Alan’s 2014 NFL Mock Draft

2014 NFL MOCK DRAFT: Updated 9/14

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15): QB Teddy Bridgewater Louisville

Last year’s worst NFL team destroyed this year’s worst NFL team in Week 1. The only question facing the Jaguars following their 28-2 loss to the Chiefs is can they just hand their No.1 overall pick to the commissioner now.

2. Oakland Raiders (2-14): Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina

The Raiders could do almost anything with this pick. They could draft Marquis Lee, Tak Boyd but if history has taught us anything, what Oakland won’t do is likely the right thing. The right thing here is to draft Clowney, that is if he can turn his year around to be worthy of this selection.

3. New York Jets (4-12): Marquis Lee, WR USC

This pick, like the Raiders, could be almost anyone, including a pass rusher, which they have spent first rounder’s on in the last three years. If Geno Smith can progress, they will look to get him some weapons and Lee paired with Stephen Hill could be a formidable 1-2 punch. If Clemson progresses as expected throughout the season, this pick could turn out to be Sammy Watkins as well.

4. Cleveland Brown (4-12): Taj Boyd, QB Clemson

Brandon Weeden simply isn’t the man to get the Browns to where they want to be. The AFC North will now be forced to defend the nightmarish up-tempo offense that many divisions are already contending with, as Boyd takes his place as Cleveland’s starter from day one.

5. Minnesota Vikings (5-11): Louis Nix, DT Notre Dame

Although just a redshirt sophomore, Nix is built like a full-grown man with a large frame and strong muscle definition throughout his body. He has nimble feet with the lateral quickness to explode in any direction and chase down the action in pursuit. The Vikings showed that they are already having trouble stopping the run in 2013, and with Kevin Williams likely to test free agency, the Vikings may reach to replace him.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11): Jake Matthews ,OT Texas A&M

The Buccaneers need help on the defensive side of the football and possibly a QB but Matthews will be too good to pass up here. The Bucs are frustrated with Donald Penn, Josh Freeman’s current blind-side protector, who is once again dealing with weight issues. Penn is also due more than $6 million next year, so you do the math.

7. San Diego Chargers (6-10) : Taylor Lewan, OT Michigan

Taylor Lewan probably would’ve completed the hat trick for OT’s in the in the 2013 NFL Draft, San Diego will continue to build their offensive line and Lewan (or Matthews) fits the mold perfectly.

8. Arizona Cardinals (6-10):Brett Hundley, QB UCLA

It would not surprise me if by the end of the 2013 college football season, Hundley and not Bridgewater is the No.1 overall pick. Times are changing and any team looking to draft Hundley will not be scared away by his redshirt sophomore status. If Carson Palmer can give the Cards two years and they can actually allow him to sit a year and learn, look out NFL. Hundley is as athletic as they come and is ahead of schedule in terms of his ability to make plays as a thrower.

9. Carolina Panthers (7-9):Cyrus Kouandjio, OT Alabama

It’s hard to believe but Jordan Gross will be finishing his 11^th season in the NFL, Cam Newton will need to have faith in a blindside protector and Kouandjio will bring Newton that piece of mind. He is a strong pass-protector with quick feet and he possesses the long arms you look for that has the ability to absorb rushers. He struggled at times vs. VA Tech but who didn’t on the Bama line but like the 2011 unit that struggled to start the year, they and he will vastly improve.

10. Tennessee Titans (7-9): Bradley Robey, CB Ohio State

This weekend will be a stiff test for the Ohio State corner. The Cal Bears are going to the air, with true freshman QB Jared Goff, who leads the nation with 930 passing yards. Robey will rebuild his reputation, which was damaged after he was suspended following a bar fight this past summer. Robey is fast and very talented, he had an amazing 17 pass break-ups as a redshirt sophomore and will help a Titans secondary that needs to get better.

11. Buffalo Bills (7-9): Anthony Barr, OLB UCLA

Barr would be a nice fit for the Bills defense. They looked good to start vs. Tom Brady and company and seemed to have found the future with EJ Manuel, you can never have enough defense vs Tommy Terrific and Barr is a player that could help the $100 million man in Mario Edwards.

