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2014 NFL Mock Draft: Best Player Available #MockMonday

For this week's edition of the Phinsider's #MockMonday NFL Draft projection, we take a look at the "Best Player Available" draft strategy.

Scott Halleran

Every year, a debate breaks out here on the Phinsider, and all over the internet and TV pre-Draft coverage.  That debate centers on how to draft: need versus best player available.  Neither route is the one used by General Managers, who land somewhere in between, with needs playing into how they grade a player, or a grade on a player playing into a need.

With today being our penultimate #MockMonday for 2014, I thought we would take a look at how the 2014 NFL Draft would fall if all 32 teams simply picked the best player available.

The first problem is, of course, how do we decide who is the best player available?  Every big board in existence differs from all the other big boards - just as all 32 teams will have slightly different grades on players as well.  Who the Miami Dolphins have as the best player available may not be the same as whomever the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, or 28-other teams rank in that position.  Perhaps something came out in an interview with the Dolphins.  Perhaps GM Dennis Hickey just did not like something on tape, something he has seen before, and dropped that player a few positions.  Perhaps it's the other way, and something about a player stands out as exactly what the team needs.  Did the Dolphins draft the best player available, or did they draft based on need?  We will never know - maybe the offensive lineman was the best player they had remaining on the board - and the truth is, again, that it's not a mutually exclusive situation.  Needs and player grades go into every pick made.  Otherwise, there would never be drama to an event millions of people tune in to watch every year.

For our #MockMonday today, I took eight different big boards - from SB Nation, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, CBS Sports, Walter Football, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and Yahoo! Sports - to build our mock draft.  You can see any of the big boards in their entirety by clicking on the appropriate name within each pick's table.  Using each big board, I simply ran down their top 32 rated players, in order, and gave that player to the team picking in the same position.  No analysis. No need consideration (otherwise, you probably would not see the Patriots selecting Derek Carr in the first round (Yahoo! Sports) or the Philadelphia Eagles selecting Johnny Manziel (USA Today)).  Everything is straight "BPA."

Using this method, the Dolphins address the defensive side of the ball using six of the eight big boards.  The other two (McShay and Walter Football) have a wide receiver as their 19th ranked prospect.  Those defensive picks encompass the entire defensive line, with both ends and tackles in the mix, as well as safety.

What do you think of the BPA style draft?

1_-_houston_texans_2014_draft_pick
Houston Texans
Battle Red Blog
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Jadeveon Cowney Jadeveon Cowney Jadeveon Cowney Jadeveon Cowney Jadeveon Cowney Jadeveon Cowney Jadeveon Clowney Jadeveon Clowney
2_-_st_louis_rams_2014_draft_pick
St. Louis Rams
Turf Show Times
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Teddy Bridgewater Sammy Watkins Greg Robinson Greg Robinson Sammy Watkins Sammy Watkins Greg Robinson Greg Robinson
3_-_jacksonville_jaguars_2014_draft_pick
Jacksonville Jaguars
Big Cat Country
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Jake Matthews Khalil Mack Khalil Mack Khalil Mack Khalil Mack Greg Robinson Jake Matthews Khalil Mack
4_-_cleveland_browns_2014_draft_pick
Cleveland Browns
Dawgs by Nature
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Khalil Mack Greg Robinson Sammy Watkins Sammy Watkins Greg Robinson Khalil Mack Anthony Barr Jake Matthews
5_-_oaland_raiders_2014_draft_pick
Oakland Raiders
Silver and Black Pride
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Sammy Watkins Taylor Lewan Jake Matthews Jake Matthews Jake Matthews Jake Matthews Khalil Mack Sammy Watkins
6_-_atlanta_falcons_2014_draft_pick
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcoholic
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Greg Robinson Mike Evans Taylor Lewan Blake Bortles Taylor Lewan Anthony Barr Sammy Watkins Mike Evans
7_-_tampa_bay_buccaneers_2014_draft_pick
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucs Nation
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Mike Evans Jake Matthews Mike Evans Johnny Manziel Anthony Barr C.J. Mosley Mike Evans Aaron Donald
8_-_minnesota_vikings_2014_draft_pick
Minnesota Vikings
Daily Norseman
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Eric Ebron Eric Ebron C.J. Mosley Taylor Lewan Eric Ebron Mike Evans Justin Gilbert Anthony Barr

9_-_buffalo_bills_2014_draft_pick
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Rumblings
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
C.J. Mosley C.J. Mosley Blake Bortles Mike Evans Justin Gilbert Sammy Watkins Eric Ebron Teddy Bridgewater
10_-_detroit_lions_2014_draft_pick
Detroit Lions
Pride of Detroit
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix Zack Martin Aaron Donald Justin Gilbert Mike Evans Aaron Donald Zack Martin Blake Bortles
11_-_tennessee_titans_2014_draft_pick
Tennessee Titans
Music City Miracles
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Taylor Lewan Aaron Donald Eric Ebron Eric Ebron Ryan Shazier Darqueze Dennard Aaron Donald C.J. Mosley
12_-_new_york_giants_2014_draft_pick
New York Giants
Big Blue View
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Louis Nix III Brandin Cooks Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix Anthony Barr Blake Bortles Louis Nix III Darqueze Dennard Zack Martin
13_-_st_louis_rams_2014_draft_pick
St. Louis Rams
Turf Show Times
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Aaron Donald Odell Beckham, Jr. Morgan Moses Aaron Donald Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix Johnny Manziel Taylor Lewan Darqueze Dennard
14_-_chicago_bears_2014_draft_pick
Chicago Bears
Windy City Gridiron
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Blake Bortles Justin Gilbert Zack Martin Darqueze Dennard Johnny Manziel Julstin Gilbert Teddy Bridgewater Justin Gilbert
15_-_pittsburgh_steelers_2014_draft_pick
Pittsburgh Steelers
Behind the Steel Curtain
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Xavier Su'a-Filo Darqueze Dennard Teddy Bridgewater Teddy Bridgewater Aaron Donald Blake Bortles C.J. Mosley Ryan Shazier
16_-_dallas_cowboys_2014_draft_pick
Dallas Cowboys
Blogging the Boys
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Johnny Manziel Teddy Bridgewater Johnny Manziel Zack Martin Calvin Pryor Calvin Pryor Louis Nix III Taylor Lewan

