Thursday, April 24, 2014

Pre-Draft Predictions


Once again, the Carolina Panthers are being counted out before the season begins.

The beat writer for the team on ESPN.com had this to say about the team (if you want to see how other ESPN writers predicted other teams would do, here is a link: http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/124472/nfl-nation-how-will-your-team-finish):

The Panthers never have had consecutive winning seasons and there hasn't been a repeat champion in the NFC South since the division was formed in 2002. There's no reason to believe that will change for a Carolina team that has to rebuild its offensive line, receiving corps and secondary. -- David Newton

Call me a "Homer" but I'm a little more optimistic about the team. Yes, they have lost some of their offensive line, receivers, and secondary players. However, I think through the moves they've made in free agency and the draft picks they make, the Panthers will be better than a lot of people are expecting them to be.

With that being said, it's time for my pre-draft predictions for each game this season.

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 7, @ Tampa Bay Bucanneers, 4:25 P.M., EST, FOX - The Panthers open up the season against the division rival Bucs, who had a poor season last year to say the least. But, things are different now. Lovie Smith is sure to turn Tampa Bay around, and the Bucs have the 7th overall pick in the upcoming draft. However, it'll take some time for Tampa to get the ball rolling, and Carolina will take advantage of that.
Prediction: Panthers win, 23-13.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, vs. Detroit Lions, 1:00 P.M., EST, FOX - A very interesting matchup for the Panthers' home opener. Detroit now has Golden Tate to compliment Calvin Johnson in the passing game, which should prove difficult for the Panthers' secondary. However, it's tough to throw when you're running for your life, which I think Matthew Stafford will be doing for the majority of this game. If the Panthers' front seven can get after him, expect a Carolina victory.
Prediction: Panthers win, 27-21.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 21, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:30 P.M., EST, NBC - The first of three primetime games for the Panthers this season comes at home against the aging Steelers. They also play one another in the preseason, which should give each team a little preview of what is to come from the other when they meet in this one. However, I think Carolina will match up well against Pittsburgh and come out with an easy victory.
Prediction: Panthers win, 21-7.

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 28, @ Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 P.M., EST, CBS - This is a game many NFL fans are looking forward to. Ravens' wide receiver Steve Smith will face his former team for the first time since being released back in March. He promised there would "be blood and guts everywhere" when the teams met. This game could come down to the wire, but in the end, I think Carolina will pull out a victory
Prediction: Panthers win, 17-14.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, vs. Chicago Bears, 1:00 P.M., EST, FOX - Carolina returns home to face the Chicago Bears, who have a favorable matchup against the Panthers' weak secondary. Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, two of the league's top wide receivers, will have a good day against this defense. The difference between Chicago and Detroit is that the Bears' defense can certainly hold their own, which is why I think the Panthers lose their first game against Chicago.
Prediction: Panthers lose, 28-14.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 12, @ Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 P.M., EST, FOX - If the Panthers were playing the Bengals at home, I think they could win this game. However, they'll have to travel to Ohio to face them. The Bengals and Panthers are a lot alike: two young teams on the rise who have great talent and an intimidating defense. Both won their division last year but lost in their first playoff game. I have to give the edge to Cincinnati. I think playing at home will be the deciding factor in this one.
Prediction: Panthers lose, 10-17.

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 19, @ Green Bay Packers, 1:00 P.M., EST, FOX - I'm very excited for this game. Whenever these two teams play, it seems to come down to the final possession. They last played in 2011, and the Packers won that game 30-23. I think Aaron Rodgers will take his offense down the field and score the game-winning touchdown with a minute to go.
Prediction: Panthers lose, 24-28.

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 26, vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1:00 P.M., EST, CBS - The Panthers return home from a tough two-game road trip to face the defending Super Bowl champions. I think the former two games will have worn down the Panthers enough to give the Seahawks the edge. Plus, let's be honest: Seattle is the most talented team in the NFL.
Prediction: Panthers lose, 13-27.

Week 9: Thursday, Oct. 30, vs. New Orleans Saints, 8:25 P.M., EST, NFL NETWORK - The Panthers, now on a four-game losing streak, are hungry for a win. At home against a division rival will make for a tough game that I think Carolina will win. I don't count the short week against them because New Orleans will also have a short week. The fact Carolina is at home gives them the edge. This is also their second primetime game.
Prediction: Panthers win, 28-21.