12. Detroit Lions (8-8): Cameron Erving OT, Florida State

No matter who is drafting at the No.12 position, it is entirely possible that a quarter of the top 12 picks are offensive tackles. The Lions did not draft their OT of the future last season and It’s no secret that the Lions have major issues at the position. Erving’s name will come into the bright lights a bit more, as the next Johnny Manziel —FSU QB Jameis Winston, excels this season.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): David Yankey, OT/G Stanford

This could be a reach at 13 for the Steelers who could look to move back if they feel they can still get a starting OL later in round one. Does not matter how you slice this pie, the Steelers need a ton of depth and help on the OL. Yankey could push inside to play some guard for a stout Stanford OL this season and that versatility will make him very attractive to a struggling Steelers team.

14. St. Louis Rams (8-8): DeAnthony Thomas, RB Oregon

He is everything NFL scouts hate to evaluate. He’s too small, looks to be more of a college player than an NFL back….Yada-Yada-Yada……He’s fast and electrifying and if you don’t think Jeff Fisher will take a chance on a player like that, then you didn’t watch the Rams 2013 NFL Draft. Thomas and Tavon Austin could be the start of a dynamic looking up-temp offense in a division that knows a thing a or two about up-tempo offenses.

15. Kansas City Chiefs (8-8): CJ Mosley, LB Alabama

Mosley may be able to put himself into the top with a great game on Saturday in College Station vs. Texas A&M. Mosley isn’t a great pass rusher which is why he projects to play in the middle. Chiefs DC Bob Sutton has to like the prospect of eventually having Nico Johnson, Mosley’s teammate at Alabama, manning the middle in KC’s 3-4 scheme.

16. St. Louis Rams (from Washington): Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo

Mack is a perfect fit in St.Louis when you consider  HC Jeff Fisher recently cut suspended Jo-Lonn Dunbar. Dunbar started the entire 2012 season and was expected to join James Laurinaitis and rookie Alex Ogletree to form a solid starting trio for the 2013 season. A team that loves to go after the QB (52 sacks in 2012) will once again go shopping for LB help in the upcoming draft.

17. New York Giants (9-7) Loucheiz Purifoy, CB Florida

Despite spending a number of first round picks on the back seven the Giants still only ranked 28th against the pass last year. They will look to upgrade their secondary. This could also be Ifo-Ekpre-Olomu but I am guessing that Purifoy finishes with a better season in a better overall conference.

18. Chicago Bears (9-7) Ifo-Ekpre-Olomu, CB Oregon

Despite starting Pro Bowlers at both CB spots, the Bears’ defensive backfield was quickly exposed as being dangerously thin following the early August season-ending injury to Kelvin Hayden. If an injury to your nickel Cornerback can set off a panic in your fan base, as Hayden’s did—the Bears will be using this pick on the CB spot.

19. Philadelphia Eagles: (9-7) Johnny Manziel QB, Texas A&M

Did you see what Chip Kelly is looking to accomplish with the Eagles offense vs. the Redskins last Monday night? I simply cannot envision a day when Matt Barkley is running 53 first half plays—-enter Johnny Football.

20. Miami Dolphins (9-7): Anthony Johnson, DT LSU

The Dolphins’ roster does not scream DT is a need. However, both Soliai and Starks are set to be Free Agents after this season while Odrick’s contract is up following the 2014 season. Anthony Johnson is the prototypical three-technique DT and joining his teammate from LSU, Barkevious Mingo, on the front line in Miami can’t hurt.

21. Baltimore Ravens: (10-6) Sammy Watkins WR, Clemson

If Watkins is available and the Ravens don’t draft him, it may be a while until you hear Ravens fans screaming out the expression in “Ozzie We Trust” . Watkins is explosive, has strong hands and is tough to tackle, three things the Ravens lack in any of their wide receivers.

22. Dallas Cowboys: (10-6) Timmy Jernigan, DT Florida State

Jernigann is another name that could go up, as the Seminoles do the same in 2013. He’s disruptive, fast and a good gap shooter, which Monty Kiffin loves.

