Just Blog Baby 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Second Round 5.0
By Chase Ruttig
Jan 1, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal safety Ed Reynolds (29) tackles Michigan State Spartans running back Jeremy Langford (33) during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
#45 Pittsburgh Steelers: Ed Reynolds, S Stan
Rory’s Take: The Steelers are old in back half of the defense, but with Reynolds they have a youthful combination of safeties when you count Shemarko Thomas.
Chase’s Take: As much as Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor might still think they are in the prime of their careers, father time will be catching up with them very soon. Bringing in a physical safety from Stanford in Reynolds might not please the USC alum that has been in Pittsburgh forever, but if Polamalu could mentor and groom Reynolds the Steelers could have their backend cornerstone with this pick.
#46 Dallas Cowboys: Cyril Richardson, OG/OT Baylor
Rory’s Take: The Cowboys still have considerable issues on the offensive line and another stud inside would be ideal.
Chase’s Take: I love offensive linemen who I can see playing anywhere they are needed. A team with the Cowboys talent can plug Richardson in and let him learn as he goes in a low pressure situation and throw him in as a starter if needed at guard or tackle. Baylor had a ton of time to operate their high speed offense this season, and Richardson was a huge part of that. I can see him fitting into the Cowboys schemes.
#47 Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Pryor, S UL
Rory’s Take: The Ravens do have some cap constraints so that makes their spending priorities very specific. Here they add a future dual threat safety that fits this defense nicely.
Chase’s Take: There is no replacing Ed Reed, but Pryor is a big physical safety that has a lot of that “2000’s Ravens” nastiness in his blood.
#48 New York Jets: Xavier Su’a-Filo, G UCLA
Rory’s Take: There has been some real inconsistency on the interior offensive line for the Jets and it is time to add a mauler on the inside to help the offense.
Chase’s Take: After grabbing a receiver in the first round, the Jets could really help the development of Geno Smith for his sophomore season with a solid interior guard who has already blocked for a mobile QB in Brett Hundley.
#49 Miami Dolphins: Kelcy Quarles, DT USC
Rory’s Take: The Dolphins are likely to lose at least one of their highly paid defensive tackles. When that occurs the Dolphins will be forced to jump on one early to maintain their solid defense.
Chase’s Take: I would suggest the Dolphins get another player on the offensive line, but this pick gives them that opportunity to shed a higher paid veteran for more cap flexibility.
#50 Chicago Bears: Aaron Colvin, CB OU
Chase’s Take: Defensive youth and depth is a priority in Chicago. This pick could be used on Carlos Hyde if the Bears wish to cut Michael Bush, but if Colvin is on the board at #50 this seems to be a player that the Bears couldn’t pass up.
#51 Arizona Cardinals: Zach Mettenberger, QB LSU
Rory’s Take: The Cardinals need a young quarterback to learn behind Carson Palmer and with the quarterback shake ups they stumble into the perfect quarterback for them.
Chase’s Take: This would be a great pick for the Cardinals, but I think they can get this value in the third round where either Mettenberger or Aaron Murray from Georgia could fall due to both players tearing their ACL’s in their senior seasons.
#52 Green Bay Packers: Christian Jones, LB FSU
Rory’s Take: Here the Packers double down on defense and add another linebacker that they could desperately use in the middle where they lack a presence.
Chase’s Take: Christian Jones is a great talent in the Florida State defense that dominated all season on way to the National Championship. With the Packers looking to bolster their defense and ease the load on AJ Hawk and Clay Matthews this is a move that should happen with Jones still available.
#53 Philadelphia Eagles: DE Ray Drew, DE UG
Rory’s Take: The Eagles could use a stud defensive lineman to produce against the run consistently.
Chase’s Take: I like this pick for Philly, Drew is a tough defensive end with some push to him. Which hopefully will translate to the pros.
#54 Cincinnati Bengals: Allen Robinson, WR PSU
Rory’s Take: The Bengals will continue to give Andy Dalton weapons thinking he can be the franchise quarterback and Robinson would be a nice counter to AJ Green.
