2014 NFL Mock Draft: No Trades Edition Picks 21-32
By Justin Simon
Dec 30, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders tight end Jace Amaro (22) carries the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the 2013 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Previous picks in this 2014 NFL mock draft.
21. Green Bay Packers
Jace Amaro – TE, Texas Tech
Without Jermichael Finley on the roster the Packers are currently lacking a true #1 tight end that has played an important part of their offense over the last few years. Andrew Quarless is better served as a backup tight end. Amaro is athletic enough to step right into the starting lineup and contribute from day one.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Bradley Roby – CB, Ohio St.
The Eagles have a one of the most productive offenses in the NFL, but without upgrades on the defensive side of the ball they won’t be able to compete consistently with the the power teams in the NFC. Roby is a good athlete that can play in different types of coverages. He’s inconsistent at times, but worth the pick at this point in the draft.
23. Kansas City Chiefs
Marqise Lee – WR, USC
Lee is one of the more intriguing players in the draft. If he would have been able to come out after the 2012 season he probably would have been a top 10 pick, but the Chiefs and Andy Reid pounce on a guy that has similar playmaking ability as Desean Jackson. Lee has the tendency to try to make every play a big play, but with some solid NFL coaching he could be the steal of the draft.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Jason Verrett – CB, TCU
Much like their division mate, the Steelers, the Bengals are quickly getting older on the back end of their defense. Verrett may not have the ideal size for today’s NFL cornerbacks, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he plays. If Verrett were a few inches taller, he’d be the top corner off the board. Sadly many in the NFL are stuck in height, weight, speed mode, and the Bengals take advantage.
25. San Diego Chargers
Louis Nix III – NT, Notre Dame
Nix is a massive man at 330 lbs. and would be a perfect fit in the middle of the Chargers 3-4 defense. The Chargers have a big hole at nose tackle, with Kwame Geathers, who played in just seven games last season, slated in to start. The Chargers have some other needs they could address, but tackle trumps them.
26. Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis)
Johnny Manziel – QB, Texas A & M
Cleveland get’s it’s man. I know there’s buzz about Derek Carr, but Manziel is just too tempting. He would bring a level of excitement that Cleveland hasn’t seen in years. He’d also be coming to a team with a solid offensive line and an all pro receiver. The Browns essentially trade Trent Richardson for Johnny Manziel. That’s a win for Cleveland–and you can’t say that too often.
27. New Orleans Saints
Morgan Moses – OT, Virginia
The Saints gave up a total of 37 sacks last season. That’s far too many for a team that like to throw as much as they do. Morgan Moses is a mammoth of a man at 6’6″ 325. He has some weaknesses in the run game, but the Saints draft him for his strong pass protection.
28. Carolina Panthers
Cyrus Kouandjio – OT, Alabama
It seems like Cam Newton woke up one morning and his entire offensive line retired. Kouandjio isn’t the cleanest prospect–he has some sloppy footwork and injury concerns–but he also has tremendous upside and talent.
29. New England Patriots
Ryan Shazier – LB, Ohio St.
With Brandon Spikes gone, the Patriots now have a void to fill in the middle of the field. Shazier may not fit perfectly in the Patriots defense, but Bill Belichick will figure out how to play to his strengths.
30. San Francisco 49ers
Kelvin Benjamin – WR, Florida St.
San Francisco needs depth at wide receiver. Anquan Boldin is getting older and the depth behind Michael Crabtree is weak at best. The 49ers take a shot at one of the draft’s more intriguing prospects. Benjamin looks like the prototypical #1 receiver in the NFL, but he’s not there mentally. If he gets drafted by the Niners, he wouldn’t be pressed into being the guy and would have time to grow.
31. Denver Broncos
Kyle Fuller – CB, Virginia Tech
So far this offseason the Broncos have added several high profile free agents. They signed Aqib Talib away from New England, but they also lost their top cornerbacks from last season. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie went to the Giants and Champ Bailey recently signed with the Saints. There is little depth behind Talib, and Fuller could push to start in training camp.
32. Seattle Seahawks
Kony Ealy – DE, Missouri
The Seahawks resigned Michael Bennett, but they lost some key depth players as well. Kony Ealy has potential to blossom into a top pass rusher down the road. He’s also versatile enough to play in a multiple-front scheme.