Sage Cortez
The Darrelle Revis trade certainly changes the whole draft, which is unfortunate because the mock was all typed up before it happened. I’m not going to make changes to my first round article, but I will sum up what I think happens here. I believe the Jets will now use one of their two first round picks on Geno Smith, so I’m not going to mock him to anyone in this second round. It wouldn’t make sense. It could still happen though, and I would say to Jacksonville should such a thing occur. But I doubt it.
With the 33rd pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Matt Barkley, QB, USC
I believe that no matter what, Jacksonville will be taking a quarterback with their second round pick. Blaine Gabbert isn’t going to cut it in the NFL and in Chad Henne’s last chance to prove he could be an NFL starter, he wasn’t so great. Barkley has a very accurate arm and played in a pro system for 4 years. As a fast learner, he could be ready to start Week 1. The Jaguars need a QB who they think could start games during this season. Jacksonville has plenty of holes to fill, so there’s no telling what they will do as the draft moves on.
With the 34th pick, the San Francisco 49ers select Jesse Williams, NT, Alabama
Williams is a player who has had to take quite the nontraditional route to the NFL, having played club football in Australia and two years of junior college ball. Jesse has immense upper body strength and very good speed for a 320+ pound defensive tackle. He could do with bulking up his lower body, but the raw athletic ability and talent is undeniable. With Issac Sopoaga and Ricky Jean-Francois having moved on, a defensive lineman should be targeted with one of San Francisco’s first three picks.
With the 35th pick, the Philadelphia Eagles select EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State
Manuel has a durable, big body which will allow him to hold up under punishment for the duration of his career. Manuel has a strong arm, but he is a little inaccurate. The challenge for any head coach who selects him is to correctly nourish his great physical ability, translate that into football talent, and mold him into a top quarterback. Chip Kelly will be looking to supplement his defense with some athleticism in the draft, but now isn’t the time. The Eagles need to find a quarterback who can flourish in Chip Kelly’s zone-read system should Michael Vick falter or get injured early in the season.
With the 36th pick, the Detroit Lions select Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State
If Carradine is still on the board, he’s a goner with this pick. Despite having torn his ACL against Florida at the end of last season, I don’t think that’s going to bother NFL GM’s, most specifically Martin Mayhew, all that much. His measurables are very impressive, Carradine’s stats at Florida State were too. His ability to push through offensive tackles and tight ends is super impressive and an excellent fit for the very mean Detroit Lions defensive line. Lions fans may be disappointed in the lack of a cornerback selection in the first 2 rounds, but there are good ones in the 3rd and 4th round range. Detroit is sure to snag one.
With the 37th pick, the Cincinnati Bengals select Matt Elam, S, Florida
This is another one of those players who I can’t quite peg. On the field, Elam looked like a top 15 talent. Once everyone started putting together their mock drafts and big boards before and after the combine, he wasn’t near it. That’s confusing and I can only attribute that to supposed physical deficiencies. He’s only 5’10, which is short for a safety. He also may not have the frame to back up all the punishment he gives out. I am a big fan of aggressive safety play, and Elam provides that in spades. The Bengals have a clear need at the safety positions and should be looking to fill one of them. Taking a tackle or linebacker with this pick could also be on the cards for the Southwestern Ohio outfit.
With the 38th pick, the Arizona Cardinals select Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
I hold a few strong beliefs about this draft. One of them is that the Arizona Cardinals should draft offensive linemen with their first two or three picks. With the elite tackles off the board by the time they pick in the first round, I gave them Chance Warmack. Now they’ve been given another player who can anchor their offensive line. Watson is a tad raw, but has good foot speed, which is critical against the many top pass rushers which occupy the NFC West. He’s a bit on the older side, but I don’t think that’s a big hindrance for offensive tackles and they are capable of extending their careers for many years. The Cardinals also need a pass rusher and another wideout.
With the 39th pick, the New York Jets select Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford
The Jets let Dustin Keller walk without signing a replacement. To me, that screams out their intention to draft a tight end. Ertz is an excellent athlete and pass catcher, much like Dustin Keller. It appears as if Mark Sanchez will be given one last chance to take the reins and make something happen with the New York offense, so the Jets need to give him the best possible chance to showcase his talent. The Jets could target a pass rusher or quarterback with this pick, but I believe the Jets have a greater interest in looking at the quarterback position in the 2014 Draft.
With the 40th pick, the Tennessee Titans select Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
Hunt is an amazing athlete, and posted a 4.6 40 time at the combine along with the top mark of 38 bench press reps. At 6’8, 277 pounds he certainly has the raw athletic ability to become an elite pass rusher. Considering the Titans are looking at for athletes and difference makers on defense, Hunt may be a great fit for them. Tennessee DL Coach Tracy Rocker will have to teach Hunt how to maintain a low pad level and how to use his legs to fight through the punch of offensive linemen. The Titans may target players to add to their secondary in future rounds, as well as another offensive lineman or two.
