1. Kansas City Chiefs – OT from Texas A&M – Luke Joeckel – With Alex Smith now their QB, they need a LT. The best LT in the draft is Joeckel despite the rise from Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher. Joeckel should be their LT for at least 10 years.
Alternative Pick: OT from Central Michigan – Eric Fisher
2. Jacksonville Jaguars – DE from Florida State – Bjoern Werner – This team is terrible at getting after the quarterback. Werner is without question the best DE in the draft and is the first DE off the board for sure.
Alternative Pick: DE/OLB from Oregon – Dion Jordan
3. Oakland Raiders – DT from Florida – Sharrif Floyd – Richard Seymour isn’t as productive as he used to be and won’t be with the team next year. I don’t see how you can pass this guy up especially when your defense only had 23 total sacks. Loutelli is still not medically cleared and until that happens and he participates in Utah’s pro day, Floyd is the guy for the Oakland Raiders. They need him the most out of any team.
Alternative Pick: NT from Utah – Star Loutelli
4. Philadelphia Eagles – DE/OLB from Oregon – Dion Jordan – Chip Kelly is starting his NFL coaching career in Philly and in my opinion; the Eagles are going to bring in Dion Jordan of Oregon to let him start his career in Philly also. Jordan put up incredible numbers at the combine and will be a great fit as that hybrid rusher for the Eagles’ new 3-4 defense. The only two players I see giving Jordan a run for his money is Jarvis Jones and Eric Fisher.
Alternative Pick: OT from Central Michigan – Eric Fisher
5. Detroit Lions – CB from Alabama – Dee Milliner – I’ve liked Milliner since day one but I never thought the Lions would take a look at him because of where they are drafting. To add to that, they took three cornerbacks in last year’s draft. With Chris Houston set to hit the free agent market and a guy like Milliner being available, there’s no way the Lions can pass him up. Milliner impressed everyone in the combine and people like Peter King of Sports Illustrated have stated that ‘if any team wants Milliner, they have to get ahead of the Lions’. That tells me that he heard something at the combine and I trust his word.
Alternative Pick: OLB from Georgia – Jarvis Jones
6. Cleveland Browns – DE/OLB from LSU – Barkevious Mingo – Milliner would have been a Brown a few weeks ago in my previous mock draft, now he’s a Lion so stepping up next for Cleveland is Barkevious Mingo. His time at the combine was a 4.6 in the 40 yard dash and he is being considered a top 10 talent. With Mingo and Ansah being almost identical I was forced to pick one, for me I’m going with Mingo to the Browns.
Alternative Pick: DE from BYU – Ezekiel Ansah
7. Arizona Cardinals – OT from Central Michigan – Eric Fisher – If it wasn’t for the Senior Bowl, Combine and Taylor Lewan, nobody would be talking about Eric Fisher. As much as they need a franchise QB, they need someone to protect that guy. Fisher should be that guy and could be considered a steal in some peoples mind at this spot. I think Arizona will be looking at Mike Glennon in that second round.
Alternative Pick: QB from West Virginia – Geno Smith
8. Buffalo Bills – QB from West Virginia – Geno Smith – They’ve been looking for a franchise QB for years and I think they’ve finally found one. With players like Dion Jordan and Eric Fisher on the rise, Smith falls to the Bills who hope to build their offense around him.
Alternative Pick: WR from Tennessee – Cordarrelle Patterson
9. New York Jets – QB from USC – Matt Barkley – What are the odds that two USC QB’s are on the same team and aren’t at USC? I’m not a huge fan of Barkley but I’ll take him over Mark Sanchez.
Alternative Pick: FS from Texas – Kenny Vaccarro
10. Tennessee Titans – OG from Alabama – Chance Warmack – The Titans are seeing the repercussions have giving Chris Johnson all that money which in my opinion isn’t worth it. To make it seem like Johnson is worth that money you have to help out your interior offensive line so why not take the best guard in the draft? It makes sense for the future of this offense as Warmack is a beast.
Alternative Pick: CB from Florida State – Xavier Rhodes
11. San Diego Chargers – OT from Oklahoma – Lane Johnson – With Eric Fisher and Chance Warmack being taken off the board, Lane Johnson is next up for the offensive lineman. Not a bad pick as he’s been impressive in recent weeks. It makes sense for the Chargers who need to shore up their offensive line anyways.
