2013 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting the First Two Rounds

The 2012 NFL season is coming to an end and college bowl games have begun. Underclassmen are declaring for the 2013 NFL draft and that all means one thing: mock draft season is here.

For fans of some NFL teams, the draft is the only real reason to get excited about their team. The addition of a stud college player always offers a vast amount of hope to even the most dismal franchises. The draft offers a moment of hope where all fans can be irrational, ignore all the evidence available and proclaim that the pick their team just made has them contending for a Super Bowl.

We are going to execute a mock draft using a few essential criteria. We will look at draft order and team needs. We will use a blend of the “best player available” approach in conjunction with each team's most urgent need to make their selection. The draft order is based on the standings after Week 14.

Let’s take a look at this full two-round mock draft.

Round 1

1) Kansas City Chiefs

Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

Smith is a very accurate passer and is an immediate upgrade over any Chiefs quarterback. He has great upside and is the best quarterback in the draft for a team that desperately needs better quarterback play.

2) Jacksonville Jaguars

Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

Werner is a terror at the edge of the defense. He has the size and power to bull rush, and the quickness to bend around the edge and get to the quarterback.

3) Oakland Raiders

Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

Lotulelei is a massive interior lineman with an incredible get-off and the power to disrupt the opposing teams back field. He is going to anchor this defensive line for many years.

4) Philadelphia Eagles

Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

Joeckel dominated SEC competition in 2012 and that says enough about the most talented tackle in the draft. He is a finesse tackle, but this team is rebuilding and starting with the draft's best left tackle is a smart move.

5) Detroit Lions

Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama

Warmack is the best interior offensive lineman to enter the draft in recent memory. He would step in, start immediately and upgrade the offensive line for the Lions. 

6) San Diego Chargers

Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

Matthews fits a huge need for the Chargers as they have struggled to get good tackle play in 2012. Matthews will stabilize the left side of the line immediately.

7) Buffalo Bills

Keenan Allen, WR, California

Allen pairs with Stevie Johnson to give the Bills a lethal combination for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bills need a play maker in this draft to help their offense, and Allen is exactly that.

8) Cleveland Browns

Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

The Browns play in a division with receivers like Mike Wallace, Torrey Smith and A.J. Green. The addition of a player like Vaccaro helps the back end of the defense in a big way.

9) Tennessee Titans

Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon

Jordan is an athletic freak with longs arms and an impressive burst off the edge. The Titans need to get more pressure on the quarterback. Jordan gives them that ability.

10) Carolina Panthers

Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M

Moore might be the best pass rusher in the draft. He brings an element that the Panthers do not have right now in a player that can get to the quarterback.

11) Arizona Cardinals

Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan

Lewan is a gift for the Cardinals at this point in the draft. He is a very solid left tackle and plays in a position of desperate need for the Cardinals.

12) Tampa Bay

Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

The Buccaneers traded troubled cornerback Aqib Talib to the New England Patriots during the 2012 season, and they get the draft's best cornerback in Milliner.

13) Miami Dolphins

Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

Austin is a gifted play maker who can help the Dolphins offense in multiple ways. He is a matchup nightmare because of his speed and he can be an asset to the Dolphins as a slot receiver, a running back and in the return game.

14) New Orleans Saints

Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame

Te'o is a talented player with solid coverage skills as an inside linebacker. He brings an element of character and playmaking ability to the Saints.

15) New York Jets

Robert Woods, WR, USC

Woods enters the picture in New York and adds talent to the depleted receiver group. He is a reliable, talented player that quarterback Mark Sanchez can rely on immediately, and going forward.

16) St. Louis Rams

Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

The Rams need to add some talent on their offensive line. Fisher does that, and he is good value at this point in the draft.

17) Pittsburgh Steelers

Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

Hankins is a monster in the middle of the defensive line, and he is the perfect player to fit the mentality of the Steelers defense. Casey Hampton is 35 years old, and the Steelers are going to have to replace him with younger talent.

18) Dallas Cowboys

Sam Montgomery, DE/OLB, LSU

The Cowboys get a player that can threaten the edge of the defense, and that helps playing in a division with quarterbacks like Robert Griffin III, Eli Manning and Michael Vick.

19) New York Giants

Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

Banks gives the Giants a cornerback with great size at 6'2" and 185 pounds. He has the mentality to step up and defend the run and the coverage skills to be a solid cornerback for the Giants.

