Latest 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Clowney #1

In our latest 2014 NFL Draft mock, Jadeveon Clowney is back at #1 to Houston. (Credit Wikipedia)

The hoopla began sometime last week, when Mel Kiper, Jr. and his bombastic personality (and Dracula hairline) stated Johnny Manziel should be the #1 overall pick to the Houston Texans. This story was picked up by ESPN – mainly because Kiper works for ESPN – and blasted all over…well, ESPN. Whether the story has any value or merit – well, since when has that mattered?

One thing is clear now: the crown of “Best QB in the 2014 NFL Draft” is no longer squarely on Teddy Bridgewater’s head. Manziel is a hot name, Blake Bortles is on the rise, and even Fresno State’s Derek Carr is a sleeper top-10 pick in some circles.

So what are the Houston Texans to do with the #1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft? As of this moment, if the air surrounding who’s the best at QB remains unclear… you go with the best overall prospect. And in this case, that’s Jadeveon Clowney.

Is Clowney really the second coming of Reggie White? That remains to be seen. But with the QB debate still unsettled, the chance to pair up Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt at defensive end is too great a situation for the Texans to pass up.

So how will the rest of the 2014 NFL Draft’s 1st round shake out? We’re a few months away, but let’s kick-start the conversation again with SidelineMOB’s latest 2014 NFL Draft, Mock 1st and 2nd Rounds.

2014 NFL Draft, Mock First Round

NOTE: We assume NO trades in this mock draft, in the interest of keeping things – well, sane.

1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina.

In this mock of the 2014 NFL Draft, the Texans land Clowney at #1, pair him with J.J. Watt to form a ferocious set of defensive ends, and then snag their future QB with pick #1 of the 2nd round.

2. St. Louis Rams (from WAS): Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M.

Is it flashy? No. Will the Rams keep this pick? Maybe not. But if they do, they’d be hard-pressed to find a better option than Matthews, especially given they’ve proclaimed that Sam Bradford gets “more time”.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M.

Manziel over Bridgewater and Bortles? Our reasoning is simple: no one goes to Jaguars games. No one watches them on TV. Johnny Football instantly makes the Jags a media magnet – hey, they may even do “Hard Knocks” there in 2014.

4. Cleveland Browns: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville.

Manziel goes #3, and the Browns are happy to take Bridgewater as their QB of the future. He has the arm to get the ball down the field to Josh Gordon, and enough mobility to make fans forget the sack statue that was Brandon Weeden.

5. Oakland Raiders: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson.

Much like the Texans, Oakland waits until Round 2 to get its new QB, opting instead to take the most dynamic WR available in the draft. He’ll be paired with a familiar face soon enough.

6. Atlanta Falcons: Anthony Barr, DE/LB, UCLA.

Barr is a dynamic pass rusher and freak athlete, something the Falcons need to jump start their defense.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Khalil Mack, DE/LB, Buffalo.

Much like Barr, Mack is an electric defensive presence.

8. Minnesota Vikings: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida.

The Vikings may try and get to #2 and secure themselves the QB they want, but here Blake Bortles falls to them at #8. Bortles’ stock is on the rise and the Vikes gamble on yet another QB of the future.

9. Buffalo Bills: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn.

Robinson was brilliant down the stretch for the Tigers during their SEC Championship run.

10. Detroit Lions: Marqise Lee, WR, USC.

Calvin Johnson needs a playmaker at the WR2 position, and Jim Caldwell’s new regime will add another offensive weapon for Matthew Stafford.

11. Tennessee Titans: Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama.

The Titans have other needs, but Clinton-Dix would do well in this secondary and instantly upgrade its athleticism.

12. New York Giants: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan.

It’s not flashy, it’s not interesting, and it’s not fun. In other words, it’s a New York Giants’ 1st round pick.

13. St. Louis Rams: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State.

The NCAA’s best corner makes his way into the Rams’ secondary as St. Louis scores again with a premier player in the first round.

14. Chicago Bears: Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame.

The Bears suddenly have a terrible rush defense, and Nix will help plug up the middle.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State.

Mike Evans will be tempting for the Steelers (especially to play keep-away from Baltimore), but Gilbert fills a big need as the Pittsburgh secondary gets older.

