My All-2014 NFL Draft Team - Offense

With the 2014 NFL Draft in the books, I thought it would be good to go over my most favorite players position by position to make my All-2014 NFL Draft Team. Here would be my offensive team.

Quarterback: Aaron Murray, Georgia, #11

Game Film Evaluated: LSU (2013) South Carolina (2013) Missouri (2013) Auburn (2013)

Pros: Really looks so much like Drew Brees, handles himself in the pocket. Reads the defense pre-snap. Can fire a rocket or with touch. Deadly accurate. Can buy some time with his legs to beat a defense with his arm. Has the look of calm and comfortable in any situation during game. Remarkable his performance when behind, his team was down several scores early vs Auburn and he scored game-tying score. Moves around fairly well to avoid pressure. Like to see him step up in the pocket move to help his tackles out from the speed rush. He has the look of someone who wants the ball when game is on the line, performs well in clutch situations. His best throws are on slants, in routes across the middle.
Cons: Mostly throws from shotgun. Few snaps from under center. Struggles when doesn’t have a clean pocket to throw from. Not the tallest of signal callers, does get a few passes knocked down at the line.
Summary: Murray is just a step down from the top QBs in the class, he’s had lots of experience in the most competitive and talented defenses week in and out in the SEC. He has NFL QB skills without the ideal size and elite arm strength. He has the look of someone the most NFL ready in the class to transition into a pro system soon. I see so much Drew Brees with Aaron Murray and he went at the top of the 2nd round. I think Murray is a 2nd round player who could go earlier. An ideal Cowboys target to take over for Romo.

Taken in Round 5, #163 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs

Runningback: Tre Mason, Auburn, #22

Game Film Evaluated: Alabama (2013) Missouri (2013) Florida State (2013)

Pros: Great speed, good jump cuts. Also returns kicks for Auburn. Physical runner going inside. Keeps the legs moving after contact. Breaks tackles and explode through the hole. Puts his head down and can run inside near the goaline. Carries the load inside and outside.
Cons: Gives good effort in pass protection, needs to use better technique to neutralize blitzers. Too much dancing and cutting before he even gets to the line. The lack of attacking the line caused too many no gain and negative runs vs Florida State.
Summary: A feature back in the NFL, has the speed to break it to the outside and inside. A physical runner to pound it inside in short yardage situations. Has elite burst and good downfield speed. He can guys miss and take it for the score. A first round pick and should be a fine back in the NFL for a good while but long-term durability is always a concern now days with backs.

Taken in Round 3, #75 overall by the St. Louis Rams

Wide Receiver: Sammy Watkins, Clemson


Watkins is the definition of a playmaker at the receiver position. He can turn any play into a score, the burst and speed is unmatched. He will change the way opponents have to defend him and demand the safeties attention to prevent him from beating them deep.

Taken in Round 1, #4 overall by the Buffalo Bills

Marqise Lee, USC

Lee was a top 15 prospect had injuries not slowed him down in 2013 but he is not a durability concern. He is a top receiver who has just as much talent as Watkins. Lee was all that USC had offensively and he carried the load for them. Just get him the ball and great things will happen, simple as that. He will immediately impress in the NFL and for the next 8-10 years at a high level.

Taken in Round 2, #39 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars

Tight End: Crockett Gillmore, Colorado State.


I value solid all-around tight ends who are equally good at catching the ball, running routes and blocking inline at a high level in the running game. The blocking is usually what rules out the top prospects each year in the draft. It has become a split out as a receiver and take advantage of the match ups on a linebacker type of position. I may be old fashioned but I demand my tight end to be able to block inline or he is limiting how well I can run the ball. I loved Gillmore all around skill set to be comfortable catching the ball, not an elite talent to blow up the seam like Jimmy Graham or Vernon Davis but he will blow up and seal the edge on running downs as a blocker. He was brought in late to the Senior Bowl and instantly became the best tight end down there as a receiver or blocker, didn't matter, he was the best.

