Two weeks and counting to the draft!
As always, a few disclaimers:
-- Please do not interpret this as "this is what Jeff would do." I am trying to forecast what the given teams would do in the given situation. I will release a "what I would do" mock next week.
-- Don't send me emails or comment on message boards that "I guarantee you Team X would never do that." First, it makes you look childish and stupid. Second, unless you are in fact the draft decision maker for Team X, you have no idea. To use the Jim Mora quote, "you think you know, but you really don't know."
-- As the draft progresses further, I'm much more interested in slotting the player to a spot and not necessarily the team currently picking in that spot.
-- Do not assume that teams will not use multiple picks on the same position in the same draft. It happens a lot more than you think.
Round 1
1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn.
I'm one of the growing number of folks that think this is very likely to happen.
2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama.
This pick seems fairly certain at this point. This pick is for sale.
3. Buffalo Bills: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M.
It’s still open for debate if they would take Newton, but in this scenario they won’t have to make that choice.
4. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia.
I think most folks overestimate their need for a wideout, but Green is a major talent that makes the Bengals better right away. If someone really wants Patrick Peterson, a trade down could be in order.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri.
This is assuming they realize they cannot count on getting a veteran via free agency. Robert Quinn or Von Miller makes this far from a lock pick.
6. Cleveland Browns: Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina.
Given this scenario it’s either Quinn or Julio Jones. Mike Holmgren is not taking a CB in the top 10 two years in a row, Peterson fans...
7. San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU.
A better playmaker than cover man, but that fits what the Niners need. I think they go QB later on ... or perhaps earlier.
8. Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn.
Hard to see the DL-needy Titans passing on DL coach Tracy Rocker’s prime prodigy while he was at Auburn. The Kenny Britt issues make a WR a more distinct possibility.
9. Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith, T, USC.
I can see them taking JJ Watt or Cam Jordan here, but the Cowboys are one of the more transparent draft teams and they’ve not hidden their admiration for the Trojan right tackle.
10. Washington Redskins: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama.
He could very well be gone, and I do think there are legs to the Jake Locker speculation. Mark Ingram wouldn’t surprise me either.
11. Houston Texans: Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue.
A little birdie tells me they are looking up, but Kerrigan makes a nice consolation prize.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska.
Not their biggest need, but in a pass-happy division you can never have too many quality DBs.
13. Detroit Lions: Anthony Castonzo, T, Boston College.
Keeping Matt Stafford healthy is an imperative, and Castonzo fared quite well against the top pass rushers in this draft class.
14. St. Louis Rams: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois.
Steve Spagnuolo can never have too many linemen, and Liuget has the most dynamic upside of any tackle in this draft.
15. Miami Dolphins: Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida.
Miami has perhaps the weakest G-C-G package in the league, and no RB they could draft would make more of an impact than upgrading the interior line. Even though Bill Parcells is no longer officially involved, that is his way of thinking.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aldon Smith, OLB, Missouri.
Great athlete that immediately brings juice to one of the most anemic pass rushes in NFL history.
17. New England Patriots (from OAK): JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin.
He’s a Parcells kind of player, and the fact he can still play some TE a la Mike Vrabel is no doubt alluring. As always, they’re much more likely to trade back than actually use this pick.
18. San Diego Chargers: Cameron Jordan, DE, California.
Very good candidate to trade back, as the team had the #1 offense and #1 defense and have no major holes.
19. New York Giants: Aaron Williams, S, Texas.
His people have sold the position change angle very effectively. Mark Ingram or Pouncey (if he falls) both make sense here too.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson.
Despite all the scary medical reports, it only takes one team to take the chance. The Bucs are desperate enough for a pass rush to be that team. Aqib Talib’s legal issues might make them even more desperate to get a corner.
21. Kansas City Chiefs: Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor.
He’s a great deal like Shaun Rogers, a guy that DC Romeo Crennel had great success with in Cleveland.
