The Hott Read 2/20/13

If you have been wondering why I have only written one blog in the past few months this is why.  I have been watching videos of draft prospects and going over NFL teams needs and preparing to write this mock draft.  This is the sports thing I love the most and I like to be well informed about it.  It is near and dear to me and I’ve put a lot of time into this so I hope you enjoy it.  This is just the first one and it won’t likely be the last and to say this is subject to change would be an understatement.

My First 2013 NFL Mock Draft (Pre Scouting Combine)

This Mock Draft is not based on any knowledge of what teams are thinking it is based on a combination of what I think teams will do and what I think they should do, if only they would take my advice.  

1.  Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel   OT   Texas A&M

Somebody has to be picked first and there isn’t a QB worthy of the first round this year let alone worthy of the first pick (don’t worry QB’s will still get drafted in the first round).  When there isn’t a QB worth taking two positions stand out LT and pass rusher and since the Chiefs play a 3-4 defense a traditional DE isn’t what they need and they have Tamba Hali and Justin Houston at OLB.  Their starting LT is Branden Albert who is a free agent that the Chiefs may franchise tag but it doesn’t matter because you can never have too many good linemen.  Joeckel is the best value at an important position and a safe pick.

Possible dumb choice: Any QB like Geno Smith or Matt Barkley (seriously you should have grabbed a QB last year).

2.  Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14):  Damontre Moore   DE   Texas A&M

Yep Johnny Manziel won the Heisman at Texas A&M and now two Aggies go 1 and 2 in the draft no wonder they were the only team that beat Alabama last year.  Moore was the pass rusher that stepped into the shoes of Von Miller and he did an excellent job, he isn’t like Miller because he is more of a DE than an OLB but that is exactly what the Jaguars need.  The Jags pass rush is abysmal and that is putting it nicely.  At the moment Moore is in the discussion with other DE’s like Ezekiel Ansah (BYU) and Bjoern Werner (FSU) and I guarantee Ansah is about to light up the Combine with his freakish athleticism but I like Moore better overall and while the Jags may want to swing for the fences that defense needs a solid double not a strike out.

Possible dumb choice: Again grabbing a QB would be stupid even if the new GM and coach aren’t sold on Gabbert (and no one would blame them) you have time to wait until the next round or better yet until 2014.

3.  Oakland Raiders (4-12):  Bjoern Werner   DE   Florida St.

The Raiders were second to last in sacks last season (yep the Jaguars were the worst) and luckily for them the top of this draft is flush with pass rushing DE’s.  If Al Davis were still alive and making this choice than the athletic freak Ansah would be my guess but GM Reggie McKenzie is smarter than that.  Werner hasn’t been playing football that long (neither has Ansah) so he is just scratching the surface of his abilities.

Possible dumb choice: Grabbing one of the athletic freaks like Ansah or Dion Jordan (Oregon) or Barkevious Mingo (LSU), Werner is the safer pick.  One of the reasons these teams keep picking at the top of the draft is because they miss on their high choices and don’t get production (can you say Darrius Heyward-Bey).

 

4.  Philadelphia Eagles (4-12):  Star Lotulelei   DT   Utah

I really want to give the Eagles an OT here but four is too high for Eric Fisher and there isn’t really an offensive lineman worth this slot.  Lotulelei is a beast and DT is a position of need for the Eagles, Cullen Jenkins isn’t getting any younger and they need a running mate for last year’s pick Fletcher Cox.  Lotulelei also is a big body in the middle that will help keep their LB’s clean and that will help their run defense more than anything.

Possible dumb choice:  Eric Fisher OT from Central Michigan is going to get drafted higher than he should because he’s the next best OT but if he gets pushed up to #4 it is a mistake, he’s good but he’s not that good.

5.  Detroit Lions (4-12):  Dee Milliner   CB   Alabama

Every mock draft has the Lions taking a DE because Cliff Avril is a free agent and Kyle Vanden Bosch was released but for years mock drafts have had the Lions taking CB’s in the first round and they never did and it has caught up to them.  If Moore or Werner were still on the board I would say yes grab them because they can make an immediate difference but Milliner is also the only CB that can make that same impact at his position.  CB is a fairly deep position but so is DE and I would rather have Milliner and whatever DE I can get in round two than one of the DE left now and a second round CB.

Possible dumb choice:  Just what I said grabbing a DE now and a CB in round two, you get better value from Milliner now and a DE later.

