Draft Day is such a happy day. It's been difficult to cover the 2013 class the way I would have liked to, but I couldn't resist at least a couple rounds of mock draft indulgence. Since this has the makings of one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent memory, I plan to just sit back and enjoy during the event, but it made it especially difficult to mock. It's no fun without including some trades, so I've got the Eagles getting very active, though I expect far more movement on Days 1 and 2.
For all the unpredictability, one thing I am confident in saying is, that with 13 picks, the 49ers will somehow come out the big winners.
Round 1
1. Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Joeckel, OT (Texas A&M)
- Andy Reid has his precision passer, now it's time to invest in the guy who'll keep Alex Smith's jersey clean.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Eric Fisher, OT (Central Michigan)
- The Jags allowed the 3rd most sacks in the league in 2012 with Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne going down 50 times combined. No mas.
3. Oakland Raiders – Ezekiel Ansah, DE (BYU)
- Sharrif Floyd is a tempting interior disruptor, but for a defense 31st in sacks in 2012 a player with a JPP ceiling is too hard to pass.
4. San Diego Chargers (from Philadelphia) – Lane Johnson, OT (Oklahoma)
- New coach Mike McCoy and GM Tom Telesco know they have to keep the anti-mobile Philip Rivers clean if they want to win and dial up the trade to get it done.
5. Detroit Lions – Dee Milliner, CB (Alabama)
- No tackle is worth it here and the next best pass rushers are best suited for 3-4 defenses. Milliner is the next best option to combat Aaron Rodgers twice a year.
6. Cleveland Browns – Dion Jordan, OLB (Oregon)
- Going back to a 3-4 under aggressive coordinator Ray Horton, the lanky Jordan gets plugged in as an ideal pass rusher in the Aldon Smith mold.
7. Arizona Cardinals – Jonathan Cooper, OG (North Carolina)
- With his combo of nimble feet and a powerful punch Cooper can protect Carson Palmer from inside rushes and boost 2012's dead last ground game.
8. Buffalo Bills – Ryan Nassib, QB (Syracuse)
- The Bills need a new face at QB and Kevin Kolb is nothing more than an injury-plagued backup. Nassib may not be the answer but if he's Doug Marrone's guy they likely need to pull the trigger this early.
9. New York Jets – Tavon Austin, WR (West Virginia)
- Rex Ryan can build a tough defense out of scraps, but the Jets desperately need Austin's speed to help put points on the board.
10. Tennessee Titans – Sharrif Floyd, DT (Florida)
- The Titans are thrilled to have an elite interior force fall into their laps, so they go best player available and fill an important need.
11. San Francisco 49ers (from Philadelphia) – Tyler Eifert, TE (Notre Dame)
- Determined not to be stopped inside the 5-yard line again, Jim Harbaugh goes up to get the red-zone stud that can go up and get it like no other in this class.
12. Miami Dolphins – D.J. Fluker, OT (Alabama)
- If Miami trades for Branden Albert it blows this pick up, but it otherwise is a crucial fit for a team on the rise.
13. New York Jets – Chance Warmack, OG (Alabama)
- They want to be "ground and pound"? Warmack makes that happen regardless of who's taking the handoffs.
14. Carolina Panthers – Star Lotulelei, DT (Utah)
- Carolina finally has a star for the middle of its defensive line to complete their front seven for years to come.
15. New Orleans Saints – Barkevious Mingo, OLB (LSU)
- To win the NFC South the Saints will have to get after Matt Ryan and disrupt a dominant Falcons aerial attack. Mingo gives Rob Ryan a start.
16. St. Louis Rams – Kenny Vaccaro, S (Texas)
- In a division with Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson and the vertical passing game Arizona will employ, the versatile Vaccaro is a must in St. Louis.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jarvis Jones, OLB (Georgia)
- Jones was a collegiate stud and the bad workouts will go out the window when Dick LeBeau gets his hands on him.
18. Dallas Cowboys – Sheldon Richardson, DT (Missouri)
- Moving from a 3-4 to a 4-3 base defense under legendary coordinator Monte Kiffin, the Cowboys are in bad need of depth and playmakers on the interior.
19. New York Giants – Manti Te'o, ILB (Notre Dame)
- Te'o is a Tom Coughlin kind of guy and more importantly he brings the recognition skills to slow down Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris in the race for the NFC East.
20. Chicago Bears – Desmond Trufant, CB (Washington)
- Charles Tillman is not getting any younger and in a division with Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, the Bears can't have too many corners.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR (Tennessee)
- The knock is that Patterson is immature as a young man and a route runner. Bottom line is he's a threat to score whenever he touches the ball, and A.J. Green—an extremely mature wideout—can set the example while reaping the benefits of less double coverage.
