2014 NFL Draft Graded Recap

-An opinioated look into every selection in the first round-

By: Josh Fyffe

Ah, Draft Day, the most exciting day of football with no actual football being played. In round one of the 2014 edition we watched the Raiders get one right, Jets fans leave happy, the Jags screw up, and of course the Patriots making the most confusing selection of the first night. Below is every pick in order with my analysis on the overall selection. I gave out grades based on a mixture of systematic fit, player potential, and who else could each team could have selected with the pick; let’s get started. 

1^st Overall – Houston Texans - Jadaveon Clowney, DE – Of course I agree with this pick; Clowney was unanimously rated as the most physically gifted player with the highest ceiling in the draft. Clowney plays with explosion never witnessed at his position, and although he admits his moves are unpolished, he has the physical tools (and a great defensive coaching staff headlined by Romeo Crenel) to develop into one of the game’s best pass rushers. The Texans could have also gone QB with this pick but by looking at the value of the quarterbacks taken in round one, they clearly made the best choice with Clowney who likely would have been nabbed by the Rams if he fell past one. The duo of Watt and Clowney is going to reek havoc in the AFC South for years to come. Initial Grade: A

2nd Overall – St. Louis Rams - Greg Robinson, OL – Another great pick, Robinson is a freak of nature at the line of scrimmage, weighing 320 pounds with a 6’5’’ frame. He can easily be molded into a top caliber left tackle and demonstrates similar unique physical attributes that Clowney has but on the other side of the ball. A knock on him is that he needs to be a bit more polished, but he can learn on the job since he is already physically gifted enough to succeed at the position. This pick adds security to Sam Bradford, who has been on IR the last three seasons, and strengthens the youthful run game that Stacy and Co. started to make a strength of this team last season. Initial Grade: A

3^rd Overall – Jacksonville Jaguars - Blake Bortles – What a surprise, the Jaguars make the most ridiculous pick in the top 10. I completely disagree with taking Bortles third overall, not just because he wasn’t the best quarterback in the draft, but because they probably could have gotten him in the second round or way later in the first. The Jags overvalued a prospect that had only one good college year and a deceptively good bowl game. If you watched his bowl game closely, you realize 80% of his passes were screens to the two Julio Jones imposters who played wide receiver for Central Florida and that he struggled with a lot of his throws. Watch his bowl game against Baylor here. Bortles excelled in the offseason and in events leading up to the draft with his interviews and his pro day, however way too much weight is thrown onto the proday when it’s the actual game tape that should be valued highest. Although I disagree with the pick, I must admit the Jags were likely going to take a QB unless they wanted to hop on the Henne train for another season. Bortles was the best stereotypic QB in the draft, having the best frame and physical attributes of the other three top prospects. But most importantly, I don’t understand how a team can draft a player top 3 in one of the deepest drafts in NFL history when he was literally on the radar of NFL teams for a third of his last season in college. If they weren’t going to go QB, Khalil Mack was still on the board and could have solidified a Gus Bradley defense that he has started to “Seattlize” this offseason. Initial Grade: C+

4th Overall – Buffalo Bills - Sammy Watkins, WR – I love the Watkins pick, but Sammy would have fit well wherever he was drafted; who can’t use a true number one wide receiver. Watkins adds another tool and makes the Bills’ offense a bit intimidating, boasting Spiller, Jackson, Williams, Woods, Chandler, and now Watkins. The only question is can EJ Manuel stay on the field and play at a competitive level to get the Buffalo offense finally on tract. Although Sammy will succeed in Buffalo, they did give up a lot of for him, as their first rounder next year is now property of the Browns, so they better hope Sammy can cash them in on a winning season. Despite having other holes to fill and giving up a first rounder next year for Watkins, I feel like the presence of a true number 1 wide receiver in Buffalo has been sorely missed, and I would have gone in the same direction with the pick. Initial Grade: A-

5th Overall – Oakland Raiders - Khalil Mack, LB – I viewed this as a great pick when it happened and I have no complaints at all. There were murmurs of him competing with Clowney for the number one pick, so to grab him at 5 is good value (if you can believe that). Oakland finally picked a quality player in the first round. Mack has speed and playmaking ability at the linebacker position which is coveted. The pick also adds some youth to the aging veteran Oakland defense. Initial Grade: A

6th Overall – Atlanta Falcons - Jake Mathews, OL – I completely agree with this selection. The Falcons averaged 78 yards per game rushing last season, dead last in the NFL. Mathews is an insanely intelligent prospect and is regarded highly with for his technique. A solid addition for the falcons and they grabbed the most polished OL in the draft, who was also in consideration to go second overall. Mathews may not be a flashy pick, but he will add a lot to this organization if his college success translates to the pro level. Initial Grade: A

7th Overall - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Mike Evans, WR - I like Evans being taken here as it gives the Bucs two very dangerous offensive threats with Vincent Jackson assumed to be playing opposite him. However, they could have gotten a good quality WR in the second round, such as Allen Robinson, Bruce Ellington, Devante Adams, or Jordan Mathews, while solidifying their starting QB with their first selection. As of right now, either Josh McCown or Mike Glennon will be leading the charge next season, but maybe the Bucs can recreate the Alshon Jeffrey – Brandon Marshall tandem via Vjax and Evans. How that all plays out will interesting to see; I think Evans will succeed, but not as much as he could if he had a better QB throwing him the ball. Initial Grade: B+/A-

8th Overall – Cleveland Browns - Justin Gilbert, CB – I really like this pick when I looked over the draft at the end of the night. Cleveland made some questionable moves in free agency, however they just picked a stud to play opposite from one of the games top 5 corners in Joe Haden. Having two young, fast, smart, talented corners can make it very hard on teams with little receiver depth to do anything offensively. Gilbert also boasts amazing return abilities that they have been missing since the Cribbs era. Some people may feel that they reached for Gilbert with this pick, but they walked out of this draft with two quality first rounders an extra pick in the first round next year. Gilbert will make the top ten defensive unit from a year ago only stronger. Initial Grade: A-

9th Overall – Minnesota Vikings - Anthony Barr, DE/LB- I am mixed with my opinion on this pick. Barr was projected to go in the 12-22 range, so I feel that the Vikings and new head coach Mike Zimmer may have reached a little here. For Minnisota this is a need based pick, but this can look like a brilliant pick if Zimmer can squeeze everything out of Barr, as he does present the physical attributes to play the position. The Vikes also only have one current quality linebacker in Chad Greenway so this fills the roster gap on their team. Overall, the mixed reaction stems from the value, as they could have traded back and gotten him later if they were that in love with him to take him at 9. Zimmer knows defense though, as he did wonders with producing and coercing talent from his old unit in Cincy. Initial Grade: B+

10th Overall – Detroit Lions- Eric Ebron, TE - I think this is a flashy pick by Detriot, and a very stereotypical Lions pick, but this time I think it pans out for them. Ebron is a very dynamic tightend and instantly becomes a distraction to defenses from Megatron. This compliment will allow both players to be more open on offense. Ebron now joins a group that consists of Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew, Golden Tate, Reggie Bush, Joique Bell, and Ryan Broyles.  My only problem with this pick is that Detroit had other areas of weakness (SECONDARY!!!), and that 5 of the top six defensive backs were still on the board. Taking Dix, Pryor, Fuller, Verrett, or Dennard with this pick probably would have been a more popular move, but we have seen Calvin Johnson single handedly win this team games and now with the additions of Tate and Ebron, one of them will be in single coverage every play. If they can score enough points, their offense can be their defense. Initial Grade: B+/A-

11th Overall – Tennessee Titans - Taylor Lewan, OL – I can't argue with the pick, as strengthening a teams offensive line is never a bad thing to do. Lewan played 4 years at Michigan and adds some youth toa an aging line that already has already has a great young guard in Chance Warmack. This is a pick for the Titans future, and there are too many holes on this team (QB, OLB, ILB, TE, RB,) to take a player that doesn’t entirely effect one side of the ball. They got the third best offensive lineman in the draft with Lewan, and the kid already has a chip on shoulder for all of the teams that passed on him. Initial Grade: A-