20) Chicago Bears

Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

Quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears really need a tight end to get the ball to down the seams, and most importantly in the red zone. Eifert is a massive need and a value for the Bears at this point in the draft.

21) Minnesota Vikings

Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor

The Baylor product is a nightmare when he has the ball in his hands, and his speed is something the Vikings can use to open the field for running back Adrian Peterson.

22) Cincinnati Bengals

Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

Ansah is young to the game of football, but he has displayed the skills to hurt college offenses from multiple positions. The Bengals get a utility player that can get to the quarterback and disrupt offenses.

23) St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins)

Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

Mingo has the potential to be a steal because of his skills in rushing the passer. He is raw, but he has great length and the Rams could simply unleash him with talent like defensive tackle Michael Brockers eating up space inside.

24) Seattle Seahawks

Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech

The Seahawks have their "X" receiver in Sidney Rice and they need a player to play outside on the other side of the field. Patton is one of college football's best senior wide receivers, and a big upgrade to the Seahawks passing attack.

25) Indianapolis Colts

Barrett Jones, OC, Alabama

Jones has displayed the athletic ability to play all across the Alabama offensive line, but his real value is playing center for the Colts for many years.

26) Baltimore Ravens

C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama

Mosley is a perfect fit for the Ravens playing inside linebacker. He can play very fast and is a striker from sideline to sideline. Mosley adds more talent to the Ravens defense.

27) Green Bay Packers

Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford

The Packers are moving on from current tight end Jermichael Finley, and the Packers need to replace his production in their offense. Ertz is a nice addition here.

28) New England Patriots

Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

Ogletree is a player that can play in different alingments and be a productive player. He is a physical striker, and head coach Bill Belichik loves his SEC players.

29) San Francisco 49ers

Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

Cooper stabilizes an already solid offensive line, but he is an elite senior interior lineman. 

30) Denver Broncos

Kawann Short, DT, Purdue

Short has the ability to penetrate gaps and eat space for their other defensive players.

31) Houston Texans

Oday Aboushi, OT, Virginia

The Texans have a need on the offensive line and Aboushi fills the need. He is big tackle with the frame to get bigger.

32) Atlanta Falcons

Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn

The Falcons have a few aging players, and they need to address a few of these positions. Defensive end John Abraham's best days are behind him, and the Addition of Lemonier helps the Falcons pass rush.

Round 2

33) Kansas City Chiefs

Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU

Minter is a big, athletic linebacker who can make plays from the inside linebacker position.

34) Jacksonville Jaguars

Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas

I am not sure if the experiment with Blaine Gabbert is over, but if the Jaguars can add Wilson, they should. He is an excellent quarterback with as lot of upside.

35) Cincinnati Bengals (via Oakland Raiders)

Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina

Bernard has explosion in his game that the Bengals do not get form their current running back group.

36) Philadelphia Eagles

Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State

The Eagles have some defenders that are getting long in the tooth, and Jenkins fits the 4-3 defense the Eagles run perfectly.

37) Detroit Lions

Eric Reid, S, LSU

The Lions really need some help at the safety position. Starters Amari Spievey has a very bad concussion, and there is some thought that he may not return. Reid is an instant starter for the Lions.

38) San Diego Chargers

D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

Fluker is a dynamic right tackle with incredible size. He stabilizes the Chargers offensive line.

39) Buffalo Bills

Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

Jones has spinal stenosis, and the back issue has him slipping. He is a great value here.

40) Cleveland Browns

Forfeited the pick due to the selection of Josh Gordon in the supplemental draft in 2012.

41) Tennessee Titans

Khaseem Greene, LB, Rutgers

Green is a very solid outside linebacker who is a very productive player and can help the Titans linebacker group right away. 

42) Carolina Panthers

Aaron Dobson, WR, Marshall

Dobson has sneaky-fast speed and perhaps the best pair of hands in the draft. He makes unbelievable catches and pairs nicely on the other side of wide receiver Steve Smith. Dobson has an immense catching radius and will help the often inaccurate Cam Newton.

43) Arizona Cardinals

Matt Barkley, QB, USC

Barkley is a value pick for the Cardinals at this point in the draft. There are concerns about his arm strength, but he is a very polished quarterback having played in the USC pro-style offense.

