2013 NFL Mock Draft

The 2013 NFL Mock Draft

No Team Player Pos School

1 Kansas City Chiefs Luke
Joeckel OT Texas A&M

Skinny: With no clear-cut franchise QB
available, Andy Reid invests in a personal protector for Alex Smith.

2 Jacksonville Jaguars Dion
Jordan DE Oregon

Skinny: The Jags haven’t had the best
track record with drafting D-lineman, but Jordan should give them the
impact player they’re looking for.

3 Oakland Raiders Sharrif
Floyd DT Florida

Skinny: Beefing up the interior D-line
is a major priority for a Raiders team with many holes to fill.

4 Philadelphia Eagles Eric
Fisher OT Michigan

Skinny: Protection, protection,
protection. The Eagles need to keep their QB(s) upright, and if
Fisher is available at No. 4, he’s too good to pass up.

5 Detroit Lions Dee
Milliner CB Alabama

Skinny: If Fisher is off the board, the
Lions go after their other major weakness and tab Milliner to start
patching up the porous secondary.

6 Cleveland Browns Ziggy Ansah DE BYU

Skinny: With Joe Flacco and Ben
Roethlisberger still crowning the division, Ansah gets the call to
team with Paul Kruger to beef up the 2013 Browns pass rush.

7 Arizona Cardinals Lane
Johnson OT Oklahoma

Skinny: Whether or not Bruce Arians has
his quarterback, he has no offensive line, so Johnson seems like an
easy fit here.

8 Buffalo Bills Geno Smith QB West
Virginia

Skinny: It seems so obvious, doesn’t
it? Then again, the Bills always seem to find a way not to draft a
quarterback…

9 New York Jets Jarvis
Jones OLB Georgia

Skinny: Going defense seems like an
obvious choice for some reason for Gang Green. Jones has some health
questions but has the physical tools to be a star for Rex Ryan’s
defense.

10 Tennessee Titans Jonathan
Cooper OG North Carolina

Skinny: With added emphasis on the
running game (see the addition of Shonn Greene) Cooper adds a
physical presence and attitude to an offensive line that lacked it
last season.

11 San Diego Chargers Chance
Warmack OG Alabama

Skinny: Line with the Titans, offensive
line should be a priority for San Diego. Both keeping Philip Rivers
upright and opening holes for Ryan Matthews are critical in 2013.

12 Miami Dolphins Xavier
Rhodes CB Florida State

Skinny: A big, physical corner, Rhodes
could be a slight risk going this high but also could pay high
dividends. Miami needs to replace the departed Sean Smith.

13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tyler
Eifert TE Notre Dame

Skinny: This is a critical year for
Josh Freeman, so arming him with a young stud tight end gives him
even fewer excuses if things don’t go well.

14 Carolina Panthers Star
Lotulelei DT Utah

Skinny: The Panthers continue to search
for a playmaking interior D-lineman and would be thrilled if
Lotulelei falls into their lap at No. 14.

15 New Orleans Saints Barkevious
Mingo DE LSU

Skinny: The Saints absolutely must go
defense after allowing the most yards in history last year, and
keeping Mingo in the state of Louisiana seems like a logical choice
if he’s available at 15.

16 St. Louis Rams Tavon
Austin WR West Virginia

Skinny: Danny Amendola’s departure and
Sam Bradford’s up-and-down play make Austin a smart pick. The Rams
are short on playmakers and Austin, as a dynamic slot-type receiver,
fills a huge void.

17 Pittsburgh Steelers Kenny
Vaccaro S Texas

Skinny: It’s no secret the Steelers are
set at safety – for now. But Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark are not
spring chickens and play with reckless abandon, meaning Vaccaro, a
tough, athletic player who can play close to the line of scrimmage,
could be the perfect selection to sit for a season or two and learn
from two of the best before emerging.