12^th Overall – New York Giants - Odell Beckham Jr, WR – I agree with the pick, and Beckham Jr has the potential to be a true number one target. They lost Nicks in free agency to the Colts, so by replacing him with Beckham, Eli now has another nice threesome of Cruz, Randle and Beckham to throw to all season long. I wouldn't like the pick if the Giants hadn't shored up defensive needs in the offseason at cornerback, but Thurmond and DRC are good pickups. Although I agree with the pick, I think that it's very bold selection and not necessarily a great decision as they could get a valuable WR in round two, given offensive line woes and linebacker/pass rusher depth issues. Initial Grade: B+

13th Overall – St. Louis Rams - Aaron Donald, DT – The Rams scored big time with this pick. Donald is an ideal 3 technique and one gap penetrator, and was the best defensive tackle coming into the draft.  The projected top ten pick is also good value at 13^th overall and adds himself to a line that already consists of Robert Quinn and Chris Long. This is a great pick up and I like the balance of mixing offense and defense with the two first rounders. Initial Grade: A

14th Overall – Chicago Bears - Kyle Fuller, CB – Fuller joins a crew of corners that consists of Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman, two players who have been very effective pros for the Bears for a long time. Sadly, both players are now on the other side of 30, so taking a young, talented, physical corner like Fuller not only adds to the depth of the team, but allows the organization to groom him behind two stellar veterans. The Bears could have gone safety with this pick, with both Pryor and Dix left on the board, but I can’t complain as they still improved their secondary. Fuller may not have the return skills of Gilbert, but he is arguably the drafts most complete cover and tackle corner. Initial Grade: A-

15th Overall – Pittsburg Steelers - Ryan Shazier, LB – Shazier is a tackling machine from Ohio State, who plays with top notch effort and leaves everything on the field. He adds depth to a linebacking core that already is a pretty solid unit, however the Steelers made a 1st round pick in last year’s nfl draft on a linebacker (Jarvis Jones) and he had a very subpar first season. The repeat of picks is a bit perplexing when their offense has exhibited struggles and has recently lost its second leading target in Emmanuel Sanders due to free agency. They signed both Lance Moore and Darius Heyward-Bey, but I really don't see either players as offensive game-changers for the Steelers. I am assuming they will tackle widereceiver later in the draft, as the depth at the wide reciever position is ridiculous. The Steelers also have an aging secondary and a pick here would have brought in some youth. I see Shazier thriving as he's a smart player, but not necessarily the best pick for the Steelers, as they had so many other team needs to be filled, linebacker not being one of them; they nabbed a great player though. Initial Grade: B/B+

16th Overall – Dallas Cowboys - Zack Martin – The 6’ 4’’ prospect out of Notre Dame is solid addition to a Cowboys Oline that is getting younger by the year. What used to be a perpetual weakness for the ‘Boys is now one of their biggest strengths. There are a lot of concerns on how this team will generate a pass rush, but by solidifying their offensive line, they are protecting their investment in Romo as well as creating some holes for Demarco Murray. I agree with the pick; Martin has the skill set to compete with any of the top tackles in the draft. It's a low profile selection, but he will make a noticeable difference. Initial Grade: B+/A- 

17th Overall – Baltimore Ravens - CJ Mosley – I love this pick. Mosley was a leader on the stout and revered Alabama defense, and is excellent quality for the 17^th overall pick. He povides the Ravens with another leader at the linebacking core and adds to a defense that has Suggs, Dumervil, Elam, Ngata, and Daryl Smith. They could have gone saftey but they have Matt Elam and both of the top two safeties (Dix and Pryor) wouldn't necessarily play well together as they have similar but not complimentary styles. Watch out for the Ravens; they retooled their offense in free agency and just got a solid player on defensive player in the draft. One of better offseasons in the league in my opinion. Initial Grade: A

18th Overall – New York Jets - Calvin Pryor – I hate this pick, but only because I am a Patriots fan. In all seriousness, Pryor was a very smart pick by the Jets; he plays with his head and was a four year starter at Louisville. They missed out on another offensive weapon, but there are plenty in this draft. This solidifies the Jets defense as an elite unit and they have youth across the board. They got great value with Pryor, and he has the mental and physical attributes to be a longtime starter in the NFL. Initial Grade: A

19th Overall – Miami Dolphins - Ja'Wuan James, OL – This was a no brainer pick as we knew they were going to go with an offensive lineman in the first round due to surrendering by far the most sacks in the NFL last season. This is a necessity based pick and they chose the best OL that they felt would fit their system. He was part of a quality offensive line at Tennessee, where he was a constant brightspot throughout his four years, and he brings the necessary skill set to be a starting tackle in the NFL. With the addition of Branden Albert from the Chiefs in the offseason, this is a completely different line from a year ago. They have spattered weaknesses at safety, running back, and wide reciever, but they can easily address two of those in rounds two and three. James isn’t the best tackle in the draft, but they got their money’s worth at 19^th overall. Initial Grade: B/B+
 
20th Overall - New Orleans Saints - Brandin Cooks, WR - I like this pick, but Dennard would have also made sense as they have Keenan Lewis and a washed-up Champ Bailey playing corner right now. However, Cooks is a good pick because they also need another WR. They have Colston, Stills and Graham. Adding Cooks isn’t too shabby considering they lost Darren Sproles and Robert Meachem.  This adds such a weapon to the Saints as Cooks supplies so much playmaking ability. They also only gave up a third round selection to move up seven spots, which is a good deal for the Saints. He draws a lot of comparisons to a young Steve Smith, and Smith dominated the position in his prime years. Cooks adds depth to an unusually depleted New Orleans offense and will be a key offensive player for years to come, but their corners will suffer despite excellent anticipated safety play from Byrd and Vaccaro. Initial Grade: B+/A-

21st Overall - Green Bay Packers - Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, SS/FS- Great pick. Not only did they get the best quality on the board, but they picked the top rated safety in the draft and addressed their largest area of need. They are fortunate he fell to 21, because he is a better player than that. Dix is the product of a very pro style defense at Alabama and he will be ready to play week one after being coached by Nick Saban. They could have gone corner or linebacker here, but they have needed a quality safety for far too long. Initial Grade: A

22nd Overall – Cleveland Browns - Johnny Manziel, QB - Great pick and he can be a starter week one. Aside from finding a running back to pair with Tate in the backfield, QB was Cleveland’s biggest area of need coming into the draft. Manziel is immediately thrown into an offense that already has a solid offensive line, Josh Gordon (drug test pending), and Jordan Cameron. This gives the Cleveland sports market something to be excited about. Manziel is a playmaker, and in the SEC which is known for having the best defenses in college football, he posted amazing Heisman numbers, as well as having a career completion percentage of nearly 70%. On top of that they added a first round pick in next year’s draft to build around him. Browns are winners of this draft. However, the downsides to Manziel are pretty bold; he is undersized with durability issues as well as off the field concerns. I feel like his off the field antics won’t be as crucial as many people assume as he is been in the spotlight for almost two years, and knows what is acceptable and unacceptable at the professional level. Cleveland, you have found your quarterback, let’s just hope he learns to slide fast. Initial Grade: A/A-

23rd Overall - Kansas City Chiefs - Dee Ford, DE – I agree with the pick. Marqise Lee was on the board but bolstering a strong defense is never a bad call. When Houston and Hali went down with injuries last season, KCs defense was definitively worse. Getting a solid defensive lineman that can rush the pass only makes this team stronger. Look for them to go offense in rounds 2 and 3 though, as WR is an area of much need for them. Initial Grade: A-

