2014 NFL Mock Draft: Post Week 9 Breakdown

Now that we are about halfway through the season, major needs have fully made themselves known on each NFL roster.

It's never a bad time for a mock draft, but things have become clearer in recent weeks. Some needs are obvious—teams with an ineffective quarterback shine brighter than most in mocks. Other needs have taken their time in revealing themselves.

Based on a projected playoff order, here is a gander at how the 2014 draft will play out when taking into account the happenings in the collegiate world along with the aforementioned needs at the professional level.

Enjoy.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

It's rare to see any surefire picks in the NFL draft, but the No. 1 pick is oftentimes the exception with the need for a franchise quarterback so apparent.

Jacksonville's patience with Blaine Gabbert is gone (two years too late), and journeyman Chad Henne won't carry the team in a rebuild.

Teddy Bridgewater is the best prospect to come out since Andrew Luck, and he'll help to usher in a new era in Jacksonville.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

It will be interesting to see if Marcus Mariota, a redshirt sophomore quarterback, actually declares. If Mariota chooses to take his talents to the NFL, he'll be right behind Bridgewater as the top option.

Tampa Bay brought Mike Glennon to town last year, and while he's been decent enough, given his dire situation, it's a safe bet the Greg Schiano era will come to an end before the draft.

If that's the case, a new regime will want a quarterback of its own, and only one surpasses the potential of Mariota.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina

Jared Allen's time in Minnesota is likely over with his contract up after the season and his presumed desire to play for a championship contender with his career winding down.

It hurts to have to ride the Josh Freeman train for another year (barring a quarterback selection in Round 2), but it's easier to accept with the draft's best prospect in Jadeveon Clowney lining up with Shariff Floyd on every down.

Scary.

4. New York Giants: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

With Eli Manning beginning to get up there in age, the New York Giants must do a better job of protecting him to milk a few more years out of their franchise quarterback. 

While a pick like Anthony Barr would suffice, New York has to bank on Jason Pierre-Paul awakening from his slumber.

Manning is not as bad as he has shown in 2013, and better protection would help to turn things around. It does not get any better than Jake Matthews.

5. St. Louis Rams (via Washington): Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan

A close second at tackle to Jake Matthews is Michigan's Taylor Lewan, and all signs point toward the St. Louis Rams sticking with quarterback Sam Bradford.

Bradford was having his best year to date before he tore his ACL. Better protection is necessary in St. Louis, and with an extra pick only a few slots down the board, grabbing an elite offensive tackle prospect is the way to go.

6. Atlanta Falcons: Anthony Barr, OLB/DE, UCLA

Atlanta is horrible, but the offense will be healthy in 2014, so the focus needs to be on a miserable defense. 

The Falcons have two great options here—they can help to generate a pass rush with a top prospect or kick Peria Jerry to the curb at tackle and grab Louis Nix III.

It's a shame Atlanta must pick one or the other, but the smart play is the ability to generate a pass rush with an elite prospect such as Anthony Barr. A better pass rush serves two functions, as it will also disguise a weak secondary.

7. Houston Texans: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

The Houston Texans owe 32-year-old Andre Johnson over $40 million the next three seasons. It appears Houston may have something in quarterback Case Keenum, so adding another weapon is a smart move, especially if Johnson is not willing to restructure.

DeAndre Hopkins is a special player, but the addition of Mike Evans puts the Texans offense back over the top.

8. Oakland Raiders: Louis Nix III, NT, Notre Dame

Oakland has too many holes on the roster to count, but the emergence of Terrelle Pryor has extended his leash for at least one more season.

Pryor's production means Oakland can turn its attention to defense, where a massive run-stuffing tackle is needed next to Vance Walker. That man is Louis Nix III, one of the best prospects at the position in a decade.

Nix immediately frees up a talented playmaker like Sio Moore behind him.

9. St. Louis Rams: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

With Taylor Lewan in the fold, the St. Louis Rams can use their next top pick on another weapon for quarterback Sam Bradford.

Despite the presence of Tavon Austin and Jared Cook, the Rams offense has still sputtered. Adding the top receiver in a draft class for the second consecutive year gives the Rams serious options on every down, especially with the emergence of Zac Stacy at running back.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama

Ben Roethlisberger is not getting any younger, and his play has been erratic, at best, once again behind a porous offensive line.

Pittsburgh has been miserable at drafting over the past five years or so, but Cyrus Kouandjio is a sure thing from an offensive-line factory. With Kouandjio in the fold, Roethlisberger may be able to extend his career by a few years, providing the line actually stays healthy.

