Obviously, the 2013 season must be played out before the 2014 selection order is determined. Therefore, NFLDraftScout.com decided the fairest way to project the drafting order would be to have each of our staff predict the season's outcome and use the average as our guide in crafting the mock order.
Take this projection written nearly a year before the 2014 draft for what it is meant to be -- a (hopefully) fun look ahead.
| NFL Mock Draft - 4/29/2013 | |
| Round 1 | |
| 1. Jacksonville Jaguars | |
 (2-14) | Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville: Should the Jaguars "earn" the No. 1 overall pick despite a solid 2013 draft class, general manager David Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley will have no choice but to look for "their guy" at quarterback as a replacement to Blaine Gabbert. The Buffalo Bills selected EJ Manuel in the first round in 2013 despite the fact that the Florida Gators' throttled him. Bridgewater, on the other hand, was dazzling against Florida in the 2013 Sugar Bowl, erasing any doubts about his level of competition. |
| 2. Oakland Raiders | |
 (4-12) | Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: If in position to select Bridgewater, the Raiders might pounce but don't expect too many quarterbacks to leap Clowney, the top overall prospect in the country. The Raiders finished 31st in sacks in 2012 and did little to address this concern in the 2013 draft. |
| 3. Cleveland Browns | |
 (5-11) | Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson: Like the Jacksonville staff, the Browns may be forced to cut bait with a first-round project -- in their case, Brandon Weeden -- should Cleveland finish poorly in 2013. Boyd has a big arm and the mobility to make him an intriguing option despite less-than-ideal size. |
| 4. NY Jets | |
 (6-10) | Marqise Lee, WR, Southern California: Having invested a second-round pick in Geno Smith, the Jets aren't likely to join the teams gambling on quarterbacks next season but will certainly need to surround him with weapons. Lee won the Biletnikof Award as the nation's best receiver as a true sophomore and is an elite athlete who should only improve with polished route-running. |
| 5. Arizona Cardinals | |
 (5-11) | Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M: The Cardinals dedicated multiple picks to their offensive line in the 2013 draft, including their first round pick on interior lineman Jonathan Cooper. Matthews, who some believe is a better prospect than former teammate Luke Joeckel, would be an upgrade over starting tackles Levi Brown and Bobby Massie. |
| 6. Kansas City Chiefs | |
 (2-14) | Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame: The Chiefs believe they may have a star in Dontari Poe but reinforcements up front is always a good idea when Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers are in the division. Tuitt, not Manti Te'o, was Notre Dame's most impressive player in the Irish's run to the BCS title game. |
| 7. San Diego Chargers | |
 (7-9) | Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan: King Dunlap is slated to be the Chargers' starting left tackle. Re-read that sentence but, if you carry the flag of the Bolts, down some Alka-Seltzer before doing so. Lewan, along with Matthews and Alabama's Cyrus Kouandjo are each potential top 10 prospects who'd immediately improve the Chargers' chances at success. |
| 8. Tennessee Titans | |
 (6-10) | Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State: If selecting here, the Titans lost the gamble on Jake Locker's immense potential. It might seem unlikely that Tennessee would gamble on another passer with west coast roots but the strong-armed Carr (younger brother of former No. 1 overall pick, David) has the potential to warrant consideration - if he improves his decision-making. |
| 9. Buffalo Bills | |
 (6-10) | A.J. Johnson, ILB, Tennessee: The Bills addressed their lack of ideal athleticism at linebacker with the selection of Kiko Alonso but reinforcements are needed. Johnson is instinctive, physical, highly athletic and productive against top competition. |
| 10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
 (7-9) | Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas: The Bucs have two potentially stout defensive ends in Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers but lack a speedier option off the edge. Jeffcoat must first prove his health but possesses a quick first-step and the length to climb the board as the 2014 draft approaches. |
| 11. Miami Dolphins | |
 (7-9) | Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama: The inability to land Branden Albert in a draft-weekend trade means that Jonathan Martin (or rookie Dallas Thomas) is likely to start at left tackle. Kouandjo is a top talent, and frankly, would be a steal at this point in the draft. |
| 12. Baltimore Ravens | |
 (10-6) | Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA: On paper, Elvis Dumervil steps right in at outside linebacker and is a star but in reality he doesn't possess the agility and length scouts prefer for this position. Neither, frankly, does Courtney Upshaw. Barr, a former running back, exploded onto the Pac-12 a year ago. His high upside would warrant consideration should the defending Super Bowl champions struggle mightily in their bid to repeat. |
| 13. Carolina Panthers | |
 (7-9) | James Hurst, OT, North Carolina: Panthers' left tackle Jordan Gross might rank among the more under-appreciated players in the league from a national-perspective but he's aging. Meanwhile, some believe right tackle Byron Bell has peaked. The 6-6, 310-pound Hurst has the size and athleticism to handle either role. |
| 14. Pittsburgh Steelers | |
 (8-8) | Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington: The Steelers boast one of the league's top tight ends in Heath Miller but he's aging and coming off a knee injury. Seferian-Jenkins has found himself in some legal hot water but UW coaches speak highly of his character and there is no question that he possesses extraordinary fluidity and ball-skills for his 6-6, 267-pound frame. |
