The 2013 College Football Recruiting NFL Mock Draft

Listen up, let's take ourselves to a world where there are no college football players and a world where the NFL GMs draft from high school. Let's use the 2013 recruiting class as the available pool of players for this year's NFL Draft.

For this mock draft, I'm going to combine the 2013 recruiting class with the 2013 NFL Draft and make picks based on talent and need for each NFL franchise.

This is not going to be any ol' mock draft, as this is a piece I've been looking forward to doing for quite some time, as we sit just one week away from the 2013 NFL Draft, one of my favorite times of the year.

Let's have some fun folks!

1. Indianapolis Colts

Max Browne, QB (Skyline HS, WA)

The Colts need a QB to replace the departed Peyton Manning. To restart the franchise going forward, Jim Irsay and Ryan Grigson take he best pocket-passer in the country.

Building around the 6'5", 210-pound Browne is the right thing to do. He'll give the Colts a franchise QB to rebuild the team around as they hit the reset button in Indy.

2. Washington Redskins

Tyrone Swoopes, QB (Whitewright HS, TX)

This is a tough pick here for Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen. Do you go with the best player in the draft, or get a young QB that fits your offense perfectly?

With both Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan entrenched as starters at OLB, the Skins pass up on Robert Nkemdiche and take the 6'5", 220-pound Swoopes, as his athleticism and arm strength fits what Shanahan likes do to offensively.  

3. Minnesota Vikings

Robert Nkemdiche, DE (Grayson HS, GA)

The Vikes luck up and get the best player in the draft as Robert Nkemdiche falls right into their laps. A clear luxury pick, another good pass-rusher will only take pressure off All-Pro Jared Allen.

Laremy Tunsil will be highly considered here, but the Vikes will likely feel they can get an Ethan Pocic, Steve Elmer or Chris Fox in the second round. 

4. Cleveland Browns

Reuben Foster, ILB (Auburn HS, AL)

The 6'2", 242-pound Foster will be a day-one starter in Cleveland at the ILB spot. He'll eventually replace D'Qwell Jackson as the defensive leader in the middle.

Foster has the size, speed, instincts, athleticism, range and technique to be multi-time Pro- Bowler for the Browns.  

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Vernon Hargreaves III, CB (Wharton HS, FL)

With an aging Ronde Barber back for perhaps his final season and Aqib Talib's status uncertain, Hargreaves' grade and need make this pick a slam dunk for the Bucs at No. 5 overall.

The 5'10", 180-pound corner can learn the ropes from Barber and start off as a solid nickel back in the early part of the season. By then end of the 2012 campaign he'll be a firm starter on the back end for his hometown team.

6. St. Louis Rams

Laremy Tunsil, OT (Columbia HS, FL)

The Rams struggle with this pick in deciding between Ricky Seals-Jones, Tunsil and Robert Foster. Yet, they realize that they need to protect Sam Bradford's blind side and can get a great WR at the top of the second round.

Tunsil gives them a 6'6", 285-pound LT that the Rams haven't had since Orlando Pace left town.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Carl Lawson, DE (Milton HS, GA)

Lawson sees his stock rise up draft boards as his 6'3", 240-pound frame has a high ceiling as a pass-rusher, which the Jags desperately need. With the Jags moving in and out of 30 and 40 fronts, a player of Lawson's versatility is exactly what they need to pressure the passer. 

8. Miami Dolphins

Christian Hackenberg, QB (Fork Union Military, VA)

The Fins give their fans and franchise what it needs: a QB to solidify the organization going forward. Hackenberg has similar traits to Browne as he's a 6'4", 215-pounder with good arm strength, flashes of accuracy and a high ceiling.

9. Carolina Panthers

Kenny Bigelow, DT (Eastern Christian Academy, MD)

The Panthers toy with the idea of adding young future number one wide receiver for Cam Newton, but getting a play-making DT like Bigelow who also fills a need is great value here.

At 6'3", 285 pounds, Bigelow is an athletic interior DT that can also kick outside and play DE in some packages. He'll be a mainstay in Carolina for years.

10. Buffalo Bills

Robert Foster, WR (Central Valley HS, PA)

The Bills get Foster here at No. 10, with Foster's speed, quickness and athleticism giving Ryan Fitzpatrick a weapon opposite Stevie Johnson.

The 6'3", 190-pounder will develop into a great WR in upstate New York and will give the Bills a Torry Holt-Isaac Bruce combo in the passing game.

