The 2014 NFL Draft: The First Five

As a huge fan of the amazing game of football, I cannot wait to see the most anticipated moment at the pro level next to the start of the season: the NFL Draft. Where the team with the worst record from last season gets the very first pick and the Super Bowl Champions get the very last pick known as "Mr. Irrelevant". With about 1000 college prospects entering the NFL Draft this year, only 224 of those players will be drafted between May 8th and May 10th. So one can only imagine the pressure these kids must be under to try and impress these NFL teams in order to get drafted by one of the 32 teams in the one of the 7 rounds. I know that if I was in their shoes, my nerves would be shot beyond imagination just trying to think of all the things I'd have to do and say right in order to get the attention of one of these teams. So, I was thinking that it would be something to break down just what players would fall into what pick of the first round NFL Draft to help people understand why it is what it is and also to throw in some of my own predictions.

Quick note: there are two terms I use throughout my writings when I am done describing the draft prospects from any sport. The first is when I call a player a "Fine Wine", which just a way of say that while the player may not start or become a Pro Bowler in his first year, with time and development, he could be as good as "Fine Wine". The other term I use to a when I call a player a "Win-Now", which means that the player's current set of skills seem to be best suited where he can his team "Win-Now" with a chance to possibly develop depending on the circumstance.

No. 1 Overall Pick: Houston Texans

 In this year's draft, the No. 1 overall pick is held by the Houston Texans, who finished their 2013 season with a 2-14 record. Ever since the draft order was announced, experts and analysts have been speculating who the Texans will pick left, right, up, down, and every other which way you can look at it. The argument is really over who is the best player coming out of college that the Texans need to draft. Many believe that the No. 1 overall pick will be a quarterback, which was almost assured by myself and others when they traded their top QB Matt Schaub to the Oakland Raiders. So, then if it a quarterback, who would it be? Many experts say that the Texans best bet would be to draft Central Florida's QB Brain Bortles because of his physical presence and stature (6'5" 232 lbs.), his hard yet accurate throwing ability, and his tough leadership mindset.

 To me, Bortles looks like, what I'd call a "Fine Wine" player, which means that whether or not a player will start his rookie year in the NFL, even if it may not be a great season, over time, he will prove to be beneficial and successful for the team. But Bortles is no the only quarterback speculated to go No. 1 overall. The "favorite" football player of many experts and analysts seems to be Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel who is also known as Johnny Football. Now, I am not a fan of Manziel's because of his off field issues and how erratic I find his style of play, but there is no doubting it that this guy can really play excitingly and find a way to get the job done. Those who have Johnny Manziel going No. 1 overall do so because of his ability to makes plays and be quick and agile with his feet, has a great sense for being able to adjust on the fly, and despite his lack of physical size (5'11" 209 lbs.), he shows immense courage and leadership. Another reason why some believe Manziel would be a good fit for the Texans is because he is a Texas native and one of the biggest names in the state which would help draw more people to games see him play. I personally see Manziel as a "Win-Now" player, which means he will most likely get a chance on a team that needs someone to start at his position in order to win right now, but there is no guarantee that he is a player to consider for the long run right away.

 But as talented and necessary it is to have a good QB, it is possible that we could see the No. 1 pick be a defensive player. It seems like most are now looking at the Texans to pick South Carolina's defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. It sounds like it could be a dream come true for him, considering that many said he had the No. 1 overall pick locked up if he were able to come out of high school. That is how good this kid is... or was really. After a great freshman year and an even greater sophomore year, Clowney's numbers and playing ability dipped drastically to where many have now begun to question his work ethic, especially when he was cleared by trainers to play against Kentucky, but ultimately decided to sit out the game. Still, Clowney is in the talk for No. 1 overall because of the towering physical body he possesses (6' 6" 266 lbs.), the incredible burst of speed he has (4.53s 40 yd dash), and keen sense for pass rushing and attacking the quarterback. My thought: it'll be a close race between QB Blake Bortles and DE Jadeveon Clowney for the No. 1 overall pick.

