Top 2014 Team Drafts

The 2014 NFL Draft was filled with storylines.  Nine defensive backs were chosen in the first round.  Popular names like Jadeveon Clowney, Johnny Manziel, and Michael Sam participated.  Many analysts feel it is pointless to grade a team's draft class, especially right after the draft, but it is necessary heading into the off-season to address what teams are focusing on and what else they will need to do to improve their rosters.  These draft classes were tougher to grade than last year's, with the Bills, Steelers, Titans, and Jets just missing the cut (even though I feel Boyd could surprise and challenge Vick and Geno for the Jets' starting QB job).  Here are the best team drafts of 2014, again with grades included:

Blake Bortles was the first quarterback taken off the board at the 2014 NFL Draft.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Draft Grade: A
Notable Draft Picks:
Rnd. 1, pick 3(3rd overall): Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
Rnd. 2, pick 7(39th overall): Marqise Lee, WR, USC
Rnd. 2, pick 29(61st overall): Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State
Rnd. 3, pick 29(93rd overall): Brandon Linder, OG, Miami
Rnd. 4, pick 14(114th overall): Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma
Rnd. 5, pick 4(144th overall): Telvin Smith, MLB, Florida State
Rnd. 7, pick 7(222nd overall): Storm Johnson, HB, Central Florida
The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted their franchise quarterback with the 3rd pick in the draft.  Then they went ahead and got him two complementary pass catchers to throw to and a guard to block for him, and on top of that brought in his college running back.  Include drafting two solid defensive players and signing a ton of promising free agents, and you have one heck of an off-season.  Bortles has both the tangibles and intangibles to be Jacksonville's quarterback of the future, and will be leading an offense with a talented young receiving corps and a growing offensive line.  Colvin, Smith, and Johnson should find their spots on a roster that is pointing towards a bright future for this rapidly improving franchise.

Clowney was the first defensive player to go #1 in the draft
since 2006, when the Texans selected Mario Williams.

2. Houston Texans
Draft Grade: A-
Notable Draft Picks:
Rnd. 1, pick 1(1st overall): Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Rnd. 2, pick 1(31st overall): Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA
Rnd. 3, pick 1(65th overall): C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa
Rnd. 3, pick 19(83rd overall): Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame
Rnd. 4, pick 35(135th overall): Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh
Rnd. 6, pick 1(177th overall): Jeoffrey Pagan, DE, Alabama
Rnd. 6, pick 5(181st overall): Alfred Blue, HB, LSU
Rnd. 6, pick 35(211th overall): Jay Prosch, FB, Auburn
Rnd. 7, pick 1(216th overall): Andre Hal, CB, Vanderbilt
When you draft a prospect who's touted as the greatest defensive player since Reggie White and Lawrence Taylor, you make this list.  Even if he was the first pick in the draft.  Clowney, paired up with fellow draftee Nix and 2012 defensive MVP J.J. Watt, will make opposing quarterbacks scared stiff. Su'a-Filo and Fiedorowicz should assist the blocking on the offensive side of the ball, and it's also worth noting that Prosch helped pave the way for Auburn's #1 ranked running game last season.  Hal is an undersized but underrated cornerback out of the defensive-focused SEC.  Savage's hype was just that- hype, and Houston is still desperate at receiver after Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins, but this draft is a definite boost after taking a big step back in 2013.


3. Minnesota Vikings
Draft Grade: A-
Notable Draft Picks:
Rnd. 1, pick 9(9th overall): Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
Rnd. 1, pick 32(32nd overall): Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
Rnd. 3, pick 8(72nd overall): Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State
Rnd. 3, pick 32(96th overall): Jerick McKinnon, HB, Georgia Southern
Rnd. 5, pick 5(145th overall): David Yankey, OG, Stanford
Rnd. 6, pick 6(182nd overall): Antone Exum, CB, Virginia Tech
In just the previous three drafts combined, the Minnesota Vikings have addressed every component of a football roster in the 1st round except for the one they don't need(running back).  This draft was perhaps the most important of those three, as they picked up a raw yet dynamic pass rusher in Barr as well as their franchise quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater.  Both were the top prospect at their respective positions in my draft rankings, and both will fill key spots for a team on the cusp of becoming a regular playoff contender.  The only reasons this isn't ranked ahead of the Texans draft class are that Crichton, McKinnon, and Yankey are average talents at best, and there aren't as many notable draft picks as Houston had.  Nabbing Antone Exum with a 6th round pick however is an absolute steal.

For the third consecutive year, the Vikings had more than one first round draft pick.

Here are a few other teams that impressed at the draft:


Atlanta Falcons
Draft Grade: B+
Notable Draft Picks: Jake Matthews, Ra'Shede Hageman, Dezmen Southward, Devonta Freeman, Prince Shembo, Ricardo Allen, Yawin Smallwood
After an extremely disappointing 2013 campaign, Atlanta knew it needed to get bigger and nastier on both sides of the ball.  They've achieved that this off-season, collecting big-bodied linemen and aggressive playmakers.  Freeman is my 5th ranked halfback and Smallwood is from the same mold as fellow Husky and now Oakland Raider Sio Moore.


Chicago Bears
Draft Grade: B
Notable Draft Picks: Kyle Fuller, Ego Ferguson, Will Sutton, Ka'Deem Carey, David Fales
Three of the four NFC North teams had great drafts, the Lions being the exception.  Here, the Bears got better on defense, maintaining a group of exceptional cornerbacks and bolstering the defensive line.  Carey and Fales are decent backups to Matt Forte and Jay Cutler, respectively.


Green Bay Packers
Draft Grade: B+
Notable Draft Picks: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Davante Adams, Khyri Thornton, Richard Rodgers, Carl Bradford, Jared Abbrederis, Jeff Janis
I would've preferred Calvin Pryor to Clinton-Dix, but he's still a fantastic pick, and Pryor was already taken by then.  The receivers the Packers drafted are near-perfect targets for Aaron Rodgers, and Green Bay may not have made this list without them.


San Francisco 49ers
Draft Grade: A-
Notable Draft Picks: Jimmie Ward, Carlos Hyde, Marcus Martin, Chris Borland, Brandon Thomas, Bruce Ellington, Dontae Johnson, Aaron Lynch
San Francisco seems to either hit or miss in the draft under Jim Harbaugh.  This class is another success.  A lot of guys fill first team needs, including Ward at safety next to Eric Reid, Borland next to Patrick Willis with Bowman remaining out until at least mid-season, and Martin at center                                                           after the departure of Jonathan Goodwin.


St. Louis Rams
Draft Grade: B+
Notable Draft Picks: Greg Robinson, Aaron Donald, Lamarcus Joyner, Tre Mason, E.J. Gaines, Garrett Gilbert, Michael Sam
Reuniting Mason and his top college run-blocker Robinson is a great move.  Donald, Joyner, Gaines and Sam provide depth to an increasingly volatile defense.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Draft Grade: B
Notable Draft Picks: Mike Evans, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Charles Sims
Even though the back half of their draft class leaves something to be desired, grabbing two big-bodied pass-catchers in Evans and Seferian-Jenkins is a huge boost to the young offense, and although there will be a battle at the quarterback position, Lovie Smith and company should appoint Josh McCown as the starter to lead them.