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We have reached the second-to-last selection in the first round of our 2014 Big Blue View Community Mock Draft. With that selection, 'Tundra89' selects Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier for the Denver Broncos.
'Tundra89' explains:
This was much tougher than I anticipated. I was hoping for Morgan Moses to make it to me at 31. He was the last offensive lineman I had with a first-round grade, and with the Broncos struggles all along an aging line, his ability to play tackle and guard at a high level was exciting.
Similarly, Weston Richburg, as the top center in the draft, would fill the shoes of the departed Zane Beadles nicely. There were a number of other options as well, but when it came down to it, the Broncos simply can't pass up the chance to add an athletic freak like Shazier.
Despite concerns in some quarters about his size, Shazier has the production (143 tackles, including 22.5 for loss last year), speed (4.36) and intangibles to be among the safest and best three-down linebacker in the draft. The Ohio State product is great in coverage, hits with power, is a sure tackler, and can rush the passer effectively when asked. His value at 31 may very well turn out to be the steal of this very deep draft.
Round 1
1. |
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'56 4life' |
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina [Full Story] |
2. |
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'BigBlueWreckingYou' | Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson [Full Story] |
3. |
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'NYG 28' | Blake Bortles, QB, UCF [Full Story] |
4. |
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'NewYork!' | Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M [Full Story] |
5. |
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'Giants_Fan4Life' | Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo [Full Story] |
6. |
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'parksy52' | Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn [Full Story] |
7. |
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'nyg25' | Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M [Full Story] |
8. |
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'ad3lm0' | Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville [Full Story] |
9. |
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Bigbluethruandthru | Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina [Full Story] |
10. |
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'Wangstu13' | Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh [Full Story] |
11. |
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'Larry Soprano' | Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State [Full Story] |
12. |
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Ed V. | Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan [Full Story] |
13. |
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'BigBlueWreckingYou' | Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame [Full Story] |
14. |
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'jagyossarian' | Hasean Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama [Full Story] |
15. |
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'ross_stephen' | Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State [Full Story] |
16. |
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'pataroons' | Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M [Full Story] |
17. |
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'derekturner356' | Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA [Full Story] |
18. |
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'Jonathan' | Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU [Full Story] |
19. |
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'gobs10' | Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA [Full Story] |
20. |
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'jensvoigt' | Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State [Full Story] |
21. |
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'ct17' | C.J. Mosley, MLB, Alabama [Full Story] |
22. |
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'RevengeOfTheBlackshirts' | Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State [Full Story] |
23. |
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'dviswr20' | Marqise Lee, WR, USC [Full Story] |
24. |
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'Freedmad25' | Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri [Full Story] |
25. |
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'Giantsstep' | Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech [Full Story] |
26. |
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'GiantBuckeye' | Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama [Full Story] |
27. |
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'The Curse' | Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State [Full Story] |
28. |
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'TurnandCoughlin' | Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia [Full Story] |
29. |
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'drizzzy' | Dee Ford, DE, Auburn [Full Story] |
30. |
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'zobster' | Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State [Full Story] |
31. |
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'Tundra89' | Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State |
32. |
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'TNYFBG' |
The final pick of our first round, belonging to the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, should be posted later today.