By Josh Martin
1. Cheifs: Luke Joeckel, OT (Texas A&M)
In the beginning of the draft workout process there were several possible number one picks and a handful of “sure things.” Through the months of scrutiny and criticism, however, only one remains. Luke Joeckel is the only “sure thing” in the 2013 Draft Class and is #1 almost by default. His fate was sealed when the Chiefs made the trade to acquire QB Alex Smith, and on April 24th they will draft the best guy to protect his blindside: Joeckel.
2. Jaguars: Sharrif Floyd, DT (Florida)
Sharrif Floyd was never thought of as a potential #1 pick, yet he has risen all the way to #2 in my mock draft. Though not necessarily the most productive in his years in Florida, he has NFL-ready athleticism and size. Regarded as the safest DT in the draft after Star Lotulelei was diagnosed with a rare heart condition, I project Floyd will remain in the sunshine state to play for the Jaguars, who have lots of holes to fill even after the pickup of Floyd.
3. Raiders: Star Lotulelei, DT (Utah)
The Raiders need a DT. Star Lotulelei was at one point considered a possible #1 overall pick. He has the highest ceiling of any DT in the draft and has been on the NFL radar since he was a Junior in high school. The irregular heartbeat diagnosis this winter makes his health a concern, but the Raiders historically have not had issues drafting high-risk, high-reward guys. Let’s hope for their sake that this pick turns out better than the last few.
4. Eagles: Dion Jordan, OLB (Oregon)
Dion Jordan is one of the quickest linebackers in the draft. As the NFL rapidly transitions to more and more 3-4 schemes with OLBs blitzing off the ends on virtually every play, a player with speed of Jordan will see his value shoot straight up. I don’t see Jordan slipping past his college coach Chip Kelly in the draft. They will be reunited in Philly especially since the Eagles haven’t seen a pass rush presence off the edge since trading Jason Babin, who recorded 18 sacks in 2011.
5. Lions: Eric Fisher, OT (Central Michigan)
Eric Fisher will be the first MAC player drafted in the top 5 in recent memory. He is certainly a worthy choice. Perhaps off the radar to the casual football fan due to playing in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, Fisher has benefited more than anyone from pre-draft workouts and showcases. First considered a top 10 pick after a dominant performance in the Senior Bowl, where he flattened some of the best SEC and ACC DEs coming off the line, Fisher also had a positive showing at the combine. You can never have enough pass protection in the NFL and Fisher has earned his spot as the second best OT in the draft.
6. Browns: Dee Milliner, CB (Alabama)
Dee Milliner is a championship Cornerback. He won them back to back at Alabama and he has all the physical tools to compete at the next level. In the 2013 BCS National Championship game, Notre Dame missed the scouting report. They kept on challenging Milliner and Milliner kept on winning, even on a few matchups against the 6’6 TE Tyler Eifert, who is also likely to be taken in the first round of the draft. I think he gets taken here as the best player on the board as the Browns improve an already solid secondary.
7. Cardinals: Lane Johnson, OT (Oklahoma)
The Cardinals need lots of help everywhere, and reports say that they are not interested in a Quarterback, though there are some rumblings about the possible selection of Matt Barkley here. Lane Johnson was a 4 year starter at Oklahoma and Landry Jones publically gives Johnson more credit than anyone else for his development as a successful QB in Norman. Johsnon is another OT ready for the transition to the NFL, but less of a sure thing than Joeckel or Fisher. There are some questions about his physicality that were exposed at times last year against Notre Dame, and against Texas A&M during the Cotton Bowl.
8. Bills: Geno Smith, QB (West Virginia)
Geno Smith is the most pro ready Quarterback in this draft class because he is the only one who has world class arm strength paired with NFL accuracy. The Bills need to draft a quarterback because lets be real here, if Kevin Kolb came to Buffalo to win a Super Bowl, it’s as a backup. Geno’s first 6 games this season were a clear display of his superhuman potential, but he came back down to earth once he got deep into Big XII play. That discouraged the Cheifs from taking him at #1, instead opting to acquire Alex Smith.
9. Jets: Barkevious Mingo, OLB (LSU)
Barkevious Mingo had a monster Sophomore season with double digit sack totals and unparalleled athleticism in the always speedy SEC. His performance regressed a little bit but he can play at either DE or OLB and will be a force to be reckoned with immediately in the NFL. The Jets will draft him at #9 in the hopes that he will bring youth to an aging and recently ineffective front 7.
