FWIW, yet another mock 1st round

[Frankie]

National Football Post

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfp-moc...7805--nfl.html

1. Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan, Senior: Sources I trust insist that Chiefs are aggressively trying to trade current left tackle Branden Albert and hope to acquire two second round picks for him. Once they trade him, they will have no quality offensive tackles on the roster, so they will select Eric Fisher who I think is the best offensive tackle in the Draft.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon, Junior: After signing DT’s Roy Miller and Sen’Derrick Marks to battle for the spot starting next to Tyson Alualu, the Jaguars turn their attention to upgrading their outside pass rush. While Dion Jordan may be thinner than ideal for a 43 defensive end, his explosive initial quickness and great pass rush ability would help him overcome that and be an impact player for Jacksonville in 2013.

3. Oakland Raiders: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah, Senior: With Matt Flynn now handling the quarterback position, I would be surprised if Oakland used its first round pick on a young quarterback. Additionally, with Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly not expected to return on the defensive line, the Raiders need a powerful interior player who has the athleticism to make plays behind the line of scrimmage and that is exactly what Star Lotulelei is.

4. Philadelphia Eagles: Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU, Junior: While Brian Kelly will be disappointed that Dion Jordan is already gone, they are excited about the potential that Barkevious Mingo has. A special athlete who constantly makes big plays rushing the passer; he would be a great fit at outside linebacker in the Eagles new 34 defense.

5. Detroit Lions: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State, Junior: In desperate need of outside pass rush help, the Lions debate between Ezekiel Ansah and Bjoern Werner. While Ansah may be a more explosive athlete with more potential, Werner is a more polished and ready player and the Lions need to win in 2013 to keep the head coach and general manager from being fired.

6. Cleveland Browns: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia, Senior: If the Browns want Branden Weeden to become a quality starting quarterback they need more offensive weapons. As they already have a big receiver in Josh Gordon, the Browns make a bold move to grab Tavon Austin who is similar to Steve Smith who was coached by Rob Chudzinski when he was the offensive coordinator of the Panthers.

7. Arizona Cardinals: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M, Junior: With Carson Palmer now expected to be the Cardinals starting quarterback in 2013; they need to make sure they can protect him. New general manager Steve Keim is shocked to see Luke Joeckel still available and grabs him quickly to give the Cardinals the left tackle they have been searching for in recent seasons.

8. Buffalo Bills: Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse, Senior: Although we constantly hear that either Geno Smith or Matt Barkley will be the first quarterback selected, the way the Draft has fallen leads to the Bills selecting Ryan Nassib. While a quarterback’s physical skills are important, the fact that the Bills’ head coach Doug Marrone coached Nassib at Syracuse means he knows how great Nassib’s intangibles are and wants to have him leading the Bills.

9. New York Jets: Ezekiel Ansah, OLB, BYU, Senior: If the Jets’ defense is going to have any bite in 2013 they must improve their pass rush; especially from the outside. While Ezekiel Ansah is raw, he is at his best when lined up wide and given the space to use his rare athleticism to defeat pass blocks, which makes him an ideal fit as an outside linebacker in the Jets’ 34 scheme.

10. Tennessee Titans: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina, Senior: According to sources, the Titans want to desperately upgrade their pass rush. Although they would prefer drafting a defensive end, with none worth using this high a pick on, they select Williams whose combination of great size, dominant strength, explosive initial quickness and all-around athleticism is better than any remaining defensive tackle.

11. San Diego Chargers: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma, Senior: After finally cutting the cord on failed free agent gamble Jared Gaiter, the Chargers begin moving in a new direction at left tackle with the selection of Lane Johnson. With only two years’ experience playing offensive line, Johnson is not a finished product, but his height, long arms and athleticism give him the potential to be a good left tackle for many years.

12. Miami Dolphins: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama, Junior: They traded Vontae Davis last year and lost Sean Smith in free agency this year, so the Dolphins definitely need to add talent at cornerback. Milliner possesses the rare combination of size (over 6’0), elite speed and top athleticism that makes NFL coaches drool. He should be a quality starter from day one.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame, Senior: While the Buccaneers reportedly have concerns about Josh Freemen being the answer at quarterback, they have to put weapons around him to give him a chance. Eifert is an elite receiving tight end prospect who would upgrade the Buccaneers underneath passing attack and make their offense multi-dimensional.

