2014 NFL Picks and Predictions: 2014 NFL Draft Recap – Top 5 Biggest Losers

2014 NFL Picks and Predictions: 2014 NFL Draft Recap – Top 5 Biggest Losers: Part of the beauty of the NFL draft is that it gives fan from every team hope for the future. After all, draft picks are like infusing new blood into a franchise, and there is always the belief that each pick could be the missing piece that makes a team a title contender. Unfortunately, not every team can hit it big in the draft, and while time will eventually tell the winners and losers from the 2014 NFL Draft, there are already some teams that seem to have come up on the short end of things. Either by reaching for picks that could have been made in later rounds or by ignoring critical needs, the strategies of several teams can be called into question. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the biggest losers of the 2014 NFL Draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts

Not having a first-round pick certainly didn’t help their cause, and worse yet, all the Colts have to show for their pick is an ineffective Trent Richardson. Indianapolis only made things worse by reaching for offensive tackle Jack Mewhort in the second round. Mewhort struggled in just about every big game, and he was absolutely whipped by Buffalo’s Khalil Mack. Overall, the Colts only had five picks, and receiver Donte Moncrief seems like the only player set to contribute next year. Indianapolis may not be worse than they were last year, but they certainly didn’t get any better.

2. Carolina Panthers

Helping quarterback Cam Newton by bolstering the offensive line and adding some weapons in the passing game should have been Carolina’s top priorities in this draft, but the Panthers fell flat in both areas. Yes, they used their first-round pick on receiver Kelvin Benjamin, but despite his size and athleticism, his lack of polish makes him more of a red zone nightmare at the moment rather than a potential No. 1 option. Meanwhile, Carolina seemed to ignore its needs on the offensive line completely. The Panthers should still have one of the best defenses in the NFL next season, but they did little to make their offense a championship-caliber unit in the draft. If anything, there will be even more pressure on Newton to carry the load this year.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles had one of the worst secondaries in the NFL last year so one would think improving the unit would be a priority. Instead, Philadelphia sat idle as stud safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix went just a few picks ahead of them, and then traded down to select defensive end Marcus Smith, who would have easily been available in the second round. The Eagles followed the Smith selection by nabbing receivers Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff in the second and third rounds, respectively, and while both are solid players, Chip Kelly’s offense isn’t exactly hurting for firepower. I actually like Philadelphia’s fifth-round of safety Ed Reynolds, but overall, the Eagles seemed to ignore their biggest need until the later rounds of the draft when the available players simply can’t contribute as quickly or as effectively. The Eagles had a chance to set themselves up for back-to-back NFC East titles, but they didn’t exactly distance themselves from the competition with this draft.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

First-round pick Dee Ford should be an impact player on Kansas City’s defensive line, but the defensive line was actually one of the team’s strengths last year.  Entering the draft, the Chiefs’ top needs were replenishing an offensive line that lost multiple starters and adding another weapon in the passing game. However, Kansas City didn’t draft a single receiver or tight end, and the team’s lone addition to the offensive line came in the sixth round. Running back Jamaal Charles is Kansas City’s top offensive weapon, and after this draft, opponents are going to have an even easier time ganging up on him. The Chiefs are going to have a tough time returning to the playoffs.

5. New England Patriots

It seems blasphemes to call the Patriots losers in a draft, but for a team built to win now, their picks were mostly risky gambles and long-term projects. It started with first-round pick Dominique Easley, and while his talent is undeniable, he has already torn his ACL in both knees and is still recovering from his latest surgery. New England then used a second-round pick on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and while I get that Tom Brady can’t play forever, using a second-round pick to grab a weapon that may help you win one more Super Bowl with Brady makes a lot more sense than using it to grab his potential replacement. Granted, New England did snag three offensive linemen in the middle rounds that should help, but by using its two most important picks to draft players that probably won’t contribute this year, the Patriots missed a chance to further bolster their Super Bowl chances.

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