2013 Mock Draft

Kansas City Chiefs – Tavon Austin – WR – West Virginia

        Bear with my logic for a moment here. I’m in no way saying that they should rate Austin higher than Joeckel or fisher. But, Austin fits what Andy Reid likes from receiver and would bring something to this offense that it has sorely needed, a big play spark in the passing game. The Chiefs don’t have a true slot receiver or another major receiving threat outside of Dwayne Bowe. Austin provides both and will make an impact as a returner. He gives the Chiefs offense a ton of options and would be the perfect luxury pick for a team with no true major need.

Jacksonville Jaguars – Dee Milliner – CB – Alabama

        While the Jaguars pass rush continues to be an issue, their defensive lne wasn;t hit as hard as their defensive backfield. The release of Aaron Ross combined with Reshean Mathis and Derek Cox leaving in free agency has left the Jaguars without their top three cornerbacks. To this point they’ve made no signing that would indicate that they intend to address this issue in free agency, which leaves a major hole in their defense. With Milliner’s solid performance at the combine, he’s almost guaranteed to go in the top 10, making it unlikely that a first round talent will slide into the second where the Jaguars can pick them up. So I see them grabbing the top corner on the board early a addressing their pass rushing need later in the draft. Plus, shoring up the pass coverage will give the pass rush more time to get to the opposing quarterback. So in an indirect manner, this pick would help the pass rush.

Oakland Raiders – Shariff Floyd – DT – Florida

        This just makes a ton of sense for the Raiders. Their defense needs an infusion of young talent after they’ve allowed such veteran presences as Richard Seymour, Michael Huff and Nnamdi Asomugha to leave over the course of the last three years. This year alone, they’ve lost their top three defensive tackles, leaving a giant void in the middle of their defense. Shariff Floyd would provide a solid pass rushing presence from the defensive tackle spot.  

Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Joeckel – OT – Texas A&M

        With Joeckel sliding to them, the Eagles will be happy to grab a solid left tackle to be the heir apparent (or replacement) for Jason Peters. The main reason that Joeckel should slide this far is because the teams ahead of the Eagles have good young tackles who can play the left side with contracts that are due to expire soon. Since each one (Branden Albert, Eugene Monroe and Jared Veldeer respectively) have proven that they are at least solid left tackles, they are going to use that fact in their contract negotiations to try and jack up their price or just leave for more money to play left tackle elsewhere. Peters can’t do that. He’s coming off of two Achilles injuries in the same offseason and already has a bloated contract in place. He can be shifted to right or mentor Joeckel without taking too much leverage away from the move. Then the Eagles have their future left tackle in place without having to risk losing a solid player like Peters unless he proves he can’t reach his All-Pro level of play again.

Detroit Lions – Eric Fisher – OT – Central Michigan

        With Joeckel off the board, the Lions grab their left tackle of the future and give Matthew Stafford some blind side protection. I personally prefer Fisher over Joeckel because I think he’s hungrier to prove how good he is and I think he’ll work harder to improve his game because of the perception that he’s not up to snuff.

Cleveland Browns – Ziggy Ansah – DE/OLB – BYU

        The Browns have other needs, but I don’t think they’re going to address those needs with their first pick, at least not with Dee Milliner being off the board. So they’ll grab a big time talent with raw ability and hope they can duplicate the success the 49ers have had with Aldon Smith. Ansah is that type of talent and can work in a rotation with the talented Jabaal Sheard and the experience Paul Kruger.

Arizona Cardinals – Lane Johnson – OT – Oklahoma

        The Cardinals need to address their offensive line before they can even consider their offense improved. Carson Palmer needs protection so he can make big time down the field throws. They need to give whoever is playing quarterback a blind side protector and with Joeckel and Fisher both gone, Johnson is the pick.  

Buffalo Bills – Geno Smith – QB – West Virginia

        Anyone who thinks that the signing of Kevin Kolb is going to keep the Bills out of the Geno Smith race is mistaken. Kolb’s injury history and in consistencies as a starter place him as a more of a stopgap player or a competitive backup. I think the Bills were covering their bases by grabbing Kolb so they wouldn’t have to trade up for Geno, but with Geno sliding right into their laps, I think he’s the pick.

