2013 NFL Mock Draft from Kevin Nogle

Pick

Player

Pos.

Ht

Wt

School

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Luke Joeckel

OT

6'6"

306

Texas A&M

We may actually see the first overall pick of the draft be used on a right tackle. The Chiefs used the franchise tag on Branden Albert this year and, if they don't trade him, he will likely remain on the left side, while Joeckel slides into the vacancy left by the release of Eric Winston. The team will likely let Albert go after 2013, meaning Joeckel will slides over to the left side in 2014.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

Geno Smith

QB

6'2"

218

West Virginia

So much for the "no top ten quarterbacks" in 2013. Smith does not feel like a top two quarterback, but the Jaguars have to do something to keep the fan base excited, and right the ship under a new regime. Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne are not the answer, so why not take a shot at a dynamic, young quarterback who could develop into something special in the NFL.

3. Oakland Raiders

Sharrif Floyd

DT

6'3"

303

Florida

The Raiders could look in multiple directions with this pick, and probably would not be wrong with any of them (okay, it's the Raiders...they could be wrong), but the defensive line was a mess last year. Adding a player like Floyd, who can pressure the quarterback up the middle and plays well against the run could be exactly the start they need to fix the team.

4. Philadelphia Eagles

Eric Fisher

OT

6'7"

306

Central Michigan

The right answer with this pick is Geno Smith. Unfortunately, he's off the board. That leaves the Eagles to do one of two things, fill their biggest need or go best player available. Luckily for them, Fisher fills both those roles.

5. Detroit Lions

Dion Jordan

DE

6'6"

248

Oregon

Cliff Avril is gone. Kyle Vanden Bosch is gone. The Lions have no defensive ends. While the team has some other needs, having the pick of the litter among the pass rushers is going to be a huge plus for Detroit. Ezekiel Ansah could go here, but the versatility of Jordan, who has lined up as a linebacker, defensive end, and cornerback for Oregon, lands him in this spot.

6. Cleveland Browns

Dee Milliner

CB

6'0"

201

Alabama

The Browns probably go one of two ways with this pick. 1 - Jordan. 2 - Milliner. Option one is off the board so it's on to option two. The Browns are desperately in need of some coverage options, and Milliner absolutely makes sense to head to Cleveland.

7. Arizona Cardinals

Lane Johnson

T

6'6"

303

Oklahoma

Bruce Arians may have the hardest job in the NFL as he tries to rebuild the Arizona Cardinals. While the quarterback position is absolutely a mess, protecting whomever is back there under center is nearly as bad. Chance Warmack up this high is hard to justify, simply because he plays guard, but Johnson sitting here could be a great pick.

8. Buffalo Bills

Jarvis Jones

OLB

6'2"

245

Georgia

The Bills know you have to pressure the quarterback. They just don't do it, despite $100 million man Mario Williams. This could be a way to free up Williams, and get after opposing signal callers. If the Bills don't look at Jones, they will probably be looking at either Geno Smith or Matt Barkley here, but I don't think they will make the reach that it would be to take Barkley in this slot.

9. New York Jets

Chance Warmack

G

6'2"

317

Alabama

Go back and read the Arizona Cardinals write up. I'll wait.

Okay, you're good now? Interior linemen this early, unless it's a absolute STUD of a center, are hard to justify. However, the Jets have to go here. Warmack grades incredibly high, and the Jets have to replace Brandon Moore who is likely departing via free agency this year. Warmack makes the most sense, even if the position choice doesn't.

10. Tennessee Titans

Star Lotulelei

DT

6'3"

311

Utah

This pick will be either Star Lotulelei or Sheldon Richardson if the draft goes down like this. Lotulelei should have been a top five pick in the draft, but a heart problem was detected at the NFL Combine and he slid down some boards because of it. The Titans could end that slide right here.

Pick

Player

Pos.

Ht

Wt

School

11. San Diego Chargers

D.J. Fluker

T

6'5"

339

Alabama

The Chargers have to address the offensive line. There's no choice. Unfortunately for them, the run of offensive line talent already means the team has to reach to grab a tackle. Fluker is huge and could be a great grab by the Chargers, despite many seeing it as that "reach."

12. Miami Dolphins

Ezekiel Ansah

DE

6'5"

271

BYU

I will tell you right now, I don't know how this happened. I was already to put another pick in this slot, and I realized Ansah was still sitting there on my board. If he actually does fall, there's absolutely no way the Dolphins let him pass them at the 12 spot. Looking back over the top 11 picks, Ansah sliding could happen, if the Lions really do choose to go Dion Jordan.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Xavier Rhodes

CB

6'2"

190

Florida State

The Buccaneers have to take a cornerback here. It's nearly written in stone, a part of the NFL bylaws, and has been introduced as an amendment to the Constitution. To say it's a need underscores how much the Buccaneers need to make this move. And, with the Dolphins not taking a cornerback, they have their pick of everyone not named Dee Milliner. Rhodes gets the nod here and will be able to start on opening day.

14. Carolina Panthers

Sheldon Richardson

DT

6'3"

294

Missouri

The middle of the Panthers defensive line needs help, there's no way around it. They have to find a replacement for Kris Jenkins, who left the team seven years ago, and Richardson can finally help them with that.

15. New Orleans Saints

Barkevious Mingo

DE

6'4"

241

LSU

Mingo may be a raw prospect at this point, but would be a huge addition for the Saints and would be a project Rob Ryan would love to have to develop. The Saints defense is a mess right now, so Mingo could be the first step in trying to put it back together.

