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This mock does not include any possible trades. It is pick for pick as the picks are set right now. I hope you enoy.
First Round:
1. Chiefs – Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M, 6’6 312lbs – JR –5.15est. He is a very solid all-around LT prospect with very good to special athleticism, quick feet, and good size - although I do like Eric Fisher a little better overall. Luke lacks a great hand punch and needs to add strength too, but he has the vision, instincts, athleticism, and the eyes to play LT for years to come. He should come in and start right away at one of the tackle spots and be a mainstay for years. He’ll need a bit of a learning curve to gain strength, but he has the tools and is a natural knee bender. The Chiefs have options but building that O-line should be a priority and I think they are leaning towards Joeckel over Fisher.
2. Jaguars - Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon, 6’6 249lbs – rSR – 4.57 (3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE). He has amazing quickness, athleticism, and the bend to beat tackles around the corner with his pure speed, but he can also counter with an inside rush or spin move – he is coordinated and can link moves together. His sack totals weren’t high, but his tackles for losses were. He is also more than quick and flexible enough to flatten out down the line to make plays on inside runs and can cover better than many safeties. He is very willing to stick his shoulder into a lead blocker’s body to free up other defenders too and isn’t afraid of contact. The Jags get their needed pass rusher. They do think heavily about Milliner and trading down too, but if they stay here, Jordan is the obvious pick. They will not take Geno Smith at #2.
3. Raiders - Sharrif Floyd, DT/DL, Florida, 6’3 305lbs – JR – 4.93. He is a disruptive force in the middle who can be dominant at times. The Raiders really need to trade down and add extra picks if possible, but if they stay here it’ll be between Floyd and Milliner. Either would be ideal, but Floyd makes a little more sense because he is so effective at several line spots. Floyd had 46 tackles in 2012 - he posted 13 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He has played DE and DT in college and has the potential to be a very disruptive interior threat for years to come. He is strong, quick, and very athletic. He is ready to play right now and can be the building block that Oakland needs. I would not be surprised to see Milliner drafted here or to see a trade down.
4. Eagles - Eric Fisher, OT, Cent. Michigan, 6’7 309lbs – SR –5.25est. All things being equal, Fisher is a better athlete and prospect than Joeckel is, but the iggles aren’t complaint about him falling to them. I actually rank Fisher as the best overall prospect in the draft. Fisher is a smooth athlete who can move in any direction and do a very good job breaking down in space in order to handle speed rushers while also showing the eye discipline and quickness to mirror defenders. His powerful hand punch and coordinated feet illustrate his rare athleticism. He can play either tackle spot. The iggles need to strengthen their offensive lone desperately, but if they could trade down a couple spots, pick up extra picks, and take a CB, they’d be happy with that too. They need a QB too but will not take Geno Smith here.
5. Lions - Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama, 6’0 201lbs – JR – 4.39. No team in the league is in bigger need of solid CB help than Detroit, and they get the best of the bunch here. Dee is a special athlete in a big CB body. He has excellent hand/eye coordination and body coordination and can really twist and contort his frame to make plays. He has very loose and smooth hips and can drop his butt and turn in the blink of an eye. He uses his arms and hands to knock down a lot of passes and has excellent awareness in coverage. He can read and react super-quick and gets his head turned in order to quickly find the ball. He doesn’t have great hands for the catch though and will drop easy INTs at times. The Lions will heavily consider Lane Johnson here too.
6. Browns - Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU, 6’4 245lbs – rJR – 4.55. I think the brownies are heavily considering Geno Smith, but they have bigger priorities. Mingo reminds me of Demarcus Ware and that type of player should not be passed up. He is an explosive outside pass rusher who has an incredible first step off the snap and can turn the corner and make a lot of plays – he is pretty equally rated to Dion Jordan to me and may be a better pass rusher overall. He uses his hands well and can really attack edges and has the speed to chase fast RBs down – he also has loose hips and is surprisingly effective in coverage. He is a disruptive force, at times, who has a variety of rush moves and is a gifted athlete in a big body. I could easily see him as one of the best pass rushers in the league, but he’s a great all-around player. He’ll be Cleveland’s rush LB and will instantly make this defense better.
7. Cardinals - Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma, 6’6 302lbs – SR – 4.72. Although a lot of people are suggesting Geno Smith here, their priority is elsewhere too. They are in desperate need of tackle help. Lane might turn into the best tackle in the draft in a couple years because of his limitless upside. I love his mean streak and attitude. He has the quickness, agility, athleticism, and eyes to play LT for many years. He’s a natural knee bender who has a heckava hand punch and natural strength. He needs to get stronger overall and keep learning the position, but he has a good base and the body to add weight and strength. Arians wants to protect Drew Stanton or Carson Palmer and give whichever one a legitimate chance to excel, and Lane is the first step in that process.
8. Bills – Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia, 6’3 222lbs – SR – 4.59. The months of reckless rhetoric comes to an end when the Bills take their man – even if they trade up a couple spots to get him. He is easily the most explosive and dominating QB in this class – the Bills might even trade up a couple spots to get him. He can set his feet and take over a game with his arm at any given time and is much more football smart than some give him credit for. He has a beautiful over the top release and possesses a quick delivery to get the ball down the field. The ball shoots out of his hand and has more than enough velocity to cut through that Buffalo weather. He has improved his accuracy greatly during his career and has learned to place the ball very well at any point on the field – there isn’t a throw he can’t make and he generally hits receivers in stride and allows them to make extra yards. He is a future star and Buffalo needs him.
9. Jets - Ziggy Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU, 6’5 272lbs – SR – 4.63 (4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB). They should take Jarvis Jones, but they are attracted to Ziggy’s athletic numbers. He’s a true boom or bust. He is the definition of raw and any team who takes him in the 1st round must be really willing to allow him 2 or 3 years to even learn the game and to get better, but he could provide intensity and quickness on selected downs – needs serious coaching. He’ll be used exclusively as a pass rusher to start off. I personally wouldn’t touch him in the 1st round, but he’s climbing up charts and I can see the jets sicking him on QBs ‘til he learns more about being a true player. I could also see him getting 8 to 10 sacks a season as he learns. Many times, though, he will be a liability on the field as a rookie.
