OT: NFL Mock Draft
1. Kansas City: Luke Joeckel- Not a top overall prospect in my mind, but this draft is extremely watered down.
2. Jacksonville: Eric Fisher- Better than Joeckel, but will be held back from the first pcik because Joeckel played better competition. Jacksonville would be crazy not to take Fisher here.
3. Oakland: Dion Jordan- In typical Raiders fashion, they'll take the best athlete on the board regardless of position.
4. Philadelphia: Ziggy Ansah: I haven't heard a whole lot of buzz about Ansah and the Eagles, which probably means they want him badly. They need a pass rush desperately, and Ansah is the best this draft has to offer.
5. Arizona (Trade): Lane Johnson- The Cardinals need to keep the immobile Carson Palmer upright, and outside of the top two tackles, Johnson is the best tackle left. The Lions probably like Johnson, but not enough to pass up adding an extra 2nd round pick.
6. Cleveland: Dee Milliner- In the end, pairing Milliner with Haden is too attractive for the Browns to pass up.
7. Detroit: Chance Warmack: Detroit trades down, and gets what is likely the safest bet in this draft. Warmack is a mauler, and will do wonders keeping interior pressure off of Stafford, and open up the running game.
8. Buffalo: Ryan Nasib-Although I generally don't believe draft rumors the week of the draft, this one makes since. Marrone will go with a guy he trusts and knows, which you really can't blame him for.
9. New York Jets: Sharif Floyd may be a little overhyped right now, but if he's still there at 9 for the Jets they'll hurry to the podium.
10. Tennessee: Jonathan Cooper: This pick could go anywhere, but looking at their offeseason, they absolutely want to improve their lackluster running game the last couple years.
11. San Diego: DJ Fluker- Can't play Left Tackle, but he's still an intriguing guy. Absolutely nothign wrong with drafting a guy who can perform at a pro bowl level for a number of years in the top 15, even if he plays guard, right tackle or safety.
12. Miami: Barkevious Mingo-Great Value pick for the Dolphins, adding a guy who is strong in both the pass and the run.
13. New York Jets: Tavon Austin- The Jets really need to add some talent to their offense, and a guy who can do things with the ball when he gets it. Sanchez's arm is unreliable at best past 20 yards, so if they're indeed going with him, you need to surround him with guys who can get a lot of YAC yardage.
14. Carolina: Xavier Rhodes- Carolina must improve their secondary to have any chance of contending in their division. I give Rhodes a slight bump over Vaccaro, simply because corners are more valuable.
15. New Orleans: Cornellius Carradine- Big injury risk, but his upside is huge. The Saints need an overhaul on defense, and a defensive line that can put pressure on the QB, because their secondary is awful.
16. St. Louis: Sheldon Richardson- The Rams could go a number of directions with this pick. Their division has suddenly turned into a power run division with the 49ers and Seahawks both pounding the rock, so getting better up front is a must. Simply put, you draft to win your division, everything else is secondary.
17. Pittsburgh: Justin Hunter-Losing Wallace hurts, so they need to replace him with another guy who can stretch the field. This may be a little high, but Pittsburgh has never cared about taking the guy they want higher than he should go.
18. Dallas: Kenny Vaccaro-Win win for Dallas, they get the guy they wanted all along, and didn't have to trade up to do it.
19. New York Giants: Star Lotulelei-I think health concerns push him WAY down, where the Giants will be happy to scoop him up.
20. Chicago: Manti Te'o- At the end of the day, Manti Te'o is a damn good football player. That should overshadow any other of the myriad of concerns there are over Te'o.
21. Cincinnati: Deandre Hopkins- Would be a very nice compliment to AJ Green, and this is about where he should land.
22. St. Louis: John Cyprien- St. Louis can get a quality WR in the 2nd round. With that being said, Cyprien would be a great fit in a Jeff Fisher defense.
23. Minnesota: Jamar Taylor- Personally, I think Taylor will end up being one of the best players in this draft. Doesn't do anything spectactular, but does everything well. In a pass happy division, this is a great pickup for the Vikings.
24. Indianapolis: Desmond Trufaunt- Great Senior Bowl week. he has good measurables, and given the Colts needs and what's left on the board, this makes a lot of sense.
25. Minnesota: Sylvester Williams- The Vikings need to eventually think about replacing Kevin Williams. Williams is the best DT left on the board, and provides pretty good value for this pick. WR is also an option, but they can probably fulfill their needs later inthe draft.
26. Green Bay: Eddie Lacy- Green Bay has realized they need to get tougher on both sides of the ball. It isn't Green Bay's style to draft a RB this high, but they really like him, and they won't be able to get him in the 2nd round without trading up, and Green Bay doesn't trade up.
27. Houston: Tyler Eifert-Every draft there's just a scenarion in which a player and a team are a perfect fit for eachother. TE meet Houston, Houston meet TE.
Rest later, my client is here.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:23 AM ^
How exciting is draft day for Lion fans these last 10 years?
Not like they completely overhauled their front office during that time or anything...
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:25 AM ^
Even if you're wrong on every pick It's a damn impressive list. Well done sir.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:25 AM ^
I don't see how the Lions can take a Guard in the first round. If one of those two OTs doesn't fall to them, then I agree that they need to trade down. I'd still like them to draft the best OT/DE/LB/DB in the first round, though. In the second round, I'd take Barrett Jones if he's still on the board. In the third, I'd take Denard if he is still available as he fits the Jahvid Best role as well as the slot role. After that, I'd just be drafting defense and see if one of those guys can stick. Maybe draft another OT if there is a guy that has fallen.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:31 AM ^
Agreed. Drafting Warmack that high when you have a chance at Lane Johnson would be a mistake, although hopefully Fisher or Joeckel is still available.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:36 AM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^
I forgot to say what I'd do with the pick that the Lions would acquire for trading down. If it is a 2nd round pick, I'd use the first 2nd round pick the same as the 1st round and just grab a guy that inexplicably fell to the 2nd round. Then, I'd grab Barrett Jones with the pick that we acquired.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:19 PM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:40 PM ^
Which for my money at 7, would be Warmack. I understand your concerns, I just think that highly of Warmack, and I think the Lions do too.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^
Isn't Bush taking the Jahvid Best role, with LeShoure the "power" back?
