2014 NFL Draft: Prospects Continuing to Shoot Up Draft Boards

The 2014 NFL draft has a ton of talent, and while the competition at certain positions is fierce, there are a number of prospects that are continuing to shoot up draft boards around the country.

According to Dane Brugler from CBSSports.com, a record 98 underclassmen declared for the NFL draft this season. Compared to the 73 that set the record last year, those 98 underclassmen help explain why this draft class is so deep.

With the NFL draft set to take place in May, let's take a look at some of the hottest names around the country right now as the prospects prepare for the NFL Scouting Combine.


Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida

From a relatively unknown quarterback at Central Florida to a potential No. 1 pick, Blake Bortles has come a long way over the past couple of months.

The junior quarterback out of UCF started to get on the map as a potential first-round pick before the Fiesta Bowl, where he could be taking on the Baylor Bears. Scouts were going to see if Bortles could play well against tougher competition, and he didn't disappoint. Bortles finished with 301 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while leading the Knights to a tough 52-42 win.

Blake Bortles Season Stats
Year  Comp % YPA  TD INT Rating
2013 67.8  9.37  25 9 163.4
2012 62.9         7.67  25 7 144.5
2011 68.2         8.71    6 3 153.9

The big reason Bortles is in the mix as the No. 1 overall pick is his prototypical size for a pocket passer. His 6'4'', 230-pound frame is mixed with some impressive mobility that helps him either climb the pocket or roll out to extend plays and give receivers more time to get open. Mentally, Bortles has a high football IQ with excellent vision down the field to make the right read.

While he doesn't have the strongest arm in the draft class, Bortles makes up for it with his athleticism and accuracy. His footwork isn't clean, but with his size and intangibles, Bortles has a chance to be a franchise quarterback, which is why sites like CBS Sports have him mocked as going No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans.


Dee Ford, DE, Auburn

There are a number of athletic pass-rushers in this draft class, but none have helped themselves as much recently as Auburn's Dee Ford.

The numbers from the 2013 season are pretty impressive for Ford. He finished the year with just 29 tackles, but he had 14.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks along with 17 quarterback hurries. Those numbers helped him earn All-SEC honors for the season.

While at Auburn, Ford has added a lot of weight to his frame, but it hasn't forced him to sacrifice explosiveness. He has a nice jump off of the snap that has the burst to burn by blockers and get to the passer, along with the work ethic to not give up on plays.

Ford played on the line in college, but given the fact that he's just 6'2'' and 240 pounds, NFL teams may want to move him to outside linebacker even if goes to a team with a 3-4 defensive scheme. However, the good news is that he still dropped into coverage with some regularity in college, so the transition might not be too difficult for Ford.

The biggest reasons Ford has shot up draft boards are the two sacks he racked up against Florida State in the BCS championship and an impressive week at Senior Bowl, recording another two sacks in the game. If Ford can continue to make noise at the combine, he could help solidify his status as a possible first-round pick.


Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh

Auburn's Ford wasn't the only prospect to generate a ton of buzz at the senior bowl. Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald made a lot of noise as well, and it's not hard to see why. Bleacher Report's own Matt Miller had this to say about Donald while he watched him in Mobile, Alabama.

Matt wasn't joking when he said all Donald did during the 2013 season was dominate. In 13 games, Donald racked up an impressive 59 total tackles, 28.5 for loss, 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and three pass deflections. Coming from a defensive tackle, those numbers are incredible.

As those stats suggest, Donald thrives at producing interior pressure on the quarterback, which can be much more disruptive for some passers than pressure from the outside. Donald is so fast off of the snap that he usually has an instant advantage on opposing offensive lineman as soon as the play begins.

While Donald isn't the tallest prospect, his frame does help him get under opponents' pads and produce a very impressive bull rush on his way into the backfield. However, that 6'1'', 288-pound frame could hurt his effectiveness in the NFL, much like Ford.

However, when going against some of the best talent in college football at the Senior Bowl, Donald made a very positive impression on the scouts watching. The stage will get a little bigger in Indianapolis during the combine, and if Donald can continue to shine, he could be a solid pick later in the first round.

This blog is sponsored by: http://visitwebpages.info/paypalchecks

Each NFL Team's Best-Case Scenario for the First Round of the 2014 NFL Draft

Every team should go into the 2014 NFL draft with an idea of what the best-case and worst-case scenarios could be for each of their picks.

