ChiefsPlanet - CBS 2013 Mock Draft

NFL Mock Draft - 5/8/2012
Round 1

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1. Kansas City Chiefs (from Indianapolis)
Matt Barkley, QB, Southern California: Mock Trade Projected: The Chiefs have quietly built a fairly strong roster and are legitimate contenders in the AFC West. But in this quarterback league, Matt Cassel is the engine that makes the team go and if the Chiefs fail surpass a .500 record in 2012 (for the fifth time in the last six years) then look for Kansas City to look for an upgrade at quarterback.

2. Buffalo Bills (from St. Louis)
Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas: Mock Trade Projected: The Bills have done a nice job getting stronger in several key areas on the depth chart. But if Ryan Fitzpatrick can't do enough to get Buffalo into playoff contention, the Bills should seek an upgrade at the quarterback position.
3. Minnesota Vikings
Johnathon Hankins, DT, Ohio State: Defensive tackles that are 330 pounds aren't supposed to move as quickly and easily as Hankins, flashing a similar skill set to 2012 first-round pick Dontari Poe. But Hankins has better production (11.0 tackles for loss as a sophomore) and would fit well next to Kevin Williams for the Vikings.
4. Cleveland Browns
Robert Woods, WR, Southern California: President Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert didn't agree with the masses that wide receiver was a major need, waiting until the fourth round to draft Travis Benjamin. Woods isn't the biggest or fastest, but is very polished and productive.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU: Tampa Bay needs to find an explosive edge rusher opposite Adrian Clayborn and Mingo could be that player. Although undersized (240 pounds), he has rare burst and athleticism and is just scratching the surface of his ability, reminding scouts of Von Miller.
6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington)
Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee: The Rams drafted Brian Quick with the first pick in the second round of April's draft, but a player of Hunter's ability isn't to be overlooked. A knee injury ended his sophomore season, but if he returns healthy, he could be the closest thing to AJ Green since, well, AJ Green.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State: The Jaguars passed on a cornerback in the 2012 NFL Draft and will probably be looking to make upgrades to the secondary. Amerson will be a highly debated prospect because while he doesn't have elite speed or suddenness, it's tough to argue with his ballhawking ability (NCAA-best 13 interceptions in 2011).
8. Miami Dolphins
Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia: Unless Koa Misi or rookie Olivier Vernon proves a consistent threat opposite Cameron Wake, the Dolphins will be searching for a pass rusher early in the draft next year. Jones is a classic tweener pass rusher with experience as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, recording 19.5 tackles for loss in that role last season.
9. Carolina Panthers
Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah: The Panthers considered a defensive tackle with their top-10 pick in this past draft, but chose linebacker Luke Kuechly and decided to give Terrell McClain and Sione Fua another year to prove themselves. Lotulelei would be an upgrade over both McClain and Fua, drawing comparisons to Haloti Ngata.
10. St. Louis Rams (from Buffalo)
Eric Reid, FS, LSU: Mock Trade Projected: While the Rams have upgraded the cornerback position, safety remains a problem area. Reid showed flashes last season and if he becomes a more consistent player in 2012, he has a chance to follow in Mark Barron's footsteps as another top-10 SEC safety.
11. Indianapolis Colts (from Kansas City)
Keenan Allen, WR, California: Mock Trade Projected: The Colts strengthened the tight end position and brought back veteran Reggie Wayne to help Andrew Luck's transition to the NFL. But Indianapolis needs to continue to surround their franchise quarterback with more weapons, making Keenan Allen an ideal fit and eventual replacement for Wayne as the Colt's No. 1 target.
12. Seattle Seahawks
Barrett Jones, OG, Alabama: Over their last few draft classes, the Seahawks front office has shown they aren't afraid to pull the trigger on good players earlier than most believe they should be drafted. And with the interior offensive line a question mark, the Seahawks will find Jones an attractive prospect with his versatility and leadership.
13. Arizona Cardinals
Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU: The Cardinals have received moderate production out of Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield, but pass rusher isn't a strength for the Arizona defense. After missing most of 2010 with a knee injury, Montgomery returned healthy last year and led the Tigers in sacks with nine.
14. Dallas Cowboys
Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas: With Anthony Spencer looking for a big contract, there is a good chance the Cowboys let him loose next year. And if the Cowboys are looking for a pass rusher in next year's draft, there might not be a better fit than Jackson Jeffcoat who watched his father get after opposing quarterbacks in Dallas in the early '90s.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
Alex Okafor, DE, Texas: With Jason Babin and Trent Cole entrenched as the starters at defensive end and Vinny Curry coming on board, pass rusher isn't exactly a huge need for the Eagles. But Andy Reid favors linemen in the first round and Okafor should rival teammate Jackson Jeffcoat to be the top Longhorns' defender drafted next year.
16. NY Jets
Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina: Rumors swirled that New York considered trading up for Trent Richardson in this past draft and if Shonn Greene doesn't produce better numbers, the Jets will look for an upgrade next year. Lattimore is the complete package, but how will he return from his 2011 knee injury?
