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Live Commentary: NFL Draft - as it happened

Live coverage of the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
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The Houston Texans used the first pick in the 2014 NFL Draft to acquire defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

The former South Carolina Gamecocks player was selected ahead of offensive tackle Greg Robinson, who was selected second by the St Louis Rams.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel had to wait to find a team, eventually being claimed by the Cleveland Browns with the 22nd pick.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good evening! The first round of the 2014 NFL Draft will be getting underway in the next hour, with the Houston Texans preparing for the first pick. We'll be bringing you live updates from all 32 selections in New York this evening.

As things stand, 30 of the 32 NFL franchises will be making selections tonight. The St Louis Rams and Cleveland Browns both have two picks as a result of trades, while the Washington Redskins and the Indianapolis Colts have the night off.

As ever, there's still a chance for teams to make trades. The Texans have said that they would be open to trading the number one overall selection, but are thought to be looking for three first-round picks in return, which is a high price! There were numerous trades in the first round last year, so there could be plenty of changes to the order still to come.

When college players began to declare their intentions to enter the Draft earlier this year, a lot of the talk was about the quarterbacks, with Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr among the highly-rated young passers available to teams. However, there are some impressive defensive talents included too, not least Jadeveon Clowney, who many predict will be the first name announced by league commissioner Roger Goodell shortly.

If you're new to the Draft, or the NFL in general, you might not be familiar with the Draft process, so here's a reminder. Teams are assigned Draft picks based on their performance in the previous season. The team with the worst record has the first pick, while the Super Bowl champions go last. Teams can trade their picks to other franchises in exchange for more picks or players. In the first round, teams will be given 10 minutes to make their choice and inform the commissioner, who will then announce their selection. The whole event last three days, with rounds two and three taking place tomorrow, while rounds four to seven will be held on Saturday.

When players walk up onto the stage to shake hands with their new team and pose for photos, they get to pick which song they walk up to. There are some interesting choices among this year's class. Manziel has opted for Drake's 'Draft Day', which references the quarterback in the opening line of the song. Pharrell Williams will also get a couple of plays, along with Kanye West and Kings of Leon.

While early picks in the Draft regularly go on to have successful career, being picks in the first round isn't always a guarantee of a successful career. The Oakland Raiders used the number one pick on JaMarcus Russell in 2007, but parted ways with the quarterback just over two years later. Meanwhile, Ryan Leaf, who was the second choice in 1998 behind Peyton Manning, retired at the age of 26, and is currently serving a prison sentence for a burglary and drugs offences.

On the flip side, it's not uncommon for players selected late on the Draft to go on to success. The most notable example in recent years has to be New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who has three Super Bowl titles despite being a sixth-round pick in 2000.

Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs had the first pick, which they used to acquire offensive tackle Eric Fisher. The 23-year-old had a solid if unremarkable rookie season, and is currently recovering from a sports hernia surgery as he prepares for his second season in the league protecting quarterback Alex Smith.

Manziel was the first freshman college player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, the prize award to the best player of the season in college football. As he prepares to make the step from college to professional football player, the quarterback admits that he is "deeply humbled".



The final countdown is well underway now, the American national anthem has just been performed at Radio City Hall, with just over 10 minutes until the Texans will be on the clock. As always, there are a lot of fans from the two New York teams in the crowd eager to see who will be joining their teams.

Wise words from the 2012 defensive player of the year and 2011 first-round Draft pick JJ Watt. Assuming the Texans don't agree a last-minute trade for the number one selection, tonight's first pick will be a teammate of the defensive end:



With just a few minutes to go, let's take a look at the first 10 teams due to make their selections tonight...
1. Houston Texans, 2. St Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins), 3. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4. Cleveland Browns, 5. Oakland Raiders, 6. Atlanta Falcons, 7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8. Minnesota Vikings, 9. Buffalo Bills, 10. Detroit Lions



Commissioner Roger Goodell takes to the stage amid a chorus of pantomime boos ready to get the Draft underway.

ON THE CLOCK! It's officially Draft time! The Texans have the next 10 minutes to make the first pick of 2014.

Assuming they keep the pick, it's hard to see them picking anyone other than Jadeveon Clowney. The AFC South side already have an impressive defense with the likes of JJ Watt and Brian Cushing, but Clowney would further strengthen the unit. Khalil Mack is also expected to be an early pick, although he hasn't attracted quite the same media hype as Clowney.

