Thursday, May 8, 2014

2014 NFL Draft: Full 1st and all Packers selections

Well, I've been looking at mocks for a long time now.  Here's my full first round with analysis and every Packers pick.

1.  Houston Texans--Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina

Highly rated out of High School, and just the same out of college.  I don't think that anyone will trade up to number one.  He is the premier player in this draft class.  The Texans will take a Quarterback later, since all of them have been dropping the last month.  Clowney just makes the most sense here. 

2.  St. Louis Rams--Greg Robinson OT Auburn

Played great during the run to the National title.  Big guy who can just move people.  The Rams have been trying to find a great tackle for years it seems like, but kept drafting the wrong people, aka Jason Smith.  Now they finally make up for their mistake. 

3.  Jacksonville Jaguars--Khalil Mack DE Buffalo

I am glad that the Jaguars didn't take Dion Jordan last year, since it didn't seem like he did much last year for Miami.  Mack is supposedly in the same discussion as Clowney, but I find that hard to believe.  Anyway, he played great against Ohio State when he faced better talent last year, and the Jaguars need to find more people to rush the passer.  Mack can do just that for them. 

4.  Cleveland Browns--Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M

This is not the first time in recent years that the Browns have had 2 first round picks.  Last time they took Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden, neither of which are on the team, and they could have drafted Ryan Tannehill at least with their higher pick.  I think the Browns just need to change their course from 2 years ago, and they are going to not let their top QB go past them here.

5.  TRADE  Buffalo Bills--Sammy Watkins WR Clemson

Buffalo gives up 9, 41, and 109.  Oakland gives up 5 and 67.  Oakland currently only has 5 picks in the top 200 of this draft.  It goes without saying that they could use several quality players.  Buffalo goes crazy like they sometimes do and trade up for Watkins, which isn't as bad as it could be.  Buffalo needs more production from their WR and Watkins would change the face of that division. 

6.  Atlanta Falcons--Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M

I remember Matthews was projected high in the 2013 draft before he decided to stay at college for another year.  I think that he is a great fit for the Falcons since Matt Ryan got sacked 8 times against the Panthers last year.  With the Panthers defense, Rob Ryan defense, and Lovie Smith now being the head coach for the Bucs, they need even more pass protection.

7.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers--Mike Evans WR Texas A&M

The Bucs have finally acquired a top WR when they got VJax from the Chargers.  And they had a pretty good compliment with Mike Williams, but then they oddly traded him away this offseason.  Evans gives them a different Mike at the WR position, and they need more weapons for McCown to play remotely decent at QB.

8.  Minnesota Vikings--Blake Bortles QB Central Florida

The Vikings QB situation was even worse than the Packers QB situation last year.  Ponder, Freeman, and Cassel were the 3 way competition of awfulness that they put in last year.  The way to fix this is to draft a QB high, and make him the opening day starter.  Bortles has a lot of upside, and the new regime needs a QB to be their guy.

9.  Oakland Raiders--Taylor Lewan OT Michigan

Lewan was great at Michigan, and the Raiders had an awful time with the Roger Saffold situation.  Not only did they get some extra picks from the Bills, but they are able to fill a huge need at the same time.  Maybe people will forget about how Saffold failed his physical there in Oakland over time. 

10.  Detroit Lions--Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan State

Dennard is a very physical cornerback, and the Lions are a rough defense, just look at their defensive line.  I think he fits the personality of the team.  The Lions have needs at cornerback as well, despite taking Darius Slay last year.  Dennard is a local college product and would be a great fit here at 10.

11.  Tennessee Titans--Anthony Barr OLB UCLA

With the switch to the 3-4 defense, the Titans are in definite need of getting the right pieces to fit that defense.  Barr is a major prospect, but his measureables have been fantastic.  The Titans will have time to let him grow while they go through this change.

12.  New York Giants--Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh

The Giants take a game changing DT, and they get back to what they had been doing best during their 2 Super Bowl runs under Coughlin.  They ramp up their "NASCAR" package.  Donald can play out there on all 3 downs, which should make one of their strengths even better when Donald gets into the field.

