Contributors
This is the second part of the mock draft. To view the first part, click here.
17) Minnesota Vikings - DT - Kawann Short - Purdue: Kevin Williams has brought back fond memories for Vikings fans this year of when he was in his prime, due to his impressive play this season. He is however 32-years old, and with nobody currently on the roster looking fit enough to be his eventual replacement, drafting Kawann Short would allow the team to get an extremely talented prospect and let him learn from one of the best defensive tackles of the past decade.
18) St. Louis Rams - WR - Keenan Allen - California: The first round pick they obtained from the Washington Redskins has ended up being a lot higher than just about anyone expected. Still, the Rams can get a very talented and valuable player with it by selecting Golden Bear standout Keenan Allen. The Rams invested a second round pick in project prospect Brian Quick last April, and they're also getting immediate returns this year from fourth-rounder Chris Givens, but adding a dynamic playmaker like Allen would give them a potentially terrifying stable of receivers once you add in slot demon Danny Amendola.
19) Dallas Cowboys - G - Barrett Jones - Alabama: While Nate Livings has played rather nicely for the Cowboys after being let go by the Cincinnati Bengals, the same cannot be said of Carolina Panthers castoff Mackenzy Bernadeau. The Cowboys desperately need to repair the offensive line this spring, and grabbing former Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones would be a step in the right direction. This is a bit high for Jones, but he uses his hands and feet better than just about any other lineman in this draft class, and his ability to play multiple positions would be of great value to an unsettled line.
20) Cincinnati Bengals - LB - C.J. Mosley - Alabama: Two key members of the Crimson Tide go back-to-back here as the Bengals, desperate for help in the linebacking corps, scoop up C.J. Mosley in the hopes that he'll be able to provide a strong mixture of everything. He has the ability to play in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense, and shows strong skills as a pass-rusher, run stopper, and a man in coverage. He should be in higher demand than both of his former teammates Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw were last year.
21) Pittsburgh Steelers - DE - Sheldon Richardson - Missouri: It's become very obvious that Brett Keisel and Casey Hampton are both in steep decline, and Ziggy Hood is looking like a miss. That might cause the team to be a bit wary of selecting another Missouri product to play on the defensive line, but Richardson is an athletically imposing specimen with a strong burst very effective hands. Richardson is blessed with just about everything you'd want in a dominant defensive lineman, but the questions about him revolve around his commitment and motivation to play like a star. Putting him a strong locker room full of well-respected and hardened veterans should keep him on the straight and narrow though, much to the rest of the league's chagrin.
22) Seattle Seahawks - G - Jonathan Cooper - North Carolina: Outside of Russell Okung and Max Unger, the Seahawks have a lot of question marks and retreads playing on their line. Infamous 2011 first-round pick James Carpenter has done nothing in his first two years in the league to justify his high selection, John Moffitt and rookie J.R. Sweezy are two more young players who have yet to impress, and Paul McQuistan is unfortunately one of the McQuistan brothers. Cooper has been one of the most impressive offensive lineman in the NCAA this past season, and has firmly pushed himself into first round conversation. He is a quick and fluid mover with quick hands and feet, but can be exposed at times by strong bull-rushing defensive tackles.
23) Indianapolis Colts - DT - Jesse Williams - Alabama: I feel pretty sure in saying that 2013 may very well be the first NFL Draft where two foreign-born defensive lineman are selected in the first round. Williams, form Brisbane, Australia, possesses an intimidating blend of athleticism and size and would be a great fit for the Colts as they continue to fill out their new 3-4 defensive scheme. They seem to have locked down their linebackers with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis on the outside, and Kavell Conner and Pat Angerer inside, but the defensive line and secondary both need a lot of work still.
24) Chicago Bears - OT - Dallas Thomas - Tennessee: This is a bit high of a selection for Thomas, but with the Bears having such glaring needs on the offensive line, the pick if justified. He could play at either tackle or guard, and just needs to improve his footwork to go along with his balance and strength. A move inside to guard or over to right tackle may actually be rather beneficial to his future prospects. For the Bears, one would assume that they don't really care where he plays, just as long as he plays competently.