At one time, the Falcons had been linked to a trade for the number one pick, but with the Texans apparently wanting three first round picks, it seems unlikely that the Falcons will make the switch.

Whoever does go to the Texans will be working with a new head coach. Hosuton fired Gary Kubiak in the final month of the 2013 season, appointing Penn State's Bill O'Brien, who previously worked with the New England Patriots.

The Texans have submitted their pick, so the Rams are on the clock. Goodell should be back on the stage to make the announcement in a few moments.

The Houston Texans draft Jadeveon Clowney!

No surprises as the Texans pick former South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney who posted impressive stats during his college career. If he gels with the current defensive stars in Houston, he could be a dominate force in the NFL. Understandably, the 21-year-old appears quite emotional as he takes to the stage.

The Rams should be confirming their choice in the next couple of minutes. This will be one of two picks for the NFC West side as a result of their 2012 trade with the Washington Redskins, which allowed the NFC East team to acquire quarterback Robert Griffin III. The Rams have been strongly linked to offensive tackle Greg Robinson. They have a reasonable amount of talent on their roster already, but providing decent protection for their quarterback could help them be more competitive in one of the league's strongest divisions.

The Rams have just confirmed their pick. With all first-round picks, there's a slight delay announcing who has been chosen while their first NFL jersey is printed up, along with a few other formalities. Next up will be the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The St Louis Rams draft Greg Robinson!

The highly-rated offensive tackle is indeed chosen by the Rams. On paper, he will be a big presence on the offensive line, weighing in at a whopping 332lb. Assuming Sam Bradford keeps his starting role at quarterback, that should help him avoid a few sacks. Speaking on stage, the 21-year-old simply says: "I won't let y'all down."

This is where the picks start to get a little more unpredictable. The Jaguars have an obvious need at quarterback, but Khalil Mack could be too big a talent to pass over. They've made the pick, so we'll find out soon.

The Jacksonville Jaguars draft Blake Bortles!

Wow! Just a couple of days ago pundits were doubting whether the quarterback would actually be picked in the first round, while Johnny Manziel had been the long-time favourite to be the first quarterback chosen this evening. The 22-year-old admits: "I'm pumped to go to Jacksonville to compete and be the best that I can be." It's likely that he'll compete with Chad Henne for the starters role.

TRADE! The Browns spent a couple of minutes on the clock, but the Buffalo Bills have now agreed a trade with the AFC North side for the fourth overall pick. Khalil Mack spent his college career in Buffalo, but they have a need on their offensive line too, this is an interesting move.

And the pick is in! That was quick, they obviously had a player in mind. In exchange, the Browns receive the Bills' ninth overall pick this year, while also receiving their first-round pick for next year.

The Buffalo Bills draft Sammy Watkins!

Wide receiver Sammy Watkins heads to Buffalo. The Bills drafted EJ Manuel in the first round last year, so giving him a talented receiver should give the young quarterback the support he needs to improve in his second year. Watkins is celebrating by taking a selfie on stage with the commissioner.

Up next will be the Oakland Raiders. They've been linked to a wide receiver, and with Watkins now gone, Texas A&M's Mike Evans could be next up. They've made their decision, so the Falcons are now on the clock.

The Oakland Raiders draft Khalil Mack!

According to NFL Network, the Raiders had planned to use their fifth round pick on Mack or Evans, depending on which was still available. Given the choice between the two, they go for the linebacker. It's good news for British fans, as the Raiders will be playing at Wembley later this year.



Next up will be the Falcons. It had been thought that they wanted Clowney, but weren't willing to meet the Texans' trade demands. Offensive tackle Jake Matthews could be a good fit, while Mike Evans would add depth to their injury-prone receiving corps.

The Falcons have made their pick, so the Buccaneers are now on the clock.

The Atlanta Falcons draft Jake Matthews!

Offensive tackle Jake Matthews, cousin of the Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews, is the sixth pick. The 22-year-old has spent the last couple of years protecting Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M. The Falcons struggled during the 2013 campaign, but some extra support for Matt Ryan should give the quarterback a chance to get the NFC South side back on track.

Having lost Mike Williams during free agency, Tampa Bay could do with a new wide receiver, but there are still a lot of options open to the Bucs.



