ZipRage 2013 NFL Mock Draft

1. Kansas City Chiefs - Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
This is a bad pick for the Chiefs, but they are need of a new face to their franchise and they also need a quarterback. Teams always seem to fall in love with quarterbacks at the top of the draft, but that doesn’t always mean they make the best choices when doing so. The Raiders picked JaMarcus Russell at the top of the 2007 draft because they needed a quarterback and to select Russel the Raiders passed up on Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Joe Thomas, Patrick Willis and Darrell Revis.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars - Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
Jacksonville is also in need of a quarterback because Blaine Gabbert isn’t going to be the future for them. However, this is not the time to find a quarterback and with the Jaguars many needs they should just take the best player available. Lotulelei may be the best player in the draft and he fits a need so he is an easy choice for Jacksonville.

3. Oakland Raiders - Damontre Moore, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
The Raiders need to fix a lot of areas on their football team. Moore gives them a future pass rusher who can also help in the run game. Oakland can’t fix their team with just one pick, but Moore will be a good start to turning things around for the Raiders. It will also be interesting to see how Oakland does in their first non-Al Davis draft.

4. Philadelphia Eagles - Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M
The Eagles’ offensive line is a constant disappointment and it’s time for them to do something about it. Joeckel is the best offensive tackle in the 2013 Draft and will be able to hold down that position for many years to come. He is an instant upgrade on the line and will help the offensive line turn things around in 2013.

5. Detroit Lions - Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
The Lions released Kyle Vanden Bosch after a disappointing season and they need to add a pass rusher to their defensive line. Werner will be a force on the edge because teams will still have to pay attention to Suh on the inside. It’s only the fifth pick, but Werner shouldn’t of lasted this long and the Lions will be happy to have him.

6. Cleveland Browns - Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU 
Ray Horton is coming to town and the Browns defense will look to be better in 2013. They have struggled against the pass and one of the best ways to defend the pass is to put pressure on the quarterback. Ansah will be able to do that and he will be able to step in day one. He is flying up draft boards right now and could move all the way to number 6.

7. Arizona Cardinals - Eric Fisher, T, Central Michigan
The Cardinals would have taken Taylor Lewan of Michigan, but he decided to return to school. Therefore, they will take the next best offensive tackle in Fisher. The Cardinals need to improve on offense and they could really use a quarterback, but they aren’t willing to reach here. Fisher can help their offensive line which should help the passing and rushing game.

8. Buffalo Bills - Mike Glennon, QB, N.C. State
This is a reach, but the Bills overpaid for Ryan Fitzpatrick and now they need to find a new quarterback. Glennon here is just as big of a reach as Smith at number one, but the Bills need a franchise quarterback and they will hope that Glennon can be that guy.

9. New York Jets - Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia

Jarvis Jones was at one point considered the best player in the draft, but injury concerns will cause him to slide in the draft. Rex Ryan was lucky to keep his job and he will be smart enough to stop Jone’s slide here and he will start from day one as a pas rushing force for the Jets.

10. Tennessee Titans - DeMarcus Milliner, CB, Alabama
Milliner is going to be a very good corner in the NFL and he will help the Titans fix the seventh worst passing defense. The Titans have to take a defensive back here with their problems in 2012 and Milliner is the best option. He also fits Mike Munchak’s style of play because he is a big physical corner, but has the speed to play deep; think Richard Sherman.

11. San Diego Chargers - Lane Johnson, T, Oklahoma
This may be a little early for Johnson, but he is the only top offensive tackle left on the board and the Chargers are in desperate need of a tackle. San Diego’s offensive line was arguably the worst line in the league in 2012 and it’s time for the Chargers to protect Phillip Rivers.

12. Miami Dolphins - Keenan Allen, WR, Cal
This may be a little early for Allen, but the Dolphins need a wide receiver. Ryan Tannehill played well as a rookie without many players at the skill positions. Miami will probably sign a top receiver in free agency, but they could use another early in the draft as well.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Like the Titans the Bucs need to fix their pass defense. Banks is the best corner left on the board and they will take him here. Corner is the biggest need for the Bucs and getting a player like Banks should help their defense a lot.
14. Carolina Panthers - Johnnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
Hankins is a big body and can play nose tackle or defensive tackle. Ron Rivera is still building his defense in Carolina and the best way to build a defense is from the inside out. Hankins will give Rivera a cornerstone to build around.

15. New Orleans Saints - Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU
The Saints need to get back to pressuring the quarterback which means they need another pass rusher. Mindo could step in day one and start for the Saints. He projects as a very good pass rusher and could go as high as sixth in the draft. If he is still here for the Saints they will be happy to have him.