With the 41st pick, the Buffalo Bills select Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse
It’s natural to place Nassib here in a no trades scenario. A reunion between Nassib and HC Doug Marrone is likely what Marrone would prefer to have happen on Day 2. I believe Nassib is most likely to be a Buffalo Bill in any case, whether it be via first round pick, via the Bills trading back into the first round, or attrition as is seen here. The kid has a great arm but is at times prone to overdoing it and putting too much air under the football. His athletic ability is a tad overblown as well, his speed and elusiveness is not such that he can break free from pro level speed. Nassib merely needs to learn how to manage himself and keep his emotions in check. That’s a tough ask for quarterbacks, but he could be able to do so. It’s a good idea for the Bills to go offense in the first two rounds, with all the money they’ve invested in defensive players, they need those guys to step up and play, not to replace them. In the third round Buffalo will look to shore up the offensive line.
With the 42nd pick, the Miami Dolphins select DJ Hayden, CB, Houston
It’s a given that at this time one of these Miami second rounders is headed to Kansas City for Branden Albert. So what I’m going to do is mock the player I think the Dolphins want in the second round with this one, and with the next pick, Kansas City will make a selection. Make sense? There has been plenty of talk of DJ Hayden shooting up draft boards league wide. I believe people are sending him up a little bit too far as his heart issue could scare teams off, in addition to a lack of size and strength. With Brent Grimes in Miami on a short-term one year deal after a season ending injury last season, the Dolphins need an insurance policy at cornerback. While low on top end talent, this draft is excellent in terms of middle first round to late second round players that there’s no telling how things could shake out in between those slots. I’ve seen draft boards that have Hayden ranked in the top twenty, and others which had him slotted in near the 60th position. More than any other of late, this is a need based draft, without consensus BPA’s. Should Miami keep both second round picks, one will be used on Hayden and one will be used on a tackle. If they don’t land Albert, they will certainly need to draft one, and likely with this pick. Justin Pugh and Terron Armstead are worth a look here.
With the 43rd pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
There is the possibility that Tampa uses another early pick on a cornerback, but that’s quite difficult to predict and I’m surely not going to. I do see that the Buccaneers have a defensive tackle problem. They run a 4-3 defense and have one great defensive tackle in Gerald McCoy, but there’s no reason for them not to look for another. Short is a great pass-rusher, but he needs to learn how to follow the play more consistently and play with a higher intensity level. Should Zach Ertz be on the board here, Tampa could take him as well, because they are in need of a tight end. Cornerback will still be on the agenda for Tampa Bay in later rounds.
With the 44th pick, the Carolina Panthers select Eric Reid, S, LSU
I read an article on NFL.com which made it very clear that new GM David Gettleman is in favor of selecting the best player available. On my chart Eric Reid is the best player available, and plays a position that the Panthers are desperately in need of. The safeties in Carolina are quite poor. Considering that the Panthers do not have another pick until #108, selecting an impact player is mandatory here, and they will look to do so. Trading out of this position to get another pick is perhaps on the cards as well. There are no shortage of cornerbacks or safeties to choose from. Players like David Amerson and DJ Swearinger would certainly be acceptable options for the Panthers. Later in the draft, they should simply look at the best of what’s out there and add it.
With the 45th pick, the San Diego Chargers select Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse
Pugh is a solid offensive tackle who is pro-ready and could start next season. His weight is a little low, so perhaps a team will have interest in moving him to guard. The San Diego offensive line is awful and in need of bolstering. One alternative look is that the Chargers will take an offensive lineman in the first round, and a receiver here. Philip Rivers is low on offensive weapons.
With the 46th pick, the St. Louis Rams select Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky
Warford has too much potential for the Rams to pass on him. The Kentucky product is an immense run blocking lineman with a good motor and high football IQ. The Rams are in need of improving their offensive line after many high picks which did not pan out to their liking. Warford may go earlier in the second round due to other teams not being able to pass on his potential. He’s not very agile, but as a guard, you’re not likely to find much better in the second round. Warford can go straight into the Rams starting lineup. Another priority for the Rams as the draft goes on may be a 4th or 5th round power back.
With the 47th pick, the Dallas Cowboys select DJ Swearinger, S, South Carolina
Will Allen is a solid, if unspectacular player, so the Cowboys need at least one more safety for Monte Kiffin’s Cover 2 defense. Swearinger is thought to be best used in a 2 deep role, so Dallas is the perfect fit for him. I have noticed in a few of his highlight videos that he is a little prone to shutting off and allowing the play to come to him on outside power runs. That’s dangerous because it allows tackles and guards to line him up from far away and correctly seal off their blocks. Other than that, Swearinger reads the play very well. Dallas is also in need of a slot receiver, so a player like Robert Woods or Quinton Patton would be a great pick for Dallas.