The Buccaneers make their pick, so the Vikings, who could be in the market for a quarterback, will be up next.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft Mike Evans!

Texas A&M's leading receiver Mike Evans is heading to Tampa Bay, where he'll surely be a starter alongside Vincent Jackson. The Buccaneers have struggled to compete in the NFC South in recent years, but a strong receiving corps could launch a turnaround.

TRADE! It's another trade for the Browns. Having acquired the ninth pick from the Bills earlier, they now trade that with the Vikings to move up to eight, so they'll be making the next selection. The Browns had been expected to take a quarterback with their fourth pick. With only Bortles gone so far, that could still be the plan here. And the pick is already in, so the Vikings are back on the clock at nine.

The Cleveland Browns draft Justin Gilbert!

Well that's a bit of a surprise! Following their second trade of the evening, Cleveland pick the first defensive back of the night, Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert. The 22-year-old was considered one of the top cornerbacks in this year's Draft class. He has impressive speed and athleticism, having set a 100m personal best of 10.68 seconds during his senior year in college.

Having waited an extra pick, the Vikings finally get to make their choice. The Vikings could be after another quarterback, but have a couple of defensive needs too so this is a tough one to call.

The Vikings pick is in, so their NFC North rivals are on the clock, and in fact have already made their pick too. They clearly had a plan!

The Minnesota Vikings draft Anthony Barr!

The linebacker is the ninth pick of the 2014 Draft. Barr started his college career as an offensive player, but switched to linebacker during his junior season, making 13.5 sacks during his first season on defense.

The Detroit Lions draft Eric Ebron!

The Lions go for a tight end in the form of Eric Ebron, who has drawn comparisons with San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis. It's already been a big day for the 21-year-old, he proposed to his girlfriend earlier!

That's 10 down, 22 more to go. Next up will be the Tennessee Titans, with the New York Giants, St Louis Rams and Chicago Bears to follow.

The Titans have made their pick. According to ESPN the Browns made a bid to trade for the 11th pick, but could not reach an agreement with Tennessee. The Giants are now on the clock, much to the delight of the New York crowd.

The Tennessee Titans draft Taylor Lewan!

The Titans decide to bolster their offensive line with tackle Taylor Lewan. The 22-year-old was impressive at the Combine earlier this year, topping the tackle stats. During his time with the Michigan Wolverines, he was named in the All-Big Ten first team three years in a row.

The Giants have made their pick, it's expected to be an offensive player. Next up, the Rams will make their second pick of the night.

The New York Giants draft Odell Beckham Jr

One of the Giants' biggest problems in 2013 was a lack of options on offense. The speedy wide receiver should certainly strengthen their passing game, particularly following Hakeem Nicks' departure from the team. Beckham has drawn comparison's with Colts veteran Reggie Wayne because of the route running ability.

Johnny Manziel is cutting an increasingly forlorn figure as he waits to hear his name called. While there have been concerns over his maturity, he's undeniably an impressive quarterback and had expected to be picked higher up the order. The Rams have made their pick, but they aren't expected to be adding to their current flock of quarterbacks.

The St Louis Rams draft Aaron Donald!

The Rams used their first pick of the night to add to their o-line, now it's time to add to their defense with Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The 22-year-old caught the eye at the Combine earlier this year, setting a new record for the fastest 40-yard dash time by a defensive lineman, completing the distance in 4.68 seconds.

In the mean time, the Bears have been busy making their pick. The Bears are another difficult one to predict. The Steelers will be up next.

The Chicago Bears draft Kyle Fuller!

The Bears had a few holes on their defense in 2013, so have decided to add to their cornerbacks with former Virginia Tech defensive back Kyle Fuller.

The Steelers have wasted no time, their pick is already in. Promising safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is still available, but the AFC North side may look to strengthen their o-line.

The Pittsburgh Steelers draft Ryan Shazier!

The Steelers opt for a linebacker in the form of Ryan Shazier. The 21-year-old had been considered one of the best linebackers available this year. It's not an area where the Steelers were particularly lacking, but he'll surely be an asset regardless.

The Cowboys are on the clock. They have been strongly linked to Manziel, but also need a safety. Dallas are prone to trades on Draft day, but they've only got two minutes left to make their pick.

The Cowboys have made their pick. A safety would be the smart pick for the NFC East side, but is the draw of Manziel too big to pass on? We'll find out shortly.