22. St. Louis – Robert Woods, WR (USC)
- Woods is the smooth route runner who will be ready from Day 1 to replace Danny Amendola as Sam Bradford's reliable go-to guy.
23. Minnesota Vikings – Sylvester Williams, DT (North Carolina)
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The Vikings love their Williams' at defensive tackle and with Kevin Williams 32-years-old and little depth, they slot another Williams in to eat space.
24. Indianapolis Colts – Xavier Rhodes, CB (Florida State)
- Rhodes may not be the best corner left on the board but he fits the physicality the Colts want to show on defense.
25. Minnesota Vikings – Cornellius Carradine, DE (Florida State)
- There is little opposite Jared Allen—who is 31-years-old—and Carradine has a huge ceiling. After all, the best way to slow Aaron Rodgers is to sack him.
26. Green Bay Packers – Datone Jones, DE (UCLA)
- "Da Tone Setter" as Jon Gruden calls him, Jones is a highly versatile piece for a Packers defensive line that will be badly needed while Jerel Worthy comes off an ACL.
27. Houston Texans – Keenan Allen, WR (California)
- Allen blocks, catches in traffic and is a big body that's tough to bring down after the catch. He won't need to be a burner with Andre Johnson opposite.
28. Denver Broncos – D.J. Hayden, CB (Houston)
- Champ Bailey is approaching what seems like his 20th year in the league, and bets are few receivers are getting behind this gem of a story and pick.
29. Philadelphia Eagles (from New England via San Diego & San Francisco) – Geno Smith, QB (West Virginia)
- The Eagles bounce around but they come up with their QB of the future and some extra picks to start Chip Kelly's NFC East takeover.
30. Atlanta Falcons – Jamar Taylor, CB (Boise State)
- The Falcons are thin at corner and Asante Samuel is 32-years-old. Taylor has the instincts and athleticism to contribute immediately.
31. New England Patriots (from Philadelphia) – DeAndre Hopkins, WR (Clemson)
- Hopkins runs crisp routes, catches everything and can make plays after the catch. Oh yeah and New England lost 192 catches between Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd.
32. Baltimore Ravens – Alec Ogletree, ILB (Georgia)
- The Ravens are the type of organization that won't have to worry about Ogletree's character and can get the most out of his superior athleticism.
Round 2
33. Jacksonville Jaguars – Matt Barkley, QB (USC)
34. Philadelphia Eagles (from San Francisco) – Kyle Long, OT/OG (Oregon)
35. Philadelphia Eagles – Menelik Watson, OT (Florida State)
36. New York Jets (from Detroit) – Eddie Lacy, RB (Alabama)
37. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland) – Justin Pugh, OT/OG (Syracuse)
38. Arizona Cardinals – Jonathan Cyprien, S (Florida International)
39. Detroit Lions (from New York Jets) – Bjoern Werner, DE (Florida State)
40. Tennessee Titans – Arthur Brown, OLB (Kansas State)
41. Buffalo Bills – Justin Hunter, WR (Tennessee)
42. Miami Dolphins – Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB (Connecticut)
43. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kawann Short, DT (Purdue)
44. Carolina Panthers – Terrance Williams, WR (Baylor)
45. San Diego Chargers – Kevin Minter, ILB (LSU)
46. St. Louis Rams – Sio Moore, OLB (Connecticut)
47. Dallas Cowboys – Eric Reid, S (LSU)
48. Pittsburgh Steelers – Margus Hunt, DE (SMU)
49. New York Giants – Terron Armstead, OT (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
50. Chicago Bears – Zach Ertz, TE (Stanford)
51. Washington Redskins – Matt Elam, S (Florida)
52. Minnesota Vikings – Quinton Patton, WR (Louisiana Tech)
53. Cincinnati Bengals – Johnathan Franklin, RB (UCLA)
54. Miami Dolphins (from Indianapolis) – Johnathan Hankins, DT (Ohio State)
55. Green Bay Packers – Montee Ball, RB (Wisconsin)
56. Seattle Seahawks – Jesse Williams, DT (Alabama)
57. Houston Texans – Johnathan Jenkins, DT (Georgia)
58. Denver Broncos – Damontre Moore, DE (Texas A&M)
59. New England Patriots – D.J. Swearinger, S (South Carolina)
60. Atlanta Falcons – Travis Kelce, TE (Cincinnati)
61. San Francisco 49ers – Brandon Williams, DT (Missouri Southern State)
62. Baltimore Ravens – Phillip Thomas, S (Fresno State)
Trades:
- Eagles trade pick No. 4 to Chargers for picks No. 11 and No. 76
- Eagles trade pick No. 11 to 49ers for picks No. 31, No. 34 and No. 131 and No. 180
- Patriots trade pick No. 29 to Eagles for picks No. 31 and No. 136
- Lions trade pick No. 36 to Jets for picks No. 39 and No. 178 and a 2014 6th Round pick