Khalil Mack is your new first overall pick. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
The NFL season is over, and with a season’s worth of tape on the 2014 NFL draft class, we can start to accurately evaluate the first-year pros and figure out who is outplaying their draft spot and who is underachieving.
We take a look back at the first round of last year’s draft and press the reset button. How would the first round have played out teams could do it all over again?
Team
Actual pick
Re-draft
1. Texans
Jadeveon Clowney, DE
Khalil Mack, OLB (OAK)
All of the concerns scouts had about Clowney turned out to be valid. He missed most of the season with injuries, and when he was on the field, he produced uninspiring performances. Mack, on the other hand, was one of the best linebackers in the league and would have formed a terrific partnership with J.J. Watt.
2. Rams
Greg Robinson, OT
Greg Robinson, OT
Greg Robinson’s rookie season got off to a rough start. The second overall pick wasn’t on the active roster for the first month, but when he finally got on the field, he flashed the raw ability that convinced the Rams to take him. St. Louis knew they were getting a project and that’s exactly what they got.
3. Jaguars
Blake Bortles, QB
Blake Bortles, QB
Blake Bortles wasn’t the best rookie quarterback in 2014, but no one expected him to be. His raw ability attracted the Jaguars, who planned on sitting him for the entire season. When Bortles finally replaced starter Chad Henne, he struggled to read coverages and threw some horrific interceptions. But his talent was evident, and that’s what got him taken so high in the first place.
4. Bills
Sammy Watkins, WR
Sammy Watkins, WR
Sammy Watkins did not put up the best numbers among rookie wide receivers, but his first season was not a disappointment by any means. Having EJ Manuel and Kyle Orton as his quarterbacks certainly didn’t help Watkins’s cause, but the former Clemson standout made a number of big plays for a surprisingly competitive Bills team.
5. Raiders
Khalil Mack, OLB
Jadeveon Clowney, DE (HOU)
With Khalil Mack off the board, the Raiders have to turn somewhere else for a defensive star. And even with the uneven rookie year he had, Clowney’s physical talent is not something Oakland could possibly pass up. Besides, it was only one year. Clowney still has the best potential of anyone taken in the 2014 NFL draft.
6. Falcons
Jake Matthews, OT
Aaron Donald, DT (STL)
The Falcons thought they were getting a sure thing with Jake Matthews. But in the last few drafts, highly touted offensive tackles have not panned out. Matthews dealt with injuries and inconsistent play (as did the entire Atlanta line) but the Falcons offense did not really take a hit. The defense could have used a disruptive force like Aaron Donald who, even on draft day, looked like a steal for the Rams at 14.
7. Buccaneers
Mike Evans, WR
Odell Beckham Jr., WR (NYG)
Tampa Bay can’t be too disappointed with what they got out of Mike Evans. The big wide out caught 12 touchdowns despite poor quarterback play. Odell Beckham Jr. was just a cut above, though. Forget about the crazy catch he made on Sunday Night Football, Beckham’s ability to consistently get open combined with his play-making exploits is what made him such a devastating weapon for the Giants.
8. Browns
Justin Gilbert, CB
Teddy Bridgewater, QB (MIN)
This isn’t necessarily an indictment on Justin Gilbert, who showed flashes of Pro Bowl ability at times. But Teddy Bridgewater was the most polished of the rookie quarterbacks, and the Browns are in desperate need of a signal caller. Sorry, Johnny Football.
9. Vikings
Anthony Barr, LB
Anthony Barr, LB
The Vikings got exactly what they wanted when they selected Anthony Barr with the ninth overall pick: a versatile defender who could impact offenses from any spot along the defensive front-seven. With Mike Zimmer at the helm of his development, Barr will only get better.
10. Lions
Eric Ebron, TE
Calvin Pryor, S (NYJ)
The Lions taking Eric Ebron looked like a luxury pick at the time, and that turned out to be the case. Despite whiffing on the pick — Ebron caught only 25 passes for 248 yards and one touchdown — the Lions went 11-4 and won the division. And outside of the interior offensive line, there are no clear weaknesses on the team. Strong safety James Ihedigbo had a solid season, but he’s nothing more than a stop gap, so we’ll give them Calvin Pryor here even if it’s a bit of a reach. A trade down would be the smartest move.
