NFL Mock Draft (1-16)

With the NFL Draft being held in May for the first time, NFL teams will have even more time to evaluate the top college football players from across the nation. As Pro Days come to an end, these young athletes now must anxiously wait until their names are called in Radio City Music Hall from May 8-10. Where will polarizing stars such as Johnny Manziel and Jadeveon Clowney be playing on Sundays next year? Here's a first round mock draft (picks 1-16) featuring a big projected trade at the top:
1. Houston Texans - Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida - Bortles has the prototypical size to play quarterback in this league, and with a new head coach in Bill O'Brien management may the conservative pick over the hometown kid Manziel.

2. Atlanta Falcons (trade with St. Louis) - Jadeveon Clowney - DE, South Carolina - Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff is not afraid to make aggressive moves to get the player he wants. Despite an unspectacular season, Clowney is still the top prospect available -- Atlanta will be hoping to see many hits like this one at the next level.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Khalil Mack, DE, Buffalo - with so many glaring needs the Jaguars will likely look to take the best player available here. Some experts actually prefer Mack over Clowney and nobody will be complaining with this selection.

4. Cleveland Browns - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn - likely has the most potential of any offensive lineman in the draft. Newly acquired running Ben Tate would have huge holes to run through behind Robinson, Joe Thomas, and Alex Mack.

5. Oakland Raiders - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson - the Raiders haven't had a 1000 yard receiver since Randy Moss in 2005. By providing Matt Schaub with the undisputed top receiver in the Draft, Oakland might actually be respectable this year.

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins Robert Griffin III deal - trade with Atlanta) - Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M - definitely one of the most steady players in the Draft. St. Louis will be looking to get younger and healthier on the offensive line after Jake Long has been placed on the IR two straight seasons. Sam Bradford will have no more excuses this season.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA - the raw but very talented UCLA star would be a nice fit for Lovie Smith's new defense, instantly bolstering a struggling pass rush.

8. Minnesota Vikings - Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M - Johnny Football put on a show at his Pro Day silencing many of his critics. Minnesota's mess at QB needs to be addressed and I'm sure fans would love to see Manziel handing it off to AP.

9. Buffalo Bills - Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M - EJ Manuel needs some weapons after Stevie Johnson struggled immensely last year. After selecting Robert Woods last year, the Bills would do well to take the 6-5 Evans.

10. Detroit Lions - Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State - Nobody on the Lion's lackluster secondary had more than 3 interceptions last season as creating turnovers was a big issue for them. After a down Junior year, Gilbert was an absolute beast last with 7 picks.

11. Tennessee Titans - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville - widely considered to be the top prospect heading into the season, Bridgewater's slender frame and weak Pro Day performance may scare some teams away, but the Titans would do well to snatch him here to replace the bust Jake Locker.

12. New York Giants - Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh - with Linval Joseph and Justin Tuck leaving this offseason, the defensive line needs to be rebuilt and Donald is considered by many to be the top interior lineman in the Draft.

13. St. Louis Rams - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama - with TJ McDonald already at strong safety Clinton-Dix would fit in very nicely at free safety for Jeff Fisher's defense.

14. Chicago Bears - Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame- the Bears D was awful last year giving up over 160 rushing yards per game, most in NFL. Jernigan would clog up the middle for years to come.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers - Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State - the former Michigan State corner would provide some youth to an aging Pittsburgh defense. His physical, aggressive style fits the bill of the Steelers brand of football.

16. Dallas Cowboys - Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State - even after signing Henry Melton, Dallas needs to continue to improve its disastrous defensive line. Bringing in Jernigan would definitely help improve their front four.