2014 NFL Mock Draft: Round 3

Last update: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014. Major changes in all 4 rounds.
Next update: Next week. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

The order of this 2014 NFL Mock Draft is based on my NFL Power Rankings.

*** This 2014 NFL Mock Draft (4 rounds) was updated Jan. 29. This mock draft will be updated at least once per week (Tuesday afternoons and other times for important events.). Check out old versions of this 2014 NFL Mock Draft in the archived mock draft section. Follow @walterfootball for updates. ***


65. Houston Texans: Jeremiah Attaochu, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech
    The Texans would kill two stones with one bird with this pick, as Emmitt would say. They need to upgrade their pass rush and find some help at inside linebacker. Jeremiah Attaochu would satisfy the former, which would allow Brooks Reed to move inside.
    
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    Pick change; previously Joel Bitonio, OT/G
    
    
66. Washington Redskins: Christian Jones, LB, Florida State
    ESPN loves talking up London Fletcher by saying he's still great, but he could barely move. He was one of the reasons the Redskins were so inept on defense. He has announced his retirement anyway.
    
    Pick change; previously Taylor Hart, DE/DT
    
    
67. Oakland Raiders: Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
    The Raiders finally get their man. As mentioned earlier, Tajh Boyd said Oakland has shown more interest in him than any other team. Boyd can compete with Matt McGloin in 2014, and if neither of them works out, the Raiders can just take one of the stud quarterbacks the following spring (go here for our 2015 NFL Mock Draft).
    
    Pick change; previously Carlos Hyde, RB
    
    
68. Atlanta Falcons: Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor
    The Falcons will give Steven Jackson one more chance, but that won't preclude them from taking a running back in Rounds 3-4 if they can get good value. Obtaining Lache Seastrunk atop Round 3 definitely qualifies as good value.
    
    Pick change; previously Bishop Sankey, RB
    
    
    
    
    
69. New York Jets: Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers
    Geno Smith has looked like the worst quarterback in the NFL on many occasions this season - even worse than Brandon Weeden and Jeff Tuel - but it's not like he has much of a chance with his horrific receiving corps. Santonio Holmes can't stay healthy, while Stephen Hill is a bust.
    
    Pick change; previously Jeremiah Attaouchu, DE/OLB
    
    
70. Jacksonville Jaguars: Carl Bradford, DE/OLB, Arizona State
    Outside of finding a franchise quarterback, Jacksonville's No. 1 priority has to be upgrading the pass rush. The Jaguars finished with the fewest sacks in 2013.
    
    
71. Cleveland Browns: Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia
    The Browns apparently plan on courting Ben Tate in free agency, but what if he chooses to sign elsewhere?
    
    Pick change; previously Lache Seastrunk, RB
    
    
72. Minnesota Vikings: Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State
    The Vikings have an awful secondary that they'll need to address. A new safety is needed next to Harrison Smith.
    
    
73. Buffalo Bills: Shayne Skov, ILB, Stanford
    Kiko Alonso is a stud, but the Bills need someone else to play next to him, especially given that Arthur Moats is heading into free agency.
    
    
74. New York Giants: Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas
    Justin Tuck is a free agent, so the Giants will need another pass-rusher if he moves on.
    
    Pick change; previously Charles Sims, RB
    
    
75. St. Louis Rams: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois
    The Rams should think about drafting a quarterback on Day 2 just in case Sam Bradford continues to be mediocre (and injury-prone).
    
    Pick change; previously Zach Mettenberger, QB
    
    
76. Detroit Lions: Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood
    The Lions have to consider a cornerback early in the 2014 NFL Draft if they don't sign one in free agency. They looked helpless against several of the better quarterbacks they faced this past year.
    
    Pick change; previously Victor Hampton, CB
    
    
    
    
    
77. San Francisco 49ers: Yawin Smallwood, ILB, Connecticut
    NaVorro Bowman tore his ACL and MCL in the NFC Championship. He may not be ready for the season opener, so the 49ers may want to add some depth here.
    
    
78. Dallas Cowboys: Telvin Smith, OLB, Florida State
    When defenders like Ernie Sims and DeVonte Holloman are playing major snaps for the defense, something absolutely needs to be done.
    
    
79. Baltimore Ravens: Marcus Martin, C, USC
    Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and others are gone, but perhaps the player the Ravens miss most is Matt Birk. His replacements at center have been horrible. Almost anyone would be an upgrade.
    
