Just Blog Baby 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Round One 5.0
By Chase Ruttig
#16 Dallas Cowboys: Louis Nix, DT ND
Rory’s Take: After the Monte Kiffin experience and Jerry’s lament over his decision to fire Rob Ryan I could them going back to a 34 defense which would make Nix an ideal fit.
Chase’s Take: Dallas has enough star players on offense to worry about their defensive issues in the first round. A defensive back or a talented defensive lineman like Louis Nix will do just fine for “America’s Team”
#17 Baltimore Ravens: Davante Adams, WR Fresno
Rory’s Take: Flacco can chuck the ball a country mile and they already have the receiver to take the top off the defense, but what they need is Anquan Boldin 2.0 and Adams has that skill set.
Chase’s Take: I think a guy like Kelvin Benjamin or Mike Evans gets rated ahead of Adams because of concerns over the Fresno State product’s level of competition in the Mountain West Conference, but that is just a matter of preference. Baltimore’s offense was appalling this season and while their run blocking was a huge issue, they also felt the after effects of letting Boldin walk rather than paying him. A guy like Adams can fill some of the massive shoes that Boldin left to fill.
#18 New York Jets: Mike Evans, WR TAMU
Rory’s Take: Geno Smith couldn’t ask for a better weapon to compensate for his inaccuracies.
Chase’s Take: Evans came off like a diva to me at times in his final year with the Aggies, but Johnny Football’s favorite target is also an elite one. The Jets need a true #1 receiver desperately and after rolling out vets like Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes for years this should finally be the year where they commit a high pick to having a WR of the future.
#19 Miami Dolphins: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT Bama
Rory/Chase’s Take: If you think the Dolphins aren’t bringing in a linemen in the first round, you must have ignored the sports pages this year.
#20 Arizona Cardinals: Greg Robinson, OT AUB
Rory’s Take: I went through and massively updated my rankings and this was a huge gainer for me. Robinson is a very good run blocker and will have to work on being lighter on his feet, but I think he is a definite solid left tackle.
#21 Green Bay Packers: Trent Murphy, DE/OLB Stan
Rory’s Take: This here is basically a miracle for the Packers. With this addition they really have two serious pass rush threats and can massively change the success of their defense.
Chase’s Take: Clay Matthews injuries really put the Packers defense in a tough spot this season, if they brought in Murphy they would have some insurance should AJ Hawk and Matthews have durability issues in the future.
#22 Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Gilbert, CB OkSt
Rory’s Take: Here is another borderline miracle and the Eagles stumble into one of my top two cornerback prospects. Gilbert will add a physical presence on the outside and fit in well.
Chase’s Take: Even if Gilbert is gone, expect the Eagles to get a defensive back in this spot. Patrick Chung can’t play every down anymore effectively and the Eagles coverage issues were their number one problem on defense this season. I can see Gilbert going to the Rams at #13, but at #22 the Eagles would be grinning all the way until rookie minicamp with this pick.
#23 Kansas City Chiefs: Jace Amaro, TE TTU
Rory’s Take: Amaro is a precision route runner with very good hands. He would add a dynamic aspect to this offense and give Alex Smith a solid safety blanket in the middle of the field.
Chase’s Take: Doing a league-wide mock draft, we have to make the Chiefs better and this is a move that could turn them into legit title contenders if they bring in a couple more impactful free agents. Amaro is more of a true tight end than UNC’s Eric Ebron which is why I like this move for the Chiefs.
#24 Cincinnati Bengals: Jason Verrett, CB TCU
Rory’s Take: I still do not buy Dre Kirkpatrick and with the Hall injury the Bengals need to desperately add depth to their cornerbacks.
Chase’s Take: Dre Kirkpatrick is going to be a starter in Cincy for awhile and if the Bengals add Verrett they will have the depth that is needed at the corner position with Hall returning and Pacman Jones still in the fold. (Yes, in 2014 Pacman Jones is a contributor to the AFC North champs, we are as surprised as you are)
#25 San Diego Chargers: Vic Beasley, OLB Clem
Rory’s Take: Beasely may be undersized but the chargers desperately need to add a pass rusher to this defense to really make it dynamic.
Chase’s Take: At times in the Tigers win over the Buckeyes Vic Beasley was the most dominant player on the football field, and the way in which he contained Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde at points against one of the best offensive lines in the nation showed that his game will translate to the next level. A team like the Chargers, who don’t value size and measureables as evidenced by their selection of Manti T’eo after his bad combine could be very high on Beasley as a speed rusher that they attempted to bring in with the aging Dwight Freeney.
#26 Cleveland Browns: Marqise Lee, WR USC
Rory’s Take: After getting the franchise quarterback they need, the Browns now add another stud wide receiver to create a potentially dynamic passing game.
Chase’s Take: Cleveland’s front office will be wearing Tom Brady jerseys this weekend hoping that their prized first round pick for Trent Richardson doesn’t drop any lower. If it stands pat at #26 a guy like Lee who would compliment Josh Gordon is a real possibility.
#27 New Orleans Saints: Kyle Van Noy, LB BYU
Rory’s Take: Adding solid and consistent pass rushers to this defense is a huge need.
Chase’s Take: Rob Ryan and Sean Payton both know that the secret to the Saints championship formula is having a tough defense to compliment Drew Brees on offense. Another linebacker like Kyle Van Noy, who fluctuates from the late first to the mid second on draft boards could be a great fit.
#28 San Francisco 49ers: Bradley Roby, CB OSU
Rory’s Take: The Niners really need to add youth to the cornerback position and a guy like Roby could step up and play well right away.
Chase’s Take: Roby’s injury and the Buckeyes struggles without him spoke volumes about his impact on Ohio State and his status as a top prospect, that same injury might also allow him to fall to the Niners who would be glad to have him. Playing on a talented and deep defense, the Niners could afford to work Roby in and not throw him into the fire right away as say, the Raiders had to with D.J. Hayden.
#29 New England Patriots: CJ Mosley, ILB Bama
Rory’s Take: There is a chance that Brandon Spikes will leave the Patriots in free agency and he has quietly been an anchor in the middle of the defense.
Chase’s Take: Hoodie Bill loves winners who are well coached, Alabama players fit that bill and Mosley would help that interior defense that might get exposed this Sunday when the Colts take on the Patriots in the AFC Division Round.
#30 Carolina Panthers: Eric Ebron, TE UNC
Rory’s Take: Here is another situation where a team adds a local stud and what a stud! Ebron is big and fast something the Panthers could use especially up the seam. He does have some drops but he can also go up and get the ball.
Chase’s Take: Rory loves putting the local talents in-state this week and I gotta admit, this would almost be the perfect fit. As long as Ebron’s combine doesn’t catapult him into the top half of the first round, this could happen and would ease the workload on Steve Smith who isn’t getting any younger.
#31 Denver Broncos: Ryan Shazier, LB OSU
Rory’s Take: I have really come around on Shazier and I think a guy like this could provide some stability to the middle of this defense and really aid a very flawed linebacker corps.
#32 Seattle Seahawks: Aaron Donald DE/DT PSU: This just screams typical Seahawks. Donald is a versatile pass rusher and the Hawks very well may lose Bennett and Clinton McDonald both who provide an interior pass rush. This would be an awesome addition.