23. Indianapolis Colts: (11-5) Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida

After acquiring Vontae Davis from Miami, the Colts did nothing in the 2013 NFL Draft to address the cornerback position. Greg Toler will struggle at the No. 2 corner position in 2013 and watching a QB like Terrelle Pryor almost beat them raises the sense of urgency to find a running mate for Davis next season. Roberson is an All-American talent with the skills necessary to step in and play immediately. An exceptional cover man (14 PDEF, 2 INT as a Soph), he has taken steps to bulk up this off-season and become a more physical and complete player.

24. Atlanta Falcons (11-5) Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington

The Falcons need to boost their pass rush but they will make sure Matt Ryan has a TE to rely on after Gonzalez retires—for sure—I think—Possibly– after this season. If it is a TE here, North Carolina’s Eric Ebron is also a possibility but A.S.J is a stud. He’ll be a matchup nightmare, much like Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham and the possibly retired Tony Gonzalez was and still is.

25. New England Patriots (11-5) Stephon Tuitt, DE Notre Dame

He did not play well vs Michigan last week but then again who on the Notre Dame defense did. Tuitt looked slow and dare I say lazy. He has great potential but we all know how Bill Belichick can extract potential at times. Tuitt and Chandler Jones would cause a lot of problems for years to come in the NFL for opposing QB’s.

26. Seattle Seahawks (11-5) Will Sutton, DT Arizona State

The only need on the Seattle Seahawks top-rated defense is along the defensive line. While Brandon Mebane was an efficient run stopper in 2012, the DT position still lacks depth. Enter Will Sutton—He had a very prolific junior year with 23.5 TFL and 13 sacks. The Sun Devil, who has been compared to Cincinnati Bengal’s Geno Atkins, stands at 6’1″ 288lbs and uses the same lateral quickness as the All-Pro to disrupt opponent’s backfield.

27. Cincinnatti Bengals (11-5) Aaron Colvin, CB Oklahoma

Colvin was a first-team All-Big 12 cornerback a year ago, and received an encouraging pre-NFL Draft grade last December. He nearly chose to enter the 2013 NFL Draft, but ultimately decided to return for one more collegiate season and the Bengals are thankful, as Cincy only kept 5 CB’s on their 53-man roster and of that group, three are aging vets and two unproven.

28. New Orleans Saints (11-5) Kyle Van Noy, OLB BYU

The Saints bled historic yard totals in 2012 and had several holes to fill in the 2013 NFL Draft. They simply so they weren’t able to fill then all and didn’t obtain a pass-rusher until the sixth round with Rufus Johnson. They will look to do so in round one in May and Kyle Van Noy should fall to them here at 28. Van Noy recorded 13 sacks in 2012.

29. Denver Broncos (12-4) Ha Ha Clinton Dix, S Alabama

The Broncos also need help at CB and CB Justin Gilbert from Oklahoma St could be the pick– but if Clinton Dix is on the board, they’ll take him. Clinton-Dix had a breakout season in 2012 as a platoon player with Vinnie Sunseri. Clinton-Dix totaled 37 tackles with five interceptions, four passes broken up and a forced fumble.

30. Green Bay Packers (12-4)Antonio Richardson, OT Tennessee

All you keep hearing about is how Aaron Rodgers has been one of the most sacked QB’s in the NFL and how the Packers O-line is mess, Richardson would be a nice selection for Green Bay. Besides, can you ever really provide enough protection for a signal caller like Aaron Rodgers and while the Pack may need a TE, there will be a few to be had in rounds two and three.

31. Houston Texans: (12-4) Adrian Hubbard, OLB Alabama

Whitney Mercilus was an excellent addition to Wade Phillips 3-4 last year. Brooks Reed is also a strong contributor on the other side but he will be a FA 2015. The 6’5 252-pound Hubbard is very athletic for his size. A year of grooming can only help, as he immediately boosts special teams coverage. He would also likely put his hand on the ground when the Texans employ a 4-man line in their coverage packages. This is a good value pick for the Texans, as Hubbard could bring some much-needed size and strength to the strong side of Houston’s defense.

32. San Francisco 49ers (13-3) Colt Lyerla, TE Oregon

What could make the Niners pistol read option offense even more unstoppable and potent, how about having a dangerous dual TE threat similar to what the Patriots employed with Gronk and Hernandez. Scary thought isn’t it? Eric Ebron may be a better TE but Lyerla would be a natural fit coming from the freewheeling Oregon offense.