Matthew Fairburn - Mocking the Draft.com
Welcome to day one of the NFL offseason. We won't have a meaningful snap of football for quite a while, so the only thing left to satisfy our appetite is months of draft talk.
Let's get to it.
1. Kansas City Chiefs - Geno Smith, Quarterback, West Virginia
Geno Smith is far from a slam dunk to be the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, but this pick still makes the most sense. The Chiefs have a desperate need at quarterback, and Smith is the draft's highest-ranked player at that position. This pick could change between now and April, but when a team doesn't have a quarterback, that's the biggest need. This will be a fun pick to debate over the next few months.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars - Barkevious Mingo, Defensive End, LSU
The Jaguars' pass rush has been a sore spot for quite some time. Barkevious Mingo would be a huge upgrade for a defense in need of playmakers. New coach Gus Bradley will need some pieces for his defense, and Mingo would make an ideal LEO in Jacksonville. He is a lengthy pass rusher with incredible burst off the snap.
Does any team need to address the front seven more than the Raiders? Star Lotulelei didn't put up impressive numbers this season at Utah, but he faced consistent double teams and proved to be dominant at the point of attack. He has scheme versatility and a world of upside.
4. Philadelphia Eagles - Luke Joeckel, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M
Luke Joeckel would be an obvious choice for the Eagles if the Chiefs pass on him with the No. 1 pick. Jason Peters is a huge question mark given his injury, and Philadelphia can't afford to have the offensive line issues they had in 2012 for another season. The position needs to be addressed.
5. Detroit Lions - Ezekiel Ansah, Defensive End, BYU
Defensive end is the only missing piece to an otherwise solid Detroit Lions defensive line. The Lions staff worked closely with Ezekiel Ansah at the Senior Bowl and he had a huge week. He's not a finished product, but he has a wider array of moves than most give him credit for. This pick is a bit out of left field, but hey, it's February.
6. Cleveland Browns - Damontre Moore, Defensive End, Texas A&M
The Browns plan to run multiple fronts under new defensive coordinator Ray Horton. The team is in severe need of a pass rusher, and Damontre Moore played in both the 3-4 and the 4-3 while at Texas A&M. He would make a ton of sense here.
7. Arizona Cardinals - Eric Fisher, Left Tackle, Central Michigan
Another player who made waves at the Senior Bowl was Eric Fisher. While Fisher tends to struggle with the bull rush, his athleticism and technique make him a potential anchor on the left side. The Cardinals need to fix the offensive line before they worry about anything else.
New defensive coordinator Mike Pettine throws a wrench into the equation with this pick. He's a creative defensive mind who likes to attack the offense in a number of different ways. Dion Jordan is the perfect piece for his puzzle due to his versatility and explosiveness off the edge.
9. New York Jets - Tyler Wilson, Quarterback, Arkansas
Mark Sanchez had a disastrous season, and the Jets desperately need to address the quarterback position. New York could choose to address the position through trade or free agency, but the possibility of Alex Smith or Mike Vick can't be too exciting. Tyler Wilson would bring a live arm and tons of competitiveness to an offense that could use both at the quarterback position.
10. Tennessee Titans - Kenny Vaccaro, Safety, Texas
Safety is a big need for the Titans, and Kenny Vaccaro is a player that should find a home in the first half of round one. He is head and shoulders above the rest of this safety class given his physicality at the line of scrimmage and ability to play man-to-man coverage in the slot. Vaccaro is also an excellent athlete.
A former quarterback and tight end, Lane Johnson has developed into a bookend tackle prospect during his time at Oklahoma. He is very light on his feet and exhibits ideal body control in space. Johnson won't blow you away with his strength, but the upside warrants this pick for the Chargers, who badly need some help on the offensive line.
12. Miami Dolphins - Jarvis Jones, Linebacker, Georgia
With only Cameron Wake to get after the passer, the Dolphins need to find another weapon. Jarvis Jones slips a bit because of his past spinal injury and lack of a counter move once he's initially stopped on the pass rush. Still, the upside warrants a top-15 pick.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Dee Milliner, Cornerback, Alabama
Dee Milliner will be a dangerous cornerback in the right scheme, but he's not a lock to be dominant in the NFL. He plays the boundary well and has the ability to read and react on the football. Given his size, Milliner also plays the game with a physical edge. Does he have the ability to dominate in man coverage? Maybe not. But after losing Aqib Talib, cornerback has become one of Tampa Bay's biggest needs.
The Panthers can't continue to ignore the hole in the middle of their defensive line, right? Sheldon Richardson is sure to blow up at the combine given his athleticism. He had a huge junior season and would actually be a value pick at this spot.
For the record, Bjoern Werner is my top ranked 4-3 defensive end in this draft. With the abundance of pass rushers in this class and the variety of schemes at the top of the draft, Werner could slide. Either way, expect the Saints to have a shot at one of the top defensive ends in this class, which is exactly what they need.
