The 2014 NFL draft is fast approaching, but teams all around the NFL have made big moves this off-season. This includes some of the powerhouse teams from last year, including the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints. These off-season moves all have a direct impact on how all 32 NFL teams approach and draft this season.
The Patriots and Broncos both added top calibre players at the cornerback position with Aqib Talib leaving the Patriots for the Broncos and the Patriots signing Darrelle Revis. The Patriots signing now allows the them to focus on another area the team needs, including Tight End, defensive tackle and wide receiver positions. The Patriots could have a slew of options at the back of the first round, including Ra’Shede Hageman out of Minnesota, Marqise Lee out of USC or Jace Amaro out of Texas Tech.
The Saints who signed the top safety on the board Darius Byrd now have a solid secondary that includes Kenny Vaccaro and Byrd. The Saints did lose versatile playmaking running back Darren Sproles leaving them a void of a dual threat type of player. This allows the Saints to look at players such as Brandin Cooks out of Oregon State in the first round. Cooks as a wide receiver displayed a great ability to make plays with his hands and after catch allowing him to be a candidate for the slot position with the Saints.
While we have seen many top players such as Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Eric Decker and Golden Tate switch teams it is hard to determine how teams will move to fill those voids. For Example The Carolina Panthers, who need receiver help could look to land one in the first round with the 28th pick, if a player such as Lee, Odell Becham or Kelvin Benjamin are still on the board. Given the depth of this years draft there may be some great value in those compensatory picks.