2014 NFL Twitter Mock Draft
There's no QB slide in this mock draft, as Johnny Manziel (top) and others go off the board in the top 10. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)
The NFL's decision to move the 2014 NFL draft back two weeks to May 8 has created a flurry of draft-related speculation not seen before. Is Teddy Bridgewater's stock really sinking? How many receivers will go in Round 1? What are the Houston Texans thinking with the No. 1 pick?
To help sort through the noise, Chris Burke and Doug Farrar took to Twitter to project all 32 picks in the first round of the NFL draft. Find the results below.
MORE: 2014 NFL draft needs: AFC | NFL draft needs: NFC | SI64: Our definitive Big Board
1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Quarterback is obviously a more pressing need for the Texans, but Clowney's talent is too much to ignore. Rather than reach for a QB here, Bill O'Brien adds the absolute best available player -- potentially turning his defense into one of the league's most fearsome units. -- Chris Burke
2. St. Louis Rams(via Washington): Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
Though he's not as polished as Jake Matthews, Robinson has no athletic equal in this class at his position. He can start at guard if need be and move outside. The upside over time is ridiculous. -- Doug Farrar
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
Pick apart his game all you want, but the fact of the matter is that Teddy Bridgewater is the best quarterback in this draft class right now. As much as Gus Bradley might get out of Khalil Mack or as enticing as Sammy Watkins is at No. 3, the Jaguars are not in position to wait and hope a QB falls into their lap. They have a chance to add a franchise guy right now. Take it. -- CB
4. Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
The Browns have done a lot to improve their team in the last two years, but the quarterback position is still a big void. Manziel brings an amazing improvisational ability and physical talent to the table, and his on-field deficits can be managed over time. A potential franchise-defining player. -- DF
5. Oakland Raiders: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
Maybe Sammy Watkins does not put the Raiders over the top in 2014. What he does do, however, is give them a potential star No. 1 receiver -- something that's been missing from the Black Hole for years. -- CB
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6. Atlanta Falcons: Anthony Barr, DE/OLB, UCLA
Barr is raw like sushi at his current position, but the former running back has as much talent and potential as you could want. On a Falcons defensive line that has become much bigger in the offseason, he'll be set free to bend the edge and scoot around blockers, which he can already do quite estimably. -- DF
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Khalil Mack, DE/OLB, Buffalo
A surprising development early with Mack sliding out of the top six. He doesn't necessarily fill a pressing need for Tampa Bay, but Lovie Smith would be thrilled with Mack's ability to wreak havoc off the edge. Passing on Mike Evans would be tough, but the WR depth of this draft offers some leeway. -- CB
8. Minnesota Vikings: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
There isn't much to say about the Vikings' current quarterback situation, except that Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel have not combined to improve it. New offensive coordinator Norv Turner will have a field day with Bortles, who has the size (6-foot-5, 230) and arm Turner prefers, with surprising mobility thrown in. -- DF
9. Buffalo Bills: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
Jake Matthews? At No. 9? Even with Cordy Glenn in place at LT and Mike Evans available, this is a steal for the Bills. They would have their anchors set on both sides of the O-line. Matthews is arguably a top-three talent in this draft. -- CB
10. Detroit Lions: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
Were it not for injuries in 2013, I'm convinced that Fuller would have been the top cornerback on most boards, and he may still be. Put simply, there's nothing on his tape that stands out as an obvious flaw, and there's a lot that flashes with All-Pro potential. -- DF
11. Tennessee Titans: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
Before anyone makes a Matt Millen joke (Tennessee drafted Kendall Wright in 2012 and Justin Hunter last year), let's consider the value here. WR may not be Tennessee's No. 1 need, but Evans would become the top red-zone target immediately. Nate Washington's closer to the end of his glory days than the beginning, too, so this allows the Titans to get a jump on his eventual departure. Evans, Hunter and Wright on the field together? If Jake Locker can't get it done with that trio, he can't get it done. -- CB
12. New York Giants: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
Yes, the G-Men need all kinds of offensive line help, but losing Linval Joseph to the Vikings leaves a major hole along the defensive line. Donald is a smaller player, so it's not a precise fit, but with his once-in-a-decade ability to penetrate and dominate blockers, he'll be a one-man wrecking machine for Big Blue's defense. -- DF
13. St. Louis Rams: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
Really reluctant to call any draft pick a "no-brainer" but ... well, the Rams clearly have a gap at safety, and the No. 1 safety prospect sits available. Clinton-Dix is the type of playmaker this defense needs. -- CB
14. Chicago Bears: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
If the Bears are interested in having a great defense again, there are two positions of obvious need -- defensive tackle and safety. They can get pretty good tackles later, but a rare talent like Pryor is worth a high pick. He'll patrol Chicago's defensive backfield with demon-speed and bad intentions. -- DF
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