The Dallas Cowboys draft Zack Martin!

Possibly not the move that had been expected, but offensive tackle Zack Martin should be a safe move for the Cowboys, but they'll still need to add to their defense later in the Draft.

We're now halfway through the first round of the Draft. The Baltimore Ravens will be the next team to pick.

The Ravens have made their pick, resulting in a big cheer in Radio City Hall as the New York Jets' 10 minutes begins.

The Baltimore Ravens draft CJ Mosely!

The AFC North side opt for versatile linebacker CJ Mosley. In his last season with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Mosley made 108 combined tackles.

The Jets are taking their time with this pick. They had been linked to Odell Beckham Jr in the run up to the Draft, but he's already been snapped up by their New York rivals. There are still a lot of quality safeties available, but their main need is the receiving corps.

With just a few seconds to spare, the Jets have made their pick, putting their divisional rivals, the Miami Dolphins, on the clock.

The New York Jets draft Calvin Pryor!

The AFC East side go with a safety in the form of Calvin Pryor, one of the most physical defensive backs in this year's Draft class.

The Dolphins are taking their time too with this pick. They had a lot of difficulties with their offensive line last season, on and off the field. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was frequently sacked in 2013, so they was look to provide him with some more protection.

The Dolphins have made their pick, so the Cardinals will start deliberating their pick.

The Miami Dolphins draft Ja'Wuan James!

As expected, it's an offensive lineman for the Dolphins. Ja'Wuan James is predominantly known as a tackle, put can also feature at guard. Following the locker room bullying scandal last season, the Dolphins needed some fresh faces on their o-line, and James seems to be a promising additions.

TRADE! The Cardinals trade the 20th pick to the New Orleans Saints, who had been due to go 27th.

The Saints have made their pick. They would benefit from adding at wide receiver, but also have a need at cornerback. Meanwhile, the Packers are now on the clock.

The New Orleans Saints draft Brandin Cooks!

It's a wide receiver in the form of former Oregan State Beavers wideout Brandin Cooks. The 20-year-old has stunning pace, having set a 200m personal best of 21.59 seconds in college. In his last college football campaign, Cooks had 128 receptions for 1,730 yards and 16 touchdowns. With Drew Brees passing to him, he could have a big impact for the Saints.

The Packers have made their pick. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix could be a good fit for the NFC North side, although they may also be looking for a new receiver.

The Green Bay Packers draft Ha Ha Clinton-Dix!

The safety, who is probably the sharpest-dressed player at the Draft this evening, is off the Lambeau Field. Clinton-Dix had been considered one of the better safeties in the Draft class, but he failed to wow during the Combine. However, his 37 tackles and five interceptions during the 2012 college season was enough to impress the Packers.

Clinton-Dix could also have been a good fit for the Eagles, who are now on the clock. Having lost Michael Vick during the off-season, Philadelphia could be in the market for a new passer to compete with Nick Foles, but they may look at some of the other available safeties.

TRADE! The Browns continue to be active during the first round as they trade the 26th pick, which they acquired from the Indianapolis Colts last year, so they move up to 22 and have already made their choice.

The Cleveland Browns draft Johnny Manziel!

Well he had to wait, but Johnny Manziel finally comes off the Draft board and is heading to the Cleveland Browns. The quarterback looks a little overwhelmed by the whole experience, he had been expected to go much higher up, but eventually he looks relieved as he finally gets handed his first NFL jersey.

Speaking on stage at the Draft, Manziel said: "It was tough, but I went into this saying whatever team drafted me, whatever team fell in love with me would be the team for me. I'm gonna pull my heart for this team and this organisation."

The Chiefs are currently on the clock. They had a brilliant change in form in 2013, having been the worst team in the league in 2012. Their defense was instrumental in helping them reach the playoffs, so they may look to add to their offense.

The Kansas City Chiefs draft Dee Ford!

The Chiefs decide to add to their already impressive defense, selecting defensive end Dee Ford. The 23-year-old made 19.5 sacks during his four years with Auburn.

Next up are the Cincinnati Bengals. Ahead of the 2013 season, many pundits had expected the Bengals to be a challenger in the AFC, but they were knocked out in the wildcard round of the playoffs. They've already made their pick, so we'll find out who they'll be adding shortly.

