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2014 NFL Mock Draft: Texans gamble on Bortles atop the draft

Posted by Brad On March – 21 – 2014
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17. Baltimore Ravens – Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville

"Calvin Pryor"

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The Ravens will be looking hard for a partner for last year’s top rookie, Matt Elam. Calvin Pryor is a guy I’m not high on but many are and he probably won’t fall much further than this spot on draft day.

18. New York Jets – Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina

Brandin Cooks would give them some speed on the outside but it would be tough to pass on Ebron at this point in the draft. He’s a spectacular athlete that can stretch the middle of the field and should free things up for the newly acquired Eric Decker on the outside.

19. Miami Dolphins – Zack Martin, OG, Notre Dame

The Dolphins rebuild of the post-Martin/Incognito OL is underway. Adding a versatile piece like Martin should about complete the rebuild. Martin can play tackle but I think he’s a Pro Bowl guard for a long time. He would be a great addition to this OL and locker room.

20. Arizona Cardinals – Ra’Shede Hageman, DE, Minnesota 

I had Darqueze Dennard here until the Cards signed Antonio Cromartie to a one-year deal. With Cromartie in the fold, CB probably moves down the list of needs a bit. Darnell Dockett is aging and carries a huge cap number. This could be his last year in Arizona and they need to look for his eventual replacement. Hageman gives them a monster, physical presence – now if they can get him to work consistently, they’ll have struck gold.

21. Green Bay Packers – Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois

The Packers have nothing in the backend. Barring, and probably even with, a signing coming they need to look at a safety early. Ward is my top ranked safety and I’ll stand firm this is not too early for him to come off the board.

22. Philadelphia Eagles – Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech 

Chip Kelly wants size, athleticism and physicality in the secondary. Fuller fits that bill to a tee. He’s 6-foot-ish and plays with the attitude that Kelly wants on the defensive side of the ball. This one could be a coinflip between Fuller and Darqueze Dennard but something tells me Chip will prefer Fuller.

23. Kansas City Chiefs – Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA

Kansas City lost two guards in free agency and they could stand to add some depth along the OL. FS is a major need but with HCD, Pryor, and Ward off the board, this pick should be a fairly easy one. Su’a-Filo is a guy that I think has Pro Bowl potential on the inside and could kick outside to tackle in a pinch.

24. Cincinnati Bengals – Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan St. 

The Bengals need an infusion of youth in their defensive backfield. They will rely on Dre Kirkpatrick a ton this season with the health of Leon Hall in question and the age of Terence Newman. Dennard gives the Bengals youth and physicality in the defensive backfield.

25. San Diego Chargers – Jason Verrett, CB, TCU

The Chargers could take a shot on Louis Nix at this point but Verrett should get the call. If Verrett were a couple of inches taller, the Chargers wouldn’t touch him so they find a great value with the 25th pick.

26. Cleveland Browns – Derek Carr, QB, Fresno St.

The Browns hold off on a QB at No. 4 and land a solid one with their second pick in the first. Carr is a solid value this late as he gives the Browns a guy that can sit and learn for a year or two while Brian Hoyer attempts to bring the Browns back to relevancy.

27. New Orleans Saints – Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State

The Saints offensive line is in need of some major help, so one of the tackles could come off the board here. But with Cooks still on the board, it will be tough for them to pass on adding a talented receiver like him this late in round one.

28. Carolina Panthers – Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia

Wow is all I can say. The Panthers are struggling. They’ve lost all their adequate receivers, their OL is in shambles, and the defensive backfield isn’t much better. They could go in a bunch of directions but they need to find a protector for Cam Newton early. Moses should be able to plug in immediately (he’ll have to).

29. New England Patriots – Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame

Nix is officially off the board. The Patriots will be looking for a replacement for Vince Wilfork, who makes a ton of money and spent much of 2013 out due to injuries. Even with Wilfork they need to add talent along the defensive line.

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

The 49ers CB’s leave a bit to be desired. Brad Roby had a miserable year in 2013 but was spectacular in 2011 and 2012. His combination of speed, physicality, and man coverage skills should make an immediate contributor for the Niners.

31. Denver Broncos – C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama

I’m not blown away by the trio of backers for the Broncos. C.J. Mosley falling this far down the draft is a godsend for John Elway as he continues to add talent to this already talented roster. Mosley could play any one of the three LB spots with his combination of size, athleticism, and coverage ability.

32. Seattle Seahawks – Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida St.

The loss of Golden Tate and health of Percy Harvin have me worried about the future of the receiving corps for Russell Wilson. Kelvin Benjamin is a monster target that is a matchup nightmare down the field and in the redzone. At 6-foot-5, 240+ pounds teams are going to have to account for him all over the field. Now he just has to catch the ball more consistently.

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  • Micheal Profetta

    You’re dead right about John McClain. He’s plugged in. For a while there, I was convinced that the Houston Texans were slipping McClain some cash to keep fanning the “Texans will draft a QB #1″ fires, when in reality, it was all a ruse to lure a QB-desperate team like Cleveland into trading up. If no team would bite, Houston would ultimately sign Michael Vick and draft Clowney at #1. The Fitzpatrick signing suggests I was wrong. Fitzpatrick is your classic stopgap/young QB mentor at this stage of his career. The writing is on the wall. The pick is probably Bortles – and I’m flabbergasted. I get that Bortles has good size and some upside, but I just don’t see what makes him that much more promising a prospect than Garoppolo or Mettenberger. You know your QBs, Brad…maybe you can help me out on that one.

