http://nfl.si.com/2014/01/08/2014-nfl-mock-draft-johnny-manziel-2/
1. Houston Texans (2-14): Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville.
The pre-draft process can feel rather interminable, so most prominent prospects trek through ebbs and flows in their hype. Right now, Bridgewater’s in a bit of a lull. Blame it on Louisville playing an early bowl game or focus falling on Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel. Whatever the reason, Bridgewater has slipped out of the spotlight a bit.
So, here’s your reminder: This is the best quarterback in the 2014 class. Bridgewater has shown time and again what he is capable of on the field, and The MMQB’s Greg Bedard recently highlighted what a sharp football mind he has: “You’d be hard-pressed to find many, if any, college quarterbacks that are asked to do [as much as Bridgewater is],” Bedard wrote, “especially at 21 years old and in a completely full-field read progression system.”
There’s no use picking through the remaining prospects to figure out who should go No. 1 when the answer is staring us in the face.
2. St. Louis — via Washington (3-13): Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina.
It is a very rare occurrence that a pretty good team — the Rams were 7-9 this season — gets a chance to draft up here. And in my view, there are three ways to take advantage: 1. Take a quarterback, signaling a virtual end to Sam Bradford’s days as the No. 1 guy; 2. Trade down again, a scenario that may be likely should another team fall in love with a player; or 3. Draft Clowney.
All season long, skeptics have looked at Clowney’s stats and his occasional choice to sit out a play or game and tabbed him a future bust. Look deeper, at his impact on how the opposition schemed. He’s special … and only going to get better. St. Louis will find a way to use him, even with Robert Quinn and Chris Long on the field. Oh, and Jeff Fisher loves having a stockpile of pass-rushers.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12): Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M.
An admission: I was all over the place with Manziel before settling on him here, bumping out Khalil Mack. I do not think it’s out of the question that the Jaguars aim for someone like Mack or Anthony Barr to give Gus Bradley a dynamic defender. But doing so would likely force them to settle on a second-tier QB later, dragging out the rebuilding project.
Manziel will make mistakes (possibly off the field as well as on). He’ll also make the Jaguars a far more dangerous team from Day 1.
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Blake Bortles, QB, UCF.
Bortles is the man of the hour in draft circles, with his Fiesta Bowl win putting the capper on a brilliant season. He has a chance to be great at the next level. Right now? I’d say he could be pretty good as a rookie as he undergoes some growing pains. For the Browns, the notion of finally nabbing a franchise quarterback will outweigh any concerns.
5. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M.
Is this another spot for a quarterback? How about a wide receiver? Should their choice truly boil down to QB or WR at No. 5, the guess here is that they’d lean receiver — partially because any quarterback will struggle in Oakland until the rest of the depth chart improves. The line, in particular, must be strong for the offense to have a chance. Oakland needs to get Jared Veldheer re-signed this offseason. Pairing him with Matthews, who has extensive experience at right tackle, would set the Raiders on the right path.
6. Atlanta Falcons (4-12): Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo.
The Falcons’ pass rush (like its offensive line) was a complete mess in 2013 — it generated just 32 sacks all season, third-worst in the league. Atlanta needs to adjust, both in scheme and in personnel. Mack would upgrade the latter while driving changes to the former. The Seahawks have popularized the “Leo” linebacker position, which combines elements of the DE and OLB positions. Mack could play that role for the Falcons.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA.
Expect there to be a lot of Mack versus Barr discussion in the four months between now and the draft. Mack is further developed as a pro-ready prospect; Barr may have the higher upside. A lot of the comments for Atlanta’s pick hold true here, too: Barr would provide a jolt to an undermanned pass rush, even if the Buccaneers had to be a little creative in utilizing him.
Lovie Smith will want defensive playmakers — and not only Tampa-2 guys. Barr would be a welcome addition.
8. Minnesota Vikings (5-10-1): Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State.
That Vikings fans would be skittish over this pick is understandable. The last time they attempted to draft a franchise QB, with Christian Ponder in 2011, they flopped miserably. Carr has issues with his mechanics to work out and played in a very QB-friendly offense. This is not a slam dunk.
But the Vikings need a quarterback, and Carr’s skill level makes him worth the risk. Minnesota has the O-line Carr needs in front of him, plus catch-and-go weapons like Cordarrelle Patterson. Carr could erase the Ponder mistake.
9. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina.
I’ll throw out two names here: Ebron and Mike Evans. The biggest variable they have in common? Size. Ebron runs 6-foot-4, 245 pounds; Evans 6-5, 225. If the Bills look to bolster their offense here, they will want to find a tall, red-zone target to complement a relatively average-sized group.
After seeing potential in both Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin, a second- and third-round pick, respectively, in 2013, rounding out the offense with the dangerous Ebron fits.
10. Detroit Lions (7-9): Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson.
Watkins could climb higher than this (especially after that dominant bowl-game showing). He most likely will not fall much lower. Outside of Houston and Atlanta, pretty much any team above Detroit could justify nabbing the explosive Clemson wide receiver — and the Lions might be sick for years if Minnesota rolls the dice by pairing Watkins with Patterson.