Week 10: Monday, Nov. 10, @ Philadelphia Eagles, 8:30 P.M., EST, ESPN - The Panthers final primetime game will be in Philly. Another interesting matchup as it features two young teams. The Panthers' stout defense will have to slow down the Eagles' fast offense if they hope to pull out a win here. I think the defense will prevail in this game and Carolina earns the W.
Prediction: Panthers win, 24-17.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 16, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 P.M., EST, FOX - Carolina returns home to face their division rivals who are coming off a very disappointing year. I certainly think Atlanta will rebound this season, but this game is Carolina's for the taking. Being at home gives them the edge they need to edge out the Falcons.
Prediction: Panthers win, 20-14.

Week 12: BYE WEEK

Week 13: Sunday, Nov. 30, @ Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 P.M., EST, FOX - After a grueling eleven-game stretch, the Panthers will come out strong after their bye week and face the Vikings, who many (including myself) don't expect much out of. The Panthers will easily win this game, just like they did last season against Minnesota.
Prediction: Panthers win, 30-14.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, @ New Orleans Saints, 1:00 P.M., EST, FOX - The Panthers will have to head to the Superdome to face their division rivals, who are close to unbeatable there. I don't think the Panthers will be able to win this one, but it'll be a hard-fought game.
Prediction: Panthers lose, 21-27.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 14, vs. Tampa Bay Bucanneers, 1:00 P.M., EST, FOX - Returning to Charlotte stinging from the loss, Carolina will look to take out some frustration on their division rivals. The Panthers will bully the Bucs right from the start in this one and take the W easily.
Prediction: Panthers win, 35-17.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 21, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 P.M., EST, CBS - What's there to say about this one? It's the Browns. Although they'll improve from last season, Cleveland is no match for Carolina, who easily win this one.
Prediction: Panthers win, 31-10.

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, @ Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 P.M., EST, FOX - The Panthers close the season with a trip to Atlanta to face their division rivals. The Panthers will probably need a win in order to secure a playoff spot, so they'll be playing their hardest. Will it be enough? I say... yes. Carolina wins a close one.
Predictions: Panthers win, 24-21.

There you have it, my pre-draft predictions. I have the Panthers going 11-5, which should be enough for at least a wild card spot in the playoffs.

Panthers' Schedule Analysis


The NFL regular season schedule was released yesterday, exciting fans everywhere as we get closer to the season.

The Carolina Panthers have the 22nd toughest strength of schedule in the league this year, at .473. However, you can't judge how a team will perform based on that. It's a very deceiving stat. Last season, the Panthers had the toughest strength of schedule, and they went 12-4.

The season starts out well for the team, with three winnable games at Tampa Bay, at home against Detroit and at home against Pittsburgh.

After week 3, Carolina will be in for a tough ride. They'll head to Baltimore to face Steve Smith and the Ravens, then come back home to play Chicago. They'll then go on a two-game road trip against Cincinnati and Green Bay, then come back to Charlotte to face the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks and the division rival Saints. After that, they go to Philadelphia. They come back home to face Atlanta before finally having their bye week.

After the bye, the schedule eases up a little. The Panthers will head to Minnesota, then New Orleans, then come back home for the Bucs and Browns. They'll close the season at Atlanta.

Because of their success last season, the Panthers were rewarded with three primetime games. On September 21, in week 3, they face the Pittsburgh Steelers at home on Sunday Night Football on NBC. On October 30, in week 9, they'll be at home against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football on NFL Network. Finally, they get a Monday Night Football game on November 10 in week 10 at the Philadelphia Eagles.

Two games that I think should be primetime matchups are the week 4 game at the Baltimore Ravens and the 8 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Carolina will face former wide receiver Steve Smith when they visit the Ravens, and after being released, Smith promised that when he faced his former team, there would be "blood and guts everywhere." It's sure to be entertaining. The Panthers and Seahawks were the top two seeds in the NFC last season, so it's a little surprising to see that the game between them won't be a primetime matchup.