    Pick change; previously Russell Bodine, C
    
    
80. New York Jets: Ty Zimmerman, S, Kansas State
    The Jets have to address the issues in their secondary. They signed Ed Reed during the season, but that didn't work out so well.
    
    
81. Miami Dolphins: Dakota Dozier, G, Furman
    As noted earlier, the Dolphins must make multiple upgrades on their offensive line. They already took their new left tackle; now they need to bolster the guard position.
    
    Pick change; previously Devonta Freeman, RB
    
    
82. Chicago Bears: Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU
    Henry Melton, an impending free agent, tore his ACL earlier in the season and was recently arrested for misdemeanor assault. This could make it easier for the Bears to keep him, but they'll need a replacement if he walks.
    
    
83. Cleveland Browns: Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss
    If Greg Little is "Mr. Dependable," does Brad Nessler call Davone Bess "Mr. Ultra Dependable?" Bess was even worse than Little this past season, so a second selection on a receiver could be used.
    
    Pick change; previously Brandon Coleman, WR
    
    
84. Arizona Cardinals: Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU
    Carson Palmer played better late in the season, but he's obviously not the long-term solution. Arizona can develop Zach Mettenberger for a couple of seasons.
    
    Pick change; previously Jimmy Garoppolo, QB
    
    
    
    
    
85. Green Bay Packers: Tre Boston, S, North Carolina
    Is there any doubt that the Packers need to improve their secondary? Their defensive backfield blew so many coverages throughout the season, and they had no chance against Colin Kaepernick.
    
    
86. Philadelphia Eagles: Terrance Mitchell, CB, Oregon
    Cary Williams hasn't been very good and will probably be released next offseason (he's due $6.5 million in 2015), while Bradley Fletcher can't be counted on to start 16 games in a season.
    
    
87. Kansas City Chiefs: Taylor Hart, DE/DT, Oregon
    Tyson Jackson is hitting free agency, so the Chiefs will need to bolster their defensive line.
    
    Pick change; previously Richard Rodgers, TE
    
    
88. Cincinnati Bengals: Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech
    The Bengals may spend a mid-round pick on a quarterback to eventually challenge Andy Dalton if the former second-rounder can't get over the first-round playoff hump.
    
    
    
    
    
89. San Diego Chargers: Cyril Richardson, G/OT, Baylor
    The Chargers have some issues on the interior of their offensive line. Both Chad Rinehart and Rich Ohrnberger are impending free agents, while Jeromey Clary continues to struggle at his new position.
    
    Pick change; previously Pierre Desir, CB
    
    
90. Indianapolis Colts: Ed Stinson, DE/DT, Alabama
    I mocked Datone Jones to the Colts for a while in the 2013 NFL Draft because they need a pass-rushing presence up front. That's still a hole they have to fill, as we learned by watching Indianapolis fail to pressure Carson Palmer in November.
    
    
91. New Orleans Saints: Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU
    The Saints could use another receiver. Marques Colston disappointed this season prior to the Carolina victory, yet he's still New Orleans' top option by a wide margin.
    
    
92. Carolina Panthers: Victor Hampton, CB, South Carolina
    The Panthers have some cornerbacks hitting free agency, including Captain Munnerlyn, so they'll need help at the position. Aaron Colvin was helped off the practice field at the Senior Bowl just as I'm typing this, so hopefully he's OK.
    
    Pick change; previously Aaron Colvin, CB
    
    
93. New England Patriots: DaQuan Jones, NT, Penn State
    Perhaps this is an overreaction pick, but Vince Wilfork will find it difficult to come back from a torn Achilles at his size and age.
    
    
94. San Francisco 49ers: Dominique Easley, DE, Florida
    The 49ers will need a successor for Justin Smith (Tank Carradine, maybe?) and also some depth on the defensive line. With four Day 2 selections, they can take a chance on someone like Dominique Easley, a tremendous talent who is coming off a terrible injury.
    
    
95. Denver Broncos: Chris Smith, DE, Arkansas
    The Broncos will need a long-term replacement for Elvis Dumervil, as Shaun Phillips doesn't have many more seasons of high production remaining.
    
    Pick change; previously Donte Moncrief, WR
    
    
96. Minnesota Vikings: Devonta Freeman, RB, Florida State
    With Toby Gerhart heading for free agency, the Vikings will need to bring in a new running back to spell Adrian Peterson.
    
    Pick change; previously Dakota Dozier, G
    
    
    
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