New mock draft based on the theoretical "if the draft was today" order. Enjoy!
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1. Kansas City Chiefs
QB Matt Barkley, Sr, USC
6'2, 230 lbs
Hometown: Newport Beach, CA
2012 Stats: 206-316, 65.2 comp %, 2750 yards, 30 TD, 10 INT
It looks like the mediocre Matt Cassel era is finally winding down in Kansas City. The team is terrible, the fans are about to riot, and Cassel has looked worse and worse every game. Kansas City has got to draft a quarterback in the first round instead of using stopgap solutions like they have for the past 30 years. Barkley has been my number one pick since my first mock, but he has struggled some during his senior year and now looks neck and neck with Geno Smith. It comes down to personal preference. I think Barkley is the safer pick and the Chiefs need to get a guy who can start for them for the next 10 years. Barkley is not an Andrew Luck/Peyton Manning sure fire first pick, but he is very solid. He can make all the throws, is a former top recruit and knows the pro style offense. Even with a less then spectacular senior campaign, he will be a top pick because of the value quarterbacks hold these days.
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2. Cleveland Browns
OLB Jarvis Jones, Jr, Georgia
6'3, 241 lbs
Hometown: Columbus, GA
2012 Stats: 52 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 1 INT
Jones will not be taken first overall, but I will probably have him second in most of my remaining mocks depending on needs. I think he is the best player in this draft. He reminds me of Von Miller in that he can play in any defensive scheme. If the Jags end up drafting first overall I think the pressure will be to take a quarterback. I definitely do not think Blaine Gabbert is the answer, but at number two they will be able to just go best player available. Looking up and down the Jaguars roster you can see they are completely starved for talent on the defense. Jones will instantly become Jacksonville's best pass rusher but has the talent to dominate against the running game and is adept at dropping back in coverage. Simply put, there is nothing he cannot do.
3. Cleveland Browns
Mike
Holmgren is finally out as GM and president of the Browns. If you look
back on his tenure, Cleveland has just completely failed with the draft
process. Look at last year for example. Would you trade Trent Richardson
and Brandon Weeden for Robert Griffin III? Of course you would.
Holmgren could have but played it safe. The Browns just do not have the
talent to win games. Weeden is decent, but his stats look better then
they really are because the Browns have been down so often, forcing him
to throw against weak defenses. He needs a few years to develop, and by
that time he will be in his early 30's. Smith would be a much more
dynamic player and give the Browns fans some hope. Some believe Geno
Smith has surpassed Matt Barkley as the best quarterback in this draft.
Even with the struggles he has faced the last two weeks, his stats are
still eye popping. The Heisman favorite could follow in the tracks of
Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III. Those two used tremendous Heisman
seasons to vault up draft boards.
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3. Cleveland Browns
QB Geno Smith, Sr, West Virginia
6'3, 214 lbs
Hometown: Miami, FL
2012 Stats: 249-346, 72.0 comp %, 2677 yards, 29 TD, 3 INT
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4. Carolina Panthers
DT Star Lotulelei, Sr, Utah
6'4, 320 lbs
Hometown: South Jordan, UT
2012 Stats: 31 tackles, 3 sacks
I think Jarvis Jones is the best player in this draft but the one spot where Carolina looks solid on defense is linebacker. The Panthers have used several middle round picks on defensive tackles, but those guys just have not panned out. There are three very good defensive tackle prospects in this draft. I think Lotulelei is the surest thing of the bunch. He is good against the run and can get to the quarterback, and he has a motor and personality that coaches, teammates and fans will love.
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5. St. Louis Rams
OT Luke Joeckel, Jr, Texas A&M
6'6, 310 lbs
Hometown: Arlington, TX
The Rams will have two fairly high first round picks this year, and they will need to address the offensive line. Joeckel is the best offensive tackle in the country. He is a
three year starter with the Aggies, and this year gets to face SEC pass
rushers, which will give him even more experience. Joeckel has risen up the draft board on a weekly basis and looks like a solid top ten prospect right now.
