NFL Draft 2014: Forecasting Day 1

The 2014 NFL draft is finally within reach. Just let those words sink in for a moment.

It's been an excruciatingly long offseason with the draft pushed back two weeks into May. There have been unending talks about trades, players rising up draft boards and prospects sliding faster than a greased-up pig on a 40-foot Slip'N Slide.

Through it all, however, we still have no real idea what's going to happen on Day 1 of this year's draft. Teams are constantly throwing out false reports in a hope to deter their opponents away from coveted players.

So, the best we can do is attempt to plow our way through all the garbage and give you the best predictions we can for the first day of the 2014 NFL draft. 

One Team Makes a Ridiculous Trade

USA TODAY Sports

The draft always brings about trades, and this year should be no different. However, we're not talking about any standard trade here. We're talking about something similar to the Atlanta Falcons moving up 21 picks in order to draft wide receiver Julio Jones back in 2011.

The most likely team to do this is the San Francisco 49ers. They have a bevy of high picks to work with this year (six in the first three rounds, to be exact) and a glaring need to fill.

And like that massive 2011 trade, the 49ers will do it for a receiver. With Sammy Watkins likely too expensive, look for San Francisco to focus on Texas A&M's Mike Evans as a top-10 target. 

There's no doubt that this will be an expensive move for the 49ers, but it could ultimately be the move that pushes San Francisco ahead of the Seattle Seahawks. Combining Evans with Colin Kaepernick, Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis is simply too intriguing for the 49ers to not make this trade.

Teddy Bridgewater Is Gone Within the First 10 Picks

No player will be more thankful that the first round of the NFL draft will be over this week than quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. The constant talk about Bridgewater leading up to the draft has simply been ridiculous. 

And while it's sometimes hard to ignore all the chatter about Bridgewater falling down draft boards, it's hard to fathom it actually happening. He'll be drafted within the first 10 picks, and if he isn't, then every NFL general manager needs to be checked for mental stability.

Bridgewater has all the tools to be an extremely successful NFL quarterback early in his career. With so many teams in the top 10 in desperate need of a franchise quarterback, such as the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings, there should be no way Bridgewater makes it to the No. 11 pick.

If guys like Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder can be drafted right outside of the first 10 picks, there is no way that Bridgewater won't be gone once the 10th pick is selected.

A Running Back Is Drafted

USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 draft didn't yield a single first-round running back. That was the first time that had happened since 1963.

What's troubling for running back prospects is that last year's draft appears to be turning into the norm rather than a one-time occurrence. In fact, if you scour the web for mock drafts, not many, if any, have a running back being selected in the first round.

However, there is one running back who has the talent necessary to be considered as a potential first-round pick: Carlos Hyde from Ohio State. He's a powerful runner who has the ability to be an every-down back for an NFL team.

With teams like the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers all potentially looking for fresh blood in their backfields, it's definitely possible that Hyde hears his name called on Day 1.

Six Offensive Tackles Drafted in First Round

USA TODAY Sports

Last year, we saw three offensive tackles get drafted in the first four picks and five total get drafted in the first round. While there won't be as many linemen taken that high in this year's draft, we will see more overall taken within the first 32 picks.

The obvious choices are Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews. Both players will likely be gone by pick No. 10, as both project as franchise left tackles for the foreseeable future.

Another tackle who's almost guaranteed to get drafted in the first round is Michigan's Taylor Lewan. He's had some off-field issues, but he's another projected starter for the next 10 years.

The rest of the candidates to be drafted in the first round are Virginia's Morgan Moses, Tennessee's Ja'Wuan James and Alabama's Cyrus Kouandjio. All of these prospects have holes in their games, but their upsides might simply be too good for teams to pass on.

With more teams becoming pass-first offenses, offensive linemen are becoming a premium position in the draft. Don't be surprised to see more of this position drafted than any other position in the first round.

Two Wide Receivers Drafted by Pick No. 10

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

We've already briefly talked about the top two wide receivers in this year's draft. That honor goes to Clemson's Watkins and Texas A&M's Evans. While Watkins and Evans may have different qualities that make them top prospects, both have the potential of being elite No. 1 receivers in their careers.

Watkins is a little more polished at this point in his career and might make more of an instant impact. However, due to Evans' size and athleticism, his overall upside might be a little higher overall than Watkins.

This potential and upside will ultimately cause teams that want them to draft them in the top 10. Whether it's the Browns, Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders or Buffalo Bills, look for both Watkins and Evans to be gone by the No. 10 pick.

Four Safeties Drafted in the First Round

USA TODAY Sports

Few positions have become as important in recent years as safety. With the NFL becoming more of a passing league, teams need their last line of defense to be as talented as possible.

That's why we saw three safeties get drafted in the first round last year, and that's why we will see four safeties gone in the first 32 picks this year. While there might not be four safeties with the talent to warrant a first-round pick, there are too many teams with a need at this position that some will be forced to reach to get their player.

The first two safeties likely drafted are Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix of Alabama and Louisville's Calvin Pryor. These two are the most NFL-ready safeties and stand ahead of the other prospects in terms of potential and all-around abilities.

After Clinton-Dix and Pryor, look for Northern Illinois' Jimmie Ward to be the next safety off the board. He's a true playmaker with great coverage skills and the ability to stop the run. Finally, Washington State's Deone Bucannon will sneak into the end of the first round.

Each of these four prospects have the overall talent to start from day one, and they'll all hear their names called on Day 1.

DT Dominique Easley Gets Drafted on Day 1

One of the better stories on Day 1 is going to involve defensive tackle Dominique Easley of Florida. After looking like a truly elite prospect during the 2012 season, Easley tore his ACL at the start of the 2013 season.

Normally, that wouldn't be too big of a problem, but this was Easley's second torn ACL during his college career. That ultimately dropped him down draft boards to where he was considered a mid-round pick early in the draft process.

However, buzz surrounding Easley has grown over the past weeks to where a team may be willing to take him late in the first round. What makes him such an intriguing prospect is his athleticism and explosiveness. When you combine those two traits, Easley has the potential to be disruptive against both the pass and the run.

Don't be surprised if a team like the New Orleans Saints or Seattle Seahawks takes a chance on Easley late in the first round.

Johnny Manziel Gets Drafted No. 2 Overall

Patric Schneider/Associated Press

Every year, there is one pick on Day 1 that absolutely shocks the world. This year, that pick will be quarterback Johnny Manziel going No. 2 overall to the St. Louis Rams.

There have been interesting facts concerning Manziel and the Rams surfacing in the past few days. First, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com spoke about an interesting meeting between the two parties. Then there was Peter King of Sports Illustrated writing about Rams general manager Les Snead meeting with Kliff Kingsbury, Manziel's offensive coordinator during the 2012 season.

All this news could certainly be getting leaked by the Rams in order to cause a team to trade up in order to grab Manziel. However, that'd be quite a bit of work and travelling for the Rams to simply add a few picks later in the draft.

Instead, look for the Rams to draft Manziel as either the immediate or future replacement for quarterback Sam Bradford. It'd definitely be a bold move, but it's a move that will make St. Louis a legitimate contender in the supremely talented NFC West.