clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2014 NFL mock draft: Version 4.0 brings surprises

Kansas City will have ample options at No. 23 overall. The question is which way is John Dorsey leaning

Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

Incredibly, the 2014 NFL Draft is only a little more than a month away.

With that said, here is my latest mock draft. Give it a read and then kill me in the comments.

1. Houston Texans - Blake Bortles - QB - Central Florida

Bortles is the most polished product of the quarterback class. He has the size of Ben Roethlisberger and can make all the throws.

2. St. Louis Rams - Greg Robinson - OT - Auburn

Robinson is the best offensive lineman in the draft. He plays with a nasty attitude and will be a perfect complement to Jake Long.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Johnny Manziel - QB - Texas A&M

Jacksonville could take Clowney here, but they desperately need a franchise quarterback. Manziel will immediately give the team, and the fan base, life.

4. Cleveland Browns - Sammy Watkins -WR - Clemson

Even with Bridgewater on the board, the Browns are going to take the best offensive player available. Watkins is easily the most dynamic weapon on the board.

5. Oakland Raiders - Jadeveon Clowney - DE - South Carolina

Oakland gets the best prospect in the draft to anchor their defensive line. The question with Clowney is whether or not he's willing to work.

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

Atlanta needs to protect Matt Ryan if it wants to rebound off a dismal 2013 season. Matthews would give them a potential star for the next decade.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Khalil Mack - LB - Buffalo

Tampa Bay is being captained by Lovie Smith, who knows the value of a good linebacker. Smith coached Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher in Chicago.

8. Minnesota Vikings - Teddy Bridgewater - QB - Louisville

Minnesota simply can't pass on Bridgewater on that spot. The Vikings need a quarterback to have any hope in a very tough NFC North.

9. Buffalo Bills - Mike Evans - WR - Texas A&M

Evans is the best available receiver and matches a need for Buffalo. With a second-year QB in E.J. Manuel, he needs some help on the outside.

10. Detroit Lions - Justin Gilbert - CB - Oklahoma State

Gilbert is the consensus best corner in the draft. The Lions need a shutdown corner, something they have not had since the days of Lem Barney.

11. Tennessee Titans - Kony Ealy - DE - Missouri

The Titans need some help in the front seven, something Ealy can provide. The former Missouri star projects as a well-rounded end with pass-rush ability.

12. New York Giants - Eric Ebron - TE - North Carolina

New York has been very busy this offseason, but it has not addressed the tight end. Ebron would be a nice target for Eli Manning.

13. St. Louis Rams - Calvin Pryor - SS - Louisville

Pryor fits what Jeff Fisher likes in a defensive back; a hard-hitting, intimidation machine. Pryor can lay the wood, something missing from the Rams' secondary.

14. Chicago Bears - Aaron Donald - DT - Pittsburgh

Donald makes a nice replace for Henry Melton, who left via free agency. Donald appears to be a disruptive force, playing inside of Jared Allen and LaMarr Houston.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers - Anthony Barr - OLB - UCLA

With LaMarr Woodley gone, the Steelers will take their second outside linebacker with a first round pick in as many years. Barr is boom-or-bust.

16. Dallas Cowboys - Darqueze Dennard - CB - Michigan State

Dennard is a quality corner who gives the Cowboys somebody to pair with the disappointing Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne. Dallas has no choice but to address the secondary.

17. Baltimore Ravens - Taylor Lewan - OT - Michigan

Lewan will play right tackle in Baltimore, giving the Ravens a nice combination on the edges with Eugene Monroe anchoring Joe Flacco's blind side.

18. New York Jets - Marqise Lee - WR - USC

Lee is a burner who is coming off an injury-plagued 2013 season. Still, his talent will keep him near the middle of the first round.

19. Miami Dolphins - Zack Martin - OT - Notre Dame

Martin can play either right tackle or guard, helping the Dolphins to continue to bolster their offensive line. Ryan Tannehill will be pleased.

20. Arizona Cardinals - Derek Carr - QB - Fresno State

Carr is an intriguing prospect. He has a major arm but shows inconsistency. With the Cardinals a quarterback away from serious Super Bowl hopes, Carr is a risk worth taking.

21. Green Bay Packers - Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix - FS - Alabama

Clinton-Dix is a steal here for Green Bay, which needs to address a shaky secondary. He will fit in perfectly with Dom Capers scheme.

22. Philadelphia Eagles - Bradley Roby - CB - Ohio State

The Eagles could go receiver here, but after investing so much in Riley Cooper, I think they roll with defensive help. Roby needs work, but he has nice skills in coverage.

23. Kansas City Chiefs - Brandin Cooks - WR - Oregon State

This is a legitimately tough decision between Cook and Beckham. Still, I go with Cooks. The guy makes plays when they aren't there, creating space and doing so with a combination of toughness and speed. Kansas City will get a great prospect here if it chooses a wide receiver.

24. Cincinnati Bengals - Jason Verrett - CB - TCU

Verrett would make a nice pairing with Leon Hall for Cincinnati. Dre Kirkpatrick has never become the elite corner many expected, opening the door for a corner here.

25. San Diego Chargers - Timmy Jernigan - NT - Florida State

Jernigan's fall ends here. San Diego gets a big body to hold down the front line in Jernigan, who is coming off a National Championship with the Seminoles.

26. Cleveland Browns - A.J. McCarron - QB - Alabama

Every year, there is a shocker in the draft. The Browns, frantic for a quarterback, take McCarron about 20 spots to early.

27. New Orleans Saints - Dee Ford - DE - Auburn

Ford will be a treat for defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who loves aggressive players. Opposite of Junior Galette, Ford will have opportunities to rush the passer.

28. Carolina Panthers - Odell Beckham Jr. - WR - LSU

Carolina needs a receiver even worse than Kansas City, making Beckham a nice fit for Cam Newton and the boys. Beckham will have big shoes to fill in Steve Smith.

29. New England Patriots - Jace Amaro - TE - Texas Tech

Sometimes a pick seems so obvious, you almost shy away. Here, the Patriots have to make the move if they can upgrade behind Rob Gronkowski.

30. San Francisco 49ers - Louis Nix III - DL - Notre Dame

With age starting to take its toll up front, San Francisco could use reinforcements. Nix would be a nice versatile piece for Jim Harbaugh.

31. Denver Broncos - Xavier Su'a-Filo - OG - UCLA

Denver signed everybody and their mother in the offseason, but has a void remaining from Zane Beadles' departure. Su'a-Filo can fill that hole.

32. Seattle Seahawks - Kelvin Benjamin - WR - Florida State

Seattle is loaded, which is why they won the hardware last season. Benjamin would give them a solid red zone target, something the Seahawks are lacking.

NEW: Join Arrowhead Pride Premier

If you love Arrowhead Pride, you won’t want to miss Pete Sweeney in your inbox each week as he delivers deep analysis and insights on the Chiefs' path to the Super Bowl.