Thursday, January 3, 2013

2013 NFL Mock (me) Draft

Keeping up with tradition, I've decided to take a wild swing at the upcoming (April) 2013 NFL draft. Mock me, please.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs - Geno Smith, QB (WVU) - If the Chiefs draft anything but a QB (unless they pick up someone via FA), we might as well go ahead and slot them here for the 2014 draft as well. Obviously Matt Cassell and Brady Quinn can't get the job done. Helen Keller could make this pick. 
  2. Philadelphia Eagles (trade from JAX) - Luke Joeckel, OT (TAMU) - The greatest position of need (by far) and the Eagles can't afford to miss out on him. Other mock drafts indicate a good amount of draft depth at this position, but franchise LTs don't come along every year. 
  3. Oakland Raiders - Bjoern Werner, DE  (FSU) - RIP Al Davis, but I'm confident that the Raiders won't let me down here and will take a guy who should have great measurables at the combine. He's the next JJ Watt. 
  4. Jacksonville Jags (trade from PHI) - Jarvis Jones, LB (UGA) - QUICK! Name one outside linebacker on the Jaguars' roster. Couldn't do it huh? They need a huge upgrade at LB and could easily trade down and still make this pick. 
  5. Detroit Lions - Dee Milliner, CB (Bama) - I watched the Detroit Lions lose more games by giving up huge 3rd down passing conversions. Spivey will hopefully return from IR to shore up the safety position. 
  6. Cleveland Browns - Tavon Austin, WR (WVU) It's too bad there isn't a true Top 10 WR available (i.e. Julio Jones or AJ Green) because the glaring lack of playmakers on this offense is the biggest area of need. The defense proved it can hold its own when it needs to. New management stretches to fill the spot (Austin will probably run a 4.28).. and hopefully it works out.
  7. Arizona Cardinals - Tyler Wilson, QB (ARK) - Three names that Larry Fitzgerald has nightmares about. Kolb, Skelton, Lindley.  IMO Wilson is a better prospect than Barkley...
  8. Buffalo Bills - Damontre Moore, DE (TAMU) - I honestly don't know much about this guy, but what I do know, is that Mario Williams and the Bills DEF were both MIA in 2012. The Bills wait until the 2nd Round to draft a QB from their backyard (Ryan Nassib, Syracuse).
  9. NY Jets - Keenan Allen, WR (CAL) - Sanchez has no one to throw the ball to. Here's a guy in the mold of TO who can get it done. Defense looks even better with Revis back from injury island. 
  10. Tennessee Titans - Star Lotulelei, DT (Utah) - I saw this man child eat up the 4 & 5 star USC OL on national TV. I presume that he'll be able to do the same in the pros, that is, if he doesn't take plays off. Plays with a tremendous motor (and emotion) but conditioning might be the main issue at 350lbs. 
  11. San Diego Chargers - Jake Matthews, OT (TAMU) - Red rover, red rover, send a friggin' offensive lineman right over. As an owner of Phillip Rivers, I constantly watched #17 running for his life and throwing off his ass.
  12. Miami Dolphins - Xavier Rhodes, DB (FSU) - With Allen and Austin both off the board, I expect the Fins to fix a Swiss-cheese like secondary.
  13. Tampa Bay Bucs - Manti Te'o, LB (ND) - I have no idea who Mason Foster is, but I know he's not very good. Bucs will need to address secondary in the next couple rounds. The Bucs personnel coordinator should follow up a solid 2012 draft with an equally solid 2013 draft.
  14. Carolina Panthers - Barkevious Mingo, LB (LSU) - First of all, this guy sounds like he came off Key & Peele's All-Star game roster. Second of all, putting Mingo next to Kuechly is reminiscent of the Panthers' glory days with Dan Morgan and Will Witherspoon. 
  15. New Orleans Saints - Johnathan Hankins, DT (OSU) - This is more or less a homer pick, but I think the Saints like defensive players from Ohio State (see: Malcolm Jenkins & Will Smith). 
  16. St. Louis Rams - Taylor Lewan, OT (scUM) - I watched Lewan get pwned by Jadeveon Clowney on New Year's Day, but somehow this pick still make sense. Sam Bradford should be a happy camper this summer.
  17. Pittsburgh Steelers - Johnathan Banks, DB (MissSt) - Steelers could take another offensive lineman or a linebacker here, but my guess is they'll try to clean up some of the mess in the back four first..
  18. Dallas Cowboys - Chance Warmack, OG (Bama) - O-line or linebacker. I'm pretty sure this guy will be the next best player available. Jerry Jones might do (and will do) something stupid so I won't be surprised if he drafts Collin Klein.
  19. NY Giants - Khaseem Green, OLB (Rutgers) - I hear the Giants need a new linebacker.... Defense looked like a shell of itself in 2012.
  20. Chicago Bears - Eric Fisher, OT (Central Michigan) - see SD Chargers above. Jay Cutler needs someone to protect him from Suh.
  21. Baltimore Ravens (trade from STL) - Eric Reid, SS (LSU) - We all know how important Ed Reed is to the Baltimore defense... Sounds too easy to just bring in another Reid, right?
  22. Minnesota Vikings - Cordarrelle Patterson, WR (Tenn) - I've read three mock drafts that all have Patterson going to the Vikings. I'm going to play copy-cat here.
  23. Cincinnati Bengals - Ezekiel Ansah, DE (BYU) - Mike Brown is a cheapskate who won't resign FA Michael Johnson even though he had a tremendous year. This kid is relentless.
  24. Indianapolis Colts - Matt Elam, SS (UF) - if he can be the next Bob Sanders, sans injury bug, Pagano will have his leader in the secondary for years to come.
  25. Seattle Seahawks - Sheldon Richardson, DT (Mizzou) - He goes here due to a major oversight on my part.. and the Seahawks DEF gets even better.
  26. St. Louis Rams (trade from BAL)- Arthur Brown, LB (K-State) - This is the Rams 2nd pick in the first round... Brown would be a nice addition to go with Little Animal. 
  27. Green Bay Packers - Barrett Jones, C (Bama) - It's time for Jeff Saturday to retire. Bye bye.
  28. SF 49ers - Sharrif Floyd, DT (UF) - because the rich get richer. It's what happens. Not sure what other pieces the 49ers really need.
  29. Houston Texans - Jonathan Cooper, OG (UNC) - I watched Arian Foster run great on one side of the ball and crappy on the other.. That only means one thing... 
  30. NE Patriots - Robert Woods, WR (USC) - Bill B. is a draft day enigma or a 100-sided die... I'm going to say WR for fun. 
  31. Denver Broncos - Jesse Williams, DT (Bama) - I know Elvis Dumervil.... and that's about it.
  32. Atlanta Falcons - Kevin Minter, LB (LSU) - Akeem Dent plays MLB now and had 42 solo tackles on the year. That's pretty pathetic...
Dart throwing predictions...
Offensive Rook of the Year: Geno Smith
Defensive Rook of the Year: Barkevious Mingo