Sac's 2014 NFL Mock

[Saccopoo]

First Round:

1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE; South Carolina
- You want them to draft a QB because of 2013, but remember that they were the best team in the AFC in 2012 with the same QB. And you don't pass on a guy with Clowney's size/speed/production ratios, especially for a guy like Blake Bortles. That's how GM's get fired.

2. St. Louis Rams: Sammy Watkins, WR; Clemson
- The Rams seem like they are on the verge. In 2012, they had the best record in their division, have a great defense and spent a first rounder on dynamic Tavon Austin last draft. However, he's not a true #1 WR, but Watkins is and has the potential to be a transcendent player at that position.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles, QB; UCF
- Prototype QB for a QBless team. Not much else to say.

4. Cleveland Browns: Johnny Football, QB; Texas A&M
- The Browns need an infusion of "Boom!," of "Wow!," a certain je ne sais quoi that only comes with the QB position, and nobody fits that bill better than Johnny Football. Dynamic, electric and mercurial, Manziel will immediately give relevance to the Browns.

5. Oakland Raiders: Teddy Bridgewater, QB; Louisville
- The Raiders QB situation is a mess. Pryor looks really good one week and then horrible the next forcing a benching. Bridgewater is the most consistent and productive QB in this draft. I'm not completely sold on him as a pro, but the Raiders don't have many other options at this point.

6. Atlanta Falcons: Greg Robinson, OT; Auburn
- The Falcons couldn't have had this turn out any better. Matt Ryan does a jig as Robinson is an absolute force at the tackle position.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jake Matthews, OT; Texas A&M
- Possibly the most sound football player in this draft with a lot of upside and a very high floor. The Bucs need an anchor on the offensive line and Matthews has the potential to be a high level player at all five positions.

8. Minnesota Vikings: Aaron Donald, DT; Pittsburgh
- The Vikings could go in any direction and improve their team, but their defensive line is in desperate need of a reconstruction. Kevin Williams is on his last NFL legs and there isn't anybody else who scares you. Donald has had one of the best off-season's of any prospect, destroying everyone at the Senior Bowl and then having a freakishly great Combine.

9. Buffalo Bills: Mike Evans, WR; Texas A&M
- The Bills need to get 2012 first round pick Manuel some help beyond Stevie "Cheap Shot" Johnson. Evans has the chance to be a Marques Colston type of player.

10. Detroit Lions: Darqueze Dennard, CB; Michigan State
- As in every year, the Lions secondary is a mess. They are most likely going to lose Louis Delmas to free agency and the rest are just guys. Dennard is the best secondary player in this draft and will be an immediate and better upgrade than the linebackers available.

11. Tennessee Titans: CJ Mosley, LB; Alabama
- The Titans will most likely be switching to a 34 under new DC Wisenhunt and they'll need an immediate upgrade at a number of defensive positions. Mosley is already versed in the alignment as the Tide's Dick Butkus Award Winner.

12. New York Giants: Khalil Mack, LB; Buffalo
- An easy pick if Mack makes it this far.

13. St. Louis Rams: Taylor Lewan, OT; Michigan
- The Rams secure the right side of their line and hopefully the rest of Bradford's time in the league with the selection of the talented and very nasty Lewan.

14. Chicago Bears: Timmy Jernigan, DT; Florida State
- The best three tech DT available, which the Bears desperately need.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Louis Nix, DT; Notre Dame
- The Steelers weren't very good against the run in 2013. Nix was the lynch pin for the Domers defense and anchors well.

16. Dallas Cowboys: Calvin Pryor, S; Louisville
- With the top DT's off the board, Dallas addresses it's second biggest position of need with the selection of Pryor.

17. Baltimore Ravens: Marquis Lee, WR; USC
- I think it's a photo finish type of selection between Lee, Beckham and Cooks for the next WR selected after Mike Evans. Lee gets the nod here for his glorious 2012 season and the difficulties he faced in 2013 while still putting up very respectable numbers.

18. New York Jets: Odell Beckham, WR; LSU
- The Jets are 98% likely to pick the best receiver on their board with this selection and it's nearly sixes between Beckham and Cooks. Beckham gets the nod here.

19. Miami Dolphins: Zach Martin, OL; Notre Dame
- Martin can play either tackle or guard spot and, like anyone didn't notice, the Dolphins might need a tackle or guard spot filled.

20. Arizona Cardinals: Anthony Barr, LB; UCLA
- Last year I would have said that the Cardinals needed to draft someone to rush the passer because free agent acquisition John Abraham was 34 years old...yeah, so the guy goes out and does what he always does and gets double digit sacks. But this year, he's 35 and the Cardinals need someone to rush the passer.

