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The Armchair Quarterback’s Guide To The NFL: Final Mock Draft And Position Rankings

By Lyle Graversen

January 1,2013; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half of the 2013 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Michigan Wolverines 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
January 1,2013; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half of the 2013 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Michigan Wolverines 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 3, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA: Michigan Wolverines offensive linesman Taylor Lewan (77) makes a block in the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA: Michigan Wolverines offensive linesman Taylor Lewan (77) makes a block in the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Buffalo Bills – Taylor Lewan – OT – Michigan

While you can make a strong case for Buffalo picking an offensive weapon for EJ Manuel here I think there is a much better chance of good WRs and TEs being available to them in the 2nd round while the last of the three top offensive tackles is still on the board here. Lewan is a big time talent that would give Buffalo some options of playing him on the right or left side. Either way, solidifying their OL will only help Manuel succeed and more weapons can be added later.

10. Detroit Lions – Eric Ebron – TE – North Carolina

This pick makes sense the more I think about it. Detroit’s new offensive coordinator had a field day in New Orleans with Jimmy Graham and now adding the incredibly talented Ebron to an offense that already boasts Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush, and Golden Tate will give opposing defenses fits. They’ll need to address the defense with their next few picks, but Ebron is too enticing to pass up.

11. Tennessee Titans – Anthony Barr – OLB – UCLA

While you can make a strong case for a CB here, this is a pretty deep draft for CBs as well and Anthony Barr is clearly the best player on the board at this point. Barr was once seen as a lock for a top ten pick but has been lost in the shuffle a little as other prospects took their turn as the media “flavor of the week”. Some are speculating a QB here as well, but I see the Titans giving Jake Locker at least one more chance. Adding a star player like Barr on defense should help take a little pressure off Locker if he doesn’t feel like he needs to score quite so many points each week in order to win.

12. New York Giants – Odell Beckham Jr. – WR – LSU

While I think the Giants would love to see either Aaron Donald, Eric Ebron, or even Taylor Lewan fall to them here, that didn’t happen in this mock draft. The Giants clear cut top priority for this offseason is getting Eli Manning back on track. At this point with the players left the best way to help do that is by adding the best WR on the board which is Beckham. Beckham is capable of making big plays in both the receiving game and on special teams and I’m a big fan of how he uses his hands to go up and snag passes. This may be earlier than some have ODJ going, but I’ll be surprised if he makes it out of the first half of the first round.

13. St. Louis Rams – HaHa Clinton-Dix – S – Alabama

The Rams already have a great defensive front but their secondary was the one area holding them back from being elite last season. While I like the physicality of Calvin Pryor and think he may end up being the more elite safety in this draft, what St. Louis really needs is a player on the back line to quarterback their secondary and Clinton-Dix is a much better choice to fill that role.

14. Chicago Bears – Calvin Pryor – S – Chicago

The Bears would love Aaron Donald to still be available, but he’s long gone at this point. I considered other defensive tackles like Louis Nix, Ra’Shede Hageman, and Timmy Jernigan, but they all feel like a little bit of a reach here. Adding Pryor helps in two different areas. One he can help sure up the pass defense, but his physicality can also help sure up the middle of the field and should help in the run defense that was so bad last year as well.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers – Darqueze Dennard – CB – Michigan State

Pittsburgh needs help at CB and at this point they have their pick of any CB that they want. I’m going with Dennard over Justin Gilbert because I think while Gilbert is faster and may have a few more “flash” plays, that Dennard’s all around game is more advanced and he’ll be the more dependable player. I also considered Louis Nix here and think they may even consider Odell Beckham Jr. if he falls this far.

16. (TRADE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Johnny Manziel – QB – Texas A&M

Having picked up a couple of extra picks in the trade back with Dallas the Bucs now have a little more freedom and a little less pressure on this pick. That allows them to take a chance on “Johnny Football”. While I think everyone believes that Lovie Smith will get Tampa’s defense playing well, what he lacked in his best years in Chicago was an explosive offense. Manziel offers that kind of upside. Plus, having Vincent Jackson on the roster gives Manziel a very similar target to Mike Evans that he had in college.

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