6.  Cleveland Browns (5-11):  Jarvis Jones   OLB   Georgia

The Browns took a QB (Brandon Weeden) a RB (Trent Richardson) and a WR (Josh Gordon supplemental draft) last year so it is time to pay attention to the defense.  New defensive coordinator Ray Horton (formerly the Cardinals DC) learned his defense in his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers so he knows the value of an OLB in a 3-4 defense.  Jones is going be a freak in a 3-4 defense where he can do what he does best.  The only thing standing between Jarvis Jones and being a top 10 pick is his medical report at the Combine.  He was diagnosed with spinal stenosis when he was an incoming freshman at USC, he transferred to Georgia and was cleared to play and I don’t believe he has had any issues in his time as a Bulldog.

Possible dumb choice: Taking a guy like Ansah or Dion Jordan and trying to make them an OLB in a 3-4, they are better suited to being DE’s, no reason to try to fit a square peg in a round hole.

7.  Arizona Cardinals (5-11):  Eric Fisher   OT   Central Michigan

You’re saying to yourself didn’t he just say fourth was too high for this guy but now he has him going seventh what’s the difference?  The difference is the Eagles don’t need Eric Fisher to solve their LT problems if Jason Peters comes back healthy on the other hand even if Levi Brown comes back healthy the Cardinals would be better off with Fisher at LT.  Stay with me, with the Eagles if Peters comes back he’s a world class LT and they would have to play Fisher out of position at RT.  The Cardinals would be better off plugging Fisher in at LT and moving Brown to RT (where he is a better fit) if he comes back and sliding a guy like Nate Potter inside to guard, one draft pick just improved three spots on your offensive line.  Fisher is the beneficiary of having Jake Matthews (Texas A&M, yes they had two stud OT) and Taylor Lewan (Michigan) both return for their senior years.  Fisher is a good prospect but his value is way up because he is unquestionably the second best OT in this draft and he proved it at the Senior Bowl.

Possible dumb move:  Taking a QB, Geno Smith, Matt Barkley or any of the other guys are not an upgrade over the poo-poo platter of crap the Cardinals trotted out behind center last year.  Do yourselves a favor and trade for either Alex Smith or Matt Flynn and fix your offensive line so your new QB doesn’t get killed.

 

8.  Buffalo Bills (6-10):  Geno Smith   QB   West Virginia

I said no QB was worth a first round pick and I believe that but QB is too important of a position and the Bills have sucked at QB for too long to go another year without drafting one.  Their mistake will be grabbing one in the first round because they just can’t help themselves.  They should wait until the second round and grab Ryan Nassib, he already knows the offense that new Head Coach Doug Marrone brought from Syracuse since that’s where he played.  Smith could turn out to be a pretty decent NFL QB but he won’t if he ends up in Buffalo it’s a bad match.

Possible dumb choice: This one which is how I know they will make it.

9.  New York Jets (6-10):  Ezekiel Ansah   DE   BYU

Okay so as a Patriots fan I’m secretly hoping for this and scared to death of it at the same time.  This kid could be the next Jason Pierre-Paul and he could take the league by storm but there is just as good a chance he’s the next Vernon Gholston (that sound you just heard was the hearts of every Jets fan stopping in unison).  The absolute definition of a boom-or-bust pick Ansah is a track guy that took up football a few years ago and is a speed rusher of epic proportions or he’s a one trick pony that the NFL will chew up and spit out in a couple of years.  The Jets should probably take Barkevious Mingo from LSU because he would transition better to OLB than Ansah but the Jets will fall in love with Ansah’s athleticism at the Combine and figure they can teach him how to play LB.

Possible dumb choice: Yep this one…I hope.

10.  Tennessee Titans (6-10):  Chance Warmack   OG   Alabama

This isn’t a sexy pick and the Titans could use help at DE, WR and maybe a couple of other places but every scout out there knows that Warmack is a special player.  Interior offensive lineman rarely go this high but it is almost certain that Warmack will go in the top 12 picks and who better to draft him then the Mike Munchak coached Titans.  The Titans offense needs to get Chris Johnson back on track so they can cash in on their investment before he runs out of speed.  Steve Hutchinson was signed last year but he didn’t make a difference and Leroy Harris is okay but Warmack would bring talent and attitude to the offensive line and maybe reinvigorate OT’s Dave Stewart and Michael Roos for one last offensive push.