13.  St. Louis Rams--Haha Clinton-Dix S Alabama

The Rams are currently accomplishing their dream draft, not only did they get a top notch OT, but now they get a highly rated safety.  Dix is a good tackler, and the Rams need someone at the back lines to protect against Vernon Davis and Larry Fitzgerald.

14.  Chicago Bears--Calvin Pryor S Louisville

The Bears keep seeing Randall Cobb go deep on them on 4th down.  They have to get a safety to try to give them some peace of mind in what ended their season last year.  Just like we keep wanting to get more people who can stop Kaepernick.

15.  Pittsburgh Steelers--Eric Ebron TE North Carolina

Pittsburgh was doing quite well when Roethlisburger had a big TE to throw it to in the Red Zone.  They have lost several WR the last few years, and Heath Miller is not as good as he used to be.  Ebron gives them a new red zone target and should make things better for Big Ben.

16.  Dallas Cowboys--Zack Martin OT Notre Dame

Martin can play all five positions on the offensive line, and the Cowboys need quite a bit of help on offensive line because it is still a funnel, because Jerry Jones was awful at just selecting offensive lineman.  Martin would be an instant starter.

17.  TRADE  San Fransisco 49ers--Odell Beckham Jr. WR Louisiana State

49ers give up 30, and 56 Ravens give up 17.  Everyone keeps saying the 49ers will trade up for a WR, but now they trade up with the Harbaugh brother.  Keep everything in the family business.  Beckham gets to learn under Boldin for a year.  Will be on the other side from Crabtree next year.

18.  New York Jets--Brandin Cooks WR Oregon State

Cooks is a burner, and I really wish that he would fall all the way to the Packers, but I just don't think that's a likely option.  The wide receivers are deep in this class, but the Jets want to have some immediate help for their new QB Geno Smith, and they actually draft someone this year to help him, even though they never really did that for Sanchez.

19.  Miami Dolphins--CJ Mosley  MLB Alabama

The Dolphins just need to keep improving on both sides of the ball, they would love to have a great offensive tackle or guard fall to them, but it just didn't quite fall that way for them.  Mosley is the top linebacker, and they are happy to have him here.

20.  Arizona Cardinals--Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville

Bridgewater stops his fall a little bit earlier than everyone was expecting.  The Cardinals do a surprise move and take a QB in the first round to learn and possibly supplant Palmer as the top QB this year.  Teddy hopes to make the Mount Rushmore of the players for the Arizona Cardinals.

21.  Green Bay Packers--Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma State

Gilbert is considered to be a boom or bust CB who is willing to take some risks, but the Packers need someone with some ball skills and Gilbert can do just that.  He fell right to us because of the other selections on the board.  I think that most of us would enjoy this selection on the forum.

22.  Philadelphia Eagles--Marquise Lee WR Southern California

The Eagles have to get someone to fill in for the recently cut DeSean Jackson.  Lee is a high quality player who, despite being recently off of injury, will be a great deep threat for the Eagles right away.  Lee has a lot of promise and had some huge games for USC.

23.  Kansas City Chiefs--Xavier Su'a-Filo G UCLA

Kansas City still needs more offensive line help, and Xavier would be a great guard fit here for them at 23.  Xavier will be a run blocker for Charles and help provide Alex Smith with better blocking in the passing game.

24.  Cincinnati Bengals--Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech

Kyle Fuller is a great talent and the Bengals need some new corners now that they lost their previous DC to the Vikings.  Zimmer had some underperforming DB's step up in his system, and now Fuller is a top talent that can help shut down the passing game.

25.  San Diego Chargers--Louis Nix III NT Notre Dame

The Chargers face the Broncos and Chiefs twice a year.  They need Nix so that he can occupy two blockers against Manning and his decision to run or pass, and against Charles the do it all back for the Chiefs.  Nix would be a great fit in their 3-4 defense.

