2013 NFL Draft: Week 16 Mock Draft
By Josh Hill
The Saints need an upgrade at defensive tackle and Hankins is their man. If they continue to lose, which they didn’t do on Sunday, they could be in the running for Star Lotulelei who is the top defensive tackle prospect in the draft. He likely won’t slip past third overall and if he does fifth is the farthest he’d slide before someone traded up for him. Hankins may not be Lotulelei or Sheldon Richardson but he’s far from being merely a consultation prize.
The flashy pick for one of the Rams two first round picks is a giant receiver but again, Sam Bradford isn’t made of stone and he needs protection to properly utilize his weapons. Fisher is a MAC product and while it’s easy for good players to look geat there, he also held his own against top notch competition. Getting Steven Jackson some blocking for once in his career won’t hurt either. It’s not flashy to double dip on lineman in the first round, but Super Bowl trophy’s are very flashy.
Rob Ryan loves his defense and he loves drafting potential defensive stars. Like Ryan, Jenkins is huge, he’s mean and he’s really good at what he does for a living. He’s almost impossible to block one-on-one and when he draws double teams and is rendered ineffective, he opens lanes for linebackers to fill in and stuff the run or rush the passer. Another option here could be Chance Warmack or even Jesse Williams, but Jenkins is going to see his stock rise significantly as the draft nears.
Montgomery is a monster and was more productive than his teammate Barkevious Mingo who will be selected well ahead of him in the draft. The knock on him is that his ceiling isn’t as high as Mingo’s but that shouldn’t stop him from being a mid-round pick as he fits in just about any 4-3 defense in the NFL and can make plays now. The Giants will likely be losing Osi Umenyiora in free agency and Justin Tuck has regressed significantly, so Montgomery will be a much welcomed upgrade.
The Bengals could use some upgrading on their front line, particularly with a dominating edge rusher. Dion Jordan is a name quickly climbing mock drafts and big boards and it’s not for no good reason. He’s got Jason Pierre-Paul potential as Jordan is fast, athletic and his stock is only going up. The Bengals are a team themselves quickly rising in the NFL and if they can get a dominating defense to compliment their offense, we may have a new power take over in the AFC North.
20. Chicago Bears – Dallas Thomas, OT/Tennessee
One of the glaring needs for the Bears is on their offensive line and it’s been that way for a while. The defense hit a wall recently, but the O-Line has been just gross to watch all year long as they can’t protect, they can’t open up running lanes and they just don’t know how to do anything. Thomas’ stock is on the rise big time and as we near the draft, the Bears will only warm up more and more to Thomas.
The Bengals could use some upgrading on their front line, particularly with a dominating edge rusher. Dion Jordan is a name quickly climbing mock drafts and big boards and it’s not for no good reason. He’s got Jason Pierre-Paul potential as Jordan is fast, athletic and his stock is only going up. The Bengals are a team themselves quickly rising in the NFL and if they can get a dominating defense to compliment their offense, we may have a new power take over in the AFC North.
Vikings fans are going to want a wide receiver here, and the more maniacal ones will want a new quarterback but both are wrong picks. Taking lineman in the first round is never a sexy, fan pleasing pick but that doesn’t mean they’re dumb picks. Ryan Kalil has given the Vikings line new life and he’s going to be a rock for them moving forward. Improving the line will mean Christian Ponder has more time and protection to read plays and develop his skills, thus bucking the bust moniker off his back. Oh, and if Adrian Peterson is doing what he’s doing with Charlie Johnson at left guard, imagine what he’ll do with one of the best guards in the country.
The Colts have been getting gashed by running backs all year long, and Jamaal Charles going ham on their front line should be the final straw when it comes to upgrading the line. Williams is all brawn and that’s what the Colts need badly on their defensive line, and what we saw from him in the SEC title game at the beginning of the month is something Jim Irsay would love to see on a weekly basis on a team that’s already playoff worthy.
– Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/Tennessee
The Seahawks have managed with the receivers they have, but they need some serious upgrading if they want this whole being good thing to last. Sidney Rice is getting beaten to a pulp, always struggling with injuries and Doug Baldwin isn’t a No. 1. Patterson would give Russell Wilson a giant deep threat to compliment Baldwin and all the offense to open up even more than it already has.
The Rams could use their first pick on Chance Warmack and then this one on Fisher, but really there are two great guards in this draft and St. Louis will draft which ever one is available. The bad news with this pick is that the more the Redskins win, the farther the pick falls for the Rams. Cooper isn’t at the elite level Warmack is at yet but he’s close and if he is given time to develop on the Rams front line, Sam Bradford could be dangerous with all the time he’s going to get to throw.
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Kenny Vaccaro – S/Texas
The Ravens want to keep their defense stout, but there is a transition period coming up as the aging stars of yesteryears defense are starting to head towards the exit. Ed Reed isn’t retiring but he’s not bathing in the fountain of youth either. Vaccaro has looked great on a bad Texas defense and should he head to Baltimore, it would again be a case of the rich getting richer on defense.
– Matt Elam, S/Florida
Dashon Goldson was hit with the franchise tag last season and is looking for a big pay day, while Donte Whitner just isn’t that good. Elam is a physical, he’s got attitude and he can hit hard. The 49ers are a physical team, they’ve got attitude and they love to hit really hard. Elam is just too good of a fit to pass up if he’s available. Tavon Austin could be an option to really open up the offense, but rookies rarely play in San Francisco and Elam might work better long term for the Niners.
The last things opposing defense’s want is for the Packers offense to get an explosive all-purpose weapon. Austin is a Percy Harvin type of player that can play receiver, take the ball out of the back field and return kicks and the Packers love Harvin. The Vikings would never allow Harvin to go to Green Bay, so Austin is the next best thing. He can catch like Randall Cobb but he does it better, he can return kicks like no other and he can even run some packages where he comes out of the backfield, slightly soothing the Packers glaring need for a running back. If Green Bay lands Austin, it’s a classic case of the rich getting richer.
When it comes to wide outs coming from Tennessee draft guru’s are split as to whether Hunter or Cordarrelle Patterson is the top guy. The Patriots don’t care, Tom Brady could get Santa Claus the ball and make him an effective receiver in New England, so as long as you have the skills and some talent, you’ll likely succeed with the Patriots. That’s Hunter; he’s a 6-foot-4 monster and while his ball skills have been knocked for his inconsistency, he’s a top-10 talent and New England has never had a massive deep threat aside from Randy Moss and all that resulted in was Tom Brady shattering records.
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Tyler Eifert – TE/Notre Dame
Notre Dame didn’t get to the title game on a fluke and it wasn’t all Manti Te’o. Eifert is a big, physical ex-receiver that converted to tight end who can flourish in the new era for tight ends. Peyton Manning has demonstrated in his career that he loves to throw to his tight end, but he’s never had a Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski type of target, he’s always had Dallas Clark’s and Jacob Tamme’s. Eifert is a 6-foot-6 abominable snowman and Manning will finally get with the 21st Century when it comes to the new breed of tight end targets.
– Robert Woods, WR/USC
Houston needs a compliment to Andre Johnson, and a guy that could be an eventual successor as the No. 1 target. Johnson is well into his 30s and has never had a side kick that could come close to his skill. Woods still may return to USC, but if he doesn’t his first round stock is going to start rising as we near the end of bowl season and the start of draft coverage. Terrence Williams could be a consideration here even if Woods does declare.
– Ezekiel Ansah, DE/BYU
Ansah is another no-name that has launched himself into first round consideration, and for good reason too. Ansah has lined up at nose tackle, five-technique DE and outside linebacker in BYU’s 3-4 scheme, and versatility is something the Flacons love on defense. Scouts have said he has a rare combination of size, speed and natural athleticism are evident. He’s a lightning quick edge rusher, but can fit about anywhere the Falcons ask him to play.
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