2013 NFL Mock Draft: An Early Look at Next Year's First Round

The first round of the 2012 NFL draft is in the books, and now it's time to take a way-too-early look at what next year's first round could look like.

Here is my first 2013 NFL mock draft, which takes into account all the picks teams have made so far in 2012.

1. Cleveland Browns: Matt Barkley, QB, USC

Andrew Luck was the presumed No. 1 overall pick during the 2011 college football season, and Barkley will go through the exact same thing. The Browns selected Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden during the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, but unless they figure out a way to trade out of this spot, they have to take Barkley. Weeden isn't a franchise-type quarterback.

2. Indianapolis Colts: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

The Colts took Andrew Luck with the top pick in the 2012 draft, now they get him a legitimate blind-side tackle. Anthony Castonzo will move to right tackle and Ben Ijalana can either learn to play guard or go elsewhere, since Fluker is an elite talent that Indianapolis can't pass up on.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Sam Montgomery, DE/OLB, LSU 

The Jaguars opted to trade up and land wide receiver Justin Blackmon in the 2012 draft, and they'll need to address their defense in 2013. Montgomery is a ridiculously athletic edge-rusher who had nine sacks as a sophomore.

4. Minnesota Vikings: Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State

The Vikings had a great night during the first round of the 2012 draft, landing offensive tackle Matt Kalil and safety Harrison Barnes. But if they want Christian Ponder to succeed, they need to get him someone to throw to. Wilson is a physical freak who will be a playmaker.

5. Miami Dolphins: Robert Woods, WR, USC

The Dolphins took Ryan Tannehill in the first round of the 2012 draft, and they will need to surround him with talent if they hope for the Texas A&M product to success. Woods is an incredibly productive wideout who reminds me of a bigger version of Carolina's Steve Smith.

6. Arizona Cardinals: Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee

After another season of John Skelton/Kevin Kolb quarterbacking, the Cardinals will finally have had enough. The 6'6" Bray has all the tools in his bag, he just needs to develop consistency in the tough SEC. If he can raise his career completion rate of 57.7 percent, he'll be a top-10 pick.

7. St. Louis Rams: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

The Rams executed several deals to move down and ended up snagging LSU's Michael Brockers to fill a need at defensive tackle. In 2013, they will need to add to their offensive line. Matthews is the second-best tackle that will be available next year, and he will be a hot property on draft day.

8. Oakland Raiders: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas

Carson Palmer will be 33 by the time the 2013 NFL Draft rolls around and it will be time for the Raiders to look to the future at quarterback. Wilson completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 3,638 yards, with 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions in his first year as a starter in 2011. He will only get better in 2012.

9. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins): Keenan Allen, WR, Cal 

The Rams missed out on landing Blackmon in the 2012 draft, they won't neglect getting Sam Bradford a No. 1 target in 2013. Allen is a big body at 6'3" and 205 pounds and has game-breaking ability.

10. Seattle Seahawks: Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia

Pete Carroll recruited Jones to USC before a neck injury forced him to transfer back home to Georgia. Carroll got a pass-rusher in 2012, and he'll get an outstanding linebacker/edge-rusher in 2013. Jones had 13.5 sacks in 2011 and would have been a first-round pick in this year's draft.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: David Amerson, CB, N.C. State

Ronde Barber will likely retire after the 2012 season, and the Bucs will need to find a cornerback after drafting safety Mark Barron in this year's draft. Amerson had a ridiculous 13 interceptions in 2011, including four games with two picks. 

12. Buffalo Bills: Jelani Jenkins, OLB, Florida

The Bills beefed up their defensive line this offseason and landed cornerback Stephon Gilmore in the draft. In next year's draft they'll get defensive again, getting a tackling machine in Florida's Jenkins.

13. Tennessee Titans: Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

The Titans landed Kendall Wright in the 2012 draft, but after Cortland Finnegan left for St. Louis this offseason, there is still a huge hole at cornerback. Enter Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu, the nation's best playmaker. 

14. Carolina Panthers: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

The Panthers decided to draft linebacker Luke Kuechly in 2012, which means they must finally add to the interior of their defensive line in 2013. At 6'3" and 335 pounds, Hankins is a space-eater who should be a hot name as the 2013 draft approaches.

15. Denver Broncos: Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

Peyton Manning is under center, but the Broncos' running game is still a work in progress. Lattimore is a productive back who has rushed for 2,015 yards and 27 touchdowns in his two years at South Carolina. He has averaged 4.89 yards per carry against SEC defenses and, at 6'1" and 232 pounds, is incredibly tough to take down.