18 Dallas Cowboys Sheldon
Richardson DT North Carolina

Skinny: The Cowboys could (and maybe
should) go offensive line here, but if Richardson available, the
chance to beef up the D-line may be too tempting to pass up.

19 New York Giants D.J.
Fluker OT Alabama

Skinny: The Giants have a few areas of
need, but getting bigger and more physical on the offensive line
needs to be a top priority. Fluker would provide an immediate
upgrade.

20 Chicago Bears Cordarrelle
Patterson WR Tennessee

Skinny: Pairing the explosive Patterson
with young Alshon Jeffrey and the talented but mercurial Brandon
Marshall would suddenly give Jay Cutler a dangerous arsenal to work
with.

21 Cincinnati Bengals Menelik
Watson OT Florida State

Skinny: The versatile Watson might be
just what the doctor ordered for a Cincinnati offense that seems set
at the skill positions.

22 St. Louis Rams Eddie
Lacy RB Alabama

Skinny: With Steven Jackson gone, the
Rams need a new workhorse, and Lacy could be just what they’re
looking for.

23 Sylvester Williams Minnesota
Vikings DT North Carolina

Skinny: Why not add another Williams to
the defensive line? Sylvester could be even better than Pat and Kevin
despite playing only one year of high school football. The Vikes
could go with Manti Te’o here, but Williams has more upside.

24 Indianapolis Colts Damontre
Moore DE Texas A&M

Skinny: With the Dwight Freeney era
officially over, the Colts can officially implement a replacement
plan in Moore.

25 Minnesota Vikings Jonathan
Banks CB Mississippi St.

Skinny: Recruited as a safety out of
high school, Banks has good ball skills and big-time playmaking
ability, and while it might be tempting to go offense with one of
their first two picks, in a division loaded with offensive talent,
the Vikings really can’t go wrong doubling down on defense.

26 Green Bay Packers Matt
Elam FS Florida

Skinny: The Packers have not really
replaced Nick Collins’ playmaking ability since his career-ending
injury, so Elam, albeit undersized, could be the man they’re looking
for.

27 Houston Texans Keenan
Allen WR California

Skinny: This isn’t just about
“replacing Kevin Walter” or “complementing Andre Johnson.”
Allen represents a long-legged vertical threat that the Texans
desperately need to add to their arsenal. His speed isn’t
sensational, but he is physical and has great hands.

28 Denver Broncos Bjeorn
Werner DE Florida State

Skinny: The Broncos took away Tom
Brady’s favorite target in Wes Welker. Now they draft a player who
can make life miserable on him. Werner will provide great pass rush
but also has the ability to be a stout run defender, an area where
the Broncos could use some improvement.

29 New England Patriots Justin
Hunter WR Tennessee

Skinny: This might feel like an
unconventional pick, but it’s really not. The Pats need a vertical
threat to complement Danny Amendola and replace Brandon Lloyd, and
Hunter’s potential is tremendous. He can blow the top off a defense,
but the question will be whether his health concerns scare teams
away.

30 Atlanta Falcons Corey
Lemonier DE Auburn

Skinny: With John Abraham gone,
Lemonier could step in and make an immediate impact for a Falcons
team in desperate need of a pass rush. He is long-limbed and
athletic.

31 San Francisco 49ers Jesse
Williams DT Alabama

Skinny: A solid two-gap player, the
native Australian would be a good fit for Jim Tomsula’s defensive
line in San Francisco. The 49ers tend to rotate their D-lineman, so
adding Williams would provide nice depth.

32 Baltimore Ravens Manti
Te’o LB Notre Dame

Skinny: It feels like people might view
anyone drafting Te’o as taking on an added media burden, the Ravens
aren’t likely to mind, and have never been a team to worry about
perception or draft for need. Having said the latter, Te’o could step
right in and attempt to fill the gigantic shoes of the iconic Ray
Lewis. Aggressive and instinctive, Te’o has the physical ability to
be a great player in the NFL, and Baltimore could be a place for him
to excel.