11. Titans
Taylor Lewan, OT
Taylor Lewan, OT
The Titans drafting Taylor Lewan came as surprise after they spent millions of dollars on re-tooling the offensive line the last two offseasons. But Lewan’s rookie season was a success after winning the left tackle job and holding his own before going down for the year with an ankle injury. The early returns suggest the Titans made a good pick.
12. Giants
Odell Beckham Jr., WR
Mike Evans, WR (TB)
Can you imagine how miserable the Giants season would have been had it not been for the brilliance of Odell Beckham Jr.? Well, in this parallel universe, that would have been the case with ODB going much higher in the first round. Though Mike Evans is a nice consolation prize.
13. Rams
Aaron Donald, DT
C.J. Mosley, LB (BAL)
The Rams pick of Aaron Donald is a perfect example of why drafting strictly based on need is a bad idea. St. Louis strengthened an already-strong defensive line by taking Donald, who one of only three rookies to make the 2015 Pro Bowl. Without Donald on the board, the Rams “settle” for another rookie of the year candidate, ball-hawking linebacker C.J. Mosley.
14. Bears
Kyle Fuller, CB
Jason Verrett, CB (SD)
Kyle Fuller got off to a hot start, with three interceptions in September. Fuller couldn’t keep that momentum going. When the big plays stopped, Fuller’s mistakes started to stand out. Jason Verrett, on the other hand, didn’t make the splash plays but his steady play made him the best rookie corner in the league. The Chargers raved about Verrett’s football IQ, something that doesn’t always translate during pre-draft evaluations.
15. Steelers
Ryan Shazier, LB
Ryan Shazier, LB
Injuries derailed Ryan Shazier’s rookie season. When the Ohio State product was on the field, his potential was evident. Enough so that the Steelers aren’t feeling any buyer’s remorse at this point.
16. Cowboys
Zack Martin, OT
Zack Martin, OT
Let’s give Jerry Jones some credit here. He resisted the Johnny Football hype, passing up the sexy pick for the least sexy pick possible: an interior lineman. The move paid off, as Zack Martin was a key piece to arguably the NFL’s most valuable unit.
17. Ravens
C.J. Mosley, LB
Jake Matthews, OT (ATL)
Dropping Jake Matthews down this far is probably a little unfair. It’s evident that he’s the most physically gifted of the tackles taken in 2014. But his play throughout the season just didn’t justify his top-10 selection. At 17, though, Matthews is a steal, and Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome always goes for the best talent available.
18. Jets
Calvin Pryor, S
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (GB)
The Jets were smart to address their secondary in the draft. With Calvin Pryor already off the board, the Jets settle for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who had a decent rookie year with the Packers. While Clinton-Dix isn’t the run defender Pryor is, he would add more play-making ability to a Jets secondary in dire need of it.
19. Dolphins
Ja’Wuan James, OT
Eric Ebron, TE (DET)
Ja’Wuan James was off to a decent start in his rookie season. After moving over to left tackle mid-season, James nose dived. His footwork failed him far too often. With a few more years of seasoning, James should develop into a solid pro. With Eric Ebron still on the board, however, the Dolphins, who want to emulate what Chip Kelly is doing in Philadelphia, couldn’t afford to pass up on Ebron’s versatility.
20. Saints
Brandin Cooks, WR
Darqueze Dennard, CB (CIN)
The Saints players aren’t the only ones who bought into the preseason hype. The front office opted for a luxury pick in Brandin Cooks when the cornerback position was clearly lacking. With a talent like Darqueze Dennard still available, the Saints would be getting a steal and a player that could have vastly improved New Orleans’ disappointing defense.
21. Packers
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S
Kelvin Benjamin, WR (CAR)
The Packers expected Jarrett Boykin to step up into the No. 2 receiver role after James Jones’s departure. That didn’t happen, and opposing defenses have been able to roll coverages to Jordy Nelson and use more resources to stop Randall Cobb from the slot. Adding Kelvin Benjamin to the mix would discourage such tactics and make the Packers offense impossible to defend.
