MDD Staff Writer: Chad Pullen
With free agency set to begin next Tuesday and a few of the free agent dominoes already having fallen, we take a quick look at how the first round of the draft could shake up before teams start to address their biggest needs in free agency. We will follow with more mock ups as the free agent pieces fall and adjust each teams draft boards leading up to the draft.
1. Kansas City
OT Luke Joeckel – Texas A&M
Having already added QB Alex Smith and resigned WR Bowe followed by cutting OT Winston, Joeckel looks to be a natural fit here with Fisher as a sleeper.
2. Jacksonville
DT Sharrif Floyd – Florida
Jaguars gave up a lot of rushing yards last year, here they can add a local talent in Floyd to help shore up the middle of their D.
3. Oakland
DT Star Lotulelei – Utah
Oakland gave up a lot of running lanes and plugging the middle of that leak is a high priority.
4. Philadelphia
DE Dion Jordan – Oregon
Chip Kelly fills a need with someone he is very familiar with, Jordan has Jason Taylor/Javon Kearse type physical talent and could wreak havoc in the NFC East.
5. Detroit
CB DeMarcus Miliner – Alabama
Lions have some strong areas at QB, WR, and Dline. They need to improve their secondary and take the best one in the draft.
6. Cleveland
DE Barkevious Mingo – LSU
Mingo continues a run on defense at the top of the draft as teams focus on getting to the QB or at least impacting opposing passing games in some way.
7. Arizona
QB Geno Smith – West Virginia
Smith may drop a bit from where he might have gone, but seeing Larry Fitzgerald should make him feel good right away.
8. Buffalo
QB Tyler Wilson – Arkansas
There are pieces in Buffalo that are useful, its time they take a young QB and begin building around one properly. Wilson could have been the 8th pick for Miami in 2012 as well.
9. New York Jets
OT DJ Fluker – Alabama
New York needs an upgrade at QB, but even if they don’t find that guy soon, they have to protect whoever is back there as well as help the run game.
10. Tennessee
OG Chance Warmack – Alabama
Titans need Oline help to give Chris Johnson space to utilize his speed and take the best interior lineman in the draft.
11. San Diego
OT Eric Fisher – Central Michigan
The tackle position was dreadful for the Chargers last year and each team in their division is solid in the pass rush department.
12. Miami
CB Xavier Rhodes – Florida St
With Sean Smith likely leaving via free agency, Miami opts first to plug in a solid young corner as well as someone the people of South Florida can be familiar with.
13. Tampa Bay
CB Desmond Trufant – Washington
Trufant makes a solid leap into the first round after a strong combine showing, corner play is in his bloodlines, and after trading Talib last year, TB needs CB badly.
14. Carolina
DT Sheldon Richardson – Missouri
Panthers could go Safety here as well, but find great value in Richardson to help plug the middle as they can still grab a solid Safety in the mid rounds.
15. New Orleans
DE Bjoern Werner – Florida St
With no second round pick, Saints need as sure a thing as they can get on defense, Werner helps get to the passer, which in turn will also help the secondary a bit.
16. St. Louis
OG Jonathan Cooper – North Carolina
Rams need to build up multiple facets of their offense to give Bradford his best chance at success. Cooper helps him, and the run game.
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Tags: 2013 NFL Mock Draft, Mock Draft, Xavier Rhodes