16. St. Louis Rams

Tavon Austin

WR

5'8"

174

West Virginia

The Rams are salivating over the idea of adding Austin at the 16 spot. If he makes it here, there's absolutely no question his name is on the card for St. Louis.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

Cordarrelle Patterson

WR

6'2"

216

Tennessee

Mike Wallace is in Miami now, so Pittsburgh could be looking to find a way to replace him and Patterson could be that player. He's still raw, but he's most likely going to develop into something special.

18. Dallas Cowboys

Sylvester Williams

DT

6'3"

305

UNC

The Cowboys need to address both the offensive and defensive lines this offseason, and could look to go another way. Williams, however, is a big bodied player who has good quickness off the snap and makes good plays in the backfield. He could be exactly what the Cowboys need as the shift from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3.

19. New York Giants

Bjoern Werner

DE

6'4"

260

Florida State

Werner falling all the way to number 19 is just silly, but that's what has happened. He has good instincts, gets after quarterbacks, and plays the run well. However, he does not have the size you want from a top pick defensive end, which could be why he slides some next month.

20. Chicago Bears

Alec Ogletree

LB

6'2"

242

Georgia

The Bears are in need of a young middle linebacker to come in and replace Brian Urlacher. Sitting on the board is Ogletree, who is exceptional at tracking down running backs or quarterbacks as they try to run around the end. He struggles getting off blocks sometimes, so the Bears will have to develop him some, but he could be exactly what the Bears need.

Pick

Player

Pos.

Ht

Wt

School

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Kenny Vaccaro

S

6'0"

214

Texas

The Bengals struggle against the pass, specially in pass coverage by the safeties. Picking up Vaccaro in the first round will help with that. He has the strength and versatility you want in an NFL safety, although he has been used primarily in man-to-man roles at Texas, so he still has some developing he needs to do at the next level.

22. St. Louis Rams
(From Washington Redskins)

Matt Elam

S

5'10"

208

Florida

I nearly doubled down on wide receivers for the Rams with this pick, but snagging Elam here makes too much sense. The Rams saw both their safeties leave the team this year, and they have to fill the hole. Elam could be a Pro Bowl safety at the NFL level, and he will be able to support the Rams defense all over the field, whether it's covering slot receivers, supporting the run, or just making a play on a ball somewhere.

23. Minnesota Vikings

Keenan Allen

WR

6'2"

206

California

The Vikings have two of the next three picks, and will be able to get better fast if they pick correctly. Using at least one of those picks on a wide receiver in an attempt to make up for trading away Percy Harvin makes a lot of sense. They have a lot of choices here but Allen could be the right move. He's bigger than Harvin, and a little slower, but he's a number one wide receiver who runs good routes and attacks the ball when it's in the air.

24. Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Cooper

G

6'2"

311

UNC

The Colts can use an upgrade at the guard position, and with Cooper still sitting on the board at this point, the pick is almost a guarantee. Cooper can play both guard position as well as center, so the Colts would be getting great value out of this pick.

25. Minnesota Vikings
(From Seattle Seahawks)

Datone Jones

DE

6'4"

283

UCLA

Right back on the clock, the Vikings now look to address the defensive line. Jones can play defensive end, getting around and pressuring the quarterback, but he has the size to move inside and play defensive tackle.

26. Green Bay Packers

Damontre Moore

DE

6'5"

250

Texas A&M

Moore is a hybrid that can play both defensive end and linebacker. He's not necessarily one of the top positional needs for the Packers, but he does bring in the speed that Green Bay's defense lacked last year, and could be a big addition. Sliding him back into a 3-4 linebacker role probably makes the most sense, letting him rush the passer or drop into coverage.

27. Houston Texans

DeAndre Hopkins

WR

6'1"

214

Clemson

There are two ways the Texans could go with this pick. They will either look to add a receiver opposite Andre Johnson, hoping to see their number one wide out's production go back up if there is a threat that defenses have to cover besides him, or they will continue to build the defensive front seven. Hopkins makes sense with the first option. If they look at the second option, SMU's Margus Hunt will be the pick.

28. Denver Broncos

Alex Okafor

DE

6'4"

264

Texas

After the fax-fiasco that let Elvis Dumervil head to the Baltimore Ravens, the Broncos need to add a pass rusher. If they don't land John Abraham or Dwight Freeney, selecting Okafor could be the next best thing. He needs to continue to add strength and work on his pass rushing moves, but he does know how to get to the quarterback, as his 4.5 sack performance in the Alamo Bowl.

29. New England Patriots

Robert Woods

WR

6'0"

201

USC

Why wouldn't the Patriots add another pass catcher? I mean, do they even have players at the other positions? He is a precise route runner and will be an asset to the Patriots offense.

30. Atlanta Falcons

Desmond Trufant

CB

6'0"

190

Washington

The Falcons could be looking at defensive ends at this point, but they have a need at the cornerback position and with Trufant still on the board, they can't pass him up.

31. San Francisco 49ers

Jonathan Jenkins

DT

6'4"

346

Georgia

The 49ers have put together a successful offensive arsenal, but now need to address the defensive line, both the ends and the tackles. Jenkins will eat up blocks on the defensive line, and let the 49ers linebackers roam and do what they do best. He has to work on his footwork, but as long as he is demanding double teams on every snap, the coaches can work on the rest.

32. Baltimore Ravens

Kevin Minter

LB

6'0"

246

Louisiana State

Ray Lewis is gone off to ESPN. The Ravens will now look to Dannell Ellerbe to be their next middle linebacker - or not since he's now in Miami. The Ravens have to find the right linebacker to fill the slot. Minter is the least known of the top linebacker prospects, but he could fit into Baltimore's system perfectly.