10. Titans: Ezekiel Ansah, DE (BYU)
Ezekiel Ansah is another underappreciated talent that benefited from the senior bowl. Ansah led his team in tackles during that game bringing down Denard Robinson on a reverse inclusive. Ansah combines size with a sub 4.6 40 and is ready to make an impact in the NFL. If he falls to 10 he is a steal as he is exactly what Tennessee is looking for.
11. Chargers: Jarvis Jones, OLB (Georgia)
Jarvis Jones is a physical specimen. According to many experts, he was the second most pro ready prospect at the beginning of the season behind only Jadeveon Clowney, who cannot declare until next year. His production was slightly below expectations during the season, but was still selected as an All American. The Chargers will be elated to grab Jones here as they can’t have imagined he would drop to 11 when they announced the picks. Jones has fallen slightly on many boards due to a reported spinal condition. Recent articles are reporting that it should be a non-issue, but NFL teams are more cautious than ever about health concerns and extremely protective of top picks.
12. Dolphins: Desmond Trufant, CB (Washington)
He was the fastest corner at the combine and appears to be on the fast track to joining his two brothers in the NFL. Trufant is a true cover corner. He’s not going to get a lot of tackles in the run game and he’s not going to frustrate wide receivers at the line of scrimmage, instead doing much of his work down field. Many say he underachieved at Washington, but that will be forgotten if he can excel in Miami. Dolphins desperately need a CB so this is a natural fit.
13. Jets: Xavier Rhodes, CB (Florida State)
At 6’2, 220, Xavier Rhodes is one of the biggest cornerbacks in the class. And he plays like it too. Rhodes is a guy that is big enough to jam you at the line of scrimmage and still have the quickness to retreat into coverage and stay with you. And then he has the highest vertical jump in the class so you can’t just throw it over him. He struggles when stepping up to play the run, which is surprising given his physical ability.
14. Panthers: Sheldon Richardson, DT (Missouri)
Sheldon Richardson is a tank. He’s one of the biggest people in the draft. It’s going to take two blockers to block him because he will run over any one in his way. The Panthers will decide that that is enough reason to draft him 14th overall
15. Saints: Kenny Vaccaro, FS (Texas)
Kenny Vaccaro just looks like an NFL safety. It’s funny because the secondary in New Orleans last year looked like an arena football league one. That’s why Vaccaro would make such an improvement for the Saints He’s versatile as they come, able to step up and make a tackle in the run game but also good versus the pass.
16. Rams: Tavon Austin, WR (West Virginia)
I need to preface this by saying that this is not the typical Jeff Fisher pick, but I think he realizes that he needs someone to help Sam Bradford, who hasn’t been developing the way St. Louis fans had hoped, and replace new patriot Danny Amendola. Tavon Austin and Geno Smith had an amazing partnership in Morgantown. Tavon has blazing speed that reminds me of Percy Harvin.
17. Steelers: Bjoern Werner, DE (Florida State)
Bjoern Werner is a Pittsburgh Steeler D-lineman, Scrappy, strong and ruthless. A true leader and dominant force at FSU is turning pro and Mike Tomlin is smiling at the chance he might fall all the way to 17. Werner is slipping because he’s not that impressive in skills drills, but sometimes it is important to look at someone on paper and you cant argue with Werner’s production.
18. Cowboys: Chance Warmack, OG (Alabama)
Many have Chance Warmack as a top 10 pick as the best interior O lineman making the leap to the NFL in April. I don’t agree, though Chance is certainly no slouch. A winner on the field, Warmack appears to have the physical tools to play at the next level, but I don’t see any NFL team seeing his value in the top 15.
19. Giants: D.J. Fluker, OT (Alabama)
Another guy from Alabama? Oy! DJ Fluker becomes the 2nd consecutive ‘Bama offensive lineman to be drafted. I could see Fluker taken as high as 12, but the Giants are a more logical fit. Fluker is a very consistent player who always seems to find the blitzer. We will see if he can do that at the next level without Barrett Jones shouting out reads to him.
20. Bears: Johnathan Cooper, OG (North Carolina)
The Bears offensive line has been atrocious for too long now. There must be something in the Lake Michigan water. Maybe not. The Bears will try a more logical way to solve this by getting more talent. Johnathan Cooper out of UNC has that. There is a mini competition between Cooper and Warmack to be the first guard drafted. It will be a bigger story if either is drafted in the top 10 as no OG has been since 1997.
21. Bengals: Eddie Lacy, RB (Alabama)
Eddie Lacy is the best running back in the class. A large frame with speed, Lacy is comparable to a freight train. The train rolled right through Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship. I project him to a healthy Rashard Mendenhall. The Bengals have struggled to run the ball for a while now and BenJarvis Green-Ellis isn’t getting the Job done. It’s time for a change.
