Ten years. That’s how long it’s been since Commissioner Roger Goodell walked onto that stage at Radio City Music Hall and started reading off names that would, quite literally, change the geometry of professional football. Honestly, looking back at the 2014 NFL draft first round picks feels like peering into a crystal ball that actually worked for once. Usually, drafts are a coin flip. You get a few stars, a bunch of "guys," and a handful of spectacular busts that fans scream about on sports talk radio for the next decade.
But 2014? It was different.
It was the year of the receiver. It was the year of the transcendent defensive tackle. It was also the year that a few franchises thought they found their "franchise savior" at quarterback, only to realize they’d actually just bought a very expensive ticket to the coaching carousel. If you’re a fan of the Rams, Raiders, or Giants, this draft is basically holy scripture. If you’re a Browns fan... well, we need to talk about Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel.
The Class of All-Pros: Why the Top 15 Was Nuclear
Usually, the top of a draft has a 50% hit rate. In 2014, the hit rate for the 2014 NFL draft first round picks in the top half of the round was almost statistical nonsense. It started with Jadeveon Clowney. People forget how terrifying he was at South Carolina. He didn't just tackle players; he erased them. While he never became the 20-sack-a-year monster some predicted, his impact as a run-defender and a physical freak kept him in the league as a high-end starter for a decade.
Then came Greg Robinson at number two to the Rams. Okay, that one didn't work. He’s one of the few "misses" in that elite tier. But look what followed. Blake Bortles went third to Jacksonville—a pick that still triggers "what if" debates in North Florida. But then? Khalil Mack at four. Jake Matthews at six. Mike Evans at seven. Anthony Barr at nine.
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And then there’s Aaron Donald at number 13.
It’s actually hilarious to think about now. Thirteen teams—including the Rams once already—passed on arguably the greatest defensive player to ever lace up a pair of cleats because he was "too short." Standing at 6'1", Donald was supposedly going to get washed out by NFL guards. Instead, he spent the next ten years treating 330-pound offensive linemen like folding chairs. When he retired recently, he did so with three Defensive Player of the Year trophies and a first-ballot Hall of Fame resume. Every scout who put a "undersized" red flag on his profile probably still wakes up in a cold sweat.
The Wide Receiver Revolution Started Here
If you want to know why the NFL shifted into this pass-heavy, high-flying era, look no further than the middle of the first round. Sammy Watkins went fourth. Mike Evans went seventh. Odell Beckham Jr. went twelfth. Brandin Cooks went twentieth. Kelvin Benjamin went twenty-eighth.
Mike Evans is the gold standard here. He’s basically a walking 1,000-yard season. Since being drafted, he has never—literally never—finished a season with fewer than 1,000 yards. It’s the kind of consistency that feels fake, like a Madden glitch.
Then you had OBJ. Before the injuries and the drama and the boat trips, Odell Beckham Jr. was a cultural phenomenon. That one-handed catch against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football didn't just trend on Twitter; it changed how kids played the game. Suddenly, every high schooler in America was trying to catch the ball with three fingers while falling backward. He brought a level of "swag" (sorry, I know that's a dated term, but it fits) to the Giants that they haven't really seen since.
The Quarterback Quagmire: Bortles, Manziel, and Teddy
We have to address the elephant in the room. The 2014 NFL draft first round picks included three quarterbacks, and none of them are currently leading a franchise into the sunset.
Blake Bortles was the "prototype." Big, strong arm, could run a bit. He actually got the Jaguars to an AFC Championship game, which is no small feat given that franchise's history. But the "Boat" eventually ran out of gas. Then you had Johnny Manziel.
Manziel at 22 was the ultimate "high-risk, high-reward" move by the Cleveland Browns. It turned out to be all risk. Between the off-field distractions and the fact that his "scramble-drill" style didn't translate to a league where linebackers are as fast as he is, the Johnny Football era ended before it even really started. It remains one of the most documented collapses in modern sports history.
