NFL Mock Draft 2013: Difference-Makers for Every First-Round Team

In the NFL draft, there are always busts in the first round, and that is a fact of life that is nearly impossible to avoid. Many of the busts are by virtue of a bad fit rather than a bad prospect. However, some NFL teams can do themselves a service my making sensible first-round selections.

Even the very best teams in the league have obvious needs that can be filled by rookies. What the 2013 draft lacks in top-flight talent, it more than makes up for in depth, so every team picking in the first round will have a chance to take someone who contributes right away.

In addition to a full, first-round mock draft, here are the players who will be the biggest difference-makers for their respective teams in 2013.

Italics indicate teams with the greatest need for a difference-maker. 

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

With Branden Albert's future in doubt and Eric Winston no longer in the fold, the Chiefs need a reliable offensive lineman like Joeckel to protect Alex Smith.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

The Jaguars could literally do anything at No. 2, and if they don't find a potential trading partner to help them move down, they'll likely go with a high-upside pass-rusher in Ansah.

3. Oakland Raiders: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

Now that Richard Seymour is out of the picture, the Raiders have a gaping hole along the defensive line that the talented Floyd should be able to fill.

4. Philadelphia Eagles: Dion Jordan, OLB, Oregon

The Eagles are switching to a 3-4 defense, so former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly will bring in a player he is very familiar with in the form of Jordan.

5. Detroit Lions: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

Detroit has had issues at offensive tackle for the best few years, and now that Jeff Backus has retired, Fisher is the obvious selection if he's there.

6. Cleveland Browns: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

The Browns have so many needs that it's hard to pinpoint one, but pairing the top cornerback in the draft in Milliner with Joe Haden would give them an impressive pass defense.

7. Arizona Cardinals: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

It looks as though the Cardinals are going to roll with Carson Palmer at quarterback, so they'll need to find him a competent protector like Johnson.

8. Buffalo Bills: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

Plenty of experts have had the Buffalo Bills taking a quarterback at No. 8 for the past couple months, but with the signing of Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson already on the roster, it seems likely that the Bills will go in a different direction. That isn't to say that either Kolb or Jackson are the answer, because they probably aren't, but it would be best to wait until the second round or perhaps even next year.

In the meantime, the Bills have a ton of other holes to fill. Buffalo let a couple wide receivers walk during the offseason and have very little outside of Stevie Johnson. Although Johnson is a great receiver, he can't do it all by himself. Johnson is more of a possession guy than a down-field threat, so the Bills would be well served to take somebody who can take the top off the defense. Supremely talented West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin fits that description.

There is some concern in the NFL community that Austin doesn't have the size necessary to be a big-time receiver in the NFL, but guys like Steve Smith and DeSean Jackson have proven that smaller receivers can produce at the next level. Austin is a dynamic player who would complement Johnson extremely well, so whether Kolb, Jackson or a second-round rookie are throwing passes for the Bills in 2013, they'll have the tools necessary to succeed.

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

The Jets really struggled to pressure the quarterback last season and the entire defense suffered because of it, so Mingo is an obvious selection at this juncture.

10. Tennessee Titans: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

Although the Titans have done a nice job this offseason, they still haven't properly replaced Cortland Finnegan at cornerback, and that is where Rhodes comes in.

11. San Diego Chargers: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama

Quarterback Philip Rivers is constantly under fire, so the Chargers would be wise to invest in the best guard in the draft by taking Warmack.

12. Miami Dolphins: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

Miami spent big money this offseason in order to improve on both sides of the ball, and bringing in Lotulelei will give the Dolphins a space-eater along the defensive line.

13. New York Jets (via Tampa Bay): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

There hasn't been a lot of talk about the Jets targeting a quarterback in the first round, but Mark Sanchez is beyond awful and Smith is solid value at No. 13.

14. Carolina Panthers: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

Carolina's run defense is among the worst in the league, and while it will take more than one person to fix it, placing Richardson in the middle of the defensive line should help.

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

With the Saints making the switch to a 3-4 defense, they need to find somebody who can rush the passer consistently, and that is something Jones was able to do at Georgia quite well.

