2013 NFL Mock Draft: Pick-by-Pick Projections for First Round

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It's time to admit we have a problem. Is there a rehab clinic for draftniks?

The ink isn't even dry on the reviews of the 2012 NFL draft, and here we find ourselves already thinking about the 2013 NFL draft. Which players will come out? Which team will get the first pick?

Let's take a look at some predictions for the 2013 NFL draft's first round, shall we?

Picks 1 Through 8

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No. 1. Jacksonville Jaguars Select: Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech

This looks like a big upset, however by the time we reach the draft in 12 months, it may not look as much like an upset as people believe. Top-notch tangibles often win out in these situations, and sometimes guys who stay in school too long can start to show their warts.

 

No. 2. Minnesota Vikings Select: David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State

The Vikings still need help in the secondary, and David Amerson is one of the most productive pick-meisters I have ever seen at the college level. Rick Spielman loves college production, and Amerson has it. He will not be ready to give up on Christian Ponder yet.

No. 3. Oakland Raiders Select: Matt Barkley, QB, Southern Cal

New general manager Reggie McKenzie may be saddled with the Carson Palmer trade, which will see the Raiders losing a second-round pick even in the 2013 NFL draft, but he may have a chance to get off on the right foot by taking Matt Barkley here.

 

No. 4. St. Louis Rams Select: Robert Woods, WR, Southern Cal

The Rams believe they have found a great receiver in Brian Quick, however the rest of the receivers unit still looks pretty bare, and they need to get serious about adding weapons.

 

No. 5. Arizona Cardinals Select: Shayne Skov, LB, Stanford

The Cardinals could obviously use a quarterback, but between Kevin Kolb and John Skelton, I could see them continuing to convince themselves they are doing well enough at the position. Shayne Skov is the best linebacker on my board, and the Cardinals may appreciate his heady, physical play.

 

No. 6. New York Jets Select: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas

The Jets are headed straight for a disaster with Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow this season at quarterback. They may suffer through a house cleaning that Rex Ryan will be lucky to survive. In order to survive it, he will likely have to agree to conclude the Mark Sanchez experiment and move on.

 

No. 7. Washington Redskins Select: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

The Redskins could use some youthful energy on the interior of the defensive line, and Lotulelei will give them that energy as a big, physical presence.

No. 8. Kansas City Chiefs Select: Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin

The Chiefs have been looking to figure out a way to replace Branden Albert at left tackle so they can move him elsewhere along the line, and picking this high will be the excuse to do it.

Picks 9 Through 16

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No. 9. Indianapolis Colts Select: Keenan Allen, WR, California

The Colts will need to surround Andrew Luck with more weapons in the receivers unit, and Keenan Allen is the second man down the line at the position after Woods.

 

No. 10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select: Carrington Byndom, CB, Texas

The Buccaneers went with a safety in this year's draft, where they probably needed a corner. They can remedy that by picking up the superb Byndom from Texas, who might even be better than Amerson.

No. 11. Buffalo Bills Select: Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame

The Bills did not get a crack at Luke Kuechly in the 2012 draft, but they may get a shot at Te'o in 2013. Manti would be perfect in Dave Wannstedt's defense.

 

No. 12. Miami Dolphins Select: Kenny Vaccaro, SS, Texas

The Dolphins are attempting to get away with kitchen scraps at the safety position, and they could end up getting burned for it in 2012. Having lost a mainstay strong safety in Yeremiah Bell, they may find that future Thorpe Award winner Kenny Vaccaro is a perfect piece to add to the puzzle.

 

No. 13. Seattle Seahawks Select: Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma

The Seahawks' receivers unit looks good enough on the surface, but there are deep issues in the unit that could manifest this year. Stills would probably come out of school along with his senior quarterback, Landry Jones.

 

No. 14. Cincinnati Bengals Select: Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

The Bengals desperately need a dynamic run threat, and Lattimore is as good as you will find in the 2013 NFL draft.

 

No. 15. Tennessee Titans Select: William Gholston, DE, Michigan State

The Tennessee Titans still need another pass-rush presence on the defense, and this time next year, Gholston may even be considered the best defensive end in the 2013 NFL draft.

 

No. 16. Chicago Bears Select: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue

The Bears continue to need help along the interior of the defensive line, and could find what they're looking for in Short.

Picks 17 Through 24

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No. 17. San Diego Chargers Select: Oday Aboushi, OT, Virginia

The offensive line unit of the Chargers is in bad need of an overhaul. They can start by bringing on a real left tackle.

 

No. 18. Cleveland Browns Select: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

The corner position opposite Joe Haden is the biggest weakness in what otherwise has the potential to be an absolutely suffocating secondary.

 

No. 19. Dallas Cowboys Select: Barrett Jones, C, Alabama

The Cowboys will continue needing a center in 2013, where they could take the highest rated center on the board, which should be Jones.

 

No. 20. Atlanta Falcons Select: Tom Wort, LB, Oklahoma

The Falcons are probably not going to make a long-term future with Lofa Tatupu, and Wort is an outstanding middle linebacker who would fit their defense perfectly.

No. 21. New Orleans Saints Select: Jarvis Jones, DE, Georgia

Pass-rushers will continue to be the key for the Saints, who figure to operate a high-flying pass offense so long as Drew Brees is their quarterback.

 

No. 22. Carolina Panthers Select: Kwame Geathers, DT, Georgia

The Panthers made a smart pick in Luke Kuechly back in the 2012 NFL draft, but now it is time to protect him from blockers so that he can make a high impact.

 

No. 23. Denver Broncos Select: Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M

The Broncos drafted Ronnie Hillman, but he is only a role player. They will have to replace Willis McGahee in all earnest at some point in 2013.

 

No. 24. New York Giants Select: Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

By this time next year, the Giants will have some needs showing up in the secondary. Prince Amukamara will need some help.

Picks 25 Through 32

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No. 25. Pittsburgh Steelers Select: Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

The Steelers continue to need secondary help, and Banks could give it to them.

 

No. 26. San Francisco 49ers Select: Alex Okafor, OLB, Texas

Aldon Smith has turned out to be a brilliant draft pick, however the pass-rush position opposite Aldon is more questionable than most people consider. They can start to answer those questions by taking Okafor.

No. 27. Philadelphia Eagles Select: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

The Eagles' defensive ends are starting to get old, and Vinny Curry cannot help reinvent the unit in the wide-nine by himself. Mingo should be a good fit for the wide spacing.

No. 28. Baltimore Ravens Select: Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse

This time next year the Ravens will be looking for some more offensive line help. Pugh is a guy who caught my attention several times.

 

No. 29. New England Patriots Select: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

The Patriots plan on using Chandler Jones at right end, which may leave open a position for Werner to play left end.

 

No. 30. Detroit Lions Select: Branden Smith, CB, Georgia

The Detroit Lions secondary is still full of holes, and they will need to get a fix on it soon, because the team is wasting prime years of both Calvin Johnson's and Matt Stafford's careers.

 

No. 31. Houston Texans Select: Joseph Fauria, TE, UCLA

With a Super Bowl appearance against the Packers fresh in their minds, they may decide that a replacement for Owen Daniels at tight end may be the best for the team's long-term future.

 

No. 32. Green Bay Packers Select: Ray Graham, RB, Pittsburgh

Graham is a highly explosive back who got hurt this year. He should recover and get back to looking very good for teams. The Packers have a severe need at the position.