2014 NFL Mock Draft: A new name connected to the New York Giants

Welcome to another edition of Big Blue View's 2014 NFL Mock Draft series. We decided to change things up just a little bit. Instead of providing three different mocks, Jesse, 'Raptor' and 'Invictus' took on the roles of General Manager and came up with a mock together.

This was a rotating pick draft, so 'Raptor' took the first pick, 'Invictus' the second, and Jesse the third. In this way, just like the real draft, general managers had to react to each other's picks. Each general manager came equipped with his own big board and views on each draft pick, so you also get to see a new draft take place, one that might be a little different than you are used to.

So read on, enjoy, and let us know how badly we did!

Pick	Team	General Manager	Selection	Analysis
1.		Raptor22	Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville	New head coach Bill O'Brien knows the importance of the quarterback position, and Teddy Bridgewater is the best one in this draft. He is accurate, has an adequate arm, and is able to throw with touch and anticipation
2.		Invictus XI	Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson	The Rams are in the envious position of having the second overall pick. While they likely trade down, we aren't simulating trades so I go for the best available player at a position of need. I take the ultra-athletic Watkins to match up with Tavon Austin to provide a high-speed "Greatest Show on Turf" version 2.0.
3.		Jesse Bartolis	Jadaveon Clowney, DE South Carolina	The Jaguars need a quarterback, but they are also desperate for playmakers all over the field. But head coach Gus Bradley also saw how much success Pete Carroll and the Seahawks had by building the trenches. The Jaguars get the best player in the draft and perhaps the best defensive prospect in the last decade.
4.		Raptor22	Blake Bortles, QB Central Florida	The Browns have one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL, and Bortles has the arm to get the ball to him all over the field. He also has the frame to stand tall in the AFC-North.
5.		Invictus XI	Khalil Mack, OLB Buffalo	It was down to Mack and Jake Matthews for me. I took the playmaker on defense first because there aren't really that many complete players like him. The Raiders also had just invested a high pick in Menelik Watson and have Jared Veldheer. Mack provides them with a foundational piece on defense.
6.		Jesse Bartolis	Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M	Matt Ryan got beat down last year because the Falcons offensive line is sub-standard. Jake Matthews is about as safe as a prospect as they come and should help Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense bounce back in 2014.
7.		Raptor22	Eric Ebron, TE University of North Carolina	The Bucs solved their biggest problem when they hired Lovie Smith. Ebron provides an athletic mismatch for Mike Glennon to go with Vincent Jackson and Doug Martin.
8.		Invictus XI	Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M	Manziel falls to the Vikings here and they can't resist. He's a playmaker that extends plays indefinitely and could be the franchise QB that could lead the Vikings into contention. They have the pieces to build around him. If anybody can develop him, a QB guy like Norv Turner will.
9.		Jesse Bartolis	Greg Robinson, OT Auburn	In order to give E.J. Manuel his best chance to succeed the Bills need to provide stability along the offensive line and playmakers at the skill positions. Ebron is intriguing if he's available (he's not in this mock), or Mike Evans, but the better positional value and long term building block is OT Greg Robinson.
10.		Raptor22	Mike Evans, WR Texas A&M	After two years of seeing Chicago's Twin Towers in action, they get Mike Evans to pair with Megatron. Jim Caldwell, Joe Lombardi, and Matt Stafford are going to want to throw. This gives them two enormous targets.
11.		Invictus XI	Anthony Barr, OLB UCLA	The Texans struggled rushing the passer as Akeem Ayers transitioned to defensive end opposite Derrick Martin. That leaves a void at SAM linebacker, and the Titans like to use multiple looks. A Swiss Army knife like the high-upside Barr might be the cure for the Titans on defense.
12.		Jesse Bartolis	Kony Ealy, DE Missouri	Two years ago more than one BBV member committed blasphemy by bringing up LT when talking about the rapid development and dominance of the young JPP, but since then he's battled injuries, and seen a drastic drop in production (16.5 sacks in 2011 and 8.5 combined the last two seasons). Justin Tuck is a free agent, Mathis Kiwianuka is a potential cap casualty, and because I strongly believe the offensive line (and offense in general) will be addressed in free agency, I think the first round pick ends up being defensive this year. Every year there are extremely gifted defensive linemen who end up being selected higher than people think they will be, or selected high based entirely on upside (JPP, Chandler Jones, Aldon Smith, Ezekiel Ansah are the most recent examples), and this year that player is likely to be the talented Ealy. The Giants have question marks in the secondary, linebacker and at all levels on offense, but defensive line was and still is of utmost importance to the philosophy of Jerry Reese and the Giants. Ealy, though not yet discussed, should be someone we fans consider a viable an option on draft day.
13.		Raptor22	Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, FS Alabama	The Rams added to their offense with their first pick, now they add to a talented defense with their second. Clinton-Dix can help to deal with all the offensive threats in the NFC West.
