After all the breakdowns, all the analysis, and all the talk that had gripped the sporting world, the much-anticipated 2014 NFL Draft finally kicked off today with the first round. Along with the Houston Texans, here are the teams that we think came out winners in the first day of the NFL draft with their corresponding NFL Future Odds.
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Five Winners of the 2014 NFL Draft
1. Houston Texans – For Selecting Jadeveon Clowney as the 2014 NFL Draft Overall Top Pick
Priced at +2,000 to win the AFC back in February, the Houston Texans have now dropped to +1,600, and it could drop some more now that they selected Jadeveon Clowney with their No. 1 overall pick. They’re also labelled +3,500 to win the Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.
How can the Texans not be winners? Not only did they get the best defensive end, but also the surest prospect of them all in this draft class. With Clowney and J.J. Watt on their defensive line, Houston now has a terrifying pass rush tandem to terrorize opposing quarterbacks for years to come.
2. Buffalo Bills – For Giving E.J. Manuel An Elite Weapon in Sammy Watkins
We pointed out in our NFL Draft predictions that the Buffalo Bills could settle for tight end Eric Ebron since the odds of Sammy Watkins falling to the No. 9 spot seemed next to impossible. So what did the Bills do on draft day? They traded up to get the Cleveland Browns’ No. 4 pick, which they used to snap up the former Clemson wideout, a move that likely had their quarterback, E.J. Manuel, smiling from ear to ear.
3. Cleveland Browns – For Improving Their Secondary and for Drafting Johnny Manziel
In hindsight, the Cleveland Browns could have used their No. 4 pick to draft wide receiver Sammy Watkins instead of trading it down to the Buffalo Bills and selecting cornerback Justin Gilbert at No. 8. Imagine Watkins pairing up with Josh Gordon and Johnny Manziel (selected 22nd overall) at quarterback and you got the Dawg Pound roaring in anticipation of opening week.
The Browns may have missed out on a Watkins-Gordon receiver combo, but Gilbert and Joe Haden at the corners isn’t too shabby, either. The Browns are currently priced +3,500 to win the AFC crown and with their QB quandary now solved with Manziel, they could see their odds to win the conference go lower.
4. St. Louis Rams – For Upgrading their Offensive Line with Greg Robinson
Amid speculation prior to the NFL Draft that the St. Louis Rams could select a quarterback as the No. 2 pick overall, it’s clear that upgrading their offensive line was their utmost priority, and they did just that with Auburn’s stud tackle Greg Robinson. Sam Bradford is coming off a serious injury and preventing him from getting hurt this coming season should translate to a better campaign for Jeff Fisher’s team, which is currently pegged as +6,000 to win the Super Bowl next year.
5. Oakland Raiders – For Drafting Khalil Mack
Head Coach Dennis Allen says he feels fortunate Khalil Mack was still available when the Raiders selected at No. 5.
Arguably the team with the most holes to cover in their lineup, it would take a colossal whack job by the Raiders to botch their opportunity at the No.5 spot overall. The Raiders got it right though, and by selecting Khalil Mack at No. 5 overall, they got a talented pass rusher that some experts even think is better than Jadeveon Clowney.
Granted, Mack isn’t the missing piece that will instantly turn the Raiders into contenders. They are priced +10,000 to win the Super Bowl and +8,000 to reign supreme in the AFC. But it’s definitely a step in the right direction for the woeful Raiders.