11. Kansas City

Patrick Kugler, OG (North Allegheny HS, PA)

The Chiefs look for a DT that can play NT at this slot, but can't find their man that equals value at No. 11. So Scott Pioli and Romeo look at the board and see a nasty LG that also fills a need for them.

The 6'4, 275-pound Kugler has the technique and mean streak to play early in the trenches for the Chiefs.

12. Seattle Seahawks

Ricky Seals-Jones, WR (Sealy HS, TX)

Pete Carroll is on pace to build a physically big team in the Pac-Northwest and Seals-Jones gives the coach another big bodied playmaker.

It'll be a daunting task for NFC West CBs to cover the 6'5", 215-pound Seals-Jones and the 6'5", 230-pound Mike Williams in the red zone.

13. Arizona Cardinals

Stacy Coley, WR (Northeast HS, FL)

Steve Keim and Rod Graves can't find value here with their need at OT so they debate between OLB Matthew Thomas and Coley.

The thought of the 6'1" Coley's speed stretching the field and taking a safety away from All-Pro WR Larry Fitzgerald wins out, as Ken Whisenhunt gets another offensive toy to play with. 

14. Dallas Cowboys

Su'a Cravens, FS (Vista Murrieta HS, CA)

America's team runs to turn their card in for Cravens, as the 6'1", 205-pounder comes to Dallas as a free safety and helps the back-end immediately.

Jerry's World will love Cravens, as his athleticism, play speed, physicality and play-making ability will be a welcome addition to a needy Cowboy secondary. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles

Montravius Adams, DT (Dooly County HS, GA)

The Eagles get a play-making DT at this point, as they clearly missed on Brodrick Bunkley. Mike Patterson's health is a question and Derek Landri is a backup.

The 6'3", 285-pound Adams fits the Wide 9 scheme perfectly as he's explosive at the snap and gets upfield in a flash. Excellent pickup for Howie Roseman and Andy Reid. 

16. New York Jets

Matthew Thomas, OLB (Booker T. Washington HS, FL)

The Jets need help with their pass-rush and while maybe another WR could help Mark Sanchez, I think they skip over Antonio Conner due to signing LaRon Landry and go with the 6'4", 210-pound pass-rushing Thomas.

A speedy, long, lean and rangy athlete, Thomas will fit in as a stand-up 3-4 OLB in Rex Ryan's scheme for Gang Green.

17. Cincinnati Bengals

Eli Woodard, CB (Eastern HS, NJ)

The Bengals lost Jonathan Joseph last year via free agency and the 6'0", 185-pound Woodard is seen as more of polished CB than Kendall Fuller at this point.

Marvin Lewis goes for the safer CB, as he gets good value and fills a pressing need for his football team. Woodard's size, length and play-speed will make him a starter early in Southern Ohio. 

18. San Diego Chargers

Antonio Conner, S (South Panola HS, MS)

With the Jets ruining the Bolts' plan of taking Thomas, they take the next best player on their board in Antonio Conner, who is a home run of value and need at this point.

The 6'2", 200-pound Conner has the athleticism, hitting ability and range to team up well with FS Eric Weddle. Great pick by A.J. Smith as Conner and Weddle could be a top safety tandem in two years.

19. Chicago Bears

Dee Liner, DT (Muscle Shoals HS, AL)

Liner sticks out like a sore thumb at this slot, as his grade screams "pick me." The last time the Bears took a quick DT was in 2004 with Tommie Harris, and that worked out well for a few years.

Liner gives them similar traits as he's a 6'3", 270-pound DT that can one-gap and play with good quickness and solid range.

20. Tennessee Titans

Darius James, C (Harker Heights HS, TX)

Remember when Chris Johnson ran for 2,000 yards? That's when the Titans' OL was a force in the league. Johnson had self-inflicted problems last year, but Mike Munchak is a lunch-pail trench man at heart.

He sees a lot to like in the 6'5", 320-pound James and urges Mike Reinfeldt and Ruston Webster to draft the big Texan center.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Ty Isaac, RB (Joilet HS, IL)

This pick will go down to the wire as the Brown family and Marvin Lewis have good value here with the option of taking another CB in Cam Burrows, Isaac, RB Thomas Tyner or Caleb Brantley.

The Bengals go offense, as Isaac's size and speed fills a need at RB. Isaac is 6'2", 220 pounds, can catch the ball well and gives the Bengals young triplets in QB Andy Dalton, WR A.J. Green and Isaac.

22. Cleveland Browns

Thomas Tyner, RB (Aloha HS, OR)

The Browns know they need to upgrade their offense and that speed is needed in Northern Ohio. Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert see Tyner's injury history push his stock down, as he slips to them at No. 22.

