The 2013 NFL combine is over and Free Agency is in full effect. Jake Long is a Ram, Reggie Bush a Lion, The Bills have dumped their Franchise QB, and Greg Jennings joining the hated Vikings. All this leads up to April 25th.
So with the first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft the Kansas City Chiefs take…
1. Kansas City – Shariff Floyd (DT , Florida) – Kansas City got their QB in Alex Smith, they franchised LT Branden Alberts and re-signed Bowe so what’s left? Draft a franchise DT. I can’t see Reid risking it and taking Star Lotulelei if his heart condition checks out.
2. Jacksonville – Dee Milliner (CB, Alabama) – Everyone thinks Jacksonville will go defensive line, I disagree. The defensive line could use help but the 2nd round seems flike a more likely spot to address that need. The Jags have a decent linebacking core but their secondary needs help. With Schaub and Luck in the division, Milliner will be a good weapon against that opposition. Milliner also answered the bell in the combine and proved his worth as a top 5 pick.
3. Oakland Raiders – Star Lotulelei (DT, Utah) – Oakland wants a receiver here but there isn’t a player worth the pick. Because of that the Raiders will try to trade back to no avail. With that said Oakland will settle for Star which is a fine idea and probably worth the risk.
4. Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Joeckel (OT, Texas A&M) – Cullen Jenkins, Mike Patterson, Jason Babin are all gone so it would seem that Philly will be looking at rebuilding that defensive line. However Chip Kelly won’t be able to pass on protecting his offensive talent. Look for the Eagles though to give Dion Jordan, Bjoern Werner and Barkevious Mingo serious looks.
5. Detroit Lions – Bjoern Werner (DE, Florida State) – The general trend in this draft continues with another defensive player taken. Werner is the best defensive end in the draft and will be an upgrade over Kyle Vanden Bosch. Werner is also complete, not great at one thing, but very good at everything. He should project into a Pro Bowler at sometime and have a nice run of 10-12 sack seasons. The Lions will flirt with Eric Fisher and Jarvis Jones but ultimately shy away.
6. Cleveland Browns – Barkevious Mingo (DE, LSU) – Five of the first six picks were not only defense, four of them were defensive line players. The Browns wish they had a skill position to take to help out Weeden but with defensive talent still being there at six, Cleveland could quite possibly be getting the best athlete in the draft.
7. Arizona Cardinals – Jarvis Jones (OLB, Georgia) – Arizona will consider Geno Smith but the Cardinals need someone to be an opposing QB’s nightmare with ability to make open field tackles. Russell Wilson and Colin Kapernick will force the Cards into a reactionary move as both Seattle and San Fran run an option which Jones is built to stop them. Arizona will look hard at Dion Jordan as well.
8. Buffalo Bills – Geno Smith (QB, West Virginia) – Like Christmas in April Geno Smith will slide right to the Bills at eight. Stevie Johnson and CJ Spiller should make for a nice NFL transition for Smith but Bills fans need to be patient. He won’t be RGIII right out of the gate but the potential is there.
9. New York Jets – Chance Warmack (G, Alabama) – This team can’t protect the quarterback, can’t run block, the defense is old and seem to be pushing Revis out of town. So basically if you’re rebuilding (which the Jets are), you need to start that rebuild somewhere. The Bama guard makes sense as Rex Ryan has a make it or break it season ahead of him. Mark Sanchez is his guy at quarterback for now and getting him help will be the key. If by some miracle Dee Milliner is here, that could change the pick.
10. Tennessee Titans – Eric Fisher (OT, Central Michigan) – Chris Johnson needs running lanes and Eric Fisher is the guy to help make that happen. But despite his hype, his pick at 10 isn’t him slipping, it’s him falling to a more realistic spot.
11. San Diego Chargers – Lane Johnson (OT, Oklahoma) – The Chargers target Fisher, Warmack, Johnson and Fluker but Johnson will ultimately be the pick.
12. Miami Dolphins – Tavon Austin (WR, West Virginia) – Miami lost Reggie Bush and will need a play maker to pair with their young QB. Tavon Austin in addition to Mike Wallace will give Tannehill all the weapons he need’s to be in the conversation for the playoffs next year.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kenny Varraco (S, Texas) – This pick hasn’t changed since my first Mock Draft. Ronde Barber’s future is up in the air and Varraco is a need as well as an upgrade.