New York Jets – Dion Jordan – DE/OLB – Oregon

        The Jets need a pass rusher off the edge. This fact hasn’t changed since they whiffed on Vernon Gholston. If anything, it’s become increasingly apparent. With a big gifted athlete like Dion Jordan sliding to them, the Jets should make sue to grab him and begin making their defense elite once more.

Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack – OG – Alabama

        While the Titans added Andy Levitre in free agency, the interior of their line could use another mauler to help open running lanes for Chris Johnson. Warmack brings that kind of strong presence in the run game as well solid pass protection skills.

San Diego Chargers – Cordarelle Patterson – WR – Tennessee

        While the offensive tackle spot is a big need for the Chargers, the receiver spot is a bigger need. While I like both Robert Meachum and Eddie Royal, neither really gelled with Philip Rivers last year and the loss of Vincent Jackson was apparent. Patterson would bring a consistent big play threat to the Chargers and help open up opportunities for the aforementioned receivers to make an impact.

Miami Dolphins – Jarvis Jones – LB – Georgia

        The Dolphins have made major stride this offseason, adding weapon on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, but there is still a lot of work yet to be done. One of the issues the Dolphins have yet to address is a pass rusher opposite Cameron Wake. They could easily go for a defensive end, but I think they may want to give themselves some flexibility here and grab the best pass rushing linebacker in the draft. Grabbing Jarvis Jones will give them a pass rusher similar to Von Miller of the Broncos. That would give them a lot of pass rushing flexibility and give them a major playmaker on defense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Desmond Trufant – CB – Washington

        Whether or not the Buccaneers land Darelle Revis, they have a lot of needs in the defensive backfield. They’re tryng to trade their big corner signing of last year Eric Wright, traded away Aqib Talib and lost EJ Biggers in free agency. They’ll need a pair of starting corners either way. As long as they can hang onto their first round puck this year, I think they try and build their defense with a corner. I think Trufant, who is more physical in the running game than Xavier Rhodes, fits the Tampa attitude better.

Carolina Panthers – Xavier Rhodes – CB – Florida State

        The thought that the Panthers would address their defense with this pick is nothing new. But whiel their defensive tackle position needs to be addressed, the cornerback position has been ravaged the past few years.  Think they’ll help their pass rush by improving their pass coverage. Adding a young corner like Xavier Rhodes would be a major asset in the pass happy NFC South. It would also help Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson reach the quarterback more frequently.

New Orleans Saints – Star Lotulelei – DT – Utah

        With Sedrick Ellis being allowed to walk in free agency, the Saints have a hole at one of their defensive tackle spots. Grabbing arguably the best defensive prospect in the draft would help the tie up blockers to free up pass rushers as well as help them defend the run.

St. Louis Rams – Kenny Vaccaro – S – Texas

        The Rams haven’t had a big time playmaker in the defensive backfield in a long time. They could easily view Kenny Vaccaro as that type of playmaker.

Pittsburgh Steelers – Barkevious Mingo – DE/OLB – LSU

        The Steelers need to address their pass rush since they cut James Harrison. They’ve been attempting to address t in the second round for several years now but I think they continue to view those players (Jason Worilds, Stevenson Sylvester, Chris Carter) as just backups. They could bring in an athletic edge rusher like Mingo to replace Harrison and restore the dominance of the Steeler pass rush.

Dallas Cowboys – Jonathan Cooper – OG – North Carolina 

        While it’s unlikely that Jerry Jones would go this route, it would still make the most sense for the Cowboys. Their offensive line not very good last year, allowing a ton of pressure ot get to Tony Romo and not opening enough running lanes for DeMarco Murray.  Cooper, should he slide this far, could come in and have a stabilizing effect on the interior of that line. Perhaps the induction of Larry Allen into the Hall of Fame will remind Jerry Jones how important guard play is.

New York Giants – Alec Ogletree – LB – Georgia

        The Giants lost their starting middle linebacker Chase Blackburn to free agency and haven’t had a true leader at the middle linebacker spot since Antonio Pierce retired. Ogletree gives them a chance to grab a very athletic linebacker who can defend the run and play the pass well. He’d fit in well in the middle of their defense.

Chicago Bears – D.J. Fluker – OT – Alabama

        The Bears already got a left tackle in Jermon Bushrod, but I don’t think their done building along the offensive line yet. While J’Marcus Webb has been a solid tackle at times, I think the Bears could move him to one of the guard spots and have Fluker play on the right side. They need to help protect Jay Cutler if they want to get their offense to the next level (something every move they made with their coaching staff indicated).

