Joel Welser 2013 NFL Mock Draft - 20 April 2013

1. Luke Joeckel 2. Geno Smith 3. Sharrif Floyd 4. Star Lotulelei 5. Eric Fisher
Round 1
1Kansas City Chiefs 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesKansas CityLuke JoeckelOTTexas A&M
Kansas City is eyeing Luke Joeckel with the top overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. Joeckel is a superb offensive tackle and can play on either side. Eric Fisher is also an option here, but Joeckel is more NFL ready right now and that is enough to give him the edge over Fisher.
2Jacksonville Jaguars 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesJacksonvilleGeno SmithQBWest Virginia
If Jacksonville really believes that Geno Smith is a superstar quarterback, they will probably take him here. There are a lot of other ways the Jaguars could, and probably should, go here, but that has never stopped a team from reaching for a quarterback way too early in a bad quarterback class. 
3Oakland Raiders 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesOaklandSharrif FloydDTFlorida
Sharrif Floyd could be considered the best player available at this point and the Raiders are in dire need of some girth on their defensive front. Floyd has been shooting up draft boards since the end of his collegiate career and he is pretty much a lock for a top five selection at this point.
4Philadelphia Eagles 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesPhiladelphiaStar LotuleleiDTUtah
Now medically cleared, Star Lotulelei is quickly moving back up draft boards. If his health remains a concern, Lotulelei could slide down, but he is definitely a top five talent in this class. Moving to a 3-4 scheme, the Eagles desperately need a big body to fill the middle of the defensive line and Lotulelei is that man.
5Detroit Lions 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesDetroitEric FisherOTCentral Michigan
The Lions do need help at the end spots and are reportedly smitten with Ezekiel Ansah out of BYU. However, if the draft works out like this, there are a couple of other players who fill a big need. Cornerback, with Dee Milliner still on the board, and offensive tackle will also be considered. With the retirement of Jeff Backus, Detroit better jump on Eric Fisher while they can still get a franchise tackle.
6Cleveland Browns 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesClevelandDee MillinerCBAlabama
Cleveland may trade down a few spots and add another pick or two later in the draft. They would still be able to get a solid pass rusher in the middle of the first round without much of a problem. However, if they stay here, the Browns should add Dee Milliner to their secondary.
7Arizona Cardinals 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesArizonaDion JordanDEOregon
This is a team that desperately needs an offensive lineman, but the top two are off the board. If the Cardinals are not happy with Lane Johnson or one of the top guards in this class, they may try and trade down. If that fails, one can never have too many pass rushers and with Dion Jordan sliding down, the offensive line can wait until later.
8Buffalo Bills 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesBuffaloTavon AustinWRWest Virginia
Buffalo wants a quarterback and is apparently willing to trade up to get one. If they have to trade up to the second pick, the Bills will likely have to give up more than they want to. There are decent enough quarterbacks who will be available later. In the meantime, they should pick up a top receiver and give their quarterback some actual weapons to work with. And Tavon Austin is the best playmaker on the board.
9New York Jets 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesNY JetsEzekiel AnsahDEBYU
With Ezekiel Ansah and Barkevious Mingo still on the board, the Jets get to upgrade their pass rush in the first round. Ansah has been shooting up draft boards following his impressive offseason performances. At the ninth pick he is a good value here.
10Tennessee Titans 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesTennesseeChance WarmackGAlabama
The Titans will hope Dee Milliner falls to them since Tennessee is in need of a cornerback. Xavier Rhodes and Desmond Trufant are options here as well, but the Titans also need to fill some holes on their offensive line and Chance Warmack is the best guard to enter the draft in quite some time.
11San Diego Chargers 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesSan DiegoLane JohnsonOTOklahoma
The Chargers may trade up to nab one of the top tackles in this class. They may also have to trade up to get Lane Johnson who, as the third best tackle in this class, could be long gone by this point in the draft. Also available is guard Jonathan Cooper. San Diego has to address their needs on the offensive line more than once during this draft.
12Miami Dolphins 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesMiamiXavier RhodesCBFlorida State
The Dolphins have some needs all over the field, but the biggest right now is certainly at cornerback. Xavier Rhodes is the best available and has had some good years with the Seminoles of Florida State. 
13Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesTampa BayDesmond TrufantCBWashington
Desmond Trufant continues to rise up draft boards. Dee Milliner should be the top corner on everybody's board, but after that it could be Trufant or Xavier Rhodes. If the Buccaneers have Trufant above Rhodes on their board, it is not a much of a reach to take him here.
14Carolina Panthers 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesCarolinaSheldon RichardsonDTMissouri
Sheldon Richardson is the best player available that fills one of Carolina's needs. Unless they really, really like one of the wide receivers still available, Richardson just makes too much sense to pass on at this point in the draft. 
15New Orleans Saints 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesNew OrleansJarvis JonesDEGeorgia
The Saints have needs all over their defense. With the move to a 3-4 scheme, pass rushers are at a premium and Jarvis Jones is the best on the board. Jones could be long, long gone by now, but he happened to slide down in this scenario and that is good news for New Orleans.
16Saint Louis Rams 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesSt. LouisJonathan CooperGNorth Carolina
The Rams have a few massive holes to fill on defense, but Jonathan Cooper fills a need on the offensive line as well. Instead of slightly reaching for a safety, the Rams can pick up a great interior lineman. Cooper is a bit behind Chance Warmack in the guard pecking order, but he is still worthy of a first round selection.
17Pittsburgh Steelers 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesPittsburghBarkevious MingoDELSU
Barkevious Mingo is widely considered a boom or bust type of player. He is not exactly a well-rounded player, but he can get to the quarterback. Mingo is also a great value in the second half of the first round and Pittsburgh has the luxury of taking a little risk.
18Dallas Cowboys 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesDallasKenny VaccaroSTexas
Moving to a 4-3 defense leaves quite a few holes for Dallas. Offensive line is a huge need, but there is not value there with this pick. For now, the Cowboys can get the versatile safety they need with Kenny Vaccaro. After that, they will need to grab a shutdown defensive tackle and help their offensive line.
19New York Giants 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesNY GiantsAlex OgletreeLBGeorgia
The Giants have some needs at linebacker. Arthur Brown is shooting up draft boards right now, but Alex Ogletree may be a better value for New York at this point in the draft. Off-field issues are a concern, but that is why he is still available for the Giants with the 19th pick in the draft.
20Chicago Bears 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesChicagoArthur BrownLBKansas State
Arthur Brown's big rise up the draft boards has come to a halt and it remains to be seen if he ends up falling to the second round. However, one thing is for sure; the Bears need linebackers. With Nick Roach and Brian Urlacher gone, Chicago will have to add some youth to the middle of their defense at some point. For now Brown is a great option and could turn into a staple at inside linebacker for the Bears.
21Cincinnati Bengals 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesCincinnatiD.J. FlukerOTAlabama
Cincinnati may have bigger needs on defense, but being able to protect quarterback Andy Dalton is a big need as well. Fluker is a big, versatile lineman who can play at guard or right tackle. That versatility is a big bonus for a Bengals team that could use him right away.
22Saint Louis Rams 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesSt. Louis (from WAS)Eddie LacyRBAlabama
Eddie Lacy is easily the best back in this class. If the Rams want to find a workhorse who has the speed and agility to go for six any time he touches the ball, they better pick up Lacy right now. With just one receiver off of the board, the Rams could also look for a value pick with Cordarrelle Patterson or Keenan Allen.
23Minnesota Vikings 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesMinnesotaCordarrelle PattersonWRTennessee
With Percy Harvin gone, Minnesota could use another wide receiver. With the 23rd and 25th overall picks, they should be able to get a good one. In this case, they have their pick between Cordarrelle Patterson and Keenan Allen. Patterson has the most upside and could even be the top receiver on their board.
24Indianapolis Colts 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesIndianapolisKeenan AllenWRCalifornia
Indianapolis has been busy on the free agent market, so there are not a whole lot of needs. However, depth at wide receiver is one of those needs and Keenan Allen is a great bargain this late in the first round.