44) Tampa Bay

David Amerson, S, North Carolina State

Amerson played at cornerback in college, but the transition to safety is best for him at the NFL level. Paired with Mark Barron, the Buccaneers have a fantastic pair of safeties who can play the deep half of the field, and step up to defend the run.

45) Miami Dolphins

Matt Elam, S, Florida

Elam pairs nicely with Dolphins cornerback Sean Smith. The Dolphins have a few aging pieces in their secondary and Elam helps them in the long-term.

46) New Orleans Saints

Forfeited the pick (Bounty-Gate)

47) New York Jets

Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

Rhodes is a very big cornerback who can play a very physical brand of football. The Jets can use his size and skill in their secondary.

48) St. Louis Rams

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

Patterson has a great blend of size, speed and athletic ability, and a team like the Rams could really use him to stretch the field.

49) Pittsburgh Steelers

Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

Williams is a player that can benefit from great leadership in the locker room and a coaching staff that can get him ready to play. He is a prefect fit for the Steelers. Even though he is listed as a DT, Williams would be a great fit to take the job from the aging Brett Keisel as a 3-4 defensive DE.

50) Dallas Cowboys

Cobi Hamilton, WR, Arkansas

The Cowboys need a third option in the passing game, and a player that can take the torch from Miles Austin. Hamilton is a polished wide receiver, and a player that Cowboys can put to work right away.

51) New York Giants

Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse

The Giants have an aging group of offensive linemen, and the addition of Pugh helps the line get younger. He is a capable tackle and a player the Giants can take their time with.

52) Chicago Bears

Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin

The Bears need to find a way to keep their quarterback upright, and the addition of Wagner injects the line with some young talent.

53) Minnesota Vikings

Michael Glennon, QB, North Carolina State

Glennon is a developmental player, but there are lots of things to like in his game. He is very raw, but he is a player with very good upside and there are concerns with current quarterback Christian Ponder and his future with the Vikings.

54) Cincinnati Bengals

Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma

Jefferson has great physical skills and will step up and deliver a blow to a ball carrier. He has great instincts and is athletic enough to make a difference immediately.

55) Washington Redskins

Melvin White, CB, Louisiana-Lafayette

White is a upgrade for the secondary with great size at 6'1" and 195 pounds. He is an athletic cornerback with very solid coverage skills.

56) Seattle Seahawks

Margus Hunt, DE, SMU

Hunt is an enormous football player with exceptionally long arms and good physical skills. He is another player that could step in and help right away.

57) Miami Dolphins (trade from Indianapolis)

Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

Floyd is as very under rated football player and a plug-and-play piece for the Dolphins.

58) Baltimore Ravens

Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana

Alford is a small school football player but he is a baller. He will be participating in the Senior Bowl, and he will get to show off his skills on a the big stage. I fully expect him to show well against better competition, ultimately raising his draft stock. Simply put, Alford can flat out play.

59) Green Bay Packers

Lawrence Warford, OG, Kentucky

Warford is an upgrade for the struggling Packers offensive line. Aaron Rodgers has been sacked more in 2012 than any other quarterback, and the offensive line help is necessary.

60) New England Patriots

Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri-Southern

Williams is a small school product but he is an athletic marvel. At 6'2" and 335 pounds, Williams is expected to run a sub five second 40-yard dash. He is a violent football player who set the schools sack record as a senior, playing all along the defensive line, but mainly from the nose.

Williams is a name to remember, as he is playing at the Senior Bowl and a good performance there and at the combine will send him rocketing up the boards like Dontari Poe did last year.

61) San Francisco 49ers

Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State

Wilson is a dynamic player who excels in jump ball situations and in spreading the field. Wilson is super thin and needs to add some bulk, but he is a very talented wide receiver.

62) Denver Broncos

Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

Jones is a player that is very versatile. He can play in multiple positions in a variety of sets. Jones has had a great senior season and is a good value late in Round 2. 

63) Houston Texans

Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech

The Texans need a player with some explosive skill to line up on the other side of Andre Johnson. Rogers is that player and he has great size at 6'3" and 205 pounds with good athletic abilities. 

64) Atlanta Falcons

Andre Ellington, RB, Clemson

The Falcons only have so much more time with current back Michael Turner. Jason Snelling and Jaquizz Rogers are adequate, but the Falcons need a primary running back to take Turner's job when he is done.