1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Teddy Bridgewater, Quarterback, Louisville
This is a pretty easy pick to predict. The Jaguars are the worst team in the league, though the Buccaneers are trying to best them for that honor. The Jaguars have to draft a quarterback and Bridgewater is the best in the country. He can do everything you want you quarterback to be able to do. He has the big arm, accuracy, vision, ability to read defenses, athleticism and isn’t afraid to stand in and take a hit to make the throw. Just watch the 2012 bowl game against Florida for proof of that.
On his first drop back of the game Jon Bostic hit Bridgewater and knocked his helmet off. Bridgewater never panicked and never started to fade away. He stood in there strong after that and made the throws he needed to. Bridgewaters best trait is his ability to read defenses pre-snap and adjust. This is something a lot of college quarterbacks don’t have the ability to do with coaches calling in reads from the sidelines, but Bridgewater absolutely can. He is extremely smart when he runs as well, always sliding and protecting his body. He is a franchise quarterback and the Jaguars won’t pass on him.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, Quarterback, Oregon
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only other team besides the Jaguars that have yet to record a win. Greg Schiano is all but gone and thought Mike Glennon hasn’t been terrible, he hasn’t stood out enough for a new coaching staff to worry about keeping him. Marcus Mariota has flown up draft boards this season while putting up big numbers for the Oregon Ducks. Many were wanting to see what Mariota could do now that Chip Kelly had moved on to the Eagles and he hasn’t disappointed. Mariota leads one of the most explosive offenses in the country effortlessly.
Many people don’t think Mariota is NFL ready because the type of offense he plays in, but I’m not buying that. Mariota is as accurate as any quarterback in the draft and has a big arm. Mariota has shown great ability on the move, whether it is taking off and running with it or throwing on the run. He also has the ability to read a defense during the play and make his way through progressions. The one thing that Mariota hasn’t really learned is to read defenses before the play starts like Bridgewater does. It’s something he will have to learn going into the NFL, but Cam Newton had to learn it going into the NFL and he had a pretty good rookie year.
3. Minnesota Vikings: JaDeveon Clowney, Defensive End, South Carolina
4. New York Giants: Anthony Barr, Outside Linebacker, UCLA
5. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins): Jake Matthews, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M
6. Pittsburgh Steelers: Taylor Lewan, Offensive Tackle, Michigan
7. Atlanta Falcons: Cameron Erving, Offensive Tackle, Florida State
8. Houston Texans: Brett Hundley, Quarterback, UCLA
The Texans have seemingly moved on from the Matt Schaub era and Case Keenum isn’t the answer. Insert Brett Hundley. Hundley was another outstanding redshirt freshman quarterback in the PAC-12 last year to go along with Mariota. Hundley has the look of a pro bowl quarterback, standing at 6’3” and weighing 227 pounds. For a man his size, Hundley is extremely quick and agile. He is another dual-threat quarterback coming into the NFL. Hundley isn’t just a runner though, he has the arm and accuracy to make all the throws. Hundley is smart on the field and shows the charisma and fire that you want to see out of the leader of your team. He does have some flaws. He doesn’t sense pressure in the pocket as well as you want and he need to develop his anticipation a little bit. Make no mistake though, Hundley has all the tools to be a Pro Bowl quarterback in the NFL.
9. St. Louis Rams: Haha Clinton-Dix, Safety, Alabama
10. Philadelphia Eagles: Johnny Manziel, Quarterback, Teas A&M
The Philadelphia Eagles need a quarterback this year. Michael Vick can’t stay healthy, while Nick Foles and Matt Barkley just aren’t good enough quarterbacks. Chip Kelly recruited Johnny Football to Oregon and Manziel was headed there before Mariota signed. After than Manziel decides to go to Texas A&M and the rest is history as they say. You won’t find more varied thoughts about where a player should be drafted than you will about Manziel. You will always hear about his flaws, the off field incidents, the cocky attitude, his small size, he doesn’t have an elite arm.
However, the kid knows how to play football. Manziel has a strong enough arm to make NFL throws and he brings an elusiveness that few share. He is accurate enough to get the ball where it needs to be for his receiver to make plays. Manziel also shows up in the biggest of games, twice having huge games against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Chip Kelly needs a quarterback who can run his offense and outside of Mariota there isn’t a quarterback in the draft who has the tools to run it better.
11. Cleveland Browns: Mike Evans, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M
12. Oakland Raiders: Sammy Watkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson
13. Buffalo Bills: Khalil Mack, Outside Linebacker, Buffalo
14. Arizona Cardinals: Cyrus Kouandjio, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
15. Miami Dolphins: Antonio Richardson, Offensive Tackle, Tennessee
16. New York Jets: Marqise Lee, Wide Receiver, USC
17. Tennessee Titans: C.J. Mosley, Linebacker, Alabama
18. Chicago Bears: Louis Nix, Defensive Tackle, Notre Dame
19. Baltimore Ravens: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tight End, Washinton
20. Carolina Panthers: Jordan Matthews, Wide Receiver, Vanderbilt
21. Dallas Cowboys: Ra’Shede Hageman, Defensive Tackle, Minnesota
22. San Diego Chargers: Jason Verrett, Cornerback, TCU
23. Detroit Lions: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Cornerback, Oregon
24. New England Patriots: Eric Ebron, Tight End, North Carolina
25. Green Bay Packers: Jace Amaro, Tight End, Texas Tech
26. Cleveland Browns (via Indianapolis Colts): Tajh Boyd, Quarterback, Clemson
Though Brian Hoyer looked good in the two games that he played this year, he isn’t the long term answer at quarterback in Cleveland. Had Tajh Boyd came out last year he would probably have been the first quarterback taken. However, after a mediocre start to his senior season, his stock has slightly fallen. Boyd does a lot of good things on the football field. He has a strong arm and can make all the throws, he runs very well and is very good in the read-option, reading the defense well.
Boyd is a tough player and even though he isn’t as tall as you would like, he is well built. The majority of Boyds problems come from inconsistent footwork. When his footwork varies his accuracy tends to waver. Boyd has the arm to throw the deep ball, but his accuracy is up and down. If Boyd can fix his footwork and finish the season strong, his stock could jump back up.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Fuller, Cornerback, Virginia Tech
28. Denver Broncos: Marcus Roberson, Cornerback, Florida
29. New Orleans Saints: Vic Beasley, Outside Linebacker, Clemson
30. Cincinnati Bengals: Bradley Roby, Cornerback, Ohio State
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Brandon Coleman, Wide Receiver, Rutgers
32. Seattle Seahawks: Cyril Richardson, Offensive Guard, Baylor