Category Archives: DRAFT

Mock Draft (v5.0) – Brian’s Final

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NFL Draft

Lock and load………..

1

 Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel OL Texas A&M
Analysis:  The Chiefs have been locked into this pick for some time now as evident with the release of starting RT Eric Winston and the impending trade of LT Brandon Albert.

2

 Jacksonville Jaguars: Dion Jordan OLB Oregon
Analysis:  The Jaguar’s and Raider’s both have wily football guys calling the shots these days and they’ve put their best foot forward in creating a trade-up market for Eric Fisher.  Not going to happen at #2.  The Jags grab perhaps the most versatile defender in this draft.

3

 Oakland Raiders Eric Fisher OT C. Michigan
Analysis:  I think McKenzie gets the Lions to trade-up two spots (similar to Minnesota/Cleveland with Trent Richardson last year) to secure the rights to Fisher.

4

 Philadelphia Eagles Barkevious Mingo DE LSU
Analysis:  First of all, Chip Kelly is calling the shots here.  And Chip is so confident…cough, arrogant, cough…that his offensive system is superior to anything the NFL has ever seen that his only concern is building a shutdown defense.  They go defensive heavy in this draft; here they grab an explosive edge defender.

5

 Detroit Lions Star Lotulelei DT Utah
Analysis:  Again, this would be the Raiders selection.  They need help just about every where.  But they start with a Haloti Ngata type of player.

6

 Cleveland Browns Geno Smith QB WVU
Analysis:  Lombardi is a firm believer in positional value and no position on the football field has more value than the QB.  I have to believe Rob Chudzinski sees a little bit of Cam Newton in Smith’s game.

7

 Arizona Cardinals Lane Johnson OT Oklahoma
Analysis:  Biggest need for the Cardinals.  Although only starting 11 games at LT, Johnson is ridiculously athletic and offers emmense upside.

8

 Buffalo Bills Ryan Nassib QB Syracuse
Analysis:  I’m totally buying the Syracuse connection here.  New regimes equal new QBs.  Marrone knows Nassib better than any talent evaluator in the NFL.

9

 NY Jets Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU
Analysis:  This kid had gobs of potential.  Rex gets his passer rusher.

10

 Tennessee Titans Dee Milliner CB Alabama
Analysis:  Hard to come up with a scenario where Milliner slips out of the Top 10; this is his floor.  I think Miami (after completing a trade for Albert) moves up to this spot.

11

 San Diego Chargers Sheldon Richardson DT Missouri
Analysis:  I think a team trades up at this spot for Richardson’s services.

12

 Miami Dolphins Sharrif Floyd DT Florida
Analysis:  The DT’s in this class are impressive.  I think there are teams in love with all three of these guys (Star, Richardson, Floyd).

13

 New York Jets Kenny Vaccaro S Texas
Analysis: With Vaccaro, Jones, Austin and Eifert still on the board I do not think the Jets will have a hard time finding a trade partner. 

14

 Carolina Panthers Tavon Austin WR WVU
Analysis: I think the Panthers could be one of the teams to move up a few spots to grab Richardson/Floyd.  So this could easily be Miami’s or San Diego’s pick.  Regardless, all three teams could be in play for Austin.

15

 New Orleans Saints Jarvis Jones LB Georgia
Analysis:  This kid is a gamer, critics be damned!

16

 St. Louis Rams Arthur Brown LB Kansas State
Analysis:  Undersized perhaps, but I think this is the future of NFL LB’s.  This kid will be an impact player.

17

 Pittsburgh Steelers Tyler Eifert TE ND
Analysis:  Would not be surprised if he went top 10.  Dual TE sets (with athletic TEs) are so hard to defend (See: New England).

18

 Dallas Cowboys Chance Warmack OG Alabama
Analysis:  Jerry lands a “big name” and a need position.  More importantly they are getting a heck of a football player.  OG’s just don’t carry the positional value to justify a top 15 pick. 

19

 NY Giants Tank Carradine DE Florida State
Analysis:  I can really see Tank in a 49ers or Falcons jersey.  The Giants won’t pass on his talents.

20

 Chicago Bears Bjoren Werner DE Florida State
Analysis:  Perfect fit.

21

 Cincinnati Bengals Jonathan Cyprien S FIU
Analysis:  As talented as Vaccaro in my opinion.

22

 St. Louis Rams DeAndre Hopkins WR Clemson
Analysis:  St. Louis hasn’t been shy about showing their interest in Hopkins.

23

 Minnesota Vikings Johnathan Cooper OG UNC
Analysis:  A terrific player, but again, OG’s just don’t warrant high picks.

24

 Indianapolis Colts DJ Fluker OT Alabama
Analysis: The Colts absolutely have to protect Luck.  While I don’t think they can plug Fluker in as a LT (and the just signed RT Cherilus to big time money) I think Fluker could be a dominate guard.

25

 Minnesota Vikings Xavier Rhodes CB Florida State
Analysis:  Helps improve a weak secondary.

26

 Green Bay Packers Datone Jones DE UCLA
Analysis:   Great value pick and somebody who can contribute right away on defense.

27

 Houston Texans DJ Hayden CB HOU
Analysis:  A local kid, but don’t let that fool you, he is an extremely talented CB.  Rumor has it he may give Milliner a run for his money.

28

 Denver Broncos Jamar Taylor CB Boise St.
Analysis:  A physical corner to pair with Bailey.

29

 New England Patriots Sly Williams DT NC
Analysis:  He could be a force on their D-line.  Would be surprised to see NE draft here.  Trading down is the most likely scenario.

30

 Atlanta Falcons Matt Barkley QB USC
Analysis:  A team will jump back in to grab the guy they like.  Could be Manual, but I think Barkley is too good of a prospect to pass up.  Most likely to trade up: Jags, Jets, Oakland.

31

 San Francisco 49ers Justin Hunter WR Tennessee
Analysis:  Niners could use a solid #2 WR.  Keenan Allen will be in the mix too, but testing positive for weed at the Combine shows a complete lack of judgment and responsibility (dude, toke up after the Combine).  This likely drops him to the second round.

32

 Baltimore Ravens Cordarrelle Patterson WR Tennessee
Analysis:  Too much talent to pass up here.  Needs to be coached up quite a bit, but the potential is there (reminds me of Stephen Hill, who was the sixth WR taken last year at #43)   

2013 NFL Draft – By the Numbers

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As we inch closer to the draft (are we there yet?!) The Machine is busy tracking, among other things, two phenomena that tend to occur this time of the year: (1) the massive amount of misinformation being reported (generated first and foremost by NFL front offices) and (2) the overabundance of mock drafts.  Draftniks alike can’t seem to help themselves this time of the year, posting new and updated mocks daily.  You all have a problem.  And we love you for it!

