Santa's Coming in May. Gifts NFL Teams will find in the Draft

There are 9 Reindeer, so for this article I'm going to find a gift for 9 struggling NFL teams. These gifts will all come from the same store, the 2014 NFL Draft.

Bridgewater was Big East Offensive Rookie
of the year in 2011 and Offensive Player
of the year in 2012

1. The Houston Texans: Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville
Houston needs a quarterback, desperately. The Matt Schaub era is over. So the Texans make the smart decision here and take the best available quarterback in the draft, who is also one of the best overall players available. This is of course assuming Bridgewater declares for the draft this year. There has been speculation that he may return to Louisville for his senior season.

Matthews was a 2 time
First Team All American Tackle

2. St. Louis Rams: Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M
Thanks to their trade with Washington last season that brought Robert Griffin to the Redskins, St. Louis gets the number two pick in this years draft, along with another first round pick. With this pick, they should take Jake Matthews, the 6'5 305 pound tackle out of Texas A&M. He is the best offensive lineman in the draft and the Rams need an upgrade to their line, so this is a no brainer for the Rams. They may look to take another former Aggie in wide receiver Mike Evans later in the first round, in order to give quarterback Sam Bradford another weapon to pair with rookie receiver and return specialist Tavon Austin.


3. Oakland Raiders: Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina

Clowney has 24 career sacks
a South Carolina

This pick is a toss up for the Raiders. They need a quarterback, badly. But Clowney is the best available player in the draft and could have easily gone number one overall in last years draft. He's that good. He's an athletic freak at 6'6 270 pounds. His issues at South Carolina this year along with the needs of the Texans and Rams are why he will likely be available at number three. The Raiders can either take a risk and take a quarterback such as Blake Bortles out of Central Florida or Brett Hundley out of UCLA, or they can take a sure thing in Clowney, who will give their defense an instant upgrade, especially considering the fact that they face Peyton Manning and Phillip Rivers twice a year. They need a guy who can get after the quarterback.

Hundley passed for 22 touchdowns
and ran for 9 more in 2013

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brett Hundley QB UCLA
Blaine Gabbert is absolutely awful and Chad Henne is not the long term answer at quarterback for the Jaguars. So with the number four pick, the Jags will take a big, mobile quarterback in Brett Hundley. Whether Hundley comes out for the draft is another question, but we're going to assume he is right now. He can throw and run, and having MJD behind him at running back and last years second overall pick Luke Joekel at tackle coming back, Hundley seems like a good fit for the QB desperate Jaguars.


5. Atlanta Falcons: Anthony Barr OLD UCLA

Barr had 10 sacks for the
Bruins in 2013

Unlike just about every other team in the top 10, the Falcons don't have an issue at quarterback. They have Matt Ryan, and Julio Jones and Roddy White at receiver. So why did they struggle? Defense. The offense didn't do well either, but defense is what the Falcons must address in the draft, and they will do so by drafting arguably the best defensive player in the draft in linebacker Anthony Barr out of UCLA. Yes back to back UCLA picks. Great size at 6'4 248 pounds and quick, Barr is just what the struggling Atlanta defense needs rushing off the edge.


6. Cleveland Browns: Derek Carr QB Fresno St.

Carr's interceptions have gone
down each year he has been a
starter. 

Sorry Brandon Weeden but your time in Cleveland is over. The fans have spoken and they are angry, as usual. The Browns have had bad luck drafting quarterbacks in the past, so why not try again. Carr will get more buz around him as the Senior Bowl comes around, but this kid can throw. He threw for 4,866 yards this season with 48 touchdowns and just 7 picks on 605 passes attempted. He also completed 70% of his passes. Those are ridiculous stats. Fresno St. runs a vertical offense, so imagine Carr throwing down the sidelines to Josh Gordon. If I'm a Cleveland fan, while I'm still skeptical, I'm pretty excited about Carr at the same time. Until next time, stay angry Cleveland!