25Minnesota Vikings 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesMinnesota (from SEA)Manti Te'oLBNotre Dame
The Manti Te'o fallout should not last too long. The Giants, Bears and Bengals could all take a shot with Te'o in the first round a few picks prior to this. The Notre Dame product will not likely make it past Minnesota and his collegiate production certainly makes him a first round pick.
26Green Bay Packers 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesGreen BayTyler EifertTENotre Dame
It is quite likely that the Packers will need a new tight end in 2014. In the meantime, providing Aaron Rodgers with more offensive weapons to help replace Greg Jennings cannot hurt. However, Green Bay could also help Rodgers by beefing up the offensive line.
27Houston Texans 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesHoustonDeAndre HopkinsWRClemson
Here we are again…the Texans are looking for a second wide receiver. Imagine that. The reason Houston will use a first round draft pick on a receiver this time around is because Andre Johnson is not a young pup anymore. The hope will be that DeAndre Hopkins will emerge as a #1 receiver in a few years.
28Denver Broncos 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesDenverBjoern WernerDEFlorida State
Bjoern Werner cannot fall any further than this. The Broncos need a pass rusher and will likely take the best on the board even if Werner is long gone. In this case, Denver gets lucky and gets a top 15 talent late in the first round.
29New England Patriots 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesNew EnglandSylvester WilliamsDTNorth Carolina
The Patriots have done a pretty good job filling their holes via free agency, but they still need some young receivers and depth across the defensive line. With Sylvester Williams still on the board, New England should go ahead and take him now and worry about the rest later.
30Atlanta Falcons 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesAtlantaAlex OkaforDETexas
Alex Okafor is flying under the radar a bit more than some think he should. Okafor is a proven pass rusher in the collegiate ranks and will be able to do the same in Atlanta. However, the Falcons will need to believe Okafor is a good fit for their scheme since he is a bit of a tweener.
31San Francisco Giants 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesSan FranciscoDaMontre MooreDETexas A&M
DaMontre Moore has been falling down draft boards and that is great news for San Francisco in this scenario. Moore is a top 15 or 20 talent, but a handful of defensive ends are passing him on most draft boards and that has inevitably led to a slide. The 49ers could go a few different directions here, but Moore is a good value.
32Baltimore Ravens 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesBaltimoreKevin MinterLBLSU
Baltimore already has a lot of new faces on defense, but they still need a linebacker or two. Kevin Minter and Manti Te'o are the best two available and Minter's motor could pull him up over Te'o on the Raven's board. Minter, like Te'o, has been extremely productive throughout his collegiate career and should be able to step right into a starting role.
Round 2
33Jacksonville Jaguars 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesJacksonvilleMargus HuntDESMU
After taking quarterback Geno Smith way too early in the first round, Jacksonville gets the pass rusher they so desperately need.
34San Francisco Giants 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesSan Francisco (from KC)Johnthan BanksCBMississippi State
Johnthan Banks is a great value in the second round. He is a tested cornerback who has all the tools to at least be a consistent starter in the NFL.
35Philadelphia Eagles 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesPhiladelphiaE.J. ManuelQBFlorida State
There are still a lot of quarterbacks left on the board, but they are going to start flying off in round two. E.J. Manuel may not be the best available, but he does fit Coach Kelly's scheme.
36Detroit Lions 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesDetroitD.J. HaydenCBHouston
D.J. Hayden has first round talent, but a freak injury has some teams shying away from the cornerback.
37Cincinnati Bengals 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesCincinnati (from OAK)Matt ElamSFlorida
Matt Elam has first round talent. For Cincinnati he is not just a good value pick, but he also fills a big need.
38Arizona Cardinals 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesArizonaMatt BarkleyQBUSC
Teaming up Matt Barkley with Carson Palmer may not sound all that great, but Barkley is still a solid quarterback who does not deserve to drop out of the first round. In fact, Arizona may have to move up to get him.
39Cleveland Browns 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesCleveland (supplemental)  
 
40New York Jets 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesNY JetsTyler BrayQBTennessee
The Jets are another team in need of some hope under center. Tyler Bray is a great prospect and will be one of many quarterbacks taken in the second round.
41Tennessee Titans 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesTennesseeJamar TaylorCBBoise State
After missing out on a cornerback in the first round, the Titans almost have to go get the best on their board in round two.
