Inside The Iggles 2014 Mock Draft, Final Round
17. Baltimore Ravens
Ra’Shede Hageman
DT/DE, Minnesota
Dave:
The Ravens love scheme versatility and letting value fall into their laps from a mile away. While Hageman isn’t the extreme value like Courtney Upshaw or Arthur Brown were in the second round, he does offer the ability to line up at nose tackle or defensive end depending on alignment.
Giorgos:
Ra’Shede Hageman is a freak of nature. Defensive lineman that big rarely come with Hageman’s athleticism. He can play NT or DE in 3-4 schemes or DT in 4-3 schemes. The Ravens have more needs than you might think and strenghtening the defensive line is among them.
18. New York Jets
Odell Beckham Jr.
WR, LSU
Dave:
Rex Ryan answers a Daniel Bryan-esque “YES! YES!” to the age-old question: “You down with ODB?” Beckham will become Geno Smith (or Michael Vick)’s best friend this season with the perfect amount of physicality to excel in the slot immediately.
Giorgos:
Odell Beckham Jr. is my favorite wide receiver in this draft and I can’t imagine him falling outside the top-20. The Jets have signed Eric Decker this offseason but need more weapons for their quarterbacks. Beckham can play outside the numbers or in the slot and is very dangerous once the ball is in his hands.
19. Miami Dolphins
Zack Martin
OT/OG, Notre Dame
Dave:
Beckham was my personal ideal selection for the Dolphins, but with him headed to New Jersey York, the Dolphins address their offensive line. Similar to the Bills, the Dolphins need to give Ryan Tannehill better protection if they want to build a winner.
Giorgos:
Dave is right, the Dolphins would love to have Beckham instead of Gibson in the slot, but the Jets got him first. Drafting Zack Martin might be wiser, though, since their offensive line is full of holes. Martin is a tough player that never seems to lose focus or panic and he can play either right tackle or guard.
20. Arizona Cardinals
Anthony Barr
OLB, UCLA
Dave:
Did you hear that? It was a chorus of Eagles fans getting their hearts stepped on, but the Cardinals are thrilled to add a prospect with top-ten potential at this juncture. Barr is extremely raw, but with proper coaching and development (and talent to play alongside) he’ll be a fine player.
Giorgos:
My ideal pick for Arizona would be Derek Carr, but I don’t expect them to draft a quarterback so early. Anthony Barr is a project at this point, but John Abraham will be almost 37 years old after the 2014 NFL season and the Cardinals need to find a replacement soon.
21. Green Bay Packers
Eric Ebron
TE, North Carolina
Dave:
Green Bay finds the mix of value, talent and need that they’ve been so good at doing over the years. Ebron has Vernon Davis-esque ability and will only make Aaron Rodgers more dangerous. This pick’s not fair, folks.
Giorgos:
Eric Ebron is considered the top tight end of the class and I can see why. He is not a very big man, but he is a very good receiver and looks like the modern NFL tight end, made of the same material that Jimmy Graham was made. The Packers have not replaced Jermichael Finley yet and this would be the perfect opportunity.
Oregon State WR Brandin Cooks (7) runs his route during warm ups before the game against the California Golden Bears. Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Brandin Cooks
WR, Oregon State
Dave:
As someone who would have loved to see this pick allocated to defense, the board fell rather unfavorably for the Eagles here. Still, playmaking talent never hurts and Chip Kelly poaches another PAC-12 player in hopes of getting to the National Championship in 2014.
Giorgos:
I am always a fan of drafting the best player available, as long as the team can use that player and he doesn’t end up in the bottom of the depth chart. If this is how the draft unfolds, then Brandin Cooks is my BPA and someone the Eagles could use right away, with DeSean Jackson no longer on the roster.
23. Kansas City Chiefs
Xavier Su’a-Filo
OG, UCLA
Dave:
No change from ITI Mock 2.0, but I still stand by my belief that Andy Reid loves offensive linemen more than anything. With no must-have wideout left on the board, the Chiefs boost an offensive line that lost both Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz to free agency.
Giorgos:
Unlike the Eagles, the Chiefs do not go with the best player available. Instead they pick a borderline first-round player a little earlier to cover a need. It’s much like what Andy Reid did with Danny Watkins three years ago. On the other hand, Xavier Su’a-Filo is a lot younger and has much more upside than Watkins. Jamaal Charles will love this pick.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Darqueze Dennard
CB, Michigan State
Dave:
The Bengals look okay at cornerback on paper, with a first round pick invested in Dre Kirkpatrick as well as Leon Hall and an aging Adam Jones. That said, there’s never a bad time to add a cornerback, and Dennard ends up being the best player available.
Giorgos:
The Bengals’ need for a quality cornerback is bigger than most realise. Dre Kirkpatrick is not someone they can rely on and Adams Jones and Terence Newman are aging. Darqueze Dennard might not have the potential of Justin Gilbert, but has a much higher “floor”, thus being a safer selection for Cincinnati.