10. Titans - Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama, 6’2 319lbs – SR – 5.45. He may be the best overall player in the draft (I have him rated #2) and he fills a huge need here. He is the epitome of power. He possesses a very strong hand punch to knock oncoming defenders back and extends his arms excellently to keep defenders at bay in pass protection. He can anchor against bull rushes, but he is also mobile enough to effectively trap and pull very well. Although he isn’t fast, he is quick and well-coordinated. He has a nasty attitude on the field and keeps his hands and feet moving when drive-blocking. He rolls his hips through contact and looks to pancake his man whenever possible. He has the tools to become one of the best O-lineman in the league very quickly. Both Jake Locker and Chris Johnson will be very happy.
11. Chargers - Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington, 6’0 192lbs – SR – 4.38. The bolts really need to trade up and grab one of the top-3 tackles or trade down, but if they stay pat, Trufant is the ideal pick. The covet a LT but unless they trade out of this spot, they must go in a different direction. Their CB play last year was beyond bad, and with Derek Cox and Trufant, their CB group could go from weakness to strength in one off-season. Trufant has very good foot quickness and the athleticism and the speed to mirror receivers on the outside on double moves up the sideline or on quick out routes. He has very loose hips and can turn on a dime (he’s more naturally athletic than his brother, Marcus). He is very capable of playing either outside or in the slot because he can drop his butt and turn very quickly. He has speed to run any receiver, and he has excellent awareness and ball skills.
12. Dolphins - Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida St., 6’1 209lbs – JR – 4.42. Sean Smith was a big, lanky, and athletic CB too and is being replaced by a very similar player. The phins addressed their WR needs via free agency, but must replace Sean Smith on defense. Rhodes is a press CB who likes to have a hand on his opponent at all times and can run step for step with anyone. He is aggressive and disruptive. He loves to get a jam at the line and stays balanced without overextending. He makes quick twitch cuts and is an impressive athlete with a big body – he’s also an effective blitzer. He plays the ball well and is very confident. He has good awareness and generally plays smart. He makes a lot of plays on the ball.
13. Bucs - Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida St., 6’3 267lbs – JR – 4.78 (4-3 DE). The Bucs desperately try to jump up and grab one of the top-3 CBs. However, with Werner, they get a legitimate pass rusher and all-out hustle guy. He is a natural 4-3 DE and is very well coordinated – he can link several moves together while keeping his feet moving forward. He is a very flexible athlete with the natural knee bend who can also dip and contort his body to get under or around blocks. He has excellent snap anticipation and fires out of his stance to attack the ball, and he keeps his body low and his hands extended. He plays smart. He finds the ball well and uses active hands to rip past tackles after initial contact. He has a great hand punch and can bull his man towards the quarterback with excellent leverage. He has great awareness.
14. Panthers - Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah, 6’3 312lbs – SR – 5.31. I have him rated as one of my top 5 players in the draft, but his medical scared causes him to fall a bit. It’s jump for joy time in Charlotte when they see Star still on the board. He is a powerful and agile DT who is versatile enough to play any interior defensive line positions across many types of fronts –including NT. He is super quick off the snap and will attack gaps or use great leverage and balance to control and stand up O-lineman. He can engulf blockers and allow LBers to fill gaps, or shoot gaps and make tackles for loss. He gets under his man’s pads and powers his legs to push him backwards. H e has thick arms to eat up ball carriers. Had it not been for a heart scare, he would go higher. The panthers are star-struck.
15. Saints - Datone Jones, DE, UCLA, 6’4 284lbs – rSR – 4.79 (3-4 or 4-3 DE). The Saints want to trade down to get extra picks, but if they stay pat, Jones is an ideal prospect to play DE in their new 3-4 defense. He is a very versatile guy who can fit in an odd or even front and has the power to hold the edge and attack up field. He shoots off the line with low pad level and is often able to knock offensive linemen around with a quick hand punch and power. He has strong and active hands to disengage quickly and shows excellent awareness – he gets in on a lot of plays. If he cannot disengage, he keeps his arms extended and shows great leverage and feet. He always keeps his body leaning forward and has the quickness to chase down RBs in the flats. He keeps his feet moving while wrapping up and has surprising agility to break down and make tackles in space and to contain when given that assignment. He has a big frame and can get bigger. Gives chase to ball carriers outside the box. He is the perfect complement to Cam Jordan and Akiem Hicks.
16. Rams - Tavon Austin, WR/RM, West Virginia, 5’9 179lbs – SR –4.34. Austin instantly becomes the open field threat the Rams have needed. He’s a slot receiver who has rare-elite acceleration with the ball in his hands. He runs like he was shot out of a canon and is more elusive than almost anyone. He is super football smart and understands how the game moves while he’s playing – he can out run angles but isn’t afraid of contact. He takes advantage of available lanes to explode for big gains. In the open field, there are few that even come close to being an equal – he shows excellent vision both as a runner out of the backfield, as a returner, and as a receiver – and he’s stronger than his body size would make most think. He is a mixture of Randall Cobb and Percy Harvin. He’s almost unstoppable when he’s on – he can take over a game in several ways, and he loves to play the game – he wants to be the best and is willing to work for it.
17. Steelers – Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia, 6’2 245lbs – rJR – 4.75 to 4.85. The Steelers celebrate that Jones fell to them. Despite his timed speed, he is an extremely disruptive and gifted pass rusher. He plays very fast and tape doesn’t lie. He is a perfect fit for this defense and will become a feared pass rusher around the league quickly. He has a very good first step to pressure tackles’ up-field shoulder and also has closing speed to finish the deal in space. He has the short-area quickness to keep contain outside and crash down on inside runs, and he has excellent instincts. He is a strong tackler with excellent length and upper-body strength to wrap up ball carriers and gets under the pads of tackles, keeps his feet moving in order to maintain leverage whether holding the edge or bulling his man backwards. At times, he is truly unblockable. He is relentless and can take over a game.