16. Baltimore Ravens: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M.

Evans is a huge target for Joe Flacco and a big weight off the shoulders of Torrey Smith.

17. Dallas Cowboys: Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri.

The Cowboys need some help in the pass rush department, and the freakish athleticism of Ealy helps.

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

The Jets would have loved to get Evans or Marqise Lee here, but they’ll happily snag the best TE available in the draft. Ebron instantly upgrades the TE position and gives Geno Smith a safety valve.

19. Miami Dolphins: Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame.

Martin’s stock is soaring after strong performances down the stretch in 2013. A natural fit here.

20. Arizona Cardinals: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama.

The Cardinals have needs at tackle as well, and Kouandjio, while not perfect, fits the bill.

21. Green Bay Packers: Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota.

Hageman will fill the role left open by the almost-certainly departing B.J. Raji in free agency.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville.

The Eagles address an immediate need by taking the best safety available in the 2014 NFL Draft.

23. Kansas City Chiefs: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State.

This may be a bit of a reach, or a huge payoff. Benjamin is obviously a massive target and KC needs WR help – this move will be scrutinized.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamarcus Joyner, CB, Florida State.

Back-to-back FSU selections as we expect Joyner’s stock to rise in the coming weeks.

25. San Diego Chargers: C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama.

Mosley is an ILB by trade, but this is top-10 draft value falling to #25 and a Chargers team that needs defensive help. Mosley is an instant upgrade over virtually anyone he replaces.

26. Cleveland Browns (from IND): Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State.

The Browns may be going a bit early here, but Adams was a star for Fresno State this year and his upside is enormous – plus, their new QB needs weapons.

27. New Orleans Saints: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State.

The Saints need secondary help and a boost to the pass rush – here, Roby is the better value.

28. Carolina Panthers: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State.

The Panthers need more weapons for Cam Newton, and Cooks provides a solid new target.

29. New England Patriots: Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State.

Oh, the rich keep getting richer. Jernigan adds needed talent to the DT position in New England, which was depleted in a hurry in 2013.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephon Tuitt, DE/DT, Notre Dame.

Tuitt is a versatile D-lineman that can play inside or outside and spell Justin Smith.

31. Seattle Seahawks: Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech.

Speaking of the rich getting richer, how about a massive TE target for Russell Wilson?

32. Denver Broncos: Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State.

Denver closes out the first round (of this mock, anyway) by selecting Shazier to upgrade their linebacking corps.

2014 NFL Mock Draft: Round 2

33. Houston Texans: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State.

34. Washington Redskins: Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU.

35. Cleveland Browns: Ka’Deem Carey, RB, Arizona.

36. Oakland Raiders: Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson.

37. Atlanta Falcons: Cyril Richardson, OG, Baylor.

38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Murphy, DE/LB, Stanford.

39. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tre Mason, RB, Auburn.

40. Minnesota Vikings: Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA.

41. Buffalo Bills: Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt.

42. Tennessee Titans: Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee.

43. New York Giants: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh.

44. St. Louis Rams: Scott Crichton, DE/LB, Oregon State.

45. Detroit Lions: Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida.

46. Pittsburgh Steelers: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington.

47. Baltimore Ravens: Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia.

48. Dallas Cowboys: Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi State.

49. New York Jets: Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State.

50. Miami Dolphins: Loucheiz Purifoy, CB, Florida.

51. Chicago Bears: Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU.

52. Arizona Cardinals: James Hurst, OT, North Carolina.

53. Green Bay Packers: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU.

54. Philadelphia Eagles: Telvin Smith, LB, Florida State.

55. Cincinnati Bengals: Ahmad Dixon, S, Baylor.

56. San Francisco 49ers (from KC): Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma.

57. San Diego Chargers: Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas.

58. New Orleans Saints: Dominique Easley, DT, Florida.

59. Indianapolis Colts: David Yankey, OG, Stanford.

60. Carolina Panthers: Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State.

61. San Francisco 49ers: Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, LSU.

62. New England Patriots: De’Anthony Thomas, RB/WR, Oregon.

63. Seattle Seahawks: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville.

64. Denver Broncos: Dee Ford, DE, Auburn.