The regular season is over for the 2013 season, and I already miss college football Saturdays. With just bowl games remaining, NFL scouts return to team headquarters to start putting together a very preliminary draft board.
While the story line will be how many quarterbacks go in the first round, the first round should once again be dictated by the offensive linemen and pass rushers.
* denotes underclassman
1. Houston Texans - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville*
As of today, the Texans hold the first pick in the draft, needing a quarterback to utilize the many talents on this offense. As of today, Teddy Bridgewater is still the top rated quarterback, and Houston shouldn’t pass.
2. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins) - Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
The Rams should strongly consider going quarterback with Sam Bradford due $26 million for the next two years. If they do pass and opt to go with Bradford/free agent quarterback, finding a right tackle to take over for Rodger Saffold is the best value.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
Ideally, the Jaguars would love to land Teddy Bridgewater, and may look to move up in the draft to secure him. However, if he’s not there, they probably won't reach for a quarterback, opting to fill Gus Bradley’s “LEO” position instead with an elite talent in Barr.
4. Oakland Raiders - Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M*
The Raiders need help in many areas on their roster, as they still possess one of the most depleted rosters in the NFL. Quarterback is still undetermined as a need, but offensive tackle is clearly a weakness. Ogbuehi can play left or right tackle and has elite upside.
5. Cleveland Browns - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson*
All signs point to the Browns targeting a quarterback in this draft, and with an arsenal of picks, they are prime candidates to trade up. But if they chose to wait until later in round one for their quarterback, adding Sammy Watkins to pair with Josh Gordon will give whatever QB they add a perfect duo to grow with.
6. Atlanta Falcons - Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina*
A team with playoff talent, they are in desperate need for offensive line help, and that’ll be strongly considered for a need-based drafting team. But Clowney is too good to pass on for a team that should be looking for the best player available.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina*
Maybe a bit high for Ebron, but the athletic and vertically stretching tight end fits the mold of what teams are looking for (and need) to take their offenses to an elite level. The Bucs certainly are in need of a tight end presence.
8. Minnesota Vikings - Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
Christian Ponder has certainly not proved to be the franchise passer and the Vikings shouldn’t pass on getting a franchise passer this year. Carr has the arm talent and touch to utilize this offense’s big play threats.
9. Tennessee Titans - Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri*
The Titans could look at offensive tackle to replace the impending free agent David Stewart, but adding to their pass rush seems more likely based on the money/draft picks they’ve already spent on the OL. Ealy made a name for himself this year, leading the Missouri defense to becoming one of the best in the country.
10. Buffalo Bills - Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
In need of pass rushing help and added versatility on their defense, Khalil Mack seems like a perfect fit for the Bills. They could look for an offensive lineman or a true linebacker like CJ Mosley as well.
11. New York Giants - C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama
The Giants have perennially had a need at linebacker, and this is the perfect spot for both Mosley to fall and the Giants to be to secure their much-needed linebacker.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers - Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
Lewan has seemed to fall out of good graces with evaluators this year, but he would have been a Top 5 pick last season and hasn’t seen a major drop in play despite poor talent around him. His nastiness should fit perfectly with the Steelers franchise mentality.
13. New York Jets - Marqise Lee, WR, USC*
Stephen Hill hasn’t proved to be the major difference maker that they thought he’d be, and Santonio Holmes shouldn’t be part of the long term plans on this team. Lee can step in right away and be a feature weapon for this Geno Smith-lead offense.
14. St. Louis Rams - Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame*
The Rams could again consider quarterback, and they’d mostly likely have their pick after Bridgewater/Carr most. Still, if they pass at No. 2, I doubt they wait at 12 for their guy. Adding to an already talented defensive line seems like the best way to utilize this luxury pick.
15. Detroit Lions – Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State*
With arguably the most talented defensive line in the NFL, the Lions need to continue to build their secondary. Darius Slay has played well as a rookie so far, but adding Bradley Roby could give this team two capable starters.
16. Dallas Cowboys - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn*
Robinson is reportedly 50/50 on declaring for the draft, and may wait until after the championship game. However, if he does declare, he may be in contention to be the top offensive tackle in this class. Pairing him with Tyron Smith should finally give this offense two bookend tackles.