22. Rams: Matt Elam, SS (Florida)
I am higher on Matt Elam than most. He’s on the smaller side, but he brings the thunder. He is exactly the guy I think of when I think of a Jeff Fisher defense, so I think that he fits with the Rams here, though there is a chance they could wait and pick him up in the 2nd round.
23. Vikings: Keenan Allen, WR (California)
The Vikings lost Percy Harvin? No one will notice if they take Keenan Allen, allen has similar skills in agility and speed with a much bigger frame. Keenan Allen has an awfully high ceiling coming out of Cal and the Vikings need another threat to pair with Adrian Peterson.
24. Colts: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR (Tennessee)
The curious case of Cordarrelle Patterson. If he didn’t have the off field issues, he would easily be the first WR taken in the draft. He the highest ceiling and has even drawn comparisons to Calvin Johnson himself. He should give Andrew Luck another great option in the passing game lining up across from the aging Reggie Wayne with TY Hilton in the slot.
25. Vikings: Arthur Brown, OLB (Kansas State)
After a rough start becoming academically ineligible at the University of Miami, Brown changed his ways to become a leader at Kansas State. He always had the physical tools to be a solid linebacker, but his speed is a concern. Many will say that this is early for Brown, but I believe the Vikings will pull the trigger here because he is a relatively safe pick.
26. Packers: Damontre Moore, DE (Texas A&M)
No one’s stock has plummeted more since the end of the season than Damontre Moore’s. After a brilliant season at College Station, he didn’t wake up for the combine and underperformed in every event. This is one of the most difficult picks in the draft. It seemed at one point that he was a top 5 pick and now it is questionable whether he is worthy of a first round signing. Damontre Moore should slide right into Capers famous 3-4 defense.
27. Texans: DeAndre Hopkins, WR (Clemson)
DeAndre Hopkins put of up huge numbers alongside Sammy Watkins with the aid of Taj Boyd at Clemson. I see no reason for him to not have success in the NFL with his combination of size, speed and hands. He has made some negative headlines in recent weeks after his room was found completely messed up with feces all over the walls and floors. Hopkins has denied any responsibility for the state of the room, but it truly is a baffling story that cannot be good for his draft stock.
28. Broncos: Tyler Eifert, TE (Notre Dame)
Tyler Eifert, like Kyle Rudolph before him, looks to make a smooth transition from Notre Dame to a starting role in the NFL. Eifert put up similar numbers in a similar system in South Bend and he always seemed to make a big catch when the Irish needed it most. Eifert fits great in the Mile High City and is an upgrade over Joel Driessen and Jacob Tamme. And Payton Manning gets a Dallas Clark type player to pair with the strongest receiving core in the game including Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and newcomer Wes Welker.
29. Patriots: Kawann Short, DT (Purdue)
Kawann Short was the lone standout on a mostly helpless Purdue defense that was absolutely obliterated by Oklahoma State in the bowl game. Kawann Short is about average sized for a DT, so it’s his quickness off the line that sets him apart. Pats can slide him over to DE in their 3-4 scheme as short is not built like a nose tackle nor can anyone truly take the place of Vince Wilfork.
30. Falcons: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Johnthan “Don’t call me Jonathan” Banks is a ferocious cornerback of the Xavier Rhodes ilk. Banks’ career in Starksville is not as polished as some of the other corners such as Dee Milliner in their college days, but Banks has enough upside to sneak into the 1st round. The Falcons need to select for some defensive help as they are solid as ever on offense.
31. 49ers: Datone Jones: DE (UCLA)
Datone Jones is the best player remaining on the board at this point and that is why the 49ers, a team with truly no holes, take him. Justin Smith is aging a bit and Datone Jones should have time to develop before taking the field as an every down lineman. Datone was very successful in his final year at UCLA and was the key to the defensive turnaround in just one year. Remember that this UCLA defense that gave up 50 to USC a year ago and beat them this year.
32: Ravens: Kevin Minter, ILB (LSU)
Kevin Minter has big shoes to fill. Scratch that. Kevin Minter has the biggest shoes to fill. There was no more controversial player over the course of his career than Ray Lewis. The Ravens do need a replacement and they have many options in Alex Ogletree, Kevin Minter and Manti Te’o. They trust Minter because he is the most physically imposing of the three and he wont bring the media circus that seems to follow Manti Te’o.
Beneath The Helmet 