Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Justin's Mock: Draft Day Edition

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14) - Luke Joeckel (OT/Texas A&M)

 Kansas City made Joeckel their top option after releasing Eric Winston and putting Branden Albert on the trade block.  Joeckel is able to play either left or right tackle and has started since his freshman year in two competitive NCAA conferences.  With Alex Smith handling the reigns at quarterback, the Chiefs will need to give him some added protection.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14) - Eric Fisher (OT/Central Michigan)





The second overall selection has not been as easy as the first.  In a wide-open draft, the Jaguars have several needs to address, but Fisher has elevated to the second overall pick over the last few weeks.  Jacksonville's pass rush has been abysmal, but they also gave up 50 sacks in 2012.  Blaine Gabbert may look like a bust of a draft pick, but in order to achieve any success, he needs to be protected.

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12) - Sharrif Floyd (DT/Florida)

 Oakland is in need of a defensive tackle after losing both Richard Seymour and Tommy Harris in free agency.  The latter of which was ineffective in 2012, but Oakland was unable to add any players due to their salary cap situation.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12) - Lane Johnson (OT/OKlahoma)

 Several things have happened to allow Johnson to elevate to this spot.  Mainly, the news of DeMarcus Milliner's five surgeries came out, which could scare a few teams from taking him.  The Eagles have been in need to an offensive tackle as well.  Demetress Bell was a bust signing, King Dunlap was terrible in 2012 and Jason Peters is a question mark as he recovers from and Achilles injury.

5. Detroit Lions (4-12) - Ezekiel Ansah (DE/BYU)

  Detroit has needed to upgrade their defensive end position after losing Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril.  With Aaron Rodger and Jay Cutler in the division, if the Lions expect to content in the NFC North, they will need to find a way to get to the quarterback.

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11) - Dion Jordan (OLB/Oregon)

 Cleveland's pass rush is in need of and upgrade.  They team has a lot of good player, but nobody who is great at getting to the quarterback.  Jordan's weight (245 pounds) is an issue, but with a 6'7" frame, he has plenty of space to bulk up.

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11) - D.J. Fluker (OT/Alabama)


This pick is a bit of a reach, but Arizona is so desperate for an offensive tackle that this almost needs to be made.  The team's offensive line has provided zero security for their quarterbacks over the past four seasons after making the Super Bowl and has surrendered at least 50 sacks per season, the only team int he NFL to do so

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10) - Geno Smith (QB/West Virginia)


With Kevin Kolb penciled in currently as the starter in Buffalo, the Bills will need to look to the draft to find their quarterback of the future.  West Virginia struggled mightily this season, but much of it is to blame on an awful defense.  Smith was able to keep the team in games with both his arms and legs and could be successful with the right supporting cast.


9. New York Jets (6-10) - DeMarcus Milliner (CB/Alabama)


After the Darrelle Revis trade, the Jets find themselves in need of adding a cornerback at some point in the draft.  If Milliner falls to them, I can't imagine the Jets not taking him.  Milliner may not be Revis, but he would be a solid replacement.

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10) - Chance Warmack (G/Alabama)


  The Titans added Andy Levitrein the offseason, but the team needs to upgrade both guards.  Warmack is a rare talent and would make an immediate impact on the Titans offensive line.

11. San Diego Chargers (7-9) - Cordarrelle Patterson (WR/Tennessee)

 San Diego needs a tackle, but with the top four players at that position gone, the team will need to look for a different position of need.  I feel that Patterson is a little overrated, but he has a lot of talent and the physique of a prototypical receiver in the NFL.  San Diego lacked a top receiver last season after losing Vinnie Jackson.

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9) - Xavier Rhodes (CB/Florida State)

 Miami needs a shut-down corner after trading Vontae Davis to Indianapolis during the season last year.  The Chiefs are trying to work on a trade to send Branden Albert to Miami, but the Dolphins would give up a second rounder, not a first if it happened.

13. New York Jets (6-10) - Barkevious Mingo (DE/LSU)

 The Jets lack a pass rush when they are not blitzing, something that has been exposed over the last two seasons.  Mingo is also valuable in the run defense department as well.

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9) - Star Lotulelei (DT/Utah)


 The Panthers run defense was a liability last season and one of the reasons why they had a slow start.  Neither defensive tackle is a starting caliber player on the Panthers defensive line and the position is in dire need of an upgrade.

