Mid Free Agency 1st Round Mock

[NYJetsVets91]

Mid Free Agency 1st Round Mock 3/30/14

 

1 (Houston Texans) - Blake Bortles, QB, UCF – There are quite a few people who think numerous mock drafts have Bortles as the #1 pick because Bill O'Brien, head coach of the Texans, doesn't like Johnny Manziel... When in reality it is because Bortles is the most NFL ready QB in the draft, plain and simple.

 

2 (St.Louis Rams) - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson – Sammy Watkins is hands down the best WR in this year's draft class. The Rams invested a 1^st rounder in Tavon Austin last year, but he seems to be more of a slot receiver. With Watkins and Austin there will be no more excuses for Sam Bradford.

 

3 (Jacksonville Jaguars) - Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina – Who is the best player available in this year's draft? There is a strong consensus it is Jadeveon Clowney the beast of a defensive end from South Carolina; although Houston is in dire need of a franchise QB, and St. Louis doesn't have a serious need for a DE, so he'll slip to #3.

 

4 (Cleveland Browns) - Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – Cleveland is also in need of a franchise QB. While there are questions about Manziel's durability, and attitude his pro day will give him enough hype to sway the Browns.

 

5 (Oakland Raiders) - Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State – The Raiders had the most cap space out of any team in the NFL heading into free agency with over 60 million. Now they're near the bottom of the barrel having spent like mad men. They need a QB to command their overhauled team.

 

6 (Atlanta Falcons) - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn – With the best offensive tackle sitting on the board at #6 the Falcons will be delighted to snatch Robinson as quickly as possible. The Falcons will look to rebound from a miserable 4-12 season starting with the offensive line. Tony Gonzalez leaves a gaping hole at TE as well.

 

7 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M – With two tackles who easily could have been off the board at 2&3, Tampa can't say no to Matthews at #7 to help bolster their offensive line.

 

8 (Minnesota Vikings) - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – Matt Cassel just isn't going to cut it as Minnesota's starting QB. Bridgewater's stock has fallen significantly since his pro day. I don't see him falling as far as some have him projected to, especially with so many QB needy teams in the top 10.

 

9 (Buffalo Bills) - Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo – How often does a top 10 player get drafted to the same state/city he played college football in? This is a no-brainer for Buffalo if Mack is still there at #9.

 

10 (Detroit Lions) - Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State – Picking up Golden Tate in free agency lightened the need for a solid WR across from Megatron. Now the Lions can focus on their secondary, and Dennard is a top tier corner. If the Steelers don't take a CB with the 15^th pick, either Gilbert or Dennard will almost definitely fall to the Jets at 18.

 

11 (Tennessee Titans) - Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA – The Titans are also presumably in the market for a QB with Jake Locker's inconsistency, and inability to stay healthy. With the top 4 QBs already gone though Tennessee will go with the best available player, and upgrade their defense.

 

12 (New York Giants) - Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M – The Giants lost Hakeem Nicks to free agency, and this is an acquisition that makes both fans and coaches happy. At 6'5” Mike Evans is a large, dynamic WR.

 

13 (St. Louis Rams) - Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama – After nabbing Watkins with the 2^nd pick, St. Louis shifts to defense. Ha'Sean or HaHa Clinton-Dix is the best free safety in the draft. With these two picks the Rams managed to get the best players at their respective positions.

 

14 (Chicago Bears) - Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville – The Bears have plenty of needs on defense, but safety is the most glaring need. With the addition of Lamarr Houston on the D-line and Clinton-Dix gone Pryor makes the most sense for the Bears at #14.

 

15 (Pittsburgh Steelers) - Marqise Lee, WR, USC – Earlier in the off-season many mock drafts had Lee linked to the Jets at #18. Cotchery led the Steelers with 10 touchdowns last year leaving a hole at WR. Lee, a red zone threat, could fill that hole quite nicely.

 

16 (Dallas Cowboys) - Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan – Jerry Jones insists Dallas isn't in rebuilding mode claiming “You don't rebuild with Tony Romo.” Right, because all of those playoff wins are just undeniable... If you want to give Romo a chance to get past week 1 of the playoffs, start with the line.

 

17 (Baltimore Ravens) - Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina – Many Jet fans, including myself, would love to see Ebron slide to 18 but the Ravens have many needs on offense. The Ravens signed Steve Smith, and Ebron would be another shiny new toy for Flacco and the offense.

