2013 NFL Mock Draft

          Trying to mock this year’s NFL Draft is the equivalent of filling out a March Madness bracket: there is almost no use.  I mean, the top pick seems to have changed the day of the draft; when is the last time that happened?  Even Mario Williams was known the night before.  With that said, I decided to lessen the pre-draft coverage and focus more after the draft on who went where and how the Cowboys did. 

1.      Kansas City Chiefs

       Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

                 This seemed to have been Luke Joeckel since the end of the bowl season, but apparently the Chiefs management and Andy Reid have decided that Fisher is the better option.  Kansas City was looking to trade out of the spot, but could not find the right value.

2.      Jacksonville Jaguars

Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon

            The Jaguars have Eugene Monroe who is more than capable at left tackle, but their sack total as a team last year (20) was less than a good J.J. Watt or Demarcus Ware season.  Dion Jordan has the highest upside of any pass rusher in the draft and would fit perfectly in their 4-3 defense.

3.      Oakland Raiders

Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida     

            This is the swing point in the draft.  The Raiders have more holes than almost anybody so they could pick a wide variety of people from Floyd, to Dee Milliner, to Luke Joeckel to trading the pick to acquire more.  I think the Raiders might be able to deal the pick to the Chargers or Cardinals who would want to get Joeckel, but for the time being if they stay at 3 then the pick would be Floyd. 

4.      Philadelphia Eagles

Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

            The Eagles line was absolutely porous last season so the pick will almost certainly be a tackle.  If a trade happens and Joeckel goes at 3, then Lane Johnson would be the pick.  However, Chip Kelly would have to be pretty happy to get the near consensus top player overall picking fourth.

5.      Detroit Lions

       Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

                  The Lions need offensive line help, and Lane Johnson’s availability would be tempting, but Detroit has fallen in love with Ansah to combine with Fairley and Suh up front.  This would give them the best young D-line in the league.

6.      Cleveland Browns

Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

After listening to new front office man Mike Lombardi on The Ticket and B.S. Reports for the past couple of years, I know that he will want to trade down and get more picks.  I also know to never under-rate how much NFL GM’s will OVER-rate quarterbacks in the draft.  Just look back to the 2011 when four quarterbacks went in the first 12 picks, even though only one had a first round grade (Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker and Christian Ponder).  Someone will reach on Geno, whether it’s the Browns or a trading partner.

7.      Arizona Cardinals

Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

            Arizona would be perfectly happy in this scenario, as they would get the third best tackle on the board in a spot that they absolutely need help.  Another way to guess that Johnson will go to the Cardinals: he has the most “bust” potential of any of the top linemen since he Is a former quarterback, which would fit right in with the recent Cardinals’ draft picks.

8.      Buffalo Bills

Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse

            Some GM’s have Nassib as the top quarterback on their board, and I would bet that his college coach is one of them.  Doug Marrone has been deceivingly quiet about Nassib which leads me to believe that the Bills were hoping that he would slip to the second round.  However, I think that Nassib’s stock has soared too high and he will not last that long.

9.      New York Jets

Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU

            The Jets have really not had a quality pass-rusher in the Rex Ryan era, and I think they finally get one in Mingo.  The athletic specimen has the speed and agility to play the Demarcus Ware role on the outside in New York’s 3-4 scheme. 

10.   Tennessee Titans

Jonathon Cooper, OG, North Carolina

            The interior of the Titan line is the biggest weakness on the team: just ask Chris Johnson.  While I think Warmack is the better prospect, Cooper is rated higher by most experts so I think the Titans will go that route.  Dee Milliner could also be in play here if he has slipped this far and Tennessee has him high enough on their board.

11.   San Diego Chargers

D. J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

            The Chargers desperately need help on their offensive line: just ask Phillip Rivers.  If San Diego could guarantee getting Fluker at 11, then the trade up might not be in play.  However, if the Chargers do not believe that can happen or that Fluker is worth the slot, I truly believe they are the best candidate to trade up for Joeckel or Johnson.

12.   Miami Dolphins

Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

            While corner is not the Dolphins’ most pressing need, there are not any more tackles left in this draft thread worth the pick.  Should any of the top four slip, then the Dolphins would probably pounce.  However, they are not getting too bad of a consolation in the best corner (albeit a weak overall group) of the draft.

13.   New York Jets (from Tampa Bay)

Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

            Quick: who are the Jets’ starting wide receivers right now?  Yeah, Jeremy Kerley and Jordan White.  New York is in dire need of a playmaker, and Austin will provide that.  Whether it is in the slot, out of the backfield or in the return game, Tavon Austin is easily the most explosive player in the draft.

14.   Carolina Panthers

Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

            While the prospect of getting Austin has to make Cam Newton salivate, this would be the perfect scenario for the Panthers as a whole.  The middle of their defensive line is the biggest weakness on the team and Lotulelei is rated by some as the best overall player, let alone best defensive tackle, in the draft.