I will soon be doing predictions for each game. I'll also do predictions for each game after the draft, which is two weeks from today.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

2014-15 Regular Season Schedule


Alright, Panthers fans, the NFL season is getting closer, as the NFL released the regular season schedule tonight. Here is Carolina's schedule: 

Week 1: @ Bucs
Week 2: vs. Lions
Week 3: vs. Steelers
Week 4: @ Ravens
Week 5: vs. Bears
Week 6: @ Bengals
Week 7: @ Packers
Week 8: vs. Seahawks
Week 9: vs. Saints
Week 10: @ Eagles
Week 11: vs. Falcons
Week 12: BYE
Week 13: @ Vikings
Week 14: @ Saints
Week 15: vs. Bucs
Week 16: vs. Browns
Week 17: @ Falcons

The times for kickoff are NOT set in stone due to flex scheduling, so I won't be listing those.

Keep pounding!

Friday, April 18, 2014

Your Questions Answered!


First off, let me say I hope your Good Friday has been a great one, Panthers fans.

Now, I'm sure plenty of you have some questions about Carolina that you want answered. A few people have asked some questions on the Carolina Panthers News Facebook page (which you should go like: https://www.facebook.com/keeppoundingpanthers)

But I'd like to answer any and all questions you have! So, if you have any, you can email me (firstandglenn@gmail.com), ask on the Facebook page, or tweet them to me (@FirstandGlenn).

Happy Easter to all of you!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Sidney Rice to Carolina? Don't Count On It


Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice has been medically cleared to begin football drills after having surgery on his ACL.

According to multiple reports, teams interested in Rice are the Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, and the Carolina Panthers.

There are a few reasons why Rice signing with Carolina makes sense: 
- He grew up pretty close to Charlotte and would probably love to play there. 
- Carolina is rebuilding their receiving corp and bringing in the 27-year-old would be a boost.
- He can be a good weapon in the passing game when healthy.

However, there are also a few reasons as to why Carolina WON'T sign Rice:
- Cap space. Rice would have to take a pretty small deal in order to play with the Panthers, who don't have much money to work with.
- He's very prone to injuries and general manager Dave Gettleman will certainly be looking at that.
- The three other teams interested in him will probably try harder to sign him.

The reason I say they'll try harder is they all have more money than the Panthers and they'll probably be much less hesitant about signing him.

The Panthers have signed wide receivers Jerricho Cotchery, Tiquan Underwood, and Jason Avant, along with tight end Ed Dickson. All are guys who will be effective in the passing game, but none are a number one target. I don't see Rice as a number one either.

Carolina will likely take either an offensive tackle or wide receiver in the first round of the draft, so it's unlikely they'll be very active in free agency from this point going forward. They need to save money for their draft picks.

Letting Rice sign with another team isn't too big of a deal. In the end, I think he'll be too much of a risk due to his history of injuries, and I think Gettleman sees that.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Panthers Sign Thomas DeCoud


On Thursday, the Carolina Panthers signed former Atlanta Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud to a two-year deal.

The deal is worth up to $3.75 million with incentives, including a $500k signing bonus.

DeCoud was a Pro Bowler two years ago. He was a solid player in Atlanta's defense and lining up in the secondary with Roman Harper will certainly take less pressure off of Carolina's front seven.

Another thing this signing gives the Panthers is the option to get rid of Charles Godfrey if they want. They've got two solid safeties now in Harper and DeCoud, and Godfrey is pretty expensive. Cutting him would give the team more cap space and they wouldn't be left in a bad situation in the secondary.

In the past week, the Panthers have signed DeCoud, Ed Dickson, Colin Cole, and Jason Avant.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

DeAngelo Williams Criticizes Front Office


On Thursday morning, Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams appeared on "NFL AM" to talk about the team.

However, as the interview progressed, Williams became extremely critical of the team's front office. When asked about losing Steve Smith, Williams replied "Are you saying that we lost all our receivers? Because we lost four."

The host replied "No, I said your top receivers." To this, Williams said "We lost them all."

He said he was shocked by losing Smith and didn't understand the move. He continued by saying "Not only did we lose him, but we lost Ted Ginn Jr., Brandon LaFell and Hixon... I joke with people that my fantasy value went up, but it's the truth."

As the interview continued, the normally relaxed Williams seemed to get more and more frustrated with each question about the offense. He finally said "The pressure is on the front office, because you make these moves and get rid of our four receivers and you have to bring in guys. No slight to Cotchery or Avant who we just signed... but our guys made names for themselves... I don't know where we go from here."

Obviously, Williams isn't happy with general manager Dave Gettleman. To be fair to Gettleman, the Panthers have been extremely strapped for money this offseason and he's trying to build a Super Bowl team while handing leadership over to Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly. That's the main reason he cut Smith.

