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