2013 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 (2 Full Rounds), The Pittsburgh Steelers Select…
Round 2 Cont.
48. Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Hunter WR (Tennessee)
Even without “Butterfingers McNoShow,” the Steelers still have a talented Receiving corps. Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, and Jerricho Cotchery form a nice trio, but what the unit truly lacks is size and a large play-maker at the position. Sure, Plaxico Burress is on the roster right now, but I have a hard time believing that he will stick and stay next year. If Pittsburgh wants to add another dimension to their passing game and make Big Ben happy, they might look at Justin Hunter of Tennessee. Hunter was primed for a breakout season in 2011 until a knee injury derailed him three games into the year. I guess the injury did not faze Hunter too much, because the 6’4″ 196 lb. pass-catcher recorded 73 Catches for 1,083 Yards and 9 TD’s in 2012. Hunter’s overall stock could rise in the coming weeks, especially after he ran a 4.44 40 Yard Dash at The Combine.
49. New York Giants: Tank Carradine DE (Florida State)
Tank Carradine might have sustained an ACL injury in late-November, but he was in the midst of a career year with the Seminoles beforehand. After one year as a rotational Defensive End, Carradine burst on the scene after Brandon Jenkins went down with a foot injury during the Seminoles’ opening game last year. Until Tank went down with his ACL injury, he had racked up 80 Tackles, 11.0 Sacks, and 13.0 TFL’s, and formed a lethal pass-rushing duo with Bjoern Werner. The Giants can afford to gamble on a player like Carradine (6’4″ 276 lbs.) due to the fact that they have so many talented pass-rushers on their roster right now and can afford to let him heal from his injury.
50. Chicago Bears: Quinton Patton WR (Louisiana Tech)
With Johnny Knox retired, and the Bears in need of an effective slot Receiver not named Devin Hester, I believe that Chicago’s brass will be looking for an upgrade at the position. After he starred at Coffeyville CC in Kansas as a Wide Receiver and Punter, Quinton Patton really came into his own at Louisiana Tech over the last two years. In 25 games, Patton registered 100 Catches, 2,592 Yards, and 24 TD’s with the Bulldogs! Although Patton does not possess immense size (6′ 204 lbs.) for a pass-catcher, he reminds me of a slightly-larger Emmanuel Sanders with more big-play and downfield receiving ability.
51. Washington Redskins: Eric Reid FS (Louisiana State)
Washington’s Pass Defense ranked 30th overall last year in Passing Yards allowed per game, and they will probably try to shore up their Secondary early on Day 2. A two-year starter with the Bayou Bengals, Eric Reid established himself as yet another solid L.S.U. Defensive Back over the 2011 and 2012 seasons. A big-hitting and larger Safety (6’1″ 213 lbs.), Reid proved willing to mix things up in the run-game and finished 3rd on the team in Tackles last year with 91 to go along with his 2 Interceptions.
52. Minnesota Vikings: Brandon Williams DT (Missouri Southern)
Brandon Williams of Missouri Southern (6’1″ 335 lbs.) could be just the player who the Vikings need to clog the middle in their Defensive scheme. A three-year starter with the Lions, Williams did a terrific job last year as he finished 2nd on his team in Tackles (68), 1st in TFL’s (16.5), 1st in Sacks (8.5), and 1st in Forced Fumbles (5). For a man his size, Williams is surprisingly mobile. So if he can prove that he can handle an increase in his competition at the professional level, he will make some team will be very happy.
53. Cincinnati Bengals: Giovani Bernard RB (North Carolina)
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 (5’8″ 202 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 and the Bengals could be a solid fit.
54. Miami Dolphins: Menelik Watson OT (Florida State)
Although the Dolphins have 2012 2nd Round pick Johnathan Martin to groom, they will still need another Tackle to take the place of Jake Long if he departs this offseason. If Menelik Watson falls to Miami in Round 2, and they have not taken a Defensive Tackle at that point, this pick would make total sense. The English-born Watson was a former basketball player and boxer before he took up football recently at a Junior College and then Florida State. Although he is raw in terms of his overall technique, the 6’5″ 310 lb. Watson has the upside and strength to develop into a stellar Right Tackle as a professional.
55. Green Bay Packers: Barrett Jones OG/C/OT (Alabama)
The Packers will need to address the issues along the Interior of their Offensive Line in this year’s Draft. Thus, if Barrett Jones of Alabama falls to them in Round 2, I am sure that Green Bay’s brass would make him their selection. Jones (6’4″ 306 lbs.) 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). Although Jones will not blow anyone away with his quickness or agility, he is a heady player who can use his leverage well and possesses good fundamentals. Overall, Jones was a 4-year starter at Alabama and started at Center, Right Guard, and Left Tackle, and his versatility will definitely be a big help to Green Bay’s make-shift Offensive Line.
