2014 NFL Draft Picks: Final Analysis for Top Prospects, Hidden Gems and More

Even though we spend a lot of time talking about teams finding steals in the later rounds, what ultimately makes or breaks an NFL draft class is the first round and the star players who draw all the headlines. 

All 32 teams enter the draft hoping to find a superstar, but if even one player in a class emerges at that level, it's a huge win for the NFL. The league has been on a roll finding first-round studs lately with Andrew Luck and Luke Kuechly two years ago and Sheldon Richardson last year. 

As we put a bow on this year's draft extravaganza, we've got a final look at how the top prospect fits with his new team, a hidden gem who will emerge and a team ready to take the next step. 

Arizona Cardinals (Grade: B)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	27	Deone Buchannon	SS	Washington State
2	52	Troy Niklas	TE	Notre Dame
3	84	Kareem Martin	DE	North Carolina
3	91	John Brown	WR	Pittsburgh State
4	120	Logan Thomas	QB	Virginia Tech
5	160	Ed Stinson	DE	Alabama
6	196	Walt Powell	WR	Murray State

NFL.com

Atlanta Falcons (Grade: C+)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	6	Jake Matthews	OT	Texas A&M
2	37	Ra'Shede Hageman	DT	Minnesota
3	68	Dezmen Southward	FS	Wisconsin
4	103	Devonta Freeman	RB	Florida State
4	139	Prince Shembo	OLB	Notre Dame
5	147	Ricardo Allen	CB	Purdue
5	168	Marquis Spruill	ILB	Syracuse
7	253	Yawin Smallwood	OLB	Connecticut
7	255	Tyler Starr	OLB	South Dakota

NFL.com

Baltimore Ravens (Grade: B+)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	17	C.J. Mosley	ILB	Alabama
2	48	Timmy Jernigan	DT	Florida State
3	79	Terrence Brooks	FS	Florida State
3	99	Crockett Gillmore	TE	Colorado State
4	134	Brent Urban	DT	Virginia
4	138	Lorenzo Taliaferro	RB	Coastal Carolina
5	175	John Urschel	OG	Penn State
6	194	Keith Wenning	QB	Ball State
7	218	Mike Campanaro	WR	Wake Forest

NFL.com

Buffalo Bills (Grade: C+)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	4	Sammy Watkins	WR	Clemson
2	44	Cyrus Kouandjio	OT	Alabama
3	73	Preston Brown	ILB	Louisville
4	109	Ross Cockrell	CB	Duke
5	153	Cyril Richardson	OG	Baylor
7	221	Randell Johnson	OLB	Florida Atlantic
7	237	Seantrel Henderson	OT	Miami

NFL.com

Carolina Panthers (Grade: C)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	28	Kelvin Benjamin	WR	Florida State
2	60	Kony Ealy	DE	Missouri
3	92	Trai Turner	OG	LSU
4	128	Tre Boston	SS	North Carolina
5	148	Bene Benwikere	CB	San Jose State
6	204	Tyler Gaffney	RB	Stanford

NFL.com

Chicago Bears (Grade: B)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	14	Kyle Fuller	CB	Virginia Tech
2	51	Ego Ferguson	DT	LSU
3	82	Will Sutton	DT	Arizona State
4	117	Ka'Deem Carey	RB	Arizona
4	131	Brock Vereen	FS	Minnesota
6	183	David Fales	QB	San Jose State
6	191	Pat O'Donnell	P	Miami
7	246	Charles Leno Jr.	OT	Boise St.

