2013 NFL mock draft: Pushing through smoke screens

The smoke coming out of Kansas City is heavy, and it's not just from barbecue joints anymore. See that? A joke. Ha-ha. The Chiefs are supposedly considering eight to 10 players with this pick, and Andy Reid likes Geno Smith. Allegedly. Apparently. Who knows. Chances are the Chiefs are hoping to find a trade partner to pick up the second-round pick that was used in the Alex Smith trade. If they keep the pick, Joeckel is a smart choice. He can play the right side for a year and make Branden Albert expendable in 2014.

Luke Joeckel scouting report

We think the Jaguars are interested in Geno Smith, despite Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports suggesting it might just be a "careful rouse (sic)." Besides, he's the smart choice. Blaine Gabbert hasn't become the player the Jaguars expected and the current personnel staff didn't draft him. If Smith isn't the choice, a player that can play Leo is a good option, most likely Dion Jordan.

Geno Smith scouting report

The Raiders are heavy after Matt Flynn. Great. But if Smith isn't the pick for Jacksonville, the Raiders should take him. We've had Floyd as the pick for Oakland for quite some time. It finally released Tommy Kelly and has a need on the line. The choice, if Smith is not there, could be down to Floyd and Star Lotulelei.

Sharrif Floyd scouting report

The signing of Connor Barwin affords the Eagles some flexibility with the fourth overall pick. It means Philadelphia doesn't have to go after a pass rusher here. The Eagles are relying on Jason Peters and Todd Herremans to come back from injury. Even if they do, they might not be a fit for Chip Kelly's offense.

Eric Fisher scouting report

If Fisher is off the board, the Lions should go after a high upside defensive end like Ansah. Although Lane Johnson would get consideration to replace the retired Jeff Backus, the hole at end is just as great.

Ezekiel Ansah scouting report

The Browns have sort of painted themselves into a corner with the sixth pick. Get it? Another joke. Come on, it's April Fool's. Anyway, the Browns have gone after the better starting cornerbacks in free agency and come up empty. The player opposite Joe Haden is the defense's biggest need, and Milliner is a good value.

Dee Milliner scouting report

Although they improved toward the end of the season, neither Bobby Massie or Nate Potter are as good as offensive tackle as Johnson could be. Guard and pass rusher may be just as big of a need for the Cardinals, but both of those positions could be found later in the draft.

Lane Johnson scouting report

Patterson could be the type of athletic playmaker that Bills general manager Buddy Nix could covet. He can be used in a variety of ways and knows how to get himself open. He's the most athletic wide receiver in the draft this year with solid size. The Bills have little after Stevie Johnson, and the signing of Kevin Kolb means the team doesn't have to overdraft a quarterback.

Cordarrelle Patterson scouting report

A player with Jordan's pure ability would be hard to pass up with the ninth pick in the draft. Jordan or guard Chance Warmack would be solid picks for the Jets. Jordan is the choice here because of better positional value in the first round.

Dion Jordan scouting report

Despite signing high-priced free agent Andy Levitre, the Titans still need to do some work on the interior of the offensive line. Warmack may not be as versatile as Jonathan Cooper, but he's a much better pure guard prospect.

Chance Warmack scouting report

The Chargers have several glaring needs on their roster. Everyone knows they need an offensive tackle, particularly after releasing Jared Gaither. But as they move to a zone blocking scheme, guard is another hole. On the defense, the Chargers need some front seven help. Which is more important, a pass rusher like Mingo or defensive lineman like Star Lotulelei? Mingo is the choice largely because Larry English has busted and Melvin Ingram has underwhelmed.

Barkevious Mingo scouting report

The Dolphins have done a lot in free agency, and could be positioning themselves for a trade down (or up if they really want a certain player). With the best offensive linemen gone, getting another weapon for Ryan Tannehill would be a wise move. Wide receiver signing Mike Wallace won't do a lot for Miami in the red zone, so Eifert could be the perfect security blanket.

Tyler Eifert scouting report

Whether it’s a player like Rhodes or Desmond Trufant, cornerback has to be the top first-round priority for the Buccaneers. Chances are this pick could get flipped for Darrelle Revis. If it is and the Jets are picking here, cornerback may be the 13th pick in the draft regardless.

Need and value. The Panthers would be ecstatic if a player of Lotulelei's caliber is available with the 14th pick. Whether it's him or Sheldon Richardson, it looks like the Panthers will be able to hit on one of the defensive tackles in the draft.

Star Lotulelei scouting report

There are several different players on defense the Saints could after with the 15th pick. A versatile defensive lineman like Johnathan Hankins is a good fit in a three-man front. A safety like Kenny Vaccaro would help the coverage unit. But Jones is the top pass rusher left and that's what Rob Ryan's defense needs to really get going. I think Martez Wilson could move to the outside, and the team obviously like Junior Galette. Jones may be a better pass rusher than both straight away.