Possible dumb choice:  Passing on a guy who could be the best guard in the NFL for the next decade, don’t over think it.

11.  San Diego Chargers (7-9):  Lane Johnson   OT   Oklahoma

When Fisher and Warmack go off the board before their pick the Chargers will desperately want to trade down because they need to take an offensive lineman but there is no one worth the pick here.  Johnson is a nice tackle but he is a better choice at #21 not #11.  I’m giving the Chargers Johnson because he makes sense and he played well at the Senior Bowl.  Again an OT benefits from Matthews and Lewan returning to school and goes before he probably should.  OT is one of the toughest positions to fill and almost all teams do it through the draft.

Possible dumb choice:  Passing on an OT because they think Johnson isn’t good enough to go this high, they need a LT badly and while I normally preach getting value at your spot they need a LT more than anything and passing on a starting LT would be idiotic.  Phillip Rivers is already damaged from the past few years of poor tackle play and they have to fix it.

12.  Miami Dolphins (7-9):  Corderrelle Patterson   WR   Tennessee

There is no more obvious marriage between team and position than that of the Dolphins and a WR.  You can argue whether Patterson or Keenan Allen from Cal is the better choice but the Dolphins have to take one of the two.  Brian Hartline was the Dolphins top WR last year…nuff said.  Patterson wins the spot over Allen due to his ability to stretch the field, it’s a close call but the Dolphins need a top outside receiver for Ryan Tannehill.

Possible dumb choice:  Not taking a WR, seriously this is the easy one just take one of the two guys.

13.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9):  Desmond Trufant   CB   Washington

The guy nobody was really talking about until the Senior Bowl week when he showed up in Mobile and showed everyone he’s the best cover corner in the draft.  He’s smaller than Milliner but he’s got great coverage instincts.  This is the guy that may shoot up the draft boards as people watch him work out this week and watch more film on him.  CB is a tough position to fill and everybody needs at least 3 of them so his value will go up because while the CB has some depth it isn’t very good at the top.  The Buccaneers were starting EJ Biggers and Leonard Johnson at corner at the end of last year so the value of a good corner is really high in their eyes.

Possible dumb choice:  Drafting anything other than a corner.

14.  Carolina Panthers (7-9):  Sheldon Richardson   DT   Missouri

Two years ago the Panthers wasted two 3^rd round picks on two defensive tackles whose names I can’t even remember now and they haven’t had a good DT since Kris Jenkins .  They have a couple of good DE’s and a great new MLB Luke Kuechly who would appreciate some help in the middle of the defense.

Possible dumb choice:  Not protecting your future All-Pro MLB Kuechly with some beef at DT.

15.  New Orleans Saints (7-9):  Dion Jordan   OLB   Oregon

Dion Jordan is technically a DE but if the Saints draft him they will move the extremely athletic Jordan to OLB in their new 3-4 defense coordinated by Rob Ryan.  I’m less worried about Jordan’s ability to adjust to OLB than Ansah’s because Jordan has played a lot more football and lined up all over the field for the Ducks.  Also taking him at 15 means it’s less of a gamble and I think Jordan could flourish in this type of attacking defense.

Possible dumb choice:  When you’re changing from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense you have to get pass rushers that are comfortable rushing from off the line of scrimmage so if the Saints don’t get someone like Jordan they will seriously regret it.

16.  St. Louis Rams (7-8-1):  Keenan Allen   WR   California

Whether the Rams re-sign Danny Amendola or not they have to get Sam Bradford some weapons.  Allen is a 6-3 210 lb. stud who can stretch the field and will make life easier for Bradford and for Amendola.  The Rams have other needs especially on the offensive line but they have another first round pick coming up an I think Allen is too valuable to let fall because there is a bit of a drop-off at WR after him where as there are a few more OL that will still be available.

Possible dumb choice:  Grabbing a OT too high here and then having to settle for a lesser talent at WR later, Allen is too good to miss out on.

17.  Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8):  Jesse Williams   DT   Alabama

It ain’t sexy but it’s what the Steelers do.  Casey Hampton is 35 years old and he can’t play forever which means the Steelers need a replacement at nose tackle.  Williams is a big man with a lot of strength and was a rock in the middle of Alabama’s National Championship defense.  One thing you can count on from the Steelers is they will go with the guy that fits their team the best and Williams is a blue collar lunch pail type of player that the city will embrace.