There seems to be two schools of thought when it comes to mocking the draft.  The traditionalists prefer the straight-up mock draft.  No trading.  Each team gets their turn and that’s it.  The rationale being that mocking the draft is hard enough, mixing in the variable of trades makes the task damn near impossible.  The second group, the younger generation if you will, theorize trade scenarios based on projected player availability, team needs and team philosophy.

Realistically, the truth lies somewhere in-between.  Wheeling and dealing will always be part of the draft, and if last years dizzying pace was an indication (14 slots swapped in the first round alone) this year will feature some thrilling blockbusters (we’re looking at you Revis/Tampa Bay….or perhaps a dark horse team?!)

However, I’ve got a real issue with some of the trades being mocked.  For example, draftniks seem all too comfortable with the Bills drafting a WR/DL/CB with the No. 8 overall pick, justifying that the team can take a QB at No.  41, or even trade back into the bottom of the first round and grab their QB.  They fail to consider that the Bills only have six total picks; not exactly a cache of ammunition.  Given their (lack of) talent, they can ill afford to give up the picks necessary to jump from No. 41 into the low 20’s.  On the contrary, I’d expect the Bills to be actively shopping both the No. 8 and No. 41 pick in an effort to acquire more picks.

This lead The Machine to take a closer look at each teams draft pick status heading into the draft to identify which teams might be looking, and more importantly have the resources to move up in the draft.  Here is the breakdown, with some interesting observations to follow:

2013 NFL Draft by the Numbers     
Team              Total Picks                    Top 100 Picks
San Francisco

13

5
Baltimore

12

3
Miami

11

5
Minnesota

11

4
Atlanta

11

3
Cincinnati

10

4
Seattle

10

2
Houston

9

4
Tennessee

9

4
Philadelphia

9

3
Kansas City

8

4
St. Louis

8

4
Detroit

8

3
Green Bay

8

3
New York

8

3
Pittsburgh

8

3
Tampa Bay

8

3
Jacksonville

7

4
Arizona

7

3
New York (J)

7

3
Oakland

7

3
San Diego

7

3
Cleveland

7

2
Washington

7

2
Buffalo

6

3
Dallas

6

3
Denver

6

3
Indianapolis

6

2
New England

5

3
Carolina

5

2
Chicago

5

2
New Orleans

5

2

 

Totals: 254

100
     
  •  Last years Super Bowl teams, San Francisco and Baltimore, account for 25 total picks, or approximately 10% of the picks in this years draft.
  • 7 out of the top 8 teams (in terms of draft picks) made the playoffs last year.  Miami being the lone exception.  Conversely, only 3 out of the bottom 8 teams made the playoffs.  This is not a coincidence.  Good team/roster management includes keeping and acquiring draft picks.
  • Speaking of Miami, if this offseason has shown us anything it’s that Jeff Ireland is GM-ing for his job.  We’d expect that trend to continue throughout the draft with Miami combining picks to move up the draft board.  This is a dangerous way to build a team.  We like the odds that Ireland is unemployed this time next year.
  • SF and Seattle have been in a bot of an arms race in terms of collecting talent.  The NFC West crown is up for grabs.  Both teams have plenty of ammunition to trade up to get “their” guy.  I expect SF to be particularly aggressive (DL/CB/WR).
  • Atlanta is 1 of 7 teams with double-digit picks.  Dimitroff has shown a penchant for being aggressive on draft day (Julio Jones).  Atlanta is a candidate to move up in the top ten.
  • I think Oakland, Carolina, Buffalo and Indianapolis will actively look to trade down when possible.  Although, I think Bills and the Colts will target a QB and OL, respectively, in the first round.
  • New Orleans is interesting in that they are tied with for the fewest picks (5) but also must feel they are close to competing for the division title (3 years removed from SB and getting Sean Payton back).  However, BountyGate has really taken its toll on this roster (particularly) the defense.  The Saints would be wise to trade down early and often this year.
  • It will be interesting to see if Jerry Jones can stay put this year, as he only has 6 picks to work with.

Mock Draft (v4.0) – One Week Warning!

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NFL DraftThat’s right, we’re one week from the Main Event!  The Machine is in full mock mode; Roid Rage gets Version 4 kicked off with picks 1-16 and Ginger King rounds out the bottom half: (Leave your comments below).

1

 Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel OL Texas A&M
Analysis:  It looks like the Chiefs have moved on from their starting tackles from a year ago, cutting Eric Winston and broadcasting Brandon Albert’s availability (mid-to-low round pick).  So this pick will either be Joeckle or Fisher.  The Machine prefers Fishers upside and nasty demeanor in the trenches.  Joeckle’s no slouch though; he’s the prototypical NFL LT.

2

 Jacksonville Jaguars: Dion Jordan OLB Oregon
Analysis:  “Jags are a mess, and need help at every position”.  I couldn’t have said it better myself.  They’d love the opportunity to trade down, but nobody is going to be willing to pay the premium.  Caldwell, Bradley and Khan (the Jaguar brain trust) are all onboard with this selection.

3

 Oakland Raiders Star Lotulelei DT Utah
Analysis:  You’ve got to hand it to McKenzie, he isn’t afraid to stick to his guns!  He is yet to find a player he hasn’t wanted to cut (Routt, Seymour, Huff, Kelly, DHB, McClain).  The Raiders have needs at literally every position.  McKenzie grabs the BPA.

4

 Philadelphia Eagles Shariff Floyd DT Florida
Analysis:  First of all, Chip Kelly is calling the shots here.  And Chip is so confident…cough, arrogant, cough…that his offensive system is superior to anything the NFL has ever seen that his only concern is building a shutdown defense.  They go defensive heavy in this draft, starting with the Philly kid, Floyd.  Milliner is in the mix here too.

5

 Detroit Lions Eric Fisher OL C. Michigan
Analysis:  This seems like a dream scenario for Detroit with the loss of tackles Cherilus (free agency) and Backus (retirement).  However, I think there is a coin flips chance that E. Ansah is the pick here.  They also lost defensive ends Vanden Bosch and Avril this offseason.  What a mess.  In related news, Jim Schwartz will probably be looking for a new job come December.

6

 Cleveland Browns Lane Johnson OL Oklahoma
Analysis:  Do I think the Browns draft an offensive linemen with their first pick? No.  But this is the ideal spot for the Dolphins to trade up and snatch Johnson before he falls to the Cardinals.  Johnson is viewed by some as 1C to Joeckle/Fisher this year.  If the Browns don’t trade down, this pick is E. Ansah or B. Mingo all day long (with Geno Smith as a dark horse).  Many people, myself included, think the Browns are putting up a smoke screen (from burning all those Pilot J documents) with these reports that Milliner is their No. 1 priority.  They draft DE/OLB if they stay put.

7

 Arizona Cardinals Barkevious Mingo DE LSU
Analysis:  Cards need pressure from the end.  Problem solved (plus best name in the Draft).