Chase’s Take: Robinson, who has a good knowledge of professional routes due to Bill O’Brien’s stay coaching the Nittany Lions could be one of the surprises of this draft. In a role in Cincy where he wouldn’t need to be one of the top wideouts on the depth chart he could be a difference maker for the Bengals.
#55 San Francisco 49ers: Odell Beckham Jr., WR LSU
Rory’s Take: Adding a playmaker on the other side of Crabtree would be ideal plus they could avoid paying for Boldin.
Chase’s Take: Anquan Boldin was a temporary X-Factor at wideout for the Niners, who saw how little options they had when Michael Crabtree was missing due to injury. A productive collegiate receiver in the SEC like Beckham was could fill a No. 3 receiver role for the time being while hopefully being groomed to replace Boldin when he chooses to retire.
#56 San Diego Chargers: Corey Robinson, OT S. Carolina
Rory’s Take: The Chargers need to continue to add youth and talent to the offensive line and this is the best available offensive tackle for them to add.
Chase’s Take: The Chargers offensive line got abused by a Broncos pass rush that was missing Von Miller during the AFC Divisional Playoffs, that will likely motivate the San Diego front office to find another blocker to grow alongside 2013 pick DJ Fluker.
New Orleans Saints: Deshazor Everett, CB TAMU: There could be some major changes to the Saints defensive backfield this offseason with the cap crunch.
#57 Indianapolis Colts: Marcus Roberson, CB UF
Rory’s Take: Florida has struggled on defense and has suffered a ton of injuries, but the cornerbacks have continued to play well this season and if this junior comes out he would be a nice addition to any team.
Chase’s Take: Another Gator who could see his stock grow once the combine comes around after a terrible team finish to his college career is Roberson, a talented corner who could help the Colts secondary go from awful to decent as a rookie.
#58 San Francisco 49ers: Bryan Stork, C FSU: Goodwin is going to become a free agent after this year and by adding another young lineman to this group is ideal. This will be the youngest and most talented offensive line to continue to protect Colin Kapernick.
#59 Carolina Panthers: Kelvin Benjamin, WR FSU
Rory’s Take: Cam Newton could use a wide receiver that can go up and get the ball in order to minimize his inconsistencies. The Panthers would have the most dynamic 12 personnel set in the NFL.
Chase’s Take: Benjamin is all over the board in various rankings/mocks, his profile and role in the Seminoles National Championship is huge, but he has a bit of a history dropping the ball. Either way he will likely become a very serviceable weapon in a system with the right quarterback. Carolina would be a perfect place for him to land as the Panthers need a heir to Steve Smith’s throne as well as a true second option that isn’t Ted Ginn Jr.
#60 New England Patriots: Jordan Matthews, WR Vandy
Rory’s Take: New England has had issues with drafting receivers under Bill Belicheck but why not take another shot at one?
Chase’s Take: If the Patriots don’t want to pay Julian Edelman big money this offseason, they could be looking at using one of their first picks on a wideout. Jordan Matthews seems like a good fit for their system and could really be a rare successful pick at wideout for the Pats, who are mostly accustomed to bringing in undervalued pass catchers through free agency.
#61 Denver Broncos: Scott Chrichton, DE OrSU
Rory’s Take: The Broncos need to ensure they can rush the passer in case Von Miller’s injury lingers.
Chase’s Take: Pass rush and secondary depth are the Broncos two biggest needs. Unless Peyton Manning retires upon the Broncos winning the Super Bowl, I think Denver feel that they can ignore the offense at the draft this season and build their defensive future.
#62 Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Strong, WR ASU
Rory’s Take: The Sidney Rice experiment hasn’t really worked in Seattle, and they could save some big money by cutting him and adding a solid big body wide receiver.
Chase’s Take: Seattle could use receivers if they really want to build a dynasty. This is a pick that suits them well.