Rams fans would be doing backflips if Chance Warmack is still available at the No. 16 pick. He's one of the best draft prospects to come along in some time and has more than enough ability to warrant selection in the top half of the first round.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jesse Williams, Defensive Tackle, Alabama - Scouting Report
Jesse Williams displays an impressive combination of size and athleticism. He moves around well for a big man and would fill a huge need for the Steelers at nose tackle. It's about time for Pittsburgh to retool the Steel Curtain.
18. Dallas Cowboys - Jonathan Cooper, Guard, North Carolina
If Chance Warmack is the best guard prospect to come around in years, Jonathan Cooper isn't too far behind. He has picture-perfect technique both when firing out of his stance and when pulling across the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys need all sorts of help on the offensive line. Tony Romo would appreciate a bit of help up front.
The Giants are one of the best teams in the league at collecting value in the draft, and this is just another example of that. Xavier Rhodes could be the best cornerback in this class, depending on who you ask, and his ability to play physical, man-to-man coverage will be a welcome addition to the Giants secondary.
20. Chicago Bears - D.J. Fluker, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
D.J. Fluker probably doesn't have the quick feet or athleticism to protect Jay Cutler's blindside, but he's an absolute mauler in the running game. The Alabama tackle should be a huge upgrade on the right side of Chicago's offensive line from day one. He's going to find a home in the first round by the time it's all said and done.
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Arthur Brown, Linebacker, Kansas State
Arthur Brown and the Cincinnati Bengals are a match made in heaven. Some may look at Brown and see an undersized linebacker, but there is nothing small about how he plays the position. He is a stack and shed linebacker who can cover as well as any player at his position in this draft class.
22. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins) - Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver, California - Scouting Report
Keenan Allen's late-season injury is causing him to go unnoticed in the pre-draft process. Make no mistake, Allen is the best wide receiver in this class and a steal this late in the first round. He battled maddening quarterback play this past season, but he is a physical wideout with the speed to stretch the defense deep.
23. Minnesota Vikings - DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson
Assuming Percy Harvin is still a Viking in 2013, Minnesota will need to add a complementary threat to give the passing game a boost. Tavon Austin is too similar to Harvin to be the pick, but Hopkins would make plenty of sense. His body control, route running and hands continually stood out this season.
The Indianapolis Colts had one of the league's worst defensive lines in 2012. With Josh Chapman plugged in as the nose tackle in the team's 3-4 defense, the Colts need to solidify the end positions. Sharrif Floyd is a perfect fit given his length and quickness.
25. Seattle Seahawks - Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver, West Virginia
The Seahawks' passing game is just waiting to break out. With the emergence of Russell Wilson, the Seahawks need to continue to surround their young quarterback with weapons. Tavon Austin would be the ultimate weapon and make this offense a handful for defenses.
26. Green Bay Packers - Kevin Minter, Linebacker, LSU
The Packers need a new attitude in the middle of their defense after they were completely gashed by the San Francisco 49ers. Kevin Minter brings some fire, advanced play recognition and the athleticism to play sideline to sideline.
27. Houston Texans - Cordarrelle Patterson, Wide Receiver, Tennessee
The 2013 NFL Draft class is strong at wide receiver, particularly in the first two rounds. The way this mock draft is playing out, a wide receiver run at the bottom of the first round makes a lot of sense. Cordarrelle Patterson would provide the Texans' passing game with a much needed spark across from Andre Johnson.
28. Denver Broncos - D.J. Swearinger, Safety, South Carolina
D.J. Swearinger is a force in the secondary. He's got a ton of athleticism and plays the ball in the air as well as any defensive back in this class. Swearinger played some cornerback and safety while at South Carolina, so the Broncos will have some flexibility in how they use Swearinger.
29. New England Patriots - Quinton Patton, Wide Receiver, Louisiana Tech
Not a household name at this point, Quinton Patton was one of the most consistent players in the country this season. Given his precise route running and solid hands, some have compared him to Reggie Wayne. The Patriots can't get by another season without upgrading the wide receiver spot.
30. Atlanta Falcons - Giovani Bernard, Running Back, North Carolina
The Falcons' running game was inconsistent throughout the 2012 season. Jacquizz Rodgers proved that he can't be counted on as the team's featured running back, andMichael Turner is on his last legs. Giovani Bernard has the tools to be an every-down back in the NFL.
31. San Francisco 49ers - Jonathan Cyprien, Safety, Florida International
The Super Bowl exposed the 49ers' weakness in the secondary. Jonathan Cyprien may be a bit of a longshot for the first round, but it's tough to find too many safeties with a more complete game than Cyprien. The choice of A.J. Jenkins a year ago shows that the Niners aren't afraid to step outside the box.
32. Baltimore Ravens - Logan Ryan, Cornerback, Rutgers
The Ravens may have won the Super Bowl, but they still could use some pieces in the secondary. Lardarius Webb will be back from his knee injury, but another corner would be a big help for Baltimore. Logan Ryan fits perfectly with Baltimore's defensive mindset. He's a competitive and physical cornerback.
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