16. Kansas City Chiefs: Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame

The Chiefs took Dontari Poe this year to fill the nose tackle position, and now Romeo Crennell's defense must get better up the middle. Te'o has his faults and needs to get better at wrapping up when tackling, but he's a hard worker who has a lot of range as an inside linebacker.

17. Chicago Bears: DeMarcus Milliner, CB, Alabama

Chicago surprised a few people by grabbing Boise State's Shea McClellin, but in 2013 they will need to fix their secondary. Milliner was one half of an outstanding cornerback duo for Alabama in 2011 with Dre Kirkpatrick and he should make an outstanding pro.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

The Bengals scored cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and guard Kevin Zeitler in the first-round of the 2012 draft, and that leaves defensive end as a need position. Mingo is 6'5" and 240 pounds, but he will add bulk and will also add to his career total of 10.5 sacks in 2012. 

19. San Francisco 49ers: Barrett Jones, G/C, Alabama

The 49ers drafted receiver A.J. Jenkins this year, and next year they will need to make sure quarterback Alex Smith is upright long enough to complete passes to the Illinois product. Jones will be a big-time upgrade to the interior of the offensive line.

20. Dallas Cowboys: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

The Cowboys made a bold move to trade up eight spots to land shutdown cornerback Morris Claiborne this year, and next year they will get Rob Ryan another toy to deploy. At 6'3" and 295 pounds, the versatile Floyd will be able to line up anywhere along Dallas' 3-4 defensive line.

21. New York Jets: Michael Dyer, RB, Arkansas State

The New York Jets grabbed the supremely talented Quinton Coples in the middle of the first round on Thursday. Next year they need to figure out a way to solve their running back problem. Shonn Greene—or as I like to call him: second and eight—isn't the answer. Dyer has had some off-the-field issues, but also rushed for 2,335 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons at Auburn. Talent isn't his problem.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin

The Eagles traded up to land defensive tackle Fletcher Cox in this year's first round, and next year they need to address the other line. Wagner is massive at 6'6" and 320 pounds and is a technically-sound blocker.

23. New Orleans Saints: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

The Saints won't have a whole lot of picks over the next two years, but they'll grab Jones here to get some insurance behind Drew Brees. 

24: San Diego Chargers: T.J. McDonald, S, USC

The Chargers got ridiculously lucky during the 2012 first round, as South Carolina's Melvin Ingram fell to them at No. 18. Next year, they'll go local and draft McDonald, an incredibly talented safety who would have been a first-round pick this year. McDonald and Eric Weddle will form quite a duo at the back of San Diego's defense.

25. Atlanta Falcons: Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

The Falcons currently have a solid roster from top to bottom, so they will wait to see who falls to them here. Okafor will be one of the top defensive ends in the nation in 2012, and will be a steal at this point in the 2013 draft.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Chris Faulk, OT, LSU

Bryant McKinnie won't be around much longer, and at 6'6" and 325 pounds, Faulk is the kind of left tackle that doesn't come around often. He is big and can move. He and Michael Oher will make quite a pair on either end of Baltimore's offensive line.

27. New York Giants: Xavier Nixon, OT, Florida State

The Giants opted to draft running back David Wilson at the back of the first round this year, but they need to get better along the offensive line. Nixon is a supremely athletic tackle who will be a big boost to New York's line.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue

The Steelers got incredibly lucky and landed guard David DeCastro at No. 24 during this year's draft, but next year they need to beef up their defensive line. At 6'3" and 310 pounds, Short is a load. He needed another year of seasoning, so returning to school was a great decision.

29. Detroit Lions: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

The Lions added offensive tackle Riley Reiff in the 2012 draft, but they still have big problems in the secondary. At 6'2" and 215 pounds, Rhodes is a big, physical corner who will fill that need.

30. Houston Texans: C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama

After trading DeMeco Ryans away this offseason, the Texans have a hole in the middle of their 3-4 defense. Mosley is a tackling machine who will step right in and contribute on what should be a stacked defense.

31. New England Patriots: Khaled Holmes, G/C, USC

The Patriots went big during this year's first round, trading up twice to score Syracuse' Chandler Jones and Alabama's Dont'a Hightower. Next year they will need to improve their aging offensive line. Holmes is one of the smartest players in college football and his cerebral approach and versatility will make him a fit in New England.

32. Green Bay Packers: Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma

The Packers got a great pass-rusher in Nick Perry during this year's draft, but their defense is far from fixed. Sadly, the Packers had to part with Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins due to health issues, and they will draft Jefferson to replace him.