2014 NFL Mock Draft: Updated Projection for Rounds 4-7
Every year, the television networks that broadcast the NFL draft try to sell fans on the final day of coverage by touting all of the great players who've come from the last three rounds.
Tom Brady, the greatest sixth-round draft pick in NFL history, will be talked about constantly, and former front-office executives now working in media will swear general manager salaries are earned by how often they find good players in the later rounds.
As true as all of that may be, it doesn't make it any more exciting to watch. As Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly told CSNPhilly.com's John Gonzalez, even teams that think they got lucky in later rounds should be chastising themselves for letting good players slip by them to begin with:
"When you draft someone in the sixth round and you say ‘hey, we got a steal,’ my first question is, why didn’t you take him in the fifth, then? If you’re so smart and you knew what you knew and you knew everything about the draft and you knew the guy was going to be an All-Pro -- the people who brag about ‘we got a sixth-round pick and he became an All-Pro player’ -- then the first question is, well why didn’t you draft him earlier if you were so smart? A lot of times you don’t know.
"
Though this draft is so deep that there are some very interesting names still available in the fourth, fifth, sixth and even seventh rounds, future generations could look back on this piece and laugh about how we didn't know one of these names would end up a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
If you want to find out which lottery tickets your favorite team will purchase on the 2014 NFL draft's third day, read on for my complete, updated mock draft.
Round 4, Picks 1-20 (101-120)
1 of 8
The first pick of each draft day is always a ripe target for trades. The first pick of Day 3 has already been flipped to Philadelphia, where head coach Chip Kelly loves smart, tough mashers like Stanford guard David Yankey.
In other interesting picks, the New York Jets finally get a receiver with tall, vertical possession target Martavis Bryant. Pierre Desir, the talented young man whose heart-wrenching backstory was wonderfully told at Bleacher Report by Jeff Pearlman, finally finds a new home in Tennessee.
The Arizona Cardinals finally get around to Carson Palmer's heir in Zach Mettenberger.
4.1 (101) | Philadelphia Eagles (from Houston Texans) | David Yankey, OG Stanford |
4.2 (102) | Washington Redskins | Ed Reynolds, FS Stanford |
4.3 (103) | Atlanta Falcons | Carl Bradford, OLB Arizona State |
4.4 (104) | New York Jets (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers) | Martavis Bryant, WR Clemson |
4.5 (105) | New England Patriots (from Jacksonville Jaguars) | Dakota Dozier, OG Furman |
4.6 (106) | San Francisco (from Cleveland Browns) | Kevin Norwood, WR Alabama |
4.7 (107) | Oakland Raiders | Jared Abbrederis, WR Wisconsin |
4.8 (108) | Seattle Seahawks (from Minnesota Vikings) | Chris Smith, DE Arkansas |
4.9 (109) | Buffalo Bills | Cyril Richardson, OG Baylor |
4.10 (110) | St. Louis Rams | Jordan Tripp, LB Montana |
4.11 (111) | Seattle Seahawks (from Detroit Lions) | Ahmad Dixon, SS Baylor |
4.12 (112) | Tennessee Titans | Pierre Desir, CB Lindenwood |
4.13 (113) | New York Giants | Arthur Lynch, TE Georgia |
4.14 (114) | Jacksonville Jaguars (from Baltimore Ravens) | Keith McGill, CB Utah |
4.15 (115) | New York Jets | Bruce Ellington, WR South Carolina |
4.16 (116) | Oakland Raiders (from Miami Dolphins) | Lache Seastrunk, RB Baylor |
4.17 (117) | Chicago Bears | Devonta Freeman, RB Florida State |
4.18 (118) | Pittsburgh Steelers | Kenny Ladler, FS Vanderbilt |
4.19 (119) | Dallas Cowboys | DaQuan Jones, DT Penn State |
4.20 (120) | Arizona Cardinals | Zach Mettenberger, QB LSU |
Round 4, Picks 21-40
2 of 8
The curious tale of Tom Savage, the Pittsburgh quarterback who rocketed up media draft boards from a late-round prospect to a potential second-round pick, ends in the middle of the fourth round. The Cincinnati Bengals get a great developmental prospect to learn behind Andy Dalton.
Savage's former receiver, Devin Street, doesn't have much speed, but he's got plenty of everything else—and the door is open in Cleveland, where star Josh Gordon is facing a long suspension and veteran Nate Burleson will miss OTAs with a broken arm.
