My 2014 Mock Draft

[ClevelandBigDawg]

Figured I might as well share. I dont know how much you guys will like it, but here we go...

 

I think the top three go in some sort of order Clowney, Robinson, & Bortles/Watkins. I believe QBs will fall hard.

 

4 - Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo

I think Mack has the ability to play inside. If he can we fill a major hole, and are running out a starting lineup of Kruger, Mack, Dansby, Sheard with Mingo coming in rotationally. Even if Watkins is there, I just am getting this feeling we wont be taking him.

 

26 - Xavier Su'a- Filo, OG, UCLA

I think given a competent RG, Schwartz plays much better at the RT spot. If he does not improve on what he did last year we draft a OT early next year or try to pick one up in the free agency. Maybe Reid Fragel could potentially be an answer too (I'm not a homer, I dont even like OSU).

 

35 - Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State

This dude is an absolute monster. Ran a 4.56 at 6'1 212, and also has a 39.5" vertical. His hands are glue. I think he would be a perfect compliment for Josh Gordon and we dont have to use a first rounder on him.

 

71 - Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU

Finally a QB. Like I said I see QBs falling. Whether that means you believe Mettenberger could find his way into the second round, I think with everyone else falling, we will see him in the third. Could also see Garoppolo here too, but that is doubtful. This gives us another year with Hoyer. If he's good it's not like we invested a ton in Mettenberger so he continues to sit. If he's bad we can see what Mettenberger has and we can still draft a QB early next year since Farmer supposedly loves Mariota.

 

83 - Jaylen Watkins, CB, Florida

Gives us some more CB depth. Unfortunately he's not a big corner like we're all hoping for, but at 5'11" he would still be one of if not the tallest CB on the roster.

 

106 - Ahmad Dixon, S, Baylor

Seems to finding his way up the draft board, so he may not even be here at this pick. But it would fill a need at S. He could definitely provide solid depth his rookie year, and maybe find himself starting over Gipson.

 

127 - Jordan Tripp, LB, Montana

I'm playing Mack at inside backer, and Tripp will be an outside backer for us. He gives us some flexibility next year with Kruger, depending on how he performs this year.

 

145 - Storm Johnson, RB, UCF

Pretty big back who put up good numbers last year. Shanahan's offense doesn't call for a high pick at RB, and we can use those picks to address more pressing needs. Plus we also signed Ben Tate. Our RBs next year will probably Tate, Johnson, and Lewis, with Edwin Baker fighting for a spott with Lewis.

 

180 - Brandon Thomas, OG, Clemson

Huge value/upside pick if everything heals right and he is actually available. The torn ACL will drop him down boards, I just dont know if it will be this far. Chris Faulk was also supposedly a 2nd-3rd round pick before he got hurt, and he was found as an UDFA. Maybe Thomas will also free fall.

 

218 - Keith Wenning, QB, Ball State

Even if we sign a QB before the draft, I could still see us drafting 2. I believe if we sign anyone it will be Rex Grossman, and then Wenning and Grossman will duke it out for the 3rd QB spot.

 

 

Not gonna even try to guess UDFAs, as trying to come up with 7 rounds was pretty hard with at least attempting to be realistic on where people might go. But I think our prime targets for UDFAs will be TEs, Cs, OGs, and DBs.

 

My theory with this draft is to fill as many needs as possible and give us a chance at finding our FQB without using a real high pick this year. If Hoyer fails and Mettenberger comes in and fails as well. We're going to be in position again next year to draft a top QB. I know everyone was saying that this years was supposed to be good around last years draft, but I do feel that next years will be really good. There will be guys like Winston, Mariota, Petty, and Hundley, that I am pretty sure will come out, that I know of that should go early. If we find ourselves in the playoffs next year we keep building our depth and keep rolling with Hoyer.

[gftChris]

I think I'd be pretty happy with that. Not a huge Mettenburger fan - he seems almost as much of a BW close as Carr - but in the third, it wouldn't be disastrous.

[Tiott]

This is alright. I would be cool with it. But we still have a problem at cornerback.

[Flyin J]

I could live with this, but im not sure about the QB picks, and Im not as big of a fan of Adams as you are.

