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#JaguarsTwitter faithful @E_Dilla posed an interesting question on Saturday morning:
No one answered Dilla, which is sad because it's actually a pretty good question. I started thinking about the differences between the top players in 2013 and the top players in 2014. If guys like Eric Fisher, Luke Joeckel, Dion Jordan, Lane Johnson, and Ziggy Ansah were thrown into this year's draft, where would they be selected? Would any of them make it into the top-five?
If no one trades, then yes. But only Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher, who would go to the Rams at No. 2 and Raiders at No. 5, respectively. It's a match of best player available and position of need, so it makes a lot of sense.
As far as the first pick of the draft, I think Houston stays in 2014's camp and either takes Jadeveon Clowney, who is a better prospect than any pass rusher in 2013 or 2014, or a quarterback.
At No. 3, the Jaguars also stay in 2014's camp. They'll either take Clowney (who probably won't be available), Khalil Mack, Sammy Watkins, or the best quarterback still available. They're not taking another offensive tackle, Dion Jordan was a reach last year and he'd be even more so this year, and though Ziggy Ansah is an incredible talent, he was looked at as a project player before showing he could get it done on the field. Guys like Anthony Barr and Khalil Mack are greater needs, proven talents, and better fits in Jacksonville's defense.
To round out the top five, Cleveland is taking a quarterback. Their starting quarterback is Brian Hoyer. Their backup is Alex Tanney. They have one of the best tackle tandems in the league in Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz. They're taking a quarterback.
So, how far down this year's draft would we have to go before the rest of the top five from last year's draft are selected? As a guy with a short track record, but a lot of potential, I think Ziggy Ansah lasts until Detroit nabs him at No. 10. And I think with all the great defensive prospects and QB-needy teams in front of him, Dion Jordan wouldn't go until the Rams make their second first-round pick at No. 13.
1. Houston Texans: DE Jadeveon Clowney
2. St. Louis Rams: OT Luke Joeckel
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: OLB Khalil Mack
4. Cleveland Browns: QB Johnny Manziel
5. Oakland Raiders: OT Eric Fisher
6. Atlanta Falcons: WR Sammy Watkins
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Mike Evans
8. Minnesota Vikings: QB Teddy Bridgewater
9. Buffalo Bills: OT Greg Robinson
10. Detroit Lions: DE Ziggy Ansah
11. Tennessee Titans: OLB Anthony Barr
12. New York Giants: OT Lane Johnson
13. St. Louis Rams: DE Dion Jordan
What do you think? Am I too generous with this year's draft, or would you have last year's guys fall even farther?