17. San Diego Chargers - Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
The Chargers could go a number of directions, with offensive line, defensive line, pass rusher, and secondary all being perceived needs. With a talented cornerback class, they’d be wise to get the first one off the board in Dennard.
18. Green Bay Packers - Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
Another team that could go in many directions, tight end included, the Packers would be wise to lock up one of the few physical and high upside cornerbacks in this class. If Jace Amaro changes his mind and decides to enter the draft, he could be their tight end pick.
19. Miami Dolphins - Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama*
Despite being this low in the draft order, the Dolphins can thank a likely deep offensive tackle class for the fact that they still may be able to land a top caliber offensive tackle. While the order of where the tackles rank is still very up in the air, the Dolphins should take the best one no matter what. In this case, that’s Kouandjio.
20. Arizona Cardinals - Cameron Erving, OT, Florida State*
Already beyond expectations defensively, the Cardinals could still stand to have more stability on their offensive line despite Bruce Arians’s offense seeming not to need elite talent. Erving is the last “top talent” at the position on the board, and would give this team a potential left tackle of the future.
21. Baltimore Ravens - Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M*
Simply put, the Ravens offense misses Anquan Boldin a lot. Mike Evans compares favorably to Boldin as a physical, ball-grabbing receiving presence.
22. Chicago Bears - Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
No one knows right now how the Bears' quarterback situation will play out, and that’ll be one of the most intriguing storylines of the off-season. Assuming they pass on a first-round quarterback, and with no linebackers here worth taking, the Bears should go with a talented defensive tackle/end in Hageman.
23. Philadelphia Eagles - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama*
The Eagles have a lot of solid NFL talent in their defensive backfield, but few guys they'd really want as a long term starter. While receiver, defensive end, and pass rusher could all be perceived bigger needs, Clinton-Dix is the best safety in an overall weak class.
24. Cleveland Browns (via Indianapolis Colts) - Blake Bortles, QB, UCF*
The Browns could make Bortles their guy in the Top 10, but I think they’d be wise to remain patient, and maybe trade up from 24 to secure their quarterback. A talented passer who thrives on downfield passing, he could utilize Sammy Watkins and Josh Gordon very well.
25. Cincinnati Bengals - Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU
Finding a need for the Bengals isn’t easy because they’ve drafted so well in recent years. However, defensive tackle and strong side linebacker seem like the most clear needs. Van Noy hasn’t gotten much attention this year, but he is a super talented and versatile linebacker who can fit in any defense.
26. Carolina Panthers - Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State*
Giving Cam Newton more offensive weapons should be a top priority for management this off-season, especially with Steve Smith’s career winding down. While they likely won’t get Sammy Watkins/Marqise Lee, scooping up one of the best vertical threats in Robinson would make Cam very happy.
27. San Francisco 49ers - Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
The 49ers offense could use a big play threat at receiver, but more likely they’ll look to keep their offense a strength. Defensive line is an option, but a consistent, fundamentally sound cornerback like Verrett could provide an instant impact for this defense.
28. New England Patriots - Cyril Richardson, OG, Baylor
Adding to their interior offensive line is arguably the most important off-season agenda for this team. Richardson is a mauling, long interior blocker, fitting the mold of this offense and likely can start day one.
29. New Orleans Saints- Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson*
The Saints still need pass rushing help at both levels of their front seven, despite their success this season. Beasley is one of the best true rushers in this class, and should fit well and quickly into Rob Ryan’s defense.
30. Kansas City Chiefs - Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt
Andy Reid would love to add more dynamic receivers to his offense, and Jordan Matthews is both the best receiver on the board and can stretch defenses vertically.
31. Seattle Seahawks - Lamarcus Joyner, CB/S, Florida State
I’m not sure how well Joyner fits into this defense or their long-term plan, but he’s a versatile defensive back, capable of playing nickel cornerback and safety, and reminds of a mix of Tyrann Matthieu and Brandon Boykin. The Seahawks are great at finding playmakers, no matter what the round.
32. Denver Broncos - Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State
The Broncos defense still needs ample help, both on the defensive line and in the secondary. Instead of reaching for a cornerback at this point, they may be better off getting one of the best interior pass rushers in Sutton, who is a bit undersized but wins in multiple areas as a pass rusher.