2014 First Round

I'm going to act like there aren't any trades even though there should be a lot.



#1) Houston Texans - Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Some of the laziness concerns are valid because Clowney doesn't make much of an effort to chase down plays that go away from him, plus he has issues with technique in not maintaining leverage or using his hands well to disengage from blocks. Still, he's an incredible athlete and will be a much better pro than Khalil Mack. It's worth noting that Bill O'Brien has no particular allegiance to a 3-4. Picking Mack over Clowney just for Romeo Crennel would be monumentally stupid.


#2) St. Louis Rams - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
They could use Watkins but he's not a transcendent talent. The Rams would be an ideal situation for Robinson since he could step in at right tackle and get time to refine his pass blocking technique before moving over to left tackle in the future.


#3) Jacksonville Jaguars - Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo
I would not take Mack here, but Gus Bradley probably feels a little desperate given that Jacksonville tied for last in the NFL with just 31 sacks. I don't think Mack is a great pass rusher, but he's a hustle player who plays intelligently and can contribute in a variety of ways.


#4) Cleveland Browns - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
Wide receiver is deep, but so is the quarterback class. I would take Bridgewater here and maybe they will, but people feel more certain about Watkins. Another receiver seems like overkill when you have Gordon and Cameron, but when I was going through their projections for this season it was glaring just how little other talent they have at the position. Some sites have been projecting one of the offensive tackles for them, which is odd because Mitchell Schwartz has been pretty solid. If they did want a lineman then Jake Matthews' ability to play multiple positions would make him appealing, but I'd be surprised if they went for that this high over their other needs.


#5) Oakland Raiders - Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
As much as TrevJo wants one, I don't see Oakland taking one of the quarterbacks. We'll find out of I'm right about James Jones away from Aaron Rodgers, but having some other options would allow Evans to come in and contribute without being asked to carry an offense.


#6) Atlanta Falcons - Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
I realize that they need a pass rush, but Matt Ryan got killed last season and they have to get some more protection to enable all the investment they've made on offense. I almost gave them Lewan here instead, but perhaps Matthews' experience playing right tackle gives him an edge since the Falcons inexplicably still like Sam Baker.


#7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
It would be nice if he was bigger, but in that case he'd be going top 2. Donald was an incredibly impressive college player whose advanced technique and superior quickness should allow him to be disruptive in Lovie's scheme. I think he's a good fit next to McCoy.


#8) Minnesota Vikings - C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
I'm guessing they really want Aaron Donald, so I'm struggling to figure out who they would take if he's gone. They probably trade down in this scenario. They should grab Bridgewater, but they gave Cassel $10 million, they're probably not over the Ponder pick, and Mike Zimmer has waited too long to be a head coach not to go for immediate wins. They could go CB and allow Munnerlyn to play the slot, where he's much better. I'm going to give them Mosley by default since it's a crying need even though this is too high. Mack would go here if he got by Jacksonville.


#9) Buffalo Bills - Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
I'm actually surprised how well Cordy Glenn has held up in pass protection, but Lewan can either upgrade the right side or allow Glenn to move there. His run blocking will appeal to Marrone.


#10) Detroit Lions - Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
Supposedly the Lions still want more offensive weapons to help out Megatron even after signing Golden Tate. I'm not that big on Ebron because of drops and questionable route running, but his athleticism makes it easy to imagine him being a great pass catching tight end.


#11) Tennessee Titans - Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
Obviously I wouldn't take Bortles, but Whisenhunt loves big-armed quarterbacks and the Titans declining Locker's fifth year option was very telling.


#12) New York Giants - Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
This one feels like a lock.


#13) St. Louis Rams - Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
Bradford's contract is almost up for renewal and I believe there's some truth to the rumors about St. Louis being hot on Manziel.


#14) Chicago Bears - Hasean Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
From what I've read, Chicago has a mess at safety. Obviously they would prefer Donald, but that ship will have long sailed.


#15) Pittsburgh Steelers - Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU
Losing Wallace and then Sanders makes this situation pretty desperate, even with Antonio Brown's emergence and their hopes for Wheaton. Beckham is a plug and play receiver who can be a starter immediately.


#16) Dallas Cowboys - Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
I like Hageman more, but signing Melton and thinking McClain will be worth a crap probably pushes Dallas off of that in the first round. Pryor would fit need and talent level.