Possible dumb choice:  The Steelers won’t screw this up, they may opt for Jonathan Hankins or John Jenkins but whichever one they choose will end up being very good.

18.  Dallas Cowboys (8-8):  Datone Jones   DE   UCLA

The Cowboys are making the strangest transition on defense of any team this year going from the attacking 3-4 style of Wade Phillips and Rob Ryan to the Tampa-2 style of Monte Kiffin.  Kiffin is a great coach but talk about fitting a square peg into a round hole.  The best players on the Cowboys defense are LB’s Demarcus Ware, Sean Lee, and Bruce Carter and CB’s Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr and all of them will be taken out of their positions of comfort.  Ware is an OLB not a DE, either Lee or Carter will have to move to OLB and Claiborne and Carr are both better man-to-man cover guys who will likely be playing too much zone.  One thing the Cowboys will need to do this transition is defensive linemen and with Ware likely manning one DE spot they will need a stout DE on the other end and Jones fits the bill.

EXTREMELY Stupid Move:  Changing to a defense that none of your personnel fit.

19.   New York Giants (9-7):  Barkevious Mingo   DE   LSU

Almost everyone sees the Giants grabbing a TE and yes they could use a young one but this is a team that has built its reputation on its pass rush and Osi Umenyiora is at the end of his time with the organization and Justin Tuck isn’t getting any younger.  Jason Pierre-Paul needs a running mate at DE and Mingo brings a lot of athleticism just like JPP.  I really wanted to give this team a LB like Kevin Minter but the Giants understand getting value in their draft picks and MLB just don’t rate that highly.

Possible dumb choice:  Not seeing one happening here because if they grab Minter or Zach Ertz the TE from Stanford they are still getting good value at this spot.

20.  Chicago Bears (10-6):  DJ Fluker   OT   Alabama

The Bears have to draft offensive linemen and yes I mean men as in more than one.  Jay Cutler will not survive another year behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league.  This team is doing a serious disservice to the skill position talent (i.e. Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall) by not protecting their QB and letting their offense run at full strength.  Fluker is a beast of a human being and while he may be best suited to play RT he will have every opportunity to win the LT job because he would be better than anyone on the roster at the moment.

Possible dumb choice:  Anyone that isn’t an O-lineman.  Whether they grab Fluker or his Alabama line-mate Barrett Jones or North Carolina OG Jonathan Cooper they must get blockers for Cutler.

21.  Cincinnati Bengals (10-6):  Kevin Minter   LB   LSU

Minter is not a household name but scouts and GM’s know him.  Minter is a tackling machine and a natural MLB.  The Bengals have questions at LB with Rey Maualuga and Manny Lawson possibly departing.  Minter could step right in and start at MLB and may be a better all-around player than Maualuga.  Minter is the best of a solid group of MLB in the draft and the Bengals need multiple players at this position so grabbing the best one in the group is a good start.

Possible dumb choice:  They could take Manti Te’o, whom I like as a player, but he was duped for several years by a guy pretending to be a woman on-line so maybe he’s not so smart hence he’s the “dumb” choice.

22.  St. Louis Rams (7-8-1) (traded from Washington):  Barrett Jones  OL   Alabama

The forgotten yet most accomplished member of the Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line.  Coming into this draft everyone likes to talk about Chance Warmack being this great guard who should go really high and about DJ Fluker this massive tackle that can just manhandle people but its Jones that was the heart and soul of that line.  Jones played tackle and center and won both the Outland trophy at LT in 2011 and the Rimington trophy in 2012 at center.  The Rams can just draft Jones and figure out where to play him later because he will excel wherever they put him.

Possible dumb choice:  Panicking if they lose out on Fluker and not grabbing the next best OL, give Bradford help on the line so your offense can work.

23.  Minnesota Vikings (10-6):  Jonathan Hankins   DT   Ohio St.

Everyone is giving the Vikings a WR in the first round and if Keenan Allen or Corderrelle Patterson falls this far than I say go for it but if not than reaching for a Tavon Austin over a DT like Hankins would be a mistake.  Kevin Williams is no spring chicken and the rest of the interior defensive line leaves something to be desired.  Hankins is young and needs some seasoning but he’s got talent coming out his ears and could be the anchor to your defensive line for the next 7-8 years like Williams has been since he entered the league.

Possible dump choice:  Grabbing a WR not named Patterson or Allen.  Unless they trade Percy Harvin (which would be stupid) and decide to replace him with Tavon Austin then taking a WR here would be a mistake.