No. 2 Overall Pick: St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams hold this year's No. 2 overall pick in the draft. The speculation for this pick is the same as the the No. 1 pick of the Texans in that it's believed they could go an assorted amount of directions. Currently, the No. 2 overall pick is where many see Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins getting drafted after the Rams had issues in finding a consistent wide receiving corp. At 6' 1" 205 lbs., Watkins looks the part of your prototypical wide out. At the combine, he proved it when he ran a 4.43s forty yard dash, had a 34 in vertical, and broad jumped 10 ft. 6 in. The experts have Watkins at No. 2 mainly because of his incredible speed and acceleration from the line of scrimmage to down the field, outstanding leaping ability, and his unbelievable ability to catch the football. So with all that, there is no doubt that if he doe not go No. 2, then he'll certainly go soon afterwards.

For Sammy Watkins, I would say that he will be a "Fine Wine" player wherever he gets drafted as I see his career having a similar start much like Chicago Bears' rising star wide out Alshon Jeffery. Another player being looked at for the No. 2 overall pick is also Auburn's offensive tackle Greg Robinson who would certainly help support an offensive line that lost some key roles over the last few seasons. Robinson's No. 2 overall status is supported by his 6' 5" 322 lbs. stature, his ability to quickly snap out of his stance and block down the field (4.92s 40 yd dash), strength (32 reps on bench press), and has a great sense for picking up important blocks. As far as I can see, Greg Robinson might be the best offensive lineman prospect in the draft.

However, the second best offensive lineman prospect in the draft, Texas A&M's Jake Matthews, is also another possible choice for the Rams. Matthews' skills go skin deep as his father is NFL Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, who played offensive tackle for the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans) in the 1980s. Matthews' No. 2 draft status is supported by his size of 6' 5" 308 lbs., his keen sense for picking up guys when pass blocking, and is versatile at playing both tackle and guard from playing both positions throughout his time in college.

 For both Robinson and Matthews, I could see them both being "Fine Wine" players for whichever teams may draft them along with if they can stay healthy through their first year and play solid at the position they are placed at. At No. 2, the rams will go either Watkins or Robinson.

No. 3 Overall Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars of Jacksonville are holding the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft. In my opinion, this is the team that currently needs the most help in their overall game, especially since they lost their Pro Bowl running back Maurice Jones-Drew. So to me, the Jaguars are now in an even bigger hole than they were originally. However, the team has been making big moves to improve their offensive and defensive line with the free agent signings of Denver Broncos' OG Zane Beadles, Seattle Seahawks' DEs Red Bryant and Chris Clemons, Pittsburgh Steelers' DE Ziggy Hood, and also the possible signing of Browns' Pro Bowl center Alex Mack should Cleveland decide not to match their offer on the franchise tag. So, who are the potentials for the No. 3 pick in the draft? Well, that will depend on who the Texans and Rams decide to draft.

Jacksonville has been named the landing spot for both QB prospects Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel if not drafted, but there are two players that I think make more sense to draft at that pick for the Jaguars. The first player is the Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Ever since his name came into the spotlight, Teddy Bridgewater showed off his most amazing skill, which is his ability to launch the football down the field for touchdowns on a consecutive basis. Bridgewater would be good for the Jaguars at No. 3 because of the consistent accuracy that he's shown throwing the ball, the ability to throw tight spirals even when pressure is in his face, his capability to find the open man down field, ability to read the defense, and is fairly mobile when he needs to be. There are some that believe Bridgewater should be considered the top QB prospect over Bortles and Manziel is best for the No. 1 pick, but him being a Florida native and having all the right pieces to his body of work, Jacksonville is where I think he will land. For me, Teddy Bridgewater is certainly a great QB, but I see his skills as being a "Win-Now" player for the Jaguars with a strong possibility of becoming a "Fine Wine" player and QB for the future.

But the Jaguars must also consider adding more to the defensive side of the ball, which is why some say the Buffalo's Khalil Mack would be great for the team. Now, not many know just who Khalil Mack is because of the fact that he played at Buffalo University in the MAC Conference, but there is no doubt that he is physically gifted, athletic, and mentally strong. One of Mack's biggest upsides is his versatility to play both defensive end and/or outside linebacker. His 6' 3" 250 lbs. frame makes him just in-between enough to play both positions for Jacksonville. Along with his versatile playing ability, his speed off the snap (4.65s 40 yd dash), strength (23 reps on bench press), great leaping ability (40 in. vertical), has a knack for finding the ball carrier and also for sacking the quarterback.

