The XN Sports Mock Draft 3.0 released at the beginning of May provides a strong projection of the first round, but does not consider all of the potential movement up and down the trade by trades. In the past week, we’ve seen a lot of strong signs of which teams want to stay put and which teams are itching to move out of their spots.
Here is the final mock draft projecting how the dominos will fall tonight during the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
No. 1 Atlanta Falcons: (acquired via trade with Houston) Javedeon Clowney, South Carolina
The logic: The Texans are itching to move out of this spot, and I can’t imagine any team more inclined to pull off the deal than Atlanta.
Mock 1.0: Jadeveon Clowney (HOU)
Mock 2.0: Jadeveon Clowney (HOU)
Mock 3.0: Jadeveon Clowney (HOU)
No. 2 St. Louis Rams: Greg Robinson, Auburn
The logic: Given all the Sam Bradford-Johnny Manziel drama of late, I simply expect St. Louis to stay put and find their new left tackle in Robinson.
Mock 1.0: Greg Robinson
Mock 2.0: Greg Robinson
Mock 3.0: Greg Robinson
No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars: Khalil Mack, Buffalo
The logic: It makes sense for Gus Bradley finds his “LEO” in Mack, though I can’t rule out Watkins for sure.
Mock 1.0: Teddy Bridgewater
Mock 2.0: Blake Bortles
Mock 3.0: Khalil Mack
No. 4 Cleveland Browns: Mike Evans, Texas A&M
The logic: Manziel won’t be Cleveland’s pick. The Browns can add Evans, and combined with Josh Gordon whoever is under center will have quite a weaponry.
Mock 1.0: Johnny Manziel
Mock 2.0: Johnny Manziel
Mock 3.0: Johnny Manziel
No. 5 Detroit Lions (acquired via trade with Oakland): Sammy Watkins, Clemson
The logic: The Raiders are also open for business, and they probably would’ve wanted Mack to fall here. Unless they decide offensive line is the way to go, there’s no way they pass up the opportunity to nab the draft’s best wide receiver.
Mock 1.0: Sammy Watkins (OAK)
Mock 2.0: Sammy Watkins (OAK)
Mock 3;0: Samy Watkins (OAK)
No. 6 Houston Texans (acquired via trade with Atlanta): Blake Bortles, UCF
The logic: The Texans move out the top spot, receive a king’s ransom from the Falcons and still manage to find their long-term solution at quarterback.
Mock 1.0: Khalil Mack (ATL)
Mock 2.0: Khalil Mack (ATL)
Mock 3.0: Taylor Lewan (ATL)
No. 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
The logic: Apparently Lovie Smith wants Donald and the owner wants Manziel. You can guess who wins that battle.
Mock 1.0: Anthony Barr
Mock 2.0: Mike Evans
Mock 3.0: Mike Evans
No. 8 Minnesota Vikings: Aaron Donald, Pitt
The logic: The Vikings want a disruptive front-seven player, and nobody better fits that mold than Donald.
Mock 1.0: Blake Bortles
Mock 2.0: Jake Matthews
Mock 3.0: Blake Bortles
No. 9 Buffalo Bills: Eric Ebron, North Carolina
The logic: Buffalo wants to provide second-year quarterback E.J. Manuel with weapons, and I think it comes down to Ebron and Matthews. I think Ebron is too intriguing to pass up.
Mock 1.0: Eric Ebron
Mock 2.0: Taylor Lewan
Mock 3.0: Eric Ebron
No. 10 Oakland Raiders (acquired via trade with Detroit): Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
The logic: It may be too early for Oakland to draft Derek Carr. Instead, they bolster their line.
Mock 1.0: Justin Gilbert (DET)
Mock 2.0: Justin Gilbert (DET)
Mock 3.0: Justin Gilbert (DET)
No. 11 Tennessee Titans: Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State
The logic: Barr’s stock has fallen rapidly this spring, and coach Ken Whisenhunt has always had a No. 1 corner to rely on (e.g. Patrick Peterson). Gilbert’s the best in the class.
Mock 1.0: C.J. Mosley
Mock 2.0: Anthony Barr
Mock 3.0: Darqueze Dennard
No. 12 New York Giants: Taylor Lewan, Michigan
The logic: The Giants went with offensive lineman Justin Pugh in last year’s draft, but with Donald off the board they might have to do it again.
Mock 1.0: Jake Matthews
Mock 2.0: Eric Ebron
Mock 3.0: Aaron Donald
No. 13 St. Louis Rams: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama
The logic: This could be Dennard, but Jeff Fisher likes safeties in the first round. Dennard shores up the back end of the Rams’ on-the-rise defense.
Mock 1.0: Mike Evans
Mock 2.0: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Mock 3.0: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
No. 14 Chicago Bears: Calvin Pryor, Louisville
The logic: Chicago added Lamarr Houston, Jared Allen, Jay Ratliff, and Willie Young to bolster its defensive line. Now they need to sure up the back end of the defense.
Mock 1.0: Timmy Jernigan
Mock 2.0: Calvin Pryor
Mock 3.0: Calvin Pryor
No. 15 Pittsburgh Steelers: Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech
The logic: I think this decision comes down to a corner or a wide receiver, but there might be enough receiver talent that the Steelers can afford to wait until Round 2.
Mock 1.0: Darqueze Dennard
Mock 2.0: Aaron Donald
Mock 3.0: Kyle Fuller
No. 16 Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Barr, UCLA
The logic: Once considered a top-10 pick, Barr could now be a savior for the Cowboys, who need to bolster its pass rush.
Mock 1.0: Aaron Donald
Mock 2.0: Kony Ealy
Mock 3.0: Anthony Barr
No. 17 San Francisco 49ers (acquired via trade with Baltimore): Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU
The logic: This is an expected move by the Niners, who were expected to be very aggressive and have targeted ODB.
