NFL MOCK DRAFT

3-17-13

by Bo Marchionte

13-03-17

PICK	TEAM	PLAYER	BIG SCHOOL
1	*Kansas City Chiefs*	Luke Joeckel, OT	Texas A&M
Andy Reid knows the value of offensive linemen especially after Jason Peters was lost for the season in Philly. Joeckel is the top guy on my board, and it's only deserving he is the first player selected in the 2013 NFL Draft. It's unusually early to determine, but Reid can do wonders with quarterbacks. Alex Smith should be new center piece on Reid's offense.
2	*Jacksonville Jaguars*	Bjoern Werner, DE	Georgia
The Jaguars swing plenty on defensive ends and tackles and usually whiff. J.J. Watt had more sacks 20.5 than the Jaguars had as a team in 2012 with 20. Werner gives the starved pass rush team some pulse. The Jaguars and Chiefs now find themselves in desirable selections. It was not that far off where it looked like those picks might not warrant much attention. Those days are now gone. Teams like Philadelphia, Arizona and Buffalo could all come knocking on the door to move up. Likely both Jacksonville and Kansas City could drop and still land the desired positions even players they wanted up top.
3	*Oakland Raiders*	Shariff Floyd, DT	Florida
Oakland finished second to last in sacks (25) in 2012. Richard Seymour enters his 14th season in 2013 which likely paves the way for Floyd to wear the Black-N-Silver next season. Oakland could basically select any position in this draft and have a upgrade, but the defensive line is likely to be addressed with first overall selection.
4	*Philadelphia Eagles*	Geno Smith, QB	West Virginia
Staying healthy and cutting down on turnovers haven't been in the cards for Michael Vick of late. Before training camp starts, Vick will be 33 years old completing only one regular season schedule (2006) since being the first overall pick in 2001. New head coach Chip Kelly wants to avoid the opportunity to be drafting a franchise quarterback this high in the future, so he takes Geno Smith.
5	*Detroit Lions*	Eric Fisher, OT	Central Michigan
The retirement of Jeff Backus leaves a void at left tackle. Matthew Stafford is still labeled some what suspect in terms of durable after several stints with injuries. Fisher is a perfect fit for Lions.
6	*Cleveland Browns*	Dee Millner	Alabama
Everyone knows Joe Haden has the potential to be a significant corner in the league. The addition of Paul Kruger takes some of the pressure of Cleveland to use it's first pick on the front seven. Sheldon Brown is a free agent and turning 34 years doesn't help his free agent market value long term. Dee Milliner considered the top corner in the draft gives the Browns two book ends on the edges.
7	*Arizona Cardinals*	Matt Barkley, QB	USC
The Cardinals apparently are putting quarterback at the top of their list with the recent release of Kevin Kolb. The remaining quarterbacks John Skelton, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Lindley and recently signed Drew Stanton. The recent signing of Stanton who played as a reserve capacity for Bruce Arians last season in Indianapolis, it seems a stretch the Cardinals fail to address quarterback. Wear a gasmask from the smoke screen the Cardinals are using to say they likely won't select a quarterback early. Stanton hasn't thrown a pass in a game since 2010. A 55.6 career passer rating along with nine interceptions and 17 sacks in 13 games he's appeared in. Matt Barkley now looks to be top ten pick. Larry Fitzgerald arguably one of the top players at receiver and the face of the Arizona franchise wallowed through his worst statistic season since his rookie year in 2004. Fitzgerald also had his streak of five straight 1,000 yard season broken with second lowest total (798) of his career.
8	*Buffalo Bills*	Barkevious Mingo, OLB	LSU
Buffalo enters this off-season with Tarvaris Jackson the likely starter in September after releasing Ryan Fitzpatrick. Only weeks ago it looked as if most teams would not have to jockey for the position on the top quarterback available. It now appears both the Bills and Arizona Cardinals could be looking for trading partners. Expect to see plenty of action in the coming weeks with the top eight selections overall. The last two NFL Drafts have had three quarterbacks selected in the top ten picks. This year's draft could mirror the same results. Cincinnati drafted Andy Dalton at the top of round two and isn't out of the question Buffalo follows the same route. If they stay I think they avoid quarterback until second round. If they move up then obviously they take quarterback. Mingo gives some life to lifeless pass.
