Mel Kiper 2013 Mock Draft, Rays Tannock's Take

The 2013 Mock Draft is beginning to gain its usual steam, and this year we thought we might do a little compare and contrast, with ESPN's Mel Kiper's draft selections being pitted against our own staff and their selections.

We do have to remember a few things, however. All of the current player rankings within the draft is sure to change. this means Mock Drafts will be done over and over and over ( even Mr Kiper's). These are early Mock Drafts which tend to be very popular.

So let's have some fun, and if you have a mention for your team, leave the name below and why.

1 . Kansas City Chiefs
Mel's Pick: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Ray's Pick: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Previous Pick: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

It's almost a given that Andy Reid and company will upgrade their offensive line through the 2013 NFL Draft, and they will begin to do so with Luke Joeckel.

Joekel is the total package and despite what Kansas City does between now and then I still feel this is the obvious and correct move.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars
Mel's Pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

Ray' Pick: SAME

Previous Pick: Damontre Moore, DE Texas A&M

The Jags want to build "around" QB Blaine Gabbert in year three. Of course, this is to secretly see whether or not the kid can make it—good luck with that—but also to improve a line that may have to protect a new QB sooner rather than later.

Fisher is that prototypical player, and Jacksonville isn't going to pass up the best talent on the board here. Don't be too surprised if they find their pass-rusher in the second round, or even if they reach for a QB.

3. Oakland Raiders
Mel's Pick: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Ray's Pick: Bjoern Werner, DE, FSU

The Oakland Raiders need to improve against the run and the pass—the pass requires more attention. Werner is currently listed below Floyd, but I believe the kid has more versatility than Floyd.

The Raiders want a player who can play DT and DE which both players offer, but they also want a player who is reliable against the run AND pass which Werner excels at. This is a highly debatable pick with only a cornerback between the two in the draft rankings, but I'm going with Werner.

4. Philadelphia Eagles
Mel's Pick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

Ray's Pick: Matt Barkley, QB, USC

Mel believes that the Eagles aren't as good as they appear to be at CB which is why he feels they will target one in the first round—don't agree at all! This team needs a immediate impact QB, and they need one now. This team is fine at CB. The Eagles can no longer run with Mike Vick who can't even put in a solid 16 game season. And now, with the news of the Eagles pulling a stunner and hiring Oregon's Chip Kelly, the draft pick makes even better sense.

Barkley comes from a system at USC that would be perfect for the Eagles current build, and knowing Kelly likes an up-tempo offense, the fit just seems right. Barkley has all the abilities he needs to start right away: working under center with multiple receiver sets, the uncanny ability to freeze safeties in coverage and his ability to utilize the flats and screens. Remember, this guy was projected as a Top 10 draft pick LAST YEAR.

If I was given the choice of a healthy fresh start at QB, or a broken down average QB, I'll roll the dice.

5. Detroit Lions
Mel's Pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
Ray's Pick: SAME

Previous Pick: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

Hard to imagine this kid never played football before to the extent he didn't even know how to put on pads his first week, but look at him now.

The Lions should come to the conclusion that Ansah, not Jones, is a better fit for the defense, and a better all around talent who can play upright or down.

It'll be interesting to see what sort of an effect this kids brings to the NFL.

6. Cleveland Browns
Mel's Pick: Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
Ray's Pick: Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU

The Browns have a big issue to deal with and that is the DE position. More specifically, finding a quality edge pass rusher. Their 2012 solution was to ink 34 year old Juqua Parker to a one-year deal, but it was a soft fix at best. The Browns absolutely need another guy opposite of Jabaal Sheard if they are to improve on defense.

Mingo is the type of player perfectly designed to be an edge rusher solely. His speed athleticism, reach and ferocity has been compared to the like of Green Bay's Clay Matthews. Often we see plenty of OLB simply move into a DE role, and Mingo is the type of candidate to do so with ease. They say Mingo lacks the size to play in a traditional 4-3, but consider this: Parker is 6'2, 250 while Mingo is 6'4" 240...can't see reasoning here. If the Browns opt for a 3-4, it just becomes a win-win situation.

7. Arizona Cardinals
Mel's Pick: Geno Smith, QB, WVU
Ray's Pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

The Cardinals can afford to wait for a QB; they cannot afford to wait for a quality upgrade to the O-Line. Yes, this line did "come together" towards the end of the 2012 season, but they also showed some serious concern.

Regardless of who is throwing the ball in 2013, the protection scheme needs to be elevated FIRST, and Womack is by far the best available talent at this pick.

I can't see Arizona passing him up.

8. Buffalo Bills
Mel's Pick: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Ray's Pick: Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse

Previous Pick: Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame

Coach Marrone may decide to pull the trigger on his old quarterback, and to be honest, it wouldn't be all that surprising. The Bills have nobody throwing the ball and Marrone already knows what this kid can do.

You can say the Bills could afford to wait until the second round for Nassib, but I don't believe he or any other quality QB will be available.

The two know each other, