2014 NFL Mock Draft: Way Early!

This is entirely too early, but why not drop a 2014 NFL Mock Draft for fun? That’s what this is all about. There is no way to really project what will actually happen before an entire year of games are to be played but this isn’t the Mock Draft HQ for nothing.

With that said, let’s get rolling on 2014 early (Updated 5-22-13):

1. Kansas City Chiefs- Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina
No brainer. The Chiefs got Alex Smith, and resigned all their guys. But which Smith will show up? Will he finish the season as the Chiefs starter? Is Andy Reid all out of quarterback magic? Lots of questions.. but you know what’s not a question: Jadevon Clowney. Simply put he’s the best DE prospect in almost 15 years. Guys like this change franchises, get people extensions, and change your franchise for the better.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars-Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville
This is make or break for Blaine Gabbert. He must go if he can’t do it with some of the new blood Jacksonville has. Blackmon and Shorts are no scrubs.

3. Oakland Raiders- Taylor Lewan OT Michigan
Oakland secured their quarterback in Matt Flynn, but selected a basketball player in the second round of the draft to protect him. Oakland does Oakland things or else it wouldn’t be an NFL Draft.

4. Philadelphia Eagles- Marqise Lee WR USC
*Wipes forehead* Whew. I don’t see any way the Eagles screw up this pick. Let’s say the Chip Kelly thing actually works and Vick/Foles/Barkley looks comfortable.. all that is left is locking up some talent long term for the machine. A few stories are already bubbling about De’Sean Jackson’s future here. In an offense like this, with a rookie cap… why NOT take Lee?

5. Detroit Lions- Anthony Barr OLB UCLA
Detroit took a man I wouldn’t even classify as a seasoned football player with their 2013 Draft pick. Who knows if Ansah pans out. Either way a pass rush must be fortified.

6. Cleveland Browns- Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M
SURPRISE! Johnny Football is coming to rock Cleveland in my 2014 Mock Draft. Why? It’s simple. Weeden is just “ok.” He was a good pick to tide them over about three-four years and after next season year two will already be up. Manziel brings an electric, exciting, style of play to Cleveland (all of his rushing yards came from non-designed runs). Pair this up with Trent Richardson and Flash Gordon and we may be cooking in Cleveland.

7. Arizona Cardinals- De’Anthony Thomas RB Oregon
The Cardinals traded for whatever Carson Palmer has in the tank. Palmer feels that he has some good football left in him so we’ll see. This backfield is full of injury prone backs (Mendenhall, Williams, etc.) so I have Thomas coming in as the “lightning” to whoever lasts to be the 2015 starter.

8. Buffalo Bills- Sammy Watkins WR Clemson
I’m pretty sure EJ Manuel, CJ Spiller and Stevie Johnson will be doing the dougie if the draft actually pans out like this. This offense is young and explosive, but could always use more attention away from the few playmakers they have.

9. New York Jets- Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M
Geno, Geno, GENO! It’s his time in New York. Solidifying the line will be key in the young passer’s career. That, and Matthews is the BPA.

10. Tennessee Titans-Tajh Boyd QB Clemson
If the Jake Locker experiment is a failure going into 2015, the only thing the Titans can do is try to destroy and rebuild. There are rumors that heads will roll if Locker pans out to be a bust. If that happens, then I’ll probably mock the Titans a signal caller in my final mock draft as well.

11. San Diego Chargers-David Fales QB San Jose State
Can you say home run pick? I’ve been watching Fales a lot lately and I think he could have went in the 2013 draft ahead of a lot of big name guys, honestly. San Diego has a new coach and if Philip Rivers doesn’t bounce back it would not be wise for Mike McCoy to tie his future to him. Fales is the kind of prospect you don’t pass up if your veteran looks like he’s on a proverbial decline.

12. Miami Dolphins- Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE Washington
Get Tannehill some weapons. If you’re going to take down New England Mike Wallace is going to need 1 on 1 coverage as much as possible.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Stephon Tuitt DT Notre Dame
The Bucs loaded up on defensive tackles in the 2013 off season, we’ll see who sticks. Gerald McCoy absolutely needs a running buddy as he continues to develop. Side note: I would mock a QB here but Mike Glennon is coming for that spot.

14. Carolina Panthers- Cyrus Kouandjio OT Alabama
The Panthers left the 2013 draft with not one, but TWO of the top defensive tackles. Now it is time to turn the focus to the offense where there may be some salary cap casualties.

15. New Orleans Saints- Louis Nix DT Notre Dame
If Jenkins/Bunkley look strong, this pick may change.

16. St. Louis Rams- Loucheiz Purifoy CB Florida
Another piece to a young up and coming secondary.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers- Antonio Richardson OT Tennessee
Is anyone on this roster going to push Mike Adams for playing time? Or will he step it way up? We’ll see. They signed Mike Golic Jr. so maybe this pick changes.

18. Dallas Cowboys- Kareem Martin DE UNC
Dallas’ best defensive players are getting up there in years. They hit on Bruce Carter from UNC, so maybe they go back to the well and nab up Martin.

19. New York Giants- Aaron Colvin CB Oklahoma
The Giants did not sure up the cornerback spot with any young guns in 2013, maybe they skate by with the vets they have… or maybe not.

20. Chicago Bears- Dion Bailey ILB USC
DJ Williams is in place but at this point in his career you have to think long term.

21. St. Louis Rams via Washington Redskins- Ka’Deem Carey RB Arizona
A lot of people don’t know about Carey… yet. He was one of the most productive backs in all of college football in 2012, and if he picks back up he may run away with the Heisman. There are some off the field concerns but for now I’m plugging him in St Louis who has proven they aren’t afraid of drafting troubled players.

22. Minnesota Vikings- Aaron Lynch DE South Florida
Will Shariff Floyd be a DE or DT? We’ll see before this pick is adjusted.  There is no need to waste a premium pick on a QB here if you’re going to replace Ponder. This draft is oddly pretty deep at QB.

23. Cincinnati Bengals- C.J. Mosley ILB Alabama
There are a lot of intriguing veterans in the linebacker ranks, but who sticks for 2014? If the answer is none then the answer is CJ Mosley.

24. Baltimore Ravens- Bradley Roby CB Ohio State
Who’s replacing Carey Williams?

25. Seattle Seahawks- Cyril Richardson OT Baylor
Is it too early to draft insurance for Okung?

26. Indianapolis Colts- A.J. Johnson ILB Tennessee
Passed on Manti Te’o in 2013, will they go inside in 2014? They do in this 2014 NFL Mock Draft.

27. Green Bay Packers- Shayne Skov ILB Stanford
They didn’t draft an eventual replacement for AJ Hawk in 2013. But when will it happen? Hmmm…

28. San Francisco 49ers- Will Sutton DT Arizona State
Picked up Tank Carradine in the past draft, and signed Glenn Dorsey as a DE?

29. Houston Texans- Logan Thomas QB Virginia Tech
Matt Schaub will be 32 years old at seasons end.  Yes, it is likely he has a lot of good football left but with a lot of their bases already covered the Texans can draft his successor now.  No one would argue that Logan Thomas is a superior prospect to TJ Yates and has all the tools to be the first pick in this draft.  It’s just a matter of him bouncing back from last year’s horrific season.

30. New England Patriots- Anthony Johnson DT LSU
Picked up Tommy Kelly but Wilfork is getting up there, and no solid replacement is in place yet.

31. Denver Broncos- Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma State
Champ is going to be retiring soon and DRC is just a stop gap solution to a real problem: What’s going to happen to this defense when Champ Bailey retires?

32. Atlanta Falcons- James Hurst OT North Carolina
Sam Baker does well but struggles at times. They brought in a lot of young tackles so maybe this pick changes.

Round 2. Washington Redskins- Cody Hoffman WR BYU
Continued development for RG3 means a big need for more targets.