1. Oakland Raiders: QB Marcus Mariota: As of right now, Matt Schaub is atop the Oakland Raiders depth chart for quarterback, a quarterback with several great seasons in the past, but has struggled to stay healthy as of late. The Raiders will likely need a new quarterback after this year, and Marcus Mariota out of Oregon will be the answer. Mariota could have potentially been the first quarterback off of the draft board this season, but has decided to stay for one more year. The dual-threat quarterback amounted 4,380 total yards with 40 total touchdowns last season, and is the favorite to take home the Heisman trophy this season.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE/OLB Randy Gregory: Randy Gregory and Leonard Williams are considered to be the two best defenders in this year's draft class, where both are feared pass rushers expected to be taken in the first round of the draft. Gregory recorded 10.5 sacks last season for Nebraska, including a three sack performance against Michigan, as he has the skill set that Jacksonville needs in order to improve their atrocious pass rush.
3. Minnesota Vikings: DE Leonard Williams: Former USC coach Lane Kiffin truly believed that Leonard Williams will be one of the best defenders to go through the program, as he is one of the favorites to be the first defender taken in next year's draft. Leonard Williams' six sacks last season are nothing extraordinary, but scouts have high hopes for Williams in 2014.
4. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo): OT Cedric Ogbuehi: If Ogbuehi were to be a top-10 pick, like we predict, he would be the fifth consecutive player from Texas A&M to do so. Ogbuehi decided to stay for another year at the school, yet his name may no longer be in the spotlight now that star quarterback Johnny Manziel is gone. In order for Cleveland to protect Johnny Football, it would seem like a good idea to draft one of his many talented teammates in this year's draft class.
6. Tennessee Titans: QB Jameis Winston: The reigning Heisman trophy winner and National Champion is expected to leave for the NFL after this season, and some teams will be willing to take the risk, considering his recent off the field allegations. It is also possible that Jameis Winston will fall out of the top 10 if teams are unwilling to deal with the risks, similarly to what took place for Johnny Manziel in this past draft.
7. New York Jets: OT Cameron Erving: Assuming that Michael Vick and Geno Smith do well next season as the starting quarterback, Rex Ryan will need to improve his offensive line in order to protect the passer. Cameron Erving, a member of Florida State's championship winning offensive line, did a great job protecting Winston last season, and could have been a a first round pick in this past draft.
8. Cleveland Browns: RB Todd Gurley: After drafting Johnny Manziel with the 22nd overall pick, the Browns have surrounded their new quarterback with enough talent at wide receiver that he will have plenty of receivers to choose from; however, it is difficult to have a successful passing game without some sort of talent at running back. Gurley is by far the best running back of this draft class, and a solid running game will take some pressure off of their young passer.
9. Miami Dolphins: OT Andrus Peat: The Miami Dolphins gave up the most sacks of any team in the NFL last season, and in this offensive line-heavy draft class, the Dolphins can easily find an answer to this problem. Andrus Peat may even be the first offensive line off the board next April, but we have him going ninth overall.
10. St. Louis Rams: DE Shilique Calhoun: Next season, star defensive end Chris Long will be a 30-year-old free agent, and who knows if the Rams will be willing to pay for a new contract. With Kaepernick and Wilson in the same division, the Rams will need to maintain a powerful pass rush if they want to win the division title.
3. Minnesota Vikings: DE Leonard Williams: Former USC coach Lane Kiffin truly believed that Leonard Williams will be one of the best defenders to go through the program, as he is one of the favorites to be the first defender taken in next year's draft. Leonard Williams' six sacks last season are nothing extraordinary, but scouts have high hopes for Williams in 2014.
4. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo): OT Cedric Ogbuehi: If Ogbuehi were to be a top-10 pick, like we predict, he would be the fifth consecutive player from Texas A&M to do so. Ogbuehi decided to stay for another year at the school, yet his name may no longer be in the spotlight now that star quarterback Johnny Manziel is gone. In order for Cleveland to protect Johnny Football, it would seem like a good idea to draft one of his many talented teammates in this year's draft class.
Keep an eye on Texas A&M OL Cedric Ogbuehi. He said after the CFA Bowl that he received a 1st Rd. grade from the draft advisory board.
— Alex Scarborough (@AlexS_ESPN) January 2, 2014
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Brett Hundley: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will likely need a quarterback by the end of this season, as it seems pretty obvious that Josh McCown and Josh Glennon are not the solution on offense. Hundley, like Mariota, is a dual threat passer with 35 total touchdowns last season.6. Tennessee Titans: QB Jameis Winston: The reigning Heisman trophy winner and National Champion is expected to leave for the NFL after this season, and some teams will be willing to take the risk, considering his recent off the field allegations. It is also possible that Jameis Winston will fall out of the top 10 if teams are unwilling to deal with the risks, similarly to what took place for Johnny Manziel in this past draft.7. New York Jets: OT Cameron Erving: Assuming that Michael Vick and Geno Smith do well next season as the starting quarterback, Rex Ryan will need to improve his offensive line in order to protect the passer. Cameron Erving, a member of Florida State's championship winning offensive line, did a great job protecting Winston last season, and could have been a a first round pick in this past draft.
8. Cleveland Browns: RB Todd Gurley: After drafting Johnny Manziel with the 22nd overall pick, the Browns have surrounded their new quarterback with enough talent at wide receiver that he will have plenty of receivers to choose from; however, it is difficult to have a successful passing game without some sort of talent at running back. Gurley is by far the best running back of this draft class, and a solid running game will take some pressure off of their young passer.
9. Miami Dolphins: OT Andrus Peat: The Miami Dolphins gave up the most sacks of any team in the NFL last season, and in this offensive line-heavy draft class, the Dolphins can easily find an answer to this problem. Andrus Peat may even be the first offensive line off the board next April, but we have him going ninth overall.
10. St. Louis Rams: DE Shilique Calhoun: Next season, star defensive end Chris Long will be a 30-year-old free agent, and who knows if the Rams will be willing to pay for a new contract. With Kaepernick and Wilson in the same division, the Rams will need to maintain a powerful pass rush if they want to win the division title.
Aside from the fact that Buffalo addressed their offensive line in a major way in the 2014 offseason, (one free agent who was a former first round pick, and 3 draft picks) Buffalo traded away their first round pick in 2015 in order to move up and draft Sammy Watkins. If you really think Buffalo will be that bad next season, it would be Cleveland drafting in the #4 slot.
ReplyDeleteNeither pick makes a lick of sense for the Browns. Joe Thomas is signed through 2018 and they drafted mitchell schwartz two years ago to play RT and just drafted Joel bitonio who could slide to RT if mitchell schwartz continues to struggle
ReplyDeleteThe shanahan system is known for turning late round RBs into studs and with the Browns being burned recently by a "can't miss" RB prospect i doubt they go that rout again