2014 NFL Mock Draft: Sticking with Blake Bortles at No. 1

What happens at the NFL Scouting Combine can change how the draft will fall for reasons besides what happens in on-the-field drills. Coaches and general managers will say subtle things to the media they shouldn't. Information will come out about players that they'd probably keep quiet. And generally the rumor mill really takes off.

This mock draft isn't totally rebuilt based on what happened in Indianapolis, but there are clearly some players slotting into areas of the draft and what a team may do is becoming clearer.

Just one round this week, but look for something bigger and better next week from Matthew Fairburn. Remember, if you have a mock draft of your own, feel free to put it in the comments.

1. Houston Texans - Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida - For whatever reason, Teddy Bridgewater no longer seems to be in play for the Texans. If that leaves Houston choosing between Bortles, Johnny Manziel and Jadeveon Clowney, the Central Florida quarterback is the high-upside player. He would make a bigger impact on the franchise than Clowney would.

2. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins) - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn - Robinson was a sensation at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in under five seconds. Personally watching Robinson work out two days before he ran, he's clearly an uncanny athlete. Robinson knows he has to get better with his handwork in pass protection, but he's pro-ready as a run blocker.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina - Clowney bench pressed 225 pounds just 21 times in Indianapolis, and it doesn't matter. Clowney's game is built on quickness. He fires off the ball and is capable of blitzing to the inside or the outside. The Jaguars are doing their due diligence on quarterbacks and if they don't like one, head coach Gus Bradley would figure out a way to take advantage of Clowney's talents.

4. Cleveland Browns - Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M - At the combine, Browns general manager Ray Farmer said his team could throw a "curveball" in the draft. There is no more wicked curve than Manziel. The former Heisman Trophy winner is even learning about the Browns extensively from quarterback coach George Whitfield, a Northeast Ohioan.

5. Oakland Raiders - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville - Some questions arose about Bridgewater at the combine. Are his hands big enough? Why did he say he'd run the 40 and then suddenly back out? Even though those and some other issues have come up with Bridgewater, Oakland's need for a franchise quarterback supersedes them.

6. Atlanta Falcons - Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo - Don't expect the Falcons to be picking sixth in the draft. But in a mock draft where no trades are involved, it's difficult to pinpoint what the Falcons may do if Robinson and Clowney are gone. If that's the case, they may be choosing between Mack and offensive tackle Jake Matthews. Mack is the choice because he would add versatility to the defense. He can drop back in coverage, play the run and blitz the quarterback from the linebacker or defensive end positions.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M - At the combine, Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith seemed content with the talent he has in place on defense. If that leaves Tampa to choose between the best offensive player on the board, it's Matthews in this scenario. It's not a fun pick, but Matthews is a plug-and-go for a decade lineman. Whether it's the left or right side, he'll be good.

8. Minnesota Vikings - Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri - Vikings general manager Rick Spielman stressed the importance of drafting a quarterback, but he also said he won't reach on one. Derek Carr would be a reach in the first round. Ealy is rising up the draft and would allow the Vikings to cheaply move on from Jared Allen.

9. Buffalo Bills - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson - The Bills have added a lot of talent at wide receiver in recent seasons, but still don't have that true No. 1 player. Watkins represents that and is somewhat of a steal at this point.

10. Detroit Lions - Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M - While at the combine, new Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said he wants to find a way to take the pressure off Calvin Johnson. A player like Evans – an incredible bad-ball catcher – would do just that and give Detroit arguably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL.

11. Tennessee Titans - Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA - Anthony Barr said at the combine it's "realistic" he could go No. 1 in the draft. Maybe he was referring to No. 1-1. Barr is a perfect match for new defensive coordinator Ray Horton's defense. He's an upside pass rusher who can get after the quarterback.

12. New York Giants - Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina - Ebron was one of the true superstars of the combine – both on the field and in the media room. He's a supreme athlete and he knows it. He would immediately become one of Eli Manning's favorite targets and a great red-zone threat.

13. St. Louis Rams - Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville - This is a pick I'm locking in on more frequently. Pryor is getting the edge over Alabama's Ha Ha Clinton-Dix as the first safety picked because of his versatility and absolute aggression on defense.

