnesota Vikings: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
All of the reports in recent days have linked Aaron Donald to the Vikings, as it has been noted that they want a front-seven disruptor. There has been plenty of smoke surrounding previous Minnesota first-round picks – remember how they loved Morris Claiborne and Manti Te’o? – but this one seems different because it makes a ton of sense. Rick Spielman even coyly asked, “who?” when someone brought up Donald to him in a pre-draft presser.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Anthony Barr, DE/OLB – If Donald is off the board, the Vikings will likely have to decide between Blake Bortles and Anthony Barr. Both make sense, but I’d lean toward it being Barr because the Vikings would be able to move up from No. 40 to snag the quarterback they want.

2. Blake Bortles, QB – It should surprise no one if the Vikings stay put and take their top-rated quarterback.
Buffalo Bills: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
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, Taylor Lewan and Eric Ebron.

Lewan 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.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Jake Matthews, OT – I’ve had Matthews slotted here for a while. He’ll be the pick if he makes it to No. 9.

2. Mike Evans, WR (trade up) – The Bills have been rumored to trade up. They’d have to surrender too much for Sammy Watkins, but moving up for Evans makes a lot more sense.

3. Odell Beckham, WR (trade down) – The Bills reportedly like Beckham. They might trade down to acquire him.
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.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Eric Ebron, TE – Ebron has been linked the Lions. They may see him as the best player available, so taking him would fit their style of drafting. Ebron would give Matthew Stafford a potentially great intermediate option.

2. Odell Beckham, WR – Beckham’s stock has risen tremendously, so this has become his ceiling. The Lions signed Golden Tate, but they still need one more receiver. Mike Evans would also be an option via a trade.
San Francisco 49ers: Odell Beckham, WR, LSU
TRADE! The 49ers have tons of selections, so they are definitely making a move. Per our NFL Draft Rumors, the player they covet is Odell Beckham. They’ll have to move ahead of the Giants, Rams, Steelers, Ravens and Jets, all of whom could take him. It would take a second-rounder this year and a second next year.

Anquan Boldin was re-signed, but he won’t be around much longer. Also, Mario Manningham just signed with the Giants. San Francisco needs to add a deep threat at wideout, and Beckham certainly fits that.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Justin Gilbert, CB – Gilbert is an option here both for the 49ers and Titans. San Francisco needs a corner, and Gilbert is a great fit for their defense. Tennessee also has to upgrade the position.
New York Giants: Zack Martin, OT/G, Notre Dame
The Giants have to make sure Eli Manning is protected because this past season was a disaster. Taylor Lewan is the obvious choice to improve the offensive line, but his off-the-field concerns will scare off New York. Zack Martin is a more realistic option. He can play left tackle if Will Beatty can’t make it back from injury. If Beatty can recover, Martin can slide inside.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Trade Up – The Giants want to add a left tackle, but they may not wait for one. They’d love to land Jake Matthews, so they could move up to Nos. 7 or 8 to get him if he gets by Atlanta.

2. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S – A first-round safety is now in play for the Giants in the wake of Will Hill’s suspension.
St. Louis Rams: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
Bradley Roby at No. 13 may surprise some, but again, the same source who gave us Alec Ogletree and a receiver last year suggested that we mock the Buckeye corner here. Though Roby had a poor 2013 campaign, his 2012 film was excellent. He has character issues, but St. Louis won’t mind them.

The Rams recently made some campus visits, one of which was at Ohio State. Their visits have forecasted their draft moves in the past. For example, they went to West Virginia late last spring, and they snagged both Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S – I’ve had Clinton-Dix here recently. He’d fill the big hole at safety.

2. Justin Gilbert, CB – Here’s another secondary option. Ideally, the corner position will be addressed early, and Gilbert could be seen as the best player available.
Chicago Bears: Kyle Fuller, CB/S, Virginia Tech
The Bears will be going with the top defensive player available who makes sense for them, and by my estimation, that’s Kyle Fuller. This regime has drafted players who can be utilized at multiple positions, and Fuller definitely fits the bill. He’s a natural cornerback, but he can also be used at safety, which is a huge need for Chicago. Chris Conte’s ineptitude was quite apparent in the win-and-in season finale versus the Packers.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S – I had Clinton-Dix going to the Bears for a while. He fills a need and fits what Phil Emery looks for in a prospect.

2. Ra’Shede Hageman, DT – Many believe the Bears covet Aaron Donald, but the Pitt product doesn’t have the size Emery covets. Hageman does, so he might be a more realistic option.
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.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Bradley Roby, Kyle Fuller or Darqueze Dennard, CBs – It seems as though the Steelers are targeting a corner in the first round. Here are the other options.

2. Eric Ebron, TE – I’ve had Ebron here for a while. He’s still in play, as he would give Ben Roethlisberger a big target in the red zone.
Dallas Cowboys: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
I’d like to apologize to the Cowboy fans for getting their hopes up with Aaron Donald in my previous version. Donald would be a no-brainer selection if available – along with Taylor Lewan, whom Jerry Jones covets – but I can’t imagine Dallas being too unhappy with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. He might be considered the top prospect available at this juncture, and he would fill a huge need at safety.

*** OTHER 2014 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Taylor Lewan, OT – Jerry Jones would have a seizure if he could draft the Michigan tackle, but he’d have to trade up past the Rams to get him.

2. Aaron Donald, DT – Donald was here in my previous update, as mentioned.

Pick change; previously Aaron Donald, DT

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 bandwidth.

2015 NFL Mock Draft | Go to 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Round 2

Go to 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Round 3 | Go to 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Round 4

Go to 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Round 5 | Go to 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Round 6

Go to 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Round 7

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