NFL Draft 2014: Latest Buzz, Potential Landing Spots Surrounding Biggest Stars

The 2014 NFL draft is abnormally late on the sports calendar, but it is approaching at last. Now is the time when more information starts to leak out and pro football enthusiasts have a better idea of what teams are bound to do.

Right?

Two of the most respected people in NFL media are Gil Brandt of NFL.com and MMQB.com's Peter King. They had a recent discussion where King implied that this is the most unpredictable draft he's ever covered:

Some of the biggest stars—or at least the top players at the most notable positions—feature South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Texas A&M Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel and Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins. All have distinguished themselves with unique star power and elite talent and are capable of changing whichever organization they land with for the better.

Let's take a look at the latest buzz surrounding these top-flight prospects and where they might land in May 8's first round.

Houston Texans Reportedly 'Not Sold' on Jadeveon Clowney

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It's been presumed that Clowney would be an excellent fit in Houston, because he'd be able to learn from arguably the best player at his position in J.J. Watt. Apparently the Texans front office isn't all too keen on the idea.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, it seems the team holding the No. 1 overall pick is open to trading down since Houston's brass isn't quite convinced Clowney is the no-brainer choice:

The draft is all about the dominoes that fall, and what Houston does will largely determine how the rest of the first round unfolds. If some team really likes one of the quarterbacks, the Texans have a ton of leverage and could easily trade down with them.

Then again, general manager Rick Smith may be kicking himself if Clowney lives up to his massive potential and is indeed as freakish of an athlete as he's shown to be in the past.

Clowney had just three sacks in his final season with the Gamecocks, but did run a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine at 6'6" and 266 pounds. If he does get past No. 1 overall, he can't fall much further than that.

St. Louis could add him to a defensive line featuring Robert Quinn and Chris Long, while defensive-minded Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley wouldn't let someone with Clowney's talent move past the Jaguars.

Given his natural talent and the fact that he should be out to prove his doubters wrong, projecting Clowney to fall out of the top three seems unrealistic.

Johnny Manziel Unlikely to Slide Past No. 7 Overall

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Despite standing under six feet tall and having durability concerns, Manziel has the arm talent to make every NFL throw, not to mention dynamic athleticism, uncanny improvisational skills and an electric personality on and off the field.

All of these factors make Johnny Football the classic risk-reward type of pick. The consensus seems to be that he'll either bust or become a superstar. In any event, the excitement he brings to the table shouldn't see him slide past the seventh pick held by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell could be putting up a smokescreen, but few franchises need a spark more desperately than his, and he praised Manziel recently.

"Johnny [Manziel] would probably be the one guy you could plug in there sooner rather than later just because his style of play isn’t going to change much from Year 1 to Year 2," said Caldwell, per Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union.

O'Halloran asserts that the Jaguars are looking at receiver or pass-rusher at No. 3 overall, suggesting Clowney and Watkins as more viable options than Manziel.

The Cleveland Browns also need something big to happen, and new GM Ray Farmer has two picks in the first round at Nos. 4 and 26. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan commented on Manziel, hinting that he's one member sold amongst the Browns contingent, per Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot:

"

It’s obvious how good of a player he is, how fun he is to watch. I think it does translate to the NFL. If you can make those plays in college, you can do it in the NFL. The one thing about the NFL, there’s a lot of tape out there. You’ve got to be able to do everything. [...]

The guy can play football. I don’t care if you’re a big guy or a smaller guy, if you take too many hits in the league, I don’t care who you are, it’s tough to stay healthy. He’s got to take care of himself, especially with the way he plays, but I think he definitely has the size to succeed in the league.

"

With regard to both Manziel and Clowney, Brandt offered his opinion of where they will wind up in King's MMQB.com column from May 5, suggesting Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack could be drafted ahead of both:

"I think Johnny Manziel will go in the top five, but not number one," said Brandt. "And I think Khalil Mack gets picked ahead of Jadeveon Clowney."

King makes mention of how much the Rams like Manziel, but they are more enamored with Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson as the potential No. 2 overall selection. If Manziel falls to 13th, then there's a possibility that St. Louis snags him. That seems unlikely, though.

Rapoport reports that the Bucs have "real" interest in Manziel if he falls to them:

GM Jason Licht doesn't buy into the off-field concerns many flag Manziel for—or at least doesn't fault him for the way he's handled the spotlight—per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times:

"

He's the Heisman Trophy winner. A lot of the situations he's been in you can't blame him for. If I were young and had a Heisman Trophy on my mantel, I'd probably be in a lot more trouble than the next guy. So I think we're just going to make the best football decision, what's best for our football team and I think Lovie and his staff can handle the rest of it.

"

The Johnny Football hype train will pick up full steam on May 8, and whichever team chooses him has the chance to get one of the biggest immediate stars in recent league history.

Manziel has been fixed in the spotlight since bursting onto the scene at Texas A&M, which should help him handle the scrutiny of being a top-flight draft pick. Based on the needs at quarterback in the top seven, it'd be a shock if Manziel dropped any more in the order than that.

Sammy Watkins in Play for Multiple Teams in Top 5

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King's aforementioned collection of buzz has the following regarding the Jaguars and Watkins at No. 3, suggesting he could be among two players they consider.

"A peer of GM David Caldwell said Sunday he knows a big Jag priority will be to play it safe with this pick. Sammy Watkins or Jake Matthews ... quite safe," writes King.

Farmer would love to see Watkins in Cleveland, paired opposite Josh Gordon—presuming Brian Hoyer can be a viable starter under center, of course—per the Associated Press' Tom Withers:

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggests that St. Louis isn't content with its receiver corps as it stands, with some in the Rams power structure preferring Watkins above everyone else: "And despite all the signals from Rams Park about standing pat at wide receiver — including some public statements by coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead — it’s believed there are some in the building who would like to take Watkins."

Former Rams receiver Torry Holt shares the opinion of many in believing Watkins is the best wideout in what is an extraordinary, deep 2014 class:

Since the Oakland Raiders don't have much offensive firepower and limited experience at receiver, they should figure in if Watkins somehow gets to No. 5.

However, Oakland is in a critical season and needs all the picks it can get. In the event Watkins does fall to the Raiders, a trade-down scenario seems more logical than choosing the ex-Clemson star.

If this buzz is any indication, it doesn't provide a much clearer picture at all of what to expect toward the top of the draft. Both Clowney and Manziel have the potential to go off the board before anyone, while Watkins has distinguished himself as the most prized receiver despite the deep pool of talent at the position.

Watkins seems like the biggest slam-dunk prospect out of the three, while Clowney and Manziel come with perceived shortcomings, some involving work ethic, others with regard to how they play the game. Depending on how much teams picking early read into those red flags, they could be talked out of choosing either player despite the upside they both promise.

The further any of these possibly great NFL players fall, the more they will be fueled to prove their worth moving forward. Whatever happens, the 2014 draft is going to be the among the most exciting of all time. Now it's a mere days away, and the array of landing spots for the biggest stars are vast and exciting.