18. Cowboys - Jonathan Cooper, OL, North Carolina, 6’2 315lbs – rSR – 5.10. This should be a simple pick because he is exactly who and what the pokes want and need. The pokes are in dire need of interior O-lineman at this spot and Cooper fills the bill and then some. He is very tough to beat in pass protection due to his awesome foot quickness, his natural bend, and his powerful arm extension while mirroring. He has excellent mobility and is excellent at adjusting quickly to moving targets on the second level. He gets physical and nasty in the trenches and is well built. He shoots out of his stance to reach linebackers in the run game or to jump inside of tackles to seal off a rushing lane. He has good hand strength and can really shock defenders with his punch. He plays with a nasty attitude and is very athletic.
19. Giants - Tank Carradine, DE, Florida St., 6’4 273lbs – SR – 4.75 (4-3 DE). He has a lanky frame with long arms and plenty of room to add muscle and strength – he has the frame to get up to 285lbs. Injuries and inexperience are the biggest concerns for him. The Giants’ pass rush is non-existent and Tank will become an excellent bookend to JPP. He is really only a one year starter who had a major knee injury at the end of 2012 and hasn’t been able to work out yet. He has very good snap anticipation and initial quickness to threaten off the edge and has the punch and arm extension to bull tackles backwards. He can also flatten down the line as a pass rusher and has the flexibility to bend the edge as a pass rusher and get skinny and slip through creases on the inside. He has a good punch and extension, but he plays too high and loses leverage. He is a high effort guy who can close on quarterbacks and running backs coming to his side and chase from the back side. He is very football fast and strong.
20. Bears - Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame, 6’2 242lbs – SR – 4.72. He will help make this front 7 that much stronger and will become a leader in the locker room. He fits well in Chicago. He has a very thick, but athletic build, and he generates a lot of power with his legs. He is a downhill tackler who recognizes plays and closes quickly – he has rare ball awareness skills. He can really hit and is capable of thumping the ball-carrier and wrapping up to secure the stop. He is very aware as a run-stopper between the tackles and finds the ball quickly. He Stops momentum on contact and can really drive ball-carriers back. He takes on blocks and has good feet and awareness in traffic. He is very smart and aware and has solid lateral agility to stretch plays to either sideline, and he can cover running backs in the flat. He has very good instincts when dropping into zone and enough quickness to make plays in the box. Despite the scandal, he’s a solid to very good football player.
21. Bengals - Arthur Brown, LB, K-STATE, 6’0 239lbs – rSR – 4.58. He can play any LB spot and is extremely instinctual and athletic – and that fills a huge void for the Bengals. He transferred from Miami to K-State and become an All-American. He makes plays and is a team leader who pushes his teammates to be better. He is an instinctive player who finds the football and plays bigger than his size indicates – and is a pretty big hitter. He is a strong tackler who wraps up and rarely misses. He also has the lower body power to stop backs' momentum when head-up and brings power into his stops when attacking ball-carriers in space. He uses his hands very well and keeps his feet moving through contact. He attacks blockers in the hole and does not shy from contact and can push blockers back. He uses his hands to keep pulling guards at a distance but can also dip under their shoulders to avoid them. He is very good in coverage.
22. Rams - Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas, 6’0 218lbs – SR – 4.55. He instantly makes this defense better and has great range. He is a ball-hawking playmaker who loves to play the game and has the lateral agility and ball skills to be very, very good. He has very good straight-line speed, lateral agility, balance, and hip flexibility. He drops his butt and loses very little quickness or speed in his cuts. He is quick enough to mirror slot WRs in underneath coverage. He can really jump and plays with athleticism. He can eat up space from the FS spot and makes a lot of plays. His athleticism and his coverage ability are pushed forward by his vision and instincts. He quickly locates the ball and demonstrates an understanding of route-progression and rarely gets caught out of position. He can even line up over the slot receiver in press and show very solid coverage skills. He can direct defenses and has excellent smarts and awareness.
23. Vikings - Jessie Williams, NT, Alabama, 6’4 326lbs – SR – 4.84 (NT). They desperately need a DT next to Kevin Williams and someone to eat blocks, and they grab this powerful interior D-lineman to strengthen their defense. He is a mainly a single-gap nose tackle with a very good motor and great power who is also a solid two-gap player who keeps his eyes in the backfield to find the ball. He plays with excellent leverage and gets under the pads of his man to hold the line or push him into the backfield. He has awesome lower body power and balance. He has enough quickness and power off the snap to knock his blocker back and grab backs heading outside or coming through the middle and is very active. He uses his quick hands to swipe away lunging blockers and to penetrate into the backfield. He still has some rawness to his game and has unlimited upside.
24. Colts - Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri, 6’3 298lbs – rJR – 4.88. The Colts desperately need line help on their defense and jump for joy when they see Richardson fall to them. He is a bit of an enigma – he has great tools, quickness, and athleticism, but isn’t as productive or disruptive as I would like. I want to see him get in on and make more tackles and plays. His ball recognition skills are just average. He lacks the great bulk and power to be consistent inside in a 4-3 front. However, he is able to twist and swim inside and chase plays to the sideline with his great quickness and lateral movement skills. That agility, combined with his length, makes him a strong tackler in close quarters. He has a great motor and okay awareness. Richardson’s first step off the snap, especially when lined up over the ball, is quite impressive; he gets into the backfield in a heartbeat, beating reach-blocks and will work his way through double-teams. He can play several spots across their 4 man line, and he has the natural ability to be very disruptive.
25. Vikings - Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise St., 5’11 195lbs – rSR – 4.40. Jamer is an under the radar guy who should be talked about more. The Vikings are in desperate need of playmakers in their secondary, and they grab the best pure CB left on the board. He is rated just a notch below the top-3 CBs. Taylor is a cat-quick very experienced CB who can play press or off coverage and has great reaction skills. He has shot up boards because he has great awareness and instincts and makes a lot of plays. He has excellent awareness and ball skills, and he drives quickly and is very athletic – he can jump through the roof. He has a quick, tight back pedal and very fluid hips to turn and run with any receiver. He can mirror just about anyone. He has very good ball skills and timing and makes a lot of plays. He has good hands and quick feet, and he can high point and track passes like a receiver.
