2014 NFL Draft Rumor Results

I had an NFL Draft Rumors section last year that I updated daily. It came quite handy when compiling my 2014 NFL Draft, and besides, all of the rumors were fun to look at. As I was updating my 2015 NFL Draft Rumors page, I wondered which national reporters and local writers were the most accurate with their breaking news, sources and information. I did this for the 2013 rumors, so how did it hold up this past year?

I took a glance back and counted how many "wins" and "losses" each reporter had. I didn't look at whom they slotted in their mock drafts - the Wall Street Journal did a good job of that - but rather, my task was delving into reports that said "Team X really likes Player A," or "Team Y plans to trade up."

I've also included the top 10 best reports and top 10 worst reports for 2014, so check those out below the following wins and losses (Note that these aren't exactly ordered by percentage; getting a report right is difficult, so I wanted to award those who had more correct. As a result, it's sort of a mixture). Follow @walterfootball for updates.



National Media (2014):

Tony Pauline: 4-3
Bob Holtzman: 2-0
Adam Caplan: 2-1
Chris Mortensen: 2-2
Peter King: 5-6
Charlie Campbell: 2-3
Tom Curran: 1-0
Jeremy Fowler: 1-0
Pete Schrager: 1-1
Jay Glazer: 1-1
Dane Brugler: 1-1
Todd McShay: 1-1
Daniel Jeremiah: 1-2
Ian Rapoport: 2-5
Adam Schefter: 1-3
Jason La Canfora: 0-1
Charley Casserly: 0-1
Ashley Fox: 0-1
Gil Brandt: 0-1
Charles Robinson: 0-1
Field Yates: 0-1
Shawn Zobel: 0-1
Mel Kiper: 0-2
Ed Werder: 0-2
Russ Lande: 0-2
Matt Miller: 0-2
Pro Football Talk: 0-3


National Media (2013-14):

Tony Pauline: 10-8
Chris Mortensen: 6-5
Adam Caplan: 4-2
Daniel Jeremiah: 4-3
Adam Schefter: 6-6
Charlie Campbell: 5-6
Peter King: 9-14
Jason Cole: 2-0
Bob Holtzman: 2-0
Jay Glazer: 2-1
Albert Breer: 1-0
Mike Mayock: 1-0
Tom Curran: 1-0
Jeremy Fowler: 1-0
Clark Judge: 1-0
Pete Schrager: 1-1
Dane Brugler: 1-1
Charley Casserly: 1-1
Jason La Canfora: 3-5
Ian Rapoport: 4-8
Todd McShay: 1-2
John Clayton: 0-1
Solomon Wilcots: 0-1
Ashley Fox: 0-1
Charles Robinson: 0-1
Field Yates: 0-1
Shawn Zobel: 0-1
Gil Brandt: 0-2
Brian Baldinger: 0-2
Sal Paolantonio: 0-2
Ed Werder: 0-2
Russ Lande: 0-2
Mel Kiper: 0-3
Pro Football Talk: 0-3
Matt Miller: 0-4


Local Media (2013-14):

Mike Jurecki: 5-0
Jeff McLane: 3-0
Jim Wyatt: 3-1
Jim Thomas: 3-1
Armando Salguero: 2-0
Vaughn McClure: 2-0
Ben Goessling: 2-1
Mary Kay Cabot: 2-2
Jenna Laine: 1-0
Brad Biggs: 1-0
Terez Paylor: 1-0
Matt Barrows: 1-0
Bryan Broaddus: 1-0
Steve Corkran: 1-0
Mike Klis: 1-0
Jordan Raanan: 1-0
Vito Stellino: 1-0
Charean Williams: 1-0
Jerry McDonald: 1-0
John Middlekauff: 1-0
Rob Demovsky: 1-0
Sam Farmer: 1-0
Chris Tomasson: 1-0
Mike Triplett: 1-0
Jonathan Jones: 1-0
Michael C. Wright: 1-0
Gerry Dulac: 1-0
Bart Hubbuch: 1-0
Adam Beasley: 1-0
Peter Schrager: 1-1
Tim McManus: 1-1
Jeff Sullivan: 1-1
Ryan O'Halloran: 1-1
Tony Grossi: 1-2
John McClain: 1-3
Lance Zerlein: 1-2
Rich Cimini: 1-3
Scott Bischoff: 0-1
Keith Britton: 0-1
Tommy Lawlor: 0-1
Manish Mehta: 0-1
Geoff Mosher: 0-1
Joe Person: 0-1
Dan Pompei: 0-1
Paul Kuharsky: 0-1
Ben Volin: 0-1
Andrew Abramson: 0-1
Tom Silverstein: 0-1
Sheil Kapadia: 0-1
Jeff Duncan: 0-1
Bill Williamson: 0-2

Top 10 Best 2014 NFL Draft Reports

10. If you recall, many had the Falcons moving up for Jadeveon Clowney. Not Peter King:

"The Falcons will "not sell the farm for anyone at the top of the draft, and will go left tackle at No. 6." - Peter King

9. Sam Farmer projected the Raiders to pick Derek Carr, though it's unclear whether he meant in the first or second round:

"The Raiders are known for their unconventional picks, so Manziel might seem like a natural fit for them. Word is, though, that they liked Carr more coming out of the combine." - Sam Farmer, LA Times

8. A tall receiver is exactly what the Steelers took when they drafted Martavis Bryant:

"Pittsburgh's intent is to take a tall receiver early -- they have already indicated that to Ben Roethlisberger -- another indication that Sanders will be gone." - Gerry Dulac

7. Credit Dane Brugler for correcting Charley Casserly here. Many were wrong about Johnny Manziel, as you'll see below, but Brugler at least had an idea that Cleveland could pick him:

Charley Casserly strongly believes the Browns have no interest in Johnny Manziel. However, CBS' Dane Brugler commented, "bad info" to this report.

