Click here for TC’s 2014 NFL Mock Draft v2.0!

The Super Bowl was just 11 short days ago, but like you, I am already looking forward to Thursday, May 8 for the 2014 NFL Draft. (By the way, big congratulations to Mike Roarty and myself for nailing down the Super Bowl matchup AND picking the Seahawks to win it all in our preseason predictions). Humble brag over.

Anyway, let me preface my very first mock draft of the 2014 off season by saying that I truly believe mock drafts before the NFL Combine and free agency are worthless. As someone who has just recently started following the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, and everything that leads up to the draft inch by inch (there was no need to when Al Davis was alive. Fastest 40? That guy?! Fuck it, he’s ours.) I’ve noticed the tremendous difference in mock drafts as they make their way up to versions 17.0.

These picks are made solely on my familiarity of the player, the teams’ situations, and from what I’ve read and watched on various mediums. PLEASE leave comments on your opinions about your teams or, hell, just hate on me like I did all half of the season.

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE	I know this goes against conventional wisdom because the Texans don’t have a QB, but how can you resist the opportunity to pair up Clowney with Watt on that defensive line? More and more we are seeing Super Bowl champions winning with defense and a mediocre QB. You can find mediocre QBs in the middle rounds, you cannot find elite DEs.
2. Sammy Watkins, WR (from Washington)	Jeff Fischer has notoriously not taken Offensive Tackles early in the draft because he feels that he can develop them on his own, and although a question mark, they do have Jake Long coming back off injury. Ultimately I think they trade this pick to a king’s ransom, but Watkins is the pick if not. Why not take the best play maker available to help both Sam Bradford and Tavon Austin?
3. Teddy Bridgewater, QB	It’s time the Jaguars brass just comes to the realization that Blaine Gabbert was just a big swing and a miss. Gus Bradley is a defensive side of the ball guy, but the Jaguars have gone long enough without a legitimate QB since David Garrard. If Bridgewater were to fall to three, he’s their guy.
4. Johnny Maziel, QB	There’s no secret here that the Browns want Manziel. I feel like if this were to actually happen, the world would just explode.
5. Anthony Barr, OLB	This is the worst case scenario for the Raiders as their top three team needs are gone in the first four picks (QB, WR, and DE) but they take the best available for a team full of needs. Most think Barr would be best in a 3-4 base defense, but a lot of people said that about Von Miller too and he’s doing okay (minus the whole ecstasy thing). Plus, the Raiders would like to implement more of a hybrid defense and Barr could be a key piece in that transition.
6. Greg Robinson, T	The Falcons plummeted last year and need help on both sides of the line. Robinson was able to toy around with the SEC this past year and, as is most cases, the SEC is going to get the nod over the MAC (Khalil Mack).
7. Jake Matthews, T	Even with Lovie Smith coming into his first year with the Bucs, if Matthews falls to #7, they will be more than happy to grab him. This staff is not committed to Mike Glennon at all, but the fact is that they need to see what they have in him, and a steady LT will help keep Glennon upright.
8. Blake Bortles, QB	Bortles is shooting up draft boards, but I’m not particularly sold on him. The Vikings haven’t had any continuity at the QB position in quite some time, and I think they’ll be happy to take Blake Bortles at #8. However, Mike Zimmer just got his (long overdue) head coaching shot, is he willing to roll the dice on Bortles?
9. Eric Ebron, TE	Other than Tony Moeaki who the Bills picked up late last year (and who, unfortunately, cannot stay healthy) their TEs currently on their roster had a combined 10 catches this past season. They need to get EJ Manuel another weapon on offense, and Ebron fits the bill.
10. Justin Gilbert, CB	The most glaring weakness on this Lions team is their defensive secondary. Justin Gilbert not only helps them immediately on the back end so that disruptive line can produce, but he’s also a great return man to help in the special teams area.
11. Khalil Mack, OLB	To be honest, the Titans are one of those teams that are “just there” to me. I literally don’t even know that they exist unless they are playing the Raiders or are the only team on TV. What I’ve come to is that they could use some help on the OL or LB positions. The Titans’ OTs are under contract for the next year so add to the defense for now.
12. Taylor Lewan, T	Pretty simple here: The Giants need to revamp both their offensive and defensive lines. I could see the Giants also looking at Timmy Jernigan, but they need to make sure Eli Manning gets back on track next season.
13. HaHa Clinton-Dix, S	I feel like there are a few different directions that the Rams can really go here. Having the top WR in the draft already, maybe they pull the trigger on Zack Martin, but I think they go with the best player available to fill a need in their secondary.
14. Timmy Jernigan, DT	Living in Chicago, I couldn’t help but feel bad for Bears fans as they just sat and watched the inevitable happen each and every week: their defense just getting flat out shredded by the opponent’s rushing attack. Regardless of who they take, they need help on that DL.
15. Mike Evans, WR	As previously stated, there are a lot of things that are going to happen that aren’t factored into this mock, such as trades. I’m not quite sure that Mike Evans gets to this point, but I can’t see a need for him with any team where they pick. With Emmanuel Sanders not quite panning out last year and concurrently leaving this off-season, the Steelers would lose their mind if Evans is available still here.
