NFL Mock Draft 2013: Updated Post-Divisional Round Mock Draft
By Josh Sanchez
Each week Fansided.com will have a new mock draft to preview and showcase this upcoming April’s draft. For more in depth analysis of each pick, be sure to visit the Fansided site of your favorite team and check back each Monday for a new and updated Mock Draft.
NOTE: This is as accurate a draft order as possible. Currently, the top 28 spots are set. The remaining picks will be determined as team’s are eliminated from the playoffs.
1.
– Geno Smith, Quarterback, West Virginia
Andy Reid will want to bring in a signal-caller to start his run with the Kansas City Chiefs. While popular belief is that there is no quarterback worthy of the No. 1 pick, you have to be excited with the skill set of Smith after seeing the success of Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick in the pros. Even better for the Chiefs is that Smith is a perfect fit for Andy Reid’s offense. Kansas City could go with Luke Joeckel first-overall and take a quarterback in the second round, but offensive line is not an immediate need and you need to fill your biggest needs if you are picking early.
2
.Werner is a stud pass rusher and was one of the most consistent players getting after the quarterback at the collegiate level last season. Werner fills a need at defensive end, but this pick could all change once a new coaching staff is in place.
While Werner was one of the most consistent pass rushers in college football, Moore was one of the most dominant. He will instantly come in to the NFL and use his freak athleticism to make an impact. Moore is a game changer at end and he will generate a lot of attention from the offensive blocking scheme which will free up his teammates to make plays.
This pick is an absolute no-brainer. Joeckel is the best offensive tackle prospect in this year’s class — in fact, best in the past few years — and the Eagles desperately need help at the position.
Milliner is the top cornerback in this year’s class and a top ten pick. When you need help in the secondary as badly as the Lions, you have to take Milliner in this spot. During the national championship game, Milliner looked like the cream of the crop among the NFL prospects.
D’Qwell Jackson is one of the best linebackers in the NFL, but he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves because he is stuck in Cleveland with very little help around him. That can all change if the Browns wise up and pull the trigger on a top linebacker prospect in the first-round. Jones would bring a pass rushing ability to the Browns defense that they have lacked.
Every time I do a mock for the Cardinals I can only focus on one glaring need — quarterback. The Arizona depth chart is littered with signal-callers who are more suited for a back up role.
Hear me out here… the Bills have made no secret about the fact that they had interest in Nassib before bringing in his college head coach, Doug Marrone, to run the team. If Marrone believes Nassib has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback, the Bills need to select him here. Nassib is generating a lot of buzz and could be gone early in the second round, so if the Bills truly want to lock up the Syracuse prospect they need to do so early.
It wouldn’t be shocking to see a quarterback drafted in this position, but the Jets defense needs pass rushers for everything else to click. The scheme depends on pass rushers and there is perhaps no rush linebacker in this year’s class with more upside than Mingo. He has a freak combination of size/speed.
This would be a gift for the Titans if Lotulelei fell into their laps. He was at one time considered a candidate for the top overall pick, but with other prospects rapidly rising he has taken a few steps back. Lotulelei will instantly upgrade the rush defense for Tennessee and provide the team with a big body that is able to generate an interior pass rush.
It is obvious that the Chargers have a major void they need to fill at left tackle and Fisher is the best available lineman at this position. By adding a left tackle, the Chargers will be able to provide Philip Rivers the protection he has lacked and hopefully it can jump start their offense.
Patterson burst on to the scene this year after transferring up from the JUCO ranks and he was an absolute animal for the Volunteers. In the first game of the season, Patterson gashed the NC State defense and he didn’t slow down. Patterson is listed at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds and has game breaking speed. He has all of the tools to be a number one wideout in the NFL and he is only getting better.
After losing Aqib Talib via trade, the team needs to look for a replacement — especially with the news that Eric Wright could be gone in the offseason. Banks is the second best cornerback in this year’s class and no one will debate that he feels a major area of need.
The Panthers could use some new talent along their interior defensive line and Richardson could be a perfect fit. He is a big-bodied man who has a quick first step and can penetrate into the backfield.
New Orleans needs to revamp their offense and Jordan is a top-tier pass rusher who’s stock is sliding because of surgery for a torn labrum. Jordan has one of the quickest first steps out of this year’s pass rushers and he will fit in perfectly on the right side of the Saints defensive line.