24.  Indianapolis Colts (11-5):  Xavier Rhodes   CB   Florida St. 

A 6-1 217 lb. corner is big and physical and the Colts could use some help in the secondary.  What they really need is a 3-4 OLB pass rusher for Chuck Pagano’s defense but there isn’t one sitting here that is a good value at this point so the next best thing is the third best cornerback in this draft, not a bad consolation prize at #24.  Rhodes fits a need and is the right value here.

Possible dumb choice:  Taking a DE like Alex Okafor or Sam Montgomery and trying to make them into an OLB or reaching for an OLB that doesn’t warrant this spot.

25.  Seattle Seahawks (11-5):  Sharrif Floyd   DT   Florida

The Seahawks could very well go for a DE to improve their pass rush or a TE or WR to improve their offense but Floyd is too good of a value at this point and the Seahawks may lose Alan Branch to free agency.  A lot of scouts love Floyd but I don’t think there is a consensus about where he will go, if someone falls in love with him he could go in the top 10 but that would be pushing it in my opinion.  This feels like the right place for him in the draft and a team that may really need him.

Possible dumb choice:  Drafting Bruce Irvin a round too soon…oh wait that was the dumb move the Seahawks did last year.  Irvin could be a nice pass rusher but the middle of the first round last year was way too high for a one trick pony like Irvin.

26.  Green Bay Packers (11-5):  Kenny Vaccaro   S   Texas

I would love to give the Packers a RB here to fix all of their RB problems but I’m not sold on any RB being worthy of a first round pick and I’m not sure there is a clear cut top RB in this draft which means you can get a guy in the second or even third round who has as good a chance to help you as a guy in the first round.  Vaccaro is the top safety prospect in this draft and the Packers just let go of Charles Woodson meaning they need help in secondary.  Vaccaro is way too valuable to let slip much farther and fills a big need for Packers defense.

Possible dumb choice:  Eddie Lacy, Giovani Bernard or any other RB in the first round.  There are some solid backs but why spend a first round pick on either of those guys when you can grab a Stepfan Taylor or a Joseph Randle later and get just as much production.

27.  Houston Texans (12-4):  Tavon Austin   WR   West Virginia

Andre Johnson proved this year he is still a stud WR but he won’t last forever and the Texans haven’t had a good second receiver in their history.  Austin would be a great complement underneath to Johnson going over the top.  Austin isn’t as big as DeAndre Hopkins from Clemson or Robert Woods from USC but he could work the slot very effectively, think Victor Cruz complementing Hakeem Nicks for the Giants.

Possible dumb choice:  Not sure there is one here for Houston because their needs match up with this draft slot pretty well whether they grab a WR or go for a NT like John Jenkins or maybe they grab a safety like Eric Reid.

28.  Denver Broncos (13-3):  Kawann Short   DT   Purdue

The Broncos are likely to lose three veteran DT’s in free agency this year so it is time to replenish.  Short likely won’t be the only DT they take in this draft but he’s a pretty good place to start.  Short played for a Purdue team that wasn’t all that good but he is a very good player and well worth a first round pick.  If the Broncos take him and pair him with last year’s draft pick Derek Wolfe they could have a pretty solid duo in the middle of their defensive line.

Possible dumb choice:  This team proved last year that their only real hole was at QB and they ably filled that spot with the return of a healthy Peyton Manning.  My only concern for the Broncos is with LT Ryan Clady who is a free agent.  Manning needs a good body guard and I suspect the Broncos will take care of Clady either with a new deal or with the franchise tag.

29.  New England Patriots (12-4):  Matt Elam   S   Florida

This pick would take care of two things for the Patriots; their annual draft a defensive back and hope he’s better than the guys you already have pick and Bill Belichick’s annual drafting of a guy from Florida, two birds one stone.  Elam is a nice prospect and since Patrick Chung has not panned out the Patriots need help at safety.  It’s a toss-up between Elam and Eric Reid from LSU as to who is the next best safety after Vacarro but I’m going with Elam because of Belichick’s affinity for Florida guys.

Possible dumb choice:  Taking Jonathan Banks the CB from Mississippi St. after years of taking guys like Devin McCourty and Deon Butler the Patriots should refrain from grabbing a tall lanky corner with “potential”, it never works out.