14. Carolina Panthers: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida, Junior: With Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy manning the defensive end spots, the Panthers outside pass rush is strong. However, the play of their defensive tackles has been disappointing in recent seasons and Floyd would give them a penetrating interior force that some view as the best defensive tackle in the Draft.

15. New Orleans Saints: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State, Junior: With Jermon Bushrod now starting at left tackle for the Bears, the Saints offensive line needs help. Although Watson is not a premier player now, he has the physical talent to be a dominating blocker if he improves his technique and consistency.

16. St. Louis Rams: Keenan Allen, WR, California, Junior: With Jake Long now in the fold and no established high end receivers on the roster, the Rams are excited to grab Allen who I view as the best receiver in the Draft. With his size, hands, playing speed and run after the catch ability, he would immediately upgrade the Rams’ passing attack.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cornell “Tank” Carradine, DE/OLB, Florida State, Senior: Although Carradine is coming off surgery to repair a torn ACL and only was a productive starter for one season the Steelers are willing to gamble on him. Pittsburgh’s defense was not the same impact, big play unit it had been in the past and needs to upgrade its outside pass rush.

18. Dallas Cowboys: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri, Junior: As Dallas makes the switch to a 43 defense it needs to find a penetrating defensive tackle that can get into the backfield to pressure the quarterback and blow plays up behind the line of scrimmage. Richardson is one of the most explosive interior defensive linemen in this year’s Draft and would add a dimension that has been missing to the Cowboys’ defensive line.

19. New York Giants: Kenny Vaccaro, SAF, Texas, Senior: With Kenny Phillips now gone, the Giants have a huge need at safety and good thing for them that the highest rated player left happens to be Vaccaro as the Giants rarely deviate from their draft board. Vaccaro’s excellent coverage skills combined with his strong run defense make him the complete package and a big upgrade for the back end of their defense.

20. Chicago Bears: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama, Senior: After signing Jermon Bushrod to secure Jay Cutler’s blindside, the Bears turn their attention to improving the interior of their offensive line. For Coach Trestman’s quick hitting passing attack to work, the Bears’ interior line must be stout and keep the defense from pressuring Cutler up the gut.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama, Junior: Although the Bengals may still decide to re-sign Andre Smith, it doesn’t seem likely. They need to make sure they replace him with a quality right tackle in order to continue to protect Andy Dalton and open running lanes for BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

22. St. Louis Rams (From Washington): Johnathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina, Senior: After signing Jake Long, the Rams improved their left and right tackle spots, assuming that Roger Saffold agrees to move to right tackle. However, their interior offensive line is still a work in progress and Cooper has the talent to be a quality starter at guard or center.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee, Junior: After trading away Percy Harvin the Vikings need a versatile offensive weapon and according to sources we spoke with around the league, a number of teams feel that Patterson will be most effective in the NFL being moved around like a chess piece rather than aligning in the same spot most of the time.

24. Indianapolis Colts: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia, Junior: The Colts switch to a 34 defense went much smoother in 2012 than we expected, but they still need playmakers. While Ogletree has some maturity questions surrounding him, he is so talented that he could bring the same game changing play to the Colts defense that Ray Lewis provided for Coach Pagano in Baltimore.

25. Minnesota Vikings (From Seattle): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State, Junior: Longtime starting cornerback Antoine Winfield is no longer with the team and they need to find a cornerback to replace him. Rhodes has great size, enjoys playing physical man coverage and is good coming up and inserting himself into the run game.

26. Green Bay Packers: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama, Junior: The Packers have a number of holes that need to be filled, but they have struggled to control games with their rushing attack once they get a good lead. Lacy is not a premier running back prospect, but he is a strong and physical runner who can wear down defenses with his running style.

27. Houston Texans: Arthur Brown, ILB, Kansas State, Senior: There is no doubt that the Texans have a lot of talent on defense, but it was shocking how their defense fell off after Brian Cushing was lost for the season with a knee injury. Although Brown lacks Cushing’s height, he is the same instinctive linebacker who attacks the play, works through traffic well and explodes to the ball to make big plays. His addition would give the Texans a pair of inside linebackers to rival the 49ers combination of Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman.