9	*New York Jets*	Jarvis Jones, OLB	Georiga
Coach Ryan might of done the best job in the league with the least amount of talent. The defense is where his team excels and putting big time players on it will be the first thing on the to do list. The defense wasn't much of a force in 2014. The linebackers combined for 14.5 sacks in 2012. Since 2008, when the Jets selected Vernon Gholston with the sixth pick overall they have been craving an outside linebacker to bring big play making ability to the position. Jones is a top five talent.
10	*Tennessee Titans*	Chance Warmack, G	Alabama
Chris Johnson is the face of this franchise and building around him can only help. The more he excels the more the offense opens up allowing for the whole operation to perform that much better. Plus the age of their offensive line is nearing the end. Michael Roos was selected in the second round back in 2005 the last time they addressed the position that early on draft day. Their tackles enter year nine and offensive line needs to be addressed.
11	*San Diego Chargers*	Lane Johnson, OT	Oklahoma
The Chargers should look to piece together some new faces to plug into the offensive line. Philip Rivers drives the Chargers offense and protecting him and giving him more time in the pocket to operate all comes down to building the offensive line up around him. Might be one of the best fits for talent and team need. Johnson could walk into starting job in 2013.
12	*Miami Dolphins*	Jonathan Cooper, OG	North Carolina
The Dolphins are making the big slpash in free agency, but still can use help on the interior of the offensive line. The o-line wasn't awful in 2012, but upgrades are in order. Cooper allows more safety to second year quarterback Ryan Tannehill which allows for more deep connections to new receiver Mike Wallace.
13	*Tampa Bay Buccaneers*	Star Lotulelei, DT	Utah
Roy Miller helped provide Tampa Bay with top run defense in the league last season. He signed with Jacksonville leaving a gapping hole in the heart of the unit. Star Lotulelei is spacious enough and then some to fill that hole. Dashon Goldson provides more safety help, but cornerback still could be addressed with this selection. Value of board puts Lotulelei on deck.
14	*Carolina Panthers*	Sheldon Richardson, DE	Missouri
Receiver would not shock me here especially considering Steve Smith is only real threat in the passing as he enters 13th season in 2013. That all said I still think they address the defensive line first. Alabama DT Jessie Williams would also be solid fit.
15	*New Orleans Saints*	Ezekiel Ansah, DE	BYU
The Saints finished second worst in points allowed (28.4) and last in yards allowed (440.1) in 2012. Look for New Orleans to address defense plenty by all means necessary in both the NFL Draft and free agency. Ansah will be replacement for Will Smith who enters final phase of his Saints career.
16	*St. Louis Rams*	Kenny Vaccaro, FS	Texas
Craig Dahl is a free agent and Quintin Mikell is solid, but turns 33. The defensive units for St. Louis aren't flashy, but they get results. Vaccaro is up and coming safety who fits the style of defense that Jeff Fisher likes. Was hard to turn my back on the Rams taking a receiver here, but hey there is always more mock drafts coming.
17	*Pittsburgh Steelers*	Cordarrelle Patterson, WR	Tennessee
The Steelers are undeniably teeter tottering on being one of the top teams in the NFL or falling off quickly. The defense returns at the moment five starters over 32 years old. The offense lost it's top players in Rashard Mendenhall and Mike Wallace. Early on it seemed that defense was going to be the land slide selection over the offense in round one, but now I'm not so sure. Ben Roethlisberger will look into a secondary knowing they know there is no true threat on offense. Patterson gives Roethlisberger the big target he likes to see in down field.
18	*Dallas Cowboys*	Kawann Short, DT	Purdue
Looks like oversized defensive end and Cowboys will like versatility and athleticism in the new defensive scheme.
19	*New York Giants*	Datone Jones, DE	UCLA
Eli Manning is the franchise, but when people think about the heart of the New York Giants success they think of Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck and the defensive line. Osi Umenyiora is not likely to return and will enter 11th season if he does. Justin Tuck's production has fallen. Jason Pierre-Paul can not do it alone and won't be able to. GM/Jerry Reese will deliever like always just a matter of DT or DE.
20	*Chicago Bears*	Manti Te'o, ILB	Notre Dame
The Bears allowed the eighth highest sack total (44), but where 28th overall in pass attempts. If you can do the math it basically means they were terrible in protecting their quarterbacks. The offensive line remains a critical position that needs to be addressed. That all said the board value might not go in the Bears favor with need meeting first round value. Notre Dame's Manti Te'o gets the nod. Te'o I after it's all said and done I think still remains a first round pick at the end of the day. I've seen crazier things happen. Remember both, Tim Tebow and Sebastian Janikowski were first round picks.