On the other hand, if I was Williams, I'd be angry as well. So I'm not going to bash him for giving his opinion (and obviously venting a little) because he has never spoken out like this and he has a right to express his opinion.

A lot of people are saying this is going to cause locker room issues and ultimately Williams will be cut and Jonathan Stewart will be given the starting running back position. To this I say NO, and here's why.

Williams has been healthy and reliable while Stewart has constantly been getting hurt. I know Williams' numbers aren't that great, but you need a good offensive line to be successful, and everyone knows that the Panthers O-line wasn't exactly the best. Even so, he's shown plenty of times how explosive he can be, especially on screen passes and checkdowns.

Williams is more of a speed running back while Stewart is more of a power running back. The Panthers already have a power back (and a very healthy and reliable one) with Mike Tolbert. I say cut Stewart when he's no longer a cap casualty. Cutting Williams and making Stewart the starter could come back to haunt them.

Panthers Sign Ed Dickson


On Thursday, the Carolina Panthers signed former Baltimore Ravens tight end Ed Dickson to a one-year deal.

The deal will be worth the minimum $730,000 with a $65,000 signing bonus. Sounds like a bargain. I've said before that signing Dickson is low risk, high reward. If he works out, it's a great move. If not, it's not too bad, as the Panthers still have Brandon Williams who could be developed as the number two TE.

Cam Newton did a great job in his rookie season in two tight end sets when he had Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey. Signing Dickson gives the Panthers the option to try out those two tight end sets and see what they can do.

With the Panthers signing a few wide receivers, a tight end, and looking at signing some secondary players, it seems general manager Dave Gettleman's focus in the draft will be offensive line.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Free Agency News


The Carolina Panthers are starting to get a little busy in free agency.

It was reported on Monday that former Atlanta Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud was visiting the team. DeCoud, although not the best safety, would be a good pick up for Carolina because it would allow the team to let go of Charles Godfrey and save a good bit of cap space.

On Tuesday, the Panthers re-signed veteran nose tackle Colin Cole to a one-year deal, bringing back a part of the incredible defensive line that Carolina had in 2013. Cole played only 31% of the snaps on defense last year, but also played a big part in making Star Lotulelei so effective.

Today, it was reported that former Baltimore Ravens tight end Ed Dickson was visiting with the Panthers. It would be interesting to see him line up in a two tight end set with Greg Olsen. Cam Newton did a great job in his rookie season, and a big part of that was having two effective tight ends in Olsen and Jeremy Shockey. Dickson is also a tall guy at 6'4", and a bigger target in the passing game is something that Cam has been missing sorely. Dickson is low risk, high reward. If he works out, that's great for the offense. If not, the team has other tight ends that they can develop.

Preseason Schedule Released


My fellow football fans, we're getting closer and closer to the upcoming 2014 season.

Today, the NFL released the preseason schedules of all 32 teams. The Carolina Panthers' schedule is as follows:

Week 1: vs. Buffalo Bills, Aug. 8-10, time TBD

Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Aug. 17, 8:00 p.m.

Week 3: @ New England Patriots, Aug. 22-24, time TBD

Week 4: @ Pittsburgh Steelers, Aug. 28-30, time TBD

The game against the Chiefs is a nationally televised game on FOX. The rest of the games will be broadcast locally in the Carolinas.

The game against the Steelers marks the 12th preseason in a row that the two teams will square off. The Panthers will also play the Steelers during the regular season.

Panthers Sign Jason Avant


Nearly the entire offseason, fans have been clamoring for general manager Dave Gettleman to make some sort of impact signing at the wide receiver position after losing Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell, Ted Ginn and Domenik Hixon.

Apparently signing Jerricho Cotchery and Tiquan Underwood wasn't enough.

However, on Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers made a pretty great move, probably their best this offseason: signing former Philadelphia Eagles WR Jason Avant to a one-year deal.

Avant, who will be 31 this month, brings in not only a solid, veteran receiver, but experience and leadership as well. He's spent his entire career with the Eagles and, although his numbers may be deceiving, he's a very sure-handed and reliable wideout.

Bringing in older receivers like Cotchery and Avant may be confusing to some, but it seems what Gettleman is trying to do is bring in guys who will help teach the younger receivers that the Panthers are bound to draft, along with Tavarres King and Marvin McNutt.