28. Denver Broncos: Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn, Junior: While Lemonier lacks the bulk right now that the Broncos want at defensive end; he is an explosive athlete with the speed to threaten the corner. Coach Fox would love to put him opposite Von Miller in passing situations to give Denver two of the most explosive edge rushers in the league.

29. New England Patriots: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA, Senior: As the Patriots continue to re-tool their defense to get back to being an elite unit they jump at the chance to select Jones. A powerful athlete with natural pass rush skills, Jones can fit as a starting defensive end in their 34 scheme, line up as an outside linebacker in some situations and even could slide inside to defensive tackle when they want to go with a four man front. Players with this type of versatility usually rank high on the Patriots’ draft board.

30. Atlanta Falcons: Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State, Senior: The Falcons cut Dunta Robinson and did not re-sign Brent Grimes, so they have major holes at cornerback. Although Desmond Trufant is a little more polished and DJ Hayden is on the board, the Falcons grab Taylor who impressed us throughout his final season at Boise State.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Johnthan Cyprien, SAF, Florida International, Senior: After losing Dashon Goldson in free agency the 49ers have a major piece to replace on their defense. Cyprien may not be a household name, but his combination of violent hitting ability, strong run support and good coverage skills make him a perfect fit to replace Goldson.

32. Baltimore Ravens: Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame, Senior: The Ravens have no returning starters at inside linebacker after Ray Lewis retired and Dannell Ellerbe left as a free agent. So while Te’o is not a rare athlete or elite prospect, he is a good, solid football player with the athleticism to be a three down linebacker.

[Mother****erJones]

God russ lande is ****ing dumb beyond anything i have ever seen. Nassib to buffalo is likely but not at 8. It was funny hearing jason cole on 610 a couple months ago saying Lande needs drug tested because he thought Nassib was going 1 overall to KC. I put zero stock in anything this babbling idiot says.

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by Chiefs=Good

Yes. but not at 8 lol..

Don't be so sure. Someone usually reaches for a QB every year.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Is not worth. Removing eyeballs now.
Posted via Mobile Device

[The Franchise]

The fact that Geno Smith isn't a 1st round pick but Te'o is invalidates this mock.

[Direckshun]

Russ Lande has argued all draft season that Nassib is the best QB, and that Geno is drastically overrated.

[suds79]

I don't see Geno falling out of the first but for Buffalo given their coach to take the guy he's familiar with/believes in wouldn't shock me.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

FWIW Nassib to Buffalo isn't so far fetched. A lot of Syracuses staff is with the Bills now so they are already familiar with him.

True if Buffalo was picking late in the draft. I think they WILL end up with Nassib yet. But in round 2.

[BigCatDaddy]

Wow, just think if this mock happened in mid air!

[patteeu]

Geno Smith is taking a big gamble by accepting the invitation to attend the draft in NYC. It could be an uncomfortable evening for him.

[Mav]

Nassib, will be there in the second round. Geno Smith, is going in the top 10. Matt Barkley is going in the first round. This mock, is hilarious at best. While it does intrigue me the thought of tavon Austin going to Cleveland, they have one corner on their roster that is starting quality. If Dee Milliner is there, he is going to be a Brown. Werner is not going that high either. The only thing high about this draft, was the writer.. WOW.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Geno Smith is taking a big gamble by accepting the invitation to attend the draft in NYC. It could be an uncomfortable evening for him.

It will be a magnificent evening for him and the Chiefs.
Posted via Mobile Device

[BlackHelicopters]

Mushrooms are a dangerous drug.

[Mr. Laz]

6. Cleveland Browns: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

that would be a 'wow' moment

[alpha_omega]

The Bills are gonna suck.

[Frankie]

Another mock today:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...4856--nfl.html


Eric Fisher ahead of Luke Joeckel? Don't be surprised. (Getty Images)

1. Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan. You'll hear all sorts of names surrounding the first overall pick, but new Chiefs head coach Andy Reid knows that his offenses are built from the lines out, and Fisher could well be the tackle with the most upside in a draft full of talent at the position.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah. With Lotulelei checking out well in all his medical re-tests, let's assume that the NFL takes him on talent alone in draft position. In that case, the Jags, with new head coach Gus Bradley, need a table-setter in the middle of their fronts, and there's nobody better than Lotulelei.

