By Dane Brugler, The Sports Xchange
The 2014 NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone and for 335 NFL prospects, the biggest step in this rigorous months-long job interview known as the pre-draft process is complete.
Some prospects performed well, others didn’t, but above all, the puzzle pieces are coming together as we get a more clear picture of who each of these prospects will be at the next level.
While Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel and Derek Carr stood on the sideline as the quarterbacks went through the positional drills at the Combine, Blake Bortles competed and didn’t disappoint. He threw strikes to all levels of the field and stood out as the top passer, doing nothing to persuade me from moving him from the top spot to the Texans.
Despite Jadeveon Clowney’s freakishly impressive times at the Combine, I still expect Houston to lean quarterback and Bortles is a great fit from a physical and mental standpoint with Bill O’Brien and the Texans.
1. HOUSTON TEXANS – Blake Bortles, QB, UCF
Losing the final 14 games of last season, the Texans deserve this top spot. But despite the forgettable season, Houston isn’t a complete re-build and new head coach Bill O’Brien inherits a roster that only needs a few tweaks. If the Texans keep this pick, it would be a surprise if they went in any other direction but quarterback