NFL.com

Cincinnati Bengals (Grade: B-)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	24	Darqueze Dennard	CB	Michigan State
2	55	Jeremy Hill	RB	LSU
3	88	Will Clarke	DE	West Virginia
4	111	Russell Bodine	C	North Carolina
5	164	AJ McCarron	QB	Alabama
6	212	Marquis Flowers	OLB	Arizona
7	239	James Wright	WR	LSU
7	252	Lavelle Westbrooks	CB	Georgia Southern

NFL.com

Cleveland Browns (Grade: B+)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	8	Justin Gilbert	CB	Oklahoma State
1	22	Johnny Manziel	QB	Texas A&M
2	35	Joel Bitonio	OT	Nevada
3	71	Christian Kirksey	OLB	Iowa
3	94	Terrance West	RB	Towson
4	127	Pierre Desir	CB	Lindenwood

NFL.com

Dallas Cowboys (Grade: B)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	16	Zack Martin	OT	Notre Dame
2	34	Demarcus Lawrence	DE	Boise State
4	119	Anthony Hitchens	OLB	Iowa
5	146	Devin Street	WR	Pittsburgh
7	231	Ben Gardner	DE	Stanford
7	238	Will Smith	OLB	Texas Tech
7	248	Ahmad Dixon	SS	Baylor
7	251	Ken Bishop	DT	Northern Illinois
7	254	Terrance Mitchell	CB	Oregon

NFL.com

Denver Broncos (Grade: B-)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	31	Bradley Roby	CB	Ohio State
2	56	Cody Latimer	WR	Indiana
3	95	Michael Schofield	OT	Michigan
5	156	Lamin Barrow	OLB	LSU
6	207	Matthew Paradis	C	Boise State
7	242	Corey Nelson	OLB	Oklahoma

NFL.com

Detroit Lions (Grade: B)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	10	Eric Ebron	TE	North Carolina
2	40	Kyle Van Noy	OLB	BYU
3	76	Travis Swanson	C	Arkansas
4	133	Nevin Lawson	CB	Utah State
4	136	Larry Webster	DE	Bloomsburg
5	158	Caraun Reid	DT	Princeton
6	189	T.J. Jones	WR	Notre Dame
7	229	Nate Freese	K	Boston College

NFL.com

Green Bay Packers (Grade: A-)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	21	Ha Ha Clinton-Dix	FS	Alabama
2	53	Davante Adams	WR	Fresno State
3	85	Khyri Thornton	DT	Southern Miss
3	98	Richard Rodgers	TE	California
4	121	Carl Bradford	OLB	Arizona State
5	161	Corey Linsley	C	Ohio State
5	176	Jared Abbrederis	WR	Wisconsin
6	197	Demetri Goodson	CB	Baylor
7	236	Jeff Janis	WR	Saginaw Valley St.

NFL.com

Houston Texans (Grade: A-)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	1	Jadeveon Clowney	DE	South Carolina
2	33	Xavier Su'a-Filo	OG	UCLA
3	65	C.J. Fiedorowicz	TE	Iowa
3	83	Louis Nix	DT	Notre Dame
4	135	Tom Savage	QB	Pittsburgh
6	177	Jeoffrey Pagan	DE	Alabama
6	181	Alfred Blue	RB	LSU
6	211	Jay Prosch	FB	Auburn
7	216	Andre Hal	CB	Vanderbilt
7	256	Lonnie Ballentine	FS	Memphis

NFL.com

Indianapolis Colts (Grade: D)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
2	59	Jack Mewhort	OT	Ohio State
3	90	Donte Moncrief	WR	Mississippi
5	166	Jonathan Newsome	DE	Ball State
6	203	Andrew Jackson	ILB	Western Kentucky
7	232	Ulrick John	OT	Georgia State

NFL.com

Jacksonville Jaguars (Grade: B+)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	3	Blake Bortles	QB	Central Florida
2	39	Marqise Lee	WR	USC
2	61	Allen Robinson	WR	Penn State
3	93	Brandon Linder	OG	Miami
4	114	Aaron Colvin	CB	Oklahoma
5	144	Telvin Smith	ILB	Florida State
5	159	Chris Smith	DE	Arkansas
6	205	Luke Bowanko	C	Virginia
7	222	Storm Johnson	RB	Central Florida

