2013 NFL Mock Draft 3.0 (Pro Bowl Week Edition)
33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Barrett Jones OG/C/OT (Alabama)
Long-time Jaguar Center Brad Meester will be entering his 14th N.F.L. season in 2013, and will be a UFA this offseasonas well. With little in the way of depth at Center and Guard, the Jaguars could opt to select the versatile Barrett Jones (6’4″ 305 lbs.) of Alabama. Jones not only won the 2012 Rimington Trophy (Top Center in College Football), but he also won the 2011 Outland Trophy (Top Interior Lineman in College Football). Overall, Jones was a 4-year starter at Alabama and started at Center, Right Guard, and Left Tackle, and could best serve the Jaguars who are in need of talent in the interior of their Offensive Line.
34. Kansas City Chiefs: Matt Barkley QB (Southern Cal)
I would have a hard time believing that Andy Reid would pass on a Quarterback in Round 2 if he does not trade for Nick Foles or sign one in Free Agency in the event he goes O-Line on Day 1. I believe that Matt Barkley’s stock will rise once he comes back from his shoulder surgery and teams begin to look at more film of him and his successful collegiate career as a whole (246 for 387, 3,273 Yards, 63.6%, 36 TD’s & 15 INT’s was a “down year” in 2012). Although Barkley might not be considered the most athletic Quarterback, he ran a Pro-Style system at Southern Cal, he possesses a strong arm and can make every throw on the field, and can do so in an accurate fashion.
35. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Poyer CB/FS (Oregon State)
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be a UFA this offseason, while Nnamdi Asomugha might be considered expendable for salary cap purposes. If one or both leave, the Eagles could definitely use the services of a solid Cornerback like Jordan Poyer. A 1st Team All-American, Poyer (5’11” 190 lbs.) picked off 7 passes this past year for the Beavers, and definitely illustrated that he could hold his own against the run and as a tackler as well (51 Tackles, 5.0 TFL’s, and 2.0 Sacks). A versatile prospect as well, Poyer played Free Safety during his Freshman season in Corvallis, and returned Kickoffs and Punts before he became a starter during his Freshman and Sophomore campaigns.
36. Detroit Lions: D.J. Fluker OT (Alabama)
Although the Lions selected Riley Reiff in Round 1 last year, they still have uncertainty at the Tackle positions. Left Tackle Jeff Backus will be entering his 13th year in the League in 2013, and will be a UFA after the 2013 season ends. While 2008 1st Round pick and starting Right Tackle Gosder Cherilus will be a UFA this offseason. The Lions could try to add a Right Tackle of the future if Cherilus leaves, and D.J. Fluker (6’5″ 355 lbs.) could be just the road-grader Detroit needs to kick-start their running game.
37. Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Lacy RB (Alabama)
Cincinnati is in need of some depth at the Running Back position. With two 2nd Round selections, I would think that the Bengals would use one on someone to help BenJarvus Green-Ellis shoulder the load in the ground attack. Eddie Lacy would be a perfect fit with the Bengals, especially in the rough and tough A.F.C. North. The 5’10” 220 lb. bruiser stepped into the starring role in the Tide’s Backfield last season and logged 204 Carries, 1,322 Yards, 17 TD’s and even put up 22 Catches, 189 Yards, 2 TD’s to his stat line as Alabama won the National Championship.
38. Arizona Cardinals: Oday Aboushi OT (Virginia)
The Cardinals must find a way to rebuild their Offensive Line under Bruce Arians. As we saw in Cleveland with Tim Couch, in Pittsburgh with Big Ben, and in Indianapolis with Andrew Luck: the Quarterback will be hung out to dry and Arians’ game-planning will not change according to the talent, or lack thereof, the Offensive Line in place possesses. Arizona’s Offensive Line surrendered a League high 58.0 Sacks last year, and Bobby Massie and D’Anthony Batiste looked lost at the Right and Left Tackle positions numerous times in 2012. The Cardinals could target Oday Aboushi (6’5″ 310 lbs.) of Virginia to fill the void at either one of the positions. The versatile Aboushi started his final two and a half years with the Cavaliers at Left Tackle, but did play Right Tackle during his collegiate career too.
39. New York Jets: Tyler Wilson QB (Arkansas)
Color me unimpressed with the situation the Jets currently have at Quarterback. Outside of the “Tebow Nightmare,” New York will be forced to work with the inconsistent Mark Sanchez and Greg McElroy if they do not draft someone this year. New Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg could be intrigued by Tyler Wilson of Arkansas if he falls into the 2nd Round. After a terrific Junior campaign under Bobby Petrino (3,638 Passing Yards and 24 to 6 TD/INT ratio), Wilson (6’2″ 218 lbs.) struggled last year (3,387 Passing Yards and 21 to 13 TD/INT ratio) after Petrino was fired and the signal-caller sustained a concussion early during the regular season. Wilson should garner early 2nd Round consideration however as he possesses adequate arm strength, a good deal of accuracy, and a knowledge of a pro-style passing game from his time under Petrino.
40. Tennessee Titans: Desmond Trufant CB (Washington)
Cortland Finnegan left for St. Louis last season, Ryan Mouton will be a UFA this offseason, and Alterraun Verner is set to reach UFA status in the Spring of 2014. While it might be a bit early to game-plan possible transition strategies, the Titans could decide to bolster their Secondary by selecting a player on Day 2 of the Draft. Trufant (5’11” 190 lbs.) was a three-year starter for the Huskies and emerged as the program’s “shut-down” guy during the period as well (4 Interceptions and 23 PD’s over said span). Trufant has impressed scouts over the last week at Senior Bowl practices, and could see his stock continue to rise over the coming weeks.