15.   New Orleans Saints

Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

            Jones has the speed to play outside linebacker in the Rob Ryan’s 3-4 scheme and I just feel like the Saints will go this way.  I mean, they are starting Victor Butler as of right now.  Cowboys’ fans know what that means.

16.   St. Louis Rams

Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

            The Rams could make a play to move up and get Tavon Austin, but I think they will be fine with staying put and getting the best safety in the draft.  Receivers can be found later, but Vaccaro gives the Rams a defensive presence in the back end that they sorely need.

17.   Pittsburgh Steelers

Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

            Heath Miller might be hurting at the beginning of the season and he is on the wrong side of 30.  Eifert will provide a more athletic replacement and can give the Steelers matchup advantages in 2-TE sets.  If Jarvis Jones is still there, I would think Pittsburgh would take him as James Harrison’s replacement.

18.   Dallas Cowboys

Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama

            I know, I know, I am being a homer that worked his mock out to fit the Cowboys best case scenario.  Before you dismiss it, I do believe that if Nassib is reached on by the Bills or someone else, than this is a real possibility.  If Warmack is gone though, I would not be mad about Dallas picking up Sheldon Richardson to fortify the D-Line.

19.   New York Giants

D. J. Hayden, CB, Houston

            The Giants could use some youth on the O-line, but I think Coughlin and Company realize that corner will be the more pressing need.  In a division with Tony Romo slinging it everywhere, and the run-based offenses of RGIII and Chip Kelly, cornerbacks will be needed to play man much more than usual.  Hayden will be able to provide the Giants that.

20.   Chicago Bears

Manti Te’o, MLB, Notre Dame

            Brian Urlacher’s replacement.  I have nothing else to say about Te’o after he burned me for supporting his Heisman campaign.

21.   Cincinnati Bengals

Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

            The Bengals need a back and really do not have many other glaring holes.  They will try to move down and still grab Lacy but they may not be able to find a partner for the right price.  Safety is also an option, where I think they would go Eric Reid.

22.   St. Louis Rams (from Washington)

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

            The Rams need a playmaking wide receiver on the outside, especially now that Danny Amendola is in New England.  Patterson has the most upside of any of the receivers in this draft, although I would be worried that he has only one year against top competition and he did not receive much attention from defenses playing opposite Justin Hunter.

23.   Minnesota Vikings

Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

            The Vikings were probably hoping to get Sylvester Williams to slip this far, but would be perfectly happy in this scenario.  Richardson will fill the middle of the d-line that has been sub-par since the dismantling on the Williams’ brothers, and can still address their receiver situation later on.

24.     Indianapolis Colts

Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

            The Colts pass defense is in major need of an overhaul, and Rhodes can provide a good start to it.  The former Seminole has great size for a corner as well as plus catch-up speed. 

25.  Minnesota Vikings (From Seattle)

Alec Ogletree, MLB, Georgia

               While receiver is tempting, I think the Vikings are realizing that they are going to win games with AP and their defense.  By adding Ogletree and Richardson, Minnesota stabilizes the middle of its defense for years to come.

26.  Green Bay Packers

Justin Pugh, OG, Syracuse

            Cut to Aaron Rodgers breathing a sigh of relief.  If Lacy is still on the board, he could be an option, but I think the Packers will go with the best linemen available.  With the way this board is, I think Pugh will be their best bet as he is a versatile guard that can play almost anywhere along the line.

27.  Houston Texans

Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

            Wide receiver will almost assuredly be the pick unless the Texans have a much higher grade on one of the next few tackles (O or D) left.  The question will be which receiver will Houston go with.  I think Hunter best complements Andre Johnson’s skills.  He has the size to play outside, but the burst to play in the slot.

28.  Denver Broncos

Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

            I think this pick comes down to the two Seminole defensive ends, and while Carradine is more NFL-ready, I see the Broncos taking Werner.  With Von Miller on one side, the pass rush does not need immediate help as much but long-term.  Werner is a project, but he could have a J.J. Watt ability to affect the game from the defensive end spot.

29.  New England Patriots

Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

            The Patriots do not have a pressing need on their interior defensive line, but this is why they remain a top team: they find value every year.  Williams is probably a top-15 player in this draft and the Patriots would happily scoop him up at 29.  Should he be gone, New England will look at OT Watson or CB Trufant.

30.  Atlanta Falcons

Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

            Defensive end is a more pressing need, but I do not think the Falcons have that high of a grade on Datone Jones.  Trufant will fill the second biggest need as a cover corner that is a sure tackler.

31.  San Francisco 49ers

Johnathan Cyprien, S, Florida International

            San Francisco needs to replace Dashon Goldson and Cyprien is most likely that guy.  They could look at Eric Reid, but Cyprien is a more physical player matching with the San Francisco style.

32.  Baltimore Ravens

Eric Reid, S, LSU

            A short run of safeties ends the first round as the Ravens look to replace Ed Reed with almost the same name.  Matt Elam or Cyprien could also be options, or a middle linebacker like Kevin Minter, but I think the Ravens need to replace Reed’s ballhawking skills which Reid is the best fit.