Below is my 9th annual NFL mock draft on buffalobills.com. This is how I believe things could play out in round one on Thursday night.
While I do expect there to be some movement in the top 10, I'm not going to predict trades - this should help provide a better feel for what other teams will be looking to address in terms of position need.
Enjoy the draft, Bills fans, and follow our wall-to-wall draft coverage at buffalobills.com/draft. [
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Team
Top 3 Needs
Possible Selections
1. Houston
QB, OL, DT
Top choice:DE Jadeveon Clowney – South Carolina
QB Blake Bortles – Central Florida
There are more pressing needs, but Clowney could be this generation's Bruce Smith. An iffy QB class helps the decision.
2. St. Louis
OL, DB, WR
Top choice:OT Greg Robinson – Auburn
WR Sammy Watkins - Clemson
If the Rams knew they could land OT Zack Martin at 13, they would take Watkins, but Robinson fits Fisher's desire to run the ball. QB Johnny Manziel isn't out of the question.
3. Jacksonville
QB, WR, RB
Top choice:WR Sammy Watkins - Clemson
QB Johnny Manziel – Texas A&M
The Jaguars desperately need a leader on offense and Manziel adds that and sizzle, but GM David Caldwell sticks to his board.
4. Cleveland
QB, CB, RB
Top choice: QB Johnny Manziel – Texas A&M
OT Jake Matthews – Texas A&M
The Browns top 10 defense allows them to take a swing at a boom or bust wild card QB like Manziel.
5. Oakland
OLB, OL, QB
Top choice: OLB Khalil Mack - Buffalo
QB Blake Bortles – Central Florida
Mack would pair nicely with free agent pickup Lamarr Woodley and dramatically improve Oakland's pass rush.
6. Atlanta
OT, DL, RB
Top choice:OT Jake Matthews – Texas A&M
OT Taylor Lewan - Michigan
After giving up 44 sacks last season the Falcons fortify the offensive front for Matt Ryan.
7. Tampa Bay
WR, LB, OL
Top choice:WR Mike Evans – Texas A&M
TE Eric Ebron – North Carolina
Evans and Jackson pair could resemble Josh McCown's receiving duo in Chicago last year of Marshall and Jeffery.
8. Minnesota
QB, LB, S
Top choice: QB Blake Bortles – Central Florida
S Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix - Alabama
With Manziel off the board, the Vikes invest in Bortles as their QB of future while Matt Cassel plays in 2014.
9. Buffalo
OT, LB, TE
Top choice:TE Eric Ebron – North Carolina
WR Odell Beckham - LSU
The Bills will try to move up for Watkins or Evans, but Ebron gives Buffalo one of six elite talents in the class. Beckham and Martin will be secondary considerations.
10. Detroit
S, CB, OL
Top choice:S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix - Alabama
OT Taylor Lewan - Michigan
A safety capable of covering is a dire need for the Lions' secondary.
11. Tennessee
CB, RB, OLB
Top choice:LB C.J. Mosley - Alabama* *CB Darqueze Dennard – Michigan St.
Losing Alterraun Verner in free agency might mandate the top cover corner, but Mosley is a versatile talent.
12. NY Giants
OT, WR, TE
Top choice: WR Odell Beckham – LSU
OT Zack Martin – Notre Dame
The Giants wait to address their offensive line and grab one of the most polished wideouts in the class.
13. St. Louis
DB, WR
Top choice:CB Darqueze Dennard – Michigan St.
S Calvin Pryor - Louisville
Jeff Fisher and Gregg Williams love physical corners and Dennard provides that and more.
14. Chicago
DT, CB, WR
Top choice:DT Aaron Donald - Pitt
CB Justin Gilbert – Oklahoma St.
The Bears were a disappointing 25th against the run in 2013. Donald provides them with an ideal penetrator up front.
15. Pittsburgh
CB, OL, DL
Top choice:OT Zack Martin – Notre Dame
S Calvin Pryor - Louisville
Martin addresses a positional need and is one of the safest picks in the class.
