Mock Draft 1.0

By: Jason Snider

Draft season is here! Yes it is Cleveland's Super Bowl because lets face it since the Browns return in 1999 the actual football hasn't been much fun. The dust has settled from the combine and there are movers and shakers and there are also guys that didn't benefit from the combine and are sliding down draft boards at a rapid pace. With NFL free agency set to kick off March 12, a lot of draft scenarios will become a little more clear in the coming weeks. With that being said here is my prediction of the entire first round. Enjoy and please feel free to give your opinions below.

1. CHIEFS- Dee Milliner CB Alabama(6'0 3/4 197): with the franchise tag being placed on LT Brenden Albert and Dwayne Bowe signing a 5-year deal, the Chiefs are in a good position at the top of the draft. OT Luke Joeckel could still be in play here but I see CB as their biggest need now and with the rookie wage scale being what it is I can see teams starting to draft need now more than ever. Milliner would be the first ever CB taken number one overall and while in no way shape or form do I believe he deserves that label, it is a strong possibility with the moves the Chiefs have made.
2. JAGUARS- Dion Jordan DE Oregon (6'6 1/8 239): Jacksonville's defense had a total of 20 sacks in 2012. Yes 20! That means JJ Watt single handedly had a half a sack more than the entire Jags defense! At 6-6 240lbs Jordan is an athletic freak. He even lined up at slot CB at Oregon on several plays.
3. RAIDERS- Geno Smith QB West Virginia (6'2 3/4 208): When you are talking about a quarterback competition between Carson Palmer and Terrelle Pryor that means you don't like either of your options at QB. Jarvis Jones is still a strong possibility here as long as Oakland's docs ok his spinal issue. The Raiders ranked 31st in the NFL last year with only 25 sacks.
4. EAGLES- Luke Joeckel OT Texas A&M (6'5 3/4 306): Philly QB's were sacked 48 times last year and with veteran Jason Peters coming off an Achilles tear at the age of 31 don't be surprised if the Eagles cut him and his 10.4 million dollar salary for 2013. Even if they keep Peters, it will not be long before its time to replace him and Joeckel could be their guy. They could also go Mingo, Ansah or Jarvis Jones as they look to convert to the 3/4 defense.
5. LIONS- Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU (6'6 273): With the Lions not franchising DE Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch hitting the road the Lions are in need of a stud pass rusher and Ansah screams "stud"! With Milliner gone the Lions look to address the most important part of a good passing defense: a good pass rush.
6. BROWNS- Jarvis Jones OLB Georgia (6'2 242): The spinal issue checked out at the combine and as long as the Browns didn't cross him off their boards he must be the pick if he is there at #6. Jones has dominated the league that has dominated college football for the last 7 years to the tune of 28 sacks and 9 forced fumbles the last two seasons. Many will be scared of the stenosis, but in my opinion Jones is the most proven pass rusher in this class. Ansah and Jordan are strong considerations if available.
7. CARDINALS- Matt Barkley QB USC (6'1 7/8 228): While I personally have Barkley as a late first round quarterback, many sources are reporting that the Cardinals fell in love with him at the combine. Barkley has issues with throwing under pressure and lacks the elite arm talent that warrants a top 10 pick but as always teams overdraft a QB even if he is IMO Mark Sanchez 2.0. OT Eric Fisher could and should be considered here.
8. BILLS- Cordarrelle Patterson WR Tennessee (6'3 205): Buffalo has a very solid offensive line and has two scary running backs in the likes of CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson. While Stevie Johnson is a good WR, adding Patterson to those weapons would be very hard to resist for Doug Marrone. Look for him to target his college QB Ryan Nassib in the second round.
9. JETS- Eric Fisher OT Central Michigan (6'7 1/4 305): As much as I wanted to give them Barkevious Mingo, I see Fisher as a need here. The Jets o-line was once a strength and is now a weakness besides Ferguson and Mangold. Sanchez or whoever their quarterback is in 2013 is going to need protection.
10. TITANS- Sharrif Floyd DT Florida (6'3 298): Amazed he slipped this far the Titans look to strengthen their 24th ranked run defense while also adding Floyds pass rush abilities. OG Chance Warmack could be in play here to try and put the 2K back in CJ2K.
11. CHARGERS- Lane Johhson OT Oklahoma (6'6 1/4 302): The Chargers have been plagued by poor play at the left tackle position for years now and must address this position. With the stationary QB such as Philip Rivers you must give him peace of mind that he can stand in the pocket and deliver without fearing for his life.
12. DOLPHINS-Kenny Vaccaro S Texas (6'0 1/2 210): Miami had the 27th ranked pass defense last year and when you're in a division with Tom Brady and even Buffalo's run and shoot you are going to need a safety that can cover and come up in the box and hit. Kenny fits that description very well. A trade down here to a team eyeing perhaps Barkevious Mingo is a possibility.
