Tomorrow evening is the first round of the NFL draft. It’s one of my favorite sports related events that isn’t actually a game. I’m not sure what I like about it, to be honest with you. I think it’s just exciting when something might happen, but you aren’t exactly sure as to what. You have an idea, but you can’t be sure. Part of the fun is trying to predict it. I don’t expect to be right with this mock draft, but it’s a good exercise in understanding exactly what is going on.
And make no mistake about it, I think this draft is going to be one of the least predictable in history. I think there will be more trades than ever, especially considering how even these players grade out against one another. I expect a record number of first round trades, and mock drafts to be crumpled and thrown out by pick number 5. I am going to try to predict the trades with this mock as well, to make it extra exciting.Here we go:
Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M – Joeckel is likely the top pick in the draft this year since there are no quarterbacks worth their salt. The Chiefs already have Alex Smith, and now they can protect him.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan – The Jaguars are in no position to pick anything but the best player out there, and Fisher is just that. If nothing else, Blaine Gabbert’s pretty won’t get all messed up.
Detroit Lions – Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma – Our first trade. The Lions send pick 5 and their 2nd round pick (36 overall) to the Raiders to move up to get an OT. The OT’s are moving fast.
Carolina Panthers – Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida – And now the trades are coming. The Eagles are looking to get out of the 4th spot after their O-line help was taken away from them. The Panthers were looking to get ahead of the Raiders in order to get Floyd, one of the best defenders in the draft, and a fit for Carolina. Carolina trades their 2nd and 4th rounder, as well as their 14th overall selection
Oakland Raiders – Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah – One of the reason’s Oakland could move back was because both the Raiders knew that they could get either Floyd or Lotulelei, even if one was selected at #4. Maybe I am giving the Oakland front office a bit too much credit.
Cleveland Browns – Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama – Quietly, the Browns are assembling a heck of a defense
Arizona Cardinals – Dion Jordan, OLB, Oregon – One of the more highly regarded prospects in the draft drops to the Cardinals who are eternally looking to shore up their defense
Buffalo Bills – Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia – The Bills are going to build through speed, mostly because they couldn’t find a suitor to move down, and none of the quarterbacks in this draft are worth the 8th overall selection. They needed more receiver help, and a guy like Austin will help make the offense more dynamic, even if he has Kevin Kolb throwing him passes.
New York Jets – Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU – Mingo gets selected on name value, almost exclusively. Ziggy Ansah is a more highly regarded prospect at this point, but Mingo did his work on a bigger stage.
Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama – Interior lineman is a key position for the Titans, who need to get production from one of the best backs in the league and a mobile quarterback. Bolstering that particular area is an important goal.
Philadelphia Eagles – Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington – The Eagles trade back up with a trade with the Chargers, swapping the Panthers’ first and third round picks and taking a corner back that both they and the Dolphins could have used. The Eagles, I’m sure, had big things in mind with this draft, but it just hasn’t worked out for them yet.
Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Cooper, OG/C, North Carolina – Rumor has it that the Dolphins like Cooper, so if the draft breaks like this, they won’t help but to be very pleased.
San Francisco 49ers – Ziggy Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU – The 49ers have a preponderance of picks, and they would be more than happy to move up. They send 31 and 34 to the Jets and reload what will be a terrifying defense for years to come.
San Diego Chargers – DJ Fluker, OT, Alabama – Incredible how few skill players have been taken. Only 1, in fact. The Chargers continue the trend and help to rebuild their O-line.
New Orleans Saints – Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas – This is a deep draft for positions of need for the Saints. By staying put, they had to know one helpful player will fall to them. In this case, it’s the safety from Texas.
St. Louis Rams – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee – There are two skill players I like in this draft: Patterson and Tyler Eifert. The Rams could use both, but not many teams are interested in picking a TE this early. Patterson can definitely help open up the Rams offense.
Minnesota Vikings – Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri – The Vikings trade their pick from the Seahawks, as well as their pick from the third round to the Steelers to grab a needed DT who was falling and would soon likely be selected by the Cowboys. Good move for the Vikings, keeping two first round picks and getting a player they need.
Dallas Cowboys – Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia – People have said that Jones will drop because of character issues. Jerry Jones don’t care about no character issues
Denver Broncos – Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia – The Broncos move up with the Giants, looking to ensure they get the middle linebacker to help complete their defense. The Broncos trade pick 28, their pick in the 3rd round, and a 3rd rounder in 2014 to the Giants.
Chicago Bears – Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina – I honestly can’t remember the last time the Bears did something really exciting during the draft. They keep on grabbing fat guys. It seems to work though.
Cincinnati Bengals – Matt Elam, S, Florida – Let’s see, a talented DB who might be mentally unbalanced? Yes, this definitely sounds like a Bengals pick.
St Louis Rams – Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame – And would you look at that. The Rams take Patterson early, then Eifert falls to them anyway. Sam Bradford would be shaking with excitement, I imagine.
Buffalo Bills – Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse – The Vikings move out of their pick, with the Bills beginning a run on quarterbacks by giving up their 2nd, 3rd and 5th round picks. Nassib played for new Bills coach Doug Marrone at Syracuse.
Philadelphia Eagles – Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia – The Eagles get another pick in the 1st round, swapping their original 2nd and 4th rounder with the Colts to get a crack at the looming run on quarterbacks. Smith isn’t perfect for the Eagles new system, but he was long thought to be the top quarterback in the draft, and it seemed like a good idea to go get him.
New York Jets – EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State – And there you have it, the run is over. The Jets move up from 31 by including a 4th round pick, and they get some competition for Mark Sanchez, and the Steelers move down for the second time, racking up the picks.
Green Bay Packers – Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State – The Packers needs don’t really line up with what’s available right now, so they op for the top player on the board with the fewest character flaws.
Houston Texans – Keenan Allen, WR, California – The Texans have needed another receiver opposite Andre Johnson for years. Finally, they have one, even though suspect Allen will be a phenomenal bust.
New York Giants – Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State – Acquired from Denver, the Giants still found three players to choose from. Justin Pugh, another OT, and Kevin Minter a linebacker. The Giants opt for the big tackle who protected EJ Manuel.
Minnesota Vikings – Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame – The Vikings have been looking hard at Te’o to captain their defense. If they don’t move back into the first round, like they do here by trading the Bills 2nd rounder and their own 5th rounder, they might lose him to the Ravens or Falcons. A lot of strength up the middle added for the Vikings.
Atlanta Falcons – Johnathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia – The Falcons will look to improve their front 7, and there are some late round options available, and the Falcons can nab a local product to strengthen the defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU – The Steelers are such a well organized defensive team. Even if Minter is listed as an inside linebacker, the Steelers will be able to move him wherever they need him, and he will fit in just fine. They have a ton of additional picks to work on the 2nd round to fill other holes as well. This draft isn’t strong at the top, but it is in the middle rounds.
Baltimore Ravens – Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee – The Ravens, missing out on their preferred defensive options, try instead to replace Anquan Boldin with the best receiver still on the board. Gotta keep Flacco happy, I suppose.
According to Todd McShay, after this series of picks the top players still on the board to begin the second round would be Justin Pugh, OT from Syracuse, DJ Hayden, CB from Houston, Matt Barkley, QB from USC, Kyle Long, OG from Oregon, Datone Jones, DE from UCLA, Kawann Short, DT from Purdue, and Jamar Taylor, CB from Boise State. Of course, the Colts didn’t even end up in the first round. I suspect they would take a long look at Jones and Hayden when it got to them.
So that’s the mock draft with 19 first round trades. I worry that ten might not be enough. I will be happy with only three picks right this year!
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