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9) - Jarvis Jones (OLB/Georgia)

 It is no secret that the Saints need to fix nearly their entire defense.  Jones is an elite player, but his medical history is scaring some teams.  He is a steal for New Orleans at this position.

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1) - Jonathan Cooper (G/North Carolina)

 The Rams are in need of help all across their offensive line.  Cooper could also be a top 10 pick due to the needs of other teams in the draft, but I can't see him falling further from here even if he is a guard.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) - Bjoern Werner (DE/Florida State)

 Pittsburgh would love to land Jones, but Werner is not a bad consolation prize.  The Steelers need to bring in a new pass rusher now that James Harrison is with the Bengals.

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8) - Sheldon Richardson (DT/Missouri)


Dallas is converting to a 4-3 and didn't have the cap room to adjust their personnel, including on the defensive line.  If Richardson is available here, he could be a steal.

19. New York Giants (9-7) - D.J. Hayden (CB/Houston)

 A depth move for the Giants, who were exposed last year with Terrell Thomas.  The team took Prince Amukamara a few years ago, but in today's NFL, you can never have enough cornerbacks.

20. Chicago Bears (10-6) - Tavon Austin (WR/West Virginia)

 With elite speed, a lot of teams may look into trading up for Austin, but at 5'9" he comes as a big risk.  Chicago needs help in their passing game as well as their special teams after releasing Johnny Knox.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) - Eddie Lacy (RB/Alabama)

 BenJarvus Green-Ellis was awful last year in Cincinnati and should not be the feature back in any scheme.  The Bengals have lacked an explosive running back for the past few seasons and will need to bring someone in before teams begin to shut down A.J. Green.

22. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1) - Kenny Vaccaro (S/Texas)


Many mocks have the Rams taking Vaccaro at 16, but there is a good chance he could fall to here.  It is doubtful that the Rams pass up on him twice.

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6) - Sylvester Williams (DT/North Carolina)

 Kevin Williams is no spring chicken and the Vikings will need to find someone to play across from him before they eventually replace him.  Why not create the Williams Wall Version 2.0?

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5) - Datone Jones (DE/UCLA)

 Last year we saw the end of the Peyton Manning era, this year we saw the Dwight Freeney era end.  Andrew Luck was taken last year, and I think the Colts will look to bolster their pass rush this season.

25. Minnesota Vikings (10-6) - DeAndre Hopkins (WR/Clemson)


Minnesota traded Percy Harvin to the Seahawks in order to obtain this pick, but the team now needs a wide receiver for Christian Ponder.

26. Green Bay Packers (11-5) - Tyler Eifert (TE/Notre Dame)

 Yes, Jermichael Finley is returning to Green Bay for another season, but Eifert could wind up taking over his job this season.  Eifert is not an exceptional blocker, but he brings a physical presence to the passing game and is not afraid to catch passes over the middle.

27. Houston Texans (12-4) - Robert Woods (WR/USC)


  Andre Johnson is still talented, but he has shown signs of regression over the past two seasons.  Houston has no reliable option at the second receiver spot and the position will be more of a need over the next few seasons.

28. Denver Broncos (12-4) - Tank Carradine (DE/Florida State)

 Denver is in need of a pass rusher after the Elvis Dumervil fiasco.  Carradine is a good fit for the Broncos defense and could have been selected earlier until an ACL injury forced him out of action.

29. New England Patriots (12-4) - Desmond Trufant (CB/Washington)

 New England shored up their secondary by re-signing Aqib Talib and inking Adrian Wilson, but Talib is one a one-year deal and Wilson is 33.  Trufant will provide depth for now before becoming a starter in the future.

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3) - Jamar Taylor (CB/Boise State)


Atlanta used free agency to address some of the team needs this offseason, but cornerback is still a position that needs to be upgraded.  Brent Grimes and Dunta Robinson are not longer in Atlanta so the team will look for the top available cornerback at some point of the draft.

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1) - Jonathan Cyprien (S/Florida International)

 San Francisco has few needs, but safety help is one of them.  Cyprien was an underrated player throughout college, but has caught the attention of scouts after a tremendous offseason.

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6) - Manti Te'o (LB/Notre Dame)

 Despite the nightmare of an offseason Te'o had, he is still a talented football player and a team leader, something the Ravens will need after losing Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.

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