21. Green Bay Packers: Eric Ebron, TE; North Carolina
- Rogers will be discount doubling checking people in the balls if this isn't the pick. A better fit you could not find at this point for the Packers.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Gilbert, CB; Oklahoma State
- That Gilbert is still on the board shows you how insanely deep this draft is.

23. Kansas City Chiefs: Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, S; Alabama
- It's tempting to take Brandin Cooks here, but every Chiefs fan who watched even partial games in 2013 realizes that there was a really, really big hole on the defensive side of the ball that ended up costing the Chiefs a number of games. Dix is what you could consider a shut down back half safety. He plays the deep ball as well as anyone and has ridiculous range. The Chiefs can still get a top flight receiver in Round 3.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: David Yankey, OL; Stanford
- Bengals have a serious need at offensive guard and Yankey is coming off a First Team All-American season.

25. San Diego Chargers: Kyle Fuller, CB; Virginia Tech
- I think he's better than Roby and bigger than Verrett the Chargers need to upgrade their outside pass defense.

26. Cleveland Browns: Brandin Cooks, WR; Oregon State
- While Gordon is one of the best young WR's in the league, he's one stupid act away from getting a massive hit from the Banhammer. Cooks gives new QB Johnny Football another option and his pogo stick like legs will work well with the free lance stylings of Mr. Manziel.

27. New Orleans Saints: Jason Verrett, CB; TCU
- Saints are happy that a player the talent of Verrett is still on the board as CB is a big need in the Big Easy.

28. Carolina Panthers: Dee Ford, DE; Auburn
- Yeah, the Panthers are in a bad way for an offensive tackle after Jordan Gross surprised them with his retirement a couple of weeks ago, but you don't ever reach for need lest you end up in a Jon Baldwin situation. They do have an almost as big need at DE and Ford is a major talent that should have been long gone at this point in the draft.

29. New England Patriots: Ra'Shede Hageman, DT; Minnesota
- The Pats have a need at both DT and DE and the athletic but enormous Hageman has the potential to play both spots.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Benjamin, WR; Florida State
- The Niners had one of the worst passing offenses in the league in 2013. Yet they still came a tipped ball from their second Super Bowl in as many years. However, that fact is not to be ignored and they'll try to get Kaepernick more weapons in an effort to bolster those anemic passing numbers.

31. Denver Broncos: Kony Ealy, DE; Missouri
- The Doncs are probably still having nightmares of pass rushers in blue and green and as it's a copy cat league, they go after one of the top rush ends in this draft in Ealy, who will bookend nicely with Wolfe.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Stephen Tuitt, DT; Notre Dame
- What do you do when you are the Super Bowl champs and you've just jettisoned your starting DE because of a bloated salary? Well, you go out and get a guy who's got even more potential, that's what.

[OldSchool]

I'd rather give Cummings a shot than draft Dix. No thanks to Bama DBs; we don't need another flop in the 1st.

[Direckshun]

Thoughts:

1. Clowney 1st overall? el oh el.

2. I always want to mock Watkins to the Rams, too, but they gotta keep Bradford upright, and Jake Long won't be ready for the start of the 2014 season.

3. I flipflop between Manziel and Bridgewater as the best QBs in this draft. Bortles looks great, and throws great. But he's going to require far more work than either of those guys.

4. Mack falls waaaaaaaaaay too far. He doesn't get past Atlanta.

5. If the Titans are in fact changing defensive schemes, they should get an edge rusher (Barr) or a nose tackle (Nix).

6. As you alluded in the post, it's just not possible that Gilbert falls that far.

7. I like Clinton-Dix a lot as a FS in our scheme. I think he makes a ton of sense and I'd be happy with us taking him over Brandin Cooks or Dee Ford. However, if we do not sign a quality DE this offseason, I would be really upset if we pass on Hageman. Geez.

8. Really? The 49ers are going to take a big, physical WR, after already having Boldin and Baldwin on the roster?

Good first round mock. I don't mind disagreeing with a few of its moves since really weird things happen on draft day. But yeah, no way in hell does Mack fall that far.

[permachief]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Thoughts:


7. I like Clinton-Dix a lot as a FS in our scheme. I think he makes a ton of sense and I'd be happy with us taking him over Brandin Cooks or Dee Ford. However, if we do not sign a quality DE this offseason, I would be really upset if we pass on Hageman. Geez.

Hageman at DE would make whoever we have playing FS better . . . he would make the whole secondary better.

Most of last year's problem on defense in the second half of the season was due to the lack of pressure up front.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by permachief

Hageman at DE would make whoever we have playing FS better . . . he would make the whole secondary better.