8

 Buffalo Bills Ryan Nassib QB Syracuse
Analysis:  I’m totally buying the Syracuse connection here.  So much so that the Bills prefer Nassib to Smith and stay true to their board.  They’ll get crucified in the mainstream media in this scenario.  However, a fair amount of talent evaluators (Lande, Cosell, Gruden) have Nassib rated as their No. 1 QB this year.

9

 NY Jets Geno Smith QB West Virginia
Analysis:  This should allow the team to abort their collection of dumbster fires- Sanchez, Garrard, Tebow, McElroy, Simms- at QB.  More importantly, Rex will be able to use the “Rookie QB” excuse to buy himself a few more years.

10

 Tennessee Titans Dee Milliner CB Alabama
Analysis:  Hard to come up with a scenario where Milliner slips out of the Top 10; this is his floor.

11

 San Diego Chargers Tavon Austin WR West Virginia
Analysis:  Sure, the Chargers need offensive linemen in the worst way, but guards and tackles can’t score touchdowns on any given play, from the outside, slot, out of the backfield, returning kicks/punts, etc.  Austin is electric with the ball in his hands.  For his sake (and ours as fans) let’s hope he can hold up through a 16 game schedule.

12

 Miami Dolphins Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU
Analysis:  I think the Dolphins jump into the top 8 to grab a OT (from the Browns at 6 in this scenario).  Since I think Ansah could go six to the Browns in the first place, getting him here is an absolute steal and makes the risk a bit more tolerable.

13

 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Desmond Trufant CB Washington
Analysis: I absolutely feel a CB will get drafted out of the 13 spot.  Whether it’s the Bucs or Jets remains to be seen.

14

 Carolina Panthers Kenny Vaccaro S Texas
Analysis: The Panther have neglected the DT spot for years.  Why would this year be any different?  They grab the BPA in the ultra versatile Vaccaro.  His tape vs. Tavon Austin speaks volumes to his abilities.

15

 New Orleans Saints Datone Jones DE UCLA
Analysis:  One of my personal favorites in this draft.  Really feel like the Saints move down considering their lack of picks and talent.  Defense is a must, Jones becomes one of their best defensive players.

16

 St. Louis Rams Chance Warmack OG ALA
Analysis:  Pains me to see Warmack slip this far; such is the life of OG’s in the NFL (see: David DeCastro last year….#24).  Helps solidify an improving Rams OL.

17

 Pittsburgh Steelers Jarvis Jones OLB Georgia
Analysis:  Pittsburgh stays true to its board (and team philosophy) and addresses defense first.  With Harrison gone, this is looking more and more likely.  WR is an option, but (a) the Steelers don’t draftin WRs in the first round and (b) keeping Emmanual Sanders makes this less of a need.

18

 Dallas Cowboys Sheldon Richardson DT Missouri
Analysis:  Cowboys will either go OL or DL here.  Jonathon Cooper’s an option, but Richardson provides way too much value here. 

19

 NY Giants Bjoern Werner DT Florida State
Analysis:  A Top 5 pick two months ago, Bjoern has slipped down the draft.  He did not help his cause at the Combine, which has likely contributed to his slide.  However, the tape on him is impressive.  Raw, athletic, albeit a little inexperienced.  None of that is a problem for the G-Men, who love taking those ingredients and creating a dominant DE (see:  JPP).

20

 Chicago Bears Manti Te’o ILB Notre Dame
Analysis:  Ok we’re buying this (for now).  For all the things wrong with Manti (fake dead girlfriend, horribly exposed during Nat’l Championship game, 4.82 40 which has since dropped into the 4.7s at his pro day) there’s one thing going for him:  he’s a natural born leader.  Alec Ogletree may be the more athletic choice, but Manti fits the role to replace Brian Urlacher.  Even though Lennay HATES cold weather, he makes sense here.

21

 Cincinnati Bengals DJ Fluker OL Alabama
Analysis:  The only question is whether DJ will last this long.

22

 St. Louis Rams Jonathon Cooper OG North Carolina
Analysis:  Another offensive lineman?  How does that make sense?  Check out the Niners in 2010 (Anthony Davis at 11 and Mike Iupati at 17)  With Warmack, Cooper, and Jake Long, the Rams would arguably have the best line in the league.

23

 Minnesota Vikings Alec Ogletree ILB Georgia
Analysis:  Vikes would love it if Alec made it to them here.

24

 Indianapolis Colts Tank Carradine DE Florida St.
Analysis: The Colts need to get young on the outside.  Freeney is gone and Robert Mathis is on the wrong side of 30.

25

 Minnesota Vikings Cordarrelle Patterson WR Tennessee
Analysis:  Even with Jennings, the Vikes need more weapons for Ponder.

26

 Green Bay Packers DeAndre Hopkins WR Clemson
Analysis:   Now begins the run on WRs.  They re-signed Clay Mathews which means the focus should be on improving the offense.  Hopkins will soften the blow from losing Jennings.

27

 Houston Texans Robert Woods WR USC
Analysis:  A pefect complement to Andre Johnson.  Woods has risen up draft boards and looks certain to go in the late first round.  Doesn’t have jaw dropping speed but catches everything his way and, having played in a pro-style offense at USC, is the most NFL-ready WR in the draft.

28

 Denver Broncos Jamar Taylor CB Boise St.
Analysis:  Anyone see that playoff game, particularly the final 33 seconds of the fourth quarter?  Any questions?  Taylor has speed (4.32) and strength (22 reps) and hopefully enough knowledge to know that you don’t let the receiver get behind you for a game tying 70 yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds to go.

29

 New England Patriots Margus Hunt DE SMU
Analysis:  Patriots love versatile defenders that can play with a hand down at the line or standing up to drop back.  With either of these last four picks (from NE to Balt) we expect some team in the early second to trade up to grab a qb. 

30

 Atlanta Falcons Tyler Eifert TE Notre Dame
Analysis:  Who better to learn from than Gonzo?

31

 San Francisco 49ers Justin Hunter WR Tennessee
Analysis:  Niners could use a solid #2 WR.  Keenan Allen will be in the mix too, but testing positive for weed at the Combine shows a complete lack of judgment and responsibility (dude, toke up after the Combine).  This likely drops him to the second round.

32

 Baltimore Ravens Eric Reid S LSU
Analysis:  For defending Super Bowl Champions, the Ravens have a surprising number of holes to fill.  That will happen when your entire team takes their rings and runs.  Reid will help add some stability in the secondary.   

2013 NFL Draft – Risers and Fallers

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NFL DraftWe’re almost two weeks away from the Draft.  The Machine’s busy pouring over game tape and pro day results.  Here’s our list of Top 5 Risers and Fallers. 