6. ESPN's Rob Demovsky called the Packers picking a safety with the 21st-overall pick:

The Packers will "definitely" pick a safety in the draft, according to Rob Demovsky (ESPN), who thinks Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Calvin Pryor will be "too good to pass up."

5. Charlie Campbell was the first to report that teams didn't view Teddy Bridgewater as a first-round prospect (yes, even before the infamous Pro Day). Charlie also called Blake Bortles being chosen as the initial first quarterback before anyone else.

WalterFootball.com has spoken with sources with two of the four quarterback-needy teams picking in the top five, and both of those teams are rating Central Florida's Blake Bortles as the top signal-caller over Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater and Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel. - Charlie Campbell

4. It's not too difficult to call a pick in the top five, but to be so confident at No. 12? Nice job here by Peter Schrager:

"Giants are liking Odell Beckham more and more. Could be the guy at 12." - Pete Schrager, FOX Spots

3. No. 19 is even more difficult:

The Dolphins love JaWuan James, according to Armando Salguero, Miami Herald.

2. Adam Schefter got a lot wrong last year, but he called the Vikings picking their current quarterback:

Adam Schefter believes the Vikings could draft Teddy Bridgewater with their second pick.

1. Not only did Chris Tomasson call Anthony Barr to the Vikings, but he said they'd take him after trading down, which is exactly what they did:

"The Vikings have interest in UCLA outside linebacker Anthony Barr, but he is a bit raw and probably still could be selected after trading down." - Chris Tomasson, St. Paul Pioneer Press

Top 10 Worst 2014 NFL Draft Reports

10. Everyone screwed up on Johnny Manziel. EVERYRONE. The Houston Chronicle's John McClain did so, and he also botched his own team's pick with these three projections:

"By signing quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and trading Matt Schaub to Oakland, the Texans have given another indication they plan to use their first-round pick on a quarterback." - John McClain (also said Texans won't be trading for Ryan Mallett)

"Each day I get asked multiple times: Who are Texans drafting? I tell them 1 of the 3 top QBs. Forget about any other position." - John McClain

"Word's spreading among media here that Manziel is going to Jacksonville at 3." - John McClain

9. Adam Schefter uncharacteristically had a poor year. He, like everyone else, was off on Manziel:

"Johnny Manziel is in play anywhere from No. 3 with Jacksonville to the Rams' second first-round pick at No. 13." - Adam Schefter

8. A fantasy writer masquerading as a draft analyst issued an "alert" on Twitter the night prior to the draft, notifying everyone to update their mocks when Charles Robinson made this particular tweet. Obviously, there's a psychological flaw called "appeal to prestige" that needs to be examined there:

"Spent a lot of time on the Manziel shell game over the last couple months. I believe he'll be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer tomorrow." - Charles Robinson, Yahoo!

7. This was never going to happen:

NFL.com's Gil Brandt predicts that Khalil Mack will be drafted ahead of Jadeveon Clowney.

6. No, Peter, not you, too! Houston never considered Khalil Mack:

A friend of general manager Rick Smith told Peter King that the Texans prefer Khalil Mack over Jadeveon Clowney.

5. I don't think anyone will ever forget what Todd McShay had to say during the day of the draft:

I've had three sources tell me that the Cowboys will pick Johnny Manziel at 16. - Todd McShay

Who were those three sources, his three buddies from the tanning salon?

4. So, not only were the Falcons going to move up, but they weren't going to pick the best player in the draft... Huh?

The Falcons may trade up to No. 1 overall to select Greg Robinson, according to Jason La Canfora.

3. Shawn Lolbel:

"I've been saying since December, and will continue to say with a week out that I believe Johnny Manziel will be Houston's pick in the 1st RD." - Shawn Zobel

2. Pro Football Talk predicted that Dri Archer would be chosen in the first round and then lashed out at people who criticized the selection. Never change, PFT, never change. PFT was also good for this gem:

The Buccaneers are expected to target Johnny Manziel in a move up to No. 2. - Pro Football Talk

1. The man responsible for 2014's worst draft prediction was No. 2 on this dubious list last year with this statement:

"Text I received from a scout this morning: Matt Barkley will not get past the Arizona #Cardinals at No. 7 overall." - Matt Miller

Miller made a similar, insane projection for 2014:

A.J. McCarron could be drafted as high as No. 16 overall. - Matt Miller

The lesson, as always, is to spend less time on Twitter looking for things to be offended by.

Once again, check out the 2015 NFL Draft Rumors here. I'll notify you of updates on Twitter, so follow me @walterfootball.