14.		Invictus XI	Darqueze Dennard, CB Michigan State	The Bears only have a year or two left of Peanut Tillman's greatness left. They need to start preparing for his departure, so they draft the highest CB on their board in Darqueze Dennard to usher in a new era of shutdown in the Windy City. I thought about taking a defensive tackle here, but the draft is deep in that area.
15.		Jesse Bartolis	Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma State	The Steelers need help at cornerback in the worst way. Ike Taylor is a shell of the very good player he used to be and right now it's a fair argument to say that two of the top three wide receivers in all of football play in the AFC North (Josh Gordon and A.J. Green). Gilbert could also return punts, which would eliminate the potential for an Antonio Brown punt return injury.
16.		Raptor22	Marqise Lee, WR University of Southern California	The Baltimore Ravens could use another talented wideout to go with Torry Smith and Jacoby Jones (or replace him). Lee is one of the best in the draft, and a plug and play weapon for Joe Flacco.
17.		Invictus XI	Ra'shede Hageman, DT Minnesota	The worst-kept secret in the NFL is that the Cowboys are defensive line deficient. Everybody saw it coming before the season had started, and contributed majorly to a historically bad season. That changes now.
18.		Jesse Bartolis	Taylor Lewan, OT Michigan	The Jets have not shied away from taking players who have some character concerns. Lewan is talented, but teams will have to do their homework. The Jets need help on the offensive line and at the skill position players, they opt for offensive line in this mock.
19.		Raptor22	Zack Martin, OT/OG Notre Dame	The Dolphins need help at guard or tackle, and the tough-minded Martin could start at either spot and help restore a damaged offensive line
20.		Invictus XI	Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, TE Washington	Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, and now Austin Sefarian-Jenkins. Yeah, Carson Palmer won't have many excuses this time. Add to that Jonathan Cooper comes back from injury and you have a potentially explosive offense.
21.		Jesse Bartolis	C.J. Mosley, ILB Alabama	The Packers get, by far, the highest-rated player left on my own personal big board. With Aaron Rodgers at quarterback they will always be able to score points, but defense has been a work in progress the past few years. Mosley brings his talent and leadership to a defense that needs it.
22.		Raptor22	Cyrus Kouandijo, OT Alabama	Kouandijo is a project, but Jason Peters is on the wrong side of 30, and a free agent after 2014. After a year of improvement, the Eagles could have their replacement in-house
23.		Invictus XI	Odell Beckham Jr., WR LSU	Beckham Jr., moves up, way up in the Chiefs rankings. He's an explosive possession receiver with some of the best hands in this class and a dynamic foil to Dwayne Bowe.
24.		Jesse Bartolis	Calvin Pryor, SS Louisville	I think the Bengals need more help at cornerback than they do at safety, but I wanted to get this name out there as well. Calvin Pryor is a guy who has some buzz and could even be the first safety drafted on draft night.
25.		Raptor22	Ryan Shazier, OLB Ohio State	Shazier might be the most athletic defensive player in this class, and that athleticism would be put to good use dealing with the KC and Denver offenses.
26.		Invictus XI	Gabe Jackson, OG Mississippi State	Gabe Jackson is the pick over David Yankey because the Browns want a greater run blocking presence. Jackson is a monstrous force who can beat even the biggest defensive tackles one on one and will allow the Browns to be a more balanced offense.
27.		Jesse Bartolis	Timmy Jernigan, DT Florida State	Like the Packers, the Saints should not have any problem scoring points next year, and though the defense played well this year adding a player like Jernigan certainly wouldn't hurt.
28.		Raptor22	Allen Robinson, WR Penn State	Cam Newton is finally coming into his own as an NFL quarterback, and he desperately needs weapons. Allen Robinson is the best receiver available, with the size, speed, hands, and physicality to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
29.		Invictus XI	Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh	The popular pick here would be Jace Amaro, and believe me, the Pats thought long and hard about it. In the end, they opt to upgrade their defense with perhaps the best interior pass rusher in the draft. Add this wrecking ball next to Chandler Jones and in front of Jamie Collins will allow Bill Belichick to employ a havoc-creating defense that can move around with multiple looks.
30.		Jesse Bartolis	Jason Verrett, CB Texas Christian	The 49ers' Carlos Rogers has had a very nice career, but it's winding down. The 49ers add a guy who might be a top 10 pick if he had the requisite size, instead he gets by on terrific athleticism, guile, and a high football IQ. Verreet would lock down the slot corner position with the 49ers.
31.	*	Raptor22	Jace Amaro, TE Texas Tech	Seattle adds a big, athletic weapon for their developing franchise quarterback. Amaro needs a lot of work as a blocker, but as a receiving weapon, he's excellent.
32.	*	Invictus XI	David Yankey, OG Stanford	Zane Beadles is a free agent and he could've been upgraded anyway. Yankey is a complete, balanced, scheme versatile guard that excels in his pass protection sets. This offense is Peyton Manning, and you better keep him upright.