[miktoxic]

i could definitely get behind that draft.

 

i agree with tiott. the CB selection is the only pick i'm not liking, although haden would take him under his wing as a florida alum.

[thenew23]

ILBs and RBs aren't drafted the way they used to be. Drafting a premiere pass-rusher at #4 and moving to ILB is just idiotic. Also, waiting for the CB pick doesn't make sense to me either. All-in-all, I don't like it

[Flyin J]

ILBs and RBs aren't drafted the way they used to be. Drafting a premiere pass-rusher at #4 and moving to ILB is just idiotic. Also, waiting for the CB pick doesn't make sense to me either. All-in-all, I don't like it

in that scenario, Mack would stay outside, and Tripp would move inside anyways. Tripp is not a 3/4 OLB. But I do want him.

[Harry Buffalo]

Figured I might as well share. I dont know how much you guys will like it, but here we go...

 

I think the top three go in some sort of order Clowney, Robinson, & Bortles/Watkins. I believe QBs will fall hard.

 

4 - Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo

I think Mack has the ability to play inside. If he can we fill a major hole, and are running out a starting lineup of Kruger, Mack, Dansby, Sheard with Mingo coming in rotationally. Even if Watkins is there, I just am getting this feeling we wont be taking him.

 

26 - Xavier Su'a- Filo, OG, UCLA

I think given a competent RG, Schwartz plays much better at the RT spot. If he does not improve on what he did last year we draft a OT early next year or try to pick one up in the free agency. Maybe Reid Fragel could potentially be an answer too (I'm not a homer, I dont even like OSU).

 

35 - Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State

This dude is an absolute monster. Ran a 4.56 at 6'1 212, and also has a 39.5" vertical. His hands are glue. I think he would be a perfect compliment for Josh Gordon and we dont have to use a first rounder on him.

 

71 - Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU

Finally a QB. Like I said I see QBs falling. Whether that means you believe Mettenberger could find his way into the second round, I think with everyone else falling, we will see him in the third. Could also see Garoppolo here too, but that is doubtful. This gives us another year with Hoyer. If he's good it's not like we invested a ton in Mettenberger so he continues to sit. If he's bad we can see what Mettenberger has and we can still draft a QB early next year since Farmer supposedly loves Mariota.

 

83 - Jaylen Watkins, CB, Florida

Gives us some more CB depth. Unfortunately he's not a big corner like we're all hoping for, but at 5'11" he would still be one of if not the tallest CB on the roster.

 

106 - Ahmad Dixon, S, Baylor

Seems to finding his way up the draft board, so he may not even be here at this pick. But it would fill a need at S. He could definitely provide solid depth his rookie year, and maybe find himself starting over Gipson.

 

127 - Jordan Tripp, LB, Montana

I'm playing Mack at inside backer, and Tripp will be an outside backer for us. He gives us some flexibility next year with Kruger, depending on how he performs this year.

 

145 - Storm Johnson, RB, UCF

Pretty big back who put up good numbers last year. Shanahan's offense doesn't call for a high pick at RB, and we can use those picks to address more pressing needs. Plus we also signed Ben Tate. Our RBs next year will probably Tate, Johnson, and Lewis, with Edwin Baker fighting for a spott with Lewis.

 

180 - Brandon Thomas, OG, Clemson

Huge value/upside pick if everything heals right and he is actually available. The torn ACL will drop him down boards, I just dont know if it will be this far. Chris Faulk was also supposedly a 2nd-3rd round pick before he got hurt, and he was found as an UDFA. Maybe Thomas will also free fall.

 

218 - Keith Wenning, QB, Ball State

Even if we sign a QB before the draft, I could still see us drafting 2. I believe if we sign anyone it will be Rex Grossman, and then Wenning and Grossman will duke it out for the 3rd QB spot.

 

 

Not gonna even try to guess UDFAs, as trying to come up with 7 rounds was pretty hard with at least attempting to be realistic on where people might go. But I think our prime targets for UDFAs will be TEs, Cs, OGs, and DBs.