7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Taylor Lewan OT Michigan

Lewan is a 2 time First Team
All American Tackle

Mike Glennon has done enough to keep his job for now. So the Bucs will look to upgrade their offensive line with the best lineman in the Big Ten in Taylor Lewan out of Michigan. The two time Big Ten offensive lineman of the year, the 6'8 315 pound tackle will be a big boost to a struggling Tampa offensive line and will hopefully help Glennon and second year running back Doug Martin improve.






8. Minnesota Vikings: Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M

Manziel improved his Passer Rating
by 15 points last season and was
a Heisman finalist for the 2nd year
in a row.

And finally, this is where my boy Johnny Football comes off the board. Hopefully he decides to stay in college for another year, where i think he can improve his draft stock, win another Heisman, and then be a number one overall pick, but lets assume he comes out. The Vikings need to give Adrian Peterson a quarterback. And with Johnny's improved poise as a passer, along with his ability to scramble and run, is the perfect fit. Not only will he help them on the field, but he will make them one of the most talked about teams in the league, which I feel would be good for the Vikings. Johnny wants to get paid and the Vikes look like the team to pay him. #HeilManziel





9. Buffalo Bills: Cyrus Kouandjio OT Alabama

Kouandjio was named a finalist for
the Outland Trophy in 2013

The Bills got their quarterback last year by taking former Florida St. quarterback E.J. Manuel 16th overall. This year they, like the Bucs and Rams, will look to upgrade their offensive line. At this point in the draft, the best available tackle will be Alabama junior Cyrus Kouandjio. A 6'6 310 pound two year starter, Kouandjio comes out of lineman facotry Alabama and should be a big boost to the Bills offensive line and should provide good protection for the possibly injury prone Manuel.







Most of these picks are based on these underclassmen declaring for the 2014 NFL Draft. Some may decide to return to school next year. One major theme of this years draft, like most years, is where and how many quarterbacks will go in the first round.

As always, let me know what you guys think.
NasDaddy

The State of the Sox: Reviewing and Gradingthe Red Sox Offseason

It's great to be back folks! College life has kept me busy but now I'm home on break and have all the time in the world to share my sports knowledge and opinions! i know some of you are glad to hear that, but a lot of you are just waiting to tear me a new one. To that, I say bring it on!

Coming off a World Series Championship, the Boston Red Sox have gone from the hunters to the hunted. Every move they make will be heavily scrutinized, so here we go.

Signing A.J. Pierzynski: C+

Saltalamachia signed a 3 year deal with
the Miami Marlins worth $21 million. 

Pierzynski turned down
other offers to come to
Boston.

After letting Jarrod Saltalamachia go in free agency, the Red Sox had a need for another catcher to pair with veteran David Ross. They decided to go the veteran route, and signed A.J. Pierzynski, a 36 year old catcher coming off a one year deal with the Texas Rangers in which he batted .272 with 70 RBI's in 134 games, to a one year deal worth $8.25 million. He brings with him a veteran presence and an attitude, but with the leadership in the Sox locker room that shouldn't be a problem. I love the fact that he turned down more money to have a chance to win a championship, that gets you points in my book immediately. Personally i don't mind the move, Pierzynski's a good player and should fill the void left by Salty, but i believe the Sox could have stayed in house for this move. Some people may have forgotten about him, but Sox prospect Ryan Lavarnway has the potential to be a solid starting catcher in the major leagues. Lavarnway is widely known as a great defensive catcher who batted .299 in 25 games for the Sox last year, playing only every 5 or so games, a struggle for a catcher who is used to playing everyday. He hit .295 for two straight seasons at Pawtucket. I think the Sox should have given him a chance at the starting job. Playing everyday, I believe Lavarnway could be one of the better offensive catchers in the game. But for now it looks like Pierzynski will be the starter backed up by David Ross, who the Sox would like to get about 50-60 games out of, with Lavarnway likely being the 3rd guy and possibly trade bait later in the year.