24^th Overall – Cincinnati Bengals - Darqueze Dennard, CB – I love the selection and he was the top available prospect on the board during Cincy’s pick. He is going to fit in nicely to a very talented Cincinnati defense. The Bengals have the luxury of having depth at a lot of positions so they could select the best player available. They picked a potential top fifteen prospect late in the first round. He also adds to a secondary that has an aging Terrance Newman and a struggling Dre Kirkpatrick. Dennard provides the legitimacy and the potential to be a number one corner and a top name in the secondary in the NFL. Initial Grade: A

25th Overall – San Diego Chargers - Jason Verrett, CB- The Chargers took the next best corner available and that is their largest area of need. The pick makes sense and Verrett was rated equally to the other three corners taken in front of him and that give him great value as the 25^th selection. He also held the 12^th overall pick, Odell Beckham Jr. to only one catch when they played earlier this season. Aside from Eric Weddle, this team needs a lot of help in its secondary, as their corners are headlined by no names like Brandon Jones and Brandon Ghee. Initial Grade: A-

26th Overall – Philadelphia Eagles - Marcus Smith, DE – I am neutral about this pick. At 26, with Verrett and Dennard off the board, I really like the selection. Smith is a versatile player with sack production, having 14.5 sacks his senior year. The Eagles need help on their pass rush so Smith addresses an area of need immediately. However, Smith is considered a second round talent so it’s possible they reached for him. Some negatives though are that they had the 22^nd pick and Dennard was there for the taking and they traded the pick to Cleveland. The Eagles are very much in need of improving their secondary and finding that number one corner. They also failed to recreate the explosiveness they lost when they released Desean Jackson this offseason, however they can recreate that in later rounds (to some extent). Smith may have a slow start, but I can see him being an impact player, maybe just not as much as Dennard would have impacted this team. Initial Grade: B/B+

27^th Overall – Arizona Cardinals - Deone Bucannon, SS/FS – With adding Bucannon, the Cardinals now have a secondary with Patrick Peterson and The Honey Badger. Those are three young players that will progress immensely over the next few season (Peterson already has). Bucannon is a very pure tackler, with 78 solo tackles this last season. The only thing holding this team back is better quarterback play and a consistent run game so I think taking a QB would have been a direction to go as they are decently set at every other position. I like the pick but I could have seen them improving their team more with Bridgewater or Carr, after all, Larry Fitzgerald is only going to be at peak level for a few more seasons. Initial Grade: B+

28^th Overall – Carolina Panthers - Kelvin Benjamin, WR – Benjamin was mocked to the Panthers frequently by a lot of NFL analysts. The Panthers were undoubtedly going wide receiver with this pick as their corps are currently led by Jericho Cotchery, Jason Avant, and Tiquan Underwood; not exactly the best targets in the league. By adding Benjamin they aren’t getting the most athletic WR but he has physical attributes (being 6'5") that make him a major redzone threat. Marqise Lee could have been a better fit and he was available when they picked. I see problems with both players (Lee can't stay healthy and Benjamin has shown concerns about lacking the intelligence to be a dependable NFL starter). I am glad to see they went WR with the pick, although they do have needs to fill in the secondary as it was ravaged during free agency. If Benjamin can mentally tackle the game, I feel like he can be a very good target for Cam inside the 20. Initial Grade: B/B+

29th Overall – New England Patriots - Dominique Easley, DE/DT – Wow, just wow. I am not a fan of this pick whatsoever. I don’t understand how Belichick can spend the Patriots first round selection on a prospect that has already has two ACL tears (one in each knee). Easley may be a fine player when he is actually on the field, but the risk of taking a player with that injury history is too much for me. Easley was a projected late second round to fourth round pick and likely would have been there at the Patriots 62^nd overall selection. Of course Easley is a Belichick guy though, he plays with more effort than most players and has a great burst with a large motor. I do like them going DE/DT here, but Ra'Shede Hageman was still there and other DE prospects such as Demarcus Lawrence could have added more of a spark to this defense. Granted, if Easley somehow remains unaffected by the injuries, he does have a large upside. The Patriots always make questionable picks that weirdly pan out; Devon McCourty was thought to be a reach when the Pats took him in the first round and he turned out to be the only NFL player in the history of the league to go all-pro at multiple positions. Logan Ryan was also a draft pick that came out of nowhere last season and he was third in the league in interceptions last year, so in Bill we trust. Initial Grade: C+

30^th Overall – San Francisco 49ers - Jimmie Ward, DB – I thought this was a quality pick for Niners, and the safety has great ball and cover skills. Ward adds depth to a weakening and aging 49ers’ secondary. Not a lot of holes to fill with the draft so they had the liberty of choosing the position of their choice. Ward also supplies the Niners with versatility in the secondary as he can easily be a converted corner. The only knock on him is that he was rated a second round player, but the Niners clearly know how to evaluate defensive talent. San Fran adds yet another piece to their bottomless pool of players. Initial Grade: B+

31^st Overall - Denver Broncos - Bradley Roby, CB – Roby was rated just below the first tier of corners in this draft. Roby brings a hard hitting presence to the Broncos, and adds himself to a defense that already has Demarcus Ware, Von Miller, Terrance “pot roast” Knighton, Aqib Talib, TJ Ward. Although I like them going defense here, a linebacker would have made more sense as they lost Wesley Woodyard who is going to be tough to replace, and was a very underrated player in their system. And despite Roby bringing a hard hitting presence, the young corner misses on a lot of tackles that should be made by a first round prospect. If his tackling consistency can improve, Denver may have gotten a steal, but at his current state, they could have gone in another direction on defense. Initial Grade: B-

32nd Overall – Minnesota Vikings - Teddy Bridgewater, QB – This is one of my favorite picks in the entire draft and immediately makes the Vikings first round look great instead of a bit questionable with just Barr. I believe Bridgewater is the most talented and pro ready of all of the quarterbacks. The Vikings got a steal and a half taking him at 32, and matching him in backfield with Adrian Peterson is mouthwatering. They gave up their 2^nd and 4^th round picks to trade back into the first round with Seattle, so I think they should try to grab an offensive playmaker in the 3^rd round to give him another target (outside of Corderelle) to throw to. Bridgewater’s stock dropped because of his shaky pro day, but his tape speaks volumes. On the field he displays amazing accuracy and touch as well as good pocket awareness. He is a good kid with good values and won’t make waves off the field. My only concern with him is his durability, and that is because of his small frame. However, he still remains an absolute steal at 32 overall, since Bortles who ranked approximately equal to him was taken 3^rd overall. Bridgewater also finally gives Minnesota a long-needed relevant quarterback. It’s almost hard to imagine that Ponder was taken 12^th overall and a more talented prospect like Bridgewater is taken at 32 by the same team. Initial Grade: A

Concluding thoughts: The three biggest winners of the first round are Cleveland, Minnesota, and the Rams, all nabbing two excellent first round prospects (the Browns being the biggest winner as they solidified two picks for next year’s first round as well). The first round was successful for a majority of the teams and the only franchises that “lost” on draft night are the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, and arguably the Eagles. It’s hard to tell after just one day, who knows; Easley could remain healthy, Bortles might become Roethlisberger (doubt it), and the Eagles might not regret passing on Dennard and Verrett.

NFL Draft Round 1 Recap

NFL Draft Recap

By: Jack Machulski

                The first round of the NFL Draft has been completed and this one was quite the doozy.  Sadly, I had my AP English exam from the 8-12 so I missed the entirety of the draft.  I have now caught up on all things draft related and am going to give my thoughts on how each team did.  Every pick will be given a rating between 1-5, 1 if I completely disagree and think it’s a terrible pick 5 if I think it is a fantastic pick.  I’m also going to rate the walkout song from each player on the same scale of 1-5.

