2013 NFL Mock Draft: Latest Projections for Every NFL Franchise

The 2013 NFL Draft is perhaps the most anticipated event of this already thrilling offseason.

A number of high profile free agent signings, blockbuster trades and surprising cuts have already taken place—drastically altering the landscape in our latest first-round mock draft.

Let’s take a look at our latest projections and highlight some players that every single team could potentially select come April.

 

1. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

The Chiefs will be well on their way back to prominence if they make this pick.

Joeckel is a superstar left tackle prospect that could significantly upgrade the offensive line, allowing new QB Alex Smith more time to throw and helping clear rushing lanes for Jamaal Charles out of the backfield.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida 

Sharrif Floyd is a behemoth lineman with a lot of versatility, including an uncanny knack for rushing the passer.

The Jags need assistance against the run and pass, making this Gators product a home run selection.

3. Oakland Raiders: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia 

With Carson Palmer’s future uncertain and Terrelle Pryor unproven, Oakland should be willing to go out and get a potential franchise signal-caller.

Smith is the best on the board, even if he doesn’t grade out as high as the top quarterbacks in last year’s draft. He can make plenty of throws, has above average athleticism and has a chance to bring hope to this floundering organization.

 

4. Philadelphia Eagles:  Dion Jordan, OLB, Oregon 

The Eagles could use some new blood at a number of positions, but Jordan’s upside and immense skills would make the biggest impact.

He’s a ferocious pass-rusher that can play defensive end or outside linebacker, giving Philly’s defense the opportunity to send plenty of varied looks at its opponent throughout a game.

5. Detroit Lions: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama 

Detroit’s giant step back during the 2012 season can be blamed on a variety of factors, but giving up big plays was definitely an issue.

Milliner represents a major upgrade in the secondary and his presence would help eliminate many of those home run passes.

6. Cleveland Browns: Ezekiel Ansah, BYU, DE/OLB 

The Browns signed Paul Kruger and Quentin Groves already, but a team that is changing its base defense to 3-4 could always use more pass-rushing weapons.

Ziggy Ansah is one of the best available and you need to look no further than his dominant Senior Bowl outing and combine performance to see that.

7. Arizona Cardinals: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan  

While the Cardinals have a quarterback conundrum on their hands, their O-line is a bigger problem.

Fisher is an immense value here, as he has the talent to be a No. 1 overall pick. Expect him to immediately earn the starting gig and improve the line drastically in 2013 if he’s selected by Arizona.

8. Buffalo Bills: Matt Barkley, QB, USC 

With Ryan Fitzpatrick out of the picture, the Bills direly need to address the gaping hole at the quarterback position.

Barkley is the second best quarterback on the board after Geno Smith and would finally give Buffalo the franchise player they can to develop under center.

He certainly has some shortcomings, as his arm strength is questionable and could be an issue playing in the cold weather. However, that is a risk the Bills should be willing to take come April.

9. New York Jets: Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

The Jets are another organization that could use its first-rounder many different ways, but pass-rusher should be the top priority.

Mingo is the best available end. Although he is a tad raw, he's well worthy of the No. 9 pick.

10. Tennessee Titans: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

Werner could fall practically anywhere on the board come draft day, but we like him going to the Titans at No. 10.

He’d be a welcome addition to a D-line that needs all the aid it can get.

11. San Diego Chargers: Lane Johnson, LT, Oklahoma

The Chargers are quickly becoming an afterthought in the AFC West, but Philip Rivers getting time to throw and a more powerful running game could change that.

Johnson addresses both of those concerns.

12. Miami Dolphins: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State 

Miami finally nabbed a playmaker for its receiving corps in Mike Wallace, opening up the No. 12 pick to select a cornerback.

Rhodes is a great talent and should immediately help this team defend against the pass at a high level.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas 

If the Bucs don’t swing a trade for Darrelle Revis, expect them to come out and grab the best available player for their secondary.

On our big board, that’s Kenny Vaccaro of the Texas Longhorns. He’s a versatile talent that can play either safety position or even nickel cornerback.

Even with Dashon Goldson signing, Vaccaro will provide depth and could be a playmaker at CB or S for the organization.

14. Carolina Panthers: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

If Star Lotulelei’s heart condition winds up being a non-issue—as expected—he’s a slam dunk selection for Carolina.

He can play practically every position along the defensive line in any scheme, making this a no-brainer for a squad that struggled at times against both the pass and run.

The Panthers already have the tools to make a playoff push in 2013. Lotulelei would be a fine prospect that would further improve their chances of making it into the postseason.

15. New Orleans Saints: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia 

Jones is a bit of a gamble due to his spinal stenosis issue, but he’s been medically cleared to play in the NFL.