22. Browns
Johnny Manziel, QB
Justin Gilbert (CLE)
Between poor play on the field and continuing issues off it, Johnny Manziel’s rookie season could not have gone any worse. In the little time we saw Manziel on the field, this much was clear: Johnny Football is miles away from being a legitimate starter in the NFL. With Justin Gilbert dropping, Cleveland is still able to get their guy.
23. Chiefs
Dee Ford, OLB
Timmy Jernigan, DT (BAL)
The last thing the Chiefs needed was more pass rushers. Kansas City finished fifth in the league in sacks, and Justin Houston led the league. The Chiefs could have used reinforcements along the defensive line, however. After losing DE Tyson Jackson to free agency, the Chiefs dropped down to 26th in the league in rushing. Timmy Jernigan would have added physicality to the run defense.
24. Bengals
Darqueze Dennard, CB
Kony Ealy, DE (CAR)
The Bengals defense took a step back in 2014. The biggest factor in the drop was a ineffective pass rush. Kony Ealy was the top rookie pass rusher and really came on late in the season. He notched a sack in each of the Panthers’ final three games. With Darqueze Dennard off the board, Ealy fits a need and proved to be a first-round talent.
25. Chargers
Jason Verrett, CB
Jeremy Hill, RB (CIN)
The Chargers would be disappointed in missing out on Jason Verrett, but getting Jeremy Hill would have filled a huge need. Ryan Mathews can’t stay healthy and losing Danny Woodhead crippled the Chargers offense. Hill carried the Bengals offense down the stretch and could have made the difference in San Diego’s failed playoff push.
26. Eagles
Marcus Smith, LB
Bradley Roby, CB (DEN)
Marcus Smith couldn’t even get on the field for the Eagles, who weren’t exactly stacked at linebacker after losing DeMeco Ryans early in the season. That didn’t really have an effect on Philadelphia’s front-seven, though. The real weakness of the Eagles defense was the secondary. The Broncos used Bradley Roby as a boundary corner for the most part, but he showed the ability to move inside to the slot when needed. That skill-set would have served the Eagles well in 2014.
27. Cardinals
Deone Bucannon, S
Deone Bucannon, S
Deone Bucannon had a quiet rookie year for the Cardinals. For a rookie safety, that’s not always a bad thing. He didn’t make a lot of big plays, but he didn’t give up many big plays either. That’s a good return on the 27th pick and enough to keep him at his original spot.
28. Panthers
Kelvin Benjamin, WR
Brandin Cooks, WR (NO)
If Brandin Cooks had been on the board at 28, there’s a good chance the Panthers would have passed on Kelvin Benjamin and taken Cooks. The Oregon State product has a similar game to Steve Smith, whom the Panthers had to cut for financial reasons before the draft. In hindsight it would have been the wrong move, but Benjamin is off the board in this draft, so Carolina ends up with Cooks.
29. Patriots
Dominique Easley, DT
Joel Bitonio, OG (CLE)
The Patriots knew they were taking a chance on Dominique Easley, who was coming off a torn ACL his last season at Florida. Had the Patriots known how thin their offensive line was going to be in 2014, an offensive lineman would have been the obvious pick. Joel Bitonio would have fit nicely into New England’s physical run scheme.
30. 49ers
Jimmie Ward, S
Ja’Wuan James, OT (MIA)
The 49ers did not have a lot of holes entering the 2014 season. The secondary was a weak spot for sure, so taking Jimmie Ward with a first-round pick made sense. But with Vic Fangio at the helm, the defense was always going to be top notch. As it turned out, offensive line depth became a big issue when RT Anthony Davis went out with an injury. Backup Jonathan Martin struggled in relief and was a liability in pass protection all season. Having a project like Ja’Wuan James on the roster would have helped.
31. Broncos
Bradley Roby, CB
Kyle Fuller, CB (CHI)
Bradley Roby was a valuable piece for the Broncos defense, but with him off the board Denver would have to look elsewhere. The Broncos don’t have many holes outside of cornerback, so moving on to the next best prospect, Kyle Fuller, makes sense.
32. Vikings
Teddy Bridgewater, QB
Derek Carr, QB (OAK)
With Teddy Bridgewater in Cleveland, the Vikings move onto the second-best rookie quarterback of 2014. Carr showed he has the mental capacity to play the position at the NFL level, but his physical attributes drop him down to the back of the first round.