The NFL draft is coming and mock drafts have started to come out over the past few weeks and experts like Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Peter King and others have put out predictions and projections for the top 10 picks in the first round and here is a look at some of those players and analysis on Johnny Manziel, Jadeveon Clowney, Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater.
The consensus right now has Johnny Manziel as the most talked about player in the draft along with Clowney and that comes after the combine, while Bortles is a wild card and Bridgewater is considered to be the most "pro ready" of all the prospects at quarterback. The Houston Texans have the first overall pick and many think that the team will go after Manziel or a quarterback, but if they opt for another direction, they likely will pick Clowney.
Had the draft been a year ago, Clowney would be the first overall pick, but he had to go back to college and after having a down season, he has been given some question marks by scouts. His combine forty time was amazing, but his bench press and other workouts left something to be desired and while combine times are not always the last evaluation for players, it could hurt him in the long run. Clowney is such a physical freak that it would be hard for any of the top three teams to pass on him and if he gets past the Texans and the Rams, expect Clowney to go to the Jaguars at number three.
Many felt Bridgewater would be the first quarterback taken, but that now has taken a back seat to Manziel and Clowney and there has been some talk that scouts have Bortles higher on boards because of his size. Bortles broke out in the Fiesta Bowl and he has been compared to Ben Roethlisberger based on his size and he has a strong arm as well. The Rams are more likely in the mix for someone like Jake Matthews, Greg Robinson and Sammy Watkins and if Watkins gets past the first three picks, expect the Cleveland Browns and the Oakland Raiders to jump in on him.
Anthony Barr and Khalil Mack are moving up boards as the top defensive players behind Clowney and many see them as top 10 picks and there is a good chance that neither player gets past the Minnesota Vikings. The New York Giants could be in the mix for a receiver or a linebacker and McShay has the team looking at CJ Mosley and Mike Evans as options. The wide receiver class is very deep this season with Evans, Marqise Lee, Brandin Cooks and Kelvin Benjamin and all those names could be in the mix as well.
King feels that the top 10 can fluctuate, but his predictions for the first half of the draft has names like Darqueze Dennard at cornerback and tight end Eric Ebron. King also added Mosley, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Lee and Evans as potential top 15 picks and said he would not be surprised if none of those players lasted past the top 12.
Check here for Mel Kiper's mock draft and here for more on Peter King and Todd McShay.