Notorious prospect Seantrel Henderson has a Hall of Fame body but has displayed worrying on- and off-field behavior. Questions about his maturity and commitment to the game are more than fair. Yet, if anyone can reach Henderson, it's Pete Carroll. And if any environment can inspire him to play, it's in Seattle.
Keep an eye on UCF tailback Storm Johnson in Baltimore; if Ray Rice misses any time with his legal troubles, Johnson could make an impact.
4.21 (121) | Green Bay Packers | Yawin Smallwood, ILB Connecticut |
4.22 (122) | Tennessee Titans (from Philadelphia Eagles) | Adrian Hubbard, OLB Alabama |
4.23 (123) | Cincinnati Bengals | Tom Savage, QB Pittsburgh |
4.24 (124) | Kansas City Chiefs | Antonio Richardson, OT Tennessee |
4.25 (125) | Miami Dolphins (from San Diego Chargers) | Jaylen Watkins, CB Florida |
4.26 (126) | New Orleans Saints | Lamin Barrow, ILB, LSU |
4.27 (127) | Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis Colts) | Devin Street, WR Pittsburgh |
4.28 (128) | Carolina Panthers | Brock Vereen, FS Minnesota |
4.29 (129) | San Francisco 49ers | Logan Thomas, QB Virginia |
4.30 (130) | New England Patriots | Christian Jones, ILB Florida State |
4.31 (131) | Denver Broncos | E.J. Gaines, CB Missouri |
4.32 (132) | Seattle Seahawks | Seantrel Henderson, OT Miami |
4.33 (133) | Detroit Lions (compensatory selection) | Bashaud Breeland, CB Clemson |
4.34 (134) | Baltimore Ravens (compensatory selection) | Storm Johnson, RB UCF |
4.35 (135) | Houston Texans (compensatory selection) | Wesley Johnson, OT Vanderbilt |
4.36 (136) | Detroit Lions (compensatory selection) | Jackson Jeffcoat, DE Texas |
4.37 (137) | New York Jets (compensatory selection) | Anthony Johnson, DT LSU |
4.38 (138) | Baltimore Ravens (compensatory selection) | Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OT McGill (Canada) |
4.39 (139) | Atlanta Falcons (compensatory selection) | Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona RB |
4.40 (140) | New England Patriots (compensatory selection) | Andre Williams, RB Boston College |
Round 5, Picks 1-18 (141-158)
3 of 8
One of the most interesting prospects of the 2014 draft class is Colt Lyerla, a tight end with the kind of athletic and receiving ability NFL teams just can't get enough of. If Lyerla had no baggage, he might have gone in the first round. Instead, extensive discipline problems ended his career at Oregon. He needs a stable environment and strong leadership; Jim Harbaugh needs an understudy to Vernon Davis.
The New York Giants also picked up an understudy: AJ McCarron, who seemed to see himself as a better prospect than NFL teams did. McCarron will give the Giants a chance to show Ryan Nassib the door, and in a couple of years the Giants can give McCarron the chance to prove he really can win on Sundays.
5.1 (141) | Philadelphia Eagles (from Houston Texans) | Marqueston Huff, FS Wyoming |
5.2 (142) | Washington Redskins | Marcus Roberson, CB Florida |
5.3 (143) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Telvin Smith, ILB Florida State |
5.4 (144) | Jacksonville Jaguars | Caraun Reid, DT Princeton |
5.5 (145) | Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland Browns) | Robert Herron, WR Wyoming |
5.6 (146) | Detroit Lions (from Oakland Raiders through Seattle Seahawks) | Aaron Murray, QB Georgia |
5.7 (147) | Atlanta Falcons | George Uko, DT USC |
5.8 (148) | Minnesota Vikings | Kevin Pierre-Louis, OLB, Boston College |
5.9 (149) | Buffalo Bills | Dontae Johnson, North Carolina State FS |
5.10 (150) | San Francisco 49ers (from Detroit Lions through Jacksonville Jaguars) | Colt Lyerla, TE Oregon |
5.11 (151) | Tennessee Titans | Joe Don Duncan, TE Dixie State |
5.12 (152) | New York Giants | AJ McCarron, QB Alabama |
5.13 (153) | Buffalo Bills (from St.Louis Rams) | Josh Mauro, DE Stanford |
5.14 (154) | New York Jets | Isaiah Crowell, RB Alabama State |
5.15 (155) | Miami Dolphins | Deandre Coleman, DT California |
5.16 (156) | Chicago Bears | Demetri Goodson, CB Baylor |
5.17 (157) | Pittsburgh Steelers | Ed Stinson, DE Alabama |
5.18 (158) | Dallas Cowboys | Jeff Janis, WR Saginaw Valley State |
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Round 5, Picks 19-36
4 of 8Might the Seattle Seahawks have found the next member of the Legion of Boom? Safety Craig Loston fits the profile.
