My Final Mock Draft Before The Big Dance
By David Johns
No need for an introduction. It’s showtime!
1. Luke Joeckel, LT, Texas A&M:
I just can’t see them picking anyone else but Joeckel. He’s a franchise left tackle for your new QB. Brandon Albert can cry Andy Reid a river.
2. Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon:
The Jaguars need a boost along the defensive line. The unit only collected 20 sacks last season. It’s a stat that’s burned into my head. The Jags do not have an athlete like Jordan on the roster right now, let alone a pass rusher like Jordan.
3.* MIAMI SWAPS FIRST ROUNDERS WITH OAKLAND AND THROWS IN THE 54TH OVERALL PICK.* Eric Fisher, LT, Central Michigan:
Jeff Ireland continues to swing for the fences and gets the tackle the Fins need.
4. Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama:
I don’t buy it. I believe Milliner is a top 5 pick in this year’s draft, and Philadelphia needs fresh faces in a secondary that lost Nnamdi and DRC.
5. Lane Johnson, LT, Oklahoma:
Do the Lions even have someone who can play LT? Riley Reiff will start somewhere along the line. If Detroit gets Johnson here, Reiff can go to RT. I don’t think there’s that much seperation between Fisher and Johnson in the first place.
6. Ezekiel Ansah, OLB/DE, BYU:
The Browns are yet another team transitioning to a 34 and they will need LBs who can stand up and rush the passer. Ansah is the best pass rusher left on the board. When need meets BAP…
7. Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama:
The Cardinals need something along their offensive line, and recently there have been rumblings that Arizona isn’t that unhappy with tackles Levi Brown and Bobbie Massie. Warmack right here would add some push to the interior of their offensive line and that’s putting it lightly.
8. Geno Smith, QB, WVU:
No way they take just Kolb and Jackson to camp. Smith goes to Buffalo.
9. Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU:
This is the Jets’ “guy”. I believe this is where Mingo should go. He’ll be a good fit in their scheme.
10. Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah:
Wow look at that. I’m under the impression that the Star created the Sharrif. Now that the heart checks out, Star is once again a top 10 pick.
11. Jonathan Cooper, OG, UNC:
The Chargers need a guard like Cooper. They just need anything along the offensive line, and Cooper is one of the best players in the draft. San Diego gets a steal with this one.
12. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida:
It’s a good thing Oakland traded back. This was the player they wanted all along, but now they’ve regained the 2nd rounder they lost.
13. D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston:
Hayden has been a very fast riser as of late. He had a very serious heart injury that caused him to fall drastically early on. Anyways he’s healthy now and his talent is obvious. New York gets him at 13 to shore up a secondary that just lost Revis.
14. Xavier Rhodes, CB, FSU:
The Panthers will need someone who can cover the likes of Roddy White, Julio Jones, Marques Colston, and Vincent Jackson. Rhodes isn’t the highest rated player on their board, but they need good cornerbacks.
15. Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia:
Rob Ryan needs outside linebackers in the 34 defense that is now being implemented in NOLA.
16. Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas:
St. Louis is looking pretty barren back there. Vaccaro will address so many issues in their secondary and will shore up the back end of the defense.
17. Cordarelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee:
They need more WRs and Patterson is the best one available. They’ll have to have someone who can compliment Antonio Brown which Patterson should do nicely.
18. Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
The Cowboys are switching to a 43 and currently do not have a true 3 tech. Richardson provides the Boys with a true 43DT.
19. Bjoern Werner, DE, FSU:
The Giants go Dline all the time! Werner will get in on a rotation that already includes J.P.P and Justin Tuck.
20. Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame:
I’m sorry I just can’t see them taking Arthur Brown right here. Instead they get the best TE in the draft to further improve their terrible batch of TEs which should get better in 2013 with Eifert and FA acquistion Bennett.
21. Tavon Austin, WR, WVU:
The Bengals need someone who can draw attention away from AJ Green. Austin could be a weapon for Dalton and this offense that needs more than the Dalton/Green connection.
22. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson:
Mr. Poop On The Walls himself had yet another workout with St. Louis this week. Despite his fecal art work, he is the “most polished route runner in the draft.” He’s got first round talent and Fisher isn’t afraid to take risks with character.
23. Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington:
Because Minnesota needs CBs. As it stands they have Chris Cook, Josh Robinson, Brandon Burton and AJ Jefferson while losing Antoine Winfield. Trufant will bring a brand new attitude and be a confident corner to a group that seems to lack just it.
24. Jesse Williams, NT, Alabama:
Seems like everyone is switching to a 34…NT is one of the most important positions in the 3-4. Without it, it just crumbles. Williams is one of the only true nose tackles in this draft and he’s a necessity to Indy.
25. Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia:
Right now the Vikings are starting Tyrone McKenzie at MLB who has a career 17 tackles in his 3 year career. Now Ogletree isn’t exactly the picture perfect portrait of a role model, but he does have the athleticism to take over at MLB for the Vikes.
26. Damontre Moore, OLB/DE, Texas A&M:
The Packers are starting Erik Walden at ROLB. They will need an upgrade at that spot. Moore has fallen from grace, but he’s still a borderline first round talent. Green Bay gets him at 26.
27. DJ Fluker, RT, Alabama:
Penciled in starter Derek Newton is recovering from major surgery. They don’t have a lot of depth at this position so they go with the best right tackle available in DJ Fluker.
28. Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International:
Mike Adams is 32 and Rahim Moore is Rahim Moore. Cyprien is the type of all around safety that immediately makes this defense better.
29. Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee:
Hunter is a very underrated draft prospect. The Patriots need some WRs…more specifically WRs with size. Hunter is very under the radar, but he has the physical tools and the talent. I like him better than Keenan Allen (injury concerns) and DeAndre Hopkins (Mr. PoopOnTheWalls).
30. Datone Jones, DE, UCLA:
Signing Osi this offseason…well…we’ll just see how it works out, but I’m not a fan of it. The Falcons will need to beef up their pass rush. Jones can get to the QB and will be an immediate upgrade over Kroy Bierman.
31. Eric Reid, S, LSU:
San Fran lost Dashon Goldson to Tampa in free agency. Craig Dahl is not the answer on such an elite unit. Reid offers the type of aggression, versatility and physical play that will fit in perfectly for the 49ers.
32. Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State:
The Ravens continue the reconstruction of their defensive unit. They will need someone to line up opposite of Ladarius Webb. Webb and Taylor will make a great CB tandem. Taylor has been a very fast riser. In 2012 Boise State finished as the 4th best passing defense and only allowed 3 passing TDs all year. Taylor was a major part of that having broken up 9 passes and getting 4 picks last year. He runs a 4.37 and is a good overall athlete.
What in the world are we gonna do when the draft is over? Enjoy it, folks!
-David R. Johns