Taken in Round 3, #99 overall by the Baltimore Ravens

Left Tackle: Jake Matthews, Texas A&M, #75

Game Film Evaluated: Alabama (2013) Missouri (2013)

Pros: Very quick feet, comfortable on the move, can hit a moving target on screens and pulling. Really makes pass protecting look easy despite going against quality rushers in the SEC.
Cons: Average run blocker, saw little too much bending at the waist and doesn’t finish blocks well in run game. Rushers with a quick inside move give him trouble. Doesn’t do great resetting his hands to prevent getting holding calls.
Summary: Top 10 prospect, capable of starting Day 1 as a blindside pass protector in the NFL. Fits best into a zone blocking scheme due to his excellent feet and not a mauler in the running game.

Taken in Round 1, #6 overall by the Atlanta Falcons

Right Tackle: Zach Martin, Notre Dame, #70 Game Film Evaluated: Stanford (2013) USC (2013)

Pros: Gets good depth in protection, drives well in run blocking. Understands angles and can seal the edge in run blocking. Collapse his man inside to open up cut back. Really really good at turning his man to seal off the edge in the run game. Going to work great in a zone blocking scheme. Just doesn’t give an inch in pass protection. Quickly recovered when beaten off snap from Trent Murphy.
Cons: Will struggle with elite speed rushers if stays at tackle. Only speed rushers will give him trouble, don’t see elite quickness off the snap. Never saw him pull or get out in space. Did not see him block to the 2nd level except rarely on sweeps. He was beaten a couple of times with a good swim move, Martin dropped his head.

Senior Bowl: With a number of big names opting to decline their invitations, some due to injury and some by choice, Notre Dame OT Zack Martin entered the week as one of the top prospects in this years game. It’s still very early but so far Martin has lived up to that billing. A four-year starter on the blindside for the Fighting Irish, Martin doesn’t necessarily look the part of a stud left tackle prospect but as they say looks can be deceiving. Martin checked in at 6-4⅛ and 305 pounds with 32¼-inch arms, 9¾-inch hands and a 76⅞-inch wingspan. On the face those aren’t eye-popping numbers and the relatively short arms are of particular concern. With that said it’s important to remember that just last year Justin Pugh was selected in the Top 20 overall with eerily similar measurables. Many feel Martin may fit best at right tackle or perhaps even kick inside to guard at the next level but so far he has more than held his own on the left side and excelled against top competition such as Stanford DE Trent Murphy. If Martin continues to perform well the rest of the way it will no longer be a question of if he’s a first rounder but rather how early he might come off the board in round one. While Martin may not have the prototypical physical tools that you look for at the position. Notre Dame OT Zack Martin, Minnesota DT Ra'Shede Hageman and Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald were standouts yesterday and all three continued to put on a show in Mobile. In fact, Martin is arguably the best player in attendance and could very well be the first 2014 Senior Bowl participant selected on Draft Day. By now it almost goes without saying but Notre Dame OT Zack Martin and Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald continue to shine. Martin actually got some work inside at offensive guard today which set up a highly-anticipated showdown with Donald. In that head-to-head matchup between two of this weeks most dominant performers it was Martin who was finally able to slow down Donald. Solid, Solid, solid! That’s the best way for me to describe my opinion of the work of OT/ZACK MARTIN/Notre Dame this week. He may not be perfect in his movement, but he never seems to get really beaten by a defender. He is tenacious and fights to and thru the whistle. He’s effective against bigger guys, and he’s effective against faster guys. There is concern about his lack of ideal height, at 6’4, as well as his weight at 305. He also has just average arm length, but 32 ½” arm length does not scare me. I see no reason he cannot be an effective OT in the NFL. But I also think he could easily slide inside and be a starter at OG as well. He displays economy of motion, and I do not see a glaring flaw in any of his work this week. Solid! Interesting day for Notre Dame G/T Zach Martin, who came into Mobile as one of the fastest risers on the board despite being somewhat undersized with real short arms for an OT. What Martin has been able to do this week though is show that he is a fine technician who moves his feet well and can lock when he makes good initial contact. However, there were several pass block situations today where Martin wasn’t able to close down the edge off the snap and appeared to lack the length to regain the advantage.

Summary: Steady and consistent, two words would best describe Martin. I would not say he is dominating but he will neutralize his man regardless if in pass protection or blocking in the run game. He fits best in a zone blocking scheme as his feet are very good and since he is not a mauler. I did not observe him having to block in space so difficult to project him at left guard. I like him best as a right tackle zone blocking scheme. He is a 1st round pick.