26.  Cleveland Browns--Ryan Shazier LB Ohio State

Speed is always a good idea to have on defense.  Shazier has a lot of speed, another local player who can fit in with what the Browns need.  Just good players.  There are some doubts about what Shazier can do with his weight, but the Browns have a lot of needs and can fit him where they need.

27.  New Orleans Saints--Cody Latimer WR Indiana

Latimer has been flying up draft boards in the last few weeks, the Saints want a WR and Latimer would be a great weapon for Drew Brees to throw to down the field.  Some people would say that this is a reach for the Saints, and they have other needs, but they start with a strong WR.

28.  Carolina Panthers--Allen Robinson WR Penn State

Another team that is desperate for help for their QB.  Cam Newton can't run an entire offense by himself.  But they bring in a WR to replace Steve Smith and they will probably draft several more receivers in the later rounds.

29.  TRADE  Jacksonville Jaguars--Derek Carr QB Fresno State

Patriots give up 29, Jaguars give up both 39, 70, and 144.  Getting a 5th year option and getting ahead of the Texans are huge motivators for the Jaguars to overpay the Patriots and get the QB of their choice.  Jaguars fans, all 8 of them, are excited for the future.

30.  Baltimore Ravens--Morgan Moses OT Virginia

This is the player that the Ravens would have been eyeing at 17, and they are able to grab him despite moving all the way down to 30.  Ravens fans keep needing more help on their offensive line, plus Rice and Flacco both had lackluster seasons last year, and need to get help to bounce back.

31.  Denver Broncos--Rasheed Hageman DT Minnesota

Hageman is considered a boom or bust prospect.  Hageman fits what the Broncos are doing then, throwing everything they have to try to get back to and win the Super Bowl.  I think that he could be great, but I cannot be certain.  I wouldn't put him as a perennial pro bowler, but compare him more like Fairley.

32.  Seattle Seahawks--Joel Bitonio OT Nevada

Bitonio is the offensive line prospect that the Seahawks want.  He can start at guard this year and move to tackle if needed in the future.  A steal right at the end of the first round.  The Seahawks are delightfully pleased to get their man without needing to move up.

Other Packers selections.

53-Jace Amaro TE Texas Tech

Love getting a TE at this spot.  Amaro is arguably the 2nd best TE in the draft class compared to ASJ.  I think he could help solve some of our red zone problems

85-Terrence Brooks FS Florida State

Obligatory safety pick.  We have to take one in the early rounds, Brooks is good value in round 3. 

98-Jared Abbrederis WR Wisconsin

This guy always found a way to get the ball, now he has a chance to be the #2 WR in our offense, and we got him in round 3.  I would put him across the field from Nelson, and let Cobb and Amaro work the slot positions. 

121-Caraun Reid DT Princeton

Reid is a 3-4 DT who could either fill in after Raji next year or push for playing time this year.  Also gives Boyd some extra competition. 

161-Trevor Reilly OLB Utah

A 3-4 defense can never have enough pass rushers.  Reilly can come in and hopefully be an impact player on the other side, or give Clay a few plays off a game, since he plays all 3 downs and gets hurt a lot. 

176-David Fales QB San Jose State

Fales is a good QB prospect and the Packers have to make sure that we don't have a revolving door behind Aaron Rodgers like last year.  I like this pick even if he just comes in and competes with Tolzein and Flynn for the backup spot. 

197-Tyler Gaffney RB Stanford

Great value if available in round 6, Gaffney was a work horse at Stanford, and to be honest, he's probably a little bit bigger than most RB, so I feel like we could try him at FB as well.  Versatility, gotta love it.

236-Greg Blair ILB Cincinnati

I haven't heard much about Blair but I wanted an ILB and took one with my last available pick.  The value kept missing the right spots for me earlier, where I just wasn't as high on a ILB as I was other positions.  Any 7th round pick is good if they can make the roster, and I would like to see Blair do that.

This is obviously a rough estimate.  Looking forward to the draft tonight!!

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