2013 NFL Mock Draft (2 Full Rounds, Projected Trades)
Round 2
33. New England Patriots: Jamar Taylor CB (Boise State)
(Trade w/ Jacksonville: New England sends 1st Round pick (29th overall) to Jacksonville for 2nd Round pick (#33 overall) and 4th Round pick (#98 overall) to complete deal)
The Patriots could sure use some more cornerbacks, especially with Aqib Talib only signed through the 2013 season and Alfonzo Dennard facing legal issues. Jamar Taylor, who enjoyed a terrific workout at The Combine (4.39 40 yard dash, 22 bench press reps,), was a very productive player during his career at Boise State and has the ball-skills to be a factor at the pro level (2012: 51 tackles, 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles). In addition, Taylor possesses solid size (5’11” 192 lbs.) and speed to make him a fringe 1st Round candidate.
34. San Francisco 49ers: Jesse Williams NT (Alabama)
Although the 49ers are a young and emerging team, they nevertheless have some pressing issues to address in this month’s Draft. Ricky Jean-Francois and Isaac Sopoaga both left via Free Agency, and the 49ers could stand to use a future starter at the nose tackle position. Jesse Williams of Alabama at 6’3″ 320 lbs. (37 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sack in 2012) could be just the space-eater that the 49ers could utilize as a 0-Technique, and even in a 5-Technique defensive end role on occasion.
35. Philadelphia Eagles: E.J. Manuel QB (Florida State)
My guess is that Philadelphia will try to find a quarterback on Day 2 of the Draft, and the Eagles might elect to go with the athletic E.J. Manuel from Florida State. Manuel replaced Christian Ponder at Florida State and led the Seminoles to an Orange Bowl victory as a senior (263 for 387, 3,392 yards, 23 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 4 rushing touchdowns). In addition to his large frame (6’4″ 237 lbs.), Manuel possesses a good deal of athletic ability as a runner, and thrower on the run. While Manuel’s decision-making under duress leaves much to be desired (vs. Florida last year) I still believe that he will be on the Eagles’ wish list of QB prospects.
36. Detroit Lions: Menelik Watson OT (Florida State)
Detroit lost right tackle Gosder Cherulis this past offseason, and Jeff Backus is entering his 13th season this fall. If the Lions wish to bolster their offensive line, they might be wise to target Menelik Watson if he is available in Round 2. 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.
37. Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Cyprien SS (Florida International)
Although Reggie Nelson is signed long term, Chris Crocker (2013), Nate Clements (2013), and Taylor Mays (2014) will all be reaching UFA status soon. Thus, the Bengals could be looking to take a safety for depth/future starting purposes. Jonathan Cyprien’s stock seems to be rising fast, and there is good reason for that as the Florida International strong safety shined during Senior Bowl week, and enjoyed a solid 2012 season with the Golden Panthers (93 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 4 interceptions). Although Cyprien is not as agile as Matt Elam is in pass-coverage, he does possess decent size (6′ 217 lbs.), and can play with toughness near the line of scrimmage in run support.
38. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Glennon QB (North Carolina State)
Bruce Arians apparently thinks that Kimo von Oelhoffen’s “fall breaker” Carson Palmer can still be an effective signal-caller. Even if Palmer has a season or two left in him, Arizona would be wise to invest a mid-Round draft pick in a quarterback. The tall (6’7″ 225 lbs.) North Carolina State prospect did a fine job during his two years as a starter (4,031 passing yards and 31 touchdowns in 2012) after he took over for Russell Wilson back in 2011. Although Glennon’s completion percentage from last season (58.4%) and overall accuracy might be a cause for concern, his rifle-arm is sure to drive him up draft boards around the league.
39. New York Jets: Ryan Nassib QB (Syracuse)
New offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg could be intrigued by Ryan Nassib of Syracuse if he falls into the 2nd Round. Nassib (6’2″ 227 lbs.) was Doug 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 touchdowns. Last year was Nassib’s finest as he threw for 3,753 yards and 26 touchdowns as the Orange won the Pinstripe Bowl.
40. Tennessee Titans: Kawann Short DT (Purdue)
The Titans could double-dip along their defensive line in this year’s draft, especially now that Sen’Derrick Marks has gone to Jacksonville. Thus, Tennessee might be wise to add some depth to compete with youngsters Jurrell Casey and Mike Martin. The 6’3″ 299 lb. Short had a terrific year on an otherwise mediocre Boilermaker defense. Overall, Kawann registered 42 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 6.0 sacks from the interior of the defensive line. Short has the short-area quickness to make plays and gap=shoot, and would be a solid value pick in the middle of the 2nd round.