Cincinnati Bengals – Arthur Brown – LB – Kansas State

        The Bengals have no pressing needs, so I think they go for an outside linebacker to help settle their defense. I like Arthur Brown’s athletic ability and willingness to take on blocks in spite of his smallish size. Size helps, but he has a competitive fire that I like. He should bring a great spark and fire to the Bengals linebacking corp.

St. Louis Rams – Eddie Lacy – RB – Alabama

        I don’t care how much the media has decided that running backs don’t matter. Coach Jeff Fisher is in touch with what works in the NFL and I don’t think he’s just going to go into next year without a solid starter. Lacy’s the best running back in this draft and would be a solid pick up to keep pressure off of Sam Bradford.

Minnesota Vikings – Keenan Allen – WR – California

        The Vikings still need receiver help, even though they added a great player in Greg Jennings. Keenan Allen would be a solid compliment to the big play threat that Jennings can provide. They’d still need someone to play the slot, but with Jennings and Allen in the fold, the Vikings offense could take a big step forward.

Indianapolis Colts – Jonathan Cyprien – S – Florida International

        While Antoine Bethea is one of my favorite players, I can admit that the Colts really need to add players for the defensive backfield. I like Cyprien’s competitiveness and athletic ability, as well as his willingness to stick his nose into the run game. I think he could pair well with Bethea on deep zones and could turn into a ballhawk, something the Colts sorely need, as he adjusts to the speed of the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings – Sylvester Williams – DT – North Carolina

        The Vikings have not bothered replacing Pat Williams along the defensive line and Kevin Williams is getting very long in the tooth. Bringing in Sylvester Williams would give the Vikings some good interior pressure and provide another Williams to be the heir apparent to Kevin Williams at the defensive tackle spot.

Green Bay Packers – Margus Hunt – DE – SMU

        I think the Packers look at the production JJ Watt has had in Houston and wants to get their own version of Watt to play with Clay Matthews III. I think they could look at the gifted, though raw Margus Hunt, and his towering 6’8” frame, as the next pass swatting, pass rushing machine. I think he could bust out, but I can’t blame someone for taking a chance on his potential.

Houston Texans – DeAndre Hopkins – WR – Clemson

        I love DeAndre Hopkins’ ability to make big plays and be a quarterback friendly receiver. His only major issue is his very occasional habit of making body catches and whether or not he has the long speed to get away from NFL corners. But I think when playing across from a guy like Andre Johnson, Hopkins can make similar big plays to the ones he made playing for Clemson, taking advantage of single coverage.

Denver Broncos – Bjoern Werner – DE – Florida State

        With Werner sliding this far down the draft, I can easily see the Broncos taking advantage.  Werner is a hardworking, but not incredibly athletic pass rusher who gets more effort sacks than anything else. Somehow, this sounds very similar to the Broncos first pick last year, Derek Wolfe, who had a solid rookie season. With Von Miller demanding numerous double teams, I think Werner will see a lot of one-on-one blocking so he’ll have plenty of chances to show what kind of pass rusher he is.

New England Patriots – Sheldon Richardson – DT – Missouri

        While Richardson only had one dominant season at Missouri, something I normally condemn a player for, I think that team is going to become very infatuated with Richardson’s explosiveness and potential to be a big time playmaker. I think the Patriots could take that risk on him, since they have no major need and plenty of room on the roster to work with. They might envision Richardson rotating with Brandon Deadrick next to Vince Wilfork, as a pass rush specialist.

Atlanta Falcons – Tyler Eifert – TE – Notre Dame

        The Falcons need a young tight end. Eifert is the best tight end in this draft and a steal at the 30^th overall pick on the draft. They could also go corner or defensive end.

San Francisco 49ers – Matt Elam – S – Florida

        I think with the loss of Dashon Golshon was a bigger blow than the 49ers want to let on. With a high second round pick almost guaranteeing that they can get a number two tight end, I think the 49ers go to fill the safety spot with a solid rangy hitter like Matt Elam.

Baltimore Ravens – Manti T’eo – LB – Notre Dame

        This is about as simple as it comes. The Ravesn need an interior linebacker to thump in the running game. Manti T’eo is the man. The loss to Alabama is somewhat troubling and forces him to slide to this point, but I don’t think it’s going to prevent him from making an impact on the NFL.