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Mock draft season is in full swing, and with a few months before the NFL Draft, each answer only leads to more questions.
We finally have an answer about what the Chiefs will do at quarterback, but that only complicates the top part of the first round even more.
For this version of SB Nation's weekly mock draft, Dan Kadar and I teamed up to attempt to make some sense of the first round. Here's our effort. For this mock, Kadar took the odd picks and I handled the even picks. Have at it, and please use the comments as an open forum to post your latest mock draft as well.
Pick | Player | Position | Height | Weight | Class |
1. Kansas City Chiefs |
Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M |
OT | 6'6 | 306 | Jr. |
Now that they have their quarterback, the Chiefs will have to decide on an offensive tackle or a defensive lineman. Joeckel projects out to being a better pro than impending free agent Branden Albert and would give Kansas City a franchise left tackle to block for Alex Smith. |
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2. Jacksonville Jaguars |
Barkevious Mingo, LSU | DE | 6'4 1/4 | 241 | Jr. |
The Jaguars could still go a number of directions with this pick. With the Chiefs trading for Alex Smith, West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith should be on the board. New general manager David Caldwell has praised Blaine Gabbert, though, and the pass rush is a pressing issue. Barkevious Mingo fits Gus Bradley's "LEO" position to a tee and could make an instant impact on a defense that desperately needs playmakers. |
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3. Oakland Raiders |
Sharrif Floyd, Florida | DT | 6'2 5/8 | 298 | Jr. |
Richard Seymour is out, Tommy Kelly is expected to be out and impending free agent Desmond Bryant has been busy getting mouth-agape mugshots taken. Needless to say, the black hole has move from the stands in Oakland to the defensive line. Floyd's offseason momentum only continued at the NFL Scouting Combine when he broke five seconds in the 40-yard dash and looked good in positional drills. |
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4. Philadelphia Eagles |
Sheldon Richardson, Missouri | DT | 6'2 |
294 | Jr. |
With the switch to a 3-4, the Philadelphia Eagles have begun to clean house at the defensive tackle position. Last year's first round pick Fletcher Cox projects as a solid fit in the 3-4 scheme, but the Eagles could look to add another end across from him. Sheldon Richardson's quickness and non-stop motor will make him a solid fit for the team's defensive scheme. |
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5. Detroit Lions |
Dee Milliner, Alabama |
CB | 5'11 7/8 |
211 | Jr. |
Detroit has plenty of options here. They could look for a defensive end like Ezekiel Ansah of BYU or even an offensive tackle like Eric Fisher or Lane Johnson. Really, the Lions can't go wrong with the fifth overall pick. Because of that, they could be looking for a trade down for a team wanting to jump the Browns for a pass rusher. |
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6. Cleveland Browns |
Dion Jordan, Oregon | OLB |
6'6 1/4 |
248 | Sr. |
Pass rusher is the biggest need on Cleveland's roster, and Dion Jordan brings the versatility to get after the passer in a variety of ways. He should be back to full strength from his shoulder injury in time to play in preseason games, so that shouldn't affect his draft stock a ton. |
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7. Arizona Cardinals |
Geno Smith, West Virginia | QB | 6'2 3/8 | 218 | Sr. |
The Cardinals need to restructure Kevin Kolb's contract, but even with him, it may be smart to seek an upgrade at quarterback. He'll have some room to grow in Bruce Arians' play-action, deep-passing offense, but has the skills to do so. |
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8. Buffalo Bills |
Ezekiel Ansah, BYU |
DE/OLB | 6'5 1/4 | 271 | Sr. |
New Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has expressed an interest in finding players that can get after the quarterback in a number of different ways. BYU's Ezekiel Ansah fits the mold and has as much upside as any player in the draft. He can play with his hand in the ground or stand up and make plays in space. |
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9. New York Jets |
Jarvis Jones, Georgia | OLB | 6'2 | 245 | Sr. |
While Jones still has to check out medically, the Jets have needed a pass rusher for several years. New York cut Calvin Pace in February and even with him, they needed pass rush help. Jones is a pure 3-4 outside linebacker and should quickly emerge as a double-digit sack player in the NFL.