26. Packers - Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame, 6’6 254lbs – rJR – 4.62. The pack needs more weapons on offense after the loss of Greg Jennings. Tyler is a gifted all-around TE who has excellent upside. His quickness and hands make him special. He loves contact and is very tough in a crowd – he is strong but can get stronger. He has the physical demeanor to come down with the ball in tight spaces. He wants the ball and will fight for it and knows how to naturally block out DBs. He has a powerful, athletic frame and can really twist and contort his body like a good WR to make tough catches. With his size, frame, athleticism, and quickness, he can line up with his hand in the dirt and be a solid in-line blocker, line up in the wing and lead on blocks or break into the flats, or line up outside and run past DBs. He threatens the seam with his long strides off the snap. He has very loose hips and good wiggle and is surprisingly hard to cover.
27. Texans - Keenan Allen, WR, Cal, 6’2 208lbs –JR– 4.65 5 months after knee surgery which he tweeaked again in Feb. He plays very fast - outruns defenders, and remember that Jerry Rice ran a 4.70 40. To me, he is most solid WR prospect in the draft because he combines rare athleticism, smoothness, and fluidity together on the field to go along with an amazing set of hands – he catches everything. He has TE type strength in his hands and can outfight most DBs for the ball. Not only is he a reliable No. 1 receiver prospect, he has excellent explosion, athleticism and hands – and he makes a lot of plays. He has very quick feet off the line and runs precise slants, crossers, speed outs and vertical routes. His ability to be precise in his routes pushes him up. He can run every route and has a 2nd gear to gain separation on up routes. He has solid knowledge and experience running routes in a system where he was required to be exact. He blocks out DBs naturally and is extremely physical. He has a lot of wiggle, despite his bigger size, in and out of his cuts, and he can really gain separation from being so detailed with his routes – all helped by his rare short area acceleration. He is a QBs best friend with his reliability. I could easily see him becoming one of the best WRs in the league in short order.
28. Broncos - Jonathan Cyprien, SS/FS, Florida International, 6’0 218lbs –SR – 4.56. The Broncos desperately need help at safety and Cyprien is the best of the bunch – he can play both safety spots and has great physicality. He has the speed and athleticism to cover a lot of ground as a deep safety in the back half and also line up against slot receivers inside on underneath coverage. He has loose hips and can cut, drop and turn quickly. He closes on stretch runs and quick throws to outside receivers even when playing well back from the line and makes a lot of plays. He attacks the ball in the air, and he isn’t afraid to move forward and strike ball-carriers in traffic. He is a very secure tackler and he brings some nasty attitude with him.
29. Patriots - Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/RM, Tennessee, 6’2 215lbs – JR –4.38. The Pats long for another weapon to add to their arsenal after losing Welker and Lloyd. Although Patterson is extremely raw, he has a ton of possible upside and potential. He easily gets separation on vertical routes when given a free release and has rare explosion. He has very few wasted steps on his cuts, and he shows his athleticism by being very smooth into and out of his breaks – although he runs very sloppy routes. He is naturally able to find the soft areas in zone coverage between corners and safeties. He has okay awareness and generally gets in good spots. He doesn’t wall off defenders well, but he has the tools to learn. He has some serious football smarts and is getting better. He is very good running slants and has a quick head fake out that allows for inside release. He can really explode and has a 2nd and 3rd gear. However, his return abilities and his ability to get the ball in space that make him special. He’s extremely raw, but has the tools to be great.
30. Falcons - Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia, 6’3 243lbs – rJR – 4.62. The dirty birds are thin at LB and need someone to pair with Sean Weatherspoon. He truly has excellent speed for the position and can turn on the jets to chase plays down from behind. He came to UGA as a safety and he still has the coverage and ball skills to drop and make a lot of plays. He beats blocks with hand quickness and plays the position like a safety with the frame of a linebacker. He makes a lot of plays and can really hit and is constantly trying to strip the ball. He is at his best when closing in on the edge and is excellent in pursuit. At times, he looks possessed and like nothing will stop him. He sticks to running backs out of the backfield in coverage and has enough closing speed to be more than just reliable in coverage. His off the field issues are the only thing keeping him out of the top-15.
31. 49ers - Matt Elam, FS/SS, Florida, 5’10 206lbs –JR – 4.51. He can play either safety spot or even line up as a CB against a slot receiver. He is extremely instinctive, active, and has good to great ball awareness. He breaks down well when approaching ball-carriers in space and has the quick feet and agility to make the stop. His lateral movement skills are awesome. He has great range and natural instincts. He’s quick enough to stay with tight ends and some receivers in man coverage – he has often lined up as the slot CB. He has nice ball skills to extend away from his frame to make the moderate-to-difficult interception, and he loves to hit and make big tackles. He sticks his nose in against the run when making that read, and fills a hole. He is a bit short and doesn’t high point naturally. He miss-jumps and masses on too many balls. But he plays nasty and mean and will knock people out – he loves to play and will give everything he has.
32. Ravens - DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson, 6’1 214 – JR – 4.50. The Ravens look to replace Anquan Bolden with a very similar type player. He is a natural – smooth WR with the basic instincts to be special – he really attacks the ball in the air and has great hands. He makes wild, crazy catches because he has glue like hands. He has excellent height and length for an outside receiver and also has very good lower-body strength. He has the quicks to play the slot as well. He is hard to tackle and will fight for yards after contact – he is a scrapper who plays with an attitude. He has explosion off the line of scrimmage and in his cuts and plucks the ball out of the air. Despite playing in a Spread, he is a solid route-runner who is often used in the short, intermediate, and deep game because his loose hips allow him to gain separation with small shifts and stutter-steps. He is a game breaker with special open field movement skills, but he’s also a very consistent as a short to intermediate receiver whom his QB can trust.