13. BUCCANEERS- Bjoern Werner DE Florida State (6'4 255): With Vaccaro off the board the Bucs look to address the DE position that is in flux currently after Da'Quan Bowers was arrested for possession of a firearm at an airport and is facing jail time.
14. PANTHERS- Sheldon Richardson DT Missouri (6'2 7/8 290): A little slight for the position but what he lacks in size he makes up for speed and quickness. Panthers could give Cam Newton a nice weapon in Tavon Austin at this spot if they see value in selecting him here.
15. SAINTS- Barkevious Mingo OLB LSU (6'5 240): Mingo will not have to go far and will fit perfectly in the Saints new 3/4 defense. Not sure he falls this far but I know the Saints would sprint to the stage to make this selection.
16. RAMS- Chance Warmack OG Alabama (6'2 3/8 325): Rams get what some consider best player in the draft but the position isn't as highly valued as others. Sam Bradford will appreciate the pick as Warmack should be a key piece to the unit that gets paid to protect their number one pick.
17. STEELERS- Star Lotulelei DT Utah (6'3 320): Before the combine Star was sitting atop many a big board. After doctors found an abnormal heart condition Lotulelei could take a tumble. Waiting to catch him is a team looking to replace a potential Hall of Famer in Casey Hampton. How fitting that they have another monster fall to them.
18. COWBOYS- Jonathan Cooper OG North Carolina (6'3 320): The Cowboys guard play was near the bottom of the league last season. Many including myself put Cooper right below Warmack as the best guard in this draft.
19. GIANTS- Alec Ogletree ILB Georgia (6'3 237): Ogletree is a bit of a problem child but when you watch him play you see possibly the most gifted athletes in this draft. The Giants have longed for that stud in the middle and Alec will be a Giant come April.
20. BEARS- Manti Te'o ILB Notre Dame (6'1 248): Brian Urlacher needs to be replaced. Te'o didn't run a great 40 at the combine but looked good in drills and the LB position is more about instincts and play recognition than strait line speed.
21. BENGALS- Eddie Lacy RB Alabama (5'10 220): This offense looks to add another young weapon to the arsenal and gets one in Lacy. Andy Dalton will have no excuses with the surrounding cast he will have.
22. RAMS- Tyler Eifert TE Notre Dame (6'6 250): after adding Warmack to protect him, the Rams add Eifert to give Bradford a big athletic target to use with his newly found time in the pocket. Lacy or Tavon Austin could be options here as well.
23. VIKINGS- Keenan Allen WR California (6'3 206): With Kyle Rudolph and Percy Harvin the Vikings are one big wide receiver away from having a nasty offense when you include that running back, um what's his name? Oh ya Adrian Peterson.
24. COLTS- Sylvester Williams DT North Carolina (6'2 3/4 313): Colts look to solidify their defensive line in their 3/4 defense with no pass rusher really being worth the pick at this point.
25. SEAHAWKS- Justin Hunter WR Tennessee (6'4 205): Russel Wilson gets another big target to throw to. Originally I had Zach Ertz at this point but he is starting to take a little tumble down the board. At 6-4 205lbs Hunter has supreme talent and showed it at the combine.
26. PACKERS- Demontre Moore DE/OLB Texas A&M (6'4 248): The free fall after a 4.9 40 and 12 reps of 225lbs at the combine stops at number 26. The Packers have been searching for the pass rusher on the opposite side of Clay Mathews for years now and I believe they will find value in this selection.
27. TEXANS- Tavon Austin WR West Virginia (5'8 3/8 173): How many times are we going to hear it? The Texans need that play maker to help Andre Johnson out. Well Austin is one heck of a playmaker and will open up a lot of options for the Texans offense.
28. BRONCOS- Desmond Trufant CB Washington (5'11 1/8 190): If you watched the Broncos in the playoffs you saw where their needs lie. It could be another CB as many people have the CB class ranked differently after Milliner or it could even be a safety here but Trufant is my second rated CB.
29. PATRIOTS- DJ Fluker OT Alabama (6'4 7/8 355): Sebastian Vollmer may be sent packing and they need to protect the franchise AKA Tom Brady. As always a trade down is an option with the Pats.
30. FALCONS- Xavier Rhodes CB Florida State (6'1 215): After cutting Dunta Robinson Atlanta has made a big need an even larger one. Asante Samuel isn't exactly a spring chicken! They could also use a TE to replace Gonzalez and Ertz could be in play here.
31. 49ERS- Johnathan Banks CB Mississippi State (6'2 1/8 185): 1 of their very few weaknesses is CB opposite Carlos Rogers. Safety John Cyprien could be in play if Dashon Goldson leaves via free agency. The 49ers will also have the 34th pick in the draft after the Alex Smith trade with the Chiefs to address one of these needs so getting both players is a strong possibility.
32. RAVENS- Kevin Minter ILB LSU (6'2 244): HOF Ray Lewis will not be replaced. They will however have to fill the position and Minter could be the guy they select to do so. Safety is also an option for them if Ed Reed leaves via free agency.