2014 NFL Mock Draft - Pac-12 Perspective 11/29: Six Pac-12 players in first round

Periodically, leading up to the 2014 NFL Draft, we are going to project the draft and specifically focus on where we think Pac-12 players will go and why.

Two notes:

-I don't think Marcus Mariota or Brett Hundley declare right now. Redshirt sophomore rarely declare and both have really looked like could use another year to polish their game in recent weeks.

-I make the draft order by going over the rest of each NFL team's remaining schedule and projecting how they will finish.

1. Houston - Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville *Jr.

2. Atlanta - Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina *Jr.

3. Jacksonville - Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M *So.

4. Tampa Bay - Jake Matthews T Texas A&M

5. Minnesota - Derek Carr QB Fresno State

6. Oakland - Sammy Watkins WR Clemson *Jr.

7. St. Louis (from Washington) - Cyrus Kouandijo T Alabama *Jr.

8. NYGiants - Anthony Barr LB UCLA

I previously had Barr at number three, and I still think he is the second-best overall talent in the draft after Clowney, but he has fallen due to the needs of other teams that have slid up to the top and the overvaluation of quarterbacks. The Giants really need more talent at linebacker and Barr, and his pass-rushing abilities would fit perfectly.

9. Cleveland - Zach Mettenberger QB LSU

10. Miami - Taylor Lewan T Michigan

11. Buffalo - Khalil Mack LB Buffalo

12. St. Louis - Louis Nix DT Notre Dame *Jr.

13. Pittsburgh - Cameron Erving T Florida State *Jr.

14. Green Bay - Jace Amaro TE Texas Tech *Jr.

15. Tennessee - Kyle Van Noy LB BYU

16. Arizona - Antonio Richardson T Tennessee *Jr.

17. San Diego - Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma State

18. NYJets - Mike Evans WR Texas A&M *So.

19. Chicago - Vic Beasley DE Clemson *Jr.

20. Philadelphia - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu CB Oregon *Jr.

Gilbert has edged out Ekpre-Olomu as the best cornerback in the draft with his size, but he still has first round talent. The Eagles need a cornerback, and Chip Kelly would assuredly love to get one that he coached just a year ago. Also, knowing the cornerbacks' stock can easily fluctuate, I think Ekpre-Olomu will capitalize on his hot stock and declare.

21. Baltimore - Marqise Lee WR USC *Jr.

Lee is a Top 5 talent, but injuries and struggles in the Trojan passing game have dropped him a ways down the draft. He could benefit from coming back for a healthy year, but it's unlikely and he would be a very, very good pick for the Ravens who really need a playmaker at receiver.

22. Dallas - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix S Alabama *Jr.

23. Carolina - Cedric Ogbuehi T Texas A&M *Jr.

24. Kansas City - Eric Ebron TE North Carolina *Jr.

25. Cleveland (from Indianapolis) - C.J. Mosley LB Alabama

26. Detroit - Trent Murphy LB Stanford

Murphy is a freak player who is a bit of tweener at DE/OLB, but in a good way. He is scary off the edge and has the ability to knock down passes when he drops back and even though he doesn't have pure speed, those skills should get him into the first round. Murphy would fit in perfect as a new intimidator with the Lions defense and they could use a linebacker.

27. San Francisco - Jason Verrett CB TCU

28. New England - Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE Washington *Jr.

Seferian-Jenkins' stock has been dropping the past year after an offseason DUI and production that hasn't matched his 2012 output. Still, Seferian-Jenkins is the most-talented tight end in the draft and has is still on pace to be the most-productive tight end in the Pac-12. The Patriots could really use a tight end with Aaron Hernandez gone and Rob Gronkowski perpetually battling injuries and Seferian-Jenkins would be a really good one to fall to the end of the first round.

29. Cincinnati - Bradley Roby CB Ohio State *Jr.

30. New Orleans - Will Sutton DT Arizona State

Sutton is a very interesting prospect - he's a tweener at defensive tackle and defensive end and his stock has fallen a little bit this season due to offensives putting a ton of focus on him along with some weight gain, but he is still as good of a defensive playmaker as there is in the draft. The Saints could use a playmaker up front and if Sutton can close the season on a strong note, I think he can sneak his way into the end of the first round.

31. Denver - Cyril Richardson G Baylor

32. Seattle - Zack Martin G Notre Dame