TST 2013 Mock Draft, Mk II, Pt 1

Damontre Moore, moving on up

If, like the good and true NFL fans with a broadband connection that you are, you’ve been watching NFL Network recently, you’ll have noticed the annoying little animated players that keep popping up in the bottom left corner of the screen and realise that the Scouting Combine is this weekend.

With the combine, comes a raft of mock drafts and player analysis and, never one to miss a trick, I’m throwing my latest into the mix too. To keep these vaguely readable I’m splitting it into four parts: picks 1-16 now, 17-32 tomorrow morning, 33-47 tomorrow evening and the rest of the 2nd round on Saturday morning.

We start off with a change at both #1 and #2 that will please Aggies fans…

1. Kansas City (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
(Previously: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia)
I can’t bring myself to keep Smith at #1, particularly in the face of Foles-to-KC rumours. Also, there’ll still be plenty of value at QB at #34.

2. Jacksonville (2-14): Damontre Moore, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
(Bjoern Werner, OLB/DE, Florida State)
I’m kinda tossing a coin between Moore and Werner here. They have a need for a pass-rusher, and Moore is quality.

3. Oakland (4-12): Star Lotulelei, NT, Utah
The big-bodied dominant lineman the Raiders so desperately need, particularly facing Manning and Rivers twice.

4. Philadelphia (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
(Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M)
With Joeckel now gone off the board, Philly still need a quick-footed tackle to install into Chip Kelly’s high-octane offence.

5. Detroit (4-12): Bjoern Werner, OLB/DE, Florida State
(Damontre Moore, DE/OLB, Texas A&M)
Like I said, tossing a coin here. With Moore now going to the Jags at #2, Werner ends up heading to Michigan.

6. Cleveland (5-11): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
I don’t buy that the back problem will see him slide (we’ll find out how bad it is at the combine), and the Browns need sacks.

7. Arizona (5-11): Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
(Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan)
The change at #1 robs the Cards of a decent OT, so they look to the other side of the ball for a pass rusher.

8. Buffalo (6-10): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
(Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas)
With no other QBs taken in the top 7, the Bills will know there will be value at #41 and take the best receiver instead.

9. New York Jets (6-10): Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
(Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU)
Jordan has shot up draft boards because of his speed and ability to drop into coverage. Rex will be licking his lips.

10. Tennessee (6-10): DeMarcus Milliner, CB, Alabama
Dee Milliner becomes the Titans’ physical DB that they lost when Courtland Finnegan left.

11. San Diego (7-9): Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
Really, Phillip Rivers hasn’t suddenly become rubbish, it’s his dreadful line. Expect the Chargers to take two or three O-linemen.

12. Miami (7-9): Keenan Allen, WR, California
I still like Allen to Miami. He’s quick, strong, and caught a ton of passes from a poor QB at Cal, which was good practice for Miami.

13. Tampa Bay (7-9): Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU
(Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon)
Mingo can rush off the edge, but his rawness may hurt his stock a little. If he blows the doors off this weekend, see him move back up.

14. Carolina (7-9): Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
He may not necessarily plug in on every down from day one, but Richardson has penetrative skills.

15. New Orleans (7-9): Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
(John Jenkins, DT, Georgia)
Where don’t the Saints have defensive needs? Here, they take the best D player left on my pre-combine board.

16. St. Louis (7-8-1): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
The Rams round off part one of my pre-combine mock draft with a much-needed upgrade at tackle. Goodness knows, they need it.

Stay tuned tomorrow morning to see how far Geno Smith slides, and whether Manti Te’o makes it back into the first round.

A ThorpesSportingThoughts Original

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