First Round:
1. Chiefs – Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M, 6’6 312lbs – JR –5.15est. He is a very solid all-around LT prospect with very good to special athleticism, quick feet, and good size - although I do like Eric Fisher a little better overall. Luke lacks a great hand punch and needs to add strength too, but he has the vision, instincts, athleticism, and the eyes to play LT for years to come. He should come in and start right away at one of the tackle spots and be a mainstay for years. He’ll need a bit of a learning curve to gain strength, but he has the tools and is a natural knee bender. The Chiefs have options but building that O-line should be a priority and I think they are leaning towards Joeckel over Fisher.
2. Jaguars - Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon, 6’6 249lbs – rSR – 4.57 (3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE). He has amazing quickness, athleticism, and the bend to beat tackles around the corner with his pure speed, but he can also counter with an inside rush or spin move – he is coordinated and can link moves together. His sack totals weren’t high, but his tackles for losses were. He is also more than quick and flexible enough to flatten out down the line to make plays on inside runs and can cover better than many safeties. He is very willing to stick his shoulder into a lead blocker’s body to free up other defenders too and isn’t afraid of contact. The Jags get their needed pass rusher. They do think heavily about Milliner and trading down too, but if they stay here, Jordan is the obvious pick. They will not take Geno Smith at #2.
3. Raiders - Sharrif Floyd, DT/DL, Florida, 6’3 305lbs – JR – 4.93. He is a disruptive force in the middle who can be dominant at times. The Raiders really need to trade down and add extra picks if possible, but if they stay here it’ll be between Floyd and Milliner. Either would be ideal, but Floyd makes a little more sense because he is so effective at several line spots. Floyd had 46 tackles in 2012 - he posted 13 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He has played DE and DT in college and has the potential to be a very disruptive interior threat for years to come. He is strong, quick, and very athletic. He is ready to play right now and can be the building block that Oakland needs. I would not be surprised to see Milliner drafted here or to see a trade down.
4. Eagles - Eric Fisher, OT, Cent. Michigan, 6’7 309lbs – SR –5.25est. All things being equal, Fisher is a better athlete and prospect than Joeckel is, but the iggles aren’t complaint about him falling to them. I actually rank Fisher as the best overall prospect in the draft. Fisher is a smooth athlete who can move in any direction and do a very good job breaking down in space in order to handle speed rushers while also showing the eye discipline and quickness to mirror defenders. His powerful hand punch and coordinated feet illustrate his rare athleticism. He can play either tackle spot. The iggles need to strengthen their offensive lone desperately, but if they could trade down a couple spots, pick up extra picks, and take a CB, they’d be happy with that too. They need a QB too but will not take Geno Smith here.
5. Lions - Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama, 6’0 201lbs – JR – 4.39. No team in the league is in bigger need of solid CB help than Detroit, and they get the best of the bunch here. Dee is a special athlete in a big CB body. He has excellent hand/eye coordination and body coordination and can really twist and contort his frame to make plays. He has very loose and smooth hips and can drop his butt and turn in the blink of an eye. He uses his arms and hands to knock down a lot of passes and has excellent awareness in coverage. He can read and react super-quick and gets his head turned in order to quickly find the ball. He doesn’t have great hands for the catch though and will drop easy INTs at times. The Lions will heavily consider Lane Johnson here too.
6. Browns - Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU, 6’4 245lbs – rJR – 4.55. I think the brownies are heavily considering Geno Smith, but they have bigger priorities. Mingo reminds me of Demarcus Ware and that type of player should not be passed up. He is an explosive outside pass rusher who has an incredible first step off the snap and can turn the corner and make a lot of plays – he is pretty equally rated to Dion Jordan to me and may be a better pass rusher overall. He uses his hands well and can really attack edges and has the speed to chase fast RBs down – he also has loose hips and is surprisingly effective in coverage. He is a disruptive force, at times, who has a variety of rush moves and is a gifted athlete in a big body. I could easily see him as one of the best pass rushers in the league, but he’s a great all-around player. He’ll be Cleveland’s rush LB and will instantly make this defense better.
7. Cardinals - Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma, 6’6 302lbs – SR – 4.72. Although a lot of people are suggesting Geno Smith here, their priority is elsewhere too. They are in desperate need of tackle help. Lane might turn into the best tackle in the draft in a couple years because of his limitless upside. I love his mean streak and attitude. He has the quickness, agility, athleticism, and eyes to play LT for many years. He’s a natural knee bender who has a heckava hand punch and natural strength. He needs to get stronger overall and keep learning the position, but he has a good base and the body to add weight and strength. Arians wants to protect Drew Stanton or Carson Palmer and give whichever one a legitimate chance to excel, and Lane is the first step in that process.
8. Bills – Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia, 6’3 222lbs – SR – 4.59. The months of reckless rhetoric comes to an end when the Bills take their man – even if they trade up a couple spots to get him. He is easily the most explosive and dominating QB in this class – the Bills might even trade up a couple spots to get him. He can set his feet and take over a game with his arm at any given time and is much more football smart than some give him credit for. He has a beautiful over the top release and possesses a quick delivery to get the ball down the field. The ball shoots out of his hand and has more than enough velocity to cut through that Buffalo weather. He has improved his accuracy greatly during his career and has learned to place the ball very well at any point on the field – there isn’t a throw he can’t make and he generally hits receivers in stride and allows them to make extra yards. He is a future star and Buffalo needs him.
9. Jets - Ziggy Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU, 6’5 272lbs – SR – 4.63 (4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB). They should take Jarvis Jones, but they are attracted to Ziggy’s athletic numbers. He’s a true boom or bust. He is the definition of raw and any team who takes him in the 1st round must be really willing to allow him 2 or 3 years to even learn the game and to get better, but he could provide intensity and quickness on selected downs – needs serious coaching. He’ll be used exclusively as a pass rusher to start off. I personally wouldn’t touch him in the 1st round, but he’s climbing up charts and I can see the jets sicking him on QBs ‘til he learns more about being a true player. I could also see him getting 8 to 10 sacks a season as he learns. Many times, though, he will be a liability on the field as a rookie.