42Buffalo Bills 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesBuffaloRyan NassibQBSyracuse
Buffalo nabbed a wide receiver in the first round and now they can get their quarterback.
43Miami Dolphins 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesMiamiBarrett JonesCAlabama
Miami may be looking for a right tackle here, but they need a right guard too. Jones has the versatility to play anywhere on the interior line and has good value at this point in the draft.
44Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesTampa BayCornellius CarradineDEFlorida State
Cornellius Carradine is recovering quite quickly from his injury and that has many NFL teams moving him up their draft boards.
45Carolina Panthers 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesCarolinaJonathan CyprienSFlorida International
The Panthers get a great deal and add some needed depth to their secondary with the addition of Jonathan Cyprien.
46New Orleans Saints 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesNew Orleans (forfeit)   
 
47San Diego Chargers 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesSan DiegoKawann ShortDTPurdue
Kawann Short never got the credit he deserved for making Purdue's defense relatively decent. He is a big body who can eat up plenty of space on the Charger's front line.
48Saint Louis Rams 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesSt. LouisRobert WoodsWRUSC
The Rams continue to boost their offense by picking up Robert Woods in the second round.
49Dallas Cowboys 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesDallasSam MontgomeryDTLSU
Dallas went with the best safety in the draft in the first round. This time around they fill their big need at tackle.
50Pittsburgh Steelers 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesPittsburghJesse WilliamsDTAlabama
Jesse Williams is a beast and a solid pickup in the middle of the second round. It is a nice pick for the Steelers after getting defensive end help in the first round.
51New York Giants 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesNY GiantsMenelik WatsonOTFlorida State
With the linebacker concern taken care of in the first round, it is time to help keep Eli Manning healthy by finding a right tackle.
52Chicago Bears 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesChicagoZach ErtzTEStanford
Some teams will have Zach Ertz very close to Tyler Eifert on the tight end pecking order. Thus, Ertz is a good value here.
53Washington Redskins 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesWashingtonLogan RyanCBRutgers
This is a great way for Washington to use their first pick. Logan Ryan is an undervalued cornerback and should be a great fit.
54Minnesota Vikings 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesMinnesotaJohnathan HankinsDTOhio State
The Vikings missed out on a defensive tackle with their two first round selections, so they better get one now.
55Cincinnati Bengals 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesCincinnatiGiovani BernardRBNorth Carolina
Cincinnati is eyeing a complimentary running back and Giovani Bernard should be the next taken after Eddie Lacy.
56Miami Dolphins 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesMiami (from IND)Corey LemonierDEAuburn
Miami will likely use one of their three selections in the first two rounds on somebody who can get to the quarterback.
57Green Bay Packers 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesGreen BayEric ReidSLSU
The Packers need some help at safety and Eric Reid is one of the best players available.
58Seattle Seahawks 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesSeattleSio MooreLBConnecticut
The Seahawks do not have many holes to fill anymore. Linebacker may be their biggest need on defense and Sio Moore should be one of the top players left on their board.
59Houston Texans 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesHoustonJustin PughOTSyracuse
Justin Pugh may not be a tackle in the NFL, but he could turn into a very good guard for Houston.
60Denver Broncos 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesDenverJustin HunterWRTennessee
Justin Hunter could be long, long gone by now. Some receivers are going to fall a bit, but this is a great value pick for Denver.
61New England Patriots 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesNew EnglandTerrance WilliamsWRBaylor
Terrance Williams is yet another talented wide receiver who has early round potential. 
62Atlanta Falcons 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesAtlantaDavid AmersonCBNorth Carolina State
David Amerson is a proven playmaker, but how well he translates into the NFL is a big concern. The Falcons need depth at cornerback though and Amerson is full of potential.
63San Francisco Giants 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesSan FranciscoJohn SimonDTOhio State
Depth at tackle would be very helpful to San Francisco and John Simon is a solid pickup this late in the second round.
64Baltimore Ravens 2012 NFL Mock Draft College Football Draft ProfilesBaltimoreT.J. McDonaldSUSC
T.J. McDonald is a bit of a risk right here, but Baltimore needs help at safety and McDonald could be well worth the risk sooner or later.