Top 5 Risers

  1. Dion Jordan, OLB, Oregon.  An afterthought on most draft boards a few months ago, Dion is now on everyone’s radar, and a consensus Top 5 pick (The Machine has him at #2).  Being called the best athlete in the draft will do that for you.
  2. Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia.  Comparisons to Percy Harvin and Desean Jackson have Tavon jockeying to be the first WR off the board.
  3. Star Loutelelei, DT, Utah.  Even when those initial heart rumors surfaced, Star only dropped to the middle of the first round.  Now that those concerns have been alleviated (somewhat) Star is creeping back up to the Top 10. 
  4. Robert Woods, WR, USC.  Despite not having top end speed, Woods catches everything his way, arguably a more important quality for a WR.  He’s a polished receiver that can run any route.  Could he run his way into the first round?
  5. Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise St.  Boise St. is starting to get some recognition on the other side of the ball.  The combo of blazing speed (4.39) and strength (22 reps) have Jamar quickly climbing draft boards.

Honorable Mentions:  Arthur Brown, Justin Hunter, D.J. Hayden, Datone Jones

Top 5 Fallers

  1. Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M.  Damontre is having a DaQuan Bowers like tumble (without the injury) and may be headed out of the first round.  12 reps at the Combine does not bode well.
  2. Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama.  Not being able to fully workout at Bama’s pro day hasn’t done much to assuage concerns about durability.
  3. Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia.  Jarvis rolled the dice and opted not to work out at the Combine, putting everything on his pro day.  The results:  luke warm.  Slow in the 40 (4.92) and character issues are not a good combination.
  4. Mike Glennon, QB, NC State.  Mike has gotten lost in the discussion of “quarterbacks after Geno” and looks to have fallen down to Round 3.
  5. Nickell Robey, CB, USC.  Whoever told Nickell to leave after his junior year should be ashamed (or fired).  He was inconsistent all year, and uninspiring in workouts.  The Machine has him falling to the middle rounds on Day 3.

Honorable Mentions:  Kawaan Short, Tyrann Mathieu, Alex Okafor

2013 Top-5 Draft Prospects by Position

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QB

  1. Geno Smith, WVU
  2. Ryan Nassib, Syracuse
  3. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
  4. Matt Barkley, USC
  5. Zac Dysert, Miami (OH)

RB

  1. Eddie Lacy, Alabama
  2. Giovani Bernard, UNC
  3. Montee Ball, Wisconsin
  4. Johnathon Franklin, UCLA
  5. Le’Veon Bell, Michigan State

WR

  1. Tavon Austin, WVU
  2. Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
  3. Keenan Allen, Cal
  4. Justin Hunter, Tennessee
  5. Robert Woods, USC

TE

  1. Tyler Eifert, ND
  2. Zack Ertz, Stanford
  3. Gavin Escobar, SD State
  4. Travis Kelce, Cincinnati
  5. Vance McDonald, Rice

OT

  1. Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
  2. Luke Joeckle, Texas A&M
  3. Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
  4. DJ Fluker, Alabama
  5. Menelik Watson, Florida State

OG

  1. Chance Warmack, Alabama
  2. Jonathan Cooper, UNC
  3. Larry Warford, Kentucky
  4. Brian Winters, Kent State
  5. Hugh Thorton, Illinois

C

  1. Travis Fredrick, Wisconsin
  2. Barrett Jones, Alabama
  3. Brian Schwenke, Cal
  4. Khaled Holmes, USC
  5. Matt Stankiewitch, Penn State

______________________________________________________________________

DE

  1. Ezekial Ansah, BYU
  2. Bjoern Werner, Florida State
  3. Cornellius Carradine, Florida State
  4. Datone Jones, UCLA
  5. Margus Hunt, Southern Methodist

DT

  1. Star Lotulelei, Utah
  2. Sharrif Floyd, Florida
  3. Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
  4. Sylvester Williams, UNC
  5. Kawaan Short, Purdue

ILB

  1. Kevin Minter, LSU
  2. Manti T’eo, ND
  3. Jon Bostic, Florida
  4. Kiko Alonso, Oregon
  5. AJ Klein, Iowa State

OLB

  1. Dion Jordan, Oregon
  2. Barkevious Mingo, LSU
  3. Jarvis Jones, Georgia
  4. Arthur Brown, Kansas State
  5. Alec Ogletree, Georgia

CB

  1. Dee Milliner, Alabama
  2. Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
  3. Desmond Trufant, Washington
  4. Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut
  5. Jamar Taylor, Boise State

FS

  1. Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
  2. Eric Reid, LSU
  3. DJ Swearinger, South Carolina
  4. Phillip Thomas, Fresno State
  5. Bacarri Rambo, Georgia

SS

  1. Matt Elam, Florida
  2. Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International
  3. Shamarko Thomas, Syracuse
  4. JJ Wilcox, Georgia Southern
  5. Shawn Williams, Georgia

 

 

 

Mock Draft (v 3.0) – Post Free Agency

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NFL Draft BoardHere we go.  Our post-free agency draft.  Confirming our belief that this year’s QB class is less than desired, several teams have signed free agent quaterbacks to lead them in 2013 (see Buffalo, Oakland, and (soon to be) Arizona).  Those, plus all other relevant signings have been taken into account in this latest mock.  Leave your comments below.

1

 Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel OT Texas A&M
Analysis:  Even if Brandon Albert stays long term (not likely) Luke makes sense here.  If the Chiefs can’t convince another team to trade up for Geno Smith (Lord knows they’re trying), Luke should be the first player off the board.

2

 Jacksonville Jaguars: Dion Jordan OLB Oregon
Analysis:  Pure speed…the only thing faster is how quick he’s shot up the draft board.  Jags are a mess, and need help at every position.  Dion can line up at OLB and DE, and provides the versatility they need.

3

 Oakland Raiders Sharrif Floyd DT Florida
Analysis:  Signing Matt Flynn ends any speculation of Geno Smith here.  Floyd provides much needed stability to the D-line.

4

 Philadelphia Eagles Geno Smith QB West Virginia
Analysis:  You gotta believe the Eagles’ board has Joeckel #1, and Eric Fisher may get a look here, but Chip Kelly can’t pass up Geno Smith.  The perfect QB to run his system.

5

 Detroit Lions Ezikel Ansah DE BYU
Analysis:  Signing Chris Houston makes CB less of a need, and Detroit should take a long and hard look at Dee Millner.  However, the loss of Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril should make DE their #1 priority.

6

 Cleveland Browns Dee Millner CB ALA
Analysis:  Arguably the best athlete in the Draft.  Cleveland can’t pass up the value here.

7

 Arizona Cardinals Barkevious Mingo DE LSU
Analysis:  Cards need pressure from the end.  Problem solved (plus best name in the Draft).

8

 Buffalo Bills Eric Fisher OL Central Mich
Analysis:  Right or wrong, signing Kolb = no first round QB.  If Fisher is available, Buddy Nix should run this pick up to the podium. 

