NFL Draft 2014: Notable Picks from Latest Expert Mocks Around the Web

The NFL draft is almost always unpredictable to a certain degree, but rarely are as many possibilities in play at the top of the draft as there are right now.

With the Houston Texans sitting at No. 1 in dire need of a quarterback, they could settle for one, but they could just as easily select stud pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney or even trade out of that spot. Houston's decision will then inevitably have a huge impact on what every other team does.

That uncertainty has led to some wide-ranging predictions in mock drafts across the Web, and they seem to be changing drastically with each passing day.

Here is some further analysis regarding the most intriguing picks from the hottest mock drafts making the rounds currently.

Atlanta Falcons Trade Up for Jadeveon Clowney (Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com)

The bulk of CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco's mock draft is fairly straightforward, but readers can't help but raise their eyebrows at the very start. Prisco has Clowney going off the board No. 1 overall, which isn't particularly shocking, as most consider him to be the best prospect. What is surprising is the fact that he doesn't believe the Texans will make the pick.

Prisco orchestrated a mock trade that involves the Atlanta Falcons moving up to No. 1 and the Texans moving back to No. 6. Such a move would make sense for the Falcons. Clowney is a generational talent, and they ranked just 29th in the league last season in sacks.

It could also be a cerebral move for the Texans. If they aren't particularly interested in Clowney and covet a quarterback instead, they can accumulate some picks and still get their man at No. 6. Prisco has Houston landing Central Florida signal-caller Blake Bortles, whom many had the Texans selecting at No. 1 for quite some time.

Prisco didn't break down the potential trade, but it stands to reason that the cost would be great. That might scare away some teams; however, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com is confident that Atlanta's interest in Clowney means that it has interest in trading up:

That wouldn't be an unprecedented occurrence under general manager Thomas Dimitroff, as the Falcons traded up from No. 27 to No. 6 in 2011 in order to select wide receiver Julio Jones. That has proved to be a smart move thus far, so Atlanta may go to the well again.

It is ultimately up to Houston in terms of whether it wants to trade out of that top spot, and a deal with Atlanta seems like a definite option at this juncture.

Odell Beckham Jr. to Detroit Lions (Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN)

There has been a great deal of focus on wide receivers Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans throughout the pre-draft process. Both are likely top-10 selections, and both have the ability to be stars at the next level. One pass-catcher who has been on the ascent to the point that he is closing in on Watkins and Evans is Odell Beckham Jr. of LSU.

The speedy Beckham was a reliable receiver for the Tigers, and he is particularly attractive to NFL teams that are looking for someone to stretch the field. Beckham fits the bill, and ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. (subscription required) clearly feels as though his stock has reached a fever pitch. The Detroit Lions are known for their penchant for selecting wide receivers in the first round, and Kiper sees them adding to that legacy by taking Beckham at No. 10.

It wasn't long ago that Beckham was considered a late first-round prospect, so a jump to No. 10 is quite impressive. Even more surprising than the notion of Beckham being selected early, though, is the thought of Detroit going after another receiver.

The Lions already have the best wide receiver in the game in Calvin Johnson, and they also signed Golden Tate away from the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. Despite that firepower, the Lions may want to bring in even more weaponry for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

In the wake of this revelation, Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News speculated that the Lions' meeting with LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger might have had something to do with Beckham:

Detroit has done a good job of hiding its potential interest in Beckham, but there is no doubt he would be an interesting fit within the Lions' explosive offense. Even though he doesn't necessarily represent a need, he could prove to be a smart selection.

Anthony Barr to San Diego Chargers (Todd McShay of ESPN.com)

One of the most curious prospects in the 2014 draft class is UCLA pass-rusher Anthony Barr. He was a hugely productive player in both 2012 and 2013, with a total of 23.5 sacks and 41.5 sacks across those two seasons after moving from running back to linebacker. Barr was considered a top-10 lock at the conclusion of the 2013 campaign, but things have apparently changed.

At this point, Barr isn't even a lock to be selected in the first round. That's incredible, as he hasn't done anything to hurt his stock. Perhaps the biggest issue is Barr's lack of size and his "tweener" status between linebacker and defensive end. According to NFL.com, Barr measured in at just 6'5" and 255 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine.

It would have been tough to fathom a couple of months ago, but Todd McShay of ESPN.com (subscription required) has Barr falling to the San Diego Chargers at No. 25 in his latest mock. While it seems like a good scheme fit and could work out well for both parties, dropping that far would have to be a disappointment from Barr's perspective.

McShay's decision seems to reflect his own personal feelings regarding Barr as a prospect. Per Kyle Meinke of MLive.com, McShay has been unimpressed with the film he has watched on Barr:

"

I thought I was going to see a different player than I actually saw. He wasn't bad -- I don't want to give the wrong impression -- but his takeoff skills have to improve. ... He's not very strong at the point of attack. He does not do a good job of setting the edge. He is close to a one-trick pony as a pass-rusher, in terms of just the speed rush. His speed-to-power moves stall -- they almost always stall out.

"

It is unclear if NFL teams share that assessment, but Paul Domowitch of Philly.com is hearing that Barr is expected to be taken well before the Philadelphia Eagles pick at No. 22:

That obviously conflicts with McShay's prediction, but that makes sense due to the fact that it is very difficult to get a handle on Barr's draft stock right now. Because of that, Barr figures to be one of the biggest stories on draft night.

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