Which team had the most impactful 2014 NFL Draft?
This draft was very deep, and because of that several teams dramatically upgraded their roster. I love what the Bucs did. They added three weapons in the passing game. Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins are both ideal red-zone threats, and Robert Herron has the quickness and toughness to be an outstanding slot receiver. This draft will make Josh McCown a top 15 QB this season.
San Francisco. The 49ers were able to draft for now by taking C Marcus Martin, WR Bruce Ellington and CB Keith Reaser; for the future, taking injured players G Brandon Thomas and FB Trey Millard; and for now and the future by taking S Jimmie Ward, RB Carlos Hyde and LB Chris Borland. And if USF DE Aaron Lynch reaches his full potential, mark that selection down as a real coup. Honorable mention to the Oakland Raiders: LB Khalil Mack, QB Derek Carr, G Gabe Jackson, DT Justin Ellis and CB Keith McGill? A draft that was cogent, with possibilities of greatness.
The Jacksonville Jaguars' draft has the potential to change the fortunes of the franchise. The team identified a franchise quarterback in Blake Bortles and surrounded him with a pair of game changers on the perimeter in Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson. Plus, the team picked up an underrated runner in Storm Johnson, who has the ability to carry the load as a workhorse back. While some might question whether the Jaguars took Bortles too soon, there is no doubt that David Caldwell and Gus Bradley have given him a supporting cast that should help him realize his potential and get Jacksonville back on track on 2014.
I'm going with the Browns. They got a starting cornerback in Justin Gilbert, a future starting quarterback in Johnny Manziel, an offensive lineman that has a chance to be a starter in Joel Bitonio, and a running back who will contribute in Terrance West. But the thing that makes the Browns' draft the most impactful is the 2015 first-round pick they got from Buffalo. I thought the Rams had a great draft, too, but that first-rounder from Buffalo is a big thing and puts Cleveland over the top.
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- Chase Goodbread College Football 24/7
Clowney just one of Texans' many big picks
The Houston Texans came away with the most impactful draft, and while No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney is a primary reason, he's far from the only one. Xavier Su'a-Filo could be a quick starter at guard, and nose tackle Louis Nix was one of the draft's best values as a third-rounder. Quarterback Tom Savage gives Bill O'Brien a nice developmental prospect, and look for seventh-rounder Andre Hal to make the club at cornerback. Apologies to the St. Louis Rams and Cleveland Browns, who also brought home strong hauls, but the Texans get the nod.
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- Mike Huguenin College Football 24/7
Baltimore, but check back on Oakland in three years
Immediate impact? I think Baltimore gets that from three of its defensive rookies: ILB C.J. Mosley, DT Timmy Jernigan and FS Terrence Brooks. I think Mosley and Brooks start right away. And TE Crockett Gillmore has good potential, too. In terms of long-term impact, I'll go with Oakland. I think OLB Khalil Mack makes a splash this fall. Three years from now, Mack, QB Derek Carr, G Gabe Jackson and DT Justin Ellis will be -- at the least -- solid starters. I also think CB Keith McGill is a fourth-round pick who could pay off big. Carr's development, obviously, is most important; if he reaches his ceiling, Oakland won't need to draft another high-round quarterback for at least five or six years.
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- Bryan Fischer College Football 24/7
Rams bolster their roster at multiple positions
While long term the answer is probably going to be the San Francisco 49ers (with picks like Brandon Thomas, who will develop into a starter down the road), I'll go with the St. Louis Rams. Jeff Fisher had to nail this draft, and the Rams added a potential Pro Bowler on the offensive line in Greg Robinson and the most dominant defensive player in college football last year in Aaron Donald. With their schedule, the ability to pressure the quarterback using just their front four will be huge, and they added significant depth to their secondary with this class, too. Grabbing Tre Mason for their already solid stable of backs should continue to be a boost for the offense, even if they didn't get a quality wideout to help Sam Bradford.