 

18 (New York Jets) - Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State – Yes, another defensive player in the first round... Remember, this is the deepest WR class in over 10 years. Idzik the “deliberate” or slow most likely won't trade away our picks for this season since he builds through the draft. With that being the case, I don't see us acquiring a CB before the draft. In his senior year, Gilbert had 7 interceptions and 2 of them he returned for touchdowns. Gilbert also has 6 kick return touchdowns in his college career. Gilbert clocks in at 6 feet 200 pounds, an inch and a pound bigger than Darqueze Dennard the other top ranked corner in the draft. Drafting Gilbert would give Rex three 1^st round corners to work with.

 

19 (Miami Dolphins) - Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame – Ryan Tannehill was sacked more than any other QB in the league last year. The Dolphins allowed an average of 3.6 sacks a game, almost half a sack higher than any other team. Zack Martin is a solid tackle out of Notre Dame who could help restore some continuity to a dismantled O-line.

 

20 (Arizona Cardinals) - Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri – Kony Ealy is the player out of Missouri who should be getting all of the headlines instead of Michael Sam. What Sam did is commendable, being the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL (potentially) but Ealy is the better player by far.

 

21 (Green Bay Packers) - Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh – The Packers brought back B.J. Raji, and what better way to welcome him back than to add to the D-line? Raji needs help, he tallied a whopping 0 sacks last season.

 

22 (Philadelphia Eagles) - Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU – Beckham has also been linked to the Jets in various mock drafts. It has been said that new Jets special teams coach Thomas McGaughey has a soft spot for Beckham since he coached him at LSU. Who knows, maybe he will have some influence in our 1^st rounder? Regarding the Eagles, it's pretty obvious with the loss of Desean Jackson Philadelphia is hurting for a WR.

 

23 (Kansas City Cheifs) - Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame – Kansas City is in need of a guard, but pick #23 might be a little too high for a guard in this year's draft class... plus we all know Andy Reid loves his nose tackles.

 

24 (Cincinnati Bengals) - Jason Verrett, CB, TCU – The Bengals need to get younger in their secondary, mainly at the CB position. Verrett is an ideal addition to this aging secondary. It's a toss up between Verrett, Roby, and Fuller for the 3^rd ranked CB spot.

 

25 (San Diego Chargers) - Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State – I'd have to take Roby over Fuller for the 4^th ranked CB spot. With Quentin Jammer gone, Roby can come in and immediately start for the Chargers.

 

26 (Cleveland Browns) - Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA – This might be a little high for a guard in this year's draft, but investing the 4^th overall pick in a franchise QB is a bold move. What better way to protect your investment by grabbing the best available guard in the draft?

 

27 (New Orleans Saints) - C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama – C.J. Mosley is the best inside linebacker this year's draft class, and will replace the old veteran Jonathan Vilma. The Saints have a formidable defense already. With the addition of Jairus Byrd, and C.J. Mosley they will be a tough defense for opposing teams.

 

28 (Carolina Panthers) - Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State – The Panthers are still in “panic mode” even though they've added WR Jerricho Cotchery. Even though Cotchery had 10 touchdowns last year, he isn't nearly enough to fill the void left by Steve Smith, and Ted Ginn.

 

29 (New England Patriots) - Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State – Vince Wilfork is coming of an ACL tear, and is now 32 going on 33. It was rumored Wilfork asked for his release, but was later resigned. Jernigan has been compared by some scouts to Wilfork, and would make a perfect eventual replacement. He can be rotated with Wilfork in the 3-4, and lineup next to him in the 4-3.

 

30 (San Francisco 49ers) - Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State – This year's draft is loaded with talented wide receivers, and Cooks would make the 6^th one taken in the 1^st round. The 49ers can never have too many weapons for Kaepernick. Cooks could make a nice slot option with Boldin and Crabtree on the outside.

 

31 (Denver Broncos) - Dee Ford, DE, Auburn – After shelling out a ton of cash to pick up DeMarcus Ware, putting a serious pass rusher opposite him would really make the investment pay off. Ware, Knighton, Jackson, and Ford would make a scary D-line for the Broncos 4-3 scheme.

 

32 (Seattle Seahawks) - Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech – Zach Miller isn't a real #1 TE, and Jace Amaro fits Seattle's explosive style perfectly. Amaro is a TE/WR hybrid; Pete Carroll would have a field day working him into his offense with their stable of wide receivers.

[Villain The Foe]

Any Mock that has Kelvin Benjamin going anywhere in the 1st round isnt worth discussing. 

[LionelRichie]

that is a very well thought out mock draft.   

 

this has to be one of the  hardest drafts to predict in years.   You have guys like Carr that could go top 5 or rd 2.    The WR's are all over the board and guys like Mosely are getting squeezed to the bottom of rd 1.    

[jumpinjoe]

Any Mock that has Kelvin Benjamin going anywhere in the 1st round isnt worth discussing. 

I agree. He shouldn't be considered in the first round.