Alternative Pick: OLB from Georgia – Jarvis Jones
12. Miami Dolphins – CB from Florida State – Xavier Rhodes – Take a cornerback since you traded away a perfectly good Vonte Davis last offseason. Rhodes would be a good fit in Miami also since Sean Smith could be on the move.
Alternative Pick: WR from Tennessee – Cordarelle Patterson
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – FS from Texas – Kenny Vaccaro – Ronde Barber is probably going to retire and Aqib Talib is a Patriot now. Vaccaro can help the secondary right away.
Alternative Pick: OT from Oklahoma – Lane Johnson
14. Carolina Panthers – DT from Missouri – Sheldon Richardson – This pick will all depend on if the Panthers can sign a big named free agent at WR. They’re hoping to either land Wes Welker, Dwayne Bowe, Mike Wallace or Greg Jennings. If they don’t do that, this pick will either Cordarrelle Patterson of Tennessee or Tavon Austin from West Virginia.
Alternative Pick: WR from Tennessee – Cordarrelle Patterson
15. New Orleans Saints – OLB from Georgia – Jarvis Jones – Yes, he dropped. He’s had “positive” reviews from medical doctors. That’s not going to cut it for me. When he’s cleared completely I’ll see where he goes but until then he’s a top 15 pick and I think pick number 15 is perfect for him. The Saints are switching to a 3-4 defense and could use a guy like Jones who could be an instant playmaker.
Alternative Pick: DE from BYU –Ezekiel Ansah
16. St. Louis Rams – OG from North Carolina – Jonathan Cooper – Steven Jackson can’t stay healthy (opted out of his contract as well) and Sam Bradford needs protection. Get him some protection and then add some weapons later on. Offense should be the main focus for the Rams.
Alternative Pick: WR from Tennessee – Cordarrelle Patterson
17. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR from Tennessee – Cordarrelle Patterson – Mike Wallace is soon to be a free agent and the odds of him coming back are quite slim. I have Patterson as the number one WR in my new big board. I think the Steelers take a risk here even though they usually play it safe and smart. We’ll see as they may also be interested in adding some defense playmakers as well.
Alternative Pick: CB from Washington – Desmond Trufant
18. Dallas Cowboys – DT from Purdue – Kawaan Short – They need another DT for their new 4-3 defense. Short is the best DT on the board outside of Hankins from Ohio State. Short has long arms and is quick for his size of 6’3, 300 pounds. Being compared to Petko of the Bengals means that the Cowboys can’t go wrong with a player like him. Remember these picks are due to change pending on what happens with Loutelli from Utah.
Alternative Pick: TE from Notre Dame – Tyler Eifert
19. New York Giants – DE from BYU – Ezekiel Anash – As much as I think the Giants want to add a weapon to their offense, they can’t let a player like Ansah go. He had one of the best combines for any DL this year and proves how important the combine is going into your pro day. I think Ansah is similar to Jason Pierre-Paul and my scenario is this: why not put them at both end spots and see what happens? They’d probably be able to get some picks and save some money if they decided to trade Justin Tuck.
Alternative Pick: WR from West Virginia –Tavon Austin
20. Chicago Bears – TE from Notre Dame – Tyler Eifert – As much as they need OL help, the best available OL at this point in the draft is DJ Fluker and I think he’s bit of a reach at the 20th spot. Grab the best TE and give Jay Cutler a weapon. Eifert makes the most sense at this spot.
Alternative Pick: ILB from LSU – Kevin Minter
21. Cincinnati Bengals – DE from Texas A&M – Damontre Moore – With Michael Johnson becoming a free agent, they’ll let him go and get younger the Bengals are known to take risks on guys. With Moore on the board and probably being considered the best player available, the Bengals have no choice but to take him. He has to get stronger and prove he can stay healthy without hurting himself running a 40 yard dash for me buy into him. Overall though the Bengals pick him.
Alternative Pick: DE from UCLA – Datone Jones
22. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) – WR from West Virginia – Tavon Austin – They wait a couple of picks and Austin is still there fortunately. They like what they see in him as he is a true speed demon. Fans in St. Louis should love this pick.
