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Mock draft: Clowney to Texans, WRs abound

By WTOP Staff

BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Six of the first eight teams selecting in Thursday night’s draft, barring trades that almost surely will come, need quarterbacks.

So why does our mock draft have only one QB going in the opening eight spots? Read on:

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1. Houston (2-14)

Despite flopping from AFC South power to worst in league, Texans aren’t that far away talent-wise. New coach Bill O’Brien gets good start on rebuilding with best overall player.

JADAVEON CLOWNEY, DE, SOUTH CAROLINA

2. St. Louis (7-9), from Washington

Rams wouldn’t mind trading out of here, a pick they got in 2012 Robert Griffin III deal. If they keep it, they get different kind of RG: road grader.

GREG ROBINSON, OT, AUBURN

3. Jacksonville (4-12)

Gus Bradley has cut his teeth as a defensive master. Now he gets fierce pass rusher who could go at linebacker or end.

KHALIL MACK, LB-DE, BUFFALO

4. Cleveland (4-12)

If new front office regime makes this pick, it will make sense. If owner Jimmy Haslam insists on high-profile QB with Heisman Trophy in his collection, all bets are off.

SAMMY WATKINS, WR, CLEMSON

5. Oakland (4-12)

Having acquired Matt Schaub from Houston, Oakland’s QB issues are no longer front and center. Except that these are the Raiders, so …

JOHNNY MANZIEL, QB, TEXAS A&M

6. Atlanta (4-12)

Falcons badly need some protection for QB Matt Ryan, and there still are two ready-for-prime-time blockers available. They take one with NFL bloodlines.

JAKE MATTHEWS, OT, TEXAS A&M

7. Tampa Bay (4-12)

Sometimes by now, there’s a fall-off in talent from the very elite. Not in this draft, so Bucs help passing game with yet another Aggie.

MIKE EVANS, WR, TEXAS A&M

8. Minnesota (5-10-1)

Vikings will be tempted to add young quarterback, but with Christian Ponder flop still fresh in their minds, they go defense.

ANTHONY BARR, LB, UCLA

9. Buffalo (6-10)

Bills were hoping for Evans, also will consider other wideouts from deep class, then opt for just what coach Doug Marrone likes most: a rugged offensive lineman.

TAYLOR LEWAN, OT, MICHIGAN

10. Detroit (7-9)

Cornerback or safety to deal with Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler four times a season? If Lions stay put, they have choice of best at either position.

JUSTIN GILBERT, CB, OKLAHOMA STATE

11. Tennessee (7-9)

With Titans needing playmaker in secondary, best safety in this draft, from a winning program no less, is available.

HA HA CLINTON-DIX, S, ALABAMA

12. New York Giants (7-9)

With fans chanting for receiver or tight end, Giants do what they so often have done in last two decades: bolster defense with a stud.

AARON DONALD, DT, PITTSBURGH

13. St. Louis (7-9)

Having added Robinson to trenches, Rams boost receiving corps once again — they took speedy Tavon Austin in first round last year.

ODELL BECKHAM JR., WR, LSU

14. Chicago (8-8)

Bears coveted Donald and also had their eyes on Gilbert. But there’s another top-notch defensive back left, and they grab him.

DARQUEZE DENNARD, CB, MICHIGAN STATE

15. Pittsburgh (8-8)

An aging team that needs a highly successful draft, Steelers concentrate on defense early and bolster linebacking corps.

C.J. MOSLEY, LB, ALABAMA

16. Dallas (8-8)

Cowboys have look of last-place team, especially on defense. Time to work on that area with a pass rusher.

TIM JERNIGAN, DT, FLORIDA STATE

17. Baltimore (8-8)

Baltimore’s offensive line has been inconsistent, but with top three tackles gone, GM Ozzie Newsome has to decide if a guard is worth this spot.

ZACK MARTIN, G, NOTRE DAME

18. New York Jets (8-8)

Jets didn’t expect best tight end in class to be on board, so they switch from defensive back considerations and grab …

ERIC EBRON, TE, NORTH CAROLINA

19. Miami (8-8)

Offensive line was mess even without bullying scandal. Ravens took guy Miami really sought, so Dolphins move on to …

XAVIER SU’A-FILO, G, UCLA

20. Arizona (10-6)

Carson Palmer’s heir, someone just as tall and solidly built, becomes second quarterback chosen.

BLAKE BORTLES, QB, CENTRAL FLORIDA

21. Green Bay (8-7-1)

The way Clay Matthews keeps getting nicked, Packers need another playmaker at linebacker. They have other defensive needs, too, with LB first spot addressed.

RYAN SHAZIER, LB, OHIO STATE

22. Philadelphia (10-6)

Chip Kelly’s speed-em-up offense gets another product from Beaver state, although not from his former team in Eugene.

BRANDIN COOKS, WR, OREGON STATE

23. Kansas City (11-5)

Chiefs must decide whether to address offensive line or receiver. Believing they can get good wideout later on, they go for …

CYRUS KOUANDJIO, G-T, Alabama

24. Cincinnati (11-5)

Michael Johnson left for Tampa, Geno Atkins comes off major injury, and one of top talents remaining happens to play D-line.

KONY EARLY, DE, MISSOURI

25. San Diego (9-7)

Cornerback with decent size, good athletic ability and strong coverage skills would help San Diego match up better with Peyton Manning.

KYLE FULLER, CB, VIRGINIA TECH

26. Cleveland, from Indianapolis (4-12)

Now Browns grab that “quarterback of the future.”

TEDDY BRIDGEWATER, QB, LOUISVILLE

27. New Orleans (11-5)

Coordinator Rob Ryan wants difference maker on defense. Head coach Sean Payton is an offense-trained guy. Guess who wins.

MARQISE LEE, WR, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

28. Carolina (12-4)

Panthers sigh big-time when Lee goes off the board, then fill one of voids on offensive line with Jordan Gross retiring.

MORGAN MOSES, OT, VIRGINIA

29. New England (12-4)

So you think Bill Belichick is ready to draft and groom someone to replace Tom Brady. We don’t. Not yet.

DEE FORD, DE, AUBURN

30. San Francisco (12-4)

Best player on board comes into action here.

CALVIN PRYOR, S, LOUISVILLE

31. Denver (13-3)

Broncos need to address offensive line for as long as Manning remains the quarterback. But drop-off there is too severe, so they also go for best player available.

LOUIS NIX, DT, NOTRE DAME

32. Seattle (13-3)

Pity Seahawks for having to pick last? Not quite, because they fill major hole with …

KELVIN BENJAMIN, WR, FLORIDA STATE

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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