The best-case scenarios might be easier to determine for teams like the Houston Texans, who can select any player they want with the No. 1 overall pick, or the Seattle Seahawks, who hold the last pick of the first round but have few needs with arguably the NFL’s most complete roster.

For teams picking in the middle of Round 1 with more pressing needs to fill and many possibilities to consider as to how the draft picks prior to theirs could play out, determining best-case scenarios might be more optimistic than they are realistic.

With nearly three months remaining until this year’s draft, even the NFL teams have no idea how this year’s selection meeting will play out. Nonetheless, it’s possible to play out scenarios in which every team with a first-round pick leaves it with a player whose talent warrants an early selection and should make his drafting team better.

This blog is sponsored by: http://visitwebpages.info/paypalchecks

5 Most Overhyped Prospects in 2014 NFL Draft

Every year, writers and other media personalities like to latch onto a handful of players and hype them non-stop. Whether it's due to immense college success or a great story, these players end up becoming huge names before they are even drafted.
The end result is players not only having to prove themselves much more than they had to originally, but players ending up drafted higher than they might have been. Two years ago, Robert Griffin III's hype became so great that he almost overtook Andrew Luck for the first overall pick in the eyes of some, including Merril Hoge, despite Luck essentially being a sure thing.
There are several players in a similar situation this year, players who have been so highly regarded that their reputations and names are being looked at before all else.
These players are all talented, and I would be happy to have any on my team. They are still more hyped than they should be, and these five players have such hype that it may be doing a disservice to their careers.
Begin Slideshow » « Prev 2 of 7 Next » 5. Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
Khalil Mack has rocketed up draft boards all season long, and he has continued that trend even after the season has ended. I have firmly been on his bandwagon since the Ohio State game to open the season, and I see him as a future star in the league.
Why is he on here, then? We are all used to small-school prospects being diamonds in the rough since they aren't seen as often, but that has shifted in recent years.
Now, because he was a small-school prospect in Buffalo, it seems that he is being overvalued and his lack of competition is being cast completely aside. Yes, he was dominant against Ohio State, but that's one game, and he had few opportunities like that over four seasons.
On the one hand, it's nice that Mack's skill set is being looked at rather than being dismissed due to not playing tough competition, but going too far the other way would just be detrimental to a player who may need a bit of time to adjust to the NFL.
The big man out of Notre Dame was a huge name leading up to this season. That has trailed off somewhat, yet he remains a high first-round projection.
Tuitt had 12 sacks his sophomore year, and 7.5 his junior year despite dealing with a sports hernia. Playing for Notre Dame has gotten him a bit of extra visibility as well.
While he does not have the media hype of others on this list, he has been a huge name in scouting circles, drawing comparisons to Richard Seymour. Though he has a great combination of size and speed, he's somewhat of a tweener. He does not have the elite pass-rushing ability to be a great 4-3 defensive end, and while he is a good run defender, he is not going to put up big-time numbers in the NFL.
That's fine since that's not the kind of player he is, but it means that there is a high possibility of fans being disappointed if he doesn't put up those numbers, which is not really fair to him.
A year ago, nobody outside of SEC fans knew who Greg Robinson was.
A year later, he is not only being touted as a first-round pick, but he has gone from a hidden gem to someone who has rocketed up draft boards.
At this point, he has risen too quickly.
He went from being underrated to overrated seemingly overnight. CBS Sports' Rob Rang has Robinson third overall in his latest big board.
While Rang notes his upside and physicality, he also notes a major issue: "Auburn's reliance on the running game, however, has given Robinson few opportunities in pass protection, meaning he could struggle initially in this role."
If Robinson has only been able to develop one part of his game, then being touted as a potential top-10 pick is a stretch at this point. A tackle selected that high should be able to flourish immediately, and that may not be the case with Robinson, even though his other attributes appear sound.
Jadeveon Clowney has gone from being the top high school prospect to a possible first overall draft pick after a dominant career at South Carolina.
His stats were great to start off. While they took a dip this past season, it was the result of being double-teamed nonstop, as even in the SEC teams struggled to hold him off. He still looks like the best defensive end to come out of college in some time.
Rather than being a sure thing, as one would expect from a top pick, Clowney is this year's biggest boom-or-bust candidate, in my opinion. Yes, his ceiling is through the roof and he could become a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he could just as easily flame out if his work ethic slips.
There are a slew of great players on the front seven in this year's draft class, yet Clowney is the only one who seems to get noticed outside of draft circles. It makes sense given his ability, but he's not a sure thing.
Everybody has an opinion on Johnny Manziel. Some love him, some hate him, and even those who are not sports fans at least know the name.
Does he live up to the hype?
For that to be the case, he would have to be a sure thing, and suffice to say, he's not. Even with Russell Wilson winning a Super Bowl, Manziel's height will remain a concern, and if he is in an offense not suited to his strengths, that could be an issue.
Breitbart asked if Manziel was the next Tim Tebow, and on the surface it's a valid comparison. In fact, this may be an understatement.
Tebow was a great college athlete who was accepted as a reach in the first round. Manziel, however, could easily go first overall, even though he may not be the best quarterback in the draft. Winning a Heisman, having a huge bowl comeback, and having no problem being in the spotlight will have that effect.