Resigning Mike Napoli: A

Napoli will make $16 million
after hitting .259 with 23 HR's and
92 RBI's

Anyone who knows me knows this, I am not a fan of Mike Napoli. He strikes out way to often, and personally I think he has one of the worst swings in baseball. He just looks like a caveman swinging a club. I also believe he is overpaid, but that can be said for most MLB players to be completely honest (how's that $27.5 million to A-Rod going Yankees?). Never the less, Napoli, along with his outstanding beard, was a fan favorite in Boston and was essential to winning the World Series, so resigning him was a must for the Red Sox. Thanks to his clutch postseason performance, Nap earned himself a two year deal worth $32 million ($16 per year), which makes him the highest paid player on the Red Sox roster going into the 2014 season. I think there are players more deserving of that title, Pedrioa, Ortiz, or Lester to name a few, but once again it was a necessity to bring him back, mainly to provide protection for David Ortiz in the lineup. 92 RBI's and 23 home runs are huge for this team, but i would like to see his .259 batting average come up and his 187 strikeouts come down. Nap was also exceptional defensively at first base last season, which is very pleasing considering it was his first full season at the position. He is a hot and cold hitter, and you never know when he'll get hot, but he is an important piece if this team hopes to win back to back rings. So I guess i have to say it, it's great to have you back Mike,try not to piss me off so much this year.

Letting Jacoby Ellsbury go and waiting on Stephen Drew: B

Ellsbury's contract has an option for
an 8th year. 

If Drew were to come back,
he would likely start at
shortstop for the Sox

This is a money situation. The Sox and general manager Ben Cherington made the right decision letting Jacoby Ellsbury go. Obviously right now he is one of the best overall players in the game and is worth $20+ million a year. That's why the Yankees, as only the Yankees do, gave him a seven year deal worth $153 million. That will help them right now, as Jacoby is still in his prime, but Ellsbury is 30 years old. Within four years of this deal he will no longer be the same player he is now, and the Yankees will have a sub par player on their roster making over $20 million. The Sox meanwhile can go out and make a move on veterans who will help them win now without binding themselves financially years down the road. The downside is that you lose a great player right now. As for Stephen Drew, after giving him the qualifying offer of $14.5 million for one year as free agency began, it appears that he and the Red Sox will be going their separate ways. This could be good or bad for the Sox. By not bringing him back, you save at least $15 million that he would likely command, and you open the door for top prospect Xander Bogarts to take over at shortstop next season. If you do bring him back, he would play short and Bogarts would likely play third base, which may be the better option rather than Will Middlebrooks playing third with Xander at short.  Either way the left side of the infield will be a question. But either way in both the Ellsbury and Drew situation, the Red Sox have been smart with their money.



Bullpen Additions: A

Mujica is coming off a year where
he had a 2.78 ERA for the
St. Louis Cardinals

A good bullpen gets better as the Red Sox picked up relievers Edward Mujica and Burke Badenhop. Badenhop was aquired in a trade with the Brewers for a minor leaguer and Mujica signed a two year deal worth $9.5 million. Badenhop is very effective against right handed batters, while Mujica has closing experience, which will come in handy if Koji Uehara ever struggles or deals with injury. Cherington made two solid moves here to solidify an already effective bullpen.

With Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran off the
market, Choo looks to be the next
big name outfielder to cash in. 

So far the defending champs have had a very effective offseason. They have improved areas where they were strong and solidified first base and catcher. I would like to see them go after another outfielder, possibly Shin Soo Choo, to replace Ellsbury in the outfield. I do not believe that prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. is ready to takeover center field yet. I believe Shane Victorino should play center, with Daniel Nave in either left or right, and Johnny Gomes or a free agent addition in the other outfield spot.

Let me know what you guys think.
NasDaddy
@NasDaddy23