NFL.com

Kansas City Chiefs (Grade: C+)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	23	Dee Ford	DE	Auburn
3	87	Phillip Gaines	CB	Rice
4	124	De'Anthony Thomas	RB	Oregon
5	163	Aaron Murray	QB	Georgia
6	193	Zach Fulton	OG	Tennessee
6	200	Laurent Duvernay-Tardif	OT	McGill

NFL.com

Miami Dolphins (Grade: C+)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	19	Ja'Wuan James	OT	Tennessee
2	63	Jarvis Landry	WR	LSU
3	67	Billy Turner	OT	North Dakota State
4	125	Walt Aikens	CB	Liberty
5	155	Arthur Lynch	TE	Georgia
5	171	Jordan Tripp	OLB	Montana
6	190	Matt Hazel	WR	Coastal Carolina
7	234	Terrence Fede	DE	Marist

NFL.com

Minnesota Vikings (Grade: B+)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	9	Anthony Barr	OLB	UCLA
1	32	Teddy Bridgewater	QB	Louisville
3	72	Scott Crichton	DE	Oregon State
3	96	Jerick McKinnon	RB	Georgia Southern
5	145	David Yankey	OG	Stanford
6	182	Antone Exum	CB	Virginia Tech
6	184	Kendall James	CB	Maine
7	220	Shamar Stephen	DT	Connecticut
7	223	Brandon Watts	OLB	Georgia Tech
7	225	Jabari Price	CB	North Carolina

NFL.com

New England Patriots (Grade: B-)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	29	Dominique Easley	DT	Florida
2	62	Jimmy Garoppolo	QB	Eastern Illinois
4	105	Bryan Stork	C	Florida State
4	130	Jame White	RB	Wisconsin
4	140	Cameron Flemming	OT	Stanford
6	179	Jon Halapio	OG	Florida
6	198	Zach Moore	DE	Concordia-St. Paul
6	206	Jemea Thomas	CB	Georgia Tech
7	234	Jeremy Gallon	WR	Michigan

NFL.com

New Orleans Saints (Grade: B)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	20	Brandin Cooks	WR	Oregon State
2	58	Stanley Jean-Baptiste	CB	Nebraska
4	126	Khairi Fortt	ILB	California
5	167	Vinnie Sunseri	SS	Alabama
5	169	Ronald Powell	OLB	Florida
6	202	Tavon Rooks	OT	Kansas State

NFL.com

New York Giants (Grade: B)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	12	Odell Beckham Jr.	WR	LSU
2	43	Weston Richburg	C	Colorado State
3	74	Jay Bromley	DT	Syracuse
4	113	Andre Williams	RB	Boston College
5	152	Nat Berhe	SS	San Diego State
5	174	Devon Kennard	OLB	USC
6	187	Bennett Jackson	CB	Notre Dame

NFL.com

New York Jets (Grade: A-)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	18	Calvin Pryor	FS	Louisville
2	49	Jace Amaro	TE	Texas Tech
3	80	Dexter McDougle	CB	Maryland
4	104	Jalen Saunders	WR	Oklahoma
4	115	Shaq Evans	WR	UCLA
4	137	Dakota Dozier	OT	Furman
5	154	Jeremiah George	ILB	Iowa State
6	195	Brandon Dixon	CB	Northwest Missouri State
6	209	Quincy Enunwa	WR	Nebraska
6	210	IK Enemkpali	DE	Louisiana Tech
6	213	Tajh Boyd	QB	Clemson
7	233	Trevor Reilly	OLB	Utah

NFL.com

Oakland Raiders (Grade: B+)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	5	Khalil Mack	OLB	Buffalo
2	36	Derek Carr	QB	Fresno State
3	81	Gabe Jackson	OG	Mississippi State
4	107	Justin Ellis	DT	Louisiana Tech
4	116	Keith McGill	CB	Utah
7	219	Travis Carrie	CB	Ohio
7	235	Shelby Harris	DE	Illinois St.
7	247	Jonathan Dowling	SS	Western Kentucky