16. St. Louis Rams: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

The Rams defense was surprisingly good last season, but there is an obvious hole in the secondary at safety, so taking the best player at that position in the form of Vaccaro is a no-brainer.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

The Pittsburgh Steelers endured a difficult 2012 season as they suffered through countless key injuries and ultimately missed the playoffs. There is no question that the Steelers have a talented roster, though, so a return to prominence this year is definitely possible. Pittsburgh could definitely use a player who can step in and play right away, and there are few players who are more NFL ready than Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert.

While the Steelers already have a solid tight end in Heath Miller, he tore his ACL late in the season and his status for 2013 is uncertain. Miller will likely be back at some point, but it isn't realistic to expect him to heal at the same rate as someone like Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Without Miller, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger doesn't have many options to throw to at tight end.

Eifert should be able to play from day one, and whenever Miller returns, the Steelers will have a formidable duo. Miller also isn't getting any younger, so it would be wise to bring in his replacement and groom him before Miller is even out of the picture. A rush linebacker would probably be ideal in this spot, but with all of the top ones gone, Eifert is a great consolation prize.

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

Dallas has undergone constant changes along its offensive line over the past few years, but taking Fluker and putting him across from Tyron Smith should create some stability.

19. New York Giants: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

With Osi Umenyiora leaving the Big Apple for Atlanta, the Giants need to add some depth at defensive end, and Werner could be the latest in a long line of great Big Blue pass-rushers.

20. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Cooper, OG, UNC

One of the main reasons why the Bears can't reach the next level is an inability to keep quarterback Jay Cutler healthy, but Cooper should be very helpful in that regard.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Matt Elam, S, Florida

The Bengals have one of the most impressive front sevens in the entire NFL; however, their secondary could use a playmaker like Elam playing center field.

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

The Rams lost their two best receivers in Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson this offseason, so drafting a dynamite playmaker like Patterson is a no-brainer.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

The Vikings have long been a team with a strong front four and weak linebacker corps, but taking Ogletree should even things out a bit.

24. Indianapolis Colts: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

Indy is set up nicely with plenty of young talent throughout its roster, but the defensive line could use a little more size and ability, which is why Jones fits here.

 

25. Minnesota Vikings (via Seattle): Sylvester Williams, DT, UNC

There are many who expect the Vikings to take a receiver with one of their two first-rounders, but after signing Greg Jennings, defensive tackle is a bigger need, so Williams should be the pick.

26. Green Bay Packers: Margus Hunt, DE, SMU

The Green Bay Packers have a ton of offensive talent and will be among the most potent teams in the league once again this season, but the defense still needs some work. Linebacker Clay Matthews is a stud, as is nose tackle B.J. Raji, but there are a lot of question marks outside of those players. That is especially true along the defensive line.

Raji is a great anchor, but he doesn't have much support at defensive end. The Packers got very little production there last season, so it is extremely important to improve. Not only does Green Bay need an end who can rush the passer and stop the run, but it needs a guy who is big enough to take on blockers and open space for Matthews. SMU defensive end Margus Hunt is a huge man at 6'8" and 280 lbs, but he is also athletic enough to do some special things.

Hunt has drawn some comparisons to Houston Texans All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt. While it isn't fair to burden Hunt with those types of expectations, it proves that he has an unlimited ceiling. Perhaps Hunt isn't the safest pick at this juncture, but he could pay major dividends for a struggling Packers defense.

 

27. Houston Texans: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

Ever since Andre Johnson first entered the league, he has needed a competent receiver across from him, and he could finally get that in the form of Hunter.

 

28. Denver Broncos: Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State

The Broncos lost Elvis Dumervil in free agency, so they need to add some depth at defensive end, and Carradine definitely fits the bill.

 

29. New England Patriots: Keenan Allen, WR, California

After failing to sign Wes Welker and releasing Brandon Lloyd, the Patriots absolutely must find quarterback Tom Brady another weapon, and Allen is a promising one.

 

30. Atlanta Falcons: Arthur Brown, OLB, Kansas State

The Falcons are in a position to do pretty much anything they please, but their biggest need is probably at linebacker, and they can fill it with a high-upside prospect like Brown.

31. San Francisco 49ers: John Cyprien, S, Florida International

There isn't much that the Niners need at this point, but with Dashon Goldson signing in Tampa Bay, nabbing a high-upside safety like Cyprien would be a good idea.

 

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

Te'o is undoubtedly the most polarizing figure in the entire draft, but the Ravens need someone to replace Ray Lewis, so they should roll the dice and hope for big things.

 

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