41. Buffalo Bills: Ryan Nassib QB (Syracuse)
If Buffalo does not target a Quarterback with the 8th overall pick, and new Head Coach Doug Marrone is not ga-ga over Ryan Fitzpatrick, I am sure that Ryan Nassib (6’2″ 223 lbs.) will be on the franchise’s radar. Nassib was Marrone’s starting signal-caller at Syracuse for three years and improved each and every season with the Orange in the areas of: Completions, Completion Percentage, Passing Yards, and Passing TD’s. Last year was Nassib’s finest as he threw for 3,753 Yards and 26 TD’s as the Orange won the Pinstripe Bowl. I for one would like to see Nassib fall to the Steelers in Round 2, but there is little chance he falls past Buffalo at #41.
42. Miami Dolphins: Shariff Floyd DT (Florida)
Randy Starks will be a UFA this offseason while fellow Defensive Tackle Paul Soliai will reach UFA status in 2014. To hedge their bets in the event that they lose both players, it would serve Miami well to select one of the numerous talented Defensive Tackle prospects available in this year’s Draft Class. Floyd (6’3″ 303 lbs.) played both Defensive End and Defensive Tackle at Florida, although he probably played his best football last season on the interior as he displayed a surprising amount of quickness for a man his size. Overall, Floyd notched 46 Tackles, 3.0 Sacks, and a team-leading 13.0 TFL’s during his Junior season, and could garner interest from teams who employ 3-4 and 4-3 Defensive schemes this offseason.
43. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tyler Eifert TE (Notre Dame)
Dallas Clark will be entering his 11th season in 2013, and Tampa Bay might want to find a replacement for the veteran. Although Eifert’s 2012 stats were not particularly mind-blowing (50 Catches, 685 Yards, 4 TD’s), anyone who watched him could see that his Quarterback situation was less-than helpful, and that his athleticism was terrific for such a big-bodied pass-catcher (6’5″ 252 lbs.). I will honestly be shocked if Eifert is available to the Buccaneers in Round 2 and they decide to pass on him.
44. Carolina Panthers: DeAndre Hopkins WR (Clemson)
If the Panthers elect to take a Defensive Tackle in this year’s “DT heavy Draft Class” on Day 1, I would not be shocked to see them try to get the best Offensive playmaker on the board to help Cam Newton in Round 2. Carolina needs an eventual replacement for Steve Smith, and a boost to their WR corps as a whole. Thus, I believe that the Panthers might be intrigued to take the raw, yet ridiculously athletic DeAndre Hopkins (6’1″ 200 lbs.) if he is available in Round 2. Although he shared the WR spotlight with his teammate Sammy Watkins, all Hopkins did at Clemson was produce during his three-year stint there. After an incredibly productive Sophomore season which saw him catch 72 passes for 978 Yards and 5 TD’s, Hopkins improved to the tune of 82 Catches for 1,405 Yards and 9 TD’s this past year.
45. San Diego Chargers: Dallas Thomas OG/OT (Tennessee)
Philip Rivers was bludgeoned last season as an assortment of backups did their best to stop the opposing pass-rushers. San Diego gave up 49.0 Sacks last year (4th most in the League), and could definitely use as many talented Offensive Linemen as they can get as Rivers enters his 10th season in the N.F.L.. One player who the Chargers could target early in Round 2 is the versatile Dallas Thomas of Tennessee. A two-year starter at Left Tackle with the Volunteers in 2010 and 2011, Thomas kicked in to Left Guard last year and emerged as one of the best Interior Linemen in the nation (37 career starts). San Diego could try him at both Guard and Tackle, and determine where he eventually fits best. But at this point, the Chargers could use all the talent they can get in the trenches.
46. St. Louis Rams: Giovani Bernard RB (North Carolina)
If the Rams are not confident in the Daryl Richardson/Isaiah Pead combo. after Steven Jackson leaves this offseason, it might be wise for them to take a Running Back early in the draft process. After two incredibly productive years with the Tar Heels, Bernard declared for the Draft, and it was a wise choice considering what has happened to guys like Marcus Lattimore. Bernard (5’10” 205 lbs.) was not only awesome on the ground for North Carolina (2,481 Yards Rushing and 25 TD’s in 2011 and 2012), but he was also a weapon in the passing game too (92 Catches for 852 Yards and 6 TD’s in 2011 and 2012). “Every-Down Backs” are not easy to find, and although the position has been devalued somewhat in recent seasons, Bernard should not last on the draft board for very long on Day 2 if he does not go on the opening night.
47. Dallas Cowboys: Datone Jones DE (UCLA)
The Cowboys will be switching to a 4-3 under Monte Kiffin. While Demarcus Ware will be manning one Defensive End spot, soon to be UFA Anthony Spencer, who is a better fit in a 3-4 scheme will likely be on his way out of town. If and when this happens, Dallas will need another Defensive End to pair with Ware, and UCLA’s Datone Jones could intrigue the Cowboys. A three-year starter with the Bruins, Jones (6’4″ 280 lbs.) registered career highs in Tackles (62), Sacks (6.5), and TFL’s (19.5) as the Bruins captured the Pac-12 South title.