This article is part of our NFL Draft series.
Trades:
-ATL trades No. 6, No. 68 and 2015 1st-round pick to STL for No. 2
-STL trades No. 13 and No. 68 to TB for No. 7
-SF trades No. 30 and No. 56 to TEN for No. 11
-CLE trades No. 26 and No. 71 to PIT for No. 15
1. Houston Texans – Johnny Manziel*, QB, Texas A&M (6-0, 207)
Teddy Bridgewater's poor pro day performance figures to lower him in the consensus rankings, which would leave Manziel and Blake Bortles as the top considerations for Houston. Manziel strikes me as the best option, so I'll go down with this ship until Jay Glazer tells me not to.
2. Atlanta Falcons (from WAS via STL) – Jadeveon Clowney*, DE, South Carolina (6-5, 266)
St. Louis has reason to capitalize on Clowney's stock in a trade down, and Atlanta has a history of paying up. With defensive tackle (Jonathan Babineaux and Paul Soliai) and offensive line (Jon Asamoah, Mike Johnson and Joe Hawley) accounted for, Atlanta can afford to go all-in on Clowney.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Blake Bortles*, QB, UCF (6-5, 232)
If Manziel and Clowney are off the board and Bridgewater's pro day really did wreck his stock, Bortles would be tough to pass on for a Jacksonville squad that needs a savior at quarterback.
4. Cleveland Browns – Sammy Watkins*, WR, Clemson (6-1, 211)
With Watkins, Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron and Andrew Hawkins as pass catchers, even Brian Hoyer could probably throw for 30 touchdowns. The Browns have ammo to move back up for another first-round talent even if they miss on Manziel and Bortles, though.
5. Oakland Raiders – Teddy Bridgewater*, QB, Louisville (6-2, 214)
Media haven't been kind to Bridgewater in the pre-draft process, consistently knocking his size and perceived upside before his Monday pro day and giving him no benefit of the doubt after the disappointing pro day. We still love his chances of success in the NFL, though, and if he fell to five, Bridgewater just might pull Reggie McKenzie out of the pit he's been digging.
6. St. Louis Rams (from ATL) – Greg Robinson*, OT, Auburn (6-5, 332)
It would be a borderline miracle if St. Louis could drop back to six and get Robinson, whose freakish blend of size, strength and athleticism really is reminiscent of Larry Allen.
7. St. Louis Rams (from TB) – Mike Evans*, WR, Texas A&M (6-5, 231)
Evans would give Sam Bradford a highly imposing threat in the red zone and an all-around WR1 skill set to work with. If the Rams secured Evans and Robinson both, Bradford can say goodbye to whatever excuses he has left.
8. Minnesota Vikings – Ha Ha Clinton-Dix*, S, Alabama (6-1, 208)
The Vikings approached Jamarca Sanford about a paycut, meaning they don't view him as an asset. A Harrison and Ha Ha combo at safety would go a long way toward helping the Vikings slow down the unparalleled passing strength of the NFC North.
9. Buffalo Bills – Eric Ebron*, TE, North Carolina (6-4, 250)
Jake Matthews would be tempting here, but the Bills still have Chris Hairston and Erik Pears to try out at right tackle. They have less recourse at tight end.
10. Detroit Lions – Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M (6-5, 308)
Matthews would be a significant upgrade over Riley Reiff or Jason Fox. The Lions throw the ball a lot, so it's a worthwhile investment.
11. San Francisco 49ers (from TEN) – Kelvin Benjamin*, WR, Florida State (6-5, 240)
Benjamin receives criticism over the perception that he's a one-trick pony, specializing on red-zone targets. The 49ers would be okay with that, because a red-zone target is all they need with Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis and Anquan Boldin around. Tennessee, meanwhile, has many reasons to trade down, including a lack of a third-round pick.
12. New York Giants – Khalil Mack, DE/OLB, Buffalo (6-3, 251)
The Giants would like to get Mike Evans or Eric Ebron, but if they don't fall this far, then adding Mack as an OLB-DE hybrid would make sense. Damonte Moore is unproven as a pass rusher, and Jason Pierre-Paul is a free agent after this year. An OL like Zack Martin or Xavier Su'a-Filo would make sense here, too.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from STL) - Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh (6-1, 285)
A DT combo of Donald and Gerald McCoy would be immensely frightening. Lovie Smith would have a dominant defense in Tampa Bay as soon as Day 1.
14. Chicago Bears – Calvin Pryor*, S, Louisville (5-11, 207)
Chris Conte and Major Wright were liabilities in 2013, and Pryor would provide an upgrade over one of them.
