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Tonight will kick off the 2013 NFL
Draft, with the stress of all 32 teams
building up as they look to build
strong futures for their teams. |
1) Kansas City Chiefs - Eric Fisher OT Central Michigan
I'll be honest, I had Joeckel going to the Chiefs all along, until reports have surfaced that Fisher will be number one, nothing official as of yet.
2) Jacksonville Jaguars - Luke Joeckel OT Texas A&M
Joeckel will now fall to the Jaguars as a blind side protector for Blaine Gabbert, who so far hasn't worked out, but with some protection on the offensive line, and Justin Blackmon returning, Gabbert could improve this season.
3) Oakland Raiders - Shariff Floyd DT Florida
Floyd is a dominant presence on the defensive line, which is something the Raiders have lacked in previous seasons.
4) Philadelphia Eagles - Dion Jordan OLB Oregon
Jordan makes all the sense in the world for the Eagles at four. Chip Kelly, Jordan's head coach last season at Oregon, is now the Eagles head coach. Jordan is an elite pass rusher, but couldn't show that due to the defensive schemes at Oregon dropping him back into coverage.
5) Detroit Lions - Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU
Let me make this clear: I am not a fan of Ansah. I believe down the road, duribility will become a major issue for him. Ansah came from Ghana and had never even watched an American football game. After one productive season, how can he stay healthy and dominate during a 16 game schedule? The upside is certainly there, however.
6) Cleveland Browns - Dee Milliner CB Alabama
I'm a very big fan of Milliner's. Milliner could be the next elite corner in the NFL if he stays healthy, and that may be a big if. The Browns already have a great young corner in Joe Haden of Florida, but this could set their secondary for seasons to come. The Browns are also a possibility to trade this pick and drop in the draft, but if Milliner is available at six, look for them to grab him.
7) Arizona Cardinals - Lane Johnson OT Oklahoma
With such a deep tackle draft, several teams are competing for high picks to snatch up the blind side protectors. Johnson is a very swiftly moving offensive lineman that will provide tremendous protection for newly-acquired and unmobile quarterback, Carson Palmer.
8) San Diego Chargers (Predicted Trade with Buffalo) - D.J. Fluker OT Alabama
With tackles flying off of the board, the Chargers are going to want to trade up to protect Philip Rivers in the future. Fluker is a massive 339 pound offensive lineman that will protect blindsides as well as anyone in the draft.
9) New York Jets - Tavon Austin WR West Virginia
Austin is somebody that I'm extremely high on. He has tremendous hands which will help him become elite as a slot receiever in the NFL. Austin is only an 170 pound wide receiver, but Wes Welker has become great as a slot receiever, which is who I compare Austin to.
10) Tennessee Titans - Chance Warmack G Alabama
Overshadowed by the three elite tackles in the draft, Chance Warmack is an extremely productive guard. Looking to protect Jake Locker, Warmack has the strength and agility to become an elite NFL offensive lineman.
11) Buffalo Bills (Predicted Trade with San Diego) - Ryan Nassib QB Syracuse
The Bills can afford to trade down from their original number eight pick because nobody is willing to take the risk on a quarterback (let alone Ryan Nassib) this early. Nassib is a hometown kid, which hopefully isn't the reason they're leaning toward Nassib over Geno Smith, because I feel Smith will be the better pro.
12) Miami Dolphins - Jonathan Cooper G North Carolina
Jake Long and Jonathan Cooper, that's an elite combination on the offensive line for the Miami Dolphins. Miami could possibly take a cornerback with this pick, but if they want to turn Ryan Tannehill into their long-term quarterback, their first need should be to protect him for the future.
13) New York Jets - Barkevious Mingo OLB LSU
The Jets have certainly lacked a tremendous pass rusher over the past few seasons, but that's only one of their worries. This team needs to start filling needs somewhere, that's why I like Mingo at nine.
14) Carolina Panthers - Star Lotulelei DT Utah
Lotulelei has dropped on many draft boards due to the rising of Shariff Floyd of Florida. Carolina will look to bolster their front seven on defense with Defensive Rookie of the Year, Luke Kuechly and now adding Star Lotulelei, in my opinion.
15) New Orleans Saints - Alex Okafor OLB Texas
Okafor is a great edge rusher in a 3/4 defensive scheme, or can be used as a defensive end in a 4/3 scheme. The Saints will look to use Okafor in their great number of blitzes.
16) St. Louis Rams - Tyler Eifert TE Notre Dame
Eifert may possibly have the best hands in the draft. After a very productive season at Notre Dame, Eifert should instantly become one of the elite pros in the NFL. With Sam Bradford, the Rams will look to add weapons around him. Eifert would be a better selection over any of the remaining wide receivers on the board.
17) Pittsburgh Steelers - Eddie Lacy RB Alabama
Eddie Lacy just adds to the names of productive Alabama running backs over the previous few seasons. Lacy was nearly as productive as Trent Richardson, but has lost stock due to the deep runningback draft. Eddie Lacy fits the Steelers scheme perfectly; a down hill runner who leads with his shoulders and has the strength to break tackles.
