The 2014 NFL Mock Draft season is here and predictions from experts like Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have projections for the top prospects for first round picks and many of those players are on his ESPN Big Board and in the top 10 rankings as the draft gets closer in May and as the weeks go by, the Houston Texans, St. Louis Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock.
The first overall pick is one that will be debated for some time, but Kiper feels that Johnny Manziel is the hands down option for the Houston Texans based on what they need and what he brings to the table. Manziel won a Heisman trophy before last season and put up some amazing numbers during his time in college and while he is undersized for a quarterback, he has shown that he is tough and can make plays and his dynamic style could make him the first oevrall pick.
Some have pushed back on Kiper, but he feels strongly that Manziel should be number one in his mock drafts and the Texans make a ton of sense since he is from the state and was a huge star with the Aggies. The Texans are basically starting over this season at quarterback, as Matt Schaub was a shell of himself last season and Manziel could be the pick. Many have speculated that the Texans could opt for Blake Bortles or Teddy Bridgewater, as the UCF star has prototypical size and the Louisville QB is considered by many to be the most pro ready of any of the QBs.
The Texans have to decide what their priorities are, as the team has said it would be willing to entertain offers for the first overall pick, but that doesn't mean they will actually do it. The team also could draft someone like Jadeveon Clowney or even Sammy Watkins and then take a quarterback later in the draft, as this group is deep with names like Derek Carr, David Fales, AJ McCarron and Aaron Murray, although he is coming off of a serious injury.
What the Texans decide could have a domino effect, as the Rams are in the second pick after a trade with the Redskins and they are also in position to make a move. If Manziel makes it past the first pick, teams like the Cleveland Browns, Jaguars, Oakland Raiders or the Vikings could trade up for him and the same goes for if Manziel is picked first and Clowney remains. Clowney is the mystery man of the draft, as he has great combine numbers apart from the bench press and while he is a physical freak, many scouts have wondered about his work ethic and this comes after he was considered the top pick if he was able to come out last year.
Kiper sees the Rams taking Greg Robinson and after the forty time he put up at the combine it's easy to see why. The Jaguars grab Clowney in his latest mock and that would be a smart move, as they could opt for a quarterback later in the draft. The Browns take Teddy Bridgewater and the Raiders take Sammy Watkins and many expect that to be the case in Oakland if he is available at that pick.
Check here for more coverage on NFL mock drafts for this season and the list of Mel Kiper's picks form ESPN.