22. Indianapolis Colts: Derek Sherrod, T, Mississippi State.
When Bill Polian comes out and says the OL needs to get better, it’s going to be addressed early and perhaps often.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado.
There are some off-field issues, but the Eagles have had pretty strong success taking chances on talent like him. He and Asante Samuel would make an exceptional corner tandem.
24. New Orleans Saints: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa.
Clayborn brings more flexibility to Gregg Williams’ attacking defense. He’s ideal for a two-gap scheme.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas.
Just a guess, Seahawks fans, just a guess...
26. Baltimore Ravens: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State.
Sticking to my guns that Heyward is an Ozzie Newsome kind of guy, and I like the need/availability marriage to boot.
27. Atlanta Falcons: Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky.
GM Tom Dimitroff has to get more dynamic weapons for Matt Ryan. Cobb can turn short passes into long gains and can also operate out of the backfield.
28. New England Patriots: Danny Watkins, G, Baylor.
He’s ready to start right away, and he’s got the ability to play either guard or tackle. The Pats have more questions than answers up front right now.
29. Chicago Bears: Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina.
He fills the giant hole that Tommie Harris left behind, and the Bears believe their locker room can handle his questionable character.
30. New York Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple.
He dominated the MAC and has the mentality that Rex Ryan will love.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame.
Nate Solder wouldn’t surprise me at all, but I think Rudolph will go in the first.
32. Green Bay Packers: Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA.
He’s not for everybody, but putting a playmaker with his cover skills opposite Clay Matthews will scare the hell out of opposing offenses.
Round 2
33. New England Patriots (from CAR): Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
34. Buffalo Bills: Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
35. Cincinnati Bengals: Jake Locker, QB, Washington.
I believe that both Locker and Dalton are going to be drafted in the final 5 picks of the 1st round, but the “mock purists” would freak out if I projected Dalton to New England and Locker to Green Bay, which are the draft slots I think they’ll get taken.
36. Denver Broncos: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami FL
37. Cleveland Browns: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
38. Arizona Cardinals: Nate Solder, T, Colorado
39. Tennessee Titans: Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State
40. Dallas Cowboys: Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
41. Washington Redskins: Justin Houston, LB, Georgia
42. Houston Texans: Titus Young, WR, Boise State
43. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
44. Detroit Lions: Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
45. San Francisco 49ers: Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina
46. Denver Broncos (from MIA): Jabaal Sheard, OLB, Pittsburgh
47. St. Louis Rams: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
48. Oakland Raiders: Marcus Cannon, G/T, TCU
49. Jacksonville Jaguars: Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
50. San Diego Chargers: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: James Carpenter, T, Alabama
52. New York Giants: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
53. Indianapolis Colts: Orlando Franklin, T/G, Miami FL
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Will Rackley, G, Lehigh
55. Kansas City Chiefs: Edmund Gates, WR, Abilene Christian
56. New Orleans Saints: Greg Little, WR, North Carolina
57. Seattle Seahawks: Christian Ballard, DL, Iowa
58. Baltimore Ravens: Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy
59. Atlanta Falcons: Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State
60. New England Patriots: Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
61. San Diego Chargers (from NYJ): Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