| 15. Chicago Bears | |
 (10-6) | David Yankey, OT, Stanford: The Bears spent big on free agent left tackle Jermon Bushrod but this line needs more attention. The versatile Yankey was voted by Pac-12 defensive linemen was the conference's top blocker as just a sophomore and in his first season at tackle. |
| 16. Philadelphia Eagles | |
 (4-12) | Jason Verrett, CB, TCU: Verrett has the athleticism -- For all of the attention Chip Kelly placed on his fast-paced offense at Oregon, his teams always boasted top cover-corners, as well. Verrett's athleticism and instincts helped him lead the Big 12 in both interceptions (six) and passes defended (22) last season. |
| 17. Indianapolis Colts | |
 (11-5) | Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State: The Buckeyes used to churn out first-round defensive backs with consistency. The highly athletic and competitive Roby will bring back that tradition; perhaps with a Colts' team that surprisingly elected not to address cornerback despite a secondary which struggled, at times, in 2013. |
| 18. Detroit Lions | |
 (4-12) | Louchiez Purifoy, CB, Florida: Detroit's secondary isn't as bad as some have made it out to be and the team is high on its young talent. Purifoy could prove a rising star, however, who'd make sense at this point in the draft. |
| 19. Dallas Cowboys | |
 (8-8) | Kareem Martin, DE, North Carolina: Despite making the transition to the 4-3 defense, the Cowboys didn't emphasize pass-rushers in the 2013 draft. Some close to the UNC program expect Martin to make a similar rise up draft boards in 2014 that defensive tackle Sylvester Williams made last season. |
| 20. New Orleans Saints | |
 (7-9) | Adrian Hubbard, OLB, Alabama: Like the Cowboys' switch to the 4-3, the Saints may surprisingly few adjustments to their exterior pass rush despite switching to the 3-4 alignment. The 6-5, 248-pound Hubbard looks like the next superstar for the Tide defense. |
| 21. Minnesota Vikings | |
 (10-6) | Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee: The Vikings were fortunate that Sharrif Floyd landed in their lap in 2013 but reinforcements are needed for an aging defensive line. McCullers, 6-6, 377-pound McCullers is massive and shockingly athletic. |
| 22. St. Louis Rams | |
 (7-8-1) | Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona: The Rams appear ready to begin the 2013 season without an established star at running back, which is a different strategy than traditionalist Jeff Fisher has taken in the past. Carey possesses excellent vision, fluidity and acceleration and could prove too talented to pass up here, especially with St. Louis having an extra first-round pick. |
| 23. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) | |
(7-8-1) | C.J. Mosley, OLB, Alabama: The Rams' gamble on talented but troubled linebacker Alec Ogletree could pay off big but if not the team may want to invest in Mosley, a highly instinctive and productive defender who possesses the leadership to build around. |
| 24. NY Giants | |
 (9-7) | Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon: Veteran cornerbacks Aaron Ross, Terrell Thomas and Corey Webster are each scheduled for free agency after the upcoming season. Ekpre-Olomu may be difficult to pronounce (ee-fo eck-pray-olo-moo), but it is his athleticism and quick-hands which frustrated Pac-12 quarterbacks a season ago. |
| 25. Houston Texans | |
 (12-4) | Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon: The Texans lost versatile James Casey in free agency but could see a similarly intriguing moveable chess piece in Lyerla, a phenomenal athlete who could be on the verge of a breakout season for the Ducks. |
| 26. Seattle Seahawks | |
 (11-5) | Kyle Van Noy, OLB, Brigham Young: The Seahawks appear confident in young linebackers Malcolm Smith and Korey Toomer being able to pick up the slack left with veteran Leroy Hill not expected to return. Van Noy's physicality and ability to rush off the edge would certainly intrigue should the team need reinforcements a year from now. |
| 27. New England Patriots | |
 (12-4) | Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers: Bill Belichick hasn't used a first round pick on a wide receiver yet but he might be intrigued by the combination of size and overall athleticism Coleman presents. He certainly knows the Scarlet Knights well after drafting three of them in 2013. |
| 28. Atlanta Falcons | |
 (13-3) | Trent Murphy, OLB, Stanford: The Falcons aggressively addressed cornerback in the 2013 draft but in doing so may have left themselves vulnerable at pass-rusher. Murphy is a powerful, surprisingly athletic defender who could help. |
| 29. Cincinnati Bengals | |
 (10-6) | Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State: The Bengals received stellar play from Vontaze Burfict a season ago but, frankly, so did Arizona State in his first season there. With some question as to whether Burfict will continue to work hard to improve and depth one of the few concerns for a solidly built roster, the Bengals might be intrigued by Shazier, a natural playmaker and relatively local product. |
| 30. Green Bay Packers | |
 (11-5) | Morgan Breslin, DE, Southern California: The Packers have invested first round picks in former Trojans' pass-rushers Clay Matthews, Jr. and Nick Perry and might be similarly intrigued by Breslin, who used his burst and high motor to record 13 sacks in his first season of Pac-12 play. |
| 31. Denver Broncos | |
 (13-3) | Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma: The Broncos drafted a potential diamond in the rough in Kayvon Webster in 2013 but depth remains suspect at cornerback. Colvin, athletic, instinctive and versatile (started at cornerback and safety), might make sense at this point in the draft. |
| 32. San Francisco 49ers | |
 (11-4-1) | Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame: Adding depth on the interior is always important, especially at nose guard and in a division as tough as the NFC West. |
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