This blog is powered by: http://visitwebpages.info/paypalchecks/

NFL Draft 2014: Pinpointing Top Position of Need for Every Team

Super Bowl XLVIII has come and gone. Now it's time for all 32 NFL teams to focus on the offseason and prepare for the upcoming 2014 NFL draft in May. Each team has the same goal at this point in the year: get better.

Building through the draft is absolutely crucial for the success of any NFL franchise. Each team has holes that need filling—some more so than others. This could be due to players hitting the free-agent market or just simply not working out. Whatever the circumstance may be, bringing in a solid draft class is key.

No matter how deep each team's roster may be, every single franchise has one glaring position of need. Let's take a look at the position that is the absolute top priority for every NFL team heading into the draft.

Top Position of Need for Each NFL Team Draft Position Team Position of Need 1 Houston Texans QB 2, 13 St. Louis Rams OT 3 Jacksonville Jaguars QB 4, 26 Cleveland Browns QB 5 Oakland Raiders QB 6 Atlanta Falcons DE 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers DE 8 Minnesota Vikings QB 9 Buffalo Bills LB 10 Detroit Lions CB 11 Tennessee Titans S 12 New York Giants LB 14 Chicago Bears DT 15 Pittsburgh Steelers OT 16 Baltimore Ravens WR 17 Dallas Cowboys S 18 New York Jets WR 19 Miami Dolphins OT 20 Arizona Cardinals OT 21 Green Bay Packers S 22 Philadelphia Eagles LB 23 Kansas City Chiefs WR 24 Cincinnati Bengals CB 25 San Diego Chargers CB 27 New Orleans Saints LB 28 Carolina Panthers WR 29 New England Patriots OG 30 San Francisco 49ers WR 31 Denver Broncos OT 32 Seattle Seahawks TE 34 Washington Redskins DE 58 Indianapolis Colts OG Draft Order via NFL.com

 

Cleveland Browns: Quarterback

The Browns have been in absolute disarray regarding the quarterback position for years. In 2013, the team started three different quarterbacks over the course of the season. Cleveland has now started multiple quarterbacks each season for the last 12 years.

I asked Josh Gordon if Brian Hoyer should be the starter: 'Man, that's above my head, but Brian's a great guy, great quarterback.'
This blog is powered by: http://visitwebpages.info/paypalchecks/

New England Patriots 2014 Mock Draft with Player Scouting Profiles

A 2014 NFL mock draft involving the New England Patriots almost has to include a trade. Contrary to their name, the Patriots—led by head coach Bill Belichick—rarely stand "pat" on draft day.

New England traded up twice in 2012's first round, while 2013 saw New England trade out of the draft's first day and stockpile picks.

Expect the Patriots to trade up in 2014. They have shown this year that they have the depth to withstand injuries to key players such as Vince Wilfork and Sebastian Vollmer. It is now time to add a couple talented players to put them over the top.

Over three months from the 2014 NFL draft, things are hardly set in stone, but here is one way that things might play out in New England's draft-day war room.

 

Note: Players were selected based on overall talent, scheme fit, positional need and projected availability.

It isn't difficult to see the 6'6" frame of Ra'Shede Hageman—who easily carries his 315 pounds—and immediately think of former New England Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour.

