Steelers Universe
2013 NFL Mock Draft V2
First Round Draft Projections
March 30, 2013
 1. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
This pick could be Eric Fisher. The Chiefs would like to trade down but no one is willing to pay the price for the overall #1 pick.
 2. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Dion Jordan, Oregon
The Jags' pass rush was anemic. Jordan can rush and drop into coverage if needed. There is also a chance that they pick up one of the two top-rated offensive tackles.
 3. Oakland Raiders - DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida
This pick could have very easily been Star Lotulelei if not for the questions about his health. The middle of the Raiders' D-line only combined for four sacks and 9 tackles for loss.
 4. Philadelphia Eagles - QB Geno Smith, West Virginia
The Eagles' first pick is something of a quandary, but Chip Kelly's offense demands a QB with specific skills. The fact that the Eagles' owner, Jeff Lurie, was at Smith's pro day might be a pretty good indication of where the Eagles are leaning. This is a prime target for teams that are willing to trade up for a QB.
 5. Detroit Lions - OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
Fisher very well could be the top pick in this draft. With Jeff Backus retiring and Gosder Cherilus' knack for holding penalties, Fisher should be a day one starter on the left side of the Lions' offensive line.
 6. Cleveland Browns - CB
Dee Milliner, Alabama
The Browns need a corner and Milliner is the top-rated defensive back in this draft. There is also a chance that the Browns attempt to trade down and aim for either Jarvis Jones or Barkevious Mingo to man the defense on the other side of newly-signed Paul Kruger.
 7. Arizona Cardinals - LB Barkevious Mingo, LSU
Mingo is a beast with incredible athletic ability. If not for some doubts about Jarvis Jones' spine, the Cardinals may have gone that route, but Mingo is the safer pick and possesses incredible upside.
 8. Buffalo Bills - QB Matt Barkley, Southern California
The Bills need a starting QB as badly as any team in this draft. Barkley may actually leapfrog Smith as the #1-rated QB at some point before the draft.
 9. New York Jets - OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
Jones has reportedly passed a physical and some teams have put him back on their board. The Jets would find it hard to pass on a player that led the nation in sacks last year and made 74 plays behind the line of scrimmage.
 10. Tennessee Titans - DT Star Lotulelei, Utah
Lotulelei can play any position in the middle of the D-line. He is extremely athletic for his size and possesses incredible strength. The Titans need to upgrade their pressure from the inside.
 11. San Diego Chargers - OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
The Chargers need someone who can protect Philip Rivers. Johnson may need to bulk up a little so as to handle power rushers, but he has good feet and a great kick slide to handle the speed rushers. Don't be surprised to see a team like the Bengals trade up.
 12. Miami Dolphins - CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
We have all watched Rhodes go from being a potential 3rd round pick to a legitimate first rounder. The Dolphins have needed a legitimate CB ever since trading Vontae Davis.
 13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State
The Bucs are the grateful recipients of a sliding Werner. In two seasons, Werner had 35 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, 18 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The Bucs also need a CB, so Desmond Trufant is a possibility here as well.
 14. Carolina Panthers - DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
Explosive 3-technique defensive tackle who understands leverage and is explosive at the snap of the ball. The Panthers could actually use two stud DTs and will start the process with a player that should start immediately.
 15. New Orleans Saints - DE Ezekiel Ansah, Brigham Young
Ansah has been called "raw" by some scouts, but there was no denying his ability at the Senior Bowl. He is capable of playing in either a 4-3 or a 3-4.
 16. St. Louis Rams - FS Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
The Rams will have to decide who they want to lose. If they go with free safety Kenny Vaccaro they lose the best WR in the draft. If they go with Patterson, then there is a chance that the Steelers take Vaccaro with their first round pick. I think the Rams go with the safety due to this draft's depth at receiver.
 17. Pittsburgh Steelers - WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
Pittsburgh is known throughout the league as a team that drafts the best player available. There may be a chance that the Steelers trade down but if not they find a replacement for Mike Wallace and a Z receiver in Patterson that will eventually allow Antonio Brown to move back to his more fitting X receiver position. Don't expect huge numbers in Patterson's first year. That's just not the Steelers' way.
 18. Dallas Cowboys - OG Chance Warmack, Alabama
The Cowboys have some pretty intense salary cap issues. I look for the Cowboys to take the best OG in the draft with their first pick. If Vaccaro is still on the board, the Cowboys may go with the free safety.
 19. New York Giants - OG Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
Excellent guard who would excel in a zone blocking scheme and can play center. Though not the power blocker that Warmack is, I have heard Cooper being compared to Dermontti Dawson, and that is pretty elite company.
 20. Chicago Bears - OLB Alec Ogletree, Georgia
With the divorce between the Bears and linebacker Brian Urlacher, the Bears will be looking at rebuilding their linebacking unit. Signing D.J. Williams and drafting Ogletree for a Briggs/Williams/Ogletree LB corps is scary.
 21. Cincinnati Bengals - OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama
Fluker looks to be a right tackle but some scouts have suggested that he has the athleticism to play on the left side. The Bengals will be eyeing Fluker until they figure out what is going to happen with Andre Smith.
22. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) - WR Keenan Allen, California
The Rams miss out on Patterson. Allen isn't the speedster that some of the other WRs in this draft are, but he is a great route runner and would be a day one starter for the Rams.
 23. Minnesota Vikings - DE Datone Jones, UCLA
Jones can play 3-technique or 5-technique. He already has an impressive repertoire of swim/club/rip moves and has the ability to collapse a pocket.
 24. Indianapolis Colts - DE Damontre Moore, Texas A&M
Some teams may be concerned about Moore's pedestrian combine performance, but the Colts will look past that and bank on his 73 plays behind the line of scrimmage.
25. Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle) - WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia
Austin is a premiere playmaker who is a dual threat as a slot receiver and a special teams return specialist. Austin may go earlier as some teams have him ranked as the second best WR in the draft.
 26. Green Bay Packers - RB Eddie Lacy, Alabama
The Packers will wait until later in the draft to fill other holes if the best RB in the draft is still on the board. Lacy averaged 6.5 yards per carry last year with 19 total TDs.
 27. Houston Texans - WR Justin Hunter, Tennessee
The Texans need a legitimate receiver to take the pressure off of Andre Johnson. Hunter is a solid X receiver who averaged 17.1 yards per reception and has exceptional leaping ability.
 28. Denver Broncos - DT Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State
The Broncos need a defensive tackle who can compliment newly signed Terrance Knighton. The Broncos have other needs but Hankins is a value here and the really strong DT candidates will be gone by the end of the second round.
 29. New England Patriots - CB Desmond Trufant, Washington
The Patriots have missed on several CB candidates in recent years. With Devin McCourty moving to safety, the Pats will have to try again in the first couple of rounds.
 30. Atlanta Falcons - TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
Eifert is a legitimate TE and the Falcons know that they are looking at the last season of all-world TE Tony Gonzalez's career.
 31. San Francisco 49ers - DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina
I'm torn between Sylvester Williams and Jesse Williams at this slot. But either way, I look for the 49ers to grab a disruptive DT to strengthen their defense.
 32. Baltimore Ravens - ILB Kevin Minter, LSU
I have been a huge Minter fan for some time now and think there is a chance that he could go even higher than this. The Ravens will be looking to reload at linebacker and the talented Minter should continue Baltimore's proud linebacking tradition.
For any questions/suggestions you may have regarding this mock, please feel free to contact our resident draftnik LLT directly via Twitter at @PBiggerstaff
|
|
