With the draft just hours away, let's compile another mock draft. This will probably be the 1,383,493rd mock draft this year (and hopefully the one that predicts every pick). Like most drafts, this draft will probably see its fair share of trades. So as an added element, not only will I be predicting picks, but trades as well. You can have millions of mock drafts, but if they don't include teams trading picks with other teams, none of them will be correct. Let's get this party started!
1. Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan - I think Kansas city has done it's fair share of trying to trade this pick but will ultimately fail to produce a trade. Other teams may not deem any of the top talent in this draft worthy for the 1st overall pick. The Chiefs are engaged in discussions with the Miami Dolphins in a trade that would send starting left tackle Branden Albert to the Dolphins.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M - If the Jaguars want to succeed next season they'll need to protect their quarterback. Joeckel will not only be able to protect his quarterbacks blind side, but help Maurice Jones-Drew in the rushing game - adding to their strongest aspect of their offense.
3. Oakland Raiders: (Trading pick to Miami Dolphins): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma - The dolphins could sit tight at where they're at and add a corner, or another tackle but they highly covet the former quarterback. If they want him they'll have to trade up to due his rising draft stock.
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon - This pick was a bit of a head scratcher. The Eagles let both of their starting corners go so Dee Milliner makes sense here. With Jordan being coached under current head coach Chip Kelly, the Eagles decide to scoop him up now. With todays NFL it seems that the teams having the most success with their pass rush are the teams rotating defensive lineman.
5. Detroit Lions: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama - The Lions' best asset is their offensive passing attack. In order to get the ball back in the hands of Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford, they'll need to be able to turn the ball over on defense. Their Defensive line and pass rush is pretty solid, but they'll need some help on the back end of their defense. Milliner makes perfect sense with this pick.
6. Cleveland Browns: Ziggy Ansah, DE, BYU - Barkevious Mingo could make sense here but I think the general consensus on Ansah is that he's a prospect with huge upside, though he'll have to shed a few pounds to be a stand up 3-4 OLB. Geno Smith could aslo make sense here, but with Jason Campbell on the team, that may not happen.
7. Arizona Cardinals: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama - The Cardinals weren't able to pass the ball or rush the ball that effective last season. Their offense was pretty much inept. They need some help up front in the trenches. Geno Smith could also make sense here, but the need for a solid offensive lineman is a high priority. They'll probably select a QB in a later round.
8. Buffalo Bills: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia - The Bills have expressed that they'd like to take Austin. It could be a ploy to have another team trade up and select him, but they truly do need another weapon in their air attack. Tavon Austin paired with CJ Spiller and Steve Johnson could be deadly.
9. New York Jets: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU - The Jets make Mingo their first pick. With Revis gone and their pass rush not being up to par, they need help in the pass rush department.
10. Tennessee Titans: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina - Adding a good quality offensive guard will help keep Jake Locker from scrambling so much and help to keep him up right. Not to mention they'll need a good offensive line to turn Chris Johnson back into CJ2K
11. San Diego Chargers: Cordarelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee - This could be a make or break year for Phillip Rivers. He can't do it alone, and hee'll need some help with the amount of talent at the position right now.
12. Miam dolphins: (pick traded to Oakland Raiders): Sharif Floyd, DT, Florida - Many teams in this draft could use additional draft picks. The Oakland Raiders did themselves a favor and were still able to land their man.
13. New York Jets: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia - I didn't think the Jets would actually trade up to the 5th overall pick to select Sanchez years ago. I like Sanchez and wish him success, but the truth of the matter is he's struggled over the past couple of years. A new quarterback for the franchise after Sanchez's struggles is warranted. Maybe they don't pick a QB this year, but if Rex Ryan wants to save his job, he'll need some success with his offense.
14. Carolina Panthers: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah - The panthers are loaded on offense so the only logical pick would be on the defensive side. A corner or safety could make sense here, but I think they go with the best available player. That player is Lotulelei.
15. New Orleans Saints: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia - The Saints will look for defensive help with their first pick. That defensive help will be in the form of Jones.
