Good night ya'll. See you tomorrow. Same Bat-time, same Bat-station.
32. Minnesota(from Seattle): Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville. I grade this pick as an A+. He'll be the best Qb from this class, and will start immediately.
Houston will take whichever QB is left after this pick
31. Denver Broncos: Bradley Roby, CB Ohio State. I grade this pick a B+. Talented but troubled guy, he won't be asked to face top WRs, which is smart.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Jimmie Ward, S Northern Illinois. I grade this a C. Talented kid, smart player, but they have 2 starting safeties already.
29. New England Patriots: Dominique Easley, DL Florida. I grade this a B. He'll need time to recover, but extremely talented DLman.
28. Carolina Panthers: Kelvin Benjamin, WR Florida State. I grade this pick a D. He doesn't fill their real WR need(a deep threat) and passed on Marqise Lee for him. Odd.
27. Arizona Cardinals: Deone Bucannon, S Washington State. I grade this pick a D+. They have Safety talent already and need a QB. Bizarre, good player though.
26. Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Smith, LB/DE Louisville. I grade this pick a F. They could have dropped back 2 rounds and still gotten him.
Don't be shocked if the Vikes trade up into the 1st for Bridgewater or Carr. They like both.
25. San Diego Chargers. Jason Verrett, CB TCU. I grade this pick an A. Great cover guy, just small.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Darqueze Dennard, DB Michigan State. I grade this pick a B. They have a lot of CBs already and Dennard should do well. They could have done better though.
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Dee Ford, OLB Auburn. I grade this pick a D. Makes. no. sense. Not when they've given Houston and Hali big money.
Cleveland took Brady Quinn at 22...Brandon Weeden at 22.....now Manziel at 22. Just saying...
22. Cleveland Browns(from Philadelphia): Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M. I grade this pick C-. There's a big reason Manziel dropped. He's a very flawed prospect and teams just don't see the upside.
21. Green Bay Packers: HaHa Clinton-Dix, S Alabama. I grade this pick an A+. Great pick, fits their scheme and fills an immediate need.
The Pack should take Clinton-Dix.
20. New Orleans Saints(trade with Arizona): Brandin Cooks, WR Oregon State. I grade this pick a C+. I'm not a huge fan of Cooks, but dealing a third for him. Meh.
Manziel isn't dropping, he's going exactly where he should.
19. Miami Dolphins: Juwan James, OT Tennesee. I grade this pick A. I love James, great pick and can start quickly.
The Jets' fans were happy with that pick. Is Doomsday near?
18. New York Jets: Calvin Pryor, S Louisville. I grade this an A-. Only a minus because Clinton-Dix makes more sense here.
17. Baltimore Ravens: C.J. Mosley, LB Alabama. I grade this pick a C+. They have talent at ILB already and needed help elsewhere.
16. Dallas Cowboys: Zack Martin, OT Notre Dame. I grade this pick an A. Martin is a quality OT/OG and the Cowboys needed him.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ryan Shazier, LB Ohio State. I grade this pick a C. Shazier has some skills, but they don't do much to help their team here. Pure BPA.
14. Chicago Bears: Kyle Fuller, CB Virginia Tech. I grade this pick a C+. Fuller is an interesting cover guy, but they could have dealt down for him.
So who in the Dallas war room will duct tape Jerry Jones and throw him in a closet for the next hour?
13. St Louis Rams: Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh. I grade this pick an A+. Now the rest of the NFC west has to reinforce their D-line.
Aaron Donald's drop is less about Donald and more about talent moving ahead of him.
The Lewan pick is all about the Texans taking Clowney. Nothing else.
11. Tennessee Titans: Taylor Lewan, OT Michigan. I grade this pick A. Lewan was the best OT out there, but they have two good OTs on the roster.
10. Detroit Lions: Eric Ebron, TE UNC. I grade this pick B+. They need DB help more, but Ebron is a smart pick.
9. Minnesota Vikings: Anthony Barr, LB UCLA. I grade this pick B+. Barr is a rusher and can be the centerpiece of this defense.
8. Cleveland(from Minnesota): Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma State: I grade this pick a B. Gilbert is the real deal, but top 8?
7. Tampa Bay Bucs: Mike Evans, WR Texas A&M. I grade this pick an A also. Evans was the best WR in the draft and compliments Vincent Jackson well.
6. Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews Jr, OT Texas A&M. I grade this pick an A. Matthews solidifies their LT spot and keeps the offense humming.
If Manziel drops past Tampa or Cleveland, he could drop very far.
Why does Khalil Mack have the Hitler mustache?
5. Oakland Raiders: Khalil Mack, LB Buffalo. I grade this pick an A. Mack is a star defender in the making.
What a disaster for Buffalo. Gave up a 1st and a 4th next year with pick #9.
4. Buffalo from Cleveland: Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson. I grade this pick a C+. Watkins is a good prospect, but dealing up for him(giving up next year's #1) makes little sense with Mike Evans out there.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles, QB UCF. I grade this pick "A." Bortles has the tools, is semi-local and can be built around.
Reportedly, Robinson will play left guard for a year or two, then replace Jake Long. This is a dumb idea.
2. St Louis Rams(from Washington): Greg Robinson, OT Auburn. I grade this pick a "B." Robinson has all the tools, and reminds people of Trent Williams, but ultimately disappears too much.
One more thought on Clowney: Houston drafted DJ Swearinger, a former Gamecock defender last year. They had to ask him all about Clowney on and off the field.
Clowney looks overwhelmed by the moment.
1. Houston. Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina. I grade this pick an "A." Clowney+Watt will give every Oline coach in the AFC nightmares.
