2014 NFL Draft Live Blog 1

Four hours. That's all that separates us from the beginning of the 2014 NFL Draft...so let's open thread our brains off.

We'll have dedicated posts for breaking news, the picks themselves and all the reaction spinning out. This thread, though, will be continually updated for random news and notes.

Take the confusion out of Dallas. With two of the big three mocks (those being Kiper, McShay and Mayock) sending Johnny Manziel to the Cowboys this morning, there was word that Manziel was the top prospect on the Cowboys big board:

"I’m told by two different people that [Manziel’s] the No.1 player on [the Cowboys] board" - Todd McShay on SC

— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) May 8, 2014

They key application here for the Rams would be that the Cowboys, sitting on the 16th pick in the first round, would act as a ceiling for JFF. Every team would know he wasn't getting past 16. Might that motivate a team just behind Dallas to leapfrog them, say the Jets or Cardinals at 18 and 20 respectively? Or would the chess game go even deeper, pushing the Cowboys to move up earlier in the round to go after Herr Manziel?

Of course, this is draft season. Nothing's that clear cut.....and that's not even clear cut. That's three hypotheticals deep!

Blake Bortles is the No. 1 QB on the Cowboys draft board. JFF is No. 2

— Clarence Hill (@clarencehilljr) May 8, 2014

So be it.

The biggest rumor right now though comes from Schefty himself. Apparently, the Texans are locked in.

Houston is now locked in on its player and is not expecting a trade, per sources. Texans happy to sit at 1 and take player it wants.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2014

The smart money's on Clowney, but anything can happen. More pressing is that this leaves the Rams now as top billing for teams who might be desperate. Gotta have Manziel? Is Khalil Mack the piece your pass rush needs? Can Sammy Watkins transform your offense? Getting down to #2 is the only way to make sure you get your wish. And while none of those options command the heft Clowney likely would have (hypothetically as the #1 overall pick being the #1 overall pick...), it's the draft. You never know what's going to happen.

Fun times ahead. Strap in.

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