2014 NFL Draft: Predicting the Top 10 Picks

The 2014 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday night, with pure chaos ready to ensue. The Houston Texans sit atop the 32 teams waiting to land an impact player on day one of the three-day event, but have been rumored to be highly interested in trading down.

While the Texans very well could get their king’s ransom and trade down, predicting the draft day trades is a fruitless endeavour. After all, the St. Louis Rams at the two spot are also heavily rumored to be interested in trading down, while numerous other top-10 teams could change their draft spot before the top-10 picks are done.

With that said, it’s still worth giving it a shot at predicting how the top-10 picks unfold. Those picks are likely where all the draft’s biggest names will resides when the night ends, including all of the drama of Jadeveon Clowney, Johnny Manziel and others.

In preparation for a surely epic night, let’s mock the first 10 picks of the 2014 NFL Draft. We’ll leave the trades for the NFL GM’s:

1.Houston Texans – Jadeveon Clowney, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Clowney is the best player available, so if Houston doesn’t get the exact trade package they desire, they’ll have no qualms about taking him first overall.

2. St. Louis Rams – Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn

The Rams need a stud offensive tackle more than anything, and Robinson has the most upside of any tackle in the draft. They also will look to trade down, but unless a deal blows their socks off, they’ll be completely content with this selection.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Khalil Mack, DE/OLB, Buffalo

The Jaguars could go for Johnny Manziel or Sammy Watkins here, but they need to keep building up their defense. Mack is an insanely athletic and versatile defender that they have to have.

4. Cleveland Browns – Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

A receiving corps of Josh Gordon and Watkins is nasty, although the Browns will also consider a stud tackle or a quarterback here.

5. Oakland Raiders – Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

Oakland will also consider taking simply the best available player, but they reportedly love Evans and they don’t really yet have a difference-making wide receiver. Now they do.

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

Atlanta needs to protect Matt Ryan better, so they’ll be ecstatic if a stud left tackle like Matthews slides to them. He doesn’t have the upside of Robinson, but he’s actually more NFL-ready and the safer prospect, overall.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

Heeeeere’s Johnny! Manziel is a special talent that is routinely disrespected, but the Bucs see ticket sales and long-term upside. Their current quarterback situation looking forward isn’t the best, so he fills a need.

8. Minnesota Vikings – C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama

Minnesota has been tied to Aaron Donald or a quarterback, but Mosley fills a greater need at inside linebacker. He’s a slight reach but he’s a quarterback of the defense that defensive-minded head coach Mike Zimmer will love to have.

9. Buffalo Bills – Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina

If no stud tackle slides to Buffalo, this pick will likely come down to a defensive end like Anthony Barr or an offensive weapon. Ebron can help them more right now, so he’ll be the pick.

10. Detroit Lions – Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State

The most athletic and explosive corner in the draft rounds out the top-10, as Detroit finally gets a true stud corner to help their shaky pass defense. A wide receiver is also in play, but with the top two off the board, Gilbert looks to be locked in here.