Most of last year's problem on defense in the second half of the season was due to the lack of pressure up front.

No, most of the problem was that without reliable deep coverage over the top, our corners were forced to give a cushion and the better QBs and offenses were able to take advantage of that far too quickly for any pass rush to get there.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by milkman

No, most of the problem was that without reliable deep coverage over the top, our corners were forced to give a cushion and the better QBs and offenses were able to take advantage of that far too quickly for any pass rush to get there.

So I take it you'd take Clinton-Dix as well.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

So I take it you'd take Clinton-Dix as well.

Not necessarily, though I would be more torn about it than you, in that poisition I would take Hegeman.

I just don't agree with the post I responded to.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Thoughts:

1. Clowney 1st overall? el oh el.

2. I always want to mock Watkins to the Rams, too, but they gotta keep Bradford upright, and Jake Long won't be ready for the start of the 2014 season.

3. I flipflop between Manziel and Bridgewater as the best QBs in this draft. Bortles looks great, and throws great. But he's going to require far more work than either of those guys.

4. Mack falls waaaaaaaaaay too far. He doesn't get past Atlanta.

5. If the Titans are in fact changing defensive schemes, they should get an edge rusher (Barr) or a nose tackle (Nix).

6. As you alluded in the post, it's just not possible that Gilbert falls that far.

7. I like Clinton-Dix a lot as a FS in our scheme. I think he makes a ton of sense and I'd be happy with us taking him over Brandin Cooks or Dee Ford. However, if we do not sign a quality DE this offseason, I would be really upset if we pass on Hageman. Geez.

8. Really? The 49ers are going to take a big, physical WR, after already having Boldin and Baldwin on the roster?

Good first round mock. I don't mind disagreeing with a few of its moves since really weird

things happen on draft day. But yeah, no way in hell does Mack fall that far.

Why is Clowney at 1.1 funny?

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by BCD

Why is Clowney at 1.1 funny?

New coaches mean new QBs. There are two elite QB prospects in this draft, and another very good one in Bortles. All three are different kinds of guys.

Whatever the new regime likes in QBs, they have their choice of it. Clowney is not going first overall.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

New coaches mean new QBs. There are two elite QB prospects in this draft, and another very good one in Bortles. All three are different kinds of guys.

Whatever the new regime likes in QBs, they have their choice of it. Clowney is not going first overall.

I'd argue that there are no elite QB's in this draft, but there is definitely an elite, generational talent at DE.

Like I said, you want to be the guy who takes Blake Bortles over Jadeveon Clowney?

That's the kind of shit that will haunt you for the rest of your life.

You'll be demonized for eternity.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

I'd argue that there are no elite QB's in this draft, but there is definitely an elite, generational talent at DE.

Like I said, you want to be the guy who takes Blake Bortles over Jadeveon Clowney?

That's the kind of shit that will haunt you for the rest of your life.

You'll be demonized for eternity.

Sac, this is something I agree with you on. I disagree with many that the QBs in this draft are can't miss, franchise-type, QBs. Clowney, on the other hand, is an absolute freak coming off the edge. There is Clowney in this draft, and then there is everyone else. There is absolutely no comparison. If I were Houston, I'd take Clowney without thinking about it and try to trade up from my 2nd rounder to get Derek Carr or Jimmy Garappolo. If I was going to take a QB at #1, I'd lean heavy towards Manziel, I think he's that Brett Favre type of talent.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

I'd argue that there are no elite QB's in this draft, but there is definitely an elite, generational talent at DE.

Like I said, you want to be the guy who takes Blake Bortles over Jadeveon Clowney?

That's the kind of shit that will haunt you for the rest of your life.

You'll be demonized for eternity.

Which is why I'd take Manziel or Bridgewater over Clowney, if I were the Texans. Without hesitation.

[mikey23545]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

First Round:
6. Atlanta Falcons: Greg Robinson, OT; Auburn
- The Falcons couldn't have had this turn out any better. Matt Ryan does a jig as Robinson is an absolute force at the tackle position.

[OldSchool]

reason why I hate Bama DBs:

Kirkpatrick - Can't push Pacman Jones out of a starting role.

Milliner - looked like puke

Barron - another crappy failure of a Bama DB.

Pretty much every Bama defender in the league right now is either just an average player or just completely sucks donkey.

The only one who is actually good is Marcell Dareus. Demeco Ryans is also a pretty good player. Neither of these guys play in the secondary. If recent history is anything to go by, Clinton Dix is going to suck just as badly no matter how good he seemed in college. Saban DBs just plain end up sucking at the next level.

[RunKC]

Who I would take: Brandin Cooks

Who Reid/Dorsey would take: David Yankey