Alternative Pick: DT from Ohio State – Jonathan Hankins
23. Minnesota Vikings – WR from California – Kennan Allen – Allen is being predicted by some to be the first receiver taken off the board. I think he’s the 3rd WR taken. I think with Tavon Austin on the rise, Allen is on the decline. He didn’t participate in the scouting combine and it doesn’t look like he’ll be ready to do much until his pro day. Once I see that tape, I’ll buy into Allen, until then he’s the 3rd best WR on my board. As for the Vikings they need another weapon to go along with Percy Harvin who might even be on the way out so all around this pick makes sense.
Alternative Pick: CB from Washington – Desmond Trufant
24. Indianapolis Colts – CB from Washington – Desmond Trufant – They added CB Vontae Davis via a trade with Miami and outside of Davis they have nobody in their secondary. I like Trufant and would have loved to see him in Detroit in the second round but honestly he won’t be there. The Colts have the right idea if they take Trufant.
Alternative Pick: DE from UCLA – Datone Jones
25. Seattle Seahawks – DT from Ohio State – Jonathan Hankins – He’s the best DT on the board and has dropped on my boards but that’s only because he posted a slow 40 yard dash time of 5.31. In addition he may not be a guy who can’t play every down. He’s more of a run stopper rather than get after the pass rusher kind of player. Regardless though, the Seahawks could use a guy like Hankins in the middle of their defense.
Alternative Pick: TE from Stanford – Zach Ertz
26. Green Bay Packers – TE from Stanford – Zach Ertz – His combine was outstanding and could go earlier in the draft to teams like Seattle and Chicago but I think he falls perfectly in the Packers’ lap. They could now and try to get rid of the baggage that Jermichael Finley carries with him. Also Ertz has a QB in Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball so what’s not to like?
Alternative Pick: SS from Florida – Matt Elam
27. Houston Texans – ILB from LSU – Kevin Minter – Here are the needs in my eyes for the Texans: LB, WR, CB and DE. They could very well take a look at a DE but I believe they’ll get Connor Barwin back. As for Brian Cushing, he’s not hitting the free agent market yet but he’s injury prone. Outside of Cushing they don’t have another ILB worth being a starter. Kevin Minter should be a good selection for them. Pulling comparisons to DeMeco Ryans of the Philadelphia Eagles, yes the same DeMeco Ryans they had on their team a few years ago.
Alternative Pick: WR from USC – Robert Woods
28. Denver Broncos – FS from LSU – Eric Reid – Does anybody remember what happened to the Broncos in the playoffs? Joe Flacco threw up a Hail Mary bomb and it actually worked. Reid would be a great addition to this team and adding secondary help is a definite need for the Broncos. I don’t see how they let Eric Reid or even Matt Elam pass.
Alternative Pick: SS from Florida – Matt Elam
29. New England Patriots – SS from Florida – Matt Elam – If Patrick Chung and Aqib Talib don’t return to New England then they’ll be looking at secondary help. With Eric Reid being off the board, they’ll take a look at Elam. I believe Elam is behind Reid and Vaccaro for being one of the top safeties in this draft class.
Alternative Pick: CB from Mississippi State – Jonathan Banks
30. Atlanta Falcons – DE from UCLA – Datone Jones – Ray Edwards and and John Abraham were both cut so it’s no secret the Falcons have to get younger. Because of this Jones makes sense. He’s on the rise and could even take Damontre Moore’s spot in the draft. Time will tell on that but for now I think he’s a first rounder.
Alternative Pick: DE from Texas – Alex Okafor
31. San Francisco 49ers – CB from Mississippi State – Jonathan Banks – Donte Whitner just looks bad out there and DaShon Goldson is alright. He’s being hit with the franchise tag so I’d imagine Whitner will be on his way out. The 49ers can take a shot at Banks who could still be there at the start of the 2nd round since the 49ers just acquired that first pick in the 2nd round from Kansas City for Alex Smith. Overall though, this pick makes sense and Banks could be a day one starter for a Super Bowl caliber team.
Alternative Pick: WR from USC – Robert Woods
32. Baltimore Ravens – ILB from Notre Dame – Manti Te’o – Ray Lewis is gone, what else can I say?
Alternative Pick: C from Alabama – Barrett Jones
