2013 NFL Mock Draft: How the First Round Should Go

We’re just one week away from the 2013 NFL Draft!  Instead of telling you what I think teams will do in the draft, I give you how it should go.  I identify the teams need and find the best fit for it.  Take this to your draft room GM’s so you don’t botch the draft for your franchise.

1.  Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs have talent at the skills positions.  They just made the trade for QB Alex Smith and need to protect him.  After cutting Eric Winston and leaving Brandon Albert twisting in the wind this offseason, they’re best addressing the offensive line.

Pick:  Luke Joekel (OT – Texas A&M)

2.  Jacksonville Jaguars – They need a lot of help.  They play in a division with Andrew Luck and Matt Schaub.  Their top priorities should be pass rush and secondary.  Taking a cornerback here who can matchup with Andre Johnson would be a big step in the right direction.

Pick:  Dee Miliner (CB – Alabama)

3.  Oakland Raiders –  The Raiders need help in several areas.  Their aging defensive line needs to be addressed and that’s what they’ll focus on with their first pick

Pick:  Shariff Floyd (DT – Florida)

4.  Philadelphia Eagles –  I think the Eagles will trade this pick.  Chip Kelly is bringing in a new system and will want to get his type of guys and there’s no better way than to trade down and stockpile picks.  If they stay here, I think they look on the defensive side of the ball and a guy Kelly is familiar with from his days in Eugene.

Pick:  Dion Jordan (OLB – Oregon)

5.  Detroit Lions – The Lions have talent at the skill positions but need to bulk up the O-line.  With an in-state prospect sitting there, they’ll jump at getting a guy to protect Matthew Stafford’s blindside for the rest of his career.

Pick:  Eric Fisher (OT – Central Michigan)

6.  Cleveland Browns –  The Browns have many holes on a young roster.  They’re in a brutal division and need toughness in the trenches for those six games a year.

Pick:  Ziggy Ansah (DE – BYU)

7.  Arizona Cardinals –  Bruce Arians is at the controls of the Cardinals and will look to protect his QB.  I think they take the best prospect in this draft.

Pick:  Chance Warmack (OG – Alabama)

8.  Buffalo Bills –  The Bills also have a new coach in Doug Marrone and need help in many spots.  There’s talk of them taking a QB but there isn’t one worth of taking this high.  I think they’re a prime candidate to also trade down.  They make a pretty safe selection if they stay here.

Pick:  Jonathan Cooper (OG – North Carolina)

9.  New York Jets –  The Jets have been spending first rounders on defensive players of late.  They must address their horrendous offense.  Rex Ryan likes to run the ball and a great back would take a lot of the shoulders of Mark Sanchez.

Pick:  Eddie Lacy (RB – Alabama)

10.  Tennessee Titans –  Titans need to upgrade their pass rush and coverage.  I think they’ll look to the D-line and go with a guy who falls a few spots to them.

Pick:  Star Lotulelei (DT – Utah)

11.  San Diego Chargers –  The Chargers need help on the O-line and will find a guy ready to start day 1 in the NFL.

Pick:  Lane Johnson (OT – Oklahoma)

12.  Miami Dolphins –  The Dolphins would like to see Lane Johnson here but if not they’ll address the defense.  Rumors have them picking up Branden Albert from the Chiefs for a second round pick so that softens the blow.  Nothing they’ve got to still matchup with Tom Brady for a few more seasons has them looking to bolster their past defense.  I think they’ll take their chances on the boom or bust prospect.

Pick:  Xavier Rhodes (CB – Florida State)

13.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers –  This pick could turn into Darrelle Revis for the Bucs.  I think they should look at the offense though if they hold onto this pick.  I think they should look at adding a target for Josh Freeman.

Pick:  Tyler Eifert (TE – Notre Dame)

14.  Carolina Panthers – Interesting spot here.  The Panthers are in a tough division and need to get a difference maker here.  They need them on both sides of the ball.  Do they look for a receiver to help out Cam Newton or a defender?  I think the best players available are on the defensive side at this point.

