Five years is longer than the average career in the NFL. That said, when you choose a player in the first round in 2014, you hope he will be a major contributor in 2019, which would be the player’s sixth season. Not so for many of the first-round picks from the 2014 draft.
32. Vikings: Teddy Bridgewater
The pick was looking great as Teddy Bridgewater had become the Vikings’ starter. Then, the awful knee injury that cost him all of 2016 and much of 2017 before he appeared in a game in Week 15. He signed with the Jets, who traded him to New Orleans. He backs up Drew Brees currently as a Saint.
31. Denver Broncos: Bradley Roby
Bradley Roby made 15 of his 29 career starts for Denver in 2018. That was not enough to make the Broncos feel they needed to keep the DB, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract with Houston in March.
30. 49ers: Jimmie Ward
The Niners still have Jimmie Ward in their secondary. The former Northern Illinois star signed a one-year, $4.5 million extension for the upcoming season. Ward made seven starts last season before being placed on IR near the end of November.
29. Patriots: Dominique Easley
A pick that did not work out in any way for Bill Belichick and the Patriots. He was cut in 2016, landed with the Rams and is currently a free agent.
28. Panthers: Kelvin Benjamin
Kelvin Benjamin got off to a solid start in 2014 with 73 catches. He then suffered an injury that cost him the entire 2015 season. He came back and made 63 catches in 2016. However, the Panthers sent him to Buffalo during the 2017 season. He didn’t make it through all of 2018 as a Bill, winding up in KC. And now, he’s a free agent. Oof.
27. Cardinals: Deone Bucannon
Deonne Bucannon is off to Tampa Bay after spending five seasons in the secondary of the Arizona Cardinals. Bucannon made 56 starts for Arizona with two interceptions. Coincidentally, both returns went for 39 yards with one going for a TD.
26. Eagles: Marcus Smith
Marcus Smith has yet to start a game for any of the three teams he has played for in the NFL. The 6-foot-3, 258-pounder from Louisville spent three seasons in Philly, then one in Washington and last season with Seattle. He has 6.5 sacks.
25. Chargers: Jason Verrett
Jason Verrett is looking to return after missing 2018 with a torn Achilles. The DB will not be doing it with the team that chose him, as he signed a one-year deal with the Niners. Verrett has played in one game since 2016, suffering a knee injury early in 2017. Verrett, by the way, was a Pro Bowler in 2015.
24. Bengals: Darqueze Dennard
Darqueze Dennard has made 19 starts for the Bengals in five seasons. He has three picks, three sacks and three forced fumbles in a quiet career.
23. Chiefs: Dee Ford
Dee Ford was a solid cog for the Kansas City defense before being traded to San Francisco in March for a second-round pick next year. Unfortunately, the last memory KC fans will have of him was for a penalty flag on an offside call against the Patriots in the AFC championship that negated a likely game-clinching interception.
22. Browns: Johnny Manziel
A complete disaster on so many levels.
21. Packers: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was a valued member of the Packers’ secondary until being traded to Washington on Oct 30, 2018. The former Alabama star made 14 picks in the NFL. He’s now a member of the Chicago Bears, having signed a one-year deal.
20. Saints: Brandin Cooks
Brandin Cooks is one of the rare star players who somehow played for three teams in this span. He was a strong target for Drew Brees for three years, making 215 catches. Off to New England for a season. Then to Los Angeles as a Ram WR. Cooks has found a home in LA and is a star.
19. Dolphins: Ja’Wuan James
Ja’Wuan James is moving on to his second team after playing five seasons for the Dolphins. The former Tennessee star will be with the Broncos in 2019. He started all 62 games he played in Miami. Denver saw something it liked as it gave James a four-year, $51 million contract.
18. Jets: Calvin Pryor
Calvin Pryor has been out of the NFL since the Jaguars released him in December 2017. Pryor played for the Jets, spent time with the Browns before being let go for fighting a teammate, and then Jacksonville. The Louisville DB did not work out.
17. Ravens: C.J. Mosley
A stellare selection by the Baltimore Ravens. Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley started all 77 games he appeared in for Baltimore. The four-time Pro Bowler was a defensive force before signing this off-season as a free agent with the New York Jets. Gang Green gave Mosley a five-year, $85 million deal. Now that’s how a first-round pick is supposed to perform.