3. Oakland Raiders: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia. Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie knows that he won't get his ideal quarterback in free agency anytime soon with the Raiders' salary cap bleeding. He's got Matt Flynn as his starter, but he has to know how limiting that is. Here's where we think the Raiders pull an upset and decide to take their future franchise quarterback sooner than later.

4. Philadelphia Eagles: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida. The thought of Chip Kelly taking former Oregon endbacker Dion Jordan is obvious and appealing in some schematic senses, but when a team moves from 4-3 to 3-4 principles, versatility is the order of the day, and nobody plays more roles on the line with more impact than Floyd.

5. Detroit Lions: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M. Surprising indeed to see Joeckel fall this far, but there are drafts where athletic potential steals the spotlight from NFL-readiness. The Lions desperately need help at the tackle position, and they'd sprint up to hand in the card with Joeckel's name on it if such an opportunity arose.

6. Cleveland Browns: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama. The Browns' new brain trust has already greatly enhanced the team's defense, and the opportunity to match this draft class' best cornerback with Joe Haden is too good to pass up.

7. Arizona Cardinals: Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon. The Cardinals' defense has been very stout over the last couple of seasons. But with linebacker Daryl Washington missing four games due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy, a more defined pass rush in needed. Not only can Jordan provide that, he's also versatile enough in space to cover slot receivers.

8. Buffalo Bills: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama. The Bills need help at the guard position with Andy Levitre gone, and that need is accentuated by the fact that Kevin Kolb does not react well to pressure. Warmack will fit in from day one with a great level of experience and a nasty on-field demeanor.

9. New York Jets: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia. Jones is the perfect boom-or-bust pick for a team that certainly likes to take them. When healthy, his on-field speed and turn around the edge make him an elite pass-rusher. And if he can transcend recent concerns related to reports regarding his alleged spinal stenosis condition, he'll provide that pass rush for a Jets team that desperately needs it.

10. Tennessee Titans: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Brigham Young. Last year, the Titans selected an explosive athlete in the first round in the person of Baylor WR Kendall Wright. With needs in their defense against the pass and the run, we wouldn't be surprised if they took a flyer on Ansah's rawness from a football perspective, and bet on his pure athletic potential.

11. San Diego Chargers: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma. The Chargers can only hope that one of the elite tackles fall to them at the 11th pick. Since Marcus McNeill's retirement, the team's pass protection has been a disaster, and it's crunch time for quarterback Philip Rivers. New head coach Mike McCoy needs a fair shot to evaluate Rivers' future, and pass protection is key.

12. Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina. The Dolphins are in a bit of a pickle here. They lost Jake Long to the Rams, and Jonathan Martin doesn't look like a left tackle. While they're spackling that situation together, it would make more sense to take the hyper-athletic Cooper to lock down the left guard position than it would be to reach for a tackle out of pure need.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State. Signing safety Dashon Goldson to a lucrative free-agent deal was the first step toward rehabilitating the NFL's worst pass defense. Getting Rhodes, whose aggressive and physical style perfectly mirrors current league trends, would be another.

14. Carolina Panthers: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri. Head coach Ron Rivera was no doubt embarrassed by the performance of his defensive line -- the Panthers stuffed opposing run plays just 16 percent of the time in 2012, which ranked 29th in the league. Richardson's speed, penetrative ability, and pure explosiveness should start to shore that up.

15. New Orleans Saints: Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU. Mingo isn't a pure run-stopper per se -- he's a totally explosive edge defender with the ability to provide consistent quarterback pressure. He's a great fit for a Rob Ryan defense in need of more players who can do these things.

16. St. Louis Rams: Kenny Vacarro, S, Texas. Jeff Fisher loves aggressive safeties who play smart but take it to the edge on the field. Vaccaro fits the bill to a "T."

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee. As the draft draws closer, it's possible that NFL teams will start to get spooked by Patterson's lack of route awareness. But the Steelers, who have already lost Mike Wallace and may lose Emmanuel Sanders as well, can't afford to sit idly by. Patterson has the size, speed, and catch radius to become Ben Roethlisberger's new favorite target.