14. Chicago Bears - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama - The Bears have a few holes to fill on defense, namely at safety and in the front four. There is some depth at defensive tackle this year, and a notable drop-off at safety after Clinton-Dix.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers - Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame - Although Nix may have an odd obsession with his personal sexiness, he's a fine football player who could step right into nose tackle for the Steelers. Get him in there and whoever the Steelers surround him with at end will be better off.

16. Dallas Cowboys - Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota - If both safeties are off the board, the Cowboys should target the best defensive tackle in the draft. Whether that's Hageman or Aaron Donald, that's up for debate. Hageman is more versatile and just plain has more potential.

17. Baltimore Ravens - Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan - Lewan was another superstar at the combine and several top analysts think he'll actually be a top-10 pick. By now, we know general manager Ozzie Newsome's credo: Best player available. That's Lewan here.

18. New York Jets - Marqise Lee, WR, USC - The Jets need playmakers for Geno Smith. While Lee didn't have the best performance at the combine, his on-field play can't be denied.

19. Miami Dolphins - Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama - Admission: This mock draft was put together before the combine started so our video production team could get to work on graphics and whatnot. Kouandjio may not be a first-rounder because of the medical condition that popped up in Indianapolis. Still, it only takes one team, and his tape is sound. Miami's need at offensive tackle is obvious.

20. Arizona Cardinals - Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee - When general manager Steve Keim talked at the combine, he mentioned needing to keep Carson Palmer upright. The only way to do that is to improve the offensive line. Richardson is the best offensive tackle available and would pair well with Jonathan Cooper.

21. Green Bay Packers - C.J. Mosley, MLB, Alabama - This is another pick I've zeroed in on. Putting Mosley next to A.J. Hawk would help ease Green Bay's issues on defense.

22. Philadelphia Eagles - Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State - The run on cornerbacks should start with Green Bay. Gilbert has some flaws on tape, but they're all coachable points. He's a better athlete than the other top cornerbacks in the draft this year.

23. Kansas City Chiefs - Jimmie Ward, FS, Northern Illinois - To be frank, I've gotten bored giving a wide receiver to the Chiefs in mock drafts. There's so many to choose from, which means there's ample depth at the position. So why not wait? Free safety is arguably a bigger hole straight away, and Ward is a good one.

24. Cincinnati Bengals - Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State - The Bengals have a lot of big names at cornerback, but players like Terence Newman and Adam Jones are all getting up there in years. Dennard is the most physical cornerback at the line of scrimmage in the draft this year. He's a master at messing up a receiver's timing and plays faster than his 40 time will suggest.

25. San Diego Chargers - Xavier Su'a-Filo, G, UCLA - Su'a-Filo has emerged as the best guard in the draft this year. He's not a fun defensive pick for the Chargers, but he would upgrade the offensive line.

26. Cleveland Browns (via Indianapolis Colts) - Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State - Cleveland needs a top playmaker to pair with star wide receiver Josh Gordon. Cooks was a combine winner, if there is such a designation. He's able to get open over the top, but told me he'd rather take a short pass for a big gain. With his speed and wiggle, he's capable of doing it at any moment.

27. New Orleans Saints - Jason Verrett, CB, TCU - The Saints are another team where it's hard to figure out what to do in the first round. In the last mock, it was Kyle Fuller, but Verrett wasn't available. Forget his size, Verrett is a playmaker in the secondary.

28. Carolina Panthers - Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU - It's hard to pass up the athleticism and hands of Beckham. He gets the nod this time around instead of Kelvin Benjamin of Florida State because he's a more known commodity. Beckham may have the best hands in the draft this year after Watkins.

29. New England Patriots - Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech - You know the reasons behind this one, Patriots fans. The only concern that popped up about Amaro at the combine was his hand size – smallest among tight ends at 9 inches – but that didn't seem to hamper him at Texas Tech.

30. San Francisco 49ers - Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State - Carlos Rogers could be cut if he doesn't restructure and San Francisco's depth at cornerback is questionable regardless. Roby is a great athlete who can cover any type of receiver.

31. Denver Broncos - Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State - Linebacker Wesley Woodyard could land a big paycheck in free agency. If he leaves, a player like Shazier could easily fill the hole and play just as well.

32. Seattle Seahawks - Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State - At the combine, Crichton talked about having a similar playing style to Michael Bennett, who may leave Seattle in free agency. Crichton is a pass rusher who can do multiple things and would fit nicely on Seattle's defense.