NFL Mock Draft #3: First Round 21-30
24. Arizona Cardinals: OLB Vic Beasley (Clemson), 6-2, 235 pounds
Sep 6, 2014; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end Vic Beasley (3) during the first half against the South Carolina State Bulldogs at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Just like Goldman, Vic Beasley is an absolute terror for offenses to face. In his final 25 games as a member of the Clemson Tigers, Beasley racked up 69 tackles, 44.5 tackles for loss, and 25 sacks. Chances are that he will not slip this late, but if each team goes by their first initial need, which will change between now and the draft (thanks free agency), the Cardinals could land themselves a franchise linebacker to add to their very stout defensive front-seven.
25. Carolina Panthers: OT T.J. Clemmings (Pittsburgh), 6-5, 305 pounds
Nov 2, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu (45) tries to get around Pittsburgh Panthers offensive linesman T.J. Clemmings (68) in his pursuit of quarterback Tom Savage (7) during the fourth quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Tech won 21-10. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports
Entering the 2014 season everyone seemed to had written off the Carolina Panthers after they lost all of their receiving options and had a banged up offensive line that allowed Cam Newton and sometimes Derek Anderson a negative amount of time before they were under pressure. Somehow however, the Panthers won the NFC South with a losing record, 7-9, and defeated the Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the eventual NFC-Champion Seattle Seahawks. Carolina will have to go after the top offensive linemen on the board when their turn comes around and T.J. Clemmings will go from being a Pittsburgh Panther to a Carolina Panther.
26. Baltimore Ravens: WR Jaelen Strong (Arizona State), 6-4, 212 pounds
Oct 5, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jaelen Strong (21) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Austin Collinsworth (28) in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
As a sophomore at Arizona State I have been given the privilege to watch Jaelen Strong make insane catch after insane catch the past two seasons. Strong has tremendous hands and his leaping ability along the sidelines makes him a terrific possession receiver. He has drawn comparisons to Marques Colston and I agree completely with that comparison. The one knock on Strong’s game is that he lacks the “second-gear” that most NFL receivers possess that allows them to separate from their defender. Nevertheless, Strong would be a perfect fit with Baltimore and Joe Flacco. How Strong? Jaelen Strong.