NFL Mock Draft 2013: Pittsburgh Steelers select Georgia LB Alec Ogletree
By Matt Shetler
Now that the NFL season has come to a close, it is time to turn our attention to the 2013 NFL Draft.
Here’s look at my first NFL Mock Draft of the offseason.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Player Name: Luke Joeckel
Position, School: OT, Texas A&M
Sure the need for a quarterback is here, but it is tough to reach on any of this year’s OB crop at No. 1. Instead the Chiefs make the safe pick and fortify their offensive line for years to come.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
Player Name: Bjoern Werner
Jan 1, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end Bjoern Werner (95) pressures in the second quarter of the game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at the 2013 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Position, School: DE, Florida State
The Jaguars need a legitimate pass rusher and Werner is the best in the class at getting after the quarterback.
3. Oakland Raiders
Player Name: Star Lotulelei
Position, School: DT, Utah
The Raiders have a ton of issues to address. One of them is stopping the run and Lotulelei is a stout run-stopper and can immediately make an impact for Oakland’s defense.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Player Name: Chance Warmack
Position, School: G, Alabama
It might be a little high to draft a guard, but the Eagles offensive line stinks and Warmack fills a need.
5. Detroit Lions
Player Name: Damontre Moore
Position, School: DE, Texas A&M
The Lions can take the best player on the board, but in this case it fills a huge need. Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril might not be back and evenn if they did, the Lions have to address their woeful pass rush.
6. Cleveland Browns
Player Name: Jarvis Jones
Position, School: LB, Georgia
All of the talk about Jones dropping in the draft may be true, but with the Browns switching to a 3-4 defense next season, he makes sense for the Browns here as they will be getting one of the best defensive players in the draft.
7. Arizona Cardinals
Player Name: Geno Smith
Position, School: QB, West Virginia
Smith isn’t a sure thing but the Cardinals have the worst quarterback situation in the NFL and can address it here.
Jan 26, 2013; Mobile, AL, USA; Senior Bowl south squad quarterback Tyler Wilson of Arkansas (8) against the Senior Bowl north squad during the first half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
8. Buffalo Bills
Player Name: Tyler Wilson
Position, School: QB, Arkansas
The Bills could go defense here, but have the chance to add their future signal caller. There will be plenty of quarterbacks to choose from, but I like Wilson as the second best one in the crop.
9. New York Jets
Player Name: Barkevious Mingo
Position, School: DE, LSU
Mingo has the potential to be an outstanding pass rusher, something the Jets need badly.
10. Tennessee Titans
Player Name: Dee Milliner
Position, School: CB, Alabama
The Titans must go defense here. They allowed over 2,000 yards on the ground, but their pass defense wasn’t much better, ranked 24th in the NFL. Milliner is the top corner in the draft. he has the size that teams like along with good speed and great ball recognition skills.
11. San Diego Chargers
Player Name: Eric Fisher
Position, School: OT, Central Michigan
Philip Rivers has been getting slaughtered behind a terrible offensive line. At 6’8″, 305 pounds, Fisher is a step in the right direction to fix that issue.
12. Miami Dolphins
Player Name:Keenan Allen
Position, School: WR, California
Miami badly needs a playmaking receiver and Allen is a physical wide out who can go up and make plays over the top.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Player Name: Xavier Rhodes
Position, School: CB, Florida State
Rhodes has great play-making abilities and is solid in coverage, which could help fix the NFL’s worst pass defense.
14. Carolina Panthers
Player Name: Sharrif Flyod
Position, School: DT, Florida
The Panthers need to get better stopping the run and need to find a defensive tackle. I have Flyod ranked slightly ahead of two or three other guys so he is the pick here.
15. New Orleans Saints
Player Name: Dion Jordan
Position, School: DE/OLB, Oregon
The Saints are moving to a 3-4 and need to find a top pass rusher. Jordan makes a lot of sense here.
16. St. Louis Rams
Player Name: Lane Johnson
Position, School: OT, Oklahoma
Johnson is the perfect big tackle to protect Sam Bradford. An Oklahoma lineman protecting an Oklahoma quarterback.