Remember these Names: 2014 NFL Draftees Who Should Have Solid Careers in the NFL

With the NFL Draft flood over, free agency moves now less than a trickle and all the UDFA moves complete, I want to add my two cents to the draft picks I thought were nice moves by the NFL teams.   I always found giving grades a little ludicrous before these guys even played a season but I do think it is worth pointing out the guys that could make a bigger impact on teams than the first day selections.

AFC

Baltimore---John Urschel OG/OC Penn State….the perfect player for this franchise and its image.  John is hard working, extremely intelligent, athletic and gets the most of his abilities.   John fits the mold of the Ravens and should be a solid contributor to the franchise for the next seven to ten years.   John is the kind of person and player that Ozzie might be able to find a spot for in the front office when his days are over.

Buffalo—Cyril Richardson OG  Baylor…Buffalo went for broke in a sense this draft by trading their number one pick next year so they can certainly use every pick this year to step up and make 2014 that much more successful.   Richardson is a big body mauler who likely will push to start by midseason and may not give up that spot for quite a while.

Cincinnati---Russell Bodine C   North Carolina….Big body linemen who can move are hard to come by and especially men with extensive experience at making the line calls.  Bodine will be a long term answer for the center position and should quickly become a good friend to Andy Dalton.

Cleveland---Pierre Desir  CB   Lindenwood….The Browns drafted a lot of other talented players than just Johnny Football and even closed out with a real steal in Pierre Desir.   Mature beyond his years as he knows what it takes to be a man and if given some time to sit and learn should be that nickel corner/part time starter for many years to come for the Browns.

Denver—Matt Paradis   C  Boise State…..With Peyton under center it is always wise to spend picks on offensive linemen and especially ones that are hard workers like Paradis.  A walk on who has experience playing both sides of the ball and is comfortable with cold inclement weather.   The last thing a team playing in Denver wants is a center who is not used to playing in less than ideal situation.  Paradis will be part of the rotation and depth for this season but should nail down a position in the coming seasons.

Houston---Tom Savage QB  Pittsburgh….No question Coach O’Brien is going to build the team his way and under ideal situations it would be great if Tom Savage could spend all of 2014 on the bench digesting the offense.   Again under ideal situations but the likelihood is that he will see the field at some point and with his arm strength, confidence and ability to learn quick having played under different systems in all his college stops his learning curve should be less than others and have success sooner.   If O’Brien can turn Matt McGloin into an NFL player in a year he can certainly do something similar with Tom Savage.

Indianapolis---Sorry I did not like one pick by the Colts.

Jacksonville---Storm Johnson RB  Central Florida….Potentially the steal of the NFL Draft as Storm has the size, speed and power to be an every down back and with teaming again with Blake Bortles, I would not sleep on Storm Johnson as a fantasy football sleeper.  I expect him to have a  breakout rookie season.  Storm plays with the chip on his should you need and by midseason at the latest should be splitting carries with Toby Gerhart.

Kansas City---Aaron Murray QB  Georgia…One of my favorite players in the draft and a guy who will have the luxury of sitting and learning as Alex Smith takes the lion’s share of snaps.    A lot of Murray demeanor, style and arm strength reminds me of Tony Romo and to me Romo is one of the most underappreciate players of this generation.   Murray could be the Chiefs starter in 2015 depending on how much money Alex Smith is truly looking for from Kansas City.

Miami---Jordan Tripp  LB Montana….Has to make the jump from Montana to Miami but has the motor and work ethic to certainly contribute to special teams this season and provide quality depth for the 2014 season.   Tripp should push to start in 2015 for Miami Dolphins.

New England---Cameron Fleming  OT  Stanford….There is nothing Coach Belicheck likes more than smart players and Cameron Fleming is certainly that and more.  Fleming will provide depth and could push for right tackle duties by some point this season and should be a player that has a long solid NFL career.

New York Jets---Tajh Boyd  QB  Clemson….Great pick where the NY Jets got him in the draft.  Boyd was the quarterback that made Watkins look so good and while there are certainly holes and limitations in his game at this point, Tajh has many tools that should keep him the NFL for years.   He has the arm strength, mobility and confidence in himself and  sitting and learning behind Mike Vick a player he matches up skill wise with should give Tajh the proper tutelage to reach success at the next level.

Oakland---Keith McGill  CB  Utah…Bigger corners will be the rage when they are available and McGill meets that those qualifications. McGill is a little older than most rookies but that should help him adjust a little quicker as he has outside responsibilities having a child that should allow him to have the focus and attitude to take to NFL coaching.

Pittsburgh---Daniel McCullers   NT Pittsburgh….Sometimes things just match up perfectly and a mountain of a main like Daniel McCullers to the Steelers in one of those times.   Once the Steelers coaches get hold of McCullers and likely lower this weight a little to help his endurance and stamina the NFL and especially the AFC will have to deal with a force in the middle the Steelers have been missing the past few years.

San Diego---Chris Watt  OG  Notre Dame…..The health and protection of Phillip Rivers is vital to any team success and getting the battle tested Watt into the fold is a good move.    Watt should contend for a starting spot at one of the guard spots fairly early in the 2014 season.

Tennessee—Zach Mettenberger QB  LSU….Great value pick where the Titans got him.  They can roll with Jake Locker for this season and let Zach sit and learn.  Also allow them to monitor him a little closer with the failed drug test on his record they will thread carefully with Zach as they need to be 100% sure before investing to heavily in Mettenberger as their future.   Good low risk pick that could have high returns for them.

Check back tomorrow for the NFC Edition.