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10. Tennessee Titans |
Bjoern Werner, Florida State |
DE | 6'3 1/4 |
266 | Jr. |
The Titans have improved the pass rush, but Derrick Morgan has left something to be desired. With Bjoern Werner, one of the best 4-3 defensive ends in the draft, still available in this mock draft, Tennessee has to pull the trigger. |
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Team | Player | Position | Height | Weight | Stars |
11. San Diego Chargers |
Eric Fisher, Central Michigan | OT | 6'7 | 306 | Sr. |
The more scenarios we go through here at SB Nation, the more it looks like one of the top three offensive tackles is going to slip to San Diego. In this scenario, they're fortunate to land Fisher, who has more upside than Joeckel. Fisher is an engulfing left tackle who excels at finishing off blocks.
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12. Miami Dolphins |
DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson | WR | 6'1 |
214 | Jr. |
Ryan Tannehill put together an impressive rookie season down in Miami. In order to continue his development, the Dolphins' brass needs to surround him with talented playmakers. Right now, Clemson's DeAndre Hopkins grades out as the top wide receiver on our board. He's a mature route runner who gets separation with ease and displays a nice catch radius. Hopkins doesn't have the size and speed combination of some of the other wide receivers in this class, but he makes up for it with his body control and sure hands.
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13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Xavier Rhodes, Florida State | CB | 6'1 1/2 |
210 | Jr. |
The Buccaneers are running thin in talent at cornerback and will either need to draft a player or spend a considerable amount in free agency. Unless they can score a player like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie or Sean Smith, targeting a corner in the first round is the way to go. Rhodes has established himself as the second-best cover player in the draft. |
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14. Carolina Panthers |
Star Lotulelei, Utah |
DT | 6'3 | 311 | Sr. |
Medical red flags have caused Star Lotulelei to slip a bit in mock drafts. Until more is known about his heart condition, it's tough to put him in the top 10. The Carolina Panthers wouldn't complain if Lotulelei fell to them. He's a perfect fit for them and fills a need on the defensive line. |
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15. New Orleans Saints |
Jamie Collins, Southern Miss. | OLB/DE | 6'3 |
250 | Sr. |
Collins turned heads at the combine and was always wildly productive for Southern Mississippi. He may not be a pure pass rusher, but in this mock draft, he's the best outside linebacker available. Collins only got better each year with the Golden Eagles and will continue to do so in the NFL. He's a player that can get up the field but also cover tight ends by himself. |
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16. St. Louis Rams |
Lane Johnson, Oklahoma |
OT | 6'6 |
306 |
Sr. |
The offensive line will be a focus for St. Louis this offseason. The roster has steadily improved in recent years, but the offensive line remains an issue. Lane Johnson's value may be even higher than this pick, so the Rams luck out. |
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17. Pittsburgh Steelers |
DaMontre Moore, Texas A&M |
DE | 6'5 | 250 | Jr. |
Down on Moore following his poor showing at the combine? A lot of teams probably are. But just watch his tape to understand what kind of player he can be. He's a chase defender who often gets by most on his hustle. He could fit well in the Steelers' 3-4 defense player on the outside. That would allow him to shoot inside gaps, which is his specialty. Don't forget, in 2011 Moore was used as a linebacker before playing end in 2012.
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18. Dallas Cowboys |
Chance Warmack, Alabama |
G | 6'2 1/2 |
294 | Jr. |
The Cowboys' offensive line really hindered them last season. Tony Romo did his best to escape from behind the constant pressure from opposing defenses, but the interior of Dallas' offensive line needs an upgrade. Enter Chance Warmack, the best offensive guard in the draft. |
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19. New York Giants |
Arthur Brown, Kansas State |
LB | 6' | 241 | Sr. |
This may seem like a strange fit. While general manager Jerry Reese does put a priority on players with size, he covets athleticism just as much. Want to find a Robert Griffin neutralizer? Brown did it in college. If the Giants do replace Michael Boley with Jacquian Williams, Brown could be used on the inside. |
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20. Chicago Bears |
Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina | G | 6'2 |
311 | Sr. |
The Bears's offensive line is the team's biggest weakness. Lucky for them, Jonathan Cooper is still on the board in this mock. Cooper is closer to Warmack than most believe and should come off the board in the first round. |
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More: Complete NFL Draft coverage
Team | Player | Position | Height | Weight | Stars |
21. Cincinnati Bengals |
D.J. Fluker, Alabama | OT | 6'5 |
339 | Jr. |
With the Bengals choosing to franchise defensive end Michael Johnson last week, that could open right tackle Andre Smith to leave via free agency. As well as Smith played in 2012, he could easily be replaced by a player of Fluker's caliber. He's the top right tackle in the draft this year, and it's not that close for the second spot. |
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22. St. Louis Rams |
Keenan Allen, California |
WR | 6'2 | 206 | Jr. |
Aside from the offensive line, finding Sam Bradford weapons to work with will be the Rams' main concern on draft day. With two first-round picks, St. Louis should be able to address both needs. Keenan Allen needs to have a solid showing at his pro day to justify this pick, but this fall, he was the best wide receiver in this class. He needs to prove that his knee is OK and that he has the straight-line speed to be a No. 1 wide receiver. |
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23. Minnesota Vikings |
Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee |
WR | 6'3 | 205 | Jr. |
This pick has seemingly been done for months. While it's somewhat boring, getting an outside receiver should be one of Minnesota's top offseason priorities. Upgrading the defense is key as well, but Patterson is a top talent. He profiles as a No. 1 wide receiver and could be a factor for Minnesota on special teams. |
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24. Indianapolis Colts |
Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International | S | 6' |
217 | Sr. |
The Colts need to bolster the secondary in the 2013 NFL Draft. The team has plenty of young talent on the offensive side of the ball but has a tough time preventing big plays in the passing game. Jonathan Cyprien fits the value at this spot and fills a need.