Taken in Round 1, #16 overall by the Dallas Cowboys

Left Guard: Trai Turner, LSU, #56

Game Film Evaluated: Arkansas (2013) Texas A&M (2013)

Pros: Has a wide base, finishes blocks. Good strength to drive lineman off the line. He can pull and bury his man in space. He can keep his feet moving and get to the 2nd level. He brings a top level of physical style of play to the offensive line. He keeps his head on a swivel to pick up rushers in stunts and delayed blitzers. Plays with long and strong hands. Stays on his feet.
Cons: Gets his hands over extended, drops his head. Needs work on resetting his feet in pass protection, gets off balance and causes him to start reaching. He Was not nearly as dominant vs Texas A&M especially in run blocking.
Summary: Turner is a younger prospect coming after his redshirt sophomore season at LSU. He is athletic with a perfect build for a guard. He has the strength to become a mauler in the run game with a top level of physical attitude and base to not give up much in pass protection. However he has ability to be dominating especially when he can pull as he consistently blows up his man. 3rd value with significant upside.

Taken in Round 3, #92 overall by the Carolina Panthers

Right Guard: Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State, #61

Game Film Evaluated: LSU (2013) Alabama (2013)

Pros: Saw Gabe Jackson pull with some effectiveness vs LSU. Jackson dominated mostly Ego Ferguson and any LSU Tiger he lined up against. Saw better feet in pass protection than expected and play with long arms and excellent base. Did not get as big a push vs Ferguson in the run game but by no means did Ferguson win any of those battles. Capable of hitting the second level displayed vs Bama. Showed ability to slide in protection to hand off rushers when they stunted. Also handled a blitzing punch with ease.
Cons: Defeated by Bama defender first snap with excellent rip move. Struggles with consistent passing, he is made for going forward in run game. He can move in space but not able to hit the moving target with consistency. Not good vs speed rushers from the tackle position.

Senior Bowl: Meanwhile Mississippi St. OG Gabe Jackson has impressed with his sheer size, brute strength and physical style. Jackson won’t be an ideal fit for every scheme but will surely be a target of teams that utilize a power, run based attack. Jackson is also benefiting to a degree from the struggles that Baylor OG Cyril Richardson has experienced at times this week. However, it should be noted that Jackson hasn’t had to face the force of nature known as Aaron Donald like poor Mr. Richardson either. I still like most of what I see from big Mississippi State OG GABE JACKSON who is going to need to go to an NFL team that still employs a power running game, but as I watch this giant work I still think of CHANCE WARMACK last year. WARMACK showed some warts as we watched more film of him leading up to the draft. I see the same kind of player in JACKSON, but even bigger. I also think if JACKSON had played on an OL with guys like FLUKER & the KUOANDJIO brothers it might have hidden some of flaws better as well.

Summary: Jackson is not an elite guard prospect by any stretch but he is a more than capable starting guard in an angle scheme focused on physical run blocking like the Steelers or the 49ers. He fits best as a right guard as he can pull but not hit the moving target. Not as good a prospect as Larry Warford was a year ago. 3rd round value who could start as rookie but does not fit well for Dallas.

Taken in Round 3, #81 overall by the Oakland Raiders

Center: Weston Richburg, Colorado State, #70

Game Film Evaluated: Alabama (2013) Colorado (2013) Utah State (2013)

Pros: Athletic center, pulls with ease and can hit the moving target. He can really get a push if he keeps his feet moving. Pulls effectively and can get out into space. Looks to be best a zone blocking center and could even play guard. Confirms he is a zone blocking center only, guard in a pinch.
Cons: Not overly powerful at the point but can turn his man and seal the edge. He will not get movement in the run game unless he moves his feet. Got pushed around by strong nose tackle in the bama game. Could not get much of a push when a strong tackle is lined up on him.

Senior Bowl: Colorado St. C Weston Richburg doesn’t get a lot of attention for someone who could be a Top 100 pick but is one of the few blockers who has held his own against Aaron Donald and Ra’Shede Hageman. Richburg is making a strong case for why he should be the first pivot off the board.

Summary: Good center who can excel for a zone blocking scheme, he could play some left guard due to this ability to move on pulls and sweeps. He is not a power blocker and should not be used in an angle scheme. Capable of starting soon in his career as a 3rd round pick.

Taken in Round 2, #43 overall by the New York Giants