2014 NFL Mock Draft First Round Version 2
17. Dallas Cowboys
Louis Nix
DT, Notre Dame
Most people have Pittsburgh Panthers DT Aaron Donald going to the Cowboys in the first round, and I had the Cowboys picking Donald in last week’s mock. Donald is the best pass rushing DT in the class- bar none- and does an incredible job of getting after the quarterback with his explosiveness, but I wonder if this team wants more out of their DTs. Louis Nix might fit the 3-4 better than the 4-3 and the Cowboys might value pass rushing more than run defense, but Nix can also fit the 4-3 and has the sneaky agility and upper-body strength to collapse the pocket as a pass rusher. His ability to plug up holes in the running game, swallow up blockers, and disrupt plays gives him the edge over Donald in my book. While Donald has good recognition skills that make up for his lack of strength in the running game, I worry that he won’t be able to overcome his issues in run D in the NFL. If you turn on his tape against the Miami Hurricanes, then you’ll see how much he can be blocked out of plays against more talented OLs. That said, he was also keyed in on a ridiculous amount by the ‘Canes, since the other players around him weren’t exactly doing much. So while Donald would be a nice pick for the Cowboys due to his pass-rushing, Nix’s more well-rounded skill-set makes him the slightly better prospect overall. And heck, the Cowboys could use some more stout run D up the middle in addition to better pass rushing, and Nix’s scheme versatility is also a plus.
18. New York Jets
Eric Ebron
TE, UNC
The New York Jets simply need playmakers, and they need them badly irrelevant of whether or not they are at the WR position or TE. While the Jets could use a true No. 1 receiver more than a playmaking TE, I’ve decided to change my pick from Marqise Lee to Eric Ebron here. The logic being that there are about 12 wide receivers in this class who project as legitimate starters, whereas there are just three impact TEs. Ebron is the best of those three as a pass-catcher, and that makes up for his woeful blocking. The UNC product is as explosive as they come, and he is a pure “joker”. Although he is raw, he’s too talented to pass up on here. The Jets could use a true No. 1 wideout in the draft, but it’s probably wiser for them to sign someone in free agency and then draft a guy like Jordan Matthews later on.
19. Miami Dolphins
Zack Martin
OT, Notre Dame
The Miami Dolphins biggest need is definitely on the offensive line, and it doesn’t matter whether or not they go for an offensive tackle or guard. With that said, why not go for a guy who can play at either position? Martin looks like a solid starting tackle in the future, but he also looks like a great starting guard. A Senior Bowl standout, the Dolphins will have the option to decide where to play the Notre Dame product, and Martin would be a huge upgrade to arguably the league’s worst run blocking line (they also struggle to protect Ryan Tannehill, as well).
20. Arizona Cardinals
Cyrus Kouandjio
OT, Alabama
The Cardinals could pick an outside linebacker in the first round, but can they afford to pass up on a tackle? What sucks about mock drafts is trying to project where players will go before free agency, because we don’t know who the Cards will sign in the offseason. My money is on Branden Albert, but I also try to approach my mocks by answering this question, “Who would they take if the draft were today?” And while I want to give Anthony Barr to the Cardinals badly, their line would be a disaster if they don’t add a tackle this offseason. Kouandjio isn’t a sure thing at all, but he’s solid and a massive upgrade over Bradley Sowell. Former teammate D.J. Fluker had plenty of success with the San Diego Chargers as a rookie right tackle, and he was selected higher in last year’s mock draft despite not being as highly rated of a pass blocker as Kouandjio coming out of college.
21. Green Bay Packers
C.J. Mosley
OT, Alabama
I couldn’t let C.J. Mosley slip any further, and I had difficultly mocking someone else to the Green Bay Packers with Louis Nix off the board and Pryor or Jimmie Ward as a reach in the first round. Mosley is definitely the best inside linebacker in this year’s draft class, and he has a very high floor; he should immediately be a key part of the Packers defense with his all-around ability and scheme versatility.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Anthony Barr
DE/OLB, UCLA
The Philadelphia Eagles biggest need is at safety, but it just isn’t worth it to take Ward or Pryor this high in the draft. I love Ward, but both of those guys have second-round grades. Instead, the Eagles should take the opportunity to upgrade their pass rush with the speedy and hyper-athletic Anthony Barr still available. His rawness worries me and I’m not sure how his skill-set translates to the NFL, because he only wins off of his athletic gifts. But that also gives him insatiable upside, and the Eagles could be best-suited to tap into that with their 3-4 scheme. I’m more down on Barr than most people, but this guy is also slowly falling down draft boards now that people are realizing how undeveloped he is. That said, he makes plenty of sense for the Eagles here due to his raw potential.
23. Kansas City Chiefs
Marqise Lee
WR, USC
One of the best playmakers in the draft, Marqise Lee is finally off the board, and I think his drop concerns are worth overlooking here due to his sheer talent. Lee is easily one of the most talented wide receivers in an uber-talented WR class, but his injury and drop concerns cause him to fall outside of the top 20. He would be a great target for Alex Smith, who could really use a guy like Lee who can break the game open and make plays in the open field. The Chiefs simply don’t have a playmaker at receiver, and Lee offers more downfield than other playmaking receivers in this class like Brandin Cooks, who could also fit KC (I had the Chiefs taking him last week). The Chiefs biggest need is undoubtedly at wide receiver, and it was remarkable to see how well Smith did last season with below-average pass-catchers around him. Mike Evans, by the way, wouldn’t make sense here, because he struggles to gain separation, which is the same thing Dwayne Bowe gets knocked for. Lee, on the other hand, is as good as they come at getting away from defensive players.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Darqueze Dennard
CB, Michigan State
Dennard’s slide stops here, and I almost regret having him fall this far. Still, that’s what happens in drafts at times, and there’s little doubt that the Bengals would love to be able to take Dennard this year. He has all the traits you look for in a solid starting corner at the next level, but there are some people who believe speed concerns could prevent him from being a true No. 1 guy. The Bengals, though, don’t need a true No. 1 guy with Leon Hall locked in; they just need a solid guy, and Dennard is just that.