2013 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

I could see Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid trading this pick in order to obtain multiple picks, but this isn’t a year where there is a clear cut number one overall pick in the draft so finding a trade partner will not be easy.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have needs at multiple positions, but after defensive tackle Terrance Knighton left as a free-agent to sign with The Denver Broncos, Floyd could plug a hole on the defensive line.

Last season The Oakland Raiders were 31st in The National Football League in sacks with only 25 so it is imperative for Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie to beef up the defensive line.

In the last three seasons Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has been sacked 85 times while he has failed to start all 16 games in any of those seasons. You don’t need to look any further than the porous offensive line play in front of him which new Eagles head coach Chip Kelly will look to address.

In order for Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford to throw the deep ball downfield to wide receiver Calvin Johnson, he needs time. Stafford was sacked 29 times last season and with offensive tackle Jeff Backus retiring, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew must find a way to protect his young quarterback.

New Cleveland Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski will use a heavy dose of running back Trent Richardson which means that he will need an offensive line to lead the way for his young running back.

I believe that this is indeed a reach for The Arizona Cardinals, but for new Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, he doesn’t have the luxury of waiting around for a quarterback to fall into his lap which means that he will take his chances with Geno Smith.

The Buffalo Bills shock everyone at The National Football League Draft by note selecting a running back or a cornerback in the first round.

The Jets selected a pass rusher last season in Quinton Coples who didn’t work out. With new Jets general manager John Idzik building for the future and with a head coach in Rex Ryan who is trying to win now, this will indeed be an interesting draft for Gang Green.

In a division with quarterbacks Matt Schaub (Texans) and Andrew Luck (Colts), it is important for The Titans to have an outside linebacker that can play the field and rush the passer.

The San Diego Chargers enter 2013 ultra-thin at the cornerback position. Everyone in The AFC West will be chasing The Denver Broncos and quarterback Peyton Manning which means that The Chargers must sure up the secondary.

The Miami Dolphins could be tempted to draft an offensive tackle after losing Jake Long, but after drafting offensive tackle Johnathan Martin last year, Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland knows that the pass rush must be upgraded in order to compete with Tom Brady and The New England Patriots in The AFC East.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber is no “spring chicken” and Tampa Bay must get younger at the position.

By all accounts Star Lotulelei should be a top five pick, but health concerns will cause him to slide. The Panthers needs help at the wide receiver position, but they also need help on the defensive line to contend with the high-octane offenses of The NFC South.

The New Orleans Saints are switching to a 3-4 defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. There is always a transition period for teams that make the switch, but having a hybrid defensive end such as Werner could make the transition a little easier.

In the first year under head coach Jeff Fisher, The St. Louis Rams proved that they can hang in The NFC West with The Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. Now in order to get past them, The Rams must add more play makers and selecting Vaccaro is a step in that direction.

The Pittsburgh Steelers could go in several directions with this pick, but after letting Mike Wallace leave as a free agent, there is a glaring weakness at wide receiver as they need a home run hitter.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones just opened up the vault for quarterback Tony Romo which means that you might want to protect him. Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is in the mold of former Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson who liked big and physical offensive lineman. Fluker will fit in perfectly at either guard position in Dallas.

Under general manager Jerry Reese, The New York Giants tend to draft looking ahead. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora departed to sign with The Atlanta Falcons while defensive end Justin Tuck is 30-years old and his production has slowed down. Reese takes a guy who won’t start right away, but will still get snaps in a rotation at defensive end with Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul.

This is a reach for Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery. Manti Te’o is a guy that The Bears could get a little later in the first round. If there isn’t a quality offensive lineman available here, I could see The Bears trading back in the first round to get Te’o.

One thing that Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has been stockpiling lately is athletic defenders. In the race to defeat The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in The AFC North, you can never have enough good defenders.

St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is a guy that has been asked to do a lot with a little. The Rams have never given Bradford sufficient help at the wide receiver position, but that changes as Austin is a flat-out burner.

The Minnesota Vikings face three Pro Bowl caliber quarterbacks in The NFC North so it is important for Vikikngs ge
neral manager Rick Spielman to have a secondary that can put some fear in opposing signal callers.

The Indianapolis Colts made it to the playoffs last season with a pieced together receiving core. Going forward The Colts must put players around quarterbacks Andrew Luck that will allow this team to flourish for the years to come.

The Vikings linebacking core has been shaky at best over the past few seasons and adding Brown could change that.

The Green Bay Packers don’t intend on skipping a beat. The Packers lost two wide receivers as Donald Driver retired while Greg Jennings signed with The Vikings. Robert Woods is a terrific possesion receiver that will fit in nicely to Green Bay’s system with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Houston Texans have been missing that dominant nose tackle in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense. Imagine how good Texans defensive end J.J. Watt can be with a man in the middle that can command a double team?

If  The Denver Broncos do not make a play for middle linebacker Brian Urlacher in free agency, expect them to take run on Kevin Minter late in the first round.

The New England Patriots are a little thin at the wide receiver position even after signing Danny Amendola. In year’s past, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has traded out of the first round. If someone comes a calling who is interested in drafting USC quarterback Matt Barkley, Belichick will take the bait; otherwise Allen will be his guy here.

Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has been beefing up the defensive line this off-season and that will continue here by drafting Richardson.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh is still having nightmares of how his secondary was picked apart by Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco in Super Bowl 47. If  The Niners are going to return to The Super Bowl, drafting Banks is a step in the right direction.

Both Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson are restricted free agents, but  Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome knows a thing or two about drafting for the future as it is time to rebuild around Flacco.