With the 48th pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Robert Woods, WR, USC
Woods is an excellent route runner who can break away from corners with great speed, vision, and burst. He needs to put on a little weight but can take a shot over the middle anyway. If the USC offense had been more tailored around him, NFL teams would have a greater idea what he can bring to their squad, and would likely be a lock to go Thursday. As it stands now, Woods is a probable Day 2 pick. This is another case of the Steelers finding a talent who drops, picking him up, and molding him into a top player. Woods is certainly capable of becoming one. The Steelers could also use this pick on a player like Arthur Brown, but they desperately need a receiver after the departure of Mike Wallace.
With the 49th pick, the New York Giants select Alex Okafor, DE, Texas
Selecting Okafor would be a very Giants like thing to do, and quite rational considering that Osi Umenyiora left the New York outfit this offseason. Okafor’s physical attributes aren’t incredible, but his production remains very strong. He has excellent closing speed and reads the snap well, providing great burst out of his stance. Okafor’s motor is impressive as well. The Giants generally draft best player available, and Okafor is one of the best players available. Just like every other player taken in the second round of this mock, Okafor is arguably a first round talent. Offensive line improvement can wait.
With the 50th pick, the Chicago Bears select Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
I believe the Bears have added enough offensive linemen that, should they choose to not select one in the first or second round, it isn’t a big deal. I’ve shunted Brown this far down in my mock due to a lack of size. I think general managers will be a little put off by it, but that lack of size allows Brown to be versatile and able to be used as an inside or outside linebacker. He is an excellent tackler with a high football IQ and leadership qualities. Arthur Brown will certainly not fall any lower than this, he is an excellent run defending linebacker, and many teams have the need for a player like that on their roster and in their starting lineup.
With the 51st pick, the Washington Redskins select David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State
The Redskins will certainly look to improve their secondary with their first pick in the draft. Amerson is capable of playing either as a cornerback or in one of the safety positions. In both of them, I believe he is the best player still left out there. Amerson has great ball-hawking instincts and is very physical. The Redskins pass defense isn’t very good and cost them greater playoff position with bad losses early in their 2012 season. As such, secondary picks are likely to continue over the next few rounds for Washington.
With the 52nd pick, the Minnesota Vikings select Keenan Allen, WR, California
Keenan Allen isn’t the fastest wideout, but he runs great routes and would give Christian Ponder another consistently open 10-15 yard target to move the ball down the field along with Greg Jennings. The Vikings currently do not have a speed receiver, but in this instance I believe Minnesota has to go with the best receiver out there. Allen played with a poor quarterback all year, and had an injury which kept him performing at the combine. Otherwise, who knows where he would have been taken? Should Minnesota take the three players I’ve projected to them, I think they’ve had a great first two rounds.
With the 53rd pick, the Cincinnati Bengals select Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Armstead is the first FCS prospect off the board in this two round mock draft. His measurables at the scouting combine were unbelievable and shot him up draft boards around the country. A 300 pound man running a 4.7 40 certainly is nothing to sneeze at. Andre Smith is likely to be leaving the Bengals, as he hasn’t re-signed yet. It’s best for the Bengals to draft a replacement with one of their two first round picks and let him go, I believe. Regarding Armstead, I am a little unsure that he’s pro ready due to a lack of quality competition faced, but that is the risk an NFL team is going to have to take.
With the 54th pick, the Kansas City Chiefs select Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
I’ve learned from my mistake, and when a trade is obvious, I’m going to capitalize on that to make the pick for the team who receives it. Jonathan Hankins is an enormous defensive linemen with the ability to anchor a defensive line and immense upper body strength. One downside is that like many other large defensive tackles, he needs to work on his conditioning. The Kansas City Chiefs are sticking with a 3-4 defense, so they may have interest in using Hankins as a 5 technique. Many coaches who choose to use the 3-4 scheme like using 310+ pound linemen on the ends, and with Hankins still on the board at #54, the Chiefs surely would not pass him up. They do not have as many holes as is perceived, so their approach is more about accumulating talent than filling a need.
With the 55th pick, the Green Bay Packers select Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina
It’s very possible Bernard is long gone by the time this pick comes up, but I’m unsure of that. The Packers have to stop messing around with their carousel of running backs and look to find a consistent tandem whom they can depend on. Alex Green is more of a power back, and Bernard could be the speed guy. Bernard is an excellent pass catching back, with elusive movement and great cutting ability as his trademarks. Bernard is also a solid pass blocker and has good vision. With Aaron Rodgers at QB, I find the pass catching attribute to be necessary in future Green Bay running backs. Offensive line is also a need for the Packers in my opinion, and Kyle Long could be a good fit.