To be honest, the Panthers aren't all that bad at the wide receiver position. They ranked 29th in the league in passing yards last season, and their number one target, TE Greg Olsen, is still with the team. The loss of Steve Smith hurt, yes, but it's time to bring in a new era of receivers. Guys like Cotchery and Avant bring in experience, while guys like Underwood, King and McNutt can learn from these guys and from wide receiver coach Ricky Proehl, becoming effective weapons in the passing game.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

2014 NFL Draft - First Round Mock Draft 1.0


Hey everyone, sorry for having no posts for about a week. School has been crazy.

Anyway, like I said a few weeks ago, my goal is to get at LEAST one post a week done, so today, I'm going to be sharing my first mock draft of the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. I know I'm a little late to the mock draft party, as every NFL analyst you see on ESPN or other sports media have already done at least one, but I wanted to be sure of my choices. The draft is now 36 days away. Without further ado, let's take a look.

1. Houston Texans - Blake Bortles, QB, UCF - The Texans are reportedly trying to trade the first pick of the draft. Pretty good idea if you ask me. They could pick up one or more great players and still be able to take a quarterback, which is what they need. There are plenty of quarterbacks in this draft that have the potential to be NFL starters, but I think Bortles is the best option. Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater are the only two QBs I could see going before Bortles, but both are huge question marks. Bortles is a pretty good-sized QB at 6'4", and from what I've seen, he could definitely be the starter for the Texans come Week 1 of the NFL season. It'll be interesting to see how the Texans use their pick.

2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn - It's probably a toss-up to decide who's the better offensive lineman in this draft between Robinson and Jake Matthews from Texas A&M. It's great news for the Rams, who nearly everyone has taking either Robinson or Matthews with the second pick of the draft. However, I think Robinson is the better fit for the Rams. He's a great run blocker, and the Rams are now a running offense with Zac Stacy as their starter. QB Sam Bradford is returning from a torn ACL, and to me, he still hasn't proven himself. The Rams will have to rely on the running game to compete in the best division in football, the NFC West. Drafting Robinson will be a huge boost to the offense.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville - Here's where it starts to get tricky. In my mock draft, Johnny Manziel, Jadeveon Clowney, Sammy Watkins, and Jake Matthews are all still available among others. These are all positions the Jaguars have to address, so deciding who they'll take has to be a head scratcher. However, after thinking about it, I say they take Bridgewater, simply because QB is the most important position. This draft is one of the deepest at many positions that we've had in years, so the safest bet for the Jags is to take Bridgewater here and pick up some weapons for him as the draft continues.

4. Cleveland Browns - Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M - Another tricky decision. Again, plenty of players available at positions the Browns need to address. But once again, QB is the most important position. Manziel would be the best QB available at this point. He'll bring plenty of athleticism and excitement to a team that desperately needs it. The biggest concern for me is Manziel's size. At just under 6'0", Manziel would be playing in the AFC North against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals, all teams with great defenses that could tear any opposing QB apart. Manziel's quick, but he won't be able to run around like he did at A&M. Hopefully, for the Browns' sake, they've finally found their QB.

5. Oakland Raiders - Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina - If the draft goes this way and Clowney drops to the number five spot, the Raiders have no choice but to take him, regardless of who else is available. According to many analysts, Clowney is the best player in the draft. Now, personally, I can't say who the best player is, but Clowney is definitely one of the best. The Raiders have been picking up many players in free agency, such as Justin Tuck, LaMarr Woodley, and Antonio Smith. Imagine a defensive line with Tuck on one end and Clowney on the other. That looks like one tough defensive front. Grabbing Clowney would greatly help the Raiders in the tough AFC West against the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Diego Chargers (who, by the way, all made the playoffs last season).

6. Atlanta Falcons - Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M - Like I said earlier, Matthews and Greg Robinson are the best two offensive linemen in this draft. Depending on who's taken first, the other will probably be drafted by Atlanta. Many people have the Falcons taking either one of these guys or linebacker Khalil Mack with this pick. I'll repeat myself: QB is the most important position, and for the Falcons to return to playoff form, they'll need to give that offensive line a makeover and protect QB Matt Ryan. Matthews is a great pass blocker, perfect for the Falcons offense.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo - The Bucs made a wise decision in hiring Lovie Smith as their new head coach. He should be able to turn this team around quick. He's already stated that newly acquired free agent QB Josh McCown will be the starter, so the Bucs may grab a QB later in the draft. But with Khalil Mack still available at this point, the Bucs would be foolish to pass up. Mack does a great job in both pass coverage and rushing the QB. Smith loves linebackers who can do this. If Mack is already taken at this point, look for the Bucs to take LB Anthony Barr out of UCLA.