1.       Houston Texans- Jadeveon Clowney DE, South Carolina

Walkout Song:  The Man- Aloe Blacc

Pick Rating: 4

Song Rating: 5

Congrats Houston, you didn’t mess this one up.  They didn’t get cute and try to trade back, and they didn’t select a Quarterback.  Clowney may not fit any need but he is far and away the best prospect in this draft and the thought of him and Watt playing together is straight up terrifying.  Clowney is 21 and Watt is 25, they will be playing together for quite some time to come.  Andrew Luck better watch his back. 

As for the song: great choice Jadeveon.  You went number one, and you truly are The Man.  The only thing Jadeveon messed up was this awkward exchange with Johnny Manziel.

2.       St. Louis Rams via Washington Redskins- Greg Robinson OT, Auburn

Walkout Song:  Happy- Pharrell

Pick Rating: 4

Song Rating: 4

Everything about this pick is solid including the man drafted, Greg Robinson is an absolute monster at 6-5 332 pounds.  He is already a beast of a run blocker and generates the power to bulldoze any defensive end.  If he works and develops his footwork in the pass blocking game then he could end up being one of the best OT’s in the league.  Gruden and company were comparing him to Ram great Orlando Pace, a more contemporary comparison would be Jason Peters of the Eagles, one of the best OT’s over the last 5 years.

Happy was a great song for him to come out to, although it is overplayed it captures the moment of joy being drafted.  Nice job Greg.

3.       Jacksonville Jaguars- Blake Bortles QB, University of Central Florida

Walkout Song: Blow Up- J. Cole

Pick Rating: 2

Song Rating: 5

Silly Jaguars, when will you ever learn.  It would be very easy to blast this pick because Bortles is definitely a reach at 3, especially with Manziel going at 22 and Bridgewater going at 32.  The Jaguars needed a QB however, and went with the guy that is highest on their board at the position, and I can respect that.  That being said, I think they should have gone with Khalil Mack here instead.  Bortles has the size and arm strength to get it done but he is still very raw and far from a sure thing, if he reaches his upside this could be a great pick but we will see what happens.  Another concern for Bortles is that he won’t be motivated to play football because he has already won at life.  This is his girlfriend.

“This is a song for my haters, I’m about to blow up!”  Can’t  tell if Blake wrote this about his draft stock back in February or if this was written by J. Cole.  Either way, J. Cole is awesome and I like Bortles 50% more for choosing one of his songs to walk up to. 

4.       Buffalo Bills via Cleveland Browns- Sammy Watkins WR, Clemson

Walkout Song: Look What You’ve Done- Drake

Pick Rating: 3

Song Rating: 2

Well I love the fact that the Bills made a bold move and traded up to get Sammy Watkins, but this was a steep price.  Bills gave up next year’s 1^st and 4^th round draft picks to grab Sammy Watkins and give EJ Manuel another toy to play with.  Watkins is my second favorite prospect in the entire draft and I think he will do great things in Buffalo.  He can stretch the field with his speed and is by far the best receiver after the catch in the entire draft.  I also love this move for Cleveland because they will have 2 first round pick in two drafts in a row. The Bills basically had to move up to make this move because if Watkins fell to 5 it was rumoredthat the Lions would have moved up and taken him.  I almost gave the Bills a 5 grade just because it stopped Calvin Johnson and Sammy Watkins from being on the same team.   

I really think Watkins messed up with the song.  Don’t get me wrong I love Drake and this song but this is the song you listen to after a fight with your girlfriend not after getting picked 4^th overall.  Now we don’t know if those tears are from the joy of being drafted or that he misses his girlfriend.  Not a good choice Sammy.

5.       Oakland Raiders- Khalil Mack OLB/DE, Buffalo

Walkout Song: Happy- Pharrell

Pick Rating: 5

Song Rating: 1

Love Khalil Mack and I love this pick.  He is clearly the best player available and they resisted the urge to pick a QB and took him instead.  Mack is big, fast, has great instincts and technique when it comes to rushing the passer.  He also lives in the backfield in the run game and is the all-time leader in tackles for a loss in the NCAA.  I think Mack will do big things in Oakland and can contribute right away.

I love Mack but I hated this song choice.  

First of all, Greg Robinson already used Happy.  Second of all your last name is Mack, which is mentioned in hundreds of songs.  Khalil should have gone with this, this, or anything on this list.  Wasted potential.

6.       Atlanta Falcons- Jake Matthews OT, Texas A&M

Walkout Song: Going the Distance- Bill Conti

Pick Rating: 4

Song Rating: 4

Jake Matthews was a solid pick for the Falcons, they really only needed help on both lines and they got great help on the offensive line with Matthews.  Matthews may be the best pass protector in the draft and is probably the most pro ready tackle in the draft.  After getting kicked in the balls by Oakland who took Mack right out from under them, this was the next best pick. 

Song choice was awesome, anything from the Rocky soundtrack sounds awesome and totally fits the moment.  This also marked the first non-rap song.  Way to be different Jake!

7.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Mike Evans WR, Texas A&M

Walkout Song: Trophies- Drake

Pick Rating: 3

Song Rating: 6

This pick was pretty solid.  Not 100% sold on Mike Evans just because on tape he doesn’t look like he will be able to get separation in the pros.  However, with his size and vertical leap he will definitely make an impact at the next level.  Not sure if he was worth the 7^th pick but if the Bucs really wanted a wide receiver he was the best available. 

A 6? Didn’t you say the scale was only 1-5?  Yes I did but this is the song I would personally choose if I got drafted so I’m giving it a grade that is off the scale.  Mike Evans wins the song choice contest, and they don’t have no award for that…

8.       Cleveland Browns via Buffalo Bills via Minnesota Vikings- Justin Gilbert CB, OK State

Walkout Song: We Dem Boyz- Wiz Khalifa

Pick Rating:  3

Song Rating: 2

This pick was very “meh” for me.  After trading down to 9 they gave up a fifth rounder to trade up and grab Justin Gilbert.  Gilbert isn’t exactly a need but he is still a very good corner and pairing him with Joe Haden will give them one of the top corner duos in the league.  I don’t know why but I’m just not 100% down with this pick.  Very “meh.”

Song choice was also not great.  Sorry but I just don’t like Wiz in this spot. 

9.   Minnesota Vikings- Anthony Barr OLB/DE, UCLA

Walkout Song: None

Pick Rating: 5

Song Rating: N/A

Love this pick because I love Anthony Barr and often fantasized about him falling to 22 for my Eagles to scoop him up. Minnesota needed a linebacker to get to the passer and Barr is the second best OLB in this draft.  Solid choice.

10.   Detroit Lions- Eric Ebron TE, UNC

Walkout Song: They Don’t Love You No More- DJKhaled, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, French Montana

Pick Rating: 5

Song Rating: 3

Matt Stafford after this pick.  He has to be excited that he has another awesome target to throw to.  Ebron was one of my favorite prospects from this draft.  He has the size to go against a Linebacker and the speed to stretch the field vertically.  He will take some heat off of Megatron next year and will be a great addition.

Song was pretty good, but not great.  Title also doesn’t make sense, because Detroit does love you Eric.  They do.  He also just proposed to his girlfriend tody

11.   Tennessee Titans- Taylor Lewan OT, Michigan

Walkout Song: Rock City- Kings of Leon

Pick Rating: 4

Song Rating: 2

This was a solid pick as Taylor Lewan is one of the most talented prospects in the draft.  I think the Titans really wanted either Barr or Gilbert but since both of them were gone they took Lewan.  Lewan’s main thing holding him back is that he has had a slew of character issues in his time in college.  If he gets those under control he will be a good pick.

Two white offensive tackles and two rock songs so far.  Sweet!  Loved the Bill Cotti choice by Matthews but Kings of Leon isn’t doing it for me.  Sorry Taylor.