As close to a dream board as the Steelers could hope for here -- Gilbert, Taylor Lewan, Eric Ebron and Odell Beckham Jr. all there for the taking. A lack of depth at CB coupled with Ike Taylor's miserable 2013 season pushes Gilbert to the forefront. He's athletic and versatile, making him perfect for Dick Lebeau's system. -- CB
16. Dallas Cowboys: Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
Yes, the Cowboys need defensive end help as well, but let's take a break from the Jerry Jones philosophy and not reach for need here. Actually, there is a need here as well, with Jason Hatcher departing to Washington . Hatcher was that rare player who could consistently get quarterback pressure from inside and outside, and Hageman, though still learning the ropes, has that same potential. -- DF
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17. Baltimore Ravens: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
Consider the Ravens' RT problem solved. And a few years down the road, when Eugene Monroe has outstayed his usefulness, there won't be a need to rush out for a left tackle. Lewan will boost the Ravens' run game and make Joe Flacco's life a little easier. -- CB
18. New York Jets: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
The Jets need receivers, but they can get them later in a very deep class. Dennard is the last top-flight cornerback left on the board, and it's time for this team to solve the post-Revis mess at corner. Dennard, with his aggressive, physical style, is a great fit for Rex Ryan's defense. -- DF
19. Miami Dolphins: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
Ryan Tannehill made a significant leap in 2013. A mismatch-creating tight end like Ebron would push him even further along. Ebron is a top-10 talent, who would draw plenty of attention away from Brian Hartline and Mike Wallace in Miami. -- CB
20. Arizona Cardinals: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU
Arizona head coach and offensive mastermind Brice Arians loves to set defenses on edge with formation diversity among his receivers. That said, sometimes, you want a really fast guy who can take the top off of coverage over and over, and Beckham can do it. Plus, he's got a mastery of the full route tree, and he can play outside or in the slot. -- DF
21. Green Bay Packers: CJ Mosley, LB, Alabama
Too easy. Aside from maybe Clinton-Dix, Mosley is the ideal realistic addition to the Packers defense at No. 21. (Obviously, Clowney or Mack would be great, but they're not falling this far.) Mosley's injury history is worrisome, but it's being overblown. He's a 100-tackle guy waiting to happen. -- CB
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA
Chip Kelly will remember Su'a-Filo from his Pac-12 days, and no matter what happens with Evan Mathis, Kelly (whose offense is far more run-heavy than most believe) could always use a real mauler on the inside of the offensive line. Su'a-Filo fits the bill, and he's also agile enough to play tackle. A perfect fit for a Philly offense that strives to balance explosion and physicality. -- DF
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
Andy Reid likes to get the ball out of his quarterback's hands and into those of the Chiefs' playmakers. In Cooks, Kansas City adds one of the most lethal catch-and-run threats in this draft. -- CB
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
Terence Newman and Adam Jones are on the wrong end of the age curve, and Leon Hall is on the wrong end of the Achilles tendon surgery curve. It's time to bring in a new franchise cornerback, and Verrett looks to be just that with a fast, aggressive style. -- DF
25. San Diego Chargers: Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame
Had my sights set on Verrett to help fix San Diego's abysmal CB situation. With Cincinnati taking him one pick earlier, the Chargers' focus shifts to their thin D-line. Nix would serve as an immediate upgrade at nose tackle, able to plug the middle and free up the team's pass-rushers. -- CB
26. Cleveland Browns(via Indianapolis): Marqise Lee, WR, USC
With Josh Gordon making chicken salad out of last year's quarterback soup, and Johnny Football already mocked to Cleveland, Lee would help the Browns complete an excellent passing game. Like Reggie Wayne, Lee doesn't blow you away with highlight moments on tape as much as he does everything right ... over and over. -- DF
27. New Orleans Saints: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
The Saints will draft a WR at some point, but I'm not seeing any great value here. Roby is far better than he showed early in 2013, and the cornerback spot definitely could use an infusion of youth. -- CB
28. Carolina Panthers: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama
Jordan Gross' retirement leaves a hole in Carolina's offense that's just as prominent as the one left by all those departing receivers, and Kouandjio perfectly fits Carolina's longtime preference for a power front with pass-protection expertise. As long as his medicals check out, the mammoth Kouandjio isn't a reach here. -- DF
29.New England Patriots: Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State
The key word here is "versatility." That relates both to Shazier -- who can fly up against the run, drop in coverage or blitz on occasion -- and to the Patriots defense, which could show a ton of different looks from its linebacking corps with Shazier, Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower all capable of moving around the formation. -- CB
30. San Francisco 49ers: Dee Ford, DE, Auburn
The 49ers would love to go receiver or cornerback here, but with the board as it is -- and Aldon Smith's future with the team in doubt -- Ford would be a great get at 30. He's a special (though slightly undersized) athlete with the potential to get the same kind of sack production Smith did when he was on the straight and narrow. -- DF
31. Denver Broncos: Zack Martin, G/T, Notre Dame
Martin's immediate future is likely at the guard spot, which just happens to be one of the trouble spots for Denver. That Martin is capable of serving as insurance for the tackle spot -- LT Ryan Clady is coming back from a season-ending Lisfranc injury -- seals the deal. -- CB
32. Seattle Seahawks: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
Sidney Rice
