Goodbye Food Pyramid
Hit And Run NFL Mock Draft:
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Luke Joeckel (OT - Texas A&M)
Looks like they want to trade Branden Albert who has 1 year left on his contract and they already released Eric Winston; the top tackle in the draft seems like a good fit.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
Dion Jordan (DE/OLB - Oregon)
The Jaguars need everything. Not sure they want to jump head first into another questionable quarterback group like they did two years ago, so I'll go with the best pass rusher in the draft.
3. Oakland Raiders
Shariff Floyd (DT - Florida)
They've lost Richard Seymour and Desmond Bryant and desperately need to add talent to the front seven. They could consider Star Lotulelei also, but he has health concerns and I believe Floyd is the better pass rusher.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Eric Fisher (OT - Central Michigan)
They also have holes to fill on defense with the switch to the 3-4, but they ranked 28th in sacks allowed last season. If they're going to speed things up and attempt even more passes, they need help on the line to keep Vick on his feet.
5. Detroit Lions
Ezekiel Ansah (DE - BYU)
Also need a corner but they lost both Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch so my guess is they'll put a priority on upgrading the pass rush. Few defensive ends have more speed than Ansah who ran a 4.5 40.
6. Cleveland Browns
Dee Milliner (CB - Alabama)
The Browns already addressed their top need after adding Paul Kruger, adding top cornerback Milliner next to Joe Haden should help out the pass rushers.
7. Arizona Cardinals
Geno Smith (QB - West Virginia)
Kevin Kolb, John Skelton, and Ryan Lindley; they need an improvement at quarterback. I know they signed Carson Palmer, but he'll just be keeping the seat warm for a year or two; new coach Bruce Arians is an offensive guy and won't pass on Smith.
8. Buffalo Bills
Chance Warmack (OG - Alabama)
I'm sure new coach Doug Marrone would like to select his former quarterback Ryan Nassib, but this is way too early to draft him. My guess is they'll trade back, pick up additional picks, and draft Nassib in the mid to late first round. Since I'm not factoring in trades, I'll select Chance Warmack to replace guard Andy Levitre who left in free-agency.
9. New York Jets
Barkevious Mingo (OLB - LSU)
They desperately need a pass rusher and with Jordan and Ansah already gone, Mingo is the best one available.
10. Tennessee Titans
Star Lotulelei (DT - Utah)
After addressing guard in free-agency, my guess is they look to add a defensive lineman. They'd prefer an end, but with Jordan and Ansah already gone I think they'll settle for who could be an impact player at defensive tackle.
11. San Diego Chargers
Lane Johnson (OT - Oklahoma)
They have several issues but they can't pass on Lane if he falls to them here. After releasing Jared Gaither, they need to get a tackle.
12. Miami Dolphins
Xavier Rhodes (CB - Florida State)
They've added targets on offense and a replacement for Karlos Dansby at linebacker, but still have holes to fill after losing their best tackle and cornerback; best two corners if you go back to last year when they traded Vontae Davis to the Colts. With the top three tackles off the board, my guess is they'll look to trade back, but for the purpose of this mock draft, I'll go with the top corner remaining. They could also go with D.J. Fluker the tackle from Alabama.
13. New York Jets
Tavon Austin (WR - West Virginia)
It's too early for one of the other quarterbacks here, so I think they'll turn to either upgrading the offensive line or replacing some of the targets on offense that they've lost. Austin is amazing in the open field and would be a nice check down option for whichever bad quarterback they decide to play. Austin is the type of receiver that can take a 3 yard drag route pass and take it 50 yards.
14. Carolina Panthers
Sheldon Richardson (DT - Missouri)
They have multiple needs, but they have to address their run defense which allowed 110 yards per game last season. Don't like the value here for the remaining corners.
15. New Orleans Saints
Kenny Vaccaro (S - Texas)
The Saints need defense and a lot of it. Vaccaro would be a huge help to a Saints defense which ranked 31st in passing yards allowed last season.
16. St. Louis Rams
Alec Ogletree (LB - Georgia)
Receiver and safety are bigger needs, but the best safety and receiver just went right in front of them. This is too early for the next players at those positions and they still own the 22nd overall pick, so look for Fisher to improve his front seven.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Jarvis Jones (OLB - Georgia)
No way they pass up this replacement for James Harrison. Jones has elite pashing rushing talent.
18. Dallas Cowboys
D.J. Fluker (OT - Alabama)
No secret the Cowboys need a ton of help on the offensive line; this would be a good start. Question will be if he plays guard or tackle at the pro level.
19. New York Giants
Cornellius Carradine (DE - Florida State)
They've lost Osi, Justin Tuck is getting older and has had injury issues recently; look for them to add a young pass rushing defensive end.
20. Chicago Bears
Cordarrelle Patterson (WR - Tennessee)
Jay Cutler needs more targets. They'd probably rather have a tackle or ILB, but this isn't a great spot for either. If they don't trade back, Patterson is the best receiver available.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Eddie Lacy (RB - Alabama)
They've gone through several backs who were lucky to crack four yards a carry and didn't have much left in the tank; time to add the missing piece to the offense.
22. St. Louis Rams
Eric Reid (S - LSU)
Rams get their safety here after losing Mikell and Dahl in the off-season. Could also be Matt Elam from Florida.
23. Minnesota Vikings
Sylvester Williams (DT - North Carolina)
They have a later 1st round pick to get a receiver, this would be a good spot to get a young replacement for the 33 year old Kyle Williams at tackle.
24. Indianapolis Colts
Bjoern Werner (DE - Florida State)
Need a young pass rusher to replace Dwight Freeney; not to mention that Robert Mathis is now 32 years old. Could also go with a cornerback here.
25. Minnesota Vikings
Justin Hunter (WR - Tennessee)
Vikings can't pass on a replacement for Percy Harvin. Hunter may have the most talent of any receiver in the draft.
26. Green Bay Packers
Menelik Watson (OT - Florida State)
They might prefer a receiver to replace Greg Jennings but a run on the position took all of the first round options off the board. If they don't trade back, adding a lineman would a good addition. They've struggled at times in pass protection (remember allowing 8 sacks in one half at Seattle), gotta help keep the best quarterback in the league on his feet.
27. Houston Texans
DeAndre Hopkins (WR - Clemson)
Texans have to get a receiver; if Hopkins reaches his full potential, he'll be the best receiver in the draft.
28. Denver Broncos
Desmond Trufant (CB - Washington)
Champ Bailey is 35 years old; they need to start thinking about the future at cornerback.
29. New England Patriots
Robert Woods (WR - USC)
I think they're more likely to trade back, but if they don't it'll likely come down to receiver or corner. They've replaced Welker at the slot, but they need an outside receiver to replace Brandon Lloyd.
30. Atlanta Falcons
D.J. Hayden (CB - Houston)
They've released Dunta Robinson and lost Brett Grimes in free-agency off of an already average secondary group. Corner is clearly their top need.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Jonathan Cyprien (S - FIU)
They have enough talent on the roster, especially after adding players in the off-season, that they don't have to go for a starter in the first round. However, adding a safety after losing Dashon Goldson would be a good idea.
32. Baltimore Ravens
Manti Te'o (ILB - Notre Dame)
They've lost Paul Kruger, Ray Lewis, and Dannell Ellerbe; they have to add a linebacker. This choice comes down to Te'o or Kevin Minter.