12.   New York Giants- Odell Beckham Jr.

Walkout Song: Sky is the Limit- Lil Wayne

Pick Rating: 3

Song Rating: 4

Giants probably reached a bit for OBJ here but I think it is still a solid pick.  They probably wanted either Ebron or one of the top 3 OT’s but it didn’t work out that way.  They definitely need something to help the disaster of offense that they had last year.  Beckham Jr. may have been a reach but he is probably the best offensive player on the board so I understand.  Beckham Jr. is a great player and definitely will be exciting next year.

Song choice was awesome, some old school Lil Wayne to change things up.  However, I don’t know how they possibly made this song clean enough to play at Radio City Music Hall.  Think of the children Odell. 

13.   St. Louis Rams- Aaron Donald DT, Pitt

Walkout Song: None

Pick Rating: 5

Song Rating: N/A

Aaron Donald is a beast and this was one of my favorite picks of the draft.  Many expected the Rams to go for a safety like Calvin Pryor or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix but they went with the best player available and picked Aaron Donald.  He will team up with Robert Quinn and make that front seven even better next year.

14.   Chicago Bears- Kyle Fuller CB, Virginia Tech

Walkout Song: We Made It- Drake ft. Soulja Boy

Pick Rating: 4

Song Rating: 3

Another team everyone mocked a safety to the Bears too because Chris Conte is legitimately terrible at football.  However, they chose to help their secondary in a different way by selecting the Corner from Virginia Tech.  Fuller was one of my favorite prospects and another guy I wanted to see on the Eagles.  I definitely like the pick for Chicago

Song was ok but I had to give it a three based on my “any song with Soulja Boy on it can’t be rated higher than a 3 rule” that I made up two minutes ago.

15.   Pittsburgh Steelers- Ryan Shazier OLB, Ohio State

Walkout Song: Everythang- Young Jeezy

Pick Rating: 3

Song Rating: 4

I love Shazier as a prospect but I’m not exactly the biggest fan of the pick.  Shazier is probably the single most athletic player in this draft class with a blazing unofficial 40 of 4.36 at his pro day.  That’s pure speed.  Shazier will be good but I actually think they should have drafted Darqueeze Dennard.  The Steelers are very short at corner and Ike Taylor is very old.  They needed some young talent at the corner position but passed on Dennard.  I think if they pick a corner in round 2 this rating will move from a 3 to a 4.

Shazier decided to walk out to Jeezy’s rags to riches tale “Everythang.”  I don’t know if Ryan ever had the rags but he certainly now has the riches. 

16.   Dallas Cowboys- Zack Martin OG, Notre Dame

Walkout Song: None

Pick Rating: 3

Song Rating: N/A

Oh Jerry Jones, you picked a non offensive tackle lineman in the first round again!  I wanted to rate this as a two but Zack Martin is versatile and will definitely bolster that offensive line.  Now they just need to throw together a semblance of a defensive line and they will go 8-8 again this year!

17.   Baltimore Ravens- CJ Mosley ILB, Bama

Walkout Song:  My Favorite Song- Wiz Khalifa

Pick Rating: 4

Song Rating: 3

With the 17^th pick the Ravens chose Ray Lewis replacement for the future.  Mosley is one of the best prospects in the draft and getting him at 17 is great value.  He will be a good defensive anchor for years to come.

Not down with Wiz Khalifa, especially Favorite Song.  If you are going to play Favorite Song make sure it is thisversion.

18.   New York Jets- Calvin Pryor SS, Louisville

Walkout Song: Dreams and Nightmares- Meek Mill

Pick Rating: 4

Song Rating: 5

This pick is pretty solid because I think Pryor will be an absolute beast but the Jets probably should have gone offense here.  We all know that the Jets have no problem on the defensive side of the ball but they have a total lack of talent on O.  I feel like Brandin Cooks would have been a much better pick here. 

If Pryor got drafted by Philly and walked out to a Meek Mill song I would have given this a 15 on a 5 point scale.  However he picked this awesome song and got drafted by New York so he will have to settle for a 5.

19.   Miami Dolphins- Jawuan James OT, Tennessee

Walkout Song: None

Pick Rating: 3

Song Rating: N/A

This pick is pretty standard.  Dolphins desperately need help along the offensive line and picked the best Tackle available.  Solid pick but not really exciting or special.

20.   New Orleans Saints via Arizona Cardinals- Brandin Cooks

Walkout Song: Everythang- Young Jeezy

Pick Rating: 5

Song Rating: 5

One of my favorite picks in the draft right here.  Saints give up a third rounder to move up and take the speedster from Oregon State.  Cooks will give Brees an amazing tool to work with because he can do almost anything.  Deep passes, screens, reverses, you name it.  Brandin Cooks can do it all.

Song choice is beyond perfect.  This is Jeezy’s rags to riches anthem and if you read the Grantland profile on Brandin Cooks from earlier this week you know this applies to him.

21.   Green Bay Packers- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Walkout Song:  Never Would’ve Made It- Marvin Sapp

Pick Rating: -376

Song Rating: 4

Jokes.  This is actually a very solid pick and one of the best in the draft.  I just reeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyyy wanted him to go to the Eagles and the Packers punched the birds in the balls with this pick.  Dix makes big plays and can force turnovers in the secondary and will also help in the run stopping game.  Great pick from Green Bay.

A little bit of soul from Ha Ha.  He gets a 4 for mixing things up, this song is really nice to listen to. 

22.   Cleveland Browns via Philadelphia Eagles- Johnny Manziel QB, Texas A&M

Walkout Song: Draft Day- Drake

Pick Rating: 5

Song Rating: 5

For me, this was the second best pick in the draft.  Browns got heat at the beginning for not taking him at 9 and then grabbed him at 22.  Teaming Johnny up with Josh Gordon will be interesting at the worst and dynamic at the best.  I think Cleveland may have found its sports savior.  Finally, a nationally televised decision for Cleveland that actually went right!

“Draft Day, Johnny Manziel.  5 years later how am I the man still.”  Opening lines from this song.  What more needs to be said?  Perfect, just perfect.

23.   Kansas City Chiefs- Dee Ford OLB/DE, Auburn

Walkout Song: None

Pick Rating: 2

Song Rating: N/A

This pick seemed like a reach and I also question drafting a defensive end when the chiefs need receiver help.  I think Marquise Lee or Cody Lattimer would be the smarter move here.

24.   Cincinnati Bengals- Darqueeze Dennard CB, Michigan State

Walkout Song: None

Pick Rating: 5

Song Rating: -1(will explain)

This was one of the best picks in the draft as Dennard fell all the way to 24 for the Bengals to scoop him up.  I don’t know how he fell past the Steelers, Cardinals, and Eagles before the Bengals but it happened.   Bengals can pair him with Dre Kirkpatrick for their CB tandem of the future.

Gave Dennard a negative rating because his team was so closely tied to the song “SomeType of Way” by Rich Homie Quan this season, why didn’t he walk out to this song?

25.   San Diego Chargers- Jason Verrett CB, TCU

Walkout Song: Icy- Gucci Mane

Pick Rating: 3

Song Rating: 3

Pick seems like a bit of a reach and with recent rumors swirling that Jason Verrett would fall into the second round due to medical issues.  However, if the Chargers were dead set on picking a CB this pick is much better than picking Roby would be in this spot.  Too bad they didn’t get Dennard.

This dude walked out to Gucci Mane.  I’m done.

26.   Philadelphia Eagles via Cleveland Browns- Marcus Smith OLB/DE, Louisville

Walkout Song: None

Pick Rating: 3

Song Rating: None

My whole reaction to this pick summed up in one gif.  I don’t think this is a bad pick by any means, but it does come as a surprise.  Chip Kelly has long preached the draft strategy of taking the best player available and Marcus Smith was not the best player available.  However, he does fit the scheme and I think he will be very successful in Philly.  The Eagles desperately need some pass rushing help and Smith will provide that.

27.   Arizona Cardinals via New Orleans Saints- Deone Buchannon S, Wash St.

Walkout Song: None

Pick Rating: 2

Song Rating: N/A

This pick was very much a reach.  It is a passing league and you need a safety that can cover well.  Love Deone as a second round pick but not so much as a first.