Clowney has been called by Houston.
Here we go....
Expect the Rams to deal out of one or both of their first round picks.
Adam Schefter says that the Bears are considering Tim Jernigan at pick #14. I think this is a smokescreen.
Speaking of Manziel, expect him to go to Tampa.
Johnny Manziel picks, as his entrance music, Drake's draft day song which mentions Manziel in the first line. Of course.
Fox: I think yes to your first question unless the Rams take him, and I have to think that the Browns will try and deal up into the teens for the QB that they want if they take Watkins at 4.
John Solano: Will Watkins be available at #4 and do the Browns snag a QB at 26?
My top ten prospects right now: 1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina, 2. Khalil Mack, LB Buffalo, 3. Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville, 4. Taylor Lewan, OT Michigan, 5. Anthony Barr, LB UCLA, 6. Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh, 7. Jake Matthews Jr, OT Texas A&M, 8. Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson, 9. HaHa Clinton-Dix, S Alabama and 10. Mike Evans, WR Texas A&M:
If Clowney goes #1 overall, it means that the last two draft picks were Gamecocks. Justice Cunningham was Mr. Irrelevant of the 2013 draft.
https://twitter.com/BrianMFloyd/status/464540661568778240/photo/1 That might be a joint on his couch...oy.
The Broncos are completely denying that they're after Blake Bortles.
Two players who might draw interest towards the end of the 1st round: Dee Ford and Xavier Su'a-Filo. Teams in the early 2nd might deal up for one of them.
The Texans are still calling teams about dealing the #1 overall pick.
Fox: Green Bay is looking for defensive help up the middle(FS, ILB, NT) and a TE who can be a threat in the red zone. I think that CJ Mosley or Calvin Pryor will be their priority in the 1st round
@Micky1897: What are Green Bay looking at in the draft?
Fox: If he makes it past Cleveland at #4 and Tampa at 7, he could slide all the way to the Cowboys. But someone like Cleveland will deal up before then to take him.
@VKRatiff: Manziel?(Where is he going)
The Steelers are high on Eric Ebron and Zach Martin. They expect one of them to be there at #15.
Adam Schefter reporting that the Texans don't expect to trade the pick and have decided on who to take. My sources say that it will be Clowney.
The Bills are openly shopping Stevie Johnson. No takers so far.
Dallas is openly talking about how much they want Manziel. This is really just to manage expectations. They have little to no shot at him, but if he does fall into their laps, they'll deal the pick to someone who wants him.
Jesse: Is dee ford really falling or are mayock and kipers mock just off base?
Fox: Kiper's last mock is usually good until the teens, but I don't think Ford will drop that far.
Follow up on that previous rumor, the Steelers might deal up to 10 or 11 to get Martin or Lewan.
One rumor that I believe is that the Steelers will take Zach Martin if he's there at 15.
Rumor: The Browns are considering taking at 4, then Bridgewater at 26.
Rumor: Multiple sources reporting that the Raiders will take Khalil Mack at #5.
Jay Glazer is reporting that the Texans want an "RG3 type deal" for the #1 pick.
Rumor: Don Banks is reporting that Manziel has told the Jaguars that he has no interest in playing for them.
Fox: The Bears or Cowboys moving up for Aaron Donald.
Clay: Any predictions on which team will make the biggest trade to move up in the first round?
Fox: By not taking Devin Thomas(or Malcolm Kelly) again.
Ryan: The skins picked Devin Thomas last time they had pick 34. How do they top that pick?
Fox: Cousins will still be a redskin come saturday night, Mike Glennon will be dealt sometime friday.
Our first question from StricknineSkinz: Best guess...Kirk still a Redskin, and Glennon still a Buc come Saturday night?
*Just so we're clear: I personally don't believe every rumor, I'm just passing them along.
*With so much money tied up in Sherman and Thomas(and rightfully so), the Seahawks will listen to offers on other young defenders. Especially Bruce Irvin and KJ Wright.
*Tony Pauline makes a great point re: Manziel today: "Speak to NFL executives and almost to a man they will tell you if Johnny Manziel is selected in the first eight picks tomorrow it will be by decree of the owner rather than the scouting department or general manager, something I’ve mentioned for a while. One insider told me the feeling amongst the 32 general managers is the hope Manziel is gone before they are called to the clock so there’s no discussion or distraction of selecting the signal caller. "
*Sherman will make 12 million combined in 2014. 4 year deal. 57.4 million. 40 guaranteed.
*The Seahawks have signed Richard Sherman to a long term extension.
*Rumor: Bears want Deone Buchanon at #51. They'll deal out if he's gone.
*Another rumor: The Texans want to deal down a few picks and take Blake Bortles.
There's conflicting reports about Manziel going to the Browns. Jay Glazer said that it won't happen at #4. He's probably wrong. The only way it couldn't happen because of the next rumor...
The Jags are supposedly being linked to taking Manziel at #3 overall. As I said last night , teams are trying to sucker the Browns into dealing up. This is another example of this happening.
The Falcons have talked to the Texans and Falcons about moving up. All they're offering is #6 overall+a 2014 3rd or 2015 2nd. No takers so far.
There was a report that Zach Mettenberger has a long term back issue. This is just false.
The Texans will take Clowney at #1 unless a team trades with them.
Let's dispense with some rumors swirling around:
Hi everyone! I'm Jon Fox, Vavel's resident Draft guru and over the course of the next few days, I'm going to be flapping my gums about the goings on in the NFL draft. I'll judge, Johnny Weir-style, every draft pick made, offer up my opinions on random draft topics and take your questions! Please use the hashtag #foxdraft on twitter if you want to ask one.