The 6'0", 205-pounder is perhaps the fastest player in the draft and gives the Dogs an offensive weapon they desperately need. 

23. Detroit Lions

Cam Burrows, CB (Trotwood-Madison HS, OH)

The Lions will have no cornerbacks under contract after this season and need to re-stock their secondary—yesterday. Eric Wright is gone and Chris Huston needs help.

With that said, they gladly take the 6'2", 200-pound Burrows whose size and speed give him a chance to develop into a number one corner. With the Packers in their division and the Bears now having Brandon Marshall, a big CB like Burrows is just what the doctor ordered for Jim Schwartz.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Caleb Brantley, DT (Crescent City HS, FL)

The Steelers draft a year or two ahead, that's why they are never in a position where they absolutely have to draft for need. Casey Hampton is on the down side of a great career in the Steel City and a replacement will be needed.

Brantley isn't as big as Hampton, but he is a 6'2" DT that will be over 300 pounds soon. His strength and explosiveness will give the Steelers a young, future play-making nose tackle.

25. Denver Broncos

Justin Davis, RB (Lincoln HS, CA)

With no defensive tackles having a first-round grade left on their board, the Broncos toy with the idea of giving Peyton Manning another pass-catching weapon in Adam Breneman or Derrick Griffin.

Yet, they all settle on the 6'0", 200-pound Davis to help spell Willis McGahee and ignite more speed in their offense.

26. Houston Texans

Derrick Griffin, WR (Terry HS, TX)

The Texans need to give Andre Johnson some help in the passing game. Owen Daniels is a solid TE, but a pass catcher is needed.

The 6'6", 220-pound Griffin gives them size, length, deceptive speed and a large catch radius. Great pick by Houston at this slot. 

27. New England Patriots

Max Redfield, FS (Mission Viejo HS, CA)

Bill Belichick knows he needs to get more talent on defense, everywhere. He makes no secret for his love of Ed Reed and takes a safety he'll try to mold into the future Hall of Famer's image.

Yet, Redfield is bigger than Reed at 6'2", 190 pounds. He's got great range and athleticism to help the deep middle in Foxborough. 

28. Green Bay Packers

Derrick Henry, RB (Yulee HS, FL)

I don't care for the Packers' RB depth chart and they are almost always ahead in games. They don't have a back who you fear and can run them to wins.

Why not take a 6'3", 240-pounder with great speed? Henry is the pick for Ted Thompson as surprisingly takes a RB in the top frame. When it's cold at Lambeau and the Packers are winning, Henry's size and speed will come in handy to close games for Mike McCarthy. 

29. Baltimore Ravens

Tyrone Crowder, OG (Richmond HS, NC)

The last time the Ravens waited for a good offensive guard prospect in the first round was Ben Grubbs. That worked out well.

This time, Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta wait for the 6'2", 325-pound Crowder as his size, strength and mean-streak will fit in well in the physical battles vs. Pittsburgh in the fall. He'll also help keep Joe Flacco clean.

30. San Francisco 49ers

Kendall Fuller, CB (Good Counsel, MD)

Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke know that this is an offensive league. They also know that they are the team to beat in the NFC West and teams will be throwing on them due to likely having leads in games.

That's the debate they have as they ponder taking a wide receiver like Marquez North or Jordan Cunningham, yet they settle on cornerback Kendall Fuller. Fuller can play CB for Harbaugh, who's wacky enough to play the super athletic 6'0", 185-pounder as a WR too. 

31. New England Patriots

Eddie Vanderdoes, DL (Placer HS, CA)

The Patriots go defense again with Vanderdoes at this slot. The 6'4", 285-pounder fits well as a 3-4 defensive end and can also play tackle or strong-side defensive end when Bill Belichick flips to 40 fronts.

Vanderdoes has great shedding skills and is very, very strong on the field. He upgrades the Pats' D-line and could be a Justin Smith type of player.

32. New York Giants

Adam Breneman, TE (Cedar Cliff HS, PA)

The Giants have some depth concerns at TE, with Travis Beckum not healthy and underachieving, Jake Ballard hurt and Bear Pascoe more of a fullback than a tight end.

Eli Manning needs a dynamic seem-player to take Kevin Gilbride's offense to another level. Marc Ross and Jerry Reese tell Tom Coughlin they're taking the 6'5", 225-pound natural pass-catching tight end in Breneman, getting excellent value and fitting a dear need for the G-Men.