This weekend’s 2014 NFL Draft marks the beginning — the beginning of many young players’ professional careers and the beginning of a quest for 32 teams as they attempt to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of next season.
It all starts with the 2014 NFL Draft, a three-day spectacle that kicks off Thursday night.
Because the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft fell on same day of the final print edition of the school year, the Minnesota Daily sports staff decided it had to at least take a stab at predicting the first 32 selections.
Now, make no mistake. This mock draft, much like the others that have been floating around the Internet for the last month, will not be correct — not even close.
Still, here’s our (likely frugal) attempt to delve into the minds of general managers across the NFL.
So feel free to agree, disagree, laugh or criticize, but as a whole, we hope our readers enjoy it.
Thanks for the readership. As always, it’s much appreciated.
1. Houston Texans
Jadeveon Clowney, DL
South Carolina
2. St. Louis Rams
Sammy Watkins, WR
Clemson
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Khalil Mack, LB
Buffalo
4. Cleveland Browns
Johnny Manziel, QB
Texas A&M
5. Oakland Raiders
Greg Robinson, OL
Auburn
6. Atlanta Falcons
Jake Matthews, OL
Texas A&M
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Aaron Donald, DL
Pittsburgh
8. Minnesota Vikings
Blake Bortles, QB
Central Florida
9. Buffalo Bills
Mike Evans, WR
Texas A&M
10. Detroit Lions
Justin Gilbert, CB
Oklahoma State
11. Tennessee Titans
Darqueze Dennard, CB
Michigan State
12. New York Giants
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S
Alabama
13. St. Louis Rams
Taylor Lewan, OL
Michigan
14. Chicago Bears
Zack Martin, OL
Notre Dame
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
Calvin Pryor, S
Louisville
16. Dallas Cowboys
Anthony Barr, LB
UCLA
17. Baltimore Ravens
CJ Mosley, LB
Alabama
18. New York Jets
Brandin Cooks, WR
Oklahoma State
19. Miami Dolphins
Cyrus Kouandjio, OL
Alabama
20. Arizona Cardinals
Ryan Shazier, LB
Ohio State
21. Green Bay Packers
Eric Ebron, TE
North Carolina
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Kyle Fuller, CB
Virginia Tech
23. Kansas City Chiefs
Odell Beckham Jr., WR
LSU
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Jason Verrett, CB
TCU
25. San Diego Chargers
Louis Nix III, DL
Notre Dame
26. Cleveland Browns
Marqise Lee, WR
USC
27. New Orleans Saints
Dee Ford, LB
Auburn
28. Carolina Panthers
Cody Latimer, WR
Indiana
29. New England Patriots
Ra’Shede Hageman, DL
Minnesota
30. San Francisco 49ers
Jordan Matthews, WR
Vanderbilt
31. Denver Broncos
Bradley Roby, CB
Ohio State
32. Seattle Seahawks
Stephon Tuitt, DL
Notre Dame