16. Dallas
DL, S, CB
Top choice: S Calvin Pryor - Louisville
CB Kyle Fuller – Virginia Tech
The Cowboys have a more pressing need on the defensive line, but the value doesn't fit, so Pryor is the play.
17. Baltimore
OT, CB, LB
Top choice:OT Taylor Lewan - Michigan
CB Kyle Fuller – Virginia Tech
Baltimore cannot believe their good fortune as Lewan's slide gives the Ravens a plug and play tackle.
18. NY Jets
CB, OLB, WR/TE
Top choice:WR Brandin Cooks – Oregon State
CB Kyle Fuller – Virginia Tech
The Jets have to help a passing game that is more devoid of weapons now than they were at this time last season.
19. Miami
OT, S, OL
Top choice:OT* *Morgan Moses - Virginia
LB Ryan Shazier – Ohio State
The Dolphins might be reaching a bit here, so if Moses isn't the best on their board, Shazier might be.
20. Arizona
LB, DE, WR
Top choice: OLB Anthony Barr - UCLA
LB Ryan Shazier – Ohio State
The Cards would prefer to slide back as the value isn't perfect, but Barr is their best need option here.
21. Green Bay
LB, S, TE
Top choice:LB Ryan Shazier – Ohio State
CB Justin Gilbert – Oklahoma St.
Shazier is a versatile linebacker who could help in multiple roles.
22. Philadelphia
CB, WR, OLB
Top choice: WR Cody Latimer - Indiana
CB Justin Gilbert – Oklahoma St.
The Eagles return speed to the receiving corps while also adding size and power in the Hoosier wideout.
23. Kansas City
WR, OL, LB
Top choice: WR Marqise Lee – USC
WR Jordan Matthews - Vanderbilt
Lee helps make up for the loss of Dexter McCluster as an inside receiving threat.
24. Cincinnati
CB, DE, OL
Top choice:CB Justin Gilbert – Oklahoma St.
CB Kyle Fuller – Virginia Tech
Gilbert is a good value here to add some much needed youth to the Bengals cover unit.
25. San Diego
NT, OLB, WR
Top choice:NT Louis Nix – Notre Dame
WR Jordan Matthews - Vanderbilt
Nix is coming off a down year, but he's perfect for San Diego's 3-4 front.
26. Cleveland
CB, RB
Top choice:CB Bradley Roby – Ohio State
CB Kyle Fuller – Virginia Tech
Roby has off the field concerns, but he'd provide Mike Pettine with the cover corner needed opposite Joe Haden.
27. New Orleans
CB, OLB, WR
Top choice:WR Jordan Matthews – Vanderbilt
CB Kyle Fuller – Virginia Tech
Matthews is ready to step in and contribute and be the heir apparent to aging veteran Marques Colston.
28. Carolina
OT, WR, CB
Top choice: OT Joel Bitonio - Nevada
CB Kyle Fuller – Oklahoma St.
The Panthers offensive line is screaming for tackle help. GM Dave Gettelman has to pull the trigger on Bitonio.
29. New England
DT, TE, LB
Top choice:DT Ra'Shede Hageman - Minnesota
LB Kyle Van Noy - BYU
An athletic big man that eats up space is just what Bill Belichick needs with two aging vets at defensive tackle.
30. San Francisco
OLB, CB, WR
Top choice: CB Kyle Fuller – Virginia Tech
CB Jason Verrett - TCU
Fuller is the type of 'mix it up' corner that Jim Harbaugh needs for his defense to compete with Seattle's.
31. Denver
CB, LB, OL
Top choice:DE Kony Ealy - Missouri
CB Jason Verrett – TCU
The Broncos add more pass rush behind DeMarcus Ware after seeing how effective it was for Seattle in the Super Bowl.
32. Seattle
OL, WR, DL
Top choice: DE Stephon Tuitt – Notre Dame
DT Timmy Jernigan – Florida St.
Tuitt is a more athletic fit for the Seahawks scheme and could help make up for the loss of Red Bryant in free agency.