#17) Baltimore Ravens - Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
Ozzie Newsome is great at sifting through the hype and trusting his instincts, so he shouldn't be put off by rumors about Hageman being lazy. Ra'Shede was arguably the most productive DT in college football not named Aaron Donald.


#18) New York Jets - Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
As much as Jets fans want a wide receiver, they'd be much better off with Dennard than Cooks or Lee. He's my top CB in this draft class.


#19) Miami Dolphins - Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
Another marriage of need and talent. I'm not sure Shazier is as good as his incredible workout numbers suggest, but the Dolphins need some play-making ability at linebacker.


#20) Arizona Cardinals - Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA
Here's where someone finally takes a chance on Barr's tremendous athleticism. I think teams will be gunshy early on because of how Jordan and Mingo fared, with Barr being even more raw than they were.


#21) Green Bay Packers - Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame
If safety, linebacker, and offensive line have all been picked over then Nix would make sense as Raji's long-term replacement.


#22) Philadelphia Eagles - Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
Chip Kelly loves athletes and Gilbert might be the best athlete in the draft after Clowney. I'm not overly fond of Gilbert's abilities in coverage, but the Eagles can work him in while also letting him handle return duties. They can address wideout later.


#23) Kansas City Chiefs - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
Maybe the Chiefs' interest is overstated simply to push down Alex Smith's contract demands, but the fit would be perfect. Andy Reid would get a very smart, very accurate passer to helm his offense for the remainder of his coaching career. Bridgewater is by far the best quarterback in this draft.


#24) Cincinnati Bengals - Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
I described him as my favorite cornerback to watch last season. Fuller is tough, scrappy, instinctive, and effective.


#25) San Diego Charters - Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
It seems likely that San Diego will go with a cornerback, but it will be interesting to see who they choose assuming that the top three are gone. Roby has more raw talent but Jason Verrett is better prepared to play immediately.


#26) Cleveland Browns - Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
I'm guessing they hoped Bridgewater would fall and maybe they'll move up from #26 to get him. Assuming the top three have been selected, Carr would presumably be the next choice. Unfortunately I think this is another Quinn/Weeden scenario where waiting and taking a lesser quarterback wastes the pick entirely since I am not a fan of Carr.


#27) New Orleans Saints - Marqise Lee, WR, USC
Receiver would seem obvious given the loss of Lance Moore and Sproles. I gave them Lee over Brandin Cooks because I think Lee is a better fit for the route tree in New Orleans.


#28) Carolina Panthers - Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama
Reports have now come out saying that the earlier reports about Kouandjio's knee being arthritic were entirely bogus, so who knows what to believe. As a Panthers fan I would prefer Su'a-Filo simply to be sure you're getting a quality long-term starter, but Cyrus can slot in immediately at right tackle before taking over at left tackle once the Byron Bell experiment mercifully ends.


#29) New England Patriots - Xavier Su'a-Filo, G, UCLA
Maybe they go Marcus Martin to get a center, but Su'a-Filo is substantially better in my view and would immediately upgrade the Patriots' offensive line.


#30) san Francisco 49ers - Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
I'm not sure why they continue to be linked to wide receivers unless they don't plan on re-signing Crabtree. Cornerback looks like the much more pressing need.


#31) Denver Broncos - Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State
Knighton is only signed through this season and it doesn't seem like Denver wants to give him a big deal after only one great season. Jernigan would fit in well as part of the rotation before taking over in 2015, and he has quite a bit of potential over the long-term.


#32) Seattle Seahawks - Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
Receiver isn't necessarily a need here, but Seattle could use one and Cooks should go somewhere in the first round.

 

I'd be pretty upset with that, honestly. I know there will be trades galore, but I really don't want us to drop a 28th on a guy I think will be a marginal RT.

If his knee is fine, why was he so fucking stiff?

 

We'll probably draft him and his knee will be fucked worse than Chuck Smith's was back in the day.

 

Collin First Round...

That is pretty damn strong. Good job. Most make a lot sense.

If the Panthers end up with Cyrus Kouandjio and someone like Davante Adams I will have to be happy with that.

 

Each first round selection gets a song of their choice played as they walk up to the podium.

 

Are you being silly? Or is that true.

 

Per Adam Shefter on twitter

 

610 dudes wore that out this morning. Entertaining none the less.

Bradley Roby's will no doubt be Locked Up by Akon.

 

Manziel "Go on take the money and run"

 

That seems like a stupid idea.