14. Carolina Panthers – Ziggy Ansah (DE, BYU) – Ansah bought himself a 1st round ticket with a great combine. The Panthers can also go a multitude of ways but a high impact DE will be in the Panthers’ interest. He is very raw and doesn’t have the pass rushing history you’d like in a defensive end but the talent he displayed at the combine will win Carolina over.
15. New Orleans Saints – Alec Ogletree (LB, Georgia) – Ogletree has had trouble with the recent DUI but the Saints veteran leaders will help guide the young man. New Orleans has no problem putting up points they just need help keeping them off.
16. St. Louis Rams – Keenan Allen (WR, Cal) – Fisher would love to go defense but he knows Bradford needs help. Amendola was always hurt and is now a Patriot while longtime running back Stephen Jackson flew the coup and is now a Falcon. The Rams simply don’t have a choice in this spot.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Dion Jordan (OLB/DE, Oregon) – This is how Steeler nation is seemingly always in the hunt. Out with the old (James Harrison) in with the new (Dion Jordan).
18. Dallas Cowboys – Jonathan Cooper (G, N. Carolina) – The Cowboys will get great value here with Cooper. Scout’s Inc. has him ranked 11th while Dallas will need to address the trenches on both sides of the ball. This is a good start.
19. New York Giants – DaMontre Moore (DE, Texas A&M) – DaMonster is going to slip. Still though I love what Moore has to offer and love the Giants taking him here at this spot. Essentially though he slips because of the egg he laid in the combine with his maturity also coming into question. But with Umenyioura testing the market and the success they’ve had in developing defensive end’s Moore is their guy.
20. Chicago Bears – DJ Fluker (OT, Alabama) – For as long as I can remember Chicago has complained about needing offensive line help. Fluker is a solid pick even though da Bears would like a MLB to replace Urlacher. I think this could be Alec Ogletree if New Orleans ends up taking Fluker.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Cordarrelle Patterson (WR, Tennessee) – Dalton and Co. have the makings of being a good team for the future. Package Patterson into the mix (who is a little raw) with A.J. Green and this offense could help the Bengals see a deep playoff run for the next few years.
22. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) – Eddie Lacy (RB, Alabama) – If their defense could get off the field a little quicker, St. Louis could be tough to deal with and make the NFC West one of the toughest divisions in football. Lacy would allow ball control and give Bradford every chance to be successful.
23. Minnesota Vikings – Justin Hunter (WR, Tennessee) – I don’t need to tell anyone what the Vikings have been without a healthy wide out since the likes of Randy Moss. Harvin was great but can’t stay on the field and is now a Seahawk. With Peterson at running back and Jennings now in the fold Hunter will give Ponder every chance to succeed under center.
24. Indianapolis Colts – Sheldon Richardson (DT, Missouri) – The Colts will not be able to let Richardson pass them by. They could use a defensive back but Richardson is a better value here at 24.
25. Seattle Seahwaks – Desmond Trufant (CB, Washington) Desmond has a higher ceiling than his brother Marcus and will ironically be his replacement. After adding Avril and Bennett to their D-line and Percy Harvin to their receiving core, Seattle is the only team in the NFL drafting depth in the 1st round. The Seahawks are for real folks.
26. Green Bay Packers – Matt Elam (S, Florida) – Charles Woodson was cut as the Pack will look to get younger on defense ultimately looking at Matt Elam to be his replacement.
27. Houston Texans – Kevin Minter (ILB, LSU) – Houston will pass on making a stretch for a wide out and instead opt for making an area of strength better. However losing Glover Quin to the Lions, Houston may look to add Eric Reid or Jonathan Cyprien to help offset the departure.
28. Denver Broncos – Kawaan Short (DT, Purdue) – Denver’s offense is good to go and getting a DT to help free up a dangerous Von Miller, well… only makes Miller that much more dangerous.
29.New England Patriots – Xavier Rhodes (CB, Florida State) – The Pats may have found themselves in a different position this year than in year’s past. They lost Welker and signed Danny Amendola, fine. But they have needs at OL, RB, and CB. Rhodes has great value here and this is still something New England continually does, find nice value late.
30. Atlanta Falcons – Alex Okafor (DE, Texas) – Abrahams has been released and Okafor being here at 30 is the Falcons’ dream. In a normal draft year Okafor would have been a top 10 pick.
31. San Francisco 49ers – Sylvester Williams (DT, North Carolina) – Williams will eventually be the solution to an aging Justin Smith.
32. Baltimore Ravens – Arthur Brown (LB, Kansas State) – Ray Lewis retires, Paul Kruger has left via free agency and Baltimore is in transition on defense. The Ravens are also too smart to draft Te’o.