Like Seymour, Hageman can play defensive tackle and end. In a defensive scheme that values versatility, Hageman's ability to play 1-tech, 3-tech and 5-tech would be invaluable. 

Unfortunately for New England, Hageman is expected by many to have already been selected by the time that the Patriots are on the clock. In this mock draft, they've sent their first-, third- and sixth-round picks in 2014, and a third-round selection in 2015, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for the 14th pick and a fifth-round in the 2014 draft.

With that sort of investment, the Patriots would be looking for an immediate contribution from Hageman. Plugging him in on the defensive line with Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich and Vince Wilfork gives him a nice head start.

The New England Patriots' lack of production from tight ends not named Rob Gronkowski in 2013 was tough to stomach for fans of the team after watching No. 87 and Aaron Hernandez shred NFL defenses over the last two years.

C.J. Fiedorowicz is no Aaron Hernandez—he is primarily an inline tight end—but he offers a 6'7" frame that is tough to defend inside the 20-yard line and the blocking skills of an offensive tackle. 

With Fiedorowicz and a healthy Gronkowski on the field, New England's offense can seamlessly switch between power runs and spread formations without changing the personnel on the field.

This blog is powered by:http://visitwebpages.info/paypalchecks/

Kansas City Chiefs 2014 Mock Draft with Player Scouting Profiles

The Kansas City Chiefs head into the 2014 NFL draft needing to boost the big-play potential of their offense, as well as improve their defensive backfield.

Even without picks in the second and seventh rounds, the Chiefs have enough selections to find talent for their main areas of need. In Round 1, head coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey may be unable to ignore a physically imposing wide receiver who can be a matchup nightmare in the pros.

Reid and Dorsey may also risk waiting to land their safety of choice, with the middle rounds likely to contain an intriguing prospect. That would make the later rounds a chance to bolster both depth and quality in the trenches.

Kelvin Benjamin is just too good for the Chiefs to pass on with the draft's 23rd overall pick. He is the big-bodied, roving playmaker this offense needs.

WalterFootball.com believes the Chiefs will likely take a chance on Benjamin.

The only real question about Benjamin concerns his modest experience and production at the position. NFL.com College Football 24/7 writer Dan Greenspan highlights Benjamin as something of a late bloomer:

At 6-foot-5 and 234 pounds, Benjamin was the Seminoles' most impressive specimen, but only started tapping into his potential late in his redshirt sophomore season. Benjamin had 18 receptions for 385 yards and six touchdowns in his final three games at Florida State, one quarter of his career receiving yards and nearly one third of his career touchdown receptions.

In two seasons, Benjamin caught 84 balls for 1,506 yards and 19 touchdowns, the kind of production the other top wide receivers in this crop -- Sammy Watkins of Clemson, Marqise Lee of USC, Mike Evans of Texas A&M and Brandin Cooks of Oregon State -- delivered in just one year.

He may have caught on late, but Benjamin is worth a risk as a first-round selection. Not many cornerbacks can cover a 6'5", 235-pounder who matches that giant frame with blazing speed.

Offensive coordinator Doug Pederson would craft many ways to get the ball in the hands of such a fleet-footed bruiser.

The Chiefs have been burned drafting a receiver with eye-popping physical intangibles before. Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star rightfully asks if Benjamin is not just another Jon Baldwin, the team's failed first-round draft choice of 2011.

But as Paylor points out, Benjamin has gotten better every year, rather than just leaning on his physical gifts:

However, Baldwin's profile also revealed that he was a sloppy route runner who wasn't a willing run blocker and occasionally took plays off. There have been some questions about Benjamin's work ethic ― he reportedly ballooned to 260 pounds as a true freshman, when he knew he wasn't going to play as he learned a complex playbook – and even headmitted that he was lazy on and off the field when he first arrived at Florida State.

But he's since cut a significant amount of weight, which shows a commitment to getting better, and has flashed ability as a run blocker, a potential boon in a Chiefs offense that is heavy on screen passes and reliant on downfield blocking for star running back Jamaal Charles.

With Reid and assistant head coach David Culley working closely with him, Benjamin will soon learn the techniques he'll need to thrive in the NFL.

That refinement, combined with his awesome physical potential, will make the ex-Seminoles star the focal point of the Kansas City passing game.

