Draft Day, Johnny Manziel: Nolan Murphy's 5th Annual NFL Draft Preview

NFL Draft, the National Holiday that was built into a young Murph’s life starting around 2001 and has saturated my life every April and now May since good ole’ boy Roger Goodell decided to extend it.

For everyone that feels the NFL Draft is now too saturated really has yet to fall in love with America’s sport. From January mock drafts to draft week rumors swirling, ESPN has blown this event up to be one of  their signature stamps.

In a year when I officially moved out of the state of Wisconsin for the first time in my adult life and left Packer nation, it seems fitting I have never felt more uncertain about a draft.  Spending time in the championship starving city of Cleveland and always revolving door in their football team’s front office has made me appreciate Teddy Thompson and his brass.

One would obviously understand that I was eager to try to cheer for the Browns, but fell short due to their inability to string wins together and have any sort of consistent quarterback play.

Starting quarterback is a role that has been forced on unsuccessfully by 20 different men since 1999 in Cleveland (Brandon Weedan was a grandfather.) Johnny Manziel and myself I feel have been destined to bring back Cleveland since the first day I saw a Browns game in person.

When the Packers take the field Thursday, September 4 in Seattle in the rematch of the “Fail Mary” game the fans have been waiting for, the Packers will be underdogs for the third straight season opener; ironically all against NFC West teams. Aaron Rodgers will be turning 31 years old during the 2014 season and I cringe looking back to the days when Ron Wolf (hail) let the Packers team get old and offensive weapons leave or diminish.

The 2014 NFL Draft will be a huge chance for Thompson and the front office to take a gamble on players that can help them not only in the future but during the upcoming season. Rodgers is coming of a year when he was injured, but don’t be tricked this team won’t be selecting Teddy Bridgewater on Day 2.

 5 Positions of Need

Quarterback: The Packers head into the 2014 NFL Draft with more of an idea than 2013 at their main clipboard holder behind Aaron Rodgers. Matt Flynn ventured home in a round about way and managed to save the Packers season. Green Bay would be smart to use a sixth or seven round pick on David Fales of San Jose State or Keith Wenning of Ball State.

Wide Receiver: Losing Greg Jennings, James Jones and possibly Jermichael Finley in back-to-back off-seasons puts a tremendous amount of pressure on Myles White and Jarrett Boykin. I love Odell Beckham, Jr, but the first round is not the time to strike in a loaded wide receiver class. Donte Moncrief from Ole Miss would send me home smiling. Don’t be surprised if they select Matt Hazel of Coastal Carolina, whose a crisp route runner and tore up the Senior Bowl.

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 Tight End:  As previously stated, Finley is a huge question mark and currently is without a contract. Many experts have predicted Austin Seferian-Jenkins of Washington. Jenkins is a freak athlete, but the Packers are not looking for another project at tight end with Brandon Bostick in the stable.  If Eric Ebron falls, it’s a no brainer in the first round, but Jace Amaro is a poor man’s Rob Gronkowski and resembles a 1990’s Packer favorite; Mark Chmura.

Defensive Line: Mike Daniels and Mike Neal really showed some promise in 2014 and Raji has been given another year to prove himself. I think this defensive front is missing that Justin Tuck type power-rush player who can play all three positions effectively. Datone Jones needs to grow up, but it’s never a bad problem to have too many fresh defensive lineman.

 Safety:  The Packers really dropped the ball last year not getting either Eric Reed,Kenny Vacacro or Matt Elam, but this draft class show’s some promise. Micah Hyde could be the solution at safety, but I really liked Jimmie Ward out of Northern Illinois and later on Brock Vereen from Minnesota, the brother of Patriots running back Shane. Thompson is not ready to give up on Burnett so I would ax the idea of taking two safeties. Sleeper would be Ed Reynolds from Stanford, who had a impressive Junior year but disappointing Senior year.

Possible First Round selections 

1.TE Eric Ebron –North Carolina: Personality issue’s have threaten the UNC star’s draft stock over the last two months, but he’s a Vernon Davis type talent and would add another scary element to the Packers offense. If he falls past the Giants and Arizona  the Packers will scoop him up.

 2. DTRa'Shede Hageman, Minnesota: Going against some of the best offensive lines in country during is four years in the B1G, Hageman often saw and beat double teams during his senior year. Great blend of speed and strength that reminds be of Justin Tuck and Richard Seymour.

 3. S, Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois: Ward was the best player on Northern Illinos over the last two years. He doesn’t blow you eye from a size standpoint, but he continued to make plays throughout his college career. He’s a lot like Burnett in that he can play both safety positions, which would give the Packers a unique backend look.

 4. DT,Timmy Jernigan, Florida State: A National Champion has not gone through a first round without a player being selected of their team since the 2002 Buckeyes. Jernigan was in the news week for failing a drug test, but truly dominated the stout Auburn offensive line during the BCS National Championship game.  He may fit a 4-3 defense better, but this goes back to the typical Thompson strategy of taking the best player on the board.

5.WR Marqise Lee, USC:  Lee has a storied career at USC and played is senior year with some awful quarterbacks. His build and style is very similar to Greg Jennings and he may have even more speed than the former Western Michigan wide receiver. Would add another playmaker to the offense and provide depth behind Cobb and Nelson. 

Mock Draft:

1. Houston: DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

2. St. Louis: OT Greg Robinson, Auburn

3. Jacksonville: OLB Khahil Mack, Buffalo

4. Cleveland: OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M*

5. Oakland: WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson

6. Atlanta: Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh

7. Tampa Bay: LB Anthony Barr, UCLA      

8. Minnesota: OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan DT

9. Buffalo: WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M* Trade Browns,  Pick Manziel !!!!!!!!!!

10. Detroit: CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State

11. Tennessee: QB Blake Bortles, Central Florida

12. N.Y. Giants: OT Zack Martin, Notre Dame

13. St. Louis: CB Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State

14. Chicago: FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama

15. WR Odell Beckham, Louisiana State

16. Dallas: QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M

17. Baltimore: LB C.J. Mosley, Alabama

18. NY Jets: LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State

19. Miami: OT Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama

20. Arizona: QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

21. Green Bay: TE Eric Ebron, North Carolina

22. Philadelphia: WR Marqise Lee, Southern California

23. Kansas City: WR Brandin Cooks, Oregon State

24. Cincinnati: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois

25. San Diego: CB Jason Verrett, Texas Christian

26. Cleveland: DB Kyle Fuller, VA Tech

27. New Orleans: DB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Nebraska

28. Carolina: WR Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State

29. New England: DT Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame

30. San Francisco: DT Ra’Shede Hageman, Minnesota

31. Denver: OG Xavier Su’a-filo, UCLA

32. Seattle: TE Jace Amaro, Texas Tech

As I told Snotap’s Chief of Staff Charlie Tritschler late Tuesday night, I have never felt more uncertain about an NFL Draft. Tonight will be crazy with rumors of Manziel to the Cowboys and the Lions trying to move up for Sammy Watkins.  Make sure you buckle your seat belts and always thanks for reading, this is a tradition that I continue to put off each year, but thoroughly enjoy doing.

Happy 2014 Draft!!!!!

-Nolan Murphy