10. Titans - Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama, 6’2 319lbs – SR – 5.45. He may be the best overall player in the draft (I have him rated #2) and he fills a huge need here. He is the epitome of power. He possesses a very strong hand punch to knock oncoming defenders back and extends his arms excellently to keep defenders at bay in pass protection. He can anchor against bull rushes, but he is also mobile enough to effectively trap and pull very well. Although he isn’t fast, he is quick and well-coordinated. He has a nasty attitude on the field and keeps his hands and feet moving when drive-blocking. He rolls his hips through contact and looks to pancake his man whenever possible. He has the tools to become one of the best O-lineman in the league very quickly. Both Jake Locker and Chris Johnson will be very happy.
11. Chargers - Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington, 6’0 192lbs – SR – 4.38. The bolts really need to trade up and grab one of the top-3 tackles or trade down, but if they stay pat, Trufant is the ideal pick. The covet a LT but unless they trade out of this spot, they must go in a different direction. Their CB play last year was beyond bad, and with Derek Cox and Trufant, their CB group could go from weakness to strength in one off-season. Trufant has very good foot quickness and the athleticism and the speed to mirror receivers on the outside on double moves up the sideline or on quick out routes. He has very loose hips and can turn on a dime (he’s more naturally athletic than his brother, Marcus). He is very capable of playing either outside or in the slot because he can drop his butt and turn very quickly. He has speed to run any receiver, and he has excellent awareness and ball skills.
12. Dolphins - Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida St., 6’1 209lbs – JR – 4.42. Sean Smith was a big, lanky, and athletic CB too and is being replaced by a very similar player. The phins addressed their WR needs via free agency, but must replace Sean Smith on defense. Rhodes is a press CB who likes to have a hand on his opponent at all times and can run step for step with anyone. He is aggressive and disruptive. He loves to get a jam at the line and stays balanced without overextending. He makes quick twitch cuts and is an impressive athlete with a big body – he’s also an effective blitzer. He plays the ball well and is very confident. He has good awareness and generally plays smart. He makes a lot of plays on the ball.
13. Bucs - Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida St., 6’3 267lbs – JR – 4.78 (4-3 DE). The Bucs desperately try to jump up and grab one of the top-3 CBs. However, with Werner, they get a legitimate pass rusher and all-out hustle guy. He is a natural 4-3 DE and is very well coordinated – he can link several moves together while keeping his feet moving forward. He is a very flexible athlete with the natural knee bend who can also dip and contort his body to get under or around blocks. He has excellent snap anticipation and fires out of his stance to attack the ball, and he keeps his body low and his hands extended. He plays smart. He finds the ball well and uses active hands to rip past tackles after initial contact. He has a great hand punch and can bull his man towards the quarterback with excellent leverage. He has great awareness.
14. Panthers - Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah, 6’3 312lbs – SR – 5.31. I have him rated as one of my top 5 players in the draft, but his medical scared causes him to fall a bit. It’s jump for joy time in Charlotte when they see Star still on the board. He is a powerful and agile DT who is versatile enough to play any interior defensive line positions across many types of fronts –including NT. He is super quick off the snap and will attack gaps or use great leverage and balance to control and stand up O-lineman. He can engulf blockers and allow LBers to fill gaps, or shoot gaps and make tackles for loss. He gets under his man’s pads and powers his legs to push him backwards. H e has thick arms to eat up ball carriers. Had it not been for a heart scare, he would go higher. The panthers are star-struck.
15. Saints - Datone Jones, DE, UCLA, 6’4 284lbs – rSR – 4.79 (3-4 or 4-3 DE). The Saints want to trade down to get extra picks, but if they stay pat, Jones is an ideal prospect to play DE in their new 3-4 defense. He is a very versatile guy who can fit in an odd or even front and has the power to hold the edge and attack up field. He shoots off the line with low pad level and is often able to knock offensive linemen around with a quick hand punch and power. He has strong and active hands to disengage quickly and shows excellent awareness – he gets in on a lot of plays. If he cannot disengage, he keeps his arms extended and shows great leverage and feet. He always keeps his body leaning forward and has the quickness to chase down RBs in the flats. He keeps his feet moving while wrapping up and has surprising agility to break down and make tackles in space and to contain when given that assignment. He has a big frame and can get bigger. Gives chase to ball carriers outside the box. He is the perfect complement to Cam Jordan and Akiem Hicks.
16. Rams - Tavon Austin, WR/RM, West Virginia, 5’9 179lbs – SR –4.34. Austin instantly becomes the open field threat the Rams have needed. He’s a slot receiver who has rare-elite acceleration with the ball in his hands. He runs like he was shot out of a canon and is more elusive than almost anyone. He is super football smart and understands how the game moves while he’s playing – he can out run angles but isn’t afraid of contact. He takes advantage of available lanes to explode for big gains. In the open field, there are few that even come close to being an equal – he shows excellent vision both as a runner out of the backfield, as a returner, and as a receiver – and he’s stronger than his body size would make most think. He is a mixture of Randall Cobb and Percy Harvin. He’s almost unstoppable when he’s on – he can take over a game in several ways, and he loves to play the game – he wants to be the best and is willing to work for it.
17. Steelers – Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia, 6’2 245lbs – rJR – 4.75 to 4.85. The Steelers celebrate that Jones fell to them. Despite his timed speed, he is an extremely disruptive and gifted pass rusher. He plays very fast and tape doesn’t lie. He is a perfect fit for this defense and will become a feared pass rusher around the league quickly. He has a very good first step to pressure tackles’ up-field shoulder and also has closing speed to finish the deal in space. He has the short-area quickness to keep contain outside and crash down on inside runs, and he has excellent instincts. He is a strong tackler with excellent length and upper-body strength to wrap up ball carriers and gets under the pads of tackles, keeps his feet moving in order to maintain leverage whether holding the edge or bulling his man backwards. At times, he is truly unblockable. He is relentless and can take over a game.