21	*Cincinnati Bengals*	Dion Jordan, DE	Oregon
The Bengals are stacked with talent on the defensive front and know they will be paying to keep those players in house. Jordan gives the Bengals some leverage in up coming contract talks, and they also get a pretty darn talented weapon on defense. Jordan can bring a lot of versatility to the edge as a pass rush specialist.
22	St. Louis Rams (via Wash.)	D.J. Fluker, OG/OT	Alabama
D.J. Fluker gives the Rams a guy to help put some faith in the front line. The Rams could use more consistency on the offensive line and Fluker is real steal this late. Likely moved to guard Fluker helps in case neither free agent OLG Robert Turner and ORT Barry Richardson return.
23	*Minnesota Vikings*	Xavier Rhodes, CB	FSU
Rhodes won't make Vikings fans forget long time great Antoine Winfield being let go, but he will help in the heeling process. Rhodes is a powerful physical corner that can match up nicely with the likes of Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall. Two players the Vikings will face twice each season. Other needs like on the defensive interior may warrant greater concern, but Rhodes is the greater value on the board this late.
24	*Indianapolis Colts*	Eddie Lacy, RB	Alabama
Fifth round pick Vick Ballard earned the starting job by mid-season last year for the Colts, a lackluster unit overall. The Colts have addressed many of their off-season needs through free agency. Which leads me to go out on a ledge and say they get Lacy. The offense is predicated on a power run game and nobody if this draft class fits that bill more than Lacy.
25	*Minnesota Vikings*	Jonathan Hankins, DT	Ohio State
It's no secret that long time stand out Kevin Williams nearing an end of a great NFL career. Wide receiver looked like early need until the Vikings signed former Green Bay Packers wide out Greg Jennings. The release of Antoine Winfield also opens a need in the secondary for Minnesota. Washington defensive back Desmond Trufant or Ohio State defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins look like early candidates putting on a Vikings cap next. The secondary looks better at this point in my opinion than the defensive line making Hankins the selection.
26	*Green Bay Packers*	Damontre Moore, DE	Texas A&M
Putting another legit playmaker opposite is pressing need for Packers. Clay Matthews can't carry the defensive load alone. Moore likely could very well be gone by the time this card is handed to the commissioner. Moore's draft stock took a plunge after less than desirable combine and pro days numbers where posted on his behalf. NFL scouts and coaches always say "Film, film film" is the best evaluator, and if that's the case then Moore should be top ten pick.
27	*Houston Texans*	Keenan Allen, WR	Cal
Andre Johnson is still one of the elite receiver in the NFL. Time was on the side of Mick Jagger his Rolling Stones, but it's not on the side of Johnson. When the season kicks off Johnson will be 32 and Allen can help alleviate some of the attention the Pro Bowler attracts.
28	*Denver Broncos*	Desmond Trufant, CB	Washington
Champ Bailey will have a new pupil to teach in 2013. Trufant is a wonderful value pick at 28 overall in the draft.
29	New England Patriots	Tavon Austin, WR	West Virginia
The Patriots have plenty of weapons on offense. The one glaring absence is the presence of a deep threat vertical weapon. Austin has the speed to burn that give Belichick another way to aggregate defensive coordinators.
30	*Atlanta Falcons*	Alex Okafor, DE	Texas
Okafor is better than 30th overall but once I started plugging in names he wound up here. Talented as any of the other ends in this draft class, Atlanta gets a gift at 30th overall.
31	*San Francisco 49ers*	Jesse Williams, DT	Alabama
Thinking Matt Elam, safety from Florida or Georgia defensive tackle John Jenkins. Free agency cost the 49ers Dashon Golden who went east to Tampa Bay. Justin Smith is the front man for Aldon Smith to cause havoc on opposing quarterbacks. These two positions are likely the top needs in April. Defensive linemen Ricky Jean-Francois (Indianapolis Colts) and Isaac Sopoaga (Philadelphia Eagles) both left via free agency leaving the 49ers looking to add depth and youth. Jesse Williams is the fourth player from Alabama drafted.
32	*Baltimore Ravens*	Kevin Minter, ILB	LSU
Minter could be first inside linebacker selected ahead of Manti Te'o. The different values placed on Te'o make him hard to peg at this point. How teams will ultimately decide on Te'o will tell us if Minter is off the board already. Minter has some pretty big shoes to fill with the absence of future HOF'er Ray Lewis heading into retirement.