At No. 15, the Saints brass would be full-blown crazy to pass on a chance to add a player with his upside, production and pure talent to one of the league’s worst defenses.

16. St. Louis Rams:  Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama   

Warmack is a guard with Top-Five potential, but we have him slipping to No. 16 due to team needs prior to the Rams selection.

This former ‘Bama star looks to be an All-Pro caliber talent that could boost St. Louis’ offensive line play significantly.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia 

Ogletree comes with some character issues, but there’s no denying his abilities on the football field.

Pittsburgh’s once proud linebacking corps is depleted and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau desperately needs to develop some fresh talent there. This Bulldog could become yet another great LB to don the Black and Yellow.

18. Dallas Cowboys: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

If Dallas does nothing else during the 2013 offseason, it needs to at least find some suitable offensive lineman.

QB Tony Romo is constantly taking shots and the running backs struggle to find lanes, making a top-tier prospect like Fluker a great pick here.

19. New York Giants: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

The G-Men recently signed Cullen Jenkins, but Richardson is just too enticing to pass up on here at No. 19.

He’s as much as an asset against the run as he is the pass, something that Big Blue must get back to doing at a high level.

20. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina 

The Bears inked tackle Jermon Bushrod to a deal recently, but they should not stop upgrading one of the worst offensive lines in the league there.

Cooper is the second best guard on the board after Warmack and would be a great selection at this portion of the first round.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M  

Moore’s stock is down, as he’s no longer considered a great 3-4 pass-rushing prospect and his combine showing was downright terrible.

However, as a 4-3 DE on a line with Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson and other disruptive talents, this Aggies product could shine.

22. St. Louis Rams (via Redskins): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee  

After losing Danny Amendola to the Patriots, the Rams should make a splash with the highest upside receiving threat on the board.

Patterson would finally give St. Louis a true No. 1 receiving threat and someone that could make Sam Bradford look really good by making ridiculous catches all over the field.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia 

With Percy Harvin traded to the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota cannot afford to go any other direction with this pick than wideout.

Austin is an athletic freak that could wind up becoming one of the better players in this draft and should be able to replace Harvin’s playmaking.

24. Indianapolis Colts: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State 

The Colts could use an offensive lineman to help protect Andrew Luck a bit more, but there defensive was absolutely atrocious in 2012.

Banks’ presence would give a huge boost to their secondary, even in his rookie season.

25. Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle): Johnathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia

Minnesota snatched this pick in the Harvin trade, adding additional first-rounder that it needs to improve from a fringe playoff squad to a potential contender in the tough NFC North.

With WR already addressed, expect the Vikings to look to the other side of the field and grab a solid lineman to bolster their defensive front.

Jenkins is a behemoth that fits in their 4-3 base D and possesses the versatility to do a lot of different things for the team.

26. Green Bay Packers: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama 

Williams proved his athleticism at Alabama’s Pro Day on Wednesday, running a blistering 4.9 40-yard dash.

Considering his 6’3”, 325-pound frame, this workout suggests he has the raw physical abilities to augment his mean streak and production on the field for an extremely good Crimson Tide team.

The Packers could use a lineman like that to help stop the run in 2013.

27. Houston Texans: Keenan Allen, WR, California 

Andre Johnson has been putting up insane numbers in spite of the mediocre talent in the Houston receiving corps.

If the Texans can add a solid No. 2 option to help stretch the field and take pressure off their prolific wideout, who knows how dangerous their passing game could be.

28. Denver Broncos: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

The Broncos managed to sign Wes Welker in free agency, making them look like favorites to win the Super Bowl in 2013.

With an offense that looks perfect on paper, don’t be surprised to see this organization grab a nice defensive prospect to develop. Hankins seems like a candidate to be that guy due to his skills and upside.

29. New England Patriots: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

New England’s secondary is—as usual—a patchwork group that features a few above average talents and plenty of journeymen.

Trufant could be a great addition to this unit and help bring consistency and depth to the CB position.

30. Atlanta Falcons: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

Tony Gonzalez is returning, but Michael Turner was shown the door this offseason. For that reason, we project the Falcons to take the best available halfback on the board—Eddie Lacy.

This bruising back has the physicality and speed required to be a feature back in the modern NFL, a characteristic Atlanta desires in its RBs.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Eric Reid, S, LSU

Dashon Goldson signed with the Bucs, making safety a key area of concern for the Niners.

Reid fits the bill, but we wouldn’t be surprised to make this team make quite a few moves come draft day, as they possess a whopping 15 picks in 2013

32. Baltimore Ravens: Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, LB  

The Ravens have had a tough offseason and lost a number of defensive players that helped bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Baltimore.

However, the team could do worse than drafting arguably one of the best linebackers we’ve seen in quite some time at the college level.