11. Arizona Cardinals: Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson

Tajh Boyd has seen his draft stock fluctuate wildly over the course of the season to match his unpredictable performances.

Still, the fact remains, Boyd is an intriguing talent with solid pro potential in an NFL that places the utmost importance on the position.

Arizona has Carson Palmer, but Boyd stands a better chance behind a horrific offensive line the Cardinals refuse to upgrade.

12. Philadelphia Eagles: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

Here it is.

Michael Vick's career seems over, Nick Foles is not necessarily a franchise quarterback, despite a strange seven-touchdown outburst, and Matt Barkley is a deer in headlights.

Johnny Manziel does not have outstanding measurables, but his ability to create on-the-fly in a vertical sense meshes well with what Chip Kelly runs in Philadelphia. It's a decision that will, ultimately, decide Kelly's NFL fate.

13. Buffalo Bills: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama

Buffalo slapped Jairus Byrd with the franchise tag last offseason and since fans have heard nothing but trade rumors since.

With Byrd's time in Buffalo seemingly coming to an end, the Bills would be wise to grab the draft's best safety product in the middle of the first round so that a talented defense does not skip a beat. 

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is just oozing potential and will be helped in his transition to the NFL, thanks to a solid pass rush from talents like Mario and Kyle Williams. Cliché time—this fits like a glove.

14. Miami Dolphins: Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee

Ryan Tannehill remains the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL, thanks to a horrible offensive line and even worse strategy from the front office in Miami—that thought it wise to add major upgrades in free agency to most areas except the one that matters most. 

Tannehill is a franchise quarterback, but he's going to need to be upright in order to be effective. Antonio Richardson has consistently dominated SEC play and is the definition of pro-ready, so Tannehill can rest easy with this selection.

15. Tennessee Titans: Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State

Tennessee quietly has a solid young core on defense if one chooses to ignore the linebacker position. Moise Fokou and Co. have been horrific consistently, so the position of choice here is far too obvious. 

The player is obvious as well. They don't come much better prepared for the NFL than Ohio State's Ryan Shazier, and he'll provide a boost and noticeable leadership to a solid unit.

16. Chicago Bears: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo

The Chicago Bears have an emerging star linebacker in the form of Jon Bostic, but an upgrade is necessary next to him in order for the defense to remain productive.

Khalil Mack has continued his meteoric rise up draft boards, thanks to solid play, despite his status as a player from the MAC.

Next to Bostic, the Bears may, once again, field the best linebacker corps in the NFL.

17. Cleveland Browns: Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU

Brandon Weeden is on the bench and the result of a past regime, Brian Hoyer was a flash in the pan not worth banking the future of a franchise on and Jason Campbell is a stopgap solution.

It's time for Cleveland to draft a true franchise quarterback, and the signs, here, point to LSU's Zach Mettenberger. He can execute the vertically oriented offense in Cleveland with ease, although he'll need some help from a running back selected later in the draft.

18. New York Jets: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State

There is no such thing as too many defensive backs in the pass-happy modern NFL.

Dee Milliner has been a massive disappointment, and star cornerback Antonio Cromartie ranks as the No. 107 corner in the NFL—on a list that rates 108, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Rex Ryan's defense is elite up front, but clearly, the secondary needs an infusion of talent. Grabbing the top corner for the second consecutive year gives Ryan even more to work with.

19. Baltimore Ravens: Marqise Lee, WR, USC

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has struggled immensely without Anquan Boldin and tight end Dennis Pitta.

Torrey Smith is a great receiver, but he can only do so much with the only other credible receiving threat on the roster being Tandon Doss.

Marqise Lee has struggled to keep his draft stock afloat, but he is a solid outside receiver who will give some much-needed space to Smith.

20. Carolina Panthers: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

Carolina already has a top defense in the NFL, thanks to the likes of Luke Kuechly and Star Lotulelei, but the secondary has struggled, at times, to prevent the big play. 

Defensive back has been a major issue, but the addition of Ifo Ekpre-Olomu will do nothing but improve the already-elite defense with his physical play and impressive skills with the ball in the air.

21. San Diego Chargers: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU

Cornerback is second only to quarterback in importance these days, so it should come as no surprise to see a run on the position with the top two names coming off the board.

Close behind Roby and Ekpre-Olomu is Jason Verrett, and San Diego gets to pick just in time.