17. Oakland Raiders
Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee: The Raiders are committed to Carson Palmer at quarterback for the short-term, but long-term is a question mark. With a new braintrust running the front office, led by general manager Reggie McKenzie, Oakland will be searching for Palmer's eventual replacement and Bray has an intriguing ceiling.
18. San Diego Chargers
Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State: San Diego found an excellent first-round pass rusher in Melvin Ingram last month. But the Chargers need to continue and upgrade their front seven and Werner is a smaller version of JJ Watt.
19. Chicago Bears
Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame: With Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs on the wrong side of 30, the linebacker position could quickly go from strength to weakness for the Bears. Te'o led the Irish in tackles each of the past two seasons and could cement his first round status with another strong season in South Bend.
20. Tennessee Titans
Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU: One of the more heavily debated prospects next season should be Mathieu. While he doesn't have elite size, speed or off-field character, the "Honey Badger" simply makes plays and if he matches what he did as a sophomore then he will be a future first-round pick.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Chris Faulk, OT, LSU: With 2009 first-round pick Andre Smith set to be a free agent after the 2012 season, the Bengals might be looking for a replacement at right tackle. Faulk started on the right side as a freshman before moving to left tackle and starting every game last year, flashing NFL potential.
22. Atlanta Falcons
Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn: It's safe to say Ray Edwards didn't have the impact the Falcons thought he would last season. With John Abraham turning 34 years old, defensive end isn't the strength Atlanta wants it to be. While he doesn't get nearly the attention of other SEC rushers, Lemonier finished top-5 in the conference in sacks last year (9.5).
23. Detroit Lions
Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State: The Lions drafted Dwight Bentley in April's draft, but the cornerback position on the roster is average at-best and needs help. At 6-2, 190, Banks is a tall, tough-minded cover corner who led the team in interceptions last season with five picks.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sean Porter, OLB, Texas A&M: With Larry Foote turning 32 years old and hitting free agency after the 2012 season and James Farrior released, Pittsburgh might be in a market for another linebacker. The Steelers drafted Sean Spence to possibly take over that role, but Pittsburgh covets big, fast linebackers who can tackle, and that's Porter.
25. Denver Broncos
William Gholston, DE, Michigan State: With only 4.5 sacks over his first three seasons in the NFL, it's safe to say Robert Ayers has been a bust after being chosen in the top 20 in 2009. Gholston is still unpolished and needs to play more disciplined, but he has first round talent and would help upgrade the Broncos' pass rush.
26. Houston Texans
Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama: Former Alabama lineman Antoine Caldwell will be given every opportunity to hold down the right guard position and the Texans have high hopes for recent draft pick Brandon Brooks. And even with the optimistic outlook for undrafted free agent Ben Jones as a guard-center backup, it wouldn't be a shock to see Houston add depth at guard and select one of the draft's top interior linemen.
27. New Orleans Saints
Brandon Jenkins, OLB, Florida State: The Saints' top pass rusher was a safety last season (Roman Harper, 7.5 sacks) and got marginal production from their defensive edge rushers. Jenkins led Florida State in sacks (8.0) and tackles for loss (12.0) last season and has the talent to be a top-40 draft pick.
28. Green Bay Packers
T.J. McDonald, FS, Southern California: After overachieving in their Super Bowl Championship season, the Packers secondary was brought back down to earth in 2011 (albeit in a 15-1 regular season). Green Bay added a cornerback (Casey Hayward), but could use an upgrade at safety, especially after the release of Nick Collins. McDonald is the top senior safety available.
29. Baltimore Ravens
Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin: Left tackle Bryant McKinnie has proved to be a quality stop-gap protecting Joe Flacco's blindside, but the big blocker will be a free agent after the 2012 season. Ricky Wagner is just the latest Wisconsin offensive line product to jump to the pros and is already being called a better version of Gabe Carimi.
30. San Francisco 49ers
Craig Roh, DE, Michigan: Even with Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith on the roster, San Francisco always seems to look for depth at their key positions. And while he isn't being talked about much, Michigan's Craig Roh could vault himself into first round consideration with a strong senior year.
31. New England Patriots
Kawann Short, DT, Purdue: With Patriots expected to run more of a consistent four-man front, the defense could use depth on the interior behind Vince Wilfolk. Usually defensive tackles don't lead the team in sacks or tackles for loss, but Kawann Short led Purdue in both categories last season with 6.5 sacks and 17.0 tackles for loss.
32. NY Giants
Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame: After injuries to Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum, the Giants signed Martellus Bennett to a one-year "show me" contract. And if he doesn't perform, New York might be in the market again for a tight end, making Tyler Eifert a natural fit as the top tight end in next year's draft class.