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:29 AM ^
I just don't see the colts staying at that spot-- or if they do, I don't see them picking someone that any one expects. If I were doing a mock, I would probably give them a young CB, but I think the Colts FO would rather have depth- they need a young O-Lineman, A young CB, a young safty, and some pass rush help. If they stick there, I am thinking Datone Jones. The D-Line, which has added some bodies, still doesn't have an impact, front-end starter.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^
First and foremost that's a LOT of work you did there. Nice job!
But I must question two things:
1. You think Geno Smith is dropping out of the first round? He won't last past the first 10 picks IMO.
2. You've got Tyler Eifert WAY too low. That dude is a stud and Tight Ends are the flavor of the month in the NFL. I dont see him lasting past pick 15....20 tops.
And FWIW I really hope you're right on my Browns. I would love to see that pairing happen!
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^
ESPN has Geno Smith at 20. I think it would be funny to see the Raiders take him.
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:05 PM ^
Browns are taking Eifert at 6, IF Jordan and Milliner are both gone (which I think they will be). They will try to trade back, wont find a partner, and will end up taking Eifert.
Chances are I'll be wrong, but if I end up being right, I'll look like a genius
I doubt Smith makes it out of the first because someone almost always trades into the late first for that dropping QB. I'd love to see him go in the top 5, as that would give the Lions an option to Lane Johnson. Everyone is giving Johnson to the Lions, which to me is the worst case realistic scenario.
They were taking about this on the radio this morning? If you're the Lions do you take the third best tackle at 5? Or do you take the best pass rusher/corner (Millner being the best corner, the best pass rusher is YTBD).
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:37 AM ^
LOL I love that this was a pre-client activity. I've never written one with this much detail. Good for you.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^
I don't think Te'o is going to go to a place as a middle linebacker in a 4-3. I think he's a 3-4 inside linebacker.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
He lacks the range to go from sideline to sideline. He also needs to be protected by DL in front of him. ND DL did an exceptional job of doing it for Te'o. Not surprisingly, ND have two future 1st rounders in Tuitt and Nix.
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:22 PM ^
How would less down linemen protect Te'o?
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:27 PM ^
There's 3 DL occupying OL plus TED ILB will take on blockers so MIKE ILB can clean up the plays.
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
Most analysts say he's better suited in a 4-3, simply because his instincts would be better served there. That is really Te'o's strength.
I can't even begin to explain how people in Chicago (mostly the media) slobber over ND athletes who may come to Chicago. The Bears finally signed Tom Zbikowski (OMG did you know he's a boxer? The Trib has been practically begging the Bears to sign him for years). Teo is practically Tebow to the local media, whether he can play or not. Everyone is going to be ready to annoint him the next Urlacher, but no one is gonna be that good manning the middle for the Bears for a while. Personally, I hope like hell that we don't draft him. It'd be high expectations, a potential good (not great IMO) LB, an absolute media circus, and just obnoxious.
Which of course means the Bears will draft him. We had Armando Allen take up a roster spot for a couple years.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^
Trade up to third to get Tavon Austin?
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
Thats is too high for a guard. I dont think that they are going to trade down. In the end the Lions will probably do something stupid, and take Mingo at 5.
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
The Honey Badger. It's a lock. /s
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:53 AM ^
Granted, mock draft is one person's opinion of how the draft will fall since it's all purely guesswork. You did a nice job of trying to matchup team with a prospect. I can see the top 10 happen come Thursday night.
IMO, the top 10 mock draft will be like this:
1. Chiefs: Eric Fisher
2. Jaguars: Ziggy Ansah
3. Chargers(trade): Luke Joeckel
4. Miami (trade): Lane Johnson
5. Detroit: Dion Jordan
6. Cleveland: Dee Milliner
7. Arizona: DJ Fluker
8. Buffalo: Ryan Nassib
9. NYJ: Barkevious Mingo
10. Titans: Chance Warmack
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
Sorry but Jarvis Jones is going in the first round. Hopefully to Pittsburgh.
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:13 PM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:18 PM ^
You don't draft a guard at #7, will never happen. They have a greated need for a tackle and then can move Reiff inside to gaurd.
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:27 PM ^
When Warmack goes in the Top 10 Thursday night, you come tell me about it.
Reiff isn't strong enough to play on the inside (yet).
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:25 PM ^
The dynamics of the draft are going to change quite a bit. The new draft slotting is going to allow for you to take a guard or a safety, or even a right tackle in the top 10.
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:32 PM ^
Yeah, I can read ESPN articles too, but I still don't see a guard going in top 7. MAYBE at 10. MAYBE
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:55 PM ^
No way the Bears take anything other than OL or TE in the first. I actually think I prefer Ertz over Eifert. They'll go LB in the second.
Also, Star's lawyer has suggest legal action if he slips too far since he has received medical clearance. Sorry, no link, just something I heard on SLC sports radio a few weeks ago.
Noooooo take Teo, he's soo gooood.......I'm a Vikings fan, so those 2 late 1st rounders and ownership's love of the golden domers absolutely terrifies me
There are ton of quality prospects to be had at 2nd/3rd round. They may lack the top end talents, but they make it up with depth. You can find starters at 3rd round which is ridiculously deep.