Mock 1.0: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (BAL)
Mock 2.0: Timmy Jernigan (BAL)
Mock 3.0: Jake Matthews (BAL)
No. 18 New York Jets: Brandin Cooks, Oregon State
The logic: The Jets need a wideout and a corner. They loved Beckham but just got blindsided by San Fran. The team is also high on Cooks, though Dennard may be the pick here.
Mock 1.0: Marqise Lee
Mock 2.0: Marqise Lee
Mock 3.0: Odell Beckham Jr.
No. 19 Miami Dolphins: Zack Martin, Notre Dame
The logic: The Dolphins has long been linked to Martin, despite reports they value Cyrus Kouandjio. It’s a long shot, but they could be eyeing a wide receiver here, too.
Mock 1.0: Zack Martin
Mock 2.0: Zack Martin
Mock 3.0: Zack Martin
No. 20 Arizona Cardinals: Dee Ford, Auburn
The logic: Is it Ford or could it be Carr? Bruce Arians has been saying there isn’t a quarterback worth taking in Round 1, but is it a smokescreen? I tend to believe him.
Mock 1.0: Dee Ford
Mock 2.0: C.J. Mosley
Mock 3.0: C.J. Mosley
No. 21 Green Bay Packers: Ryan Shazier, Ohio State
The logic: Green Bay could go in a lot of directions here. The top two safeties are off the board, but is it too early for Jimmie Ward? Ebron is gone, but is it too early for Jace Amaro? Shazier is another strong addition to its revamped pass rush.
Mock 1.0: Calvin Pryor
Mock 2.0: Jace Amaro
Mock 3.0: Ryan Shazier
No. 22 Philadelphia Eagles: Darqueze Dennard, Michigan St.
The logic: The Eagles needs outside pass-rushers and are seemingly checking in a bunch of wide receivers. Dennard still on the board is a steal, and Chip Kelly can address wideout in the next round.
Mock 1.0: Jason Verrett
Mock 2.0: Dee Ford
Mock 3.0: Kelvin Benjamin
No. 23 Kansas City Chiefs: Marqise Lee, USC
The logic: Andy Reid needs to address his receiving corps, and Lee’s stock has dropped into toward the latter portion of the first round. He may wind up being a steal at No. 23.
Mock 1.0: Odell Beckham Jr.
Mock 2.0: Odell Beckham Jr.
Mock 3.0: Marqise Lee
No. 24 Cincinnati Bengals: Bradley Roby, Ohio State
The logic: This comes down to a corner and which one they like the best. They were probably hopeful Dennard slipped past the Eagles, but it’ll have to settle for Roby.
Mock 1.0: Kony Ealy
Mock 2.0: Darqueze Dennard
Mock 3.0: Dee Ford
No. 25 San Diego Chargers: Jason Verrett, TCU
The logic: Roby has been linked to the Bolts all along, but Verrett is a great insurance policy. The Bolts’ secondary is in need of an upgrade.
Mock 1.0: Bradley Roby
Mock 2.0: Bradley Roby
Mock 3.0: Bradley Roby
No. 26 Cleveland Browns: Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
The logic: The Browns are “enamored” with Bridgewater, who is a first-round pick after all. Now Bridgewater is in a strong position with both Gordon and Evans to throw to.
Mock 1.0: Ryan Shazier
Mock 2.0: Kyle Fuller
Mock 3.0: Jason Verrett
No. 27 New Orleans Saints: Cody Latimer, Indiana
The logic: This comes down to giving Drew Brees a weapon to replace Lance Moore. Plus, Marques Colston is getting old. No prospect is climbing up draft boards faster than Latimer.
Mock 1.0: Kyle Fuller
Mock 2.0: Jason Verrett
Mock 3.0: Cody Latimer
No. 28 Carolina Panthers: Morgan Moses, Virginia
The logic: The Panthers need offensive linemen and wide receivers, but I believe they can find talented pass-catchers beyond the first round. Kouandjio may be the better prospect, but he carries a lot of off-the-field baggage, too.
Mock 1.0: Cyrus Kouandjio
Mock 2.0: Morgan Moses
Mock 3.0: Morgan Moses
No. 29 New England Patriots: Ra’Shede Hageman, Minnesota
The logic: Vince Wilfork is back, and Nix is the guy who has drawn the most comparisons to him. But Hageman’s stock is back on the rise, and New England needs to add depth to its D-line.
Mock 1.0: Louis Nix III
Mock 2.0: Louis Nix III
Mock 3.0: Ra’Shede Hageman
No. 30 Baltimore Ravens (acquired via trade with San Francisco): Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois
The logic: The Ravens wanted Ebron, but he was gone before they even traded out of the No. 17 pick. They could nab an offensive lineman or a different tight end, but the team needs a true center fielder like Ward.
Mock 1.0: Kelvin Benjamin (SF)
Mock 2.0: Kelvin Benjamin (SF)
Mock 3.0: Brandin Cooks (SF)
No. 31 Denver Broncos: C.J. Mosley, Alabama
The logic: Denver addressed a lot of its needs through free agency, but still needs to upgrade its linebacking unit. Mosley instantly makes them better.
Mock 1.0: Xavier Su’a-Filo
Mock 2.0: Xavier Su’a-Filo
Mock 3.0: Xavier Su’a-Filo
No. 32 Seattle Seahawks: Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame
The logic: Tuitt’s ability to play numerous spots along the defensive line makes him all the more attractive to the Seahawks. He can help fill the void left by Red Bryant.
Mock 1.0: Stephon Tuitt
Mock 2.0: Stephon Tuitt
Mock 3.0: Stephon Tuitt