18. Dallas Cowboys: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia. Sean Lee is a perfect fit for Monte Kiffin's defensive concepts, but when Lee's been hurt in the last couple of years, the Cowboys' defense has fallen off precipitously. Ogletree is rangy enough to make up the difference, and his off-field issues won't scare off risk-taker Jerry Jones.

19. New York Giants: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State. Werner doesn't explode off the tape, but he's a consistent, versatile player. Just the kind valued highly by Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese.

20. Chicago Bears: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia. The "OMG, Manti Te'o has to replace Brian Urlacher" meme may have been halted by the Bears' acquisition of D.J. Williams. New head coach Marc Trestman has said that Devin Hester will be a primary return man, but Jay Cutler's arm demands downfield targets. There's no better speedster in this draft than Austin, who can turn defenses upside down.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama. There's a school of thought which says that giving Bengals right tackle Andre Smith a boatload of money is a request for trouble. We say that the Bengals will subscribe to this theory and take Fluker, a massive man whose skill set would allow him to plug in for Smith at the right tackle spot.

22. St. Louis Rams: Robert Woods, WR, USC. Every year, we all say that Sam Bradford needs more targets if we're ever to get a good final read on his potential as an upper-tier quarterback. Woods would be a perfect fit for Bradford -- he's smooth, practiced, and faster than people think.

23. Minnesota Vikings: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson. With Percy Harvin out the door, the Vikings need another physical receiver who can threaten downfield. Hopkins doesn't have Harvin's burner ability, but he's a great route-runner and fits Christian Ponder's limitations (i.e., arm strength).

24. Indianapolis Colts: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State. The Colts experienced an amazing turnaround in 2012 despite a run defense that was problematic at best. Step one toward turning that around might be the acquisition of Hankins, who can explode through gaps just as easily as he clogs up double teams. A perfect fit for Chuck Pagano's multiple defense.

25. Minnesota Vikings: Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU: You can talk about Te'o all you want, but if you need the best inside linebacker in this draft class (and the Vikings do), Minter is the man. He's not as quick and explosive as some others, but he's got great downhill run-stopping ability, and decent coverage skills.

26. Green Bay Packers: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International. As the Packers transition to the post-Charles Woodson era, they'll need dynamic defenders who can cover some serious ground. Cyprien, who brings Dashon Goldson to mind, won't scare Ted Thompson off with his small-school resume.

27. Houston Texans: Keenan Allen, WR, Cal. If the Texans want to take that next step in the playoffs, they'll need to finally cement a complementary target for Andre Johnson. Allen doesn't have great downfield speed, but he's aggressive in short and intermediate spaces, and could have an Anquan Boldin-plus impact in this kind of offense.

28. Denver Broncos: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington. Denver's first-round playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens proved one thing -- unless John Elway can find a way to tape a cheetah to Champ Bailey's back, deep coverage is now officially an issue in the Mile High City. Trufant is a smooth and explosive player who doesn't have a fifth gear, but can jump routes and read patterns.

29. New England Patriots: Matt Elam, S, Florida. Bill Belichick was bedeviled enough by Bob Sanders back in the day to know that size doesn't always matter when it comes to pass defense. The 5-foot-10 Elam brings a lot of the same characteristics to the field that Sanders once did -- speed, on-field intelligence, and dynamic tackling ability.

30. Atlanta Falcons: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame. The Falcons have Tony Gonzalez for another year, but they'll need his replacement groomed and ready, because this is a pass-first offense. Eifert has the ability to play all over the field, and Atlanta could roll with some very interesting multiple-TE sets.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama. We saw what happened to San Francisco's defense when Justin Smith got hurt late in the season, and the 49ers' front office knows that it's time to find a similar player, Tough order to fill, but Williams has absolutely insane football potential, and in this system, he could realize every bit of it.

32. Baltimore Ravens: Datone Jones, DL, UCLA. Jones is just the kind of do-it-all lineman who can excel in Baltimore's defense. He can provide some pass rush, stops the run very well, and can perform convincingly when asked to move inside in a five-tech role.