    Clowney probably won’t make it to #3. Some team will sell the farm to move up for him. My money says that Clowney is a Dallas Cowboy next season.

    • bradc11

      I suspect the Texans made an attempt or two to pry away guys they thought were starters. When that didn’t work they resigned to the fact they would draft a QB at 1. I wish I could explain the rationale on Bortles being the pick but I can’t…maybe it’s the upside factor. I have Garoppolo ranked above him so I couldn’t justify spending the 1st pick on Bortles and not the 33rd on Jimmy.

      I agree on Clowney at 2 and Les Snead is just the guy to pull off a blockbuster. Dallas is a team I hadn’t thought about but makes a ton of sense. Need and Jerry Jones means Snead probably fleeces Dallas. They probably wind up with Dallas 2015 1st and a whole host of other assorted goodies.

      When’s a Profetta mock draft coming out?

  • Reggie

    Wow is all I can say if the Lions got Anthony Barr, Davante Adams, and Marcus Roberson. I am starting to lean on the fact that Barr might be rated higher on the Lions draft board. He would give us that edge pass rush we do not have right now. We have plenty of power and speed but not quickness on the edge. Adams I love…I think he would be a wonderful complement to CJ and Tate. Roberson is nice value. He could push our other CB. Safety is a major problem but unless Lions took Terrence Brooks over Adams which I would not there is no real option.

    • bradc11

      It is a haul for them but really speaks to the quality and depth of this draft. I tried to get a safety to them but the value just never met the need. I agree on the fit of Adams with CJ and Tate – gives the Lions a formidable receiving corps for a very long time. Roberson was too good a value to pass up at that point but may drop due to slow 40 time and injuries.

      • Reggie

        It is. Ton of Detroit fans want a trade up for Sammy Watkins. While I love Watkins and believe he would be a top 5 Wr as soon as year 3 I would rather have Barr and Adams than just Watkins…still would not be totally angry at that. In your mock there was no safety that justified the Lions to take one. Roberson would be too much of a value to pass up on. So Browns taking Watkins at 4…I agree totally with you. I think there are too many elite players in this draft to take a QB in the top 10 that I am not convinced will be any better than Carr or Garoppolo…Love this draft

        • bradc11

          I think the Browns will go Watkins, Mack, or Robinson at No. 4 and hold off on a QB until 26 or later. As good as Watkins is I think the Lions are better served finding another impact edge rusher and taking a receiver in the 2nd or 3rd. Just so many good receivers in this draft to part with picks to move up for Watkins…may have to move into top 3 to make it happen probably with St. Louis at 2 and that would be too costly.

  • Duncan

    I give the Bills draft a solid B. I’m pretty sure that Cordy Glenn isn’t going anywhere, Doug Marrone has had nothing but glowing statements about Glenn’s play at LT. Although, that’s not to say that Buffalo doesn’t need a upgrade at RT where Erick Pears, who usually is pretty solid, struggled mightily last year. Lewan would Immediately lock down the that side of the field, giving Buffalo two great edge protectors. The only thing I’m worried about with him is his off the field issues. Niklas is a personal favorite of mine. I think that he will be able to step up and help EJ out a ton by being that big red zone target. While I’m intrigued by Abbrederis, I feel like that we would just be getting another of the same receiver that we already have on the roster. I think someone like Brandon Coleman or Martavis Bryant would be more like what were are looking for at WR. Although, I think that Bryant is going to be overdrafted due to his size and speed.

    • bradc11

      My thought process is they are strongest with Glenn at RT and a stud LT. Not saying Lewan is a stud LT but it at least gives them options. I would agree with Marrone on Glenn, played very well last year. Niklas is way undervalued by most and not being able to work out could keep him in that status. I’m a big Abbrederis fan…think he’ll wind up being a nice complementary No. 2 in the league for a long time. I wouldn’t touch Bryant in the 2nd – but that’s probably where he winds up going.

  • Jonathan R Looney

    I dig your mock picks for the Cowboys. I think they like C.Pryor more, but I’d be happy with a top Safety and Demarcus Lawrence w/ 1st two picks. Remember they are getting Ty Crawford out of BoiseSt. back from achilles, so he’s an instant addition as well.

    • bradc11

      Need to find some upgrades on defense. Getting Melton will help, barring health, but I worry about the secondary holding up without an above-average pass rush to help out.

  • joeisme

    An absoutely horrible Packer draft. A 2-3 rounder in the first (Ward). A complete waste in round 2 (Smth.. a college DE who has never played LB and isn’t that great at DE.. The Packers have tried converting those too small DEs to OLBs for three years in a row with #1 and #2 picks with miserable results. Smith will NOT be on their board early).

    • bradc11

      If Ward makes it out of the 1st, I’ll be shocked. He’s the best safety in this class. Head over to draftbreakdown.com and check out Smith and Ward. If you still feel the same way, we’ll agree to disagree.

  • guest1xprq11

    Disagree on the 9ers first pick. I think in your scenario (given all your other picks hold up) they would go for Lee and Jean-Baptiste with the #56.