2014 NFL Mock Draft – The Gift that keeps on Giving

Posted by Brad On December – 27 – 2013
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17. Baltimore Ravens – Marqise Lee, WR, USC

"Marqise Lee"

USA TODAY Sports

Did we see what a healthy Marqise Lee looks like in 2013 last Saturday? Lee looked very good against a porous Fresno State defense and could fall into Ozzie Newsome’s lap if he makes it out of the top 15.

18. Dallas Cowboys – Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota

Hageman makes a ton of sense for Dallas at this point. There are some red flags but Hageman’s combination of fit and skills may be too much to pass on.

19. San Diego Chargers – Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State

Dennard may lack the blazing speed that teams covet on the outside but this kid is too good to pass on for the Chargers. The Chargers have outperformed anyone’s expectations this season but need some defensive help and it starts at the CB position.

20. Arizona Cardinals – Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan

I don’t love Lewan as an NFL LT but he’s a solid value at a position of need for the Cardinals. Back to back seasons dedicated to the OL could keep this team moving in the right direction.

21. Chicago Bears – Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

The Bears have a ton of needs on their defense. This pick could go any of many directions of the defensive side of the ball. Julius Peppers is on the downside of his career arc and is set to make a ton of money. He could be expendable. If the Bears can’t bring back Corey Wooten, DE is a huge need. Gregory is an elite pass rusher with little name recognition and even less playing experience. That said, he has elite first step quickness and as much upside as any DE not named Clowney in this draft.

22. Miami Dolphins – Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M

The Dolphins were able to patchwork this OL together this season but can’t rely on Bryant McKinnie and Tyson Clabo to hold down the fort for Ryan Tannehill’s future health. Ogbuehi has a boatload of potential and could be a long-term answer at the LT position in Miami.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

Chip Kelly is familiar with Olomu from his days in Eugene and he fills a major need area for the Eagles. Olomu gives the Eagles some much needed help in the secondary.

24. Cincinnati Bengals – Jason Verrett, CB, TCU

CB doesn’t appear to be a huge need at first glance. But let’s break it down. Leon Hall is aging quickly and injury prone, Terence Newman is almost two years my senior (not good), Dre Kirkpatrick is less than stellar, and Adam Jones is Adam Jones. Jason Verrett gives them a physical corner that is ready to plug in. The Bengals are in a good spot with few free agents to re-sign and a solid roster.

MORE: Jason Verrett shuts down Baylor WR Antwan Goodley

25. Cleveland Browns – Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State

Greg Little’s days may be numbered in Cleveland and Davone Bess may have led the league in drops had he not left the team due to personal issues. Needless to say the Browns need another offensive weapon to add to Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron. Pairing the massive Benjamin with Josh Gordon is scary – let’s hope Benjamin improves his consistency catching the football.

vic beasley126. New Orleans Saints – Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson 

Beasley flashed enormous potential early in the season but has leveled off considerably as of late. That said, Beasley could be the perfect fit for Rob Ryan’s defense and gives a potentially impactful, young pass rusher.

27. Kansas City Chiefs – Lamarcus Joyner, FS, Florida State

Kendrick Lewis is clearly the weak link on this defense. I fully realize I’m much higher on Joyner than most but I really believe he’s worthy of a flier at this point. Joyner’s lack of size may keep him out of round one but the Chiefs would be wise to take a shot with their need at the position.

28. New England Patriots – Stephon Tuitt, DT/DE, Notre Dame

Why not? The Pats could take Jace Amaro here and no one would blame them. But Tuitt is everything that BB seeks out for his defense. Capable of moving around the DL – Tuitt could turn into a Pro Bowler in New England.

29. Carolina Panthers – Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State

Cam Newton is playing out of his mind – especially when you consider his receiving corps. Adams combines size with solid hands and good enough top end speed to stretch the defense vertically. Adams gives Newton a guy that he can grow with well into the future.

30. San Francisco 49ers – Brad Roby, CB, Ohio State

The Niners could use some fresh blood at the corner position. Roby’s so-so (at best) season has him falling down draft boards. The reality remains that Roby is an elite athlete that isn’t afraid to stick his nose into the fray. Roby gets my early vote for steal of the draft if he falls down into the late one, early two range.