The defense in San Diego has been horrific against the pass, and with Philip Rivers playing at a high level, San Diego can, once again, focus on the defense.

22. Dallas Cowboys: Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame

The Dallas Cowboys are in desperate need of interior defensive help in their new scheme, so it's a beautiful thing to see the versatile Stephon Tuitt take the plunge to this point.

Tuitt can kick inside and remain on the edge in Dallas, and given the prowess of other pass-rushers on the roster, the Notre Dame star gives the Cowboys a formidable front that can match up with any line.

23. Detroit Lions: Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson

Defensively a close second to the ultimate need for cornerbacks is the need for quality pass-rushers. While Detroit is stout with Ndamukong Suh and Ziggy Ansah, it can't hurt to add another strong element.

Vic Beasley is a freak athlete and versatile enough to find a role in Detroit right away. With the quality corners off the board, loading up with another pass-rusher to give a laughably bad secondary less time to be exposed is a good idea.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: C.J. Mosley, OLB, Alabama

Cincinnati has few needs, which is why it would not come as a surprise for them to take an outside linebacker in the first round.

James Harrison has been average in his role on the strong side, so C.J. Mosley is an instant starter in that regard once Harrison retires in a few years. Paired with Vontaze Burfict and Rey Maualuga, linebacker is yet another strength of the Cincinnati defense.

Corner is an extremely likely scenario here as well, but one worth the selection in this slot may not be on the board.

25. Green Bay Packers: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington

With Jermichael Finley hobbling into his stint with free agency, the time is now for Green Bay to grab another pass-catcher at the position. 

Regardless of Finley's future with the team, Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a great add for Aaron Rodgers. Seferian-Jenkins is an elite prospect and can either fill Finley's void or combo with him to give the Packers one of the best two-tight end combos in the NFL.

26. Cleveland Browns (via IND): Cyril Richardson, OG, Baylor

With a franchise quarterback in tow, it's time for Cleveland to get serious about its offensive line, especially along the interior.

The triple-headed monster of Shawn Lauvao, Oniel Cousins and John Greco has been laughably bad, so with an extra pick here, the Browns get a man in Cyril Richardson who is, arguably, the best pound-for-pound prospect in the draft.

If Cleveland is going to start doing things the right way, this is the way to go.

27. New England Patriots:  Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina

Bill Belichick is a difficult man to figure out, but this one is becoming more clear as the season wears onward to its conclusion.

Tom Brady desperately needs help, even with Rob Gronkowski on the field. Look for Belichick to grab the best tight end on the board in an attempt to rekindle the two-tight end magic of years past.

28. San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt

Colin Kaepernick has been the definition of average as a passer in 2013, so the addition of more legit weapons on the outside to complement the aging Anquan Boldin is the way to go.

Jordan Matthews is a stellar prospect known for catching anything thrown his way.

The addition of Matthews gives Kaepernick three legit threats along with Boldin and Vernon Davis.

29. New Orleans Saints: Kyle Van Noy, OLB, Utah

It's far too obvious which side of the ball New Orleans will address in the draft, but it is harder to discern which position.

Outside linebacker is a good candidate, despite the solid play of Parys Haralson and Junior Galette. The Saints are accustomed to playing defense with a lead, which means the addition of an elite rusher like Kyle Van Noy adds depth to a defense always in a position to pin its ears back and get after quarterbacks.

30. Kansas City Chiefs: Cameron Erving, OT, Florida State

Back to the drawing board for Kansas City along the offensive line, especially if the game-managing Alex Smith continues to reside under center. 

Kansas City is in a position where most picks are of the luxury kind anyway, so a boring offensive line selection is allowed. That and it's the best move for the franchise moving forward.

31. Seattle Seahawks: De'Anthony Thomas, OW, Oregon

Despite a great overall record, the passing attack in Seattle has been abysmal, despite the best efforts of quarterback Russell Wilson.

With Sidney Rice typically injured and Percy Harvin making minimal contributions, it only makes sense for Seattle to grab a versatile weapon such as De'Anthony Thomas.

When Thomas is not lining up in the backfield as the perfect complement to Marshawn Lynch, he can split out wide and take advantage of matchups in the passing game against slower defenders.

32. Denver Broncos: Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford

The Denver Broncos can afford to spend a pick on the defensive side of things with an offense that scores over 40 points per game.

The secondary is a mess, and the offensive line must get healthy, but the lack of a pass rush is a bigger issue with no true resolution in sight. Trent Murphy can help in that regard, and at this point in the draft, he can be considered a steal to boot.

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