16. Cowboys: Zack Martin
Zack Martin is another player who was a star selected in 2014. The offensive lineman played in 78 straight games before suffering a knee injury toward the end of 2018. He’s in the second season of a six-year contract that will pay him $84 million.
15. Steelers: Ryan Shazier
Ryan Shazier is one of the most inspirational players in the league. A two-time Pro Bowler, the former Ohio State star suffered a scary injury against the Bengals in 2017. He’s been battling back and has the motivation and desire to hopefully play again one day.
14. Bears: Kyle Fuller
Kyle Fuller earned his first Pro Bowl slot in 2018. He made seven of his 15 career interceptions last season and is a valuable part of the Bears’ secondary.
13. Giants: Odell Beckham Jr.
The good, great and bad. Odell Beckham Jr. was an amazing pick in the 13th slot out of LSU for Big Blue … if he could contain his behavior and emotions. They became too much for Giants management to handle and they moved him to the Browns. A case of a premier selection with other intangibles out of the team’s control.
12. Rams: Aaron Donald
An absolute gem of a selection. Donald has to proven to be an unstoppable force for the Rams’ defensive line. He has 59.5 sacks, 31.5 of which have come in the last two seasons.
11. Titans: Taylor Lewan
A fiery leader and strong player for the Tennessee Titans, Taylor Lewan is a three-time Pro Bowler. He’s made 68 starts while playing 73 games. He is beloved by the Nashville faithful.
10. Lions: Eric Ebron
Eric Ebron came to the Lions, who hoped the North Carolina TE would be one of the elite players at the position. As so often happens with Detroit, he didn’t pan out … for them. Ebron was released by the Lions in 2018 and he signed with the Colts. Of course the player who scored 11 TDs in four years of Honolulu Blue went on to score 13 last season with Indy.
9. Vikings: Anthony Barr
Anthony Barr remains with the Vikings after flirting with signing with the Jets as a free agent. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and Minnesota didn’t want to lose his defensive presence.
8. Browns: Justin Gilbert
Justin Gilbert lasted two seasons in Cleveland before being traded to Pittsburgh. He was released by the Steelers in 2017 and subsequently suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Another big miss by the Browns.
7. Bucs: Mike Evans
Mike Evans is one of the premier receivers in the league. He is coming off a career year for yardage (1,524) and has broken the four-figuure mark in every season despite the challenged situation at Tampa Bay quarterback. He has 395 receptions, 40 of which have gone for TDs.
6. Falcons: Jake Matthews
Jake Matthews has been a mainstay for the Atlanta Falcons. The former Texas A&m star has started 79 games in five seasons, only missing one game in his rookie season. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2018.
5. Raiders: Khalil Mack
The Raiders struck gold, or is it silver, when they landed Khalil Mack out of Buffalo. A brilliant pick. And then, the foolish decision to send him to Chicago after an extended holdout. The trade could come back to haunt for years.
4. Bills: Sammy Watkins
The Bills drafted Sammy Watkins out of Clemson. He spent three seasons in Buffalo, playing in 37 out of 48 games as he frequently was injured. Off to the Rams for a season and last year was with the Chiefs. Watkins only played in 10 games for KC in 2018. Needs to stay healthy.
3. Jaguars: Blake Bortles
Blake Bortles was counted on to be a franchise QB for the Jaguars out of UCF. He threw for better than 17,600 yards. However, his overall record as a starter was 24-49. Ouch. That led to Jacksonville signing Nick Foles and saying goodbye to Bortles. The QB is now in sweet position … backing up Jared Goff in LA.
2. Rams: Greg Robinson
You don’t expect the second overall pick to have played for three teams already. That’s exactly what Greg Robinson has done. Chosen by the Rams out of Auburn, the big lineman didn’t pan out. He then went to Detroit for a year and now is with the Browns.
1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney
Jadeveon Clowney came out of South Carolina with a massive rep. He isn’t the best player on the Texans’ defensive line, that would be J.J. Watt. However, Clowney has made three Pro Bowls and has 29 career sacks. He has not turned out to be the best defensive player taken in the 2014 first round.