16. St. Louis Rams - Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
The only way for Sam Bradford to become a great quarterback is if his offensive line starts playing better. Warmack gives the Rams a new starting guard who can block at a high level in the passing and running game.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers - Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon
The Steelers will likely have to part ways with James Harrison this off-season unless he is willing to take a pay cut. That will leave them pretty thin at outside linebacker; especially if LaMarr Woodley struggles to stay healthy for a third straight year. Jordan may not be ready to start as a rookie, but he could split time with a guy like Jason Worilds.

18. Dallas Cowboys - Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Dallas needs to find some defensive tackles for the 4-3 defense that can play the run and the pass well. Richardson can do that and the Cowboys will be happy to have him.

19. New York Giants - Alec Ogletree, MLB, Georgia
If there is one position that the Giants could use a real upgrade at it’s middle linebacker. Manti Te’o is an option here, but Ogletree is more athletic and should fit the Giants scheme very well. His ability to run sideline to sideline makes him a playmaker in the run game and the pass game.

20. Chicago Bears - Manti Te’o, MLB, Notre Dame
The Bears are happy to see that Te’o is still on the board here and they will grab him happily. Te’o will be the future replacement for Brian Urlacher and will give the Bears another middle linebacker that they can build their defense around for years to come.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
The Bengals need to add a solid running game to Andy Dalton and AJ Green. One team will fall in love with Lacy following his performance in the BCS National Championship game and the Bengals could be that team. Lacy fits a need and looks like he will be a very good NFL player even if this is a little early to take him.

22. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) - Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Jeff Fisher is going to continue to rebuild the Ram’s defense. With this pick he gets the best safety in the draft and fills an important position on the Ram’s defense. Vaccaro should start from day one and is a ball hawking safety who will make plenty of big plays.

23. Minnesota Vikings -  Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Christian Ponder is a good quarterback, but not a great one. He will be better is he has better targets to throw too. Percy Harvin is a good receiver, but other than Harvin the Vikings don’t have any really good receivers. Another playmaker will help take pressure off of Ponder and Adrian Peterson.

24. Indianapolis Colts -  John Jenkins, NT, Georgia
The Colts looked very good in 2013, but their move to the 3-4 defense means they need to find a true nose tackle. Jenkins is a huge body and can hold down that position for many years to come.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Bennie Logan, DT, LSU
Seattle has one of the best defenses in the league, but their defensive tackles aren’t as good as the rest of the defense. Logan would be an instant upgrade on the line and can help the team in against the run and pass with his ability to get after the quarterback.

26. Green Bay Packers - Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
The Packers are going to need to reload their pass catching targets for Aaron Rodgers this off-season. They need replacements for Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. They were hoping that Allen or Patterson would still be here, but they will take the next best receiver in Austin instead.

27. Houston Texans - Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU
The Texans have a solid defense, but inside linebacker is a weakness. They could use a player like Minter to bring physicality to the run game. The return of Brian Cushing will also help the defense, but Minter would fit perfectly into the Texans 3-4 defense.

28. Denver Broncos - Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
The Broncos defense played well in 2012, but their secondary is questionable at best. Champ Bailey is getting older and Tracy Porter was a failed signing. Trufant is rising quickly in the 2013 draft and if he is still on the board the Broncos will almost be forced to take him here.

29. New England Patriots -  Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
The Patriots were hoping for Tavon Austin, but he is already off the board. They will need to replace Wes Welker, but they can do that later in the draft. Instead they will continue to work on the defense and Short will provide another solid player along the defensive line.

30. Atlanta Falcons - Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Tony Gonzalez has been one of the best in the business for a long time, but he isn’t expected to return in 2013. The Falcons will need to find a replacement for Gonzalez and Eifert may be just the guy for the job. Eifert is a very athletic tight end and is a solid pass catcher.

31. San Francisco 49ers - Matt Elam, S, Florida
The 49ers may have won the Super Bowl if their safeties had had a better game. It’s time to find some younger and better players to play in their secondary. Elam may be the best safety in this draft, but he won’t be drafted until the late first or early second round. He could be a first year starter for the 49ers and should be an instant upgrade.

32. Baltimore Ravens - DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
There is speculation that Ed Reed and Anquan Boldin could both be gone in 2013. This would be a good spot to replace one of those players, but with Elam going one spot ahead of them the Ravens will choose to replace Boldin. Hopkins should be a very good wide receiver and would be a nice compliment to Torrey Smith.