18. Cowboys - Jonathan Cooper, OL, North Carolina, 6’2 315lbs – rSR – 5.10. This should be a simple pick because he is exactly who and what the pokes want and need. The pokes are in dire need of interior O-lineman at this spot and Cooper fills the bill and then some. He is very tough to beat in pass protection due to his awesome foot quickness, his natural bend, and his powerful arm extension while mirroring. He has excellent mobility and is excellent at adjusting quickly to moving targets on the second level. He gets physical and nasty in the trenches and is well built. He shoots out of his stance to reach linebackers in the run game or to jump inside of tackles to seal off a rushing lane. He has good hand strength and can really shock defenders with his punch. He plays with a nasty attitude and is very athletic.
19. Giants - Tank Carradine, DE, Florida St., 6’4 273lbs – SR – 4.75 (4-3 DE). He has a lanky frame with long arms and plenty of room to add muscle and strength – he has the frame to get up to 285lbs. Injuries and inexperience are the biggest concerns for him. The Giants’ pass rush is non-existent and Tank will become an excellent bookend to JPP. He is really only a one year starter who had a major knee injury at the end of 2012 and hasn’t been able to work out yet. He has very good snap anticipation and initial quickness to threaten off the edge and has the punch and arm extension to bull tackles backwards. He can also flatten down the line as a pass rusher and has the flexibility to bend the edge as a pass rusher and get skinny and slip through creases on the inside. He has a good punch and extension, but he plays too high and loses leverage. He is a high effort guy who can close on quarterbacks and running backs coming to his side and chase from the back side. He is very football fast and strong.
20. Bears - Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame, 6’2 242lbs – SR – 4.72. He will help make this front 7 that much stronger and will become a leader in the locker room. He fits well in Chicago. He has a very thick, but athletic build, and he generates a lot of power with his legs. He is a downhill tackler who recognizes plays and closes quickly – he has rare ball awareness skills. He can really hit and is capable of thumping the ball-carrier and wrapping up to secure the stop. He is very aware as a run-stopper between the tackles and finds the ball quickly. He Stops momentum on contact and can really drive ball-carriers back. He takes on blocks and has good feet and awareness in traffic. He is very smart and aware and has solid lateral agility to stretch plays to either sideline, and he can cover running backs in the flat. He has very good instincts when dropping into zone and enough quickness to make plays in the box. Despite the scandal, he’s a solid to very good football player.
21. Bengals - Arthur Brown, LB, K-STATE, 6’0 239lbs – rSR – 4.58. He can play any LB spot and is extremely instinctual and athletic – and that fills a huge void for the Bengals. He transferred from Miami to K-State and become an All-American. He makes plays and is a team leader who pushes his teammates to be better. He is an instinctive player who finds the football and plays bigger than his size indicates – and is a pretty big hitter. He is a strong tackler who wraps up and rarely misses. He also has the lower body power to stop backs' momentum when head-up and brings power into his stops when attacking ball-carriers in space. He uses his hands very well and keeps his feet moving through contact. He attacks blockers in the hole and does not shy from contact and can push blockers back. He uses his hands to keep pulling guards at a distance but can also dip under their shoulders to avoid them. He is very good in coverage.
22. Rams - Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas, 6’0 218lbs – SR – 4.55. He instantly makes this defense better and has great range. He is a ball-hawking playmaker who loves to play the game and has the lateral agility and ball skills to be very, very good. He has very good straight-line speed, lateral agility, balance, and hip flexibility. He drops his butt and loses very little quickness or speed in his cuts. He is quick enough to mirror slot WRs in underneath coverage. He can really jump and plays with athleticism. He can eat up space from the FS spot and makes a lot of plays. His athleticism and his coverage ability are pushed forward by his vision and instincts. He quickly locates the ball and demonstrates an understanding of route-progression and rarely gets caught out of position. He can even line up over the slot receiver in press and show very solid coverage skills. He can direct defenses and has excellent smarts and awareness.
23. Vikings - Jessie Williams, NT, Alabama, 6’4 326lbs – SR – 4.84 (NT). They desperately need a DT next to Kevin Williams and someone to eat blocks, and they grab this powerful interior D-lineman to strengthen their defense. He is a mainly a single-gap nose tackle with a very good motor and great power who is also a solid two-gap player who keeps his eyes in the backfield to find the ball. He plays with excellent leverage and gets under the pads of his man to hold the line or push him into the backfield. He has awesome lower body power and balance. He has enough quickness and power off the snap to knock his blocker back and grab backs heading outside or coming through the middle and is very active. He uses his quick hands to swipe away lunging blockers and to penetrate into the backfield. He still has some rawness to his game and has unlimited upside.
24. Colts - Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri, 6’3 298lbs – rJR – 4.88. The Colts desperately need line help on their defense and jump for joy when they see Richardson fall to them. He is a bit of an enigma – he has great tools, quickness, and athleticism, but isn’t as productive or disruptive as I would like. I want to see him get in on and make more tackles and plays. His ball recognition skills are just average. He lacks the great bulk and power to be consistent inside in a 4-3 front. However, he is able to twist and swim inside and chase plays to the sideline with his great quickness and lateral movement skills. That agility, combined with his length, makes him a strong tackler in close quarters. He has a great motor and okay awareness. Richardson’s first step off the snap, especially when lined up over the ball, is quite impressive; he gets into the backfield in a heartbeat, beating reach-blocks and will work his way through double-teams. He can play several spots across their 4 man line, and he has the natural ability to be very disruptive.
25. Vikings - Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise St., 5’11 195lbs – rSR – 4.40. Jamer is an under the radar guy who should be talked about more. The Vikings are in desperate need of playmakers in their secondary, and they grab the best pure CB left on the board. He is rated just a notch below the top-3 CBs. Taylor is a cat-quick very experienced CB who can play press or off coverage and has great reaction skills. He has shot up boards because he has great awareness and instincts and makes a lot of plays. He has excellent awareness and ball skills, and he drives quickly and is very athletic – he can jump through the roof. He has a quick, tight back pedal and very fluid hips to turn and run with any receiver. He can mirror just about anyone. He has very good ball skills and timing and makes a lot of plays. He has good hands and quick feet, and he can high point and track passes like a receiver.