The Cincinnati Bengals draft Darqueze Dennard!

Cornerback Darqueze Dennard was expected to go a little higher up the Draft, but the "no-fly zone" comes into a dynamic defense.

Teams are really getting a move on now. The San Diego Chargers have already made their choice, so the Eagles are back on the clock following their trade with the Browns.



The San Diego Chargers draft Jason Verrett!

Another cornerback comes off the boards as the San Diego Chargers pick up Jason Verrett. The 22-year-old was hampered by a shoulder problem last season, but was back to full fitness by the end of the campaign. He has pace to spare, running a 4.38-second 4-yard dash during the Combine.

The Philadelphia Eagles draft Marcus Smith!

The Eagles fans at the Draft looked a bit surprised as the commissioner announces that defensive end Marcus Smith will be joining their roster. While he might not be the biggest name in the Draft, Smith fits well into their defensive schemes, and had 14.5 sacks for Louisville in 2013.

We're back to the Cardinals now, as they take the Saints' place at 27 following their earlier trade. The Cardinals may take advantage of the wealth of remaining quarterbacks, with 34-year-old Carson Palmer heading into the latter stages of his career.

Meanwhile, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is pleased with their first-round Draft pick, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.



The Arizona Cardinals draft Deone Bucannon!

The Cardinals forego the opportunity to add depth at quarterback and opt for safety Deona Bucannon. The Cardinals only just missed out on a place in the playoffs last season, so the dynamic defensive back could help them go one step further in 2014.

The Carolina Panthers have taken just a couple of minutes to make their pick. They desperately need receivers.

The Carolina Panthers draft Kelvin Benjamin!

Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin joins the NFC South champions. The 23-year-old is built like a tight end, but has been also been compared to Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall. He should be a good weapon for Cam Newton.

The New England Patriots are up next. The AFC East champions may look to add to their receiving corps as well, but may also look towards the defensive backs. Their pick is in, so the 49ers are now on the clock.

The New England Patriots draft Dominic Easley!

The Patriots add to their defense with defensive end Dominic Easley. He had been predicted to be an early pick at the start of the 2013 college season, but has undergone to ACL surgeries, although he is expected to be fit in time for training camp.

It had been expected that the 49ers would trade up to get a wide receiver or cornerback, but they've kept their 30th pick and have confirmed their choice.

The San Francisco 49ers draft Jimmie Ward!

That's a bit of a surprising choice from the 49ers. The safety has shown an impressive skillset, but is a bit on the small side. He had been forecast to be a second or third round pick, but the 49ers obviously think he has a lot of potential.

Next, it will be the Super Bowl runners-up, the Denver Broncos. Their offense rescued the below-par defense on several occasions during the 2013 season, so it may be a defensive player. The pick is in.

The Denver Broncos draft Bradley Roby!

Cornerback Bradley Roby goes to the AFC champions. The 22-year-old has shown plenty of talent, but has had a few off the field issues and hasn't been the most consistent player. If the Broncos can keep him focused, he could be a great choice for Denver.

And then there was one! It's just the Super Bowl champions still to pick now. They've got less than five minutes left, so they may be waiting to see if they can agree a trade.

TRADE! The Seahawks swap their pick with the Minnesota Vikings. The NFC North side have a need at quarterback, and by trading up can beat the Houston Texans, who will be first up in round two, to either Teddy Bridgewater or Derek Carr.

In return, the Seahawks receive the Vikings' second- and fourth-round picks.

The Vikings have made their choice, so we'll find out who will be the final player taken in the first round of the 2014 Draft in just a few moments.

The Minnesota Vikings draft Teddy Bridgewater!

At one time, Teddy Bridgewater had been predicted to be the number one overall pick, but he still manages to squeeze into the first round. He'll have to compete with Christian Ponder for the starting role with the Vikings, but he'll have a good chance of beating his inconsistent teammate. This could be a very smart move for the Vikings.

So there we have it, the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft is finished. Tonight, there have been three quarterbacks, five wide receiver, and five cornerbacks taken. For the second year in the row, no running backs are picked up in round one. Stick around for a roundup of the first round, and join us again throughout the weekend for highlights from rounds two to seven. Thanks for joining me tonight, goodbye!

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Jadeveon Clowney #7 of the South Carolina Gamecocks works out on the field before the start of their game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Capital One Bowl on January 1, 2014
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