28.   Carolina Panthers- Kelvin Benjamin WR, Florida State

Walkout Song: None

Pick Rating: 1

Song Rating: N/A

Worst pick in the entire draft so far in my opinion.  I get the need for a Wide Receiver because the Panthers don’t have any but why Benjamin over Marqise Lee?  This pick makes absolutely zero sense, Benjamin is a second round talent at the very best.  They could have Lee or Lattimer instead.

29.   New England Patriots- Dominque Easley DE, Florida

Walkout Song: None

Pick Rating: 3

Song Rating: N/A

This is a very generous three rating because people have been slamming this pick.  Easley has the potential to be great but he has had tons of medical issues in the past that are holding him beck.  Also, I trust Belichek at this point.

30.   San Francisco 49ers- Jimmie Ward S, Northern Illinois

Walkout Song: None

Pick Rating: 3

Song Rating: N/A

Pretty average pick here for the 49ers.  I like Ward much more than I like Buchannon and Ward will just be another great tool in an awesome defense.  He will certainly be an upgrade over Dashon Goldson.

31.   Denver Broncos- Bradley Roby CB, Ohio State

Walkout Song: Believe Me- Drake and Lil Wayne

Pick Rating: 3

Song Rating: 5

Bradley Roby had a pretty off year this year compared to his sophomore campaign but he is still one of the premier athletes at the corner position in this draft.  The Broncos could use some help in the secondary so I think this is a pretty solid pick. 

Roby goes with the brand new Believe Me by Drake and Lil Wayne.  This song came out only 5 days ago, way to keep it current Bradley!

32.   Minnesota Vikings- Teddy Bridgewater QB, Louisville

Walkout Song: The World’s Greatest- R. Kelly

Pick Rating: 5

Song Rating:  4

This was my favorite pick in the draft.  I think Bridgewater will be the best QB to come out of this draft class and to get him at 32 while the Jaguars took Bortles at 3 is a complete and total steal.  Vikings fans should be overjoyed by this outcome.

The song was pretty good but he should have chosen “The Worlds 32^nd Greatest” or “The Worlds 3^rd Greatest QB.”

Examining the Cleveland Browns Free Agency and Offseason

By: Josh Fyffe

At the end of the 2013 season, there was a hint of optimism amongst the Cleveland Browns. The defense performed as a top ten unit, ranking eighth in the league in yards per game allowed. Safety TJ Ward received second team all-pro honors, Joe Haden was coming off another hyped season, and the front seven had performed solid all season long. Sure, the offense was tragic outside of standout wide receiver Josh Gordon and some solid offensive line players, but they had free agency and a top five pick in the draft to fill needs at running back and QB. If they were able to retain the defense and get a Manziel or a Bridgewater at number four, there would be a lot of hope in Cleveland coming into the 2014 season. Let’s look at how they have fared in the offseason thus far, as I believe they have made some questionable management decisions.

The Bad: They attempted to resign TJ Ward before letting him walk to Denver for a relatively cheap 4 year $23 million deal and replaced him with the older Donte Whitner (from the 49ers) on a 4 year $28 million contract. Ward apparently asked for $8 million a year from the Browns, and that was thought of as too much for them, despite giving Whitner an average of $7 million a year. Ward is going into his fifth season and really was an under the radar contributor for the Browns until the end of the season when he received his second team all-pro honors. Whitner on the other hand is going into his ninth season and is on the decline of his career. He is still a modest starter, but for a young team like the Browns trying to build for a future, it was questionable why they would take someone with an additional four years on the NFL on their resume over a system grown player; and pay the older guy five million dollars more. This isn’t just a slight down grade in immediate talent for the Browns, but a long term downgrade at the strong safety position.

              They also allowed their underrated ex-linebacker D’Qwell Jackson to waltz to the Colts on a 4 year $22 million deal, which is relatively cheap for a player who has led the AFC in tackles twice in his career since being drafted back in 2006. Right after Jackson’s depart they quickly signed Karlos Dansby (age 32 and has played four more seasons than Jackson) to a 4 year $24 million contract. Again the Browns took a player on the back half of his career and gave him more than the younger player that left them in free agency. I understand football is not always a game of youth, but the two players that left them offer more potential to a defense than the players the Browns signed in free agency as replacements. I actually believe Karlos Dansby is a great player and has had a very respectable career with the Dolphins and the Cardinals, however he benefited from a strong supporting cast in Arizona the last three seasons. Dansby could have a lot more in the tank than an average 32 year old, but to me it would have been smarter to give Jackson the cheaper deal that he wound up getting and save some spending money while also keeping a quality player.

               

The Neutral: I am very interested to see how Ben Tate works into the Cleveland offense. He received a 2 year $7 million deal, and that is the only reason why I am putting the signing into the neutral category instead categorizing as a bad signing, because in the NFL that is a relatively low amount of money. If Ben Tate can produce at his optimal level and not be battered down with the injuries that have plagued a majority of his pro career than it will come off looking like a good signing. The potential in Tate is there, but he is a risky sign to depend their running game on. I still suspect they will take a running back within rounds 2-4 to help balance the load and have a second option. However I feel that if Cleveland just were to address the RB spot solely in the draft it would have sufficed.

The Good: The brief Brandon Weeden era has finally come to an end and Cleveland fans can rejoice as the Oklahoma St. alum has joined the Cowboys. Within 30 minutes of Weeden’s release, Jason Campbell was also shown the door. Although these are not additions to the team, they are good roster moves, as Brian Hoyer showed more promise than both of these two QBs before tearing his ACL. I don’t expect Hoyer to be “the guy” next season, so hopefully they can address that postion in the first round of the draft, although they haven’t been interviewing a lot of the top projected QBs. An addition I really liked for the Browns was signing wide receiver Andrew Hawkins away from the Bengals on a 4 year $16 million offer. Although Hawkins has battled with minor injuries in his short career, he still is a reliable short yardage target and can work efficiently in the screen game (which is any QBs best friend). This may be a good addition to the team, but again I think they overpaid for a player that shows potential but hasn’t really proven himself at the pro level. In contrast Julian Edelman, who plays a similarly game to Hawkins, was top 5 in receptions last season and led the Patriots in receiving yards with over 1000, drew a 4 year $19 million and was open to testing other teams before resigning with New England. If the Browns were going to drop $16 million on Hawkins, why not pay a little more for a better quality player. Regardless of the comparisons, if Hawkins can stay healthy he is a good compliment or 3^rd receiver to Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron.

The Uncertain: Browns’ Center and two time Pro Bowler Alex Mack has yet to be resigned coming off his rookie contract. He has been a constant bright spot for the Browns since being the 21^st pick in the 2009 draft. Mack ranked 3^rd in the offseason’s top 100 free agents according to Bleacher Report and is the only player in the top 10 to not have been handed a new contract. He will be receiving a big payday from somebody, but I believe Cleveland needs to keep him if they don’t want to regress further as an organization.

Overall Thoughts: Cleveland went from a team that had a lot of youth and talent on the defensive side of the ball and swapped them for older overpaid players while also signing injury prone offensive players. The pieces are possible to come together, but everyone needs to stay healthy and they need a stellar draft to fill other holes (QB, RB, DL, DT, FS, CB2). If they end up losing out on Mack, this may look like a very bad offseason for Cleveland. I believe they took a team that was built for the future and made it a team that is built for now (since they accelerated the overall age of the team).