9

 NY Jets Tavon Austin WR West Virginia
Analysis:  The wild card team in the Top 10.  Rex Ryan and co. need to make a splash.  Tavon possesses Desean Jackson-like speed and elusiveness.  Will help immediately in the passing game and on kickoffs/punt returns.

10

 Tennessee Titans Chance Warmack OG Alabama
Analysis:  Value, meet need pick.  Need pick, meet value. 

11

 San Diego Chargers Lane Johnson OL Oklahoma
Analysis:  This pick will be OL, and San Diego snags the last of the Top 3 OL.  

12

 Miami Dolphins Xavier Rhodes CB FSU
Analysis:  Fills a huge hole.

13

 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Desmond Trufant CB Washington
Analysis: Unless the Bucs swing a deal for Revis Island, expect a corner to go here.

14

 Carolina Panthers Cordarrelle Patterson WR Tenn
Analysis: Ranked as the best WR among the experts, Carolina would be ecstatic if Cordarrelle fell to them here.

15

 New Orleans Saints Star Loutelelei NT Utah
Analysis:  Big, intimidating force with a minor heart problem.  Sounds like Rob Ryan just drafted himself.

16

 St. Louis Rams Jonathon Cooper OG North Carolina
Analysis:  Alongside Jake Long would provide some much needed stability and toughness to the O-line.

17

 Pittsburgh Steelers Jarvis Jones LB Georgia
Analysis:  Pittsburgh stays true to its board (and team philosophy) and addresses defense first.

18

 Dallas Cowboys Menelik Watson OL Texas
Analysis:  Not a flashy pick by Jerrah standards, but the Cowboys need to protect their new $100 million man. 

19

 NY Giants Sheldon Richardson DT Missouri
Analysis:  No one’s better at picking value over need than the Giants.  Even with other holes to fill (CB, LB, OL) Richardson is too much value to pass up here.

20

 Chicago Bears Alec Ogletree LB Georgia
Analysis:  Brian who?  Alec provides much needed youth to the Bears LB corps.

21

 Cincinnati Bengals Kenny Vaccaro S Texas
Analysis:  The only question is whether Kenny will last this long.

22

 St. Louis Rams Eddie Lacy RB Alabama
Analysis:  Softens the blow from losing Steven Jackson.

23

 Minnesota Vikings Bjoern Werner DE Florida St.
Analysis:  Jared Allen part 2.

24

 Indianapolis Colts Tank Carradine DE Florida St.
Analysis: Back to back Seminoles.  The Colts need to get young on the outside.  Freeney is gone and Robert Mathis is on the wrong side of 30.

25

 Minnesota Vikings Keenan Allen WR Cal
Analysis:  Even with Jennings, the Vikes need more weapons for Ponder.

26

 Green Bay Packers Damontre Moore DE Texas A&M
Analysis:  DaMonster’s fall from draft boards ends with the Packers.

27

 Houston Texans DeAndre Hopkins WR Clemson
Analysis:  A great complement to Andre Johnson.

28

 Denver Broncos Johnthan Banks CB Miss St.
Analysis:  Anyone see that playoff game, particularly the final 33 seconds of the fourth quarter?  Any questions?

29

 New England Patriots Jesse Williams NT Alabama
Analysis:  Run stopping mauler.

30

 Atlanta Falcons Tyler Eifert TE Notre Dame
Analysis:  Who better to learn from than Gonzo?

31

 San Francisco 49ers Justin Hunter WR Tennessee
Analysis:  Niners could use a solid #2 WR.

32

 Baltimore Ravens Manti Te’o LB Notre Dame
Analysis:  Will be the most scrutinized player drafted.  Add to that the pressure of replacing Ray Lewis plus convincing Lennay that Baltimore’s a great place to raise a family. 

2013 NFL Mock Draft (v2.0)

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Free Agency Eve Edition! As teams are putting the finishing touches on player evaluations and GM’s are gearing up for Tuesdays free agent frenzy, The Machine decided now would be a great time to post a mock draft!  Sure, “team needs” will be drastically different 24-hours from now, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Now, onto the madness……….(by Roid Rage)……

1

 Kansas City Chiefs: Dee Milliner CB  
Analysis: QB…check; WR…check; LT…check.  I like the idea of pairing Dee with Brandon Flowers to allow Eric Berry to roam in the box.  Plus, the Chiefs can still bolster their O-line as the draft is deep with quality interior  linemen that should be available in R2 and beyond.

2

 Jacksonville Jaguars: Luke Joeckel LT  
Analysis: Players of Joeckel’s caliber don’t come along every year.  A better prospect than Kalil last year; Joeckel will be a rock for whomever is the Jaguars long-term QB.

3

 Oakland Raiders Geno Smith QB  
Analysis: Reggie McKenzie and Dennis Allen inherited a mess.  Carson Palmer (didn’t have a bad year) isn’t going to be around much longer.  Smith gives the team a QB to build around.

4

 Philadelphia Eagles Dion Jordan OLB/DE  
Analysis: Super-Freak, Super-Freak.

5

 Detroit Lions Eric Fisher LT  
Analysis: Team-need meet Value-pick, Value-pick meet Team-need.

6

 Cleveland Browns Barkevious Mingo OLB  
Analysis: Disruptive edge rusher = defensive coordinators dream

7

 Arizona Cardinals Sharrif Floyd DT  
Analysis: Dynamic interior defender.  Could go first overall to KC; this is about his floor.

8

 Buffalo Bills Ryan Nassib QB  
Analysis: The Bills have a terrible poker face and QB’s ALWAYS go way too high.  See: Jake Locker, Mark Sanchez, Christian Ponder, Ryan Tannehill.

9

 NY Jets Ezekiel Ansah DE  
Analysis:  Rex Ryan will probably break the table to see this pick through.

10

 Tennessee Titans Sheldon Richardson DT  
Analysis:  Value for sure.  A great addition to their defense.

11

 San Diego Chargers Lane Johnson LT  
Analysis:  SD needs about 5 offensive linemen.  They get an ultra athletic one in Johnson here.

12

 Miami Dolphins Bjoern Werner DE  
Analysis:  Relentless motor to play opposite Cameron Wake.  Winning the AFC East boils down to one thing: pressuring Brady.

13

 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Xavier Rhodes CB  
Analysis:  NEED & VALUE!  It’s already a successful draft for the Bucs.

14

 Carolina Panthers Star Lotulelei DT  
Analysis:  Slips a bit due to the heart concerns.  Carolina willing to gamble on his upside as they got run all over last year.

15

 New Orleans Saints Jarvis Jones OLB  
Analysis: Rob Ryan will probably break the table to see this pick through.  The Ryan boys enjoy breaking tables apparently.