30.  Atlanta Falcons (13-3):  Zach Ertz   TE   Stanford

They should probably take a DE like Alex Okafor from Texas I mean you can only trot out John Abraham’s corpse for so many decades before it’s time to move on but even if they talk Tony Gonzalez out of retiring it’s not a long term solution.  Ertz is too great of a value to fall much farther and if Gonzalez is back it would make for a ridiculous two TE set.

Possible dumb choice:  Passing on a TE the caliber of Ertz for a decent pass rusher like Okafor or Sam Montgomery of LSU.

31.  San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1):  Margus Hunt   DE   SMU

Who?  Yeah, that’s what everyone says but remember this is the team that took AJ Jenkins last year in the first round.  There is usually someone in the first round that no one sees coming and the only reason I give it to the 49ers is because they run a 3-4 defense with a really good DE named Justin Smith but Smith is coming off an injury and heading towards his 12^th year in the league.  They need to get a future replacement and Hunt is 6-7 280 lbs. and looks like a good candidate to be a DE in a 3-4 defense.  He was starting to get some mention before the Senior Bowl and then he struggled a bit at the Senior Bowl and the shine came off a little.  Needless to say the 49ers are coming off a Super Bowl appearance and can afford to take a shot on a guy that may only fit their team needs.  They just have to hope that Hunt can make more of an impact than Jenkins did which shouldn’t be hard since Jenkins made no impact whatsoever.

Possible dumb choice:  Yes this is a possible dumb choice and missing on back-to-back first round picks can put a team in a bad position down the road but the 49ers believe in their system and believe in their coach so they are willing to take the chance.

32.  Baltimore Ravens (10-6):  Manti Te’o   LB   Notre Dame

It’s too easy, Te’o going to the Ravens to replace future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, no way Ozzie Newsome gets this lucky again.  In 1996 Lewis was drafted #26 overall by the Ravens and the rest is history.  Te’o has his flaws but if he goes to a team with a solid defensive line and the right scheme to hide some of his deficiencies he can be a star.  While his little episode with the fake girlfriend might give his future teammates some fun material to start with Te’o is a natural leader like Lewis and NFL players understand there are people out there trying to take advantage of them and will side with Te’o.

Possible dumb choice:  This might be it and I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not the Ravens should grab Te’o to replace Lewis or Eric Reid to replace their other defense stalwart Ed Reed.

Other players that could go in the first round but I didn’t put in this mock draft.

QB Matt Barkley USC- If another QB goes in the first round it will be Barkley and most likely he will go in the first round because teams need QB’s.  If he doesn’t go in the top 10 then someone will jump back into the end of the first round to grab him.

RB Eddie Lacy Alabama- I like Lacy he is a big bruising back with good feet but he played on a great team and I’m not sure if it was all him or his offensive line.  He isn’t so much better than the rest of the RB group so he didn’t get taken here.

RB Giovani Bernard North Carolina- The other RB that has first round potential but again he isn’t so far ahead that you have to take him in the first round.

TE Tyler Eifert Notre Dame- Love Eifert as a stretch-the-seam TE down the middle but he’s lacking as a blocker which puts him behind Ertz and I don’t see two TE’s going in this first round.

OG Jonathan Cooper North Carolina- Really like Cooper and he’s the second best guard behind Warmack but guards are less valued in the draft unless they are as good as Warmack.

DE Alex Okafor Texas- Okafor is a good DE but he isn’t as valuable as the guys that went ahead of him.  He could sneak into the end of the first round and I won’t be the least bit surprised especially if Atlanta grabs him.

LB Arthur Brown Kansas St.- The only reason he isn’t a first rounder is because OLB in a 4-3 defense don’t have the value of other positions but Brown will be a second round pick and start for someone immediately and that team will be very happy with the results.

LB Alec Ogletree Georgia- Talent wise Ogletree should be a top 15 pick but a previous suspension at Georgia and a recent DUI arrest just prior to the Combine are going to make teams nervous.  If he can straighten himself out then the team that grabs him at the beginning of the second round is going to have one amazing LB on their hands.

CB Jonathan Banks Mississippi St.- I like Banks and he may make the first round just because CB is such a valued position but there is something missing.  I haven’t been able to put my finger on it yet but I don’t like him enough to put him far enough ahead of guys like Jordan Poyer, Logan Ryan or David Amerson to go in the first round.

S Eric Reid LSU- Reid is a good looking safety and he could easily make the first round especially if the Ravens want him as Ed Reed’s replacement.