Sports illustrated twitter fan mock draft.

[panther4life]

 http://nfl.si.com/2014/05/02/2014-nfl-mock-draft-fan-twitter/

 

 

1. Clowney

 

So much for replacing Matt Schaub at the top of the board! The Texans could have gone with a quarterback at No. 1 overall and looked to rebuild a struggling offense. But the fans have spoken, and they went with the best player available — and that’s very well what Clowney could be. Ignore all the talk about his alleged suspect effort — he’s a tackle-for-loss machine, and as soon as he fixes a few technique issues, he’ll be a very dangerous individual. Also: Who do you double-team now, Clowney or J.J. Watt? Houston’s opponents will have a quandary on their hands. – Doug Farrar

2. St. Louis Rams (via Washington): Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

Two picks in and we already have our first minor surprise. Rather than spend this pick to upgrade their O-line, the Rams instead nab perhaps the draft’s most explosive offensive player. Watkins provides St. Louis with the true No. 1 WR it’s lacking, which should in turn open some space for Tavon Austin — a top-10 pick in 2013. – Chris Burke

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo

As the quarterbacks fall, the Jaguars get the man who is most definitely the second-best defensive player in the 2014 draft, and could be the best when all is said and done. Mack is a dominant pass rusher who will get even better in Gus Bradley’s fronts. He has the potential to do everything one would expect of an outside linebacker in any scheme. – DF

4. Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

Rather than wait on a QB, the Browns take the aggressive route by selecting Johnny Football. Whether or not the decision pays off in the immediate future, Cleveland at least lands a true face of the franchise. And Manziel should enter camp with the inside track on the No. 1 QB job, ahead of Brian Hoyer. – CB

5. Oakland Raiders: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn

Radiers general manager Reggie McKenzie could go in just about any direction with the talent drains on his team, and it’s hard to argue with this one. The question is, where would Robinson play? He may not be evolved enough as a pass blocker to play left tackle in the NFL yet, and it’s possible that he could become one of the NFL’s best guards in a short time. One thing’s for sure — when you come upon Robinson’s rare combination of size, strength and athleticism, you jump. It’s no surprise that he didn’t make it out of the top five. – DF

6. Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

The Falcons could not have been thrilled to see Clowney and Mack off the board in the top three, but Robinson and Matthews both hanging around until the five spot guaranteed Atlanta a shot at one of the elite OTs. Matthews can step in as a starter on either side of the line and make Matt Ryan’s life easier from Day 1. – CB

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh

This is a bit of a surprise pick, but putting Donald in Lovie Smith’s defensive scheme will make a lot of quarterbacks very nervous. Smith loves lighter, faster undertackles, and Donald is the most disruptive interior defender in this class. If you remember how Tommie Harris wreaked havoc for Smith’s Bears a few years back, you might expect a similar effect on a Bucs defense that already got a lot better in free agency. And the combination of Mike Glennon and Josh McCown means that Tampa Bay didn’t have to reach on a quarterback. – DF

8. Minnesota Vikings: Blake Bortles, QB, UCF

The Vikings do not want Matt Cassel or Christian Ponder running the show long term. However, one or the other might be able to hold down the fort for a bit, which would give Minnesota a window to let Bortles develop a bit more. No question QB is a dire need here. Would Teddy Bridgewater be a better fit? – CB

9. Buffalo Bills: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

The best way to make EJ Manuel a better quarterback is to give him better targets, and outside of Sammy Watkins, it’s tough to imagine a better target in this draft than Evans. Yes, he’ll have to up his understanding of the route tree in the NFL, but he’ll greatly expand Buffalo’s offense — especially in the red zone and end zone — with his height, strength and ability to win jump-ball battles. – DF

10. Detroit Lions: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama

Is Ha Ha Clinton-Dix a top-10 player in this year’s draft class? Maybe. But he definitely is a talented prospect at a position of need for the Lions. Pairing Clinton-Dix with Glover Quin shores up Detroit’s safety spots, plus allows James Ihedigbo to come off the bench — a role he’s probably better suited for at this stage in his career. – CB

11. Tennessee Titans: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA

New Tennessee defensive coordinator Ray Horton is one of the game’s more original thinkers, and in Barr, he’ll have someone that will require a lot of creativity. Barr is relatively new to the pass-rusher position, and the former running back has ridiculous upside. He’s raw with his technique, but don’t be surprised if Horton turns Barr into a 10-sack player in his first season — and at more than one position. – DF

12. New York Giants: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan

Some interesting options on the board for the Giants here, including Eric Ebron and every cornerback. Instead, the fans make it Lewan, rather convincingly. Hard to argue with the logic, either — the Giants O-line was in shambles through much of 2013 and Lewan is not far (if at all) behind Robinson/Matthews as a potentially elite plug-and-play starter. — CB

13. St. Louis Rams: Zack Martin, OL, Notre Dame

What makes the Martin pick interesting is that he projects best as a guard at the next level. He played left tackle at Notre Dame, but there were enough examples on tape of his struggles with edge pressure and inside stunts. Martin has every attribute needed to be a great guard, but 13 is a high pick for a developmental prospect who’s betwixt and between two positions. – DF