6. Tennessee Titans
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6. Tennessee Titans
DT Johnathan Hankins, Jr, Ohio St.
6'3, 317 lbs
Hometown: Dearborn Heights, MI
2012 Stats: 50 tackles, 1 sack
Tennessee
could use help everywhere on defense except linebacker. The Titans have
not had a difference maker since Albert Haynesworth took the money and
waddled his way out of Nashville. Hankins is not the pass rusher that
Lotulelei is, but he is a beast against the run and will allow
Tennessee's defensive ends to get to the quarterback more easily. The Titans have allowed over 141 rushing yards per game and really need a defensive stopper at the position.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Oakland Raiders
DE/OLB Damontre Moore, Jr, Texas A&M
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7. Cincinnati Bengals
MLB Manti Te'o, Sr, Notre Dame
6'2, 255 lbs
Hometown: Laie, HI
2012 Stats: 87 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 5 INT
Manti Te'o is having a tremendous senior season for the surprising Irish and is shooting up draft boards, perhaps even into the top five. He is a load who can fly all over the field to make tackles, and is a game changing defensive player. The Bengals linebacking group is so bad that undrafted troublemaker Vontaze Burfict is probably their best player at the position. Te'o would really stabilize Cincinnati's linebacking group.
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8. Oakland RaidersDE/OLB Damontre Moore, Jr, Texas A&M
6'4, 250 lbs
Hometown: Rowlett, TX
2012 Stats: 69 tackles, 11.5 sacks
The Raiders have a pathetic 11 sacks on the season. Damontre Moore has been one of the best pass rushers in college
football. In fact, his 11.5 sacks lead the nation. He has the talent to play outside linebacker, but with the Raiders he will play with his hand on the ground. He has the size to hold up against the run and the frame to pack on another 20 pounds without losing any explosiveness.
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9. Buffalo Bills
QB EJ Manuel, Sr, Florida St.
6'5, 240 lbs
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
2012 Stats: 186-272, 68.4 comp %, 2641 yards, 19 TD, 5 INT
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10. Philadelphia Eagles
OT Taylor Lewan, Jr, Michigan
6'8, 309 lbs
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
11. New York Jets
10. Philadelphia EaglesOT Taylor Lewan, Jr, Michigan
6'8, 309 lbs
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
Lewan has really come on these past few weeks and looks to be a strong first round pick as a junior. He has great size and is a better run blocker then guys his size usually are. The Eagles have been a mess along the offensive line, adding to their woes on that side of the ball. No one knows if Jason Peters can even come back from his injuries, and even if he does Philadelphia really needs a solid tackle on the right side. Lewan would form a nice bookend duo with Peters.
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11. New York Jets
WR Keenan Allen, Jr, California
6'3, 210 lbs
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
2012 Stats: 61 receptions, 737 yards, 6 TD
Mark
Sanchez has been very bad this year, but it is hard to be successful
when you are forced to throw to bums like Chaz Shilens and Jason Hill
all game long. Stephen Hill was a good draft choice in 2012 but he is
still very raw and will need a couple of years to develop. Allen would
be a good choice here. He has great hands and very solid route running
ability and has the experience to step right in and be Sanchez go to
guy. His stats are down somewhat this year due to some knee issues and quarterback problems, but I think he is the top wideout in this class, even though Terrance Williams is closing in fast.
12. Dallas Cowboys
The production simply has not been there for Mingo this year. He still has that amazing talent and ability that scouts drool over, but three sacks on the season is very troubling. Still, talent often wins out over production, especially once the workouts roll around. Anthony Spencer will most likely finish his underwhelming Cowboys career this season and a replacement will be needed. Mingo will fit better as a 3-4 pass rusher due to his long, wiry frame. Dallas will hope he is not another Aaron Maybin.
13. New Orleans Saints
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12. Dallas Cowboys
DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo, Jr, LSU
6'5, 240 lbs
Hometown: West Monroe, LA
2012 Stats: 25 tackles, 3 sacks
The production simply has not been there for Mingo this year. He still has that amazing talent and ability that scouts drool over, but three sacks on the season is very troubling. Still, talent often wins out over production, especially once the workouts roll around. Anthony Spencer will most likely finish his underwhelming Cowboys career this season and a replacement will be needed. Mingo will fit better as a 3-4 pass rusher due to his long, wiry frame. Dallas will hope he is not another Aaron Maybin.
