NFL mock drafts for 2014 along with predictions and projections have continued to come out and ESPN expert Mel Kiper Jr. has been keeping up with all of it and his top 10 selections for teams in the first round has some big names like Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater, Jadeveon Clowney and Sammy Watkins going to the Texans, Rams, Jaguars, Browns and Raiders.
Bridgewater and Blake Bortles had their pro days this week and both performed well at times, but it was the Central Florida quarterback that came out of the workouts looking good, while many questions were raised about Bridgewater. When the season ended, many predicted that Bridgewater would be a lock for the number one pick to the Houston Texans since the team needed a quarterback and he was considered the most "pro ready", but after the combine and his pro day it looks like the other two quarterbacks have moves ahead of Bridgewater on many draft boards for experts and teams.
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Bridgewater had as good of a season as anyone last year with nearly 4,000 yards and 31 touchdowns, but now he will have to get past those question marks and that could drop him down in the top 10. Coming into the draft, many have speculated that the top three quarterbacks could be gone in the first five to 10 picks and that is wildly different from last season when EJ Manuel was the only first round pick at quarterback and now we could have two in the top three. The Texans have an interesting decision to make, as Bill O'Brien has come in as head coach, but after working with Tom Brady will he want a small, explosive and speedy quarterback like Manziel?
The Texans could fall in love with Bortles heading into the draft and one thing that is on his side is his size, as he is a big dude and he had 25 touchdowns last season and many have compared him to Big Ben with the Steelers. Ben was more ready for the NFL than Bortles is, but he has a big arm and a strong body and that could be the type of player the Texans want to go after. Before last season, everyone expected Jadeveon Clowney to go number one and while he still may, experts think that he is mire likely to go in the top five to the Jaguars, Rams, Raiders or Browns and while he was amazing at the combine on his 40 yard dash, other workouts were not so impressive and that has made teams wonder what Clowney really is.
The Browns are very likely to pick a quarterback in this draft after ditching both Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell in the offseason and Bortles could be the pick if he gets past the top three picks. O'Brien said he was impressed with what Bortles did and his size may win out, as coaches can mold the skills he needs to be a successful QB in the NFL and many see him as the player with the highest potential of the three. Manziel would be a marketing dream for the Texans, but they need to win games and that is the most important thing for O'Brien.