25) New York Giants - DE - Sam Montgomery - LSU: The Giants grab some very nice value towards the end of the first round in the form of Sam Montgomery. His talent justifies a much higher selection than this, but the order and needs of the teams selecting around where he should be drafted don't really match-up with the value and skill-set Montgomery brings. This opens the door for New York to swoop in and grab him, giving them not only a very talented player, but someone who could end up being a starter sooner than one might expect. Justin Tuck was a superstar in 2010, but he hasn't been the same player the past two years. And of course we all know about the several publicized conflicts that have occurred between the organization and Osi Umenyiora.
26) Green Bay Packers - TE - Tyler Eifert - Notre Dame: The frustration that Packers fans have with incumbent tight end Jermichael Finley is well documented. Since his breakout season in 2009, he's been accused of being lazy and immature countless times, and it seems like change is necessary. Pairing Eifert up with Andrew Quarless would give the Packers a strong duo of tight ends, as is all the rage in the NFL right now, and Mike McCarthy loves to utilize his tight ends in several innovative ways. More weapons for Aaron Rodgers = Bad news for the rest of the league.
27) Baltimore Ravens - DT - John Jenkins - Georgia: A significant part of the struggles the Ravens have had on defense can be attributed to the lack of an imposing force in the middle of the defensive line. Ma'ake Kemoeatu and Terrence Cody have both done their best impressions of blocking sleds, and as a result, teams have found it much easier than usual to run up the middle on the Ravens. Adding John Jenkins, quite possibly the largest mammal in this draft class, would give the team a potential stalwart to lock down the middle of the line.
28) Denver Broncos - DE - Alex Okafor - Texas: One of the more underrated and well-rounded players in the Draft class, Alex Okafor knows how to get after the quarterback just as well as he can set the edge in the run game. It's very clear to just about anybody who watches the Broncos that 2012 second-round pick Derek Wolfe is not a defensive end, and needs to be moved back inside. Okafor would easily allow them to do that and replace him with somebody much better suited for the role, as well as provide a nice compliment to Elvis Dumervil on the other side.
29) San Francisco - S - Matt Elam - Florida: It's hard to find an area on the 49ers where they really need to improve. If I had to pinpoint one spot, it would probably be their safeties - namely Donte Whitner, who is a solid run defender but is prone to lapses in coverage. Moving him to a role coming off the bench in a sub package would probably be more advantageous to the 49ers, and replacing him with who could be a better version of Whitner with Florida safety Matt Elam. He's just as physical of a run defender and displays better skills dropping back in coverage.
30) New England Patriots - WR - Justin Hunter - Tennessee: A midseason slump hurt Hunter's stock a little bit, but he's still too talented to drop out of the first round completely, especially after rebounding the past few weeks. The uncertainty surrounding Wes Welker has been well-documented, and while Hunter is not the same kind of player, if he does take his talents elsewhere in 2013, the Patriots will be left with Brandon Lloyd and seven tight ends. Hunter is a quick and polished route-runner who would give Brady a nice and shiny new toy to play with for the final stretch of his career.
31) Atlanta Falcons - DE - Dion Jordan - Oregon: Jordan is one of the most interesting and intriguing prospects in the entire Draft, looking a lot more like a small forward than anything that belongs on a football field. He needs to add weight and fill out his lanky 6'7" frame, but he is a fast and versatile project player who can provide value as a situational pass-rusher as a rookie while he develops into an everyday player. John Abraham is still chugging along at a rate where's it's hard to believe he's 34 years old, but he is, and the Falcons are going to need to start planning for the future.
32) Houston Texans - OT - Eric Fisher - Central Michigan: Duane Brown is an All-Pro at left tackle. Derek Newton is considerably less than that at right tackle. The loss of Eric Winston has had a big impact on the Texans and their running game, and they need to upgrade their right tackle spot if they want to get back to the ground dominance they had in 2011. Eric Fisher can play either tackle spot, and for Houston would be able to come in and potentially start on day one of they feel he is far enough along, and he doesn't have issues with the level of competition coming from the MAC to the NFL. He's a strong and aggressive player who will provide value in the run game and as a pass protector.