8. Minnesota Vikings - Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State - With Bortles, Manziel and Bridgewater all taken at this point, the best QB option left is Derek Carr. Honestly, Carr is a bigger question mark than both Manziel and Bridgewater, but what choice do the Vikings have? Neither Christian Ponder nor Matt Cassel have proven they can be the starter, as we all remember the giant QB carousel the Vikings had last season with both these guys and Josh Freeman. Carr provides some stability at QB if he can prove himself. The Vikings HAVE to take some of the load off of Adrian Peterson if they want to get back to the playoffs. Peterson, as great of a running back he is, can't carry this offense by himself. They need a QB who can start each week so the offense doesn't have to work with a different QB every week. Maybe Carr will be that guy.

9. Buffalo Bills - Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan - Another great offensive lineman, Lewan is the guy Buffalo needs to take if both Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews are taken at this point (and they probably will be). If QB E.J. Manuel can stay healthy this season, Lewan would be great in helping develop him, as he's not only got quick feet that can help guard the quick QB, but Lewan also became a leader his past two seasons at Michigan. A leader is what this Bills offense needs. Lewan would be the anchor of this offensive line. If Matthews or Robinson drop to number nine, however, the Bills will undoubtedly take the one who dropped.

10. Detroit Lions - Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State - I initially thought the Lions would take a receiver at this spot (and Sammy Watkins is still available at this point), but with the signing of Golden Tate, I think the Lions will look at the other side of the ball now. Gilbert is an incredible athlete and the best corner in the draft. The Lions are fine offensively. If they want to take control of the NFC North, they've got to slow down Aaron Rodgers, and Gilbert would do a great job of that. The cornerback position is one that has been the Lions' weak point, and picking up Gilbert will greatly help out that defense.

11. Tennessee Titans - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson - Where to start with the Titans? A huge lack of talent on both sides of the ball has left them in mediocrity. Nearly everyone has them taking some defensive player such as LB Anthony Barr, but if Watkins is still available at number twelve (surprisingly he is with this mock draft), the Titans need to pick him. They've lost their best receiver, Kenny Britt. QB Jake Locker is still a question mark, but he needs receivers who can actually get open and make the passing game work if he wants to succeed. Watkins has been highly regarded as the best receiver in the draft. He'd be great in helping Locker become a starting QB... That is, if Locker can stay healthy.

12. New York Giants - Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina - The Giants hired former Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo as their offensive coordinator back in January, a guy who will look to change this offense. McAdoo was also the Packers' tight ends coach, meaning that the Giants will probably take Eric Ebron in the first round. Eli Manning is coming off the worst year of his career, and the Giants lost one of their best receiving threats in Hakeem Nicks to free agency. Ebron is a guy who can come in and instantly be the starting tight end, as he's a great threat in the passing game and a very physical blocker. He'd be perfect in McAdoo's new system and a great asset for Eli Manning. Ebron is the best tight end in the draft, and the Giants need him. Ebron will be a great offensive addition wherever he goes.

13. St. Louis Rams - Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M - The Rams definitely got the better end of the trade with the Washington Redskins that gave them the Redskins' first round pick for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 drafts. Their first pick, the second overall, would've been the Redskins. Now, with another early pick in the first round, the Ram should look to continue bolstering their offense by picking up Mike Evans. Evans would be a great option for Sam Bradford and help the Rams' running game as well, as his size (6'5") will greatly help when blocking downfield and bullying defenders in the passing game.

14. Chicago Bears - Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh - When you think of the Chicago Bears, the first thing you think of is defense. The Bears lost a huge part of their defense in Julius Peppers, but Aaron Donald could replace him. Donald is probably the best defensive lineman in this draft not named Jadeveon Clowney. He is unbelievably quick off the snap and causes plenty of mayhem for opposing teams. Adding him to a line that already has Lamarr Houston and Willie Young would give Chicago one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, and help the Bears compete for the NFC North.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers - Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State - Let's be honest, the Steelers don't have the intimidating defense they used to have. It's gotten older and slower. Dennard would fit well into the Steelers defense, bringing much-needed youth to the aging Pittsburgh team. Not only is he great in man to man coverage, but he does well in run support. He's a very confident and physical defender. The Steelers defense is all about confidence and physicality. He also possesses great awareness. He'd be an instant boost to the secondary.