Keep up with all of our Mock Draft coverage

17_-_baltimore_ravens_2014_draft_pick
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Beatdown
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Kony Ealy Blake Bortles Darqueze Dennard Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix Austin Seferian-Jenkins Marqise Lee Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Johnny Manziel
18_-_new_york_jets_2014_draft_pick
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Jason Verrett Johnny Manziel Brandin Cooks Odell Beckham, Jr. Odell Beckham, Jr. Taylor Lewan Timmy Jernigan Calvin Pryor
19_-_miami_dolphins_2014_draft_pick
Miami Dolphins
The Phinsider
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Ra'Shede Hageman Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix Odell Beckham, Jr. Timmy Jernigan Marqise Lee Ra'Shede Hageman Kony Ealy Louis Nix III
20_-_arizona_cardinals_2014_draft_pick
Arizona Cardinals
Revenge of the Birds
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Darqueze Dennard Ryan Shazier Clavin Pryor Brandin Cooks C.J. Mosley Dee Ford Dee Ford Eric Ebron
21_-_green_bay_packers_2014_draft_pick
Green Bay Packers
Acme Packing Company
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Anthony Barr Clavin Pryor Justin Gilbert Clavin Pryor Teddy Bridgewater Zack Martin Blake Bortles Kony Ealy
22_-_philadelphia_eagles_2014_draft_pick
Philadelphia Eagles
Bleeding Green Nation
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Zack Martin Anthony Barr Ra'Shede Hageman C.J. Mosley Kelvin Benjamin Odell Beckham, Jr. Johnny Manziel Brandin Cooks
23_-_kansas_city_chiefs_2014_draft_pick
Kansas City Chiefs
Arrowhead Pride
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Bradley Roby Marqise Lee Timmy Jernigan Ryan Shazier Kyle Fuller Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix Calvin Pryor Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix

24_-_cincinnati_bengals_2014_draft_pick
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincy Jungle
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Clavin Pryor Kyle Van Noy Louis Nix III Dee Ford Zack Martin Kelvin Benjamin Odell Beckham Odell Beckham, Jr.
25_-_san_diego_chargers_2014_draft_pick
San Diego Chargers
Bolts from the Blue
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Dee Ford Chris Borland Marqise Lee Louis Nix III Darqueze Dennard Eric Ebron Marqise Lee Demarcus Lawrence
26_-_cleveland_browns_2014_draft_pick
Cleveland Browns
Dawgs by Nature
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Jimmie Ward Derek Carr Bradley Roby Derek Carr Derek Carr Jace Amaro Derek Carr Timmy Jernigan
27_-_new_orleans_saints_2014_draft_pick
New Orleans Saints
Canal Street Chronicles
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Ryan Shazier Kelvin Benjamin Jason Verrett Kyle Fuller Ra'Shede Hageman Xavier Su'a-Filo Kyle Fuller Marqise Lee
28_-_carolina_panthers_2014_draft_pick__final_
Carolina Panthers
Cat Scratch Reader
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Justin Gilbert Stephon Tuitt Kyle Fuller Marqise Lee Louis Nix III Jason Verrett Brandin Cooks Jason Verrett
29_-_new_england_patriots_2014_draft_pick__final_
New England Patriots
Pats Pulpit
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Stephon Tuitt Cody Latimer Ryan Shazier Jason Verrett Stephon Tuitt Kony Ealy Ryan Shazier Derek Carr
30_-_san_francisco_49ers_2014_draft_pick__final_
San Francisco 49ers
Niners Nation
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Marqise Lee Carlos Hyde Anthony Barr Allen Robinson Brandin Cooks Cyrus Kouandjio Xavier Su'a-Filo Dee Ford
31_-_denver_broncos_2014_draft_pick
Denver Broncos
Mile High Report
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Odell Beckham, Jr. Davante Adams Kony Ealy Tom Savage Carlos Hyde David Yankey Ra'Shede Hageman Xavier Su'a-Filo
32_-_seattle_seahawks_2014_draft_pick
Seattle Seahawks
Field Gulls
SB Nation Mel Kiper Todd McShay CBS Sports Walter Football SI.com USA Today Yahoo Sports
Cyrus Kouandjio Cyrus Kouandjio Kelvin Benjamin Bradley Roby Kony Ealy Brandin Cooks Cyrus Kouandjio Kyle Van Noy