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13. New Orleans Saints
DE Sam Montgomery, Jr, LSU
6'5, 260 lbs
Hometown: Greenwood, SC
2012 Stats: 26 tackles, 5 sacks
The
Saints drafting part time back Mark Ingram has basically cost them two
drafts. The defense is now hurting bad for some talent. The guys they
have just are not able to hang with opposing offenses. The Saints should
just go best defender available with all of their 2013 picks.
Montgomery showed how dominant he could be against his hometown South
Carolina Gamecocks a few weeks ago and could be a special NFL pass rusher. One thing we
know is that pass rushers are going to go early and often in this draft
as defenses try to adapt to the new passing NFL.
14. St. Louis Rams
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14. St. Louis Rams
OT Jake Matthews, Jr, Texas A&M
6'5, 305 lbs
Hometown: Missouri City, TX
Joeckel's
college teammate joins him in St. Louis. Would it be crazy for the Rams to spend both first round picks on offensive tackles? Why don't you ask David Carr that? This would go such a long way towards prolonging and jump starting Sam Bradford's career. Like Joeckel, Matthews has a great deal of experience and has
done well against SEC pass rushers. The worry is that he has played
right tackle in college and may struggle to adapt to the left side at
the pro level, but in this scenario he gets to man the right side.
15. Arizona Cardinals
16. San Diego Chargers
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15. Arizona Cardinals
QB Tyler Wilson, Sr, Arkansas
6'3, 220 lbs
Hometown: Greenwood, AR
2012 Stats: 169-279, 60.6 comp %, 2526 yards, 16 TD, 8 INT
I think Tyler Wilson has done very well considering the team around him had completely given up on the season. Like Jake Locker a few years ago, he will weather the storm on a terrible team and show well during workouts. He is a second round prospect right now but once the draft gets closer he could rise up the boards. Quarterback is just such a premium position in the draft right now. If you can play at all you will probably be taken in the first round. It is no secret that the Cardinals really need a quarterback. Of course, it might not matter if they can't improve their offensive line. Maybe it would have been wise to not listen to Larry Fitzgerald and draft a receiver in the first round with so many other huge needs.
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16. San Diego Chargers
WR Terrance Williams, Sr, Baylor
6'2, 205 lbs
Hometown: Dallas, TX
2012 Stats: 71 receptions, 1340 yards, 10 TD
Williams has been simply fantastic this season, showing that the 2011 Baylor Bears were more then just Robert Griffin III and Kendall Wright. He has very good size and speed, a complete wideout. The Chargers offense has been lost without Vincent Jackson. Philip Rivers really needs a legit talent to throw to.
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17. Miami DolphinsCB Dee Milliner, Jr, Alabama
6'1, 199 lbs
Hometown: Millbrook, AL
2012 Stats: 34 tackles, 1.5 sack, 2 INT
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18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CB Johnthan Banks, Sr, Mississippi St.
6'2, 185 lbs
Hometown: Maben, MS
2012 Stats: 45 tackles, 4 INT
The Buccaneers finally rid themselves of the troubled Aqib Talib, and that left a thin secondary even weaker. That is a good idea for a team that needed talent as bad as they did. The Bulldogs were predictably exposed as frauds the past two weeks, but that is not because of Banks. He is a four year starter in the SEC, giving him a ton of experience against big time receivers. His 15 career interceptions leads college football. Teams simply do not throw his way, and when they do he picks it off.
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19. Detroit Lions
DE Bjoern Werner, Jr, Florida St.
6'4, 255 lbs
Hometown: Berlin, Germany
2012 Stats: 21 tackles, 6.5 sacks
Cliff Avril has been average for the Lions so far this season and probably will not be back in 2013. Werner has cooled off following a very hot
start now that Florida State is facing better competition, but he is
squarely in the first round conversation. The German born end is new to
the game, but the raw tools are there for him to be a monster. Expect
him to wow in workouts. Other then quarterbacks, pass rushers are the
most coveted players in the draft.