16. Dallas Cowboys - Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State - The Cowboys had one of the worst defenses in the league last season. Losing DeMarcus Ware only hurts them even more. It'd be shocking to see the Cowboys NOT take a defensive player with their first round pick. Luckily for them, at this point, there are still plenty of good impact players on defense. Jernigan would certainly help the Cowboys in terms of pass rushing, something they'll be worse at now that Ware is gone. However, with Jernigan and Henry Melton plugging the middle, the Cowboys defensive line will definitely improbe.

17. Baltimore Ravens - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama - The Ravens are planning on moving Matt Elam from free safety to strong safety. Picking up Clinton-Dix would give them a very tough safety tandem. He's a tough safety, explosive, athletic, has good awareness, physical and decisive. He reminds me of Earl Thomas, as his speed when closing in on the ball is incredible. He's arguably the best safety in the draft. The Ravens were also in need of weapons in the passing game, but the addition of Steve Smith and the re-signings of Jacoby Jones and Dennis Pitta will allow them to focus on defense in the first round.

18. New York Jets - Marqise Lee, WR, USC - The Jets have to pick up a receiver in the first round to help out Geno Smith. Luckily, this draft runs deep with receivers. Having Lee line up opposite of Eric Decker would give the Jets a pretty nice passing attack. Lee's very explosive after the catch and racks up a lot of YAC. That's something that the Jets desperately need, a guy who can make plays after the catch. Although underrated, Lee possesses great acceleration and agility and has the potential to be a number one receiver in a few years.

19. Miami Dolphins - Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame - The offensive line was without a doubt the biggest issue for the Dolphins in 2013, with the combination of injuries to the starters and of course the bullying scandal. There was no continuity. Bringing in Martin not only helps with that continuity, but it brings youth and talent to a line that desperately needs it. Martin is versatile, able to play both guard and tackle, meaning he'll fit well into any offense. Nearly everyone has the Phins taking Martin with this pick, so if they don't take him, it'll be a shock to me.

20. Arizona Cardinals - Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville - The Cardinals were one of the biggest surprise teams of 2013, and nearly made the playoffs. In order to make them this year, and continue to compete in the tough NFC West, they'll need to address their biggest weakness at safety by drafting Pryor. Pryor is a great safety who, like Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, has great closing speed on the ball. He's got good vision and awareness and isn't afraid to sacrifice his body to make plays. He'd be a great fallback plan for the Cards if Tyrann Mathieu's rehab from knee injury takes a while. And once Mathieu comes back, Arizona would have a very intimidating secondary.

21. Green Bay Packers - Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State - Once again, the Packers were knocked out of the playoffs by Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers. In a league where the running QB is becoming more popular among teams, the Packers are going to need a young new linebacker that can not only get after the QB, but drop back into coverage just as well. Shazier is fast, strong, and has incredible range, able to cover both sidelines and be effective when blitzing, stopping the run, and dropping back into coverage. With A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews both aging and constantly getting hurt, the Packers need a young guy like Shazier who can stay healthy.

22. Philadelphia Eagles - Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU - The Eagles just lost their best receiver, Desean Jackson. There's been plenty of speculation as to why he was released after a career year, but whatever the reason may be, he's gone. I think because of this, Chip Kelly will look to take a receiver in the first round now. Beckham Jr. has that an explosiveness that reminds me of Jackson, and Kelly will likely be looking at that as he tries to get the Eagles back to the playoffs. A potential offensive Pro Bowler for the offensive mind of Kelly? Looks like a good pick.

23. Kansas City Chiefs - Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State - The Chiefs need to give Alex Smith another playmaker in order to help make him successful and get the team back to the playoffs. With so many receivers going ahead of them in this mock draft, the best one available would be Cooks. He's a little smaller at 5'10", but he's already drawn many comparisons to Steve Smith: small, but also tough and explosive. Not much of a question here, the Chiefs most likely take the best receiver available at this point.