14. Chicago Bears: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville

The Bears need an influx of youth and talent across the board in the secondary, but the safety spot looms as more troublesome than cornerback. The aggressive, physical Pryor offers a fix here — several teams just below this spot no doubt would have had their eye on the Louisville product if Chicago passed. – CB

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State

While I’m surprised that Kyle Fuller and Justin Gilbert are still on the board as this pick is made, Dennard fits the Steelers’ defensive profile very well. He’s a rangy, tough, aggressive cornerback who doesn’t yet have elite coverage skills, but can force up against the run and will learn over time. It certainly fits a need, as Pittsburgh’s pass defense was rather worrisome last season. – DF

16. Dallas Cowboys: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State

A curve ball from the Cowboys fans. Dallas handed Brandon Carr a lucrative deal a couple years back and used a 2012 first-round pick on Morris Claiborne. Still, the CB position has not exactly been dominant for Jerry Jones’ club. This is a best-player-available type of pick, one that will force the Cowboys to address their D-line later on in the draft. – CB

17. Baltimore Ravens: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina

Personnel attrition and injuries limited Baltimore’s passing game in 2013, and this also led to a historically ineffective run game. While Ebron can’t help with the Ravens’ blocking issues per se (he’s not that kind of tight end), he would immediately give Joe Flacco the tough, reliable target in the seam and over the middle of the field that Flacco so relied on in the team’s Super Bowl run two seasons ago. – DF

18. New York Jets: Odell Beckham Jr., LSU

Rex Ryan always will be a defense-first coach, but it became painfully obvious over the past couple seasons that his team needed a boost on offense. In signing Eric Decker and now drafting Beckham, the Jets have gained just that. Beckham is a legit top-two receiver and a clear favorite to be the third WR off the board behind Watkins/Evans. – CB

19. Miami Dolphins: C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama

It’s interesting that the Dolphins wind up with an inside linebacker this high, but Mosley does have rare and special anticipation skill and movement. In Kevin Coyle’s defense, he’d be best tasked with the responsibilities given to any great middle linebacker — be a force against the run, cause trouble with A-gap blitzes and drop into coverage. He can do all that, but I wonder if this is the best use of Miami’s first-round pick. – DF

20. Arizona Cardinals: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

No trades in this mock, so there were only a couple spots left for Bridgewater to land realistically in Round 1. This is one of them …. maybe. The value on Bridgewater at 20 is there, especially for a Cardinals team without a long-term plan at QB. Some might argue that big-armed Derek Carr would be preferable in Bruce Arians’ vertical-passing attack. – CB

21. Green Bay Packers: Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State

I love this pick for a Packers team running out of range players over the last couple of years. Shazier is an outstanding fit for Dom Capers’ defense, because Capers can use Shazier’s downhill speed, aggressiveness and nascent coverage ability in many different ways. One thing to watch if this actually happens — Shazier is great at shooting gaps, and could rack up multiple quarterback takedowns from different areas. – DF

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech

Chip Kelly wants to find more athletes for his defense. Fuller absolutely checks off that box, especially in the bottom half of Round 1. Dallas, New York and Washington all will test their opponents through the air, so adding a potential shutdown CB gives the Eagles a much better shot to stay competitive defensively. – CB

23. Kansas City Chiefs: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State

In any Andy Reid offense, the West Coast concepts are enhanced with vertical routes. This was best personified by DeSean Jackson, who added a new speed threat in Philly from 2008 through ’13. Of all the receivers in this draft class, Cooks may be the most similar to Jackson with his straight-line quickness. In addition, he played in a pro-style offense, and won’t have to take his first two years in the NFL learning new routes. It would be a great move for Kansas City’s offense — both in the short term with Alex Smith, and in the long term with the Chiefs’ franchise quarterback of the future … whoever he may be. – DF

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State

The position is not a stunner — Cincinnati will be in the market for a corner. Is this the right one? Roby sits behind Jason Verrett on most rankings, and Verrett is still there for the taking. If Roby rediscovers his 2012 form, he might prove the fans right. – CB

25. San Diego Chargers: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU

The Chargers had the NFL’s worst pass defense in 2013, and this was the team’s clearest and most obvious need. It’s also a good landing spot for Verrett, who gives some pause with his size (5-foot-10, 189) and injury history, but plays bigger when he is on the field. He’s a technician who will win more jump-ball battles than you’d think, and he’s surprisingly effective in run support. – DF

26. Cleveland Browns (via Indianapolis): Marqise Lee, WR, USC

Thanks in part to their two first-round picks, the Browns offense now features Johnny Manziel, Lee, Josh Gordon and Ben Tate. On paper, at least, that’s a scary group. Lee’s stock never regained the momentum it had headed into the 2013 season, but he remains a talented receiver and would pair well with Gordon outside. – CB

