With the NFL draft to be held at Music City Radio Hall in New York City on the 8th May, it is time to have a look at the potential big stories.
With such a talented draft class and a record 98 underclassmen declared, there is no shortage of intrigue this year, and many teams are still adjusting their boards in preparation.
Superstars
There is a circus surrounding Jadeveon Clowney and Johnny Manziel, with the two superstars becoming polarising figures in this draft.
Clowney is a physical freak of nature who possesses the natural ability to be a once in a generation player. The knock on him is about work ethic and his passion for the game – not small issues but they may be outweighed by his production.
Clowney is projected as the number one pick but it’s not a guarantee, and if he failed to go first, the draft would turn on its head.
Former Texas A and M quarterback Manziel is a rockstar. His collegiate play put him in the conversation as one of the best quarterbacks in the draft class, but his stellar pre-combine campaign has launched him to the top of all the experts’ lists.
His unique pro day featured him performing in full pads under semi-live conditions. To top it all off, he had rapper Drake performing during warm ups and the beats continued during his workout.
Power brokers
With teams on the outside of the top 10 picks looking in, there are teams at the top of the draft who can shape the way it unfolds. Of all those teams, a familiar face in a familiar position has another chance to cash in on their fortunes.
The St Louis Rams hold the number two pick and will have no shortage of trade partners on the day. The Rams could make out like bandits by simply staying put and not trading their pick but if they choose to move, they could command a king’s ransom.
If the Texans who pick at number one don’t take Jadeveon Clowney, the Rams will be the team at the top of a feeding frenzy. In this scenario, they would be able to command whatever price they wanted and could end up with multiple first round picks in future years. Even without this scenario, the Rams are poised to make a big splash and at the same time shape the entire NFL draft.
The Cleveland Browns are another team whose position at number four in the draft may see them do some moving and shaking. Teams in the top 15 who are looking to trade into the top 5 may get a call from the Browns who, while in desperate need of star-calibre players, may want to move back and gain picks.
If the player they want is already off the board, they may opt to move back and acquire numerous picks in a stacked draft to help improve their team. They already have two picks in the first round of the draft,.so gaining some more second and third-round picks will help them build a talented roster.
Sliders
Every draft a player who is perceived to be a top tier talent unceremoniously slides in the draft. This year is no different and there are a number of players who may end up falling in the draft and even out of the first round.
Teddy Bridgewater, who once was the consensus number one quarterback in the draft, has undergone huge scrutiny since his lacklustre pro day. The former Louisville quarterback was once touted as the most pro-ready quarterback in the draft, yet may find himself slipping out of the first round.
With Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles on the rise, there may not be any teams willing to invest a first round pick after Manziel and Bortles are off the board.
Anthony Barr is another highly-praised prospect whose stock has taken a small fall of late. With no genesis for the sudden cooling on Barr, where he lands on draft day will be interesting. As an outside linebacker, Barr is a plug-and-play draft pick who can be productive from day one. But, as the buzz around him has cooled over the past few weeks, so may have the need for a team in the top 15 to take him. Barr could find himself sliding into the 20s, where one lucky team will get a top 10 talent.
The 2014 NFL draft is looking to be the most exciting in recent memory. With so many stars and an abundance of day one scenarios that would change the draft completely, May 8th cannot come quick enough.
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