With the 56th pick, the Seattle Seahawks select Khaseem Greene, OLB, Rutgers
I believe that outside linebacker is the greatest position of need for the Seahawks. At the moment, that’s one of the only positions that the Seahawks can realistically improve upon. Greene’s attributes are similar to many of the players already occupying roles on Pete Carroll’s defense. He regularly attempts to strip the ball, is super aggressive in the tackling and coverage game, and loves to dish out heavy hits when quarterbacks leave their receiver out to dry. Greene could turn out to be an exceptional linebacker in the pros. Seattle will also attempt to improve the right side of their offensive line in later rounds. It is not good.
With the 57th pick, the Houston Texans select Kyle Long, OG/OT, Oregon
Scouts believe that Long could slot in either as a guard or tackle in the NFL. I believe if Houston takes him, he slots in best as a right tackle or guard. The Texans offensive line isn’t exceptional. Long has minimal top level football experience, but his lone season at Oregon showed that he is great in a zone blocking scheme. Houston uses a zone blocking scheme. This is a matter of fit within their scheme and potential. Long’s is very high. While the Texans could use an inside or outside linebacker, I don’t think the second round is the best place to find a player who would rotate with Whitney Mercilus and Brooks Reed. There are plenty of run stopping linebackers available in the next two rounds as well.
With the 58th pick, the Denver Broncos select Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
The Broncos can’t depend on Champ Bailey forever, so now’s a good time to draft a kid who can be shown the ropes by Champ and groomed to take his spot. Alford was a combine sensation who ran a great 40 yard dash and put up the 3rd greatest mark for corners at the bench press with 17. He is a little shorter than ideal cornerback size and will need to learn how to play against greater competition, but his ability in press coverage looks to be very nice. It may turn out that he and CB Jordan Poyer switch spots in the real draft. They are similar in quality.
With the 59th pick, the New England Patriots select Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech
Patton is going to be a big contributor in the NFL. He has the total physical package required for an NFL receiver. Strong, athletic, can take a shot, and has some excellent moves to provide separation from cornerbacks. With Tom Brady as his quarterback, Patton could put up some big numbers for the Patriots. He seems like the kind of player who will transition seamlessly into the NFL.
With the 60th pick, the Atlanta Falcons select Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M
Moore had a very poor scouting combine, but I’m still sold on the prospect due to his game film. His tape looked like that of a top ten pick. Work ethic and effort off the snap is one of his strong points, the kid has a motor and does not quit on the play. He needs to gain a little weight, but without it he was still strong pushing through the interior of the offensive line and getting into the backfield. I believe the combine does not tell the tale with this player and that he is a better athlete than his numbers said. The Falcons also need a linebacker and there are no shortage of them, but pass rusher is a necessity for Atlanta.
With the 61st pick, the San Francisco 49ers select Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State
Poyer is a solid cornerback with few deficiencies in his game, but few standout attributes as well. He’s not super fast, but fast enough and gives his all on the field. He has strong game awareness and knows how to take away the football. Picking cornerbacks in this draft has been extremely difficult. The difference in quality between them is minute, and it tends to come down to what teams prefer. The Oregon State product needs to bulk up a little bit, all in all he would be a nice selection for the 49ers and round out their secondary.
With the 62nd pick, the Baltimore Ravens select Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor
After Anquan Boldin’s departure, it is apparent that Baltimore must bring in a receiver who can contribute next season on Day 2 of the draft. Joe Flacco got the big contract, but Ozzie Newsome cannot think that’s enough to solidify the offense on its own. Williams is a good fit and will allow Baltimore to use Jacoby Jones as their slot wideout. Much like Quinton Patton, he is a threat all over the field and capable of putting up huge numbers. His selection would also allow the Ravens to have another deep threat, which would take some defensive attention away from Torrey Smith, allowing Flacco to do what he does best and throw the ball deep with a selection of weapons at his disposal. As we know, the Ravens could use another safety, but I think they’re better off trading up in the third round to draft a player like Bacarri Rambo or Phillip Thomas.
What a tough round that was! I’m not joking when I say that anywhere between 25-30 of these players could be seen as first round talents by general managers around the league. Cornerback is one area I’ve noticed to be a bit short on talent in comparison to other positions like wide receiver, defensive end, and safety, which are absolutely stacked positions. There are also plenty of quality running back prospects, but this draft will not be delving into that pool. Plenty of them will be selected in the third or fourth round. In all honesty, I would be surprised to get 15-20 picks in this whole draft correct. Many people would not dispute that this is an un-mockable draft, there are simply too many first and second round talents to choose from. With no distinct order in terms of the quality of players as seen in past drafts, it’s a tough exercise to do a mock draft these days. In the end, I cheated and made one trade. It’s obvious Branden Albert will be a Dolphin, so why wait!
We’ll be having draft discussion on our forums Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Join us there!