31. Denver Broncos – Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech

This would be fun. TE is clearly not a need but the Broncos don’t have a ton. They could use front seven help on defense and may have to replace a couple of offensive stalwarts (Eric Decker/Zane Beadles). That said, why not let Peyton ride out with his choice of weapons. Jace Amaro could fill some of the hole left if Decker leaves Denver.

32. Seattle Seahawks – La’el Collins, OG, LSU

The interior of the Seahawks offensive line has been a mess. JR Sweezy and Paul McQuistan have been flat out bad and James Carpenter is prepared to be chalked up as a bust. The ‘Hawks don’t have a ton of holes and Collins’ versatility gives them options on the OL.

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  • Reggie

    Sammy Watkins would make a ridiculous duo. If they could get Aaron Donald or Ryan Shazier in Round 2 that would be amazing. That or another QB since Stafford is on a delusional life journey. When asked if he would work with a QB guru he said he didn’t need it and that it would not help????

    • bradc11

      It’s hard to think that the Lions could or would move on from Stafford. But his play is sometimes detrimental to the team. The good news is he’ll only be 26 next season and someone needs to get him working with someone to fix his flawed mechanics.

      Watkins and Johnson is a ridiculous combo and scary thought for NFCN defenses. Just imagine Chicago, GB, and Minnesota’s secondary trying to match up with those two. Need some consistency at TE but Watkins addition would add another dimension to this offense.

      • Reggie

        Do not get me wrong I speak emotionally some times. Stafford is our QB for the next 3-5 years at a minimum. Getting a Watkins and maybe Jarvis Landry would be great. I like Ebron a lot as well but not where we will be selecting. Browns need more offense.

  • Robert Bass

    If lee is there when The Ravens pick im not so sure Ozzie would draft him it might sound stupid but I have see this story before I would love for lee to be our pick but I highly doubt it

    • bradc11

      I think Lee is the best receiver in this draft. Down year with injuries but if he’s there for the Ravens taking, I can’t see how they pass.

      • Robert Bass

        I can tell you exactly the excuse Ozzie would have we had a higher rated player or if its a bama player there he doesn’t even have to be a need as long as Ozzie can weasel his way outta giving us a Real wr Ican hear it now we can find value in a later round maybe bc we don’t have as many picks this year he will take lee im scared of lee being there and him trading back the struggles of a Ravens fan

      • Robert Bass

        Were drafting 16 or 17th so do you think Watkins could slide now ?

  • Braeden

    Man, please don’t leave My UCF Knight alum for dead out in Jacksonville! I beg you! C’Mon man! No but in all seriousness I would hate to see Blake get drafted by Jacskonville. It’s just a bad situation right now, with a revolving door of coaches (4th HC since 2011, and 3 OC’s since the same year), an average O-line that if Joeckel pans out, will be at least respectable, nothing at wideout other than Blackmon, who is eh, and often in trouble with the law or the NFL. If he cleans up his act, then maybe there’s something there, but not much, I mean Cecil Shorts? C’mon. Blake needs to go the RIGHT team, if he’s gonna succeed (like any other QB) a team with a sold O-Line, a running game, and at least one solid receiver. Minnesota comes to mind, or your Browns would work too, because of Gordon and Cameron, and a very good O-line. If you get a RB someone you could get in the 3rd or 4th) and a complementary wideout (Marqise Lee maybe if he falls, or Kelvin Benjamin, or Jordan Matthews, whom i am a huge fan of), then you could have a respectable offense to go with your already solid defense.

    I like the Tuitt pick for my Patriots though, to an extent. Personally I’d rather us take a wideout or a tight end, butI get it. Tuitt could e something special in the pats scheme and give a good inside outside punch with him and Chandler Jones. A D-Line of Ninkovich-Wilfork-Tuitt-Jones would be fierce, and with Mayo coming back next season, our front 7 would be amazing. And the secondary has been alright, with Talib playing great when healthy (story of the season ‘when healthy’, which we need to be come divisional round).

    But we need a true number one wideout and a new TE, because Gronk is facing perhaps a near-premature end to his career with all of the injuries. Maybe we’ll sign Eric Decker, killing two birds with one stone (weakening Denver and bolstering our receiving corps). Or, even better, maybe we could get Graham from New Orleans since he’s a free agent (not gonna happen, but a guy can dream right?).