16

 St. Louis Rams Cordarrelle Patterson WR  
Analysis:  Hard to see a player of Pattersons caliber getting past Buffalo, Miami and Carolina.  Quick, name the WR’s the Rams have under contract…..

17

 Pittsburgh Steelers Chance Warmack OG  
Analysis:  Is there a better player/team fit than Chance to the Steelers?

18

 Dallas Cowboys Kenny Vaccaro S  
Analysis:  Jerrah loves making the splash pick.  That’s why he’ll probably move into the top-12 to pick Vaccaro.

19

 NY Giants Desmond Trufant CB  
Analysis:  Patiently wait their turn and make a solid selection.  Just another day at the office.

20

 Chicago Bears Damontre Moore DE  
Analysis:  Lands in the perfect situation to fine tune his game.

21

 Cincinnati Bengals Alec Ogletree OLB  
Analysis:  Off-the-field trouble?!  Welcome to Cincinnati!

22

 St. Louis Rams Matt Elam S  
Analysis:  As if the NFC West needed another big-hitter!

23

 Minnesota Vikings Tavon Austin WR  
Analysis:  Well, if anyone has a chance to fill Percy Harvin’s shoes it’s the dynamic Austin.

24

 Indianapolis Colts Jonathan Cooper OG  
Analysis:  Priority No. 1 – Protect Andrew Luck.  Priority No. 2 – See Priority No. 1.

25

 Minnesota Vikings Jesse Williams DT  
Analysis:  The youth movement continues.

26

 Green Bay Packers Jonathan Cyprien S  
Analysis:  Quietly, Green Bay has a lot of holes in their defense.  Need to address the secondary in this draft.

27

 Houston Texans Cornellius Carradine DE  
Analysis:  High risk, high reward!  Could be the best pass-rusher of this class.  (Could)

28

 Denver Broncos Eddie Lacy RB  
Analysis:  Seems like a good fit.

29

 New England Patriots DeAndre Hopkins WR  
Analysis:  I’m much more comfortable mocking “trades down” to NE than I am with actually picking a player.  Hopkins makes a ton of sense though.

30

 Atlanta Falcons Arthur Brown OLB  
Analysis:  We all know what the offense is capable of.  Now they need to add speed and play-making ability to the defense.

31

 Baltimore Ravens Kevin Minter ILB  
Analysis:  Not exactly Ray Lewis (who is?!), but Minter should do fine in that defense.

32

 San Francisco 49ers Kawann Short DT  
Analysis:  SF will be looking to add defensive linemen and wide receivers (and in that order).

The Machine’s 2013 NFL Mock Draft (v1.0)

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The Monday after the Super Bowl; Day One of the offseason.  Ugh.  Seven more months before another meaningful football game is played. Uuuuugh!

However, that does mean The Machine can shift our undivided attention to an event as equally exciting as the Super Bowl, The Draft! Considering it is right around the corner (3 months and counting!!)  we decided to throw together our first mock draft.  To add a bit of gamesmanship, we’ll be alternating selections between Roidrage and Ginger King.  RR, you’re on the clock…

1

 Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckle OT Texas A&M
Analysis:  Between the mounting injuries, Romel Crennels abysmal coaching efforts and underwhelming QB play, the Chiefs weren’t very competitive in 2012.  However, for being the “worst” team in the league, the Chiefs have some decent young building blocks in place: Jamaal Charles, Dwyane Bowe (FA), Eric Berry, Derrick Johnson and Tambi Hali. Andy Reid and staff represent an upgrade in the coaching department.  He’ll no doubt want to address the weakest QB group in the league (Matt Cassel, Brady Quinn – okay, maybe not as bad as the Cardinals but still dreadful!)  While the Chiefs could certainly fall in love with a QB prospect (Smith, Wilson, Nassib) in the next few months, chances are they can get similar value in the early second round (or trade back into the late first).  Joeckle is a “safe” pick that should be an anchor on their O-line for years to come.

2

 Jacksonville Jaguars: Damontre Moore DE Texas A&M
Analysis:  How is it possible that a team that has had 5 consecutive Top 10 selections (6 including this year) not have a solid nucleus of talent?  Because said team has used said Top 10 picks on people like Blaine Gabbert and Tyson Alualu.  Where to start.  The Jags need help (literally) at every single position, so they could go in a number of different directions.  However, their current starting DEs consist of Jason Babin (age: 32) and Jeremy Mincey (age: doesn’t matter because he’s awful (29)).  Moore steps in and instantly becomes a starting DE, and likely the best defensive player on the team.  “DaMonster” had 12.5 sacks last season (the formidable duo of Babin/Mincey combined for 10) and has room to grow in his 248 lb frame.  He has the quickness and athleticism to line up at DE and LB, giving the Jags the ability to move him around the field in different coverage looks.   The Jags finally get a Top 10 pick right.

3

 Oakland Raiders Star Lotulelei DT Utah
Analysis:  The 2012 Raiders didn’t do much right in their first year under 12-year-old Dennis Allen.  But perhaps nothing was worse than their run defense.  The gave up 1897 yards on the ground ( 119 yrds/gm); 9 times allowing 100+ yards rushing and 3 times allowing 220+ yards.  None more memorable than Doug Martins 251 yards (and 4 TDs) on the ground in Week 9!  Considering Tommy Kelly (32) and Richard Seymour (33) are on the wrong side of 30, Lotulelei makes too much sense here and there is a strong possibility he doesn’t even last this long!  He is that good.

4

 Philadelphia Eagles Dee Milliner CB Alabama
Analysis:  Every night, Joe Banner and Co. pray that Luke Joeckle falls to them here.  They need OL help.  But Andy Reid will send a big FU to his former employer (note: spite is a perfectly good reason to draft a player) leaving the Eagles empty-handed.  #4 is too high to draft Eric Fisher or Chance Warmack, and if Philly can’t trade down, they’re left to plug some other holes.  Secondary is an obvious one.  The duo of Asomugha and DRC has been anything but dynamic.  DRC wants a new contract, and Asomugha is going to count $16 million against the cap this year, crazy considering he’s awful in pass coverage.  One or both of these guys may be gone.  Dee is by far the best corner in this draft, following an impressive trend of SEC corners (see Stephon Gilmore, Dre Kirkpatrick).  At 6’1″, he’s the perfect height to defend the jump ball, and has the speed and power to get physical at the line.  Going against Eli, Romo, and RGIII twice a year, the Eagles need a consistent and dependable secondary.  A unanimous first-team All American, Dee was the anchor in Bama’s secondary, and should have an immediate impact.

5

 Detroit Lions Bjoern Werner DE Florida St.
Analysis:  The Lions continue building from their strength and spend another high draft pick on the defensive line (Suh, Farley).  It seems as though the team will part ways with Kyle van De Bosch, and Werner represents and ideal replacement (and upgrade considering KVDB’s decline this year).  Werner has a quick first step and is strong at the point of attack; he plays well against the run and can get after the passer.  Coaches may fall in love with his raw ability and tremendous upside.   When you play Aaron Rodgers and Adrian Peterson twice a year, you can’t have too many athletic defensive linemen that bring it every play.

