If 2013 is remembered for lackluster elite talent but quality depth, next year's crop of prospects should be deep and star-studded, starting with South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
And although he grades out as the top prospect entering the season, quarterback is king. It wouldn't be surprising if we see a passer drafted No. 1 in '14.
A lot can happen over the next 52 weeks, but if the 2014 NFL Draft were held today, this is how it might look.
The draft order was determined by a combined poll of NFLDraftScout.com staff.
| NFL Mock Draft - 4/29/2013 | |
| Round 1 | |
| 1. Jacksonville Jaguars | |
 (2-14) | Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville: Jacksonville understandably decided to pass on a quarterback in the 2013 NFL Draft in favor of waiting for next year's class. Bridgewater is an athletic, strong-armed passer with intriguing NFL potential. |
| 2. Oakland Raiders | |
 (4-12) | Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: A prospect who will likely be the consensus top player entering next year's draft, Clowney has NFL All-Pro written all over him. The Raiders are revamping their defense and Clowney gives them a dynamic pass rusher. |
| 3. Cleveland Browns | |
 (5-11) | Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson: If the Browns are picking this high next April then it's safe to say the Brandon Weeden experiment didn't work. Boyd lacks ideal height, but has the arm strength, feel and mobility for the position. |
| 4. NY Jets | |
 (6-10) | Marqise Lee, WR, Southern California: Regardless of who is left standing at QB, he needs playmakers around him. Lee doesn't have elite size or speed, but he has explosive creativity with the ball in his hands. |
| 5. Arizona Cardinals | |
 (5-11) | Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M: Arizona added an impact interior lineman in the first round this year with Jonathan Cooper and might look to upgrade the tackles next year. Matthews might be a better prospect than his former teammate Luke Joeckel. |
| 6. Kansas City Chiefs | |
 (2-14) | Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame: Although he's just scratching the surface of his ability, Tuitt would be natural fit at defensive end in the Chiefs 3-4 defensive scheme with star potential. |
| 7. San Diego Chargers | |
 (7-9) | Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan: San Diego found a right tackle of the future with DJ Fluker in the first round, but now it's time to bolster the blocking on Philip Rivers' blindside. Lewan has the length, quickness and nastiness to step in from day one. |
| 8. Tennessee Titans | |
 (6-10) | Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State: Tennessee needs to continue and improve a suspect pass defense and cornerback Alterraun Verner is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Roby has outstanding speed and fluidity with a knack for getting to the ball. |
| 9. Buffalo Bills | |
 (6-10) | Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA: Buffalo made a splash last offseason adding Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. It's evident an upgraded pass rush is still needed. Barr is a former running back who is still developing, but his NFL potential is high. |
| 10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
 (7-9) | Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame: Tampa Bay allowed Roy Miller to leave via free agency and Nix, who has been the rock of the Irish front seven, would be able to fill his shoes at nose tackle. |
| 11. Miami Dolphins | |
 (7-9) | Jason Verrett, CB, TCU: Miami addressed several needs in the past two months, but they still have questions at cornerback. Verrett is the best cornerback in the nation that few know about and has the makings of a high draft pick. |
| 12. Baltimore Ravens | |
 (10-6) | Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson: The Ravens need to fill the void left by Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith and Sammy Watkins will be tough for any defense to cover. Watkins and his quarterback Tajh Boyd should form a dynamic duo this season. |
| 13. Carolina Panthers | |
 (7-9) | Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama: Although he recently restructured his deal, incumbent left tackle Jordan Gross will soon be 33 years old and it might be time to find his replacement. Kouandijio is young and unpolished but the skills are there. |
| 14. Pittsburgh Steelers | |
 (8-8) | C.J. Mosley, OLB, Alabama: Pittsburgh recently re-signed Larry Foote but he is long in the tooth. Mosley would give Pittsburgh depth both inside and outside in a 3-4 scheme. |
| 15. Chicago Bears | |
 (10-6) | Christian Jones, OLB, Florida State: Chicago got younger at linebacker in the 2013 NFL Draft with Jon Bostic and Khaseem Greene, with Lance Briggs on the decline, it's time to get younger. With his size and speed, Jones has a bright future in the NFL. |