Overall Grade: C-

Mock Draft

 Mock Draft 1.0
By: Jack Machulski

1. Houston Texans- Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina
Jadeveon Clowney looked like the consensus number one pick basically the entire year and it still hasn’t changed.  The Texans really need a Quarterback but I don’t think Bortles, Manziel, or Teddy Bridgewater are really good enough to warrant a number one pick and Clowney is just too good of a prospect to pass up.  He has great size and is also the fastest of all defensive lineman in the draft.  His 10 yard split in the 40 was a staggering 1.56 seconds, meaning he will be able to explode off the snap. A huge deal was made of Clowney only putting up 21 reps on the bench press but that shouldn’t matter whatsoever.  Firstly, his game is based entirely on speed and explosiveness to get to the quarterback and strength won’t be an issue for that.  Secondly, bench press doesn’t really test a person’s strength overall, it’s more of just the strength of Pectoral muscles.  Think his lack of strength will impact how hard he hits?  Tell that to this guy.  The biggest concern is Clowney’s character and lack of motor which are definitely legitimate.  However, I think his overally potential and skills outweigh his concerns about his motor.  If he starts to play with a high motor then the NFL better watch out, this guys is going to be a monster.

2. St. Louis Rams Via Washington Redskins- Greg Robinson, OT Auburn
I’m doing this mock draft without trades to make things simpler, but if I had to guess, the Rams don’t end up picking second.  However, if they are picking second, I think they take Greg Robinson to shore up their offensive line.  If the Rams believe in Sam Bradford as their QB for the future then Offensive Line is their only need and Greg Robinson is the best available.  He is a behemoth at 6’5 324 pounds but he can move really well too as shown by his insane 4.88 40 time.  He reminds me a bit of the Eagles Lane Johnson in terms of his raw ability and athleticism.  Johnson has turned out to be fantastic and is looking like a great pick, I think Greg Robinson would be a good pick as well at #2.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville
With the third pick in the draft, the Jaguars will end their quest to find a legitimate Quarterback and break away from the Blaine Gabbert era.  Teddy Bridgewater looks like the best and most pro ready Quarterback in the draft.  He has excellent footwork in the pocket and his ability to avoid pass rush is makes him one of the best QB’s at handling blitzes.  His accuracy on short to medium throws is also the best among all of the top Quarterbacks in this draft.  His main concerns are deep ball accuracy and his durability at the next level.  His deep ball passing does leave a bit to be desired but I think the durability claims are a bit outrageous.  Total games Bridgewater missed with injury during his time with Louisville: 0. The Jags are about to get their QB of the future.

4. Cleveland Browns- Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M
Here comes Cleveland’s savior, Johnny Football, the man who will take Cleveland from the laughing stock of the league to a legitimate contender.  I love Johnny Football, and I want him to succeed in the NFL, and that’s why I think Cleveland is the perfect place for him to go.  The Browns have a very solid defense, a very good offensive line, and one of the best WR in the NFL in Josh Gordon.  Going to the Browns gives Manziel the best situation to succeed and will make the Browns a legit football team again.  The city of Cleveland will have its first relevant superstar since Lebron.  Everything about this pick is perfect.

5. Oakland Raiders- Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson
At number 5 the Raiders get, in my opinion, the second best player in the draft in Sammy Watkins.  Watkins is a freak athlete with great hands and amazing ability after the catch.  As we all know, the Oakland Raiders absolutely love speed, sometimes to a fault.  With Manziel and Bridgewater gone here I think they go with the by far best player available and pick Watkins.

6. Atlanta Falcons- Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M
There has been a lot of speculation whether Atlanta would keep this pick or try to trade up, but I’m not doing trades so I think the Falcons will take Jake Matthews.  The Falcons had a very disappointing season after making it all the way to the NFC championship the year before they slipped all the way to the number 6 pick.  They desperately need help along both the offensive and defensive line and since Khalil Mack wouldn’t really fit their 4-3 style of defense, they won’t take him here.  If Houston doesn’t pick Clowney, I would almost guarantee the Falcons trade up to grab him, but if they stay put they should work on the offensive line.  Jake Matthews is widely considered the best or second best tackle prospect in the draft behind Greg Robinson and would greatly bolster their shaky line and keep Ryan upright.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Khalil Mack, OLB Buffalo
This is every Bucs fan after Mack falls to them at 7.  Mack is probably the third best prospect in the draft in my opinion and the Bucs are getting him all the way at 7th.  Mack is a physical specimen at 6’3 251 and apparently ran a 4.54 at his pro day.  Unreal.  He has crazy first step quickness and the power to push the tackle back and speed to run around him, Mack also has very developed pass rush moves to get to the ball carrier.  He lives in the other teams backfield, Mack set the record for most tackles for a loss in a career while at Buffalo.  Worried about how he played against inferior MAC competition?  Check out the game he had against Ohio State, he was dominant.

8. Minnesota Vikings- Blake Bortles, QB UCF
Vikings finally get the Quarterback they have been looking for at 8 by selecting Bortles Kombat.  Blake Bortles may have the highest ceiling of any QB in the draft, he is big, strong armed, extremely athletic, and has good natural ability as a quarterback.  He also does very well with pressure in his face.  He struggles with the finer things at the Quarterback position like footwork and making reads but they could develop with coaching and time.  I think Minnesota has basically wasted AP’s prime by not giving him a good Quarterback, they should add Bortles here to try to salvage the rest of his career and hopefully add a franchise Quarterback.

9. Buffalo Bills- Eric Ebron, TE UNC
At number 9 I love Ebron for the Bills.  Ebron is probably my second favorite prospect in the draft next to Watkins, and I have been high on him ever since his huge game against Miami early in the season.  The Bills already have a very solid defense and their biggest need is to provide offensive weapons for new QB EJ Manuel.  Ebron has potential to be a Jimmy Graham like TE for the Bills as a dangerous downfield threat and a good chain mover.  The other move here would be to draft Mike Evans, but why take him when the WR position is so deep in this draft.  If they need a receiver they can take one in the second round but they should definitely go with Ebron here.

10. Detroit Lions- Mike Evans, WR Texas A&M
Mike Evans rounds out the top 10 as the third A&M player selected already.  With this pick they get another person to pair with Megatron and take away the double and triple teams that he routinely sees.  Evans is your typical big wide receiver at 6’5 who will make a living by making plays in traffic at the next level.  At 6’5 with a 37 inch vertical he will be able to get higher than pretty much any cornerback or safety to make the catch.  His biggest criticism is that he lacks speed and ability to separate, but a 4.53 40 at 6’5 is pretty solid.  I think Evans will take the Lions offense to a whole new level.

11. Tennessee Titans- Anthony Barr, OLB UCLA
This pick will be made regardless of what the Titans need, Barr is absolutely the best player available.  Barr is definitely raw and has tons of room to improve as he has only been playing Linebacker for 2 years at UCLA, but the talent is undeniable.  The former running back has exceptional speed and ability to get around the tackle as well as the ability to convert speed to power.  His main weaknesses are instincts and use of his hands when rushing, but these can be fixed by playing more than two years at the position.  He has the potential to be a double digit sack guy year in and year out.

12. New York Giants- Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma State
The Giants have needs everywhere: O-Line, D-Line, Running Back, and Cornerback.  I think they go with Justin Gilbert here and shore up the Cornerback position because there isn’t really another O-line or D-line prospect that is worth the number 12 pick.  Gilbert is the most athletic corner in the class and ran a 4.35 40 at the combine.  Gilbert will also make an impact in the return game, he set a record with 5 kick returns for touchdowns while at Oklahoma State.

13. St. Louis Rams- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S Alabama
The Rams use the thirteenth pick to grab the best name in all of the NFL: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who immediately takes the crown from Alterraun Verner.  Clinton-Dix is the best safety prospect in the league and it shores up an immediate need as the Rams safety position has been mediocre at best.  With all of the top weapons in the passing game taken already, they can upgrade in the secondary.

