2013 NFL Mock Draft
NFL Mock Draft: Ziggy Ansah hits top five
By Daniel Jeremiah |
Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network
Published: March 1, 2013 at 12:07 p.m.
Following the NFL Scouting Combine, there has been some movement in my mock draft. It starts right at the top, where the Kansas City Chiefs are now out of the quarterback market with Alex Smith coming aboard soon. As you can see below, this draft loaded with linemen, but I predict a run on one skill position toward the end of the round. Let's get to it!
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The Alex Smith trade allows the Chiefs to take the top player in the draft. Joeckel isn't in the same class as Joe Thomas, but he'll be a rock-solid starter for 10-plus years.
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Pass rusher is the top need for the Jaguars, but with a new coach and general manager, they could play it safe and take the top available talent. A tackle tandem of Fisher and Eugene Monroe would allow the Jags to crank up their run game with Maurice Jones-Drew.
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The Raiders have a need at this position and Floyd would give them a dynamic interior defender. His short arms raised some concerns at the combine, but his field workout was outstanding. There is also plenty of buzz out there that Oakland is very intrigued by Geno Smith.
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The Eagles could easily go with a cornerback at this spot, but they should be able to address that need in the second round. This move would reunite Jordan with both his head coach and defensive line coach from Oregon.
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This looks like a reach on the surface, but after studying this situation, it makes a lot of sense. The Lions have huge needs at pass rusher and cornerback. There will be plenty of quality cornerbacks available in the second round, but the edge-rush pool is shallow. Ansah dominated the Senior Bowl game while playing in the Lions' defensive scheme.
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Milliner would team up with Joe Haden to give the Browns one of the better cornerback tandems in the NFL. Jarvis Jones is another name to keep an eye on with this selection.
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The Cardinals surely will add at least one quarterback during this offseason. They could explore the free-agent market or pursue a trade, but Smith might be their best option.
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Selecting Johnson would allow the Bills to slide Cordy Glenn to right tackle, where he could quickly establish himself as an annual Pro Bowler. Johnson put together one of the best O-lineman workouts I've ever seen. However, he isn't just a workout wonder; there is plenty of good tape to support his status as a top-10 pick in this draft.
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Improving the pass rush is a priority for the Jets. If Jones checks out medically, he's the most polished edge rusher in the draft. I wouldn't be shocked if the Jets decided to look at a receiver in this spot.
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The Titans have a solid pair of tackles, but they could use an upgrade on the interior of their offensive line. I had them selecting Chance Warmack with this pick prior to the combine, but Cooper gets the nod at this time. His ability to play all three interior positions is a huge bonus.
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Pass rusher is a possibility with this pick, but the Chargers could use another weapon for Philip Rivers. Patterson would provide the explosive element in the passing game that was missing following the departure of Vincent Jackson.
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This offseason is all about surrounding Ryan Tannehill with support. Allen is a very talented weapon on the outside who would be an ideal complement to a speedster like Mike Wallace (just a hunch).
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Rhodes is an enormous cornerback with good feet, hips and ball skills. The only concern was his top speed and he answered that with a 4.43-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis.
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Assuming Lotulelei's heart condition isn't a major concern for team doctors, this would be an excellent value pick for the Panthers. He would make an immediate impact.
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Mingo had a phenomenal workout at the combine, but there are still concerns about his play on the field. He is a true "flash" player and could be this year's biggest boom-or-bust prospect.
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It's easy to say that Warmack's solid play on tape will more than offset his poor combine performance, but I'm not so sure that's the case. In this scenario, the Rams would get a nice value and a player who could dominate in the running game.
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The Steelers could go in a number of directions with this pick. Bjoern Werner could be a real possibility, but I believe Vaccaro is too good of a talent to pass up at this point in the draft. He didn't test as well as expected, but he plays plenty fast enough on tape.
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Richardson's calling card is his outstanding quickness. That trait is coveted in Monte Kiffin's scheme. He still needs to work on his hand usage, but new defensive line coach Rod Marinelli is the perfect guy to develop Richardson.
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If not for some off-field issues, Ogletree might've gone a little higher, but this would be a great fit for his skill set. He is a run-and-hit linebacker with excellent cover skills. He needs to work on using his hands to take on blocks, but that can be taught.
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Eifert has ideal size and speed for the position and would provide Jay Cutler with a valuable third-down weapon.
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I view Elam as more of a second-round talent, but his combination of toughness and instincts would be a welcome addition to the Bengals' secondary.
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The Rams must find a way to give Sam Bradford some help. Austin put on a show in Indianapolis and his game tape is outstanding. He is a big play waiting to happen and the Rams haven't had many of those recently.
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Remember the "Williams Wall?" Those days are gone over in Minnesota. Pat Williams is no longer playing and Kevin Williams isn't the player he once was. It's time to add a new Williams to the mix.
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The Colts need to upgrade their offensive line and Watson has enormous potential. While he might be a little raw, Watson would still provide an instant upgrade to the tackle position.
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Hunter had an excellent combine performance and his combination of length and speed is intriguing. I'm concerned about the number of drops I saw on tape, but his stock appears to be on the rise. (Editor's Note: This mock was submitted before the Seahawks-Vikings trade involving Percy Harvin was complete.)
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Pugh is a very interesting player. His lack of length is a concern, but it wasn't an issue on tape. He has the potential to play every position on the offense line. Green Bay needs to do a better job of protecting Aaron Rodgers and Pugh would do just that.
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Teams are wildly split on Werner. He had a so-so combine performance, but teams that interviewed the defensive end gave him rave reviews. He could easily go higher than this spot, but this is about where I had him graded as a player on tape.
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Trufant torched the combine and likely landed a spot in the bottom of the first round. The Broncos could use some youth and speed at the position.
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Banks' poor 40 time likely cost him some money in this draft, but this would be an excellent landing spot for him. New England covets big cornerbacks and Aqib Talib is a free agent.
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Don't be surprised if we see a run on cornerbacks at this point in the draft. With the news of Dunta Robinson's release and the free-agent status of Brent Grimes, it makes sense for the Falcons to nab a cornerback with this selection.
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Taylor is one of my favorite players to watch on tape. He is physical, fast and possesses good ball skills. This might be a little earlier than expected, but his style of play fits perfectly with the 49ers' defense.
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The Ravens have a need at inside linebacker and Te'o would slide right in as a Day 1 starter. He's not in the same stratosphere as Ray Lewis coming into the draft, but he should have a solid career and fill a need on Baltimore's defense.
- 2013 NFL Mock Draft Central
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