15. Cleveland Browns (from PIT) – Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State (6-2, 214)
Carr's stock has soured since his bowl game loss to USC, but it's hard to see him falling out of the first round. His arm strength, character and athleticism give him all the tools necessary to be a worthwhile franchise QB project. If he had Josh Gordon, Sammy Watkins and Jordan Cameron to throw to, Carr would have fairly high odds of success.
16. Dallas Cowboys – Anthony Barr, DE/OLB, UCLA (6-5, 255)
Barr is undersized as a 4-3 end, but the Monte Kiffin-Rod Marinelli style of defense has found a use for such players in the past, including Simeon Rice.
17. Baltimore Ravens – Odell Beckham*, WR, LSU (5-11, 198)
Adding Beckham would give Baltimore a killer three-wide, one-TE set. Torrey Smith working outside, Steve Smith and Dennis Pitta working inside, and Beckham doing a little bit of everything.
18. New York Jets – Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State (6-0, 202)
Rex Ryan lobbied for the Jets to secure Darrelle Revis or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in free agency, but they failed to reel in either. Gilbert has the press-and-chase skill set that suits Ryan's method of pressure.
19. Miami Dolphins – Zack Martin, OT/G, Notre Dame (6-4, 308)
Branden Albert's signing give Miami a nice boost at left tackle, but there's still work to be done. Upgrades can still be had at guard and right tackle, and Martin can provide both, along with valuable insurance behind Albert.
20. Arizona Cardinals – Dee Ford, (3-4) OLB, Auburn (6-2, 251)
John Abraham will be 36 years old soon, and edge players like Matt Shaughnessy, Sam Acho and Alex Okafor have questionable pass-rushing ability. Ford would give Arizona a player with long-term double-digit sack potential.
21. Green Bay Packers – Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois (5-11, 193)
Safety is Green Bay's most obvious need, as there aren't any obvious in-house replacements to step in for MD Jennings. Ward won't last to Green Bay's second-round pick.
22. Philadelphia Eagles – Xavier Su'a-Filo, G, UCLA (6-4, 307)
Todd Herremans struggled a bit for Philadelphia last year, and the Eagles have less of a need at safety and receiver in light of signing Malcolm Jenkins, Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper.
23. Kansas City Chiefs – Brandin Cooks*, WR, Oregon State (5-10, 189)
Cooks would provide Kansas City with a major upgrade over both Donnie Avery outside and Dexter McCluster in the slot.
24. Cincinnati Bengals - Kony Ealy*, DE, Missouri (6-4, 273)
Ealy is a long and crafty end who can slip by blockers despite his lack of speed. He'd be able to contribute at end on early downs and help out inside during nickel formations.
25. San Diego Chargers – Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech (6-0, 190)
Derek Cox and Richard Marshall were liabilities a year ago, so they need to add some help for Shareece Wright. Fuller has the size and speed to excel as a press man on the outside.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers (from IND via CLE) - C.J. Mosley, (3-4) ILB, Alabama (6-2, 234)
Mosley would be a justifiable top-10 pick if not for concerns about his health. He has an elite skill set and brilliant instincts, and he'd make a killer combo with Lawrence Timmons.
27. New Orleans Saints – Ryan Shazier, (3-4) ILB, Ohio State (6-1, 237)
Shazier's rare athleticism and upside as a blitzer is something the Saints could use on the inside and in nickel formations.
28. Carolina Panthers – Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan (6-7, 309)
Carolina is bankrupt at offensive tackle and receiver both. Receiver is probably a deeper position in this draft.
29. New England Patriots – Jace Amaro*, TE, Texas Tech (6-5, 265)
Amaro would give New England more blocking options than Aaron Hernandez once did, but he'd provide Pro Bowl upside as a pass-catching threat, too.
30. Tennessee Titans (from SF) - Demarcus Lawrence, (3-4) OLB, Boise State (6-3, 251)
Lawrence's wingspan (33 and 3/4-inch arms) and hands (11 inches) allow him to play bigger than his 6-foot-3, 251-pound frame would lead you to expect. Tennessee needs 3-4 personnel.
31. Denver Broncos – Marcus Martin*, G/C, USC (6-3, 320)
Zane Beadles left for Jacksonville in free agency, so Martin could step in as a starting guard for Denver. They can groom him as a long-term replacement for Manny Ramirez at center, too.
32. Seattle Seahawks - Ra'Shede Hageman, DT/DE, Minnesota (6-6, 310)
Red Bryant and Clinton McDonald both left in free agency, and Hageman can pick up slack on behalf of both. Hageman would be a valuable, versatile rotational player on the interior in Seattle.