The need for a more accomplished safety is obvious after defensive coordinator Bob Sutton's single-high concepts were destroyed during the second half of the season.

If they roll the dice in Round 3, Reid and Dorsey can land a true steal in former USC ace Dion Bailey. He is projected as a fourth-rounder by CBS Sports in their updated, post-Senior Bowl position rankings. But Bailey is worth a so-called "reach" to the Chiefs.

The converted linebacker is a heavy hitter, but he does his best work breaking on the ball in coverage.

CBS Sports writer Rob Rang highlights attributes of Bailey's game that would make him perfect for the deep-safety role in Sutton's coverage schemes:

Quick, short backpedal and good fluidity in his hips to change directions. Accelerates smoothly and has good speed, overall. Good body control and hands for the interception (11 over his career). Durable. Missed one game due to injury in three seasons as a starter.

That ability to shift his feet and turn will be essential in a Cover 1 scheme where the deep safety has to make quick reads and go.

Just like with Benjamin, some scouts and teams may be put off by Bailey's limited experience at his position. He has only has a year lining up at free safety to his credit.

But in that lone season, he managed to intercept five passes and break up six more, according to cfbstats.com. That production is evidence of the playmaking skills the Chiefs need at an essential position on their defense.

This blog is powered by:http://visitwebpages.info/paypalchecks/

Indianapolis Colts 2014 Mock Draft with Player Scouting Profiles

Well, it was a disappointing weekend for Indianapolis Colts fans, with former Colts Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison both missing out on Hall of Fame selections, Robert Mathis losing the defensive player of the year award and former Colt Peyton Manning losing in the Super Bowl. 

But, the upside to this weekend is that it is now over, meaning that the offseason is officially here. 

With that in mind, we move right into mock draft mode. For the Colts, this includes five picks (second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh round) and an opportunity to improve depth on the roster and find potential starters at key positions. 

For a more inclusive list of targets, check out our initial big board from last week, but here is one potential combination of players that could be very beneficial for Indianapolis. 

Begin Slideshow » « Prev 2 of 7 Next » Second Round: WR Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt

The Fit: There has been, and will be, plenty of talk about where the Colts should go with their first pick in the 2014 draft, and to be honest, it likely will come down to a "best player available" scenario. With a thin overall roster, the Colts can really afford to take whatever player they want without much concern over the position. 

With wide receiver being such a deep position this year, a top-notch receiver may be able to be found in the second round for Indianapolis. Jordan Matthews is my ideal pick in this situation, and you'll hear more than enough about him over the next few months. Of course, we'll mix up our mocks, but why not start with the player that I'd rather have over anybody else at this position?

 

Pros: Matthews is one of the most complete route-route runners in this draft, and combines great size along with his technical abilities (6'3", 208 pounds). He has extremely consistent hands and while he's no Anquan Boldin in terms of physicality, he certainly can hold his own while making catches in traffic. 

 

Cons: There are numerous other receivers in this draft with better athleticism than Matthews. He's not exceptionally fast, and his separation abilities are more about his route tree than his explosiveness. But, to be honest, the Colts have several very good athletes at wide receiver already (T.Y. Hilton, LaVon Brazill, Da'Rick Rogers), and a big-play threat isn't something that's essential for this receiving corp. 

« Prev 3 of 7 Next » Third Round: ILB Chris Borland (Wisconsin)

The Fit: The Colts desperately need to address the inside linebacker position this offseason. With few big names available in free agency, the team may look to the early rounds of the draft to fill the need. Jerrell Freeman is a nice piece, but the Colts desperately need more, both in the depth and starting positions. 

The Colts could especially use an attacking linebacker who can be aggressive against the run to start alongside Freeman, who can get a bit conservative at times. 

 

Pros: Borland has exceptional instincts, and reads and reacts to plays very well. He quickly gets into gaps and behind the line of scrimmage, where he picks up a decent amount of tackles for a loss. Borland is also instinctive in the passing game, and is fairly smooth in coverage. He also is an effective blitzer, and can be sent from anywhere. 

 

Cons: The biggest knock on Borland is his lack of size. Borland is just 5'11" and his height could get in the way of both run defense (getting caught behind the line) and pass defense (against taller tight ends). He also isn't the most consistent tackler in this year's draft. 

This blog is powered by:http://visitwebpages.info/paypalchecks/