At 6'0", 217 pounds, Loston is a quick and fluid athlete who also brings plenty of pop. In the above video, Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller compared his combination of size, speed, athleticism and aggressiveness to Miami Dolphins standout Reshad Jones.
Loston goes here, in the fifth round (just like Richard Sherman) to the Seahawks.
5.1 (159) | Jacksonville Jaguars (from Baltimore Ravens) | Marion Grice, RB Alabama State |
5.2 (160) | Arizona Cardinals | Rashaad Reynolds, CB Oregon State |
5.3 (161) | Green Bay Packers | Tyler Larsen, C Utah State |
5.4 (162) | Philadelphia Eagles | Antone Exum, CB Virginia Tech |
5.5 (163) | Kansas City Chiefs | Jeoffrey Pagan, DE Alabama |
5.6 (164) | Cincinnati Bengals | Shamar Stephen, DT Connecticut |
5.7 (165) | San Diego Chargers | Daniel McCullers, DT Tennessee |
5.8 (166) | Indianapolis Colts | Loucheiz Purifoy, CB Florida |
5.9 (167) | New Orleans Saints | Cameron Fleming, OT Stanford |
5.10 (168) | Carolina Panthers | Aaron Colvin, CB Oklahoma |
5.11 (169) | New Orleans Saints (from New England Patriots through Philadelphia Eagles) | David Fales, QB San Jose State |
5.12 (170) | San Francisco 49ers | Andre Hal, CB Vanderbilt |
5.13 (171) | Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos through San Francisco 49ers) | Shaquelle Evans, WR UCLA |
5.14 (172) | Seattle Seahawks | Craig Loston, SS LSU |
5.15 (173) | Pittsburgh Steelers (compensatory selection) | Travis Carrie, CB Ohio |
5.16 (174) | New York Giants (compensatory selection) | Terrance Mitchell, CB Oregon |
5.17 (175) | Baltimore Ravens (compensatory selection) | Mike Davis, WR Texas |
5.18 (176) | Green Bay Packers (compensatory selection) | Ross Cockrell, CB Duke |
Round 6, Picks 1-20 (177-196)
5 of 8
Texans head coach Bill O'Brien told NFL Network that Houston was going to take a quarterback in this class, but "as for where we draft that quarterback," he said, per Michael David Smith at Pro Football Talk, he "doesn't think" he knows.
If the Texans truly don't take a quarterback until the top of the sixth round, it'll surprise some people—but Wyoming's Brett Smith could surprise them right back. A raw, athletic leader with sloppy fundamentals, he should be able to sit comfortably and learn behind Case Keenum and Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Look out for 6'2", 332-pound Justin Ellis in Miami. The Dolphins lost nose tackle Paul Soliai to free agency; they could use a body like Ellis' clogging lanes.
We also have our first specialist off the board. The Detroit Lions are still looking for Jason Hanson's replacement; they may have found him in Chris Boswell.