14. Chicago Bears- Aaron Donald, DT Pitt
The Bears have a pretty big hole on the defensive line and need talent at both the tackle and end positions.  Enter Aaron Donald.  Donald is one of the most versatile prospects in the draft with great speed off the snap and ability to play DT, NT, and a 3-4 DE.  Donald will fit whatever role the Bears need him to fill and will help shore up the D-Line.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers- Taylor Lewan, OT Michigan
Big Ben was sacked 42 times last year and that is definitely an issue.  Pittsburgh could use another stud tackle and they will definitely get that with Lewan.  Lewan started all 4 years while at Michigan where he constantly faced top competition in the Big 10, and showed great consistency.  Taylor may not have great upside but he is one of the most consistent prospects in the entire draft.

16. Dallas Cowboys- Timmy Jernigan, DT Florida State
First player from the reigning national championship team to go in the draft and he will help a pretty terrible Dallas Cowboys line.  Jernigan has the ability to be one of the best run stoppers in the game as he has awesome strength and is extremely hard to engage at the line.  Jernigan’s main criticism is that he will get tired because he isn’t in the best physical shape, I think this is overblown a bit but I still can’t wait for him to play against my Philadelphia Eagles and see how he holds up.

17. Baltimore Ravens- Marquise Lee, WR USC
Torrey Smith has proven to be a good deep threat for Joe Flacco to use but the Ravens need to get a more consistent receiver.  Marquise Lee was projected to be a top 5 pick at the beginning of the year but his stock took a tumble after a Junior year plagued with injuries and coaching changes.  Lee is a freak athlete with great after the catch ability.  His main weakness is his ability to secure the ball in traffic and his durability.  If he can become a more consistent pass catcher and stay healthy, the Ravens will have an absolute steal with him at #17.

18. New York Jets- Odell Beckham Jr., WR LSU
New York really needs a new playmaker on offense.  When your top receivers are a beyond washed up Santonio Holmes and Jeremy Kerley, your gonna want to spend some picks on a receiver.  The Jets played well enough down the stretch to take themselves out of contention for the top 3 receivers and for Eric Ebron.  I think Beckham Jr is a bit of reach here but definitely worth it since the Jets have so little offensive playmaking talent.  Beckham’s biggest strength is that he catches absolutely everything that comes his way.  Everything.  He doesn’t seem to be able to get a ton of separation and isn’t very big, but he still ends up catching everything.  I think he would be a good fit in New York.

19. Miami Dolphins- Antonio Richardson, OT Tennessee
An offensive tackle is a no brainer right here for the Dolphins.  After the scandal with Incognito and Martin took both of those players off the team they were left with a huge hole at that position.  Ryan Tannehill was the most sacked QB in the league last year and they need to get someone to protect him.  Antonio Richardson is pretty raw but he has extreme amounts of potential.  At 6’6 336 pounds he is very difficult to move and can just use his brute strength to bulldoze defenders.  Most of his weaknesses are mental: he rises out of his stance too quickly and has poor technique.  He won’t be perfect right away but the Dolphins should take him because of the potential.

20. Arizona Cardinals- Darqueeze Dennard, CB Michigan St.
Arizona is one of the most complete teams in the NFL, all they really need is a good QB and they will be contenders.  The Cardinals for some reason still think Carson Palmer is still the answer at the position so I don’t see them going QB.  I think instead they will pick Dennard and create the best young CB tandem in the league.  Dennard is seen as the best shutdown corner in the draft and playing alongside Patrick Peterson their pass defense should be insanely good.  I’m terrified of the Cardinals after this pick.

21. Green Bay Packers- CJ Mosley, MLB Alabama
Packers go with BPA here, picking CJ Mosley from Alabama and pairing him with AJ Hawk in the middle.  Mosley is considered one of the 10 best prospects in the draft but slips down to 21 because MLB’s are generally easy to find in later rounds.  The talent Mosley has is pretty incredible and he basically seems like a surefire good player at the next level.

22. Philadelphia Eagles- Calvin Pryor, S Louisville
With this pick the Eagles grab not only the best player available but also fix a huge need.  After watching Patrick Chung blow coverage after coverage and basically suck for the entirety of last year, I am ecstatic to have a new safety on my favorite team.  Earl Wolff showed flashes of potential last year but he was unable to stay healthy with nagging knee injuries, Nate Allen was consistent but nothing better than average.  Pryor’s best and worst trait is his aggressive nature.  He is incredibly active in the run game and is a lights out hitter, he also plays the ball extremely well and can make great plays in coverage. However his aggressive nature can cause him to take bad angles on tackles and in coverage.  However, Eagles fans just want to see someone other than Chung and Pryor would be perfect.

23. Kansas City Chiefs- Kelvin Benjamin, WR Florida State
Dwayne Bowe is past his prime and has failed to put up production worthy of a number one receiver.  Adding Kelvin Benjamin would give them someone who has the potential to be a #1 receiver and make the offense much better.  Benjamin is massive at 6’5 240 pounds and has the ability to climb the ladder to make the catch.  His biggest criticism is that he has a pretty big problem with drops, but the potential outweighs the risk of the drops.

24. Cincinnati Bengals- Jason Verrett, CB TCU
I think Verrett would be a great pick at number 24 for the Bengals.  He has shown on his tape to be a very good cover corner and he also performed well at the combine.  He is only 5’9 but plays much bigger and with a 40 inch vertical and a 4.39 40 time he has the speed to keep up with anyone and ups to contest jump balls with bigger corners.

25. San Diego Chargers- Bradley Roby, CB Ohio State
San Diego had their guy, Jason Verrett, taken right in front of them so they chose the next best corner in Bradley Roby.  Roby is extremely quick and has the athleticism to make huge plays at the next level.  His main concern is that his play, while often spectacular, is equally erratic.  If he becomes consistent then he will be a great pick.

26. Cleveland Browns- Ryan Shazier, LB Ohio State
Cleveland picks up the most athletic linebacker and maybe even player in the draft in Ryan Shazier.  The Big 12’s reigning tackler had a 42 inch vertical at the combine and ran an unofficial 4.36 40 at his pro day.  That time may be unofficial but that’s incredibly fast, especially for a linebacker.  Shazier will definitely improve the Cleveland pass rush next year.

27. New Orleans Saints- Dee Ford, DE Auburn
Dee Ford wasn’t really on the radar as a first round pick after the college season ended, but after dominating the senior bowl his draft stock has rocketed.  Ford will be good in the passing game as he has the speed and bend to get around the edge but he is undersized and will struggle against the run.  He reminds me a lot of Trent Cole, and if he can do what Trent Cole has done for the Eagles he will be worthy of the 27th pick.

28. Carolina Panthers- Brandin Cooks, WR Oregon State
Cam Newton needs some new toys to play with and since they are trying to trade Steve Smith, they are going to need to pick a wide receiver.  Cooks led the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns and was second in receptions and was the recipient of the Biletnikoff award for the nation’s top receiver.  He had the top 40 time out of all the receivers in the draft and has the combination of that blazing speed and the hands to be an all-around great receiver.

29. New England Patriots- Louis Nix III, NT Notre Dame
Patriots simply go with the best player available here.  Louis Nix is one of the best prospects in the draft but slides all the way to 29 for the Pats to scoop up.  With Vince Wilfork recovering from a torn Achilles it may be time to replace the big fella with another big fella in Louis Nix.

30. San Francisco 49ers- Kyle Fuller, CB Virginia Tech
With Carlos Rogers looking like he may be a cap casualty, the Niners are going to have to pick up a corner to replace him.  Fuller is great in man coverage with the bounce and hands to go up and make interceptions.  His ability in man coverage is questionable but he should be able to contribute right away on defense.

31. Denver Broncos- Zach Martin, OT Notre Dame
Denver gets by far the best player available in Zach Martin all the way at 31.  He is a very good offensive tackle and will help protect Manning.

32. Seattle Seahawks- Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, TE Washington
The Hawks stay right in Seattle for their first pick and grab the big Tight End from Washington.  Jenkins is a massive target at 6’6 and 262 pounds and will help both in the vertical passing game and in the red zone.