2014 NFL Mock Draft No-QBs Version
17. Baltimore Ravens
Zack Martin
OT, Notre Dame
The Baltimore Ravens had an incredible offseason, and one of their best moves was re-signing star left tackle Eugene Monroe. Their biggest needs right now are at free safety and offensive tackle, as subpar starting RT Michael Oher was overpaid by the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens never wanted him back anyway, so Martin has always looked like the most logical pick for them in the first round. He can play at either guard or tackle, and he’s a technician who beat a number of top pass rushing prospects one-on-one last season. I hope I’m not jinxing it by saying this, but he has very little bust potential.
18. New York Jets
Darqueze Dennard
CB, Michigan State
Maybe I should have went with Brandin Cooks here, but the New York Jets secondary needs some major help at either cornerback or safety. Since it isn’t worth it for them to pull a safety here, Darqueze Dennard makes plenty of sense as an upgrade for their secondary. The cap casualty of Antonio Cromartie has made signing Dimitri Patterson and last year’s first-round pick Dee Milliner the starting corners, and I don’t think that’s good enough at one of the NFL’s most important positions. I’m fine with the Jets paying premium for a CB, especially since I trust a pass-catching corps of Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley, and Jeff Cumberland more than their current group of CBs. They still need some major WR help, but Dennard is a potential shutdown corner who could make a great combo with Milliner at an all-important position. Geno Smith and Decker will get their WR2 in the second round, and there’s more depth at WR than CB with similar demand for talent at both.
19. Miami Dolphins
David Yankey
OG, Stanford
The Dolphins really need a guy like Zack Martin to bolster their line, so it’s a bummer that he isn’t available here. I see offensive line as a position the Dolphins have to address, even if it means reaching a tad for a guard. Xavier Su’a-Filo has the best physical tools at the position, but I think the Dolphins would rather go for a plug-and-play option instead of a boom-or-bust option. Yankey is a quality starter, and he should be an immediate upgrade over their current starting guards. Interior push is important in the running game, and that was especially lacking for them last year.
20. Arizona Cardinals
Jeremiah Attaochu
OLB, Georgia Tech
I nearly went with Auburn’s Dee Ford here, and I don’t have any major qualms with taking Ford over Attaochu; it’s almost a matter of personal preference. Getting pass rushing help here makes an awful lot of sense for the Cardinals, and Attaochu has the added bonus of being versatile enough to drop off into coverage. I think both players have potential in run defense but need work, while Attaochu seems to be a slightly better 3-4 OLB prospect. It’s a tough call, but Attaochu’s hand usage and motor always impress me when watching his tape, and he really gave the porous Pittsburgh offensive line and Tom Savage a beating last year.
21. Green Bay Packers
Jimmie Ward
FS, Northern Illinois
The Packers kept their cornerback trio intact by re-signing Sam Shields to a huge extension, but they still need to make a big move in order to improve their deep coverage. Enter Jimmie Ward. I think he’s the second-best safety prospect in this class, and he’s barely rated lower than Clinton-Dix in my book. Ward has the ability to excel in zone or man coverage, and he’s a physical safety with excellent ball skills. I think Ward is a bit undervalued overall, and I’m fine with taking him in the first round, especially since the Packers desperately need a free safety like him.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Dee Ford
OLB, Auburn
I wanted to give the Philadelphia Eagles a cornerback here and nearly gave them Jason Verrett or Bradley Roby, but I ultimately decided that it’s easier for the Eagles to find a top cornerback in the second round than a top pass rusher in the second round. With Attaochu and Barr gone, Dee Ford is the best edge rusher remaining. I’m not concerned with his ability to play as a 3-4 DE, because he has burst and is explosive. This pick is more risky than taking a cornerback, but the Eagles don’t have a big need at CB after signing Nolan Carroll to add to Brandon Boykin in the slot and Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams– even if I think he stinks- on the outside.
23. Kansas City Chiefs
Brandin Cooks
WR, Oregon State
I don’t think it’s worth it for the Chiefs to overdraft Su’a-Filo, because the most important thing to do is build a team of superior players without redundantly stacking the same position. So while the Chiefs have a huge hole at guard with Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz gone, it makes more sense for them to snap up Brandin Cooks here. He’s an excellent value at 23, and he is the kind of playmaker who could really help the Chiefs offense move forward. Alex Smith desperately needs a better WR2, as Donnie Avery simply didn’t get it done last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if a rookie leads the Chiefs in receiving yards next year, and it would be unwise for the Chiefs to pass up on Cooks here given the rest of their options. They still need a WR about as much as a guard, and don’t consider Su’a-Filo a first-round prospect.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Jason Verrett
CB, TCU
This would simply be a dream pick for the Cincinnati Bengals, as Verrett can excel in the slot and also be a very good starter on the outside. He has all the tools to be a shutdown corner, as his technique, ball skills, and instincts are all impeccable. Verrett would make an already rich Bengals defense that much richer.