| 16. Philadelphia Eagles | |
 (4-12) | Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma: The Eagles addressed their needs at cornerback via free agency with Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher, but could use young depth. Colvin is a tough-minded, rangy corner who isn't afraid to hit. |
| 17. Indianapolis Colts | |
 (11-5) | Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers: Reggie Wayne can't play forever, right? Indianapolis has plenty of speed at wide receiver on the roster, now it's time to get Andrew Luck some size. |
| 18. Detroit Lions | |
 (4-12) | Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee: Riley Rieff is currently penciled in at left tackle for Detroit and will have his chance to earn the job, but he's ideally suited for the right side. Richardson is a large human being with good quickness off the snap. |
| 19. Dallas Cowboys | |
 (8-8) | Will Sutton, DE, Arizona State: Dallas needs to address their interior defensive line and find a penetrating three-technique for Monte Kiffin's defense. Sutton doesn't have ideal size or power, but he could be Kiffin's version of Warren Sapp in Dallas. |
| 20. New Orleans Saints | |
 (7-9) | Kyle Van Noy, OLB, Brigham Young: New Orleans has a few intriguing hybrid pass rushers on the roster already, but could use some more help at the position. Van Noy is an active, aggressive rusher who will collapse the pocket. |
| 21. Minnesota Vikings | |
 (10-6) | Morgan Breslin, DE, Southern California: Minnesota's starting defensive ends Jared Allen and Brian Robison are free agents after 2013, making pass rusher a priority next year. Breslin isn't the biggest, but has a quick first step. |
| 22. St. Louis Rams | |
 (7-8-1) | Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State: St. Louis went with an impact linebacker in first round -- Alec Ogletree -- but pairing Shazier with him and James Laurinaitis would give the Rams one of the best linebacker groups in the NFL. |
| 23. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) | |
(7-8-1) | De'Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon: Is there such a thing as too much speed on offense? After adding Tavon Austin in the first round, the Rams would test that question if they add a track athlete like Thomas. |
| 24. NY Giants | |
 (9-7) | Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington: The Giants won't draft a tight end in the first round, right? They might if a talent like Seferian-Jenkins slips to them. |
| 25. Houston Texans | |
 (12-4) | Aaron Lynch, DE, South Florida: Houston might have a need to address on defensive line as Antonio Smith enters the final year of his contract. Lynch had an impressive freshman season, but sat out last season due to transfer rules. |
| 26. Seattle Seahawks | |
 (11-5) | A.J. Johnson, ILB, Tennessee: The Seahawks have to dependable starters at linebacker with Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright, but could use an upgrade at outside linebacker. Johnson led the SEC in tackles last season. |
| 27. New England Patriots | |
 (12-4) | Adrian Hubbard, OLB, Alabama: As Rob Ninkovich enters the final year of his contract, the Patriots might be in the market for another pass rusher. Hubbard isn't polished yet, but he looks the part with the size and speed rushing the pocket. |
| 28. Atlanta Falcons | |
 (13-3) | Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas: Atlanta addressed their needs at cornerback in this draft and should look at pass rusher next year. Jeffcoat has all the ability needed to be a first-round pick, but needs to stay healthy. |
| 29. Cincinnati Bengals | |
 (10-6) | Trent Murphy, OLB, Stanford: Cincinnati's defensive ends Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson will be free agents after the 2013 season and edge pass rusher might be the Bengals' biggest need. Murphy is active and tough with a nose for the ball. |
| 30. Green Bay Packers | |
 (11-5) | Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon: Green Bay needs to continue and add young depth in the secondary to improve their pass rush. Ekpre-Olomu is an exciting, young player and would give the Packers a great tandem with Casey Hayward. |
| 31. Denver Broncos | |
 (13-3) | Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon: Peyton Manning makes Joel Dreessen and Jacob Tamme look like stars, but an exciting pass-catcher like Lyerla would give the Broncos a long-term answer to the position. |
| 32. San Francisco 49ers | |
 (11-4-1) | Louchiez Purifoy, CB, Florida: San Francisco needs to get younger at cornerback and Purifoy has intriguing size and speed and might be one of college football's breakout stars in 2013, seeing time at both corner and receiver. |
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