6

 Cleveland Browns Jarvis Jones OLB Georgia
Analysis: The Browns will be doing cartwheels if Jones is here.  The Browns need defensive power, pressure, and speed.  Jarvis solves all three.  While Barkevious Mingo (Greatest. Name. Ever.) will get a look here, the Browns can’t pass on Jones.  He’s as much of a sure thing for Cleveland since LeBron (pre taking his talents to South Beach).  Jarvis led the nation in sacks with 14.5, to go with 85 tackles and 1 interception.  Jarvis won’t stop Cleveland from picking in the Top 10 next year, but he’s a big step in the right direction.

7

 Arizona Cardinals Geno Smith QB WV
Analysis:  This is a dream scenario for Bruce Arians and the Arzona Cardinals.  The top rated QB falls to the team most desperate for a QB.  Arians is creative enough to build an offensive to maximize Smiths strengths (and hide his limitations).  Quarterbacks stocks tend to rise as we approach the draft, so Geno could be off the board sooner than this.  But for now we’ll dream of the Arians-Smith-Fitzgerald potential!

8

 Buffalo Bills Cordarrelle Patterson WR Tenn
Analysis: The Bills need to improve their offense.  QB is an option, but truly a reach here.  There are a collection of QBs that rank in the “meh” category:  none of them are worth of a Top 10 pick.  The Receiver class, however, is not deep, and the Bills need to upgrade their passing game.  Cordarrelle (pronounced “Core-dare-ull”) is clearly the top WR.  He’s the total package.  At 6’3″, he’s got the size to go up and over, and the speed to hit the quick slant.

9

 NY Jets Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU
Analysis:  As we’ve studied the Jets roster one thing is painfully obvious: they lack talent….and playmakers….and depth.  The Jets should absolutely trade Revis for a package of picks.  They could really go in any direction with this pick.  They could grab a QB (although it looks as if they are stuck with Sanchez for at least one more year), but we have them grabbing a defensive playmaker.  We feel that Ansah’s stock will be on the rise as he puts on a show at the Combine and the BYU pro day.  Somebody will pay the price for his freakish upside (think JPP), might as well be the Jets.

10

 Tennessee Titans Chance Warmack OG Alabama
Analysis:  No question the Titans are going offensive line here.  CJ2k has looked more like CJ750, and much of that is due to a porous line up front.  Chance dominated at Alabama, and much of the success that fellow teammates Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson had was due in part to the consistent and solid play of Chance.

11

 San Diego Chargers Barkevious Mingo DE LSU
Analysis:  Having seen six defenders go in the first ten picks in this scenario, the Bolts grab Mingo to address their pass-rushing deficiencies.  Mingo is a difficult prospect to project.  He is going to light up the combine/workouts and get the creative (defensive) minds around the league thinking of the possibilities’.  McCoy and Whisenhunt have even pieces on offense to make that side of the ball dangerous; so they go defense early and often to add some difference-makers.

12

 Miami Dolphins Jonathan Banks CB Miss. St.
Analysis:  The Dolphins have several needs, perhaps none more pressing than their secondary, which is an absolute mess.  The Dolphins traded their best corner, Vontae Davis, for a second round pick, Sean Smith is a free agent, and Richard Marshall and Nolan Carroll are far from being consistent contributors (that’s being generous).  Banks had a solid career at Mississippi St., and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back.  WR is also an option, especially if Cordarrelle Patterson is still available.  However, the free agent pool is deep at receiver, so the Dolphins should make a run at Greg Jennings or Dwayne Bowe.  The free agent pool at DB is not, so this need must be addressed in the draft.

13

 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Eric Fisher OT Central Mich.
Analysis:  This is almost a dream scenario for the Bucs.  Fisher was dominate all week at the Senor Bowl, suggesting his outstanding film isn’t merely a by-producted of underwhelimg MAC talent.  He could absolutely be every bit the player that Joeckle is (and 12 picks later!).  It wouldn’t shock us to see the Bucs grab a QB here, as they clearly (and rightfully) aren’t sold on Freeman.  Regardless of how is quarterbacking this franchise in the future, they will love having this stud upfront.

14

 Carolina Panthers Terrance Williams WR Baylor
Analysis:  Carolina needs to add some offensive weapons.  Cam Newton’s sophmore slump was due in large part to an aging core of offensive playmakers.  Williams makes a ton of sense here.  Even with the departure of RGIII, Williams went 97/1,832/12, leading the nation in receiving yards.

15

 New Orleans Saints Jonathan Hankins DT Ohio St.
Analysis:  The 2012 New Orleans Saints were historically bad on defense.  They were as bad on denfese as the ’85 Bears were good! Rob (I’ll probably be out of work for 5 minutes…err… 4 weeks) joins wunderkind Sean Peyton on the sidelines to try to fix the mess.  The first order of business is switching to a 34 defense.  Without the luxury of a second round pick (kill the head and your draft will follow) the Saints have to grab a defense piece early.  Hankins has the size to anchor the NT in Ryan’s defense.

16

 St. Louis Rams Lane Johnson OT Oklahoma
Analysis:  This is the first of two picks for the Rams in the first round.  With an up and coming defense (well done dodging the Rex Ryan Crazy Train) both of these picks should focus on improving the offense.  It seems that, everytime we watch the Rams, Sam Bradford is lying on his back, separating his shoulder for the umpteenth time.  Simply put:  the Rams need OL help.  Lane Johnson is the most athletic OL in the draft.  A high school quarterback in Texas (and also finished 4th in the shot put at the state track and field championships) Lane played TE and DE in college before making the switch to OL.  At 6’7″, 303 lbs., he’s got to add some more strength to his frame, and has a lot of potential.

17

 Pittsburgh Steelers Dion Jordan OLB Oregon
Analysis:Two words to describe Jordan:  FREAK….and….FREEEEAK!  6-7, 241 lbs and simply flies all over the field.  With smoe good coaching and playing with more control and purpose, Jordan can wreck havoc on the football field.  Here is another prospect who could shoot up draft boards this spring.  For now we’ll slot him to the Steelers who got old on defense in a hurry.  The Steelers do a fanastic job of waiting their turn and taking players who should have been draft already.  They grab a great value (and need) here.

18

 Dallas Cowboys John Jenkins DT Georgia
Analysis:  By most accounts, Jay Ratliff hasn’t had the best season.  A public spat with the boss and then a DUI in the offseason likely means the end of his tenure in Dallas.  However, we know talent trumps character, especially in Dallas.  Whether Jay stays or goes, Dallas needs to improve their interior defense.  There is great depth at DT in this draft, and the Cowboys will have their options.  Jonathon Hankins and Sheldon Richardson will get looks, if one (or both) are still around.  John Jenkins is an athletic run stuffer and should fit nicely into the Cowboys defensive line.