56. Seattle Seahawks: Dallas Thomas OG/OT (Tennessee)
Breno Giocamini will be a UFA in 2014, so the Seahawks might be in the market for a developmental upgrade at Right Tackle if they elect not to sign him. Furthermore, Seattle could stand to use some depth at the Guard position as well. If Dallas Thomas is available late in Round 2, I could see the Seahawks drafting the versatile prospect to start at Left Guard, Right Guard, or Right Tackle. A two-year starter at Left Tackle with the Volunteers in 2010 and 2011 (37 career starts), Thomas (6’5″ 306 lbs.) kicked in to Left Guard last year and emerged as one of the best Interior Linemen in the nation.
57. Houston Texans: Robert Woods WR (Southern Cal)
The Texans could definitely use another play-making threat opposite Andre Johnson, and Robert Woods might be just the player Houston needs to make their Offense and even more formidable force. The 6′ 201 lb. Woods was assumed to have a monster 2012 season after he caught 111 passes for 1,292 Yards and 15 TD’s in 2011. Unfortunately for Woods, the Trojans were inconsistent this past year, and Woods was relegated to the #2 WR role behind the explosive Marqise Lee. Down year aside, Woods still caught 76 balls for 846 Yards and 11 TD’s for Southern Cal, and he could be a real steal in Round 2 if he can recover from his ankle injury.
58. Denver Broncos: David Amerson CB/FS (North Carolina State)
I like David Amerson as a physical specimen, a ball-hawk, and as someone who is unafraid to mix it up in the run game. Yet his ability to cover of quicker and more fleet-footed pass-catchers, leaves much to be desired, and a transition to Free Safety would be beneficial to him and the team who selects him. If Amerson is moved to Free Safety at the pro level, the tall and lanky (6’1″ 205 lbs.) N.C. State product would have plus coverage skills for the position, and be at more of an advantage that far off of the line of scrimmage. Denver cannot afford to have Rahim Moore on their roster and making mistakes anymore, and Amerson would be a nice upgrade for their shoddy Secondary at either Cornerback or Safety.
59. New England Patriots: Terrance Williams WR (Baylor)
With Wes Welker and Deion Branch set to become UFA’s this month, the Patriots might want to find Tom Brady another pas-catcher via the Draft. Brady will need weapons to work with outside the numbers, and a player like Terrance Williams could make New England’s talented Tight Ends even more difficult to deal with in the future. Williams has good size (6’2″ 208 lbs.) and emerged as Baylor’s big-play Wide Receiver after Kendall Wright departed last year (97 Catches, 1,832 Yards, and 12 TD’s).
60. Atlanta Falcons: Blidi Wreh-Wilson CB/FS (Connecticut)
Dunta Robinson is scheduled to make $29.5 million dollars in Base Salary over the next 3 years, while Asante Samuel will be entering his 11th season in 2013. The Falcons must improve their 23rd Ranked (Yards Allowed) Pass Defense, and they could target a Defensive Back on Day 2 like Blidi Wreh-Wilson of UConn. Wreh-Wilson (2012: 47 Tackles, 1 INT, 9 PD’s) is similar to Johnthan Banks from a frame-perspective (6’1″ 195 lbs.), but possesses a surprising amount of athleticism for a taller Cornerback.
61. San Francisco 49ers: Margus Hunt DE (Southern Methodist)
San Francisco could use a young 5-Technique to groom behind Justin Smith. Margus Hunt of Southern Methodist in could develop into a 2-Gap force, and the 49ers could be a solid team for him to develop his game. The 6’8″ 277 lb. Estonian picked up football after he arrived at S.M.U. as a member of the track-team, and has improved each and every season. In 2012, Hunt registered 31 Tackles, 11.5 TFL’s, and 8.0 Sacks to go along with 2 Forced Fumbles and an Interception for the Mustangs. More impressively however was the fact that Hunt blocked 17 Kicks during his collegiate career
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62. Baltimore Ravens: Khaseem Greene ILB/OLB (Rutgers)
I for one am a big fan of Khaseem Greene, and the former Safety (6’1″ 241 lbs.) would provide the Ravens’ Defense with some much needed athleticism from the Inside Linebacker position. A hard-nosed “Tackling Machine,” Greene registered 141 and 136 Tackles during his two years as an Inside Linebacker after he transitioned from Safety, and put up 14.0 and 12.0 TFL’s during those years too. Greene does a solid job in pass coverage, and if he can hold his own enough at the point of attack, he should develop into a first-rate Inside Linebacker if a 3-4 team takes a chance on him.
Kevin Colbert will be a busy man over the next two months. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Readers: Do you agree with the selections I made? Should the Steelers look elsewhere in Round 1 and Round 2?
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