Every obsessed football fan loves this time of year!! With draft day less than a month away I have put together my own first round mock draft. I like to take a combination of team needs, talent available, as well as the opinions of all the experts out there, to develop my own mock draft of where I think all the players will go. Will Johnny Manziel fall? Which team will be the first to take a quarterback? How many wide receivers will be taken? Enjoy.
Mock Draft with No trades
1. Houston Texans- Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina.
Houston watched Seattle win a Super Bowl by putting constant pressure on the QB, and what better way to do that by teaming Clowney with Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt!
2. St. Louis Rams- Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson.
The Rams take the best player available at this point. Which is definitely a luxury to have. They also need offensive line depth. Mel Kiper Jr and Todd Mcshay love Greg Robinson here, but they have invested a lot of money in Jake Long and Roger Safford. Watkins may be the best wide receiver prospect in the draft since Megatron!
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Kahlil Mack, OLB, Buffalo.
The Jags miss out on Clowney, but get Mack as a consolation prize. Mack gives them an edge rusher that they definitely need.
4. Cleveland Browns- Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M.
Many experts have been talking about the Browns taking Watkins if he falls to them. If he's not available, why not take Evans? He will help draw coverage away from Josh Gordon and gives them another big target along with Jordan Cameron to throw to in the red zone. A page out of the Chicago Bears 2013 offensive playbook.
5. Oakland Raiders- Blake Bortles, QB, UCF.
Oakland misses out on Mack and Watkins, so they draft a QB for the future. With Matt Shaub there now, it will give Bortles time to develop into the quarterback that they need.
6. Atlanta Falcons- Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn.
Atlanta is in love with Jadeveon Clowney, but he won't be there at 6. Getting an offensive tackle that is being compared to Larry Allen is not a bad substitution.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA.
Barr is very raw, but has tremendous upside. If he can pull it together, pairing him up with Lavante David will give Tampa one of the best linebacking corps in the league.
8. Minnesota Vikings- CJ Mosely, MLB, Alabama.
Next to Mack, Mosely could be the best linebacker in the draft. He does have some health concerns, but he fills an immediate need for the Vikings. Many have Johnny Manziel going with this pick. Norv Turner is the new OC in Minnesota and has always worked with big, strong, pocket passers. Manziel doesn't fit that profile.
9.Buffalo Bills- Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M.
Matthews has the pedigree and fundamentals to be a starting left tackle for many, many years in the NFL. Bills drafted EJ Manuel last year in the first round and need to protect their investment.
10. Detroit Lions- Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma St.
Lions need help in the defensive back field and find a playmaker in coverage and in the return game with Gilbert.
11. Tennessee Titans- Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan St.
Alterraun Verner left in free agency, so the Titans find a very physical corner to replace him.
12. New York Giants- Ha Ha Clinton Dix, S, Alabama.
The Giants are growing tired of Will Hill's immaturity, so they take the best coverage safety in the draft.
13. St. Louis Rams- Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan.
Lewan's off the field issues will have him sliding a bit in the draft and the Rams couldn't be happier. With this addition they can move Rodger Safford inside to guard, where he is a better fit. Lewan has a nasty streak that Jeff Fisher will love.
14. Chicago Bears- Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh.
The Bears miss out on the two best corners in the draft, but end up with the best defensive tackle in the draft. Quick off the ball to collapse the pocket and get to the quarterback. Has a motor that doesn't quit.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers- Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina.
Steelers get an offensive weapon that fills two needs. A big target for Big Ben to throw to and the eventual replacement for Heath Miller. They missed out on getting a corner, but I'm sure they will be very happy with Ebron.
16. Dallas Cowboys- Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri.
Dallas signed Henry Melton to help with the middle of the D-line. Now they need some one to get after the quarterback. Why not someone that reminds them of Demarcus Ware?
17. Baltimore Ravens- Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville.
Calvin Pryor is arguably the best safety in the draft and the Ravens will be honored to take him and match him up with Matt Elam in their secondary.
18. New York Jets- Odell Beckham Jr, WR, LSU.
More than anything the Jets need a playmaker on the outside. Stephen Hill is a bust and they need some one to help Eric Decker on the other side.
19. Miami Dolphins- Zach Martin, OT/OG, Notre Dame.
Martin brings a versatile skill set as an offensive lineman being able to play guard and tackle. They need to rebuild the offensive line and it starts with Martin.
20. Arizona Cardinals- Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville.
Teddy is still the number 2 prospect on Matt Miller's board from the Bleacher Report. Arizona gets a gift similar to the Packers when Aaron Rodgers fell to them. Teddy can sit behind Carson Palmer and learn Bruce Arians offense.
21. Green Bay Packers- Marqise Lee, WR, USC.
Another player falling in the draft, Lee was projected as the second best WR in the class before last year's season started. Green Bay lost James Jones and gets a quality replacement who's younger and faster. That's all Rodgers needs is another weapon.
22. Philadelphia Eagles- Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio St.
The Eagles defense in 2013 had 2 sacks. Yup, you read that right! 2! They need an edge rusher badly!! Shazier ran a sub 4.4 40 at his pro day, which is crazy considering he weighs 239 pounds.
23. Kansas City Chiefs- Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon St.
With the loss of Dexter McCluster to Tennessee, Kansas City needs a playmaker and finds one with Cooks.
24. Cincinnati Bengals- Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio St.
Cincinnati's corners are getting very old. Leon Hall being the youngest at 29. Roby ran a 4.39 40 at his pro day and can cover anyone all over the field.
25. San Diego Chargers- Louis Nix III, NT, Notre Dame.
Nix is the best nose tackle in the draft. Chargers take advantage of Nix, who was once a top 15 projected pick, falling in the draft due to knee problems and get a big body to help out the middle of their defense.
26. Cleveland Browns- Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M.
Cleveland's patience pays off and surprisingly Johnny football falls to them. Johnny Manziel brings excitement to the offense and that's just what the Browns need. Adding him to an offense that already has Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron, Ben Tate, and 1st pick Mike Evans would be a nightmare for AFC defenses.
27. New Orleans Saints- Dee Ford, OLB, Auburn.
Rob Ryan will love seeing Ford chasing Cam Newton and Matt Ryan all over the field. Ford has a quick edge burst and can get around the corner very fast. He plays big in big games. Stood out in the SEC championship game and the BCS National Championship game.
28. Carolina Panthers- Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia.
The retirement of Jordan Gross is a much bigger loss than Steve Smith. Newton can't complete passes if he's laying on his back. Moses is another left tackle coming out of Virginia that will be able to step in from day one and protect Newton's blind side.
29. New England Patriots- Ra'shead Hageman, DL, Minnesota.
New England could use another tight end to replace Aaron Hernandez, but they'll opt to take a talented defensive lineman that can help with their aging front. Vince Wilfork was resigned, but he's not getting any younger. Hageman comes in and learns from one of the best defensive lineman in the last 10 years.
30. San Francisco 49ers- Jason Verrett, CB, TCU.
Verrett is a tenacious corner that always ends up around the ball. He may be a little smaller than most corners, but makes up for it by playing bigger than he is.
31. Denver Broncos- Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech.
Denver signed Aquib Talib this offseason to replace Hall of Famer Champ Bailey, but they still need a guy on the other side since the lost DRC to free agency. Great cover guy that likes to come up and stuff the run. Has done nothing but climb up draft boards after the scouting combine and his pro day.
32. Seattle Seahawks- Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech.
Bringing Sidney Rice back will give them depth at WR, but having Amaro to stretch the seam will be a great addition. The most complete tight end in the draft can also stay in and block for Beast Mode.