1. Houston Texans (2-14): Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville.
The pre-draft process can feel rather interminable, so most prominent prospects trek through ebbs and flows in their hype. Right now, Bridgewater’s in a bit of a lull. Blame it on Louisville playing an early bowl game or focus falling on Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel. Whatever the reason, Bridgewater has slipped out of the spotlight a bit.
So, here’s your reminder: This is the best quarterback in the 2014 class. Bridgewater has shown time and again what he is capable of on the field, and The MMQB’s Greg Bedard recently highlighted what a sharp football mind he has: “You’d be hard-pressed to find many, if any, college quarterbacks that are asked to do [as much as Bridgewater is],” Bedard wrote, “especially at 21 years old and in a completely full-field read progression system.”
There’s no use picking through the remaining prospects to figure out who should go No. 1 when the answer is staring us in the face.
2. St. Louis — via Washington (3-13): Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina.
It is a very rare occurrence that a pretty good team — the Rams were 7-9 this season — gets a chance to draft up here. And in my view, there are three ways to take advantage: 1. Take a quarterback, signaling a virtual end to Sam Bradford’s days as the No. 1 guy; 2. Trade down again, a scenario that may be likely should another team fall in love with a player; or 3. Draft Clowney.
All season long, skeptics have looked at Clowney’s stats and his occasional choice to sit out a play or game and tabbed him a future bust. Look deeper, at his impact on how the opposition schemed. He’s special … and only going to get better. St. Louis will find a way to use him, even with Robert Quinn and Chris Long on the field. Oh, and Jeff Fisher loves having a stockpile of pass-rushers.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12): Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M.
An admission: I was all over the place with Manziel before settling on him here, bumping out Khalil Mack. I do not think it’s out of the question that the Jaguars aim for someone like Mack or Anthony Barr to give Gus Bradley a dynamic defender. But doing so would likely force them to settle on a second-tier QB later, dragging out the rebuilding project.
Manziel will make mistakes (possibly off the field as well as on). He’ll also make the Jaguars a far more dangerous team from Day 1.
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Blake Bortles, QB, UCF.
Bortles is the man of the hour in draft circles, with his Fiesta Bowl win putting the capper on a brilliant season. He has a chance to be great at the next level. Right now? I’d say he could be pretty good as a rookie as he undergoes some growing pains. For the Browns, the notion of finally nabbing a franchise quarterback will outweigh any concerns.
5. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M.
Is this another spot for a quarterback? How about a wide receiver? Should their choice truly boil down to QB or WR at No. 5, the guess here is that they’d lean receiver — partially because any quarterback will struggle in Oakland until the rest of the depth chart improves. The line, in particular, must be strong for the offense to have a chance. Oakland needs to get Jared Veldheer re-signed this offseason. Pairing him with Matthews, who has extensive experience at right tackle, would set the Raiders on the right path.
6. Atlanta Falcons (4-12): Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo.
The Falcons’ pass rush (like its offensive line) was a complete mess in 2013 — it generated just 32 sacks all season, third-worst in the league. Atlanta needs to adjust, both in scheme and in personnel. Mack would upgrade the latter while driving changes to the former. The Seahawks have popularized the “Leo” linebacker position, which combines elements of the DE and OLB positions. Mack could play that role for the Falcons.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA.
Expect there to be a lot of Mack versus Barr discussion in the four months between now and the draft. Mack is further developed as a pro-ready prospect; Barr may have the higher upside. A lot of the comments for Atlanta’s pick hold true here, too: Barr would provide a jolt to an undermanned pass rush, even if the Buccaneers had to be a little creative in utilizing him.
Lovie Smith will want defensive playmakers — and not only Tampa-2 guys. Barr would be a welcome addition.
8. Minnesota Vikings (5-10-1): Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State.
That Vikings fans would be skittish over this pick is understandable. The last time they attempted to draft a franchise QB, with Christian Ponder in 2011, they flopped miserably. Carr has issues with his mechanics to work out and played in a very QB-friendly offense. This is not a slam dunk.
But the Vikings need a quarterback, and Carr’s skill level makes him worth the risk. Minnesota has the O-line Carr needs in front of him, plus catch-and-go weapons like Cordarrelle Patterson. Carr could erase the Ponder mistake.
9. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina.
I’ll throw out two names here: Ebron and Mike Evans. The biggest variable they have in common? Size. Ebron runs 6-foot-4, 245 pounds; Evans 6-5, 225. If the Bills look to bolster their offense here, they will want to find a tall, red-zone target to complement a relatively average-sized group.
After seeing potential in both Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin, a second- and third-round pick, respectively, in 2013, rounding out the offense with the dangerous Ebron fits.
10. Detroit Lions (7-9): Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson.
Watkins could climb higher than this (especially after that dominant bowl-game showing). He most likely will not fall much lower. Outside of Houston and Atlanta, pretty much any team above Detroit could justify nabbing the explosive Clemson wide receiver — and the Lions might be sick for years if Minnesota rolls the dice by pairing Watkins with Patterson.
Still hope Clowney is in play for the Raiders. I would want Watkins, but would prefer drafting Mack. No need of drafting a QB if Teddy is already picked, only immediate franchise QB imo in the draft.