62. Chicago Bears: Jarvis Jenkins, DT, Clemson
63. Pittsburgh Steelers: Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville
64. Green Bay Packers: Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
Round 3
65. Carolina Panthers: Terrell McClain, DT, South Florida
66. Cincinnati Bengals: Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona
67. Denver Broncos: Jordan Cameron, TE, USC
68. Buffalo Bills: Lance Kendricks, TE, Wisconsin
69. Arizona Cardinals: Clint Boling, G, Georgia
70. Cleveland Browns: Marcus Gilbert, T, Florida
71. Dallas Cowboys: Kenrick Ellis, DT, Hampton
72. New Orleans Saints (from WAS): Dontay Moch, LB, Nevada
73. Houston Texans: Ricardo Lockette, WR, Fort Valley State
74. New England Patriots (from MIN): Tyler Sash, S, Iowa
75. Detroit Lions: Chris Carter, LB, Frenso State
76. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa
77. Tennessee Titans: Rodney Hudson, G/C, Florida State
78. St. Louis Rams: Taiwan Jones, RB, Eastern Washington
79. Miami Dolphins: Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State
80. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quan Sturdivant, LB, North Carolina
81. Oakland Raiders: Chimdi Chekwa, CB, Ohio State
82. San Diego Chargers: Virgil Green, TE, Nevada
83. New York Giants: Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jaiquawn Jarrett, S, Temple
85. Philadelphia Eagles: Allen Bailey, DE, Miami FL
86. Kansas City Chiefs: Kelvin Sheppard, LB, LSU
87. Indianapolis Colts: Stefen Wisniewski, C, Penn State
88. New Orleans Saints: James Brewer, T, Indiana
89. San Diego Chargers (from SEA): Vincent Brown, WR, San Diego State
90. Baltimore Ravens: Akeem Dent, LB, Georgia
91. Atlanta Falcons: Sam Acho, DE/OLB, Texas
92. New England Patriots: Demarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma
93. Chicago Bears: Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami FL
94. New York Jets: Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana
95. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cedric Thornton, DT, Southern Arkansas
96. Green Bay Packers: Delone Carter, RB, Syracuse
97. Carolina Panthers (comp pick): Jurrell Casey, DT, USC
Round 4
98. Carolina Panthers: Rashad Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech
99. Seattle Seahawks (from NE via DEN): Ronald Johnson, WR, USC
100. Buffalo Bills: Colin McCarthy, LB, Miami FL
101. Cincinnati Bengals: Demarcus Van Dyke, CB, Miami FL
102. Cleveland Browns: Cecil Shorts, WR, Mount Union
103. Arizona Cardinals: Mason Foster, LB, Washington
104. Philadelphia Eagles (from WAS): Buster Skrine, CB, Chattanooga
105. Houston Texans: Marcus Gilchrist, DB, Clemson
106. Minnesota Vikings: Rob Housler, TE, Florida Atlantic
107. Detroit Lions: Josh Thomas, CB, Buffalo
108. San Francisco 49ers: Niles Paul, WR, Nebraska
109. Tennessee Titans: Chris Culliver, DB, South Carolina
110. Dallas Cowboys: Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State
111. Miami Dolphins: Jah Reid, T, Central Florida
112. St. Louis Rams: Brandon Burton, CB, Utah
113. Oakland Raiders: D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas
114. Jacksonville Jaguars: Sam Acho, DE, Texas
115. San Francisco 49ers (from SD): Greg Romeus, DE/OLB, Pittsburgh
116. Tampa Bay Bucs: Lawrence Guy, DT, Arizona State
117. New York Giants: Kendrick Burney, CB. North Carolina
118. Kansas City Chiefs: Lee Ziemba, T, Auburn
119. Indianapolis Colts: Jeremy Kerley, WR/RS, TCU
120. Philadelphia Eagles: Shiloh Keo, S, Idaho
121. Jacksonville Jaguars (from NO): Ricky Elmore, DE/LB, Arizona
122. Buffalo Bills (from SEA): Jalil Brown, CB, Colorado
123. Baltimore Ravens: Anthony Sherman, FB, UConn
124. Atlanta Falcons: Joseph Barksdale, T, LSU
125. New England Patriots: Casey Matthews, LB, Oregon
126. New York Jets: Chris Rucker, CB, Michigan State
127. Chicago Bears: Nate Enderle, QB, Idaho
128. Pittsburgh Steelers: Stevan Ridley, RB, LSU
129. Green Bay Packers: Nick Bellore, LB, Central Michigan
130. Tennessee Titans (comp pick): Pernell McPhee, DE, Mississippi State
131. Green Bay Packers (comp pick): Chykie Brown, CB, Texas
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