19

 NY Giants Kenny Vaccaro S Texas
Analysis:  The G-men could go in a number of directions with this pick: OL, OLB, CB, RB.  Vaccaro is too good of a prospect to slip by the Giants brass.  His versatility is appealing, as he can play both safety positions.  The Giants also used a 3-safety defense numerous times in defense of the hurry-spread attack that swept through the league in the last few years.  Vaccaro could also be deployed as a spy versus running QB’s (Vick, RG3).  That said, I think this is the point where teams who bypassed a QB early will tempt to trade back in to the 1st to grab one that slipped.

20

 Chicago Bears D.J. Fluker OT Alabama
Analysis: OL has to be priority #1 for ‘da Bears.   How much whining does Jay Cutler have to do?  Yes, he does a lot of whining regardless, but dude does have a point.  DJ is pure size and power…measuring in a 6’6″ and a solid 335 lbs.  D.J. will pay immediate dividends for Chicago…he’ll open up lanes for Forte and keep Cutler off his ass, forcing him to whine about something else.

21

 Cincinnati Bengals Arthur Brown OLB Kansas St.
Analysis:  I really like the direction of this Cincinnati Bengals team; they have a young, talented roster after putting together some solid drafts (2012: Kirkpatrick, Zeitler, Sanu; 2011: Green, Dalton, Boling; 2010: Gresham, Atkins).  Marvin Lewis is smart enough to realize Andy Dalton’s flaws; (and while there is nothing he can do to lessen his gingerness) the best way to mask those deficiencies is to rely on a strong running game and solid defense.  Adding Brown gives the Bengal’s an athletic playmaker and gives them some much needed positional flexibility in regards to their line backing corps.

22

 St. Louis Rams Eddie Lacy RB Alabama
Analysis:  This would be the perfect storm for St. Louis.  With Steven Jackson likely gone, the Rams backfield consists of Darryl Richardson and Isaih Pead.  Eddie Lacy is the best RB in the draft, and would instantly compete for the #1 spot, with or without Jackson.  A first team All-SEC selection, Lacy rushed for 1,322 yards and 17 tds in 14 games.  He also caught 22 balls for 189 and 2 tds, and returns kickoffs as well.

23

 Minnesota Vikings Keenan Allen WR Cal
Analysis:  If your typical diva WR is a headache for the coaching staff (and GM) consider Percy Harvin a migraine!  For high school to the pros, everywhere this guy goes a black cloud follows and it’s a shame because the guy has elite skills.  If the Vikings are unable to trade him (to NE to replace Wes Welker?) this season he will surely be gone the following, as the Vikes have no intention of forking over $20M to this guy.  And this is from an organization that is thin (to be kind) at the wide-receiver position to begin with!  Allen is a step in the right direction in terms of giving Ponder a reliable target.

24

 Indianapolis Colts Alex Okafor DE Texas
Analysis:  The Colts were the most improved team in the NFL, going from a 2 win team to an 11 wind season and a playoff appearance.  Offensive line is a need, but with all the top talent gone, Indy will have to address this in the later rounds  With Dwight Freeney turning 80, Okafor would be a nice consolation prize for the Colts.

25

 Seattle Seahawks Sheldon Richardson DT Missouri
Analysis:  The Seahawks have been driving “mock drafters” crazy with some of their first round “reaches”  (James Carpenter, Bruce Irvin)who turn out to be fantastic football players on gameday.  So good luck trying to predict the Seahawks selection.  But we love the idea of the Hawks adding a penetrating force on the interior of there already dominate defense.  The Seahawks are one good off-season away from competing for a championship.

26

 Green Bay Packers Alec Ogletree OLB Georgia
Analysis:  Depending on what happens with Jermichael Finley, the Pack may want to think about drafting a TE, and they should have their pick of either Eifert or Ertz.  However, assuming Finley stays, Green Bay should focus on defense.  The play of Aaron Rodgers and the explosiveness of Green Bay’s offense did a good job hiding the fact that the defense is not good.  They were completely exposed by San Francisco in the playoffs.  Releasing Charles Woodson is recognition that Green Bay needs to get young on D.  Ogletree would provide fresh legs and versatility to the defense in need of both.

27

 Houston Texans Tyler Eifert TE ND
Analysis:  The Texans love drafting defense and building from their strengths; but we like them to add pieces to build around their top-notch running game.  Eifert (and Ertz) can create match up problems for defenses.

28

 Denver Broncos Sharrif Floyd DT Florida
Analysis:  Obviously, Denver could use some secondary help (or a new secondary coach?) but Floyd is too much value to pass up here.  There’s a buzz about Sharrif, and if he kills it at the Combine, he could shoot up draft boards and into the Top 10.  Until then, John Fox and crew would be ecstatic with Floyd.

29

 New England Patriots Jesse Williams DT Alabama
Analysis:  Again, what an ideal spot for a team to trade up into the first round and snag a QB should one drop to this point.  We all know the Patriots love stockpiling draft picks.  In this situation Belichick grabs a big bodied defended based on favorable recommendations from good buddy Nick Saban.  While the Patriots are ever evolving and continually seem to be ahead of the curve, Belichcick knows creating the line of scrimmage is the first step to a good defense (or offense for that matter).

30

 Atlanta Falcons Zach Ertz TE Stanford
Analysis:  With Tony Gonzalez “probably” retiring (anyone else thinking that’s going to drag on?) Atlanta would be well-served to use its first round pick to find his replacement. Ertz, at 6’6″, 249 lbs., is built very similar to Gonzo, and would fit in nicely in Atlanta.

31

 San Francisco 49ers Tavon Austin WR  WV
Analysis:  While Michael Crabtree had a coming out party this season (don’t worry Chris Culliver, not that kind of coming out party) the Niners could still improve their receiving corps.  They tried and (largely) failed with Randy Moss and Mario Manningham.  Austin’s explosive and can play both receiver and special teams, providing another way to instantly contribute.  He racked up 572 all-purpose yards in one game last year (second most all time), and possesses that quick first step and burst that will be effective in the slot and on returns.

32

 Baltimore Ravens Manti Te’o ILB ND
Analysis:It wasn’t a coincidence that Ray Lewis’s name was never called during the actual Super Bowl.  Deer-spray notwithstanding, Ray-Ray has completely lost the speed element to his game and was a shell of his former self.  The Ravens may find themselves without ray, Ed Reed and Paul Kruger next seasons.  Ozzie Newsome will use this pick to help re-tool his front seven.  Kevin Minter is probably a better prospect and better fit here, but we selfishly love the idea of hearing Terrell Suggs opine about the dead girlfriend-catfishing story.