Teddy Bridgewater at 32 was the feel-good story. The Vikings traded back into the first round to get him. He was efficient, smart, and beloved. If not for a horrific knee injury in practice that nearly cost him his leg, who knows? He might still be the starter in Minnesota. He carved out a very respectable career as a high-end bridge starter and veteran leader, but the "franchise QB" tag eluded this entire class.
The Defensive Stalwarts No One Talks About Enough
While everyone was obsessing over Manziel's money phone or OBJ's catches, some absolute "dawgs" were taken in the back half of the round.
- C.J. Mosley (17th to Baltimore): A quintessential Ravens linebacker. Tough, cerebral, and a tackling machine. He moved to the Jets later and became the heartbeat of their defense too.
- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21st to Green Bay): For a few years, he was one of the most reliable safeties in the NFC.
- Jason Verrett (25th to San Diego): This one breaks my heart. When he was healthy, he was a top-three cornerback in the league. His feet were electric. But the "when he was healthy" part is the tragedy of his career.
- Ryan Shazier (15th to Pittsburgh): Another tragic story. Shazier was changing the way the linebacker position was played—speed, coverage, sideline-to-sideline range—before a spinal injury ended his career.
It’s easy to look at the stats, but the 2014 class was also defined by "what could have been." Between Shazier and Verrett, you have two guys who were on a Hall of Fame trajectory before their bodies gave out.
Why 2014 Still Matters for Your Team Today
If you’re looking at your team’s current roster and wondering why they play the way they do, look at the philosophy birthed in 2014. This draft proved that you don't need a 6'5" defensive tackle to dominate; you need an explosive one (The Aaron Donald Effect). It proved that a truly elite WR1 is worth more than almost any other position on the field (The Mike Evans/OBJ Effect).
But it also served as a warning. It warned us that drafting a quarterback based on "moxie" or "star power" without the discipline to back it up is a recipe for a front-office cleaning (The Manziel Effect).
Actionable Insights for Fans and Dynasty Managers
Looking back at the 2014 NFL draft first round picks isn't just a nostalgia trip; it's a blueprint for how to evaluate talent moving forward.
1. Ignore the "Prototype" for Interior Defenders
If a guy is producing historic pressure rates in college, stop worrying about his height. Aaron Donald proved that leverage and hand speed beat "length" every single day of the week. When you see an "undersized" DT with elite tape, that's your draft target.
2. WR Consistency is King
The 2014 class taught us that size (Evans) and route running (Cooks/Beckham) translate better than raw speed (Watkins). When evaluating prospects, look for the guys who have "late hands" and can win at the line of scrimmage, not just the guys who run a 4.3 forty.
3. The "Trade Back" Trap
The Browns traded down in this draft, missing out on Sammy Watkins and Khalil Mack to eventually get Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel. It’s a masterclass in why "more picks" isn't always better than "the right pick." If there is a "blue-chip" player on the board, take him. Don't get cute.
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4. Contextualize QB Success
None of the 2014 first-round QBs succeeded long-term. Why? Largely because they were dropped into dysfunctional situations without a supporting cast. If your team is drafting a QB this year, look at the offensive line first. If the line is a sieve, the QB won't matter.
The 2014 draft was a turning point. It gave us the greatest defensive player of a generation, a handful of receiving legends, and some of the most spectacular "busts" in history. It was messy, brilliant, and utterly unpredictable—just like the league itself.
Next Steps for the Savvy Fan:
Go back and watch the 2014 highlights of Aaron Donald at Pitt or Khalil Mack at Buffalo. You'll see immediately that the "scouting flaws" people cited were completely irrelevant compared to their game film. Use that same critical eye when looking at this year's draft boards—don't let the "draft experts" talk you out of what your eyes are seeing on the field.
Check the current "Active Leaders" lists for receiving yards and sacks. You’ll be shocked at how many names from the 2014 first round are still sitting near the top, even a decade later. It wasn't just a draft; it was the foundation of the modern NFL.