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25. Seattle Seahawks |
Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame | TE | 6'6 |
250 | Jr. |
How do you stop Russell Wilson from falling into a sophomore slump? By giving him the best tight end and safety valve in the draft this year. Zach Miller is a solid, but unspectacular tight end who caught 38 passes a season ago. Eifert can be used in-line or out in the slot and be a big factor in Seattle's offense. |
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26. Green Bay Packers |
Manti Te'o, Notre Dame | MLB | 6'1 1/4 |
241 | Sr. |
The Packers' linebacker issues were on full display in the team's playoff loss to the 49ers. Manti Te'o fits the 3-4 scheme and would be lucky to land in such a strong locker room and small market. |
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27. Houston Texans |
Robert Woods, USC | WR | 6'0 | 201 | Jr. |
Perhaps the talk of a middle linebacker for Houston in the first round has been overblown with Brooks Reed kicking inside. At wide receiver, the Texans don't have a lot after the aging Andre Johnson. DeVier Posey showed some flashes last season but his health for next season is uncertain. Don't forget, going into last college football season, Woods was considered a mid first-round pick. But he struggled with injuries and was passed over by Marqise Lee. Along with Hopkins, Woods may have the best hands in the draft this year. |
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28. Denver Broncos |
Kenny Vaccaro, Texas | S | 6' |
214 | Jr. |
Kenny Vaccaro is one of the best safeties in this draft class, but Jonathan Cyprien will give him a run for his money on draft weekend. With the emergence of a few first round prospects at the position, the Broncos are able to address one of their biggest needs with a prospect that provides value.
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29. New England Patriots |
Desmond Trufant, Washington | CB | 5'11 5/8 | 190 | Sr. |
With Aqib Talib a free agent, Bill Belichick gets to take another shot at hitting on a cornerback. Trufant really helped himself in Indianapolis and shoudl be elevated above other cornerbacks like Johnthan Banks and Jordan Poyer.
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30. Atlanta Falcons |
Tank Carradine, Florida State | DE | 6'4 1/2 |
276 | Sr. |
Tank Carradine said he will be able to run through a full workout for NFL teams prior to April's draft. If that happens and all goes well, Carradine will be a first round pick. Without concerns over the torn ACL he suffered in April, Carradine is the best pass rusher in this class. Atlanta will be in the market for a defensive end this offseason. | ![]() |
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31. San Francisco 49ers |
Margus Hunt, SMU |
DT | 6'8 1/8 |
277 | Sr. |
Coming off a Super Bowl appearance and loaded with more than a dozen draft picks, the 49ers have a chance to masterfully work the draft and set their franchise up for years. They can do that by taking a high-upside player like Hunt and hope he pays off. If he does, they could have a very good end for years to come. |
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32. Baltimore Ravens |
Tavon Austin, West Virginia | WR | 5'9 | 174 | Sr. |
Tavon Austin earned a spot in the first round with an impressive weekend in Indianapolis. The Ravens could use another weapon at wide receiver, and Austin would bring a different dynamic to the offense. The Ravens have made Joe Flacco a rich man, now they need to keep surrounding him with playmakers. |
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Special thanks to Bud Elliott of SB Nation Recruiting and Tomahawk Nation for the mock draft layout.
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