Without further adu.....
#1. Houston Texans select....
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| http://www.dennisburnside.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Manziel1.jpg |
Chip: Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M
Hometown kid gets the nod here. I just can't see the Houston brass opting for Clowney when they already have such a solid defense. Quarterback is the sole reason they are picking where they are and Johnny Football may have the highest stock of all the QBs right now.
James: Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville
#2. St. Louis Rams select....
Chip: Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson
Curveball here. Offensive tackle might make the most sense here, but it's a deep OT class. It's a deep WR class as well, but the argument can be made that Watkins is a better WR relative to the rest of his class than either of the top tackles are relative to theirs.
James: Greg Robinson, OT Auburn
Chip: Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville
I'm tempted to go Clowney with this pick as well, but I can't look at the point totals for Jacksonville and justify not addressing the offense. Bridgewater's the surest bet from this quarterback class, and it's a need that Jacksonville hasn't filled since (kind of?) David Garrard.
James: Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina
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| Is that Lake Erie? |
Chip: Blake Bortles, QB UCF
It's got to be quarterback here. Read all you want into the whispers about David Carr or the how Sammy Watkins would be unreal with Josh Gordon, but this pick has to be a quarterback. Unless all three of the top QBs are gone by this pick, expect Farmer and Co. to go with a signal caller. I like Bortles' size and strength, although I'll be the first to tell you I'm not a talent evaluator. From most of what I've read he seems like an excellent prospect who may benefit from sitting a little bit. Enter Brian Hoyer. The security of a vet like Hoyer would allow Farmer to make this pick, knowing that if he isn't ready by week one not all is lost.
Also, can we dispel this notion that the Browns should take BPA and not a QB because it's such a deep draft. If anything, the fact that the draft is so deep should allow the Browns to feel comfortable grabbing their QB at 4, even if he's the 10th or 12th best prospect on their board. You make that pick and use pick 26 to grab someone who in any other draft would be a top 12 pick. Don't wait for the "second tier" of QBs.
Also, his girlfriend is smoking hot.
James: Johnny Dawgpound, QB Texas A&M
#5. Oakland Raiders select....
Chip: Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carlina
If Clowney drops out of the top four, every team is in play. It so happens that Oakland needs an upgrade at the defensive end position if Lamar Houston ends up leaving in free agency. Obviously QB is a top need for Oakland, but in this scenario they're all off the board.
James: Blake Bortles, QB UCF
#6. Atlanta Falcons select....
Chip: Greg Robinson, OT Auburn
Let the run on offensive tackles begin. In all honesty I'd be shocked if Robinson and/or Matthews falls this far, but that's how this has played out. Robinson is too good of a talent to pass up here, and protecting Matt Ryan has to be priority number 1.
James: Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M
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| Lovie Smith loves his LBs, and Mack would be a force in his defense |
Chip: Khalil Mack, OLB Buffalo
Mack's playmaking ability is incredible, and would be a great addition across from Lavonte David.
James: Khalil Mack, OLB Buffalo
#8. Minnesota Vikings select....
Chip: Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh
Donald dominated in 2013, then dominated the Senior Bowl, and cemented himself as a top interior lineman at the Combine. He fits the mold of new coach Mike Zimmer's defense, as his similarities to Geno Atkins are legit.
James: Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson
#9. Buffalo Bills select....
Chip: Anthony Barr, OLB UCLA
Outside linebacker help could be in the cards for Buffalo. Unless Doug Marrone and his staff have confidence in Jerry Hughes to repeat his double-digit sack season in the future, a pass rusher is needed. Anthony Barr fits the bill here.
James: Mike Evans, WR Texas A&M
Chip: Darqueze Dennard, CB Michigan State
Corner is a huge need for Detroit, and though some might say Dennard had a sub-par performance at the Combine, so did Joe Haden back in 2010.
James: Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma State
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| Matthews is about a safe of a pick there is. |
Chip: Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M
James: Anthony Barr, OLB UCLA
#12. New York Giants select....
Chip: Taylor Lewan, OT Michigan
James: Eric Ebron, TE UNC
#13. St. Louis Rams select....
Chip: Calvin Pryor, S Louisville
James: Kony Ealy, DL Mizzou
#14. Chicago Bears select....
Chip: HaHa Clinton-Dix, S Alabama
James: C.J. Mosley, ILB Alabama
#15. Pittsburgh Steelers select....
Chip: Mike Evans, WR Texas A&M
James: Taylor Lewan, OL Michigan
#16. Dalas Cowboys select....
Chip: Timmy Jernigan, DT Florida State
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| A legitimate heir-apparent to Ray Lewis? |
#17. Baltimore Ravens select....
Chip: C.J. Mosley, ILB Alabama
James: Darqueze Dennard, CB Michigan State
#18. New York Jets select....
Chip: Marqise Lee, WR USC
James: Jordan Matthews, WR Vanderbilt
#19. Miami Dolphins select....
Chip: Zach Martin, OT Notre Dame
James: Marqise Lee, WR USC
#20. Arizona Cardinals select....
Chip: Eric Ebron, TE UNC
James: Zach Martin, OT Notre Dame
#21. Green Bay Packers select....
Chip: Louis Nix III, NT Notre Dame
James: Louis Nix III, NT Notre Dame
#22. Philadelphia Eagles select....
Chip: Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma State
James: HaHa Clinton-Dix, S Alabama
#23. Kansas City Chiefs select....
Chip: Brandin Cooks, WR Oregon State
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| Would Cincy invest a first rounder in a QB? |
#24. Cincinnati Bengals select....
Chip: Jason Verrett, CB TCU
James: Derek Carr, QB Fresno State
#25. San Diego Chargers select....
Chip: Ryan Shazier, OLB Ohio State
James: Calvin Pryor, S Louisville
#26. Cleveland Browns select....
Chip: Odell Beckham Jr., WR LSU
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| Beckham would be a nightmare matched with Josh Gordon. |
that offensive line or inside linebacker's a need--maybe even corner back here. But the fact is the Browns have a selection coming up in about a dozen picks. Beckham could be the shifty slot guy going underneath while Josh Gordon stretches the defense. I usually hate taking a wideout in the first round, because I don't value them as much as other positions. But if the Browns can grab a good quarterback (maybe Bortles can be that guy) and at least have a serviceable running game, the offense could be on the cusp of breaking out. Beckham could be one of the final pieces to the puzzle if free agency and the fourth pick go right.
James: Kelvin Benjamin, WR Florida State
#27. New Orleans Saints select....
Chip: Bradley Roby, CB Ohio State
James: Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh
#28. Carolina Panthers select....
Chip: Kelvin Benjamin, WR Florida State
James: Bradley Roby, CB Ohio State
#29. New England Patriots select....
Chip: Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG UCLA
James: Timmy Jernigan, DT Florida State
#30. San Francisco 49ers select....
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| Hageman could be a good replacement for Red Bryant. |
Chip: Lamarcus Joiner, S Florida State
James: Davonte Adams, WR Fresno State
#31. Denver Broncos select....
Chip: Kony Ealy, DL Mizzou
James: Chris Kouanjio, OT Alabama
#32. Seattle Seahawks select....
Chip: Ra'shede Hageman, DT Minnesota
James: David Yankey, OL Stanford