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20. Minnesota Vikings
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21. Seattle Seahawks
DT Sheldon Richardson, Jr, Missouri
6'4, 295 lbs
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
2012 Stats: 63 tackles, 4 sacks
22. Pittsburgh Steelers
23. Denver Broncos
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20. Minnesota Vikings
WR Justin Hunter, Jr, Tennessee
6'4, 200
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
2012 Stats: 56 receptions, 838 yards, 7 TD
Christian Ponder has struggled mightily the last few weeks as the Vikings have been exposed as pretenders. Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin are having monster years but the offense needs more help. Hunter has stayed healthy this season and is putting up pretty big numbers, though he has slowed down the last few weeks. He has the
size and speed to be a legit number one in the league and would make a very good compliment to the do everything Harvin.
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21. Seattle SeahawksDT Sheldon Richardson, Jr, Missouri
6'4, 295 lbs
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
2012 Stats: 63 tackles, 4 sacks
The Seahawks have quite a bit of young talent they just need to develop, so they can go best player available here. Richardson is a big, strong tackle who is adept at stopping the run but can also get to the quarterback. He would join one of the best run stopping units in the NFL and make Seattle's defensive line even more lethal.
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22. Pittsburgh Steelers
DT John Jenkins, Sr, Georgia
6'3, 358 lbs
Hometown: Meridan, CT
2012 Stats: 28 tackles
John Jenkins stats don't wow you, but he does what he is supposed to do. He plugs lanes and eats blockers, allowing the playmakers behind him like Jarvis Jones to do what they do. The Steelers have always been great at drafting talent and allowing it to develop and take over in a year or two. Jenkins would be a great heir apparent to long time nose tackle Casey Hampton in Pittsburgh.
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23. Denver Broncos
DT Kawann Short, Sr, Purdue
6'3, 315 lbs
Hometown: East Chicago, IN
2012 Stats: 26 tackles, 4 sacks
The
Broncos have done a good job of filling out their defense, but they
have failed to really address their troublesome defensive tackle
position. Short does not have the imposing physical tools that the other
defensive lineman in the first round possess, but he has been a very
productive player for the Boilermakers during his career, even though he is having an average senior season for a bad Purdue squad. He has good size but the speed
to get to the quarterback.
Warmack might be one of the ten most talented players in this draft, but like David DeCastro before him, he falls because of the position he plays. Warmack is dominant in the run game and the best player on Alabama's elite offensive line. The surprising Colts still need to add a lot of talent to their team and should just go with the best player available. Warmack would help stabilize a suspect interior.
26. New England Patriots
JUCO transfer Tank Carradine has had a tremendous senior season for the Seminoles. He has made former starter Brandon Jenkins an afterthought with the way he has gotten to the quarterback. The Patriots need to just keep adding talent to the defense and Tank would give them another pass rusher.
27. Green Bay Packers
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24. New York Giants
24. New York Giants
CB Jordan Poyer, Sr, Oregon St.
6'0, 190 lbs
Hometown: Astoria, OR
2012 Stats: 27 tackles, 5 INT
The
Giants have been so badly bitten by injuries the past few seasons. The
secondary has been hit especially hard. The Giants drafted Prince
Amukamara in the first round a couple of years ago, but you really need
three good cornerbacks in the NFL these days. Poyer has been great for
the surprising Oregon State Beavers with five interceptions thus far.
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OG Chance Warmack, Sr, Alabama
6'3, 320
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Warmack might be one of the ten most talented players in this draft, but like David DeCastro before him, he falls because of the position he plays. Warmack is dominant in the run game and the best player on Alabama's elite offensive line. The surprising Colts still need to add a lot of talent to their team and should just go with the best player available. Warmack would help stabilize a suspect interior.