27. New Orleans Saints: Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri

Reportedly, several NFL teams have talked with Ealy about putting on weight and becoming a defensive tackle, which tells me that those teams are unclear about his role in the pros. And I share that uncertainty if that’s the case. Ealy has just enough burst off the edge to be dangerous at times, and he shows some power when he plays inside, but I see him as a five-tech end at the next level, and I’m not sure he’s worth a first-round pick. Now, Rob Ryan has a way of putting his linebackers and linemen in positions to succeed, so maybe this could work in a way it wouldn’t with other teams. As for me, I’d probably head elsewhere with this pick. – DF

28. Carolina Panthers: Cyrus Kouandjio, OL, Alabama

An offensive lineman landing here has seemed all but a given for a long time (unless you’re in the WR-for-Cam camp). Kouandjio stands as one of the more obvious boom-or-bust picks in this draft. Injury concerns and a terrible combine drove him down some boards, but he was once considered among the elite prospects in this draft. – CB

 

 

I thought Kouandjio was a no brainer if the draft shakes out that way....If you don't like Kouandjio there who would you have picked (this is a no trade mock, so no trading down)?

 

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

Would prefer Cody Latimer.

[Jackofalltrades]

I prefer Morgan Moses over Cyrus.

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

[Ivan The Awesome]

Would not mind him there. Inb4 knee problems. 

[carolina-chuck]

You gotta take Kouandjio if hes there.

[Rags]

I just don't get the love for Kudanjo. Everything I read about the guy makes it sound like he's a solid run blocker but as a pass blocker he got beat. A lot. He gave up a lot of sacks and speed rushers giv him hell.

 

He literally sounds like Bell

 

What am I missing here?

[carpanfan96]

I would take Cody Lattimore there over CK.

[davos]

I just don't get the love for Kudanjo. Everything I read about the guy makes it sound like he's a solid run blocker but as a pass blocker he got beat. A lot. He gave up a lot of sacks and speed rushers giv him hell.

 

He literally sounds like Bell

 

What am I missing here?

 

Same here.  It's not really about the knee but his play.  I won't be mad if we pick him but I think our need at tackle is making people think he's a lot better than he actually is.  

[bdub515]

You gotta take Kouandjio if hes there.

No you don't, I wouldn't take him until the 2nd and that's only if Billy Turner isn't there anymore. In the first I would take Cody Latimer, Davante Adams, or Jordan Matthews. All very similar but all will be good pros imo.

Side note - I automatically discredit any post on here where you can't even spell the guys last name you are talking about. I have seen wayyy too many people on here say they want that "Lattimore" kid or "Kudanjo" etc. Learn a little something about these guys before you form an opinion jeez

[panther4life]

I just don't get the love for Kudanjo. Everything I read about the guy makes it sound like he's a solid run blocker but as a pass blocker he got beat. A lot. He gave up a lot of sacks and speed rushers giv him hell.

 

He literally sounds like Bell

 

What am I missing here?

 

Edit...Cant link the website on here for some reason??? Just google "Kouandjio Draft Breakdown"

 

Check him out for yourself. Been a while since

I've watched all the games but I only remember one guy giving him problems was #90 from Virgina Tech...Dadi Niklas was him name I think..I also saw that same player give Morgan Moses Hell too.

 

I mean he's no Robinson/Matthews/Lewan but if he was we wouldn't be talking about him being there at 28 either.

 

The biggest knocks on him were his combine performance and supposed knee issues. The Knee Surgery was done after his Freshman year and he never missed a game afterwards and maybe 1 practice? James Andrews has gone on record saying the Knee is a non-issue and Gil Brandt who at the very least heard about the letter written to all 32 NFL teams from Dr. Andrews and he seems confident its not an issue.

 

When people compare him to Otah I think its insane because by all accounts this guy is the anti Otah in terms of work ethic and love for the game.

 

As for giving up a lot of sacks...where did you hear that? I think I read up to 2.5 pending on if was his assignment.

 

[davos]

Check him out for yourself. Been a while since

I've watched all the games but I only remember one guy giving him problems was #90 from Virgina Tech...Dadi Niklas was him name I think..I also saw that same player give Morgan Moses Hell too.

 

I mean he's no Robinson/Matthews/Lewan but if he was we wouldn't be talking about him being there at 28 either.

 

The biggest knocks on him were his combine performance and supposed knee issues. The Knee Surgery was done after his Freshman year and he never missed a game afterwards and maybe 1 practice? James Andrews has gone on record saying the Knee is a non-issue and Gil Brandt who at the very least heard about the letter written to all 32 NFL teams from Dr. Andrews and he seems confident its not an issue.

 

When people compare him to Otah I think its insane because by all accounts this guy is the anti Otah in terms of work ethic and love for the game.

 

If I'm not mistaken, he gave up 3 sacks and 7 pressures his last college game.  Not to mention a huge false start that forced Bama to punt.    

[panther4life]

If I'm not mistaken, he gave up 3 sacks and 7 pressures his last college game.  Not to mention a huge false start that forced Bama to punt.    

 

I'm going to go watch that game now...

[davos]

I'm going to go watch that game now...

 

He even publicly apologized to fans for how bad his game was. 

 

 

I'll admit though it's not as terrible as it looks on the stat sheet.  His brother was to fault for one of the sacks.  He just gets beat on the edge a lot.  

[MV%doe]

ive been a huge fan of cryus/benjamin, so i approve.