24. Cincinnati Bengals - Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri - A top five defense last season helped the Bengals win the AFC North. However, they lost their best pass rusher, Michael Johnson, in free agency. Ealy is a better pass rusher than he is run defender, but would easily fill the void left by Johnson at that position. He does a great job turning the corner and forcing the ball out. Even if unable to get to the QB, he's got long arms and times his jumps well to knock passes down at the line. He'd be a great asset to help the Bengals defend their AFC North crown.

25. San Diego Chargers - Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame - Another surprise team in 2013, the Chargers need help in the middle of the defensive line if they want to return to the playoffs. Nix is huge and great at his position. He shows good awareness and has nimble feet. Not only will he be able to stuff the run, but he'll help get pressure on the QB, a great skill to have when you face Peyton Manning twice a year. Surprisingly light on his feet for a guy his size, Nix is without question one of the best nose guards in the draft.

26. Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis) - Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State - With two picks in the first round, the first will most likely go to QB, so why not use the second one on a weapon for that QB? In this mock draft, the Browns take Johnny Manziel with their first pick, so it seems like a good idea to pick up a guy like Kelvin Benjamin with their second. Benjamin is huge for a wide receiver at 6'5", and has some of the best hands you'll see. He'd be great at helping Manziel develop, and lining up opposite of Josh Gordon looks like it would give the Browns quite the passing attack.

27. New Orleans Saints - C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama - The Saints need a good linebacker. The ones they have now have declined in production in such a way that will make it tough for them to play against the likes of Cam Newton and Matt Ryan four times a year. Mosley is a guy who can line up on both the inside and the outside, and has a very high football IQ, rarely making mental mistakes. He's very disciplined and would give both Newton and Ryan a tough time.

28. Carolina Panthers - Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama - What a tough offseason for the Panthers. They lose Steve Smith and Jordan Gross, two of the best players in team history, among plenty of other receivers and offensive linemen. Cam has to have weapons, but he also has to have guys to protect him, and I think that's the biggest priority at this point. Kouandjio would be the best offensive lineman left at this point in the mock draft, so the Panthers need to take him. His value is simply too high to pass on this late in the first round. Also consider that at this point, plenty of receivers have been taken, so Carolina will likely address receiver in later rounds. They're also in need of some players in the secondary, so if it's not an offensive linemen or receiver that they take in this round, it'll be a corner or safety.

29. New England Patriots - Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota - The Pats picked up both Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner in free agency, giving a huge boost to the secondary. But the defensive line needs help. They restructured Vince Wilfork's contract, but he's getting old. Having a defensive line with Wilfork and Hageman would greatly help this New England defense. He would be great to fill the void that Wilfork will undoubtedly leave once he retires. Hageman is huge at 6'6" and a brute in the middle. Imagine trying to run up the middle at him and Wilfork. Scary thought.

30. San Francisco 49ers - Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State - The best receiver left at this point in the mock draft. The Niners are in need of a young new receiver that will help Colin Kaepernick. They've got Anquan Boldin, who is 33, and Michael Crabtree, who can't seem to stay healthy. Robinson isn't the fastest receiver, but has good size and won't shy away from anyone. He was very productive at Penn State and would give Kaepernick a great target to grow with. He'd be a good number two receiver once Boldin retires, or even a number one if Crabtree can't stay healthy.

31. Denver Broncos - Xavier Su'a-Filo, G, UCLA - The Broncos did a good job addressing needs in free agency by picking up DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, which allows them to switch focus from defense to the offensive line. Losing Zane Beadles in free agency to the Jaguars was a huge loss. However, Su'a-Filo would easily fill that void. He's one of the most pro-ready prospects in the draft and without doubt the best guard. All of these linemen taken before him were tackles. Peyton Manning won't be getting hit with this guy blocking for him.

32. Seattle Seahawks - Stephon Tuitt, DT, Notre Dame - The defending champs have the most intimidating secondary in the league, but what about their defensive line? Losing Red Bryant, Chris Clemons and Clinton McDonald leaves them needing an anchor on the line to take some pressure off the secondary. Tuitt has a nice combination of speed and strength, and his 6'6" frame doesn't hurt either. If the Seahawks want to repeat as Super Bowl champs, they'll need someone like Tuitt on the line.

And that is my first mock draft of the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. I'm unsure of whether or not I'll do another, but if I do so, I'll let you guys know. This draft is one of the deepest in years, and I think I speak for every NFL fan when I say that I'm excited for May 8.