6.1 (177) | Houston Texans | Brett Smith, QB Wyoming |
6.2 (178) | Washington Redskins | De'Anthony Thomas, WR Oregon |
6.3 (179) | New England Patriots (from Jacksonville Jaguars) | Brandon Coleman, WR Rutgers |
6.4 (180) | San Francisco 49ers (from Cleveland Browns) | Shayne Skov, ILB Stanford |
6.5 (181) | Houston Texans (from Oakland Raiders) | Tyler Gaffney, RB Stanford |
6.6 (182) | Atlanta Falcons | Corey Linsley, OC Ohio State |
6.7 (183) | Chicago Bears (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers) | Garrett Gilbert, QB SMU |
6.8 (184) | Minnesota Vikings | Ronald Powell, OLB Florida |
6.9 (185) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Buffalo Bills) | Russell Bodine, OG North Carolina |
6.10 (186) | Tennessee Titans | Dion Bailey, FS USC |
6.11 (187) | New York Giants | TJ Jones, WR Notre Dame |
6.12 (188) | St. Louis Rams | Jonathan Dowling, FS Western Kentucky |
6.13 (189) | Detroit Lions | Chris Boswell, PK Rice |
6.14 (190) | Miami Dolphins | Justin Ellis, DT Louisiana Tech |
6.15 (191) | Chicago Bears | Trevor Reilly, OLB Utah |
6.16 (192) | Pittsburgh Steelers | James Gayle, DE Virginia Tech |
6.17 (193) | Kansas City Chiefs (from Dallas Cowboys) | Ryan Groy, OG Wisconsin |
6.18 (194) | Baltimore Ravens | Bene Benwikere, CB San Jose State |
6.19 (195) | New York Jets | Tajh Boyd, QB Clemson |
6.20 (196) | Arizona Cardinals | Kelcy Quarles, DT South Carolina |
Round 6, Picks 21-39
6 of 8"I just wish you guys will see me as Michael Sam the football player," Sam told reporters at the NFL combine, "instead of as Michael Sam the gay football player."
As Bleacher Report NFL Lead Writer Michael Freeman noted above, the entire NFL has a vested interest in making sure Sam becomes known as just another football player as quickly as possible.
Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson is known for hoarding interesting front-seven prospects; the Packers could use Sam's brand of high-effort pass rush on the edge and high-motor special teams play.
Better yet, as the NFL's smallest media market (and most reverent, protective fanbase), Green Bay should provide Sam with the softest landing spot.
6.21 (197) | Green Bay Packers | Michael Sam, OLB Missouri |
6.22 (198) | New England Patriots (from Philadelphia Eagles) | Brent Urban, DE Virginia |
6.23 (199) | Cincinnati Bengals | Lonnie Ballentine, FS Memphis |
6.24 (200) | Kansas City Chiefs | Kain Colter, WR Northwestern |
6.25 (201) | San Diego Chargers | Prince Shembo, OLB Notre Dame |
6.26 (202) | New Orleans Saints | Bryan Stork, C Florida State |
6.27 (203) | Indianapolis Colts | Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB Coastal Carolina |
6.28 (204) | Carolina Panthers | Khairi Fortt, OLB California |
6.29 (205) | Jacksonville Jaguars (from San Francisco 49ers) | Cassius Marsh, DE UCLA |
6.30 206) | New England Patriots | Walt Aikens, CB Liberty |
6.31 (207) | Denver Broncos | Jordan Zumwalt, OLB UCLA |
6.32 (208) | Seattle Seahawks | Larry Webster, DE Bloomsburg |
6.33 (209) | New York Jets (compensatory selection) | Kirby Van Der Kamp, P Iowa State |
6.34 (210) | New York Jets (compensatory selection) | Charles Leno, OT Boise State |
6.35 (211) | Houston Texans (compensatory selection) | Gabe Ikard, OC Oklahoma |
6.36 (212) | Cincinnati Bengals (compensatory selection) | Andrew Jackson, ILB Western Kentucky |
6.37 (213) | New York Jets (compensatory selection) | Nevin Lawson, CB Utah State |
6.38 (214) | St. Louis Rams (compensatory selection) | Keith Wenning, QB Ball State |
6.39 (215) | Pittsburgh Steelers (compensatory selection) | Alfred Blue, RB LSU |
Round 7, Picks 1-20 (216-235)
7 of 8
As we round the bend into the final round, the compensatory picks are thick on the ground.
By this point, teams are in full "best player available" mode. There's no point in drafting to fill immediate needs, because these players simply won't be ready to step in and make an impact.
That said, many teams still draft to their usual type, even if they're already set at the position.
The Pittsburgh Steelers already drafted Stephon Tuitt back in the second round, but 6'1", 337-pound Ryan Carrethers is about as lean as a man with those measurements can be. Could Carrethers defy his draft position and earn a steady job in the NFL? Pittsburgh might be the best place to try.