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26. New England Patriots
DE Tank Carradine, Sr, Florida State
6'5, 265 lbs
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
2012 Stats: 53 tackles, 8 sacks
JUCO transfer Tank Carradine has had a tremendous senior season for the Seminoles. He has made former starter Brandon Jenkins an afterthought with the way he has gotten to the quarterback. The Patriots need to just keep adding talent to the defense and Tank would give them another pass rusher.
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27. Green Bay Packers
S Eric Reid, Jr, LSU
6'2, 205 lbs
Hometown: Geismar, GA
2012 Stats: 57 tackles, 2 INT
The Packers just need to keep drafting defensive players to improve a unit that has really struggled the last few years. Reid is a
big, strong safety who is great against the run as well as the pass. He tackles like a linebacker.
28. San Francisco 49ers
The Niners are now in position where they can just draft the best player available because they are so deep and talented. Of course, they did not do that last year when they reached big time for AJ Jenkins, but whatever. As you can see with my mock draft, pass rushers go in the first round, early and often. Okafor is one of the lone bright spots on a terrible Texas defense this year. He is a great pass rusher and someone who could provide depth for the 49ers. You can never have too many guys who can get to the quarterback.
29. Baltimore Ravens
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28. San Francisco 49ers
DE/OLB Alex Okafor, Sr, Texas
6'4, 265 lbs
Hometown: Pflugerville, TX
2012 Stats: 36 tackles, 8 sacks
The Niners are now in position where they can just draft the best player available because they are so deep and talented. Of course, they did not do that last year when they reached big time for AJ Jenkins, but whatever. As you can see with my mock draft, pass rushers go in the first round, early and often. Okafor is one of the lone bright spots on a terrible Texas defense this year. He is a great pass rusher and someone who could provide depth for the 49ers. You can never have too many guys who can get to the quarterback.
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29. Baltimore Ravens
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Jr, Clemson
6'1, 200 lbs
Hometown: Central, SC
2012 Stats: 62 receptions, 1037 yards, 13 TD
Hopkins is having a monster junior
year for the Tigers and is one of the best deep threats in college
football. He has a tremendous 16.7 average on 62 receptions this year. The Ravens have bigger needs then another wideout, but Hopkins would give the Ravens two of the faster receivers in the league to go along with Torrey Smith.
30. Chicago Bears
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30. Chicago Bears
MLB Alec Ogletree, Jr, Georgia
6'3, 232 lbs
Hometown: Newman, GA
2012 Stats: 51 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT
Ogletree
was suspended for the first four games, but has hit the ground running since his return.
He has 51 tackles in his first five games and seems to be all over the
field. Lance Briggs has been one of the best linebackers in the NFL the past
decade, but the other two positions are in transition. Nick Roach is not
starting quality and Brian Ulracher is nearing the end of his excellent
career. Ogletree has the speed
and coverage ability to be successful on the outside until he is ready
to take over in the middle for Ulracher.
31. Houston Texans
The Texans are such a deep team, but there are holes. Derek Newton has been simply average in replacing Eric Winston on the right side. Williams has quietly had a very good senior season and has the prototypical size you look for in your starting left tackle, and could be one of the better right tackles if he plays on that side.
31. Atlanta Falcons
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31. Houston Texans
OT Brennan Williams, Sr, North Carolina
6'7, 310 lbs
Hometown: West Roxbury, MA
The Texans are such a deep team, but there are holes. Derek Newton has been simply average in replacing Eric Winston on the right side. Williams has quietly had a very good senior season and has the prototypical size you look for in your starting left tackle, and could be one of the better right tackles if he plays on that side.
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31. Atlanta Falcons
TE Tyler Eifert, Sr, Notre Dame
6'6, 251 lbs
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN
2012 Stats: 28 receptions, 403 yards, 3 TD
The
ageless Tony Gonzalez has been the most productive tight end in the
NFL. He says he will retire at the end of the season, but I will see it
when I believe it. Eifert would be the perfect guy to learn from
Gonzalez or step in and take over for him next season. His stats do not
look very good, but the Irish offense has struggled mightily at times
this season. He has great size and is a matchup nightmare.
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