26. Packers - Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame, 6’6 254lbs – rJR – 4.62. The pack needs more weapons on offense after the loss of Greg Jennings. Tyler is a gifted all-around TE who has excellent upside. His quickness and hands make him special. He loves contact and is very tough in a crowd – he is strong but can get stronger. He has the physical demeanor to come down with the ball in tight spaces. He wants the ball and will fight for it and knows how to naturally block out DBs. He has a powerful, athletic frame and can really twist and contort his body like a good WR to make tough catches. With his size, frame, athleticism, and quickness, he can line up with his hand in the dirt and be a solid in-line blocker, line up in the wing and lead on blocks or break into the flats, or line up outside and run past DBs. He threatens the seam with his long strides off the snap. He has very loose hips and good wiggle and is surprisingly hard to cover.
27. Texans - Keenan Allen, WR, Cal, 6’2 208lbs –JR– 4.65 5 months after knee surgery which he tweeaked again in Feb. He plays very fast - outruns defenders, and remember that Jerry Rice ran a 4.70 40. To me, he is most solid WR prospect in the draft because he combines rare athleticism, smoothness, and fluidity together on the field to go along with an amazing set of hands – he catches everything. He has TE type strength in his hands and can outfight most DBs for the ball. Not only is he a reliable No. 1 receiver prospect, he has excellent explosion, athleticism and hands – and he makes a lot of plays. He has very quick feet off the line and runs precise slants, crossers, speed outs and vertical routes. His ability to be precise in his routes pushes him up. He can run every route and has a 2nd gear to gain separation on up routes. He has solid knowledge and experience running routes in a system where he was required to be exact. He blocks out DBs naturally and is extremely physical. He has a lot of wiggle, despite his bigger size, in and out of his cuts, and he can really gain separation from being so detailed with his routes – all helped by his rare short area acceleration. He is a QBs best friend with his reliability. I could easily see him becoming one of the best WRs in the league in short order.
28. Broncos - Jonathan Cyprien, SS/FS, Florida International, 6’0 218lbs –SR – 4.56. The Broncos desperately need help at safety and Cyprien is the best of the bunch – he can play both safety spots and has great physicality. He has the speed and athleticism to cover a lot of ground as a deep safety in the back half and also line up against slot receivers inside on underneath coverage. He has loose hips and can cut, drop and turn quickly. He closes on stretch runs and quick throws to outside receivers even when playing well back from the line and makes a lot of plays. He attacks the ball in the air, and he isn’t afraid to move forward and strike ball-carriers in traffic. He is a very secure tackler and he brings some nasty attitude with him.
29. Patriots - Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/RM, Tennessee, 6’2 215lbs – JR –4.38. The Pats long for another weapon to add to their arsenal after losing Welker and Lloyd. Although Patterson is extremely raw, he has a ton of possible upside and potential. He easily gets separation on vertical routes when given a free release and has rare explosion. He has very few wasted steps on his cuts, and he shows his athleticism by being very smooth into and out of his breaks – although he runs very sloppy routes. He is naturally able to find the soft areas in zone coverage between corners and safeties. He has okay awareness and generally gets in good spots. He doesn’t wall off defenders well, but he has the tools to learn. He has some serious football smarts and is getting better. He is very good running slants and has a quick head fake out that allows for inside release. He can really explode and has a 2nd and 3rd gear. However, his return abilities and his ability to get the ball in space that make him special. He’s extremely raw, but has the tools to be great.
30. Falcons - Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia, 6’3 243lbs – rJR – 4.62. The dirty birds are thin at LB and need someone to pair with Sean Weatherspoon. He truly has excellent speed for the position and can turn on the jets to chase plays down from behind. He came to UGA as a safety and he still has the coverage and ball skills to drop and make a lot of plays. He beats blocks with hand quickness and plays the position like a safety with the frame of a linebacker. He makes a lot of plays and can really hit and is constantly trying to strip the ball. He is at his best when closing in on the edge and is excellent in pursuit. At times, he looks possessed and like nothing will stop him. He sticks to running backs out of the backfield in coverage and has enough closing speed to be more than just reliable in coverage. His off the field issues are the only thing keeping him out of the top-15.
31. 49ers - Matt Elam, FS/SS, Florida, 5’10 206lbs –JR – 4.51. He can play either safety spot or even line up as a CB against a slot receiver. He is extremely instinctive, active, and has good to great ball awareness. He breaks down well when approaching ball-carriers in space and has the quick feet and agility to make the stop. His lateral movement skills are awesome. He has great range and natural instincts. He’s quick enough to stay with tight ends and some receivers in man coverage – he has often lined up as the slot CB. He has nice ball skills to extend away from his frame to make the moderate-to-difficult interception, and he loves to hit and make big tackles. He sticks his nose in against the run when making that read, and fills a hole. He is a bit short and doesn’t high point naturally. He miss-jumps and masses on too many balls. But he plays nasty and mean and will knock people out – he loves to play and will give everything he has.
32. Ravens - DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson, 6’1 214 – JR – 4.50. The Ravens look to replace Anquan Bolden with a very similar type player. He is a natural – smooth WR with the basic instincts to be special – he really attacks the ball in the air and has great hands. He makes wild, crazy catches because he has glue like hands. He has excellent height and length for an outside receiver and also has very good lower-body strength. He has the quicks to play the slot as well. He is hard to tackle and will fight for yards after contact – he is a scrapper who plays with an attitude. He has explosion off the line of scrimmage and in his cuts and plucks the ball out of the air. Despite playing in a Spread, he is a solid route-runner who is often used in the short, intermediate, and deep game because his loose hips allow him to gain separation with small shifts and stutter-steps. He is a game breaker with special open field movement skills, but he’s also a very consistent as a short to intermediate receiver whom his QB can trust.
