2014 NFL Mock Draft: Round 3

Last update: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 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 Feb. 19. 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: Marcus Smith, DE/OLB, Louisville
    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. Marcus Smith would satisfy the former, which would allow Brooks Reed to move inside.
    
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    Pick change; previously Carl Bradford, DE/OLB
    
    
66. Washington Redskins: Taylor Hart, DE/DT, Oregon
    The Redskins need help all over their defense, including up front. They had no push from their defensive line this past season.
    
    
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).
    
    
68. Atlanta Falcons: Troy Niklas, TE, Notre Dame
    I'm not sure if the Falcons actually believe that Tony Gonzalez is going to retire, but if he does walk away from the NFL, they'll need a new intermediate target for Matt Ryan.
    
    
    
    
    
69. New York Jets: Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson
    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.
    
    
70. Jacksonville Jaguars: Demarcus Lawrence, DE/OLB, Boise 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.
    
    Pick change; previously Marcus Smith, DE/OLB
    
    
71. Cleveland Browns: Gabe Jackson, G, Mississippi State
    As noted in my Browns team needs page, Shawn Lauvao is a free agent, but he needed to be upgraded anyway. Both he and Oniel Cousins stunk it up at this position.
    
    Pick change; previously Weston Richburg, C
    
    
72. Minnesota Vikings: Craig Loston, S, LSU
    The Vikings have an awful secondary that they'll need to address. A new safety is needed next to Harrison Smith.
    
    Pick change; previously Ty Zimmerman, S
    
    
73. Buffalo Bills: Christian Jones, LB, Florida State
    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: Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington
    The Giants are another team that will be hunting for a new running back. Andre Brown is a free agent, while David Wilson may not be ready for the 2014 season.
    
    
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).
    
    
76. Detroit Lions: Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas
    Willie Young is a free agent. If he's not retained, Detroit will have to find someone to compete with Devin Taylor to rush the passer across from Ziggy Ansah.
    
    
    
    
    
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: Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas
    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 Marcus Smith, 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.
    
    Pick change; previously Jimmie Ward, S
    
    
81. Miami Dolphins: Jack Mewhort, OT, Ohio State
    As noted earlier, the Dolphins must make multiple upgrades on their offensive line. If they want to use Zack Martin at guard, they could take a tackle later on.
    
    Pick change; previously Dakota Dozier, G
    
    
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 that make Davone Bess "Mr. Reliable?" Sounds like an episode of Emmitt on the Brink...
    
    
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.
    
    
    
    
    
85. Green Bay Packers: Shayne Skov, ILB, Stanford
    The Packers released Desmond Bishop during the previous offseason. On top of that, the rapidly aging A.J. Hawk will have an expiring contract soon. Ted Thompson will have to address the inside linebacker position in the near future.
    
    
86. Philadelphia Eagles: Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State
    The Eagles will need to address the safety position twice if Nate Allen isn't re-signed. That's how terrible the back end of their defense was.
    
    
87. Kansas City Chiefs: JuWuan James, OT, Tennessee
    I've been told that the Chiefs will allow Branden Albert to walk. They'll want to address the tackle position at some point during the middle rounds if they can't do anything about it in free agency.
    
    
88. Cincinnati Bengals: Victor Hampton, CB, South Carolina
    Teams often double dip when it comes to addressing their most glaring need. That would be the cornerback position for the Bengals.
    
    Pick change; previously Bashaud Breeland, CB
    
    
    
    
    
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 Joel Bitonio, OT/G
    
    
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: Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State
    The Saints could lose their starting center in free agency, so they'll have to compensate if that happens.
    
    Pick change; previously Brandon Coleman, WR
    
    
92. Carolina Panthers: Dominique Easley, DE, Florida
    Greg Hardy will definitely be missed if the Panthers can't retain him this offseason. Here's some help if that happens to be the case.
    
    Pick change; previously Pierre Desir, 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: Terrence Brooks, S, Florida State
    The 49ers spent a first-round pick on a safety last year, but they may have to use another selection on one with Donte Whitner heading into free agency.
    
    Pick change; previously Dominique Easley, DE
    
    
95. Denver Broncos: Christian Kirksey, LB, Iowa
    Wesley Woodyard has looked out of place trying to play middle linebacker. Paris Lenon is a disaster. This is an area Denver may want to upgrade to help improve its defense, which couldn't get off the field in the Super Bowl.
    
    
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.
    
    
    
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