7.1 (216) | Houston Texans | Ryan Grant, WR Tulane |
7.2 (217) | Washington Redskins | Howard Jones, OLB Shepherd |
7.3 (218) | Cleveland Browns | Solomon Patton, WR Florida |
7.4 (219) | Oakland Raiders | Chris Davis, CB Auburn |
7.5 (220) | Atlanta Falcons | Cody Hoffman, WR BYU |
7.6 (221) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Connor Shaw, QB South Carolina |
7.7 (222) | Jacksonville Jaguars | Henry Josey, RB Missouri |
7.8 (223) | Minnesota Vikings | Dustin Vaughan, West Texas A&M |
7.9 (224) | Buffalo Bills | Deion Belue, CB Alabama |
7.10 (225) | Carolina Panthers (from New York Giants) | Anthony Steen, OG Alabama |
7.11 (226) | St. Louis Rams | James Hurst, OT North Carolina |
7.12 (227) | Seattle Seahawks (from Detroit Lions) | Bruce Gaston, DT Purdue |
7.13 (228) | Tennessee Titans | Zach Moore, DE Concordia-St. Paul |
7.14 (229) | Dallas Cowboys (from Chicago Bears) | Antonio Andrews, RB Western Kentucky |
7.15 (230) | Pittsburgh Steelers | Ryan Carrethers, DT Arkansas State |
7.16 (231) | Dallas Cowboys | Avery Williamson, ILB Kentucky |
7.17 (232) | Indianapolis Colts (from Baltimore Ravens) | Zach Fulton, OG Tennessee |
7.18 (233) | New York Jets | Brandon Dixon, CB Northwest Missouri St. |
7.19 (234) | Miami Dolphins | Marcel Jensen, TE Fresno State |
7.20 (235) | Oakland Raiders (from Arizona Cardinals) | Taylor Hart, DE Oregon |
Round 7, Picks 21-41 (236-256)
8 of 8
And our Mr. Irrelevant is...Bryn Renner!
Renner ended his career at North Carolina with a shoulder injury, missing the final five games of his college career. Had he been able to punctuate his senior season, and fully participate in the draft-evaluation cycle, Renner wouldn't be available so late.
The Texans missed out on the top quarterbacks in the draft, but bringing in a more polished guy who's being overlooked to compete with a diamond-in-the-rough like Brett Smith is a smart idea.
In 2008, the Packers took Brian Brohm in the second round and Matt Flynn in the seventh. Flynn outplayed Brohm almost immediately and ended up taking the backup job from him. With a final compensatory pick, the Texans would be smart to take another quarterback lottery ticket—and hope they strike it rich.
7.21 (236) | Green Bay Packers | Isaiah Lewis, SS Michigan State |
7.22 (237) | Philadelphia Eagles | Nat Berhe, SS San Diego State |
7.23 (238) | Dallas Cowboys (from Kansas City Chiefs) | Tevin Reese, WR Baylor |
7.24 (239) | Cincinnati Bengals | Kadeem Edwards, OG Tennessee State |
7.25 (240) | San Diego Chargers | Kendall James, CB Maine |
7.26 (241) | St. Louis Rams (from Indianapolis Colts) | John Urschel, OG Penn State |
7.27 (242) | Denver Broncos (from New Orleans Saints through San Francisco 49ers) | A.C. Leonard, TE Tennessee State |
7.28 (243) | San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina Panthers) | Donald Hawkins, OT Texas |
7.29 (244) | New England Patriots | Zach Kerr, DT Delaware |
7.30 (245) | San Francisco 49ers | Ben Gardner, DE Stanford |
7.31 (246) | Denver Broncos | Mo Alexander, SS Utah State |
7.32 (247) | Oakland Raiders (from Seattle Seahawks) | Jonotthan Harrison, OC Florida |
7.33 (248) | Dallas Cowboys (compensatory selection) | Dustin Vaughan, QB West Texas A&M |
7.34 (249) | St. Louis Rams (compensatory selection) | Bennett Jackson, CB Notre Dame |
7.35 (250) | St. Louis Rams (compensatory selection) | Xavier Grimble, TE USC |
7.36 (251) | Dallas Cowboys (compensatory selection) | Vinnie Sunseri, SS Alabama |
7.37 (252) | Cincinnati Bengals (compensatory selection) | Gregory Ducre, CB Washington |
7.38 (253) | Atlanta Falcons (compensatory selection) | David Fluellen, RB Toledo |
7.39 (254) | Dallas Cowboys (compensatory selection) | LaDarius Perkins, RB Mississippi State |
7.40 (255) | Atlanta Falcons (compensatory selection) | Anthony Fera, PK Texas |
7.50 (256) | Houston Texans (compensatory selection) | Bryn Renner, QB North Carolina |
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