16. CJ Mosley, MLB (coin flip at combine determines draft slot)	The Ravens took Arthur Brown last year to try and fill the void left by Ray Lewis, but that project has yet to work out. If the best MLB in the nation is available at #16 I would expect the Ravens to jump all over it assuming they are able to resign Eugene Monroe.
17. Calvin Pryor, S (coin flip at combine determines draft slot)	Dallas passed on Eric Reid, Matt Elam, and Johnathan Cyprien last year when they selected Travis Frederick. I don’t expect them to pass on the best available safety again, but it is Jerry Jones so you never know.
18. Kelvin Benjamin, WR	Easiest pick, position wise, that I’ve made all draft. The player, however, not so much. It’s nearly impossible to pick which WR will go where (or ANY player for that matter). There is no way that the Jets can afford to pass up on a top notch WR prospect, not to mention one with a 6’4″ frame that can go up and get it. Geno Smith needs weapons to give him any chance at succeeding.
19. Zack Martin, T	I think it’s consensus that the Dolphins need to go offensive line here having given up the most sacks in the NFL last season. The discrepancy has been who, and with his most recent success at the Senior Bowl, Zack Martin has been climbing draft boards. Unless he flops at the combine, I think he’s clearly passed Cyrus Kouandjio.
20. Darqueze Dennard, CB	I would expect at this point in the draft and with the Cardinals roster, they will be looking to get the best value on defense here. I could see them looking for DT, DE/OLB, and CB here. If Dennard is still around at #20, that would be th best value to replace free agent Antoine Cason and pair up with Patrick Peterson for years to come.
21. Louis Nix III, DT	The Packers gave up 2,000 yards rushing last year, and in a 3-4 defense, that usually means a lack of presence at the nose tackle. Assuming that Nix is cleared by doctors because of his nagging injuries from last season at Notre Dame, he can eliminate Green Bay from potentially overpaying BJ Raji in free agency.
22. Kony Ealy, DE/OLB	Ideally the Eagles would like to help out with that abysmal defensive secondary, but I don’t see the top four defensive backs available here. When you are the 32nd ranked passing defense in the NFL it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s only the defensive backs at fault, there needs to be a consistent pass rush as well. Kony can help with that pass rush from day one.
23. Marqise Lee, WR	The Chiefs have not been able to fill their WR position opposite of Dwayne Bowe for a few years now having tried with Jonathan Baldwin and AJ Jenkins. Their offense came alive at times last year, and with a new immediate weapon, they will only get better.
24. Dee Ford, DE	Dee Ford is the talk of the town right now having had a fantastic week of practice at the Senior Bowl and then following that up with an MVP performance during the contest. With Michael Johnson leaving via free agency, the Bengals will fill their void with a great pass rusher.
25. Marcus Roberson, CB	The Chargers secondary, outside of Eric Weddle, is not good. They may reach here on a CB in Marcus Roberson who only played seven games this past year at Florida and whose stats were low because nobody threw his way.
26. Stephon Tuitt, DE (from Indianapolis)	I hate to see my boy Tuitt get thrown onto this sinking ship, but it makes sense. Tuitt is going to be a good 3-4 DE in the NFL and the Browns need help in that area. They already have a pretty good Linebacker core in Jackson, Kruger, and Mingo. Help up front could get this defense over the hump.
27. Kyle Van Noy, OLB	Maybe it’s because I’ve watched Van Noy wreck havoc on Notre Dame the last two years, but I feel like he’s going to put on a clinic at the combine and climb his way into the first round. The Saints just released four veterans on defense and will probably put a focus on that here.
28. Odell Beckham Jr., WR	The Panthers defense was fantastic last year and they will have very little turnover on that side of the ball. Ted Ginn had a career year to help the offense but will be leaving via free agency. If Beckham Jr. is around here at #28, expect Carolina to jump all over it.
29. Aaron Donald, DT	I see a lot of mock drafts having the Patriots taking Jace Amaro (TE, Tx Tech) here, and it makes sense since they lost Aaron Hernandez to multiple murder charges and Rob Gronkowski to a bad knee injury. However, their rush defense was terrible last year, and Vince Wilfork isn’t going to be 100% coming off injury being at this point in his career. A good DT helps free up Chandler Jones on the outside.
30. Ra’Shede Hageman, DT	There are a lot of concerns about Hageman not dominating with his size (6’6″ 318 lbs) consistently even though he did really well at Senior Bowl week. The 49ers defensive line isn’t getting any younger, but they will also give Hageman the time to develop into a good NFL player.
31. Bradley Roby, CB	The Broncos will be losing Dominique Rogers-Cromartie to free agency this off season most likely, and Champ Bailey barely played during the 2013 campaign. I’d be very shocked if Denver doesn’t make their defensive secondary a top priority with their first round pick.
32. Jace Amaro, TE	The Seahawks did not get what they envisioned with Zach Miller, and with Golden Tate leaving via free agency (most likely) this off season, Russell Wilson will need a playmaker. Jace can provide that “safety blanket” that, really, Wilson hasn’t had in the last couple of years.