16. St. Louis Rams: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas - Vaccaro has shown the ability to be a safety that can stuff the run, cover deep, and line up on slot receivers. The Rams would love to have a player with his versatility, though his 40 time of 4.62 at the NFL scouting combine was a bit of a disappointment. Never the less, the Rams could use his services in their secondary.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State - With the departure of Keenan Lewis to the Arizona Cardinals and Ike Taylor on the other side of 30, a cornerback makes sense with their first round pick. William Gay isn't the corner they want starting opposite Taylor so they look to improve their secondary with the addition of Rhodes. He's a bigger corner with good speed and can play in press coverage very well.
18. Dallas Cowboys: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri - The cowboys are changing their defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3 and they'll need a DT that can play in their defensive scheme. Sheldon Richardson is pretty athletic for the position with this pick the Cowboys will go defensive tackle.
19. New York Giants: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame - Alec Ogletree is still on the board and they could easily choose to draft him, but I think his off field actions will scare them away. Martellus Bennett decided to sign with the Bears and for as long as Eli Manning has been in New York, he's had a solid Tight End to be his security blanket. Eifert has preformed well in college, has good size, and has tested well at the combine. It appears that he'll test well with the G men as well.
20. Chicago Bears: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia - His off field woes are enough to scare teams away, but the Bears could use some athleticism at the LB spot. The signing of DJ Williams isn't enough to have the Bears not select a LB. Urlacher played safety before they turned him into a pro bowl LB. Ogle tree is also a converted safety and has produced in college footballs toughest conference.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama - The Cincinnati Bengals are sitting pretty on both sides of the ball. They could go safety with this pick, but the more pressing need is at the running back spot. Lacy may not have tested well in front of representatives from NFL teams, but he'll be the back that the Bengals are looking for.
22. St. Louis Rams: (Trading pick to the Atlanta Falcons): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington - Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes are no longer part of their defense. They'll need a quality secondary if they want to make it back to the playoffs.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame - A linebacker that's actually a finalist for the Heisman Memorial Trophy? That can only be indicative of one thing, this kid must really be able to ball.
24. Indianapolis Colts: Robert Woods, WR, USC - Woods appears to be the second coming of Reggie Wayne, so why not have him learn all the intricacies of the position from Wayne himself?
25. Minnesota Vikings: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson - The Vikings will need an upgrade at the wide out position now that Percy Harvin has left for greener pastures.
26. Green Bay Packers: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida Intl University - At this stage of the draft, there won't be any players that were as dynamic as Charles Woodson when he came out of college, but Cyprien is a safety that has the ability to cover a lot of ground and has good instincts to play the position.
27. Houston Texans: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee - Since the Texans decided not sign their number 2 receiver, it only seems right that the Texans would pick a receiver at some point in the draft. Hunter could turn into a good number two for them. He has size and speed and just needs a little coaching to help him develop into a legitimate number 1 receiver.
28. Denver Broncos: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina - The UNC product is being pegged as a 3-technique defensive tackle due to his ability to get upfield quickly. I like how he works beyond the line of scrimmage, but many of those disruptions started with him lining up as a 0- or 1-technique.
29. New England Patriots: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State - It's amazing that Werner has slid so far in the draft. The patriots could go wide out here but will look for help at the WR position later in the draft. Werner is the best player available and it only makes sense for the Patriots to take him at this spot.
30. Atlanta Falcons (traded pick to St. Louis Rams): Keenan Allen, WR, California - The Rams are still looking to upgrade their passing attack. Allen is a physical receiver that may not necessarily be the fastest receiver, his physicality compensates for his lack of speed.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Margus Hunt, DE, SMU - Justin Smith can't man their D-line forever. Though Hunt is still learning the position, his upside appears just as enormous as his stature.
32. Baltimore Ravens: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State - Some will call Brown small for the position. I won't, and instead think Brown is one of the top talents in this entire class. He has speed to work to the sideline and aggression to take on and beat blockers.