As for how I see Mack, he is certainly a talented defensive player, but I feel that he too will also be a "Win-Now" player until he can prove himself to me on the NFL level, that he is a guy that can hang with the best of them. For the Jaguars, I see then selecting either QB Teddy Bridgewater or LB Khalil Mack with the No. 3 overall pick.

No. 4 Overall Pick: Cleveland Browns

With the movie Draft Day now out in theaters, the Cleveland Browns have finally made it. They are finally on a big screen with people all throughout the country paying to watch them on purpose. But lets talk about the what will really happen to this team for this coming draft day. The Browns are holding onto the No. 4 overall pick in the draft and they have the ability to go anywhere they want to after the first three choices are made. Now, it again, is pretty much a decision that must be made after seeing what Houston, St. Louis, and Jacksonville do in that order exactly.

They have been predicted to take Sammy Watkins if he is still there at No. 4 in order to help add weapons to the Browns' up-and-coming receiving corp with wide out Josh Gordon and tight end Jordan Cameron. The Browns was also believed to be an ideal spot for Johnny Manziel so that the team could have dual-threat QB to take over the reigns from where former Browns QB Brandon Weeden could not get in the swing of things. Not many, but few also speculate that Teddy Bridgewater would be a nice fit in Cleveland as his deep and accurate passes would look just so pretty falling into the hands of Josh Gordon.

Now, of course there might be a chance that they do take a defensive player like Jadeveon Clowney if he is still there for some reason, but remarkably, the Cleveland defense is considered by many analysts and experts as being a solid unit with a few minor holes to fill in, but in the overall, they seem to be very healthy and strong. One big concern is in the offensive line. With Pro Bowl center Alex Mack currently being offered a contract by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Browns need to consider whether or not to match to offer or just let him go. If they do pass on matching the offer, this will leave the team weaken in the middle. While Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas still fighting strong on the line, Cleveland may want to consider getting another offensive lineman in order to help anchor it with Thomas.

Both Robinson and Matthews would be good picks in that case mainly because of their abilities to know how to play both offensive tackle and guard. The Browns' 4th overall pick is certainly going to be a hard on to make, but to me, I think they are probably going to lean on either a quarterback in Johnny Manziel, wide receiver Sammy Watkins, or either offensive linemen Robinson or Matthews.

No. 5 Overall Pick: Oakland Raiders

And finally, we come to the black and silver team that was once the most ferocious, nasty, and dirty teams in the NFL at one point, and is now considered a "no worries" team. With the 5th overall pick in this year's draft, the raiders are pretty much in the same boat as the Cleveland Browns in that they have to sit and wait to see who goes where. The Raiders have been said to take whoever is there that is the best to take because they are another team [like the Jaguars] that is missing a lot on both sides of the ball.

Some have said that the versatile, stand-up defensive end Khalil Mack and the defensive line phenom Jadeveon Clowney would be just what Oakland would need after losing pass rusher Lamarr Houston to the Chicago Bears. The team is also suspected to possibly take a quarterback, such as Johnny Manziel, with the 5th pick in the draft, but those rumors may have been dissipated after they traded for Matt Schaub from the Houston Texans and also have seen some good things start to come from their young QB Terrelle Pryor.

The team was thought to be a good spot for them to land wide out Sammy Watkins to help provide more weapons to the passing game for whoever the quarterback may be. The 5th pick has also been the talk of where Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews may land as the Raiders have lost their best offensive lineman, tackle Jared Veldheer to the Arizona Cardinals, and also lost offensive tackle Roger Saffold to the St. Louis Rams. In the end, the Raiders will probably hope to grab WR Watkins, OT Robinson, or OT Matthews depending on how the draft goes. They may even have a shot at taking DE Jadeveon Clowney.

So without further explanation, here is my prediction on the first 5 picks of the 2014 NFL Draft:

-No. 1) Houston Texans => Blake Bortles
-No. 2) St. Louis Rams => Glen Robinson
-No. 3) Jacksonville Jaguars => Teddy Bridgewater
-No. 4) Cleveland Browns => Sammy Watkins
-No. 5) Oakland Raiders => Jadeveon Clowney