41. Buffalo Bills: Damontre Moore DE/OLB (Texas A&M)
Buffalo could stand to use some depth at outside linebacker as they transition to a 3-4 defense this season. At 6’4″ 250 lbs., Moore led the Aggies last year in tackles (85), tackles for loss 21.0, sacks (12.5) as he emerged as one of the S.E.C.’s best pass-rushers.
The production and scheme-versatility definitely exist with Moore, as well as the talent, and I am sure that some team will look past his “off-field issues” and poor workout numbers. If the Bills select their signal-caller in Round 1, it would not shock me at all to see them try to upgrade their pass-rush in Round 2 or Round 3 of this month’s draft.
42. Cleveland Browns: Johnthan Banks CB/FS (Mississippi State)
(Trade w/ Miami: Swap 1st Round picks (#6 overall) and (#12 overall), Miami sends 2nd Round pick (#42 overall) to complete deal)
Cleveland’s new defensive coordinator Ray Horton will probably want to add another cornerback to the roster. So if they pass on one in Round 1, it wouldn’t shock me if they went after one on Day 2 of the draft. The 2012 Jim Thorpe Award winner possesses a tall and lanky frame (6’2″ 185 lbs.), and has shown the ability to make plays on the football even as a zone-scheme guy (16 career interceptions). Banks can also mix it up in the run-game (125 Tackles the last two seasons), and even has the skill-set to play the free safety position (he started at the position as a freshman in college). Banks’ 40 time at The Combine though (4.62) could drop him into Round 2 if teams were not impressed by his fastest pro day time in the workout (4.58).
43. Baltimore Ravens: Margus Hunt DE (Southern Methodist)
(Trade w/ Tampa Bay: Swap 2nd Round picks (#43 overall and #62 overall), Baltimore sends 3rd Round pick (#94 overall), 4th Round pick (#129 overall), and 6th Round pick (#199 overall) to Tampa Bay to complete deal)
If Margus Hunt of S.M.U. falls this far, I would have to believe that Ozzie Newsome would jump at the chance to inject his veteran defensive line with a little bit of youth and explosiveness. 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 at the collegiate level. In 2012, Hunt registered 31 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 8.0 sacks to go along with 2 forced fumbles and an Interception for the Mustangs. Due to his height, Hunt also shined as a kick blocker, and Margus managed to record 17 blocked kicks during his collegiate career.
44. Carolina Panthers: Eric Reid FS (Louisiana State)
Carolina needs more at the safety position than Haruki Nakamura and Mike Mitchell, plain and simple. A two-year starter with the Bayou Bengals, Reid emerged as another tremendously talented L.S.U. defensive back over the 2011 and 2012 seasons. A big-hitting and larger framed safety (6’1″ 213 lbs.), Eric proved willing to mix things up in the run-game and finished third on the team in tackles last year with 91 to go along with his 2 interceptions. While Reid must prove he is agile enough to stay with more athletic tight ends, he is definitely worth a mid-2nd Round investment for a safety-needy team like the Panthers.
45. San Diego Chargers: Jamie Collins OLB (Southern Mississippi)
A while back, I mentioned how the versatile Jamie Collins (6’3″ 250 lbs.) could be a potential mid-Round steal for the Steelers to take to shore up their pass-rushing needs. Now that Collins has displayed his athletic ability during his postseson workouts, he could be in the running to be a mid-2nd Round pick, and help a team like the Chargers. Versatility-wise, Collins moved from defensive back to linebacker to defensive end during his collegiate career, and was one of Conference USA’s most feared pass-rushers over the last two seasons. As a “bandit end,” Collins registered 190 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 39.5 tackles for loss, 5 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions. While Collins is a bit raw in terms of his ability to “set the edge” against the run game, he could be a lethal situational pass-rusher while he develops as an outside linebacker.
46. St. Louis Rams: Giovani Bernard RB (North Carolina)
The Rams need a replacement for Steven Jackson, and Giovani Bernard could be a terrific value pick in the middle of Round 2. Bernard (5’8″ 202 lbs.) was not only awesome on the ground for the Tar Heels over his career (2011-2012: 2,481 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns), but he was also a weapon in the passing game too (2011-2012: 92 catches for 852 yards and 6 touchdowns 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 he could be a solid fit with St. Louis.
47. Dallas Cowboys: Alex Okafor DE (Texas)
A slip by Alex Okafor could benefit a team like Dallas who is in need of a defensive end to develop behind DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer as they transition to a 4-3 scheme. Last year, Alex racked up 68 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks over 13 games, and did so with his talented pass-rushing mate Jackson Jeffcoat sidelined for most of the year with a pectoral injury. Equipped with a nice burst upfield for a bigger guy (6’4″ 264 lbs.), Okafor could make the Cowboys’ pass-rush even more potent.