 

My theory with this draft is to fill as many needs as possible and give us a chance at finding our FQB without using a real high pick this year. If Hoyer fails and Mettenberger comes in and fails as well. We're going to be in position again next year to draft a top QB. I know everyone was saying that this years was supposed to be good around last years draft, but I do feel that next years will be really good. There will be guys like Winston, Mariota, Petty, and Hundley, that I am pretty sure will come out, that I know of that should go early. If we find ourselves in the playoffs next year we keep building our depth and keep rolling with Hoyer.

 

I'm not going to slot too many players into your spots, but I will for a few. All I AM going to say is that our only real needs at this point are QB, with WR, CB, ILB, and G being the secondary depth needs. Because of this, and considering that fact that I do not think we are going to take a QB at #4, we are going to see Farmer do what Farmer likes to do, and that is draft BPA and not for positions of need.

 

#4: I CAN see Mack being the pick, but I still think it is going to be a huge toss up between him and Mack if Mack is not there. I also would be surprised if we saw us trade down to say the Lions if Watkins is still there. It's not secret that they have a huge man crush on him and would be willing to move up. We could secure picks for next year or this year (picks for this year could be used as ammo to move up from #26 or #35 to get someone we like). The only reason I think Mack is still in play here for us is because, and lets be honest, our OLB did not play great last year, or even average for that matter. If he is drafted, it will be to play OLB, not to be moved to ILB. Sheard wasn't drafted by our FO, and Farmer wasn't the guy in charge to signed Kruger. Future trades this season or cuts after the season could be in place for one if not both of these guys unless they produce during the season. Since they are unknowns I could see us just grabbing Mack. Watkins is a no brainer. We would have the best #1/#2 combo in the NFL next to Chicago. If we traded down to #10 or within that area, we could grab Evans, which would still give us a great WR duo.

 

#26: I agree with your selection of Su'a- Filo being worth the #26 pick, but I'm still torn whether I want him this high. At this point I don't want another 1st round offensive linemen. I would rather wait to see if he drops to the 2nd round. I think there could be a jump on falling QB's or even WR's and he might fall. If he doesn't, then I think what's his name from ND could be there for us in the 2nd round. I would rather see us grab Fuller or Verrett. Fuller has the body size but needs more work on mechanics, which Verrett has all the skill but not the body size. I could also see us grabbing a QB if he fell to us here. I would take a flyer on anyone of the top 3 QB's at #26 if they fell to us. Having said that if Su'a is there at #26 and he is the BPA, grab him up. Also don't forget C.J. Mosley at ILB. If he falls to us at #26 I believe we grab him.

 

#35: Do or die I see this being where we grab a QB. One of the top 5 guys if one is still available. If we still have a need at WR though I don't see use taking Adam's unless we also grabbed Carr at this point. I think there are going to be more talented WR's still available here.

 

#71: Mettenburger would be a solid pick up at this point if he is still available. Same for Murray. Both got injured at the wrong time but both have showed that they can play (Murray has obviously shown more than Mettenburger, but Mettenburger might have more upside). I will also mention your 7th round pick here. Wenning will be grabbed at some point int he 3rd or 4th round. He hasn't been talked about very much, but he is an under the radar talent. I believe that at worst Wenning is going to make a good back up in the NFL and he has a decent chance at becoming a good starter in 2ish years.

 

#83: I wouldn't touch Watkins from Flordia with a 10 foot pole before round 6 or 7. Both CB from Florida haven't shown that good or tape and they haven't tested well during the pre draft process. There are a few big bodied CB's from smaller schools and divisions that I would rather take fliers on at this spot if available.

 

The rest of your picks (Minus Wenning in the 7th because I just don't believe he would be there, though taking a QB would be a good idea) are good. Some under the radar and athletic guys that I would love to see us take a flyer on. My thoughts on this point in the draft is you either take the producer or the tester. For example I would take a flyer on Michael Sam at this point because he had great production last year in the NCAAs best conference. We always see producers who don't have the best athletic fall in the draft and most of the time they go on to have decent careers. The tester is that one athletic freak who just blows up the combine or his pro day. That special athlete who is falling because he just hasn't been able to produce yet. We can see we have followed this formula that past few years with Skrine, Cameron, and Benjamin and for 4th round picks or lower they have done very well for themselves.