Monday, January 14, 2013

Conference Championship Round Mock Draft

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14) - Geno Smith (QB/West Virginia)



Now that Andy Reid is the head coach in Kansas City, the team will look for a mobile quarterback who can throw as well.  Luckily, the top quarterback available fits that role.

Smith isn't as big as Donovan McNabb (6'5", 240) but at 6'3", 220, he has a better frame than Michael Vick did in Reid's offense.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14) - Jarvis Jones (OLB/Georgia)



Jacksonville may have the second overall pick, but they will get the best player in this draft.  Jones is a fantastic pass rusher, but he does so much more for the defense as well.  A complete multidimensional player who  will be an immediate upgrade on the Jaguars defense.

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12) - Star Lotulelei (DT/Utah)



Oakland's defensive line is a mess.  Not only is the unit unable to get to the quarterback, but they can't defend the run either.  Lotulelei will command double teams in the pass rush and plug up lanes on the run.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12) - Luke Joeckel (OT/Texas A&M)



Philadelphia's offensive line surrendered 48 sacks last season, which can't happen when the fragile Michael Vick is the signal caller for the team.  Their next quarterback will need protection.

5. Detroit Lions (4-12) - Damontre Moore (DE/Texas A&M)



Cliff Avril played poorly last season after being given the franchise tag so there is a chance he could walk in free agency.  Kyle Vanden Bosch is also in the final year of his contract.

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11) - DeMarcus Milliner (CB/Alabama)



Joe Haden  is a fantastic cornerback, but in a passing league you need two cornerbacks.  Milliner is a shutdown cornerback who can take away the entire side of a field.

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11) - Eric Fisher (OT/Central Michigan)



This is a bit of a reach for Fisher, but Arizona is desperate for an offensive tackle and Taylor Lewan decided to stay in school.  Arizona has allowed 162 sacks in the past three seasons.

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10) - Tavon Austin (WR/West Virginia)



Buffalo needs help at receiver, especially if they are stuck with Ryan Fitzpatrick for another season.  Austin is a versatile threat, much like Percy Harvin in Minnesota.

9. New York Jets (6-10) - Bjoern Werner (DE/Florida State)



New York's defense has taken a step back in the past two seasons, mainly due to their lack of a true pass rushing threat.  Adding Werner can prevent the team from relying on blitzing.

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10) - Jonathan Banks (CB/Mississippi State)



Tennessee needs help at both cornerback and defensive end, so taking the best player available at either spot will be most likely.  Banks is a solid cornerback who dominated opposing offenses in the SEC.

11. San Diego Chargers (7-9) - Johnathan Hankins (DT/Ohio State)
 


San Diego has other needs, but Hankins is the best player available who also fills a need.  Hankins can bolster the defensive line in San Diego.

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9) - Dion Jordan (DE/Oregon)



Miami was the second-highest blitzing team in the NFL, something that could backfire on them next season.  Adding another quality pass rusher across from Cameron Wake can help this.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) - Sheldon Richardson (DT/Missouri)



Gerald McCoy is a stud, but Tampa Bay could add another quality defensive lineman.  Adding another quality defensive tackle could make Tampa Bay's one of the league's best.

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9) - John Jenkins (DT/Georgia)



Carolina couldn't defend the run to save their lives last season.  The team has been thin at defensive tackle for the past two seasons and the team will need to bring in talent at the position.

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9) - Manti Te'o (LB/Notre Dame)



Te'o falls because of his performance in the National Championship, but his overall season shouldn't make him fall too far.  New Orleans has needs all over their defense that will need to be addressed in the offseason.

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1) - Keenan Allen (WR/California)



Danny Amendola is not healthy enough to be the top target for Sam Bradford.  Adding a wide receiver in the offseason will be necessary in St. Louis.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) - Barkevious Mingo (DE/LSU)



There is a good chance James Harrison will be cut in the offseason.  If he is, however, the Steelers will need to find someone who can get to the quarterback.

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8) - Chance Warmack (G/Alabama)



Dallas needs to upgrade their interior offensive line.  Warmack is an elite prospect who fals here because he doesn't play at a premium position.

19.  New York Giants (9-7) - Alec Ogletree (LB/Georgia)



New York reportedly wants to upgrade their linebacker unit this season, which means Chase Blackburn may not return in he offseason.  If he walks, the team will have a void in the middle of their defense.

20. Chicago Bears (10-6) - Jonathan Cooper (G/North Carolina)



Chicago struggled late in the season due to their offensive line.  Adding a mainstay at the position will be necessary in the offseason.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) - Kevin Minter (LB/LSU)



Rey Maualuga was terrible this season and is a free agent.  Cincinnati could look to the draft to upgrade the position.

22. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1) - Kenny Vaccaro (S/Texas)



St. Louis' cornerbacks played phenomenally last season, but they need help at safety. Vaccaro had a solid season which has caused him to jump up the draft boards.

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6) - Robert Woods (WR/USC)



Christian Ponder needs more option at wide receiver.  Percy Harvin, who is often injured, is his only reliable target.

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5) - Sam Montgomery (DE/LSU)



 Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney are getting older and will need a younger player who can rotate in with them.  Montgomery is talented enough to go in the top half of the draft, but has fallen due to concerns about his knee.

25. Seattle Seahawks (11-5) - Ezekiel Ansah (DE/BYU)



Chris Clemons is now a big question mark after tearing his ACL.  Seattle has other players who can get to the quarterback, but Ansah is the best player available.

26. Green Bay Packers (11-5) - Giovani Bernard (RB/North Carolina)



Green Bay's unbalanced offense caught up to them in the postseason.  They will need to add a running back in the offseason to help keep defenses honest in 2013.

27. Houston Texans (12-4) - Terrance Williams (WR/Baylor)



Across from the aging Andre Johnson, Houston does not have many options in the passing game.  The Texans will need to bring in another quality receiver soon.

28. Denver Broncos (13-3) - Jesse Williams (DT/Alabama)



Denver needs a big man in the middle to clog up running lanes.  Derek Wolfe, last year's top pick, will move to defensive end with this move.

29. New England Patriots (12-4) - Barrett Jones (C/Alabama)



Bill Belichick loves his versatile players and Jones fits that prototype.  A center in college, Jones can play everywhere but left tackle in the NFL.

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3) - Zach Ertz (TE/Stanford)



Tony Gonzalez has hinted at retirement all season.  If he goes, Matt Ryan will need a safety valve for next season.

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1) - Alex Okafor (DE/Texas)



San Francisco has a great pass rushing unit, but there is not a lot of depth in the position.  With few needs, San Francisco is able to take the best player available.

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6) - Matt Elam (S/Florida)



Ray Lewis will retire at the season's end, but every years, the Ravens also deal with whether or not Ed Reed will do the same almost every year.  Reed will turn 35 this September.

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