Jarvis Jones scouting report

With Dallas and Cincinnati picking behind them, the Rams may not want to risk losing out on Vaccaro. He's an excellent coverage safety that can drop back in zone or press the slot. A wide receiver will get consideration, but there will be one out there with the 22nd pick. Vaccaro may not be.

Kenny Vaccaro scouting report

The SB Nation writers mock draft is really starting to sway me on why the Steelers should go after a wide receiver in the first round. And Austin just looks like he would be a perfect fit in that offense, doesn't he? He'd effortlessly replace Mike Wallace, and may be an even better player.

Tavon Austin scouting report

A defensive lineman of Richardson's caliber would be difficult to pass up – particularly with Vaccaro off the board. The other option could be a guard like Jonathan Cooper or right tackle like D.J. Fluker, but Richardson grades out as the better player. He would also speed up the team's transition to Monte Kiffin's 4-3 defense.

Sheldon Richardson scouting report

Carradine's pure potential is as great as any defensive linemen in the draft this year. He's a highly athletic player with size, so he fits the Jerry Reese mold.

Tank Carradine scouting report

The Bears have made some good moves to improve the offensive line, adding left tackle Jermon Bushrod and guard Matt Slauson. They can complete the line transformation with a player like Cooper. He's an excellent value with the 20th pick and can play all three interior line spots. A middle linebacker could get a heavy look here as well.

Jonathan Cooper scouting report

I'm still under the assumption that the Bengals get a deal done with Andre Smith. If not, this pick becomes D.J. Fluker. That leaves Cincinnati open to go after Cyprien, a talented safety prospect that can run and hit. Another wide receiver or a running back could get some consideration with this choice, but Cyprien could have a bigger impact on the team.

See how this works out? If the Rams go after a safety at 16, they don't have to worry about the position drying out by pick 22. In our last mock, they went wide receiver at 16 and Vaccaro and Cyprien were gone by 22 so we pushed Eddie Lacy into this spot. In this scenario, the Rams could take the best available wide receiver. Hopkins is our top wide out this year, and he's a dangerous outside receiver.

DeAndre Hopkins scouting report

The Vikings need young athleticism on defense and Brown is the most athletic linebacker in the draft. He’s a run and tackle linebacker who can truly play sideline to sideline. He’s an upgrade over Tyrone McKenzie, though the Vikings will likely consider players like Alec Ogletree or Manti Te’o as well. Adding a good defensive tackle should be a priority in this draft as well, but they can sit on the position for a round or two.

Arthur Brown scouting report

The signing of underrated cornerback Greg Toler frees the Colts up to go after a front seven player on defense. Whether it's Moore, Jesse Williams or Datone Jones, the Colts should be able to find a starter in the first round. Moore just happens to be the best front seven player available at this point.

If the Vikings are content with Greg Jennings being their No. 1 receiver, a player with Hankins' ability could help improve an aging defensive line. Hankins was a versatile player for Ohio State and made plays from a variety of spots on the line.

Johnathan Hankins scouting report

In the actual draft, this is one of the picks that could be traded to a team wanting to come up for a quarterback. The Packers have a good roster and some players coming back from injury. If they keep the pick, they could go after a safety, defensive lineman or a running back. Lacy may not be Trent Richardson, but he should routinely generate positive yards and give the Packers a lead running back.

Although the Texans drafted two wide receivers last year, Devier Posey won't be healthy at the start of the season and Keshawn Martin is more of a slot receiver. With Andre Johnson getting older, the Texans would be smart to draft a player now that can eventually become the team's No. 1 wide receiver.

Finding a pass rusher to replace Elvis Dumervil will be difficult with the 28th pick. If there isn't a pass rusher that can play right end, the Broncos would be smart to fall back on their biggest need: middle linebacker. There is some character risk with Ogletree, but his level of talent and athleticism would be hard to pass up.

Trufant has has been skyrocketing up mock drafts, so New England may be fortunate to get him with the 29th pick. It's true, the Patriots have struck out on defensive backs, but it only takes one to be a home run. Get it? It's Opening Day in baseball. Is the draft almost here yet?

Although Osi Umenyiora has been added, he only had six sacks last season. Werner's value is too good to pass up with the 30th pick. He's even capable of standing up and rushing from the outside linebacker spot, if asked.

Bjoern Werner scouting report

After losing Isaac Sopoaga in free agency, the 49ers have a hole in the middle of their defense. Ian Williams is a solid player, but more of a backup. If they happen to keep this pick, San Francisco has its pick of nose tackles with Williams and John Jenkins of Georgia. While we’ve often considered a safety or defensive end for San Francisco, the value of Williams here is too good to pass up. He can play inside or outside.

The Ravens need to fill both middle linebacker spots, so it might come to which player like better, Te'o or LSU's Kevin Minter. We've gone with Te'o often in the past, so he's the pick again. While his ceiling is low, he's a plug and play linebacker.