Pick:  Sheldon Richardson (DT – Missouri)

15.  New Orleans Saints –  Sean Payton is back at the helm in the Big Easy.  They’re looking to make one last run at a Super Bowl and need to get impact players in the draft.  I think they look to the defensive side of the ball and get a freak athlete from the Bayou Bengals.

Pick:  Barkevious Mingo (DE – LSU)

16.  St. Louis Rams –  St. Louis desperately needs targets for Sam Bradford.  They’ll gladly grab one here.

Pick:  Tavon Austin (WR – West Virginia)

17.  Pittsburgh Steelers –  Pittsburgh has to be pumped if the draft unfolds as I have said it should through the first 16 picks.  It leaves a perfect fit for their scheme on the board and they’ll rush to the podium.

Pick:  Jarvis Jones (OLB – Georgia)

18.  Dallas Cowboys –  They need O-line help still.  I think the Cowboys have to address it with a first round pick this year if they’re serious about making the playoffs.  They grab a mountain of a man.

Pick:  D.J. Fluker (OT – Alabama)

19.  New York Giants –  Losing Osi gives them a hole to fill on the defensive line and there are several prospects available here.  They could use help on the offensive line also.  The Victor Cruz contract situation could have them looking at a receiver also.  They need to stick with what’s gotten them to Super Bowls…pass rush.

Pick:  Tank Carradine (DE – Florida State)

20.  Chicago Bears –  The Bears have to get Jay Cutler help in this draft.  It needs to be at either receiver or offensive line.  I think if they want to go with the offensive line, they should trade down.  If they stay here, I think they take the best available.

Pick:  Menelik Watson (OT – Florida State)

21.  Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals are right there ready to win the division and a playoff games this upcoming season.  An impact player here could be what puts them over the top.  They get a guy who starts day 1 and makes plays for Marvin Lewis on defense.

Pick:  Alec Ogletree (LB –Georgia)

22.  St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins) – Jeff Fisher got Sam Bradford a target earlier in the draft and know addresses his defense with this pick.  They need help in the secondary and have some options available here.

Pick:  Kenny Vaccaro (S – Texas)

23.  Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings face an aerial assault within the division from the Packers and Lions.  They need cover guys to slow it down.  They take the best available.

Pick:  Desmond Trufant (CB – Washington)

24.  Indianapolis Colts – They need pass rush and should be thrilled to find this player falling to them at 24.

Pick:  Bjoern Werner (DE – Florida State)

25.  Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle Seahawks) – Do the Vikings try to replace Percy Harvin with this pick or stick to improving the defense?  I think they should look to get a receiver to help Christian Ponder and Adrian Peterson.

Pick:  Keenan Allen (WR – Cal)

26.  Green Bay Packers – The Packers desperately want to improve their offensive line.  They may have to reach for a prospect here.

Pick:  Justin Pugh (OT – Syracuse)

27.  Houston Texans – The Texans would like to get a compliment to Andre Johnson.  I think they’re in the position to take a chance.

Pick:  Cordarrelle Patterson (WR – Tennessee)

28.  Denver Broncos – They need to replace the loss of Elvis Dumervil so the defensive front is where they’ll need to look here.

Pick:  Datone Jones (DE – UCLA)

29.  New England Patriots – They’ve got to look at corners to help their pass coverage.   A few players are very similar to choose from in this spot.

Pick:  D.J. Hayden (CB – Houston)

30.  Atlanta Falcons – They need to address the defensive line in this draft.  I think they’ll grab a player falling.

Pick:  Sylvester Williams (DT – North Carolina)

31.  San Francisco 49ers – The 49ers could use depth along the defensive front and will take a guy with tons of physical ability and is still raw.

Pick:  Margus Hunt (DE – SMU)

32.  Baltimore Ravens – They lose Ray Lewis so LB is a need.  I think they’ll look to get a tackling machine.

Pick:  Manti Te’o (LB – Notre Dame)

That’s how the first round should go.  Post your thoughts below and keep visitng SportsFormulator.com leading up to the draft for more info!

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