18) Dallas Cowboys - Kenny Vaccaro S Texas
Vaccaro will remain right at home after playing his college ball at Texas. The Cowboys will look to add to their secondary by adding Vacarro, who is a speed threat in the secondary who can attack the ball in the air, and swarm runners breaking free.
19) New York Giants - Menelik Watson T Florida State
Watson may be a reach here at 19 for the Giants. IF they keep this pick and don't trade it, they may take Watson, who is rated as the fifth best tackle in the draft. It's possibly the Giants look toward the second or third rounds to fill the offensive tackle need, but if they want to protect Eli Manning as they have done, Watson would be a fine fit.
20) Chicago Bears - Manti Te'o ILB Notre Dame
I struggled with this one. Te'o or Jarvis Jones? Several reports say Te'o will not be drafted by the Bears, and that they'll take another linebacker. No matter who they take, expect them to go linebacker in the first round. Jones is a great speed rusher, but Te'o is an elite player who needs to learn how to stay away from play action.
21) Cincinnati Bengals - Matt Elam S Florida
Elam is an interesting choice. Safeties are not deep in this NFL Draft, but it's a need that the Bengals need to fill. Elam is a tremendous safety in coverage, and plays almost as a corner in the passing game.
22) St. Louis Rams - Jonathan Cyprien S Florida International
Cyprien is a quiet player, after all he played at Florida International, however, don't be fooled. This guy can play. Cyprien is a sure tackling safety, but didn't get much media coverage at FIU. He has minor medical concerns, and isn't projected to get until the early second round, but I compare him to a Louis Delmas of the Detroit Lions, who came out of Western Michigan. I see the Bengals snatching him up with this selection.
23) Minnesota Vikings - Sylvester Williams DT North Carolina
Williams is a hard nosed defensive lineman. He demands double teams on nearly every down, but we'll see how his game translates to the next level. Williams has the size and strength to power through even NFL offensive lines, which is something the Minnesota Vikings like to have.
24) Indianapolis Colts - D.J. Hayden CB Houston
Hayden is really a wildcard pick. Hayden was projected in the top fifteen by some experts, but not even a first round pick by some. He also is questioned due to not facing elite competition in the C-USA. However, the Colts need to fill the cornerback need, and it's not a deep draft for that position.
25) Minnesota Vikings - Cordarrelle Patterson WR Tennessee
Cordarrelle Patterson has dropped lately due to the rising of Tavon Austin. However, the Vikings would like another deep threat to go along with newly-acquired, Greg Jennings. Patterson can stretch the field but needs to desperately improve his route running after just one season at Tennessee.
26) Green Bay Packers - Datone Jones DE UCLA
Datone Jones of UCLA has an elite burst off of the snap, and clears blockers extremely quickly. In a 4-3 scheme, Jones can certainly be a left end, and a good one. He fits in well with the Packers scheme.
27) Houston Texans - DeAndre Hopkins WR Clemson
Hopkins has incredible hands. Quite honestly, the best in the draft. Hopkins needs to get quicker, and needs to be more explosive off of the line, but every team can use wide receivers with great hands, and with Andre Johnson aging, they can certainly use Hopkins.
28) Denver Broncos - Jarvis Jones OLB Georgia
Jarvis Jones is a pure pass rusher. He flies around the edges and gets to the quarterback, creating havoc in the backfield. Jones may drop due to a lack of need a linebacker for some teams, but he can certainly fill some needs for the Broncos, who are quite set on the offensive side of the ball, but can address some issues defensively.
29) New England Patriots - Keenan Allen WR California
The Patriots have picked a wrong time to need wide receivers. This draft isn't known for elite receivers, but they need them. That being said, the best available option would be Keenan Allen. Allen would fit in well, he's not someone who demands the ball, because most passes will be going to the tight ends. However, he'll fit in well after Danny Amendola signed with Pats in free agency.
30) Atlanta Falcons - Xavier Rhodes CB Florida State
Rhodes is a tremendous pick here for the Falcons. It could be him or Jamar Taylor Boise State with this pick, but the Falcons would like to address the cornerback need here at 30th overall.
31) San Francisco 49ers - Zach Ertz TE Stanford
Zach Ertz has been greatly overshadowed by Tyler Eifert, but is a tremendous find for any team who wants him in the late first, or early second round. Ertz can fit in well with Vernon Davis, as a tremendous blocking tight end. That's if the 49ers don't use this pick and another of their 13 throughout the draft to trade up and find another playmaker.
32) Baltimore Ravens - Kevin Minter ILB LSU
Kevin Minter is interesting here with the Ravens. Following a terrible off-season losing player after player from their Super Bowl Championship team, I think Minter will be a decent fit after the retirement of Ray Lewis.
TOP PLAYERS UNDRAFTED: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennesse; Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri; Cornellius Carradine, DE, Florida State; Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State; Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia; Matt Barkley, QB, USC; Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State; Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama
