On the F-14 it was all about carrying enough fuel, missiles, and a huge radar 100 miles from the carrier in a very short amount of time, to repel armadas of inbound bombers carrying antiship missiles. Maneuverability was not nearly as important as the basic requirement to launch, travel very quickly to the launch zone, pickle off a bunch of missiles, and have enough gas to make it back to the carrier. A new-build F-14 would still be nearly unbeatable for that mission. But the mission requirement changed and we apparently don't ever expect anyone to take a shot at our CVs with aircraft.
An F-14 is probably anywhere from 200 to 500 knots faster than a superhornet when carrying a fleet defense loadout, it's radar was twice the size, and it could loiter twice as long if it wasn't in a hurry. But a superhornet can carry about 12 amraams which is about as close as second place can get, imho. The AMRAAM is a deathstick.