NFL.com

Philadelphia Eagles (Grade: B)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	26	Marcus Smith	OLB	Louisville
2	42	Jordan Matthews	WR	Vanderbilt
3	86	Josh Huff	WR	Oregon
4	101	Jaylen Watkins	CB	Florida
5	141	Taylor Hart	DE	Oregon
5	162	Ed Reynolds	FS	Stanford
7	224	Beau Allen	DT	Wisconsin

NFL.com

Pittsburgh Steelers (Grade: B)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	15	Ryan Shazier	OLB	Ohio State
2	46	Stephon Tuitt	DE	Notre Dame
3	97	Dri Archer	RB	Kent State
4	118	Martavis Bryant	WR	Clemson
5	157	Shaquille Richardson	CB	Arizona
5	173	Wesley Johnson	OT	Vanderbilt
6	192	Jordan Zumwalt	ILB	UCLA
6	215	Daniel McCullers	DT	Tennessee
7	230	Rob Blanchflower	TE	Massachusetts

NFL.com

San Diego Chargers (Grade: B)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	25	Jason Verrett	CB	TCU
2	50	Jeremiah Attaochu	OLB	Georgia Tech
3	89	Chris Watt	OG	Notre Dame
5	165	Ryan Carrethers	DT	Arkansas State
6	201	Marion Grice	RB	Arizona State
7	240	Tevin Reese	WR	Baylor

NFL.com

San Francisco 49ers (Grade: A)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	30	Jimmie Ward	SS	Northern Illinois
2	57	Carlos Hyde	RB	Ohio State
3	70	Marcus Martin	C	USC
3	77	Chris Borland	ILB	Wisconsin
3	100	Brandon Thomas	OT	Clemson
4	106	Bruce Ellington	WR	South Carolina
4	129	Dontae Johnson	CB	North Carolina State
5	150	Aaron Lynch	DE	South Florida
5	170	Keith Reaser	CB	Florida Atlantic
6	180	Kenneth Acker	CB	SMU
7	243	Kaleb Ramsey	DE	Boston College
7	245	Trey Millard	FB	Oklahoma

NFL.com

Seattle Seahawks (Grade: B-)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
2	45	Paul Richardson	WR	Colorado
2	64	Justin Britt	OT	Missouri
4	108	Cassius Marsh	DE	UCLA
4	123	Kevin Norwood	WR	Alabama
4	132	Kevin Pierre-Louis	OLB	Boston College
5	172	Jimmy Staten	DT	Middle Tennessee State
6	199	Garrett Scott	OT	Marshall
6	208	Eric Pinkins	FS	San Diego State
7	227	Kiero Small	RB	Arkansas

NFL.com

St. Louis Rams (Grade: A)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	2	Greg Robinson	OT	Auburn
1	13	Aaron Donald	DT	Pittsburgh
2	41	Lamarcus Joyner	CB	Florida State
3	75	Tre Mason	RB	Auburn
4	110	Mo Alexander	SS	Utah State
6	188	E.J. Gaines	CB	Missouri
6	214	Garrett Gilbert	QB	SMU
7	226	Mitchell Van Dyk	OT	Portland St.
7	241	C.B. Bryant	FS	Ohio State
7	249	Michael Sam	DE	Missouri
7	250	Demetrius Rhaney	C	Tennessee St.

NFL.com

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Grade: A-)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	7	Mike Evans	WR	Texas A&M
2	38	Austin Seferian-Jenkins	TE	Washington
3	69	Charles Sims	RB	West Virginia
5	143	Kadeem Edwards	OG	Tennessee St.
5	149	Kevin Pamphile	OT	Purdue
6	185	Robert Herron	WR	Wyoming

NFL.com

Tennessee Titans (Grade: B-)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
1	11	Taylor Lewan	OT	Michigan
2	54	Bishop Sankey	RB	Washington
4	112	DaQuan Jones	DT	Penn State
4	122	Marqueston Huff	FS	Wyoming
5	152	Avery Williamson	ILB	Kentucky
6	178	Zach Mettenberger	QB	LSU

NFL.com

Washington Redskins (Grade: C+)

Round	Pick	Selection	Position	College
2	47	Trent Murphy	OLB	Stanford
3	66	Morgan Moses	OT	Virginia
3	78	Spencer Long	OG	Nebraska
4	102	Bashaud Breeland	CB	Clemson
5	142	Ryan Grant	WR	Tulane
6	186	Lache Seastrunk	RB	Baylor
7	217	Ted Bolser	TE	Indiana
7	228	Zach Hocker	K	Arkansas

NFL.com

Top Prospect: DE Jadeveon Clowney to Houston Texans

For all the talk about whether or not Jadeveon Clowney was a perfect fit for Houston's 3-4 defensive scheme, especially when the Texans already have JJ Watt on one end, keep in mind that this is a freak athlete who has shown no weaknesses on the field. 

Even those who choose to question Clowney's work ethic can't argue what he said after being drafted, via NFL.com's Ian Rapoport:

There's also the simple matter of teams never having enough pass-rushers, especially when they play in a division with Andrew Luck. Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller likes the Texans' front seven a lot more today:

Clowney is athletic enough to drop into coverage if asked, but his best asset is going to be coming off the edge and attacking quarterbacks. It doesn't matter what your scheme is, that player is going to have tremendous value in today's NFL. 

Hidden Gem: QB Logan Thomas to Arizona Cardinals (Fourth round)

There were few prospects as fascinating as Logan Thomas. The former Virginia Tech quarterback was one of the best pure athletes available, but no one knows exactly what to do with him. Chris Sprow of ESPN notes that his ability on the practice field is reminiscent of two outstanding young quarterbacks:

No one is saying that Thomas will turn into Colin Kaepernick or Russell Wilson, but that's the kind of talent he has. 

However, the Cardinals did themselves a favor by taking Thomas where they did. Carson Palmer is still the starter and doesn't have immediate competition for the gig. He's also 34 years old and is entering the final year of his contract. 

The coaching staff can work with Thomas behind the scenes this year, hoping to see progress in his ability as a pocket passer, then make a decision about the position next offseason. 

There's also the chance that Thomas never plays quarterback in the NFL, which would seem to make this a wasted pick, but that's where things get interesting. He's 6'6", 248 pounds, ran a 4.63 40 at the combine and spent some time early in his college career practicing at tight end. 

With that combination of size and speed, as well as some experience playing the position, Thomas could switch to tight end and be a matchup nightmare for linebackers and cornerbacks in the red zone. 

At least he gives the Cardinals some flexibility with their offense, which is all you can ask for from a player who is a big project. 

Team That Made Biggest Jump: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

The first thing that anyone wanted to talk about with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after they added 6'4" Mike Evans and 6'5" Austin Seferian-Jenkins to play alongside 6'5" Vincent Jackson was how they would make a great intramural basketball team. 

It's also an indication of where the NFL is going. Teams are looking for bigger, faster, physical cornerbacks, so offenses are forced to build around bigger, faster, physical wide receivers. 

One reason Johnny Manziel looked so good throwing the ball last year is because he was able to throw it up to let Evans go get it. And Seferian-Jenkins caught 21 touchdowns in three years at Washington. 

Dave Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com, via CBSSports.com, noted how perfectly Lovie Smith's draft strategy fits with new quarterback Josh McCown's ability:

"

Starting quarterback Josh McCown had a pair of tall trees in Chicago with Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall and now he has his own version in Tampa with the trio of Jackson, Evans and Seferian-Jenkins. Tampa added Charles Sims who is relatively small at 6-feet, but he has the most reliable set of hands among running backs in this draft class.

"

Tampa Bay couldn't throw the ball last season, ranking 30th in completion percentage and last in yards and yards per attempt. That won't be the case next season with so many new weapons added to a depleted receiving corps. 

With the offense taking pressure off a defense that finished middle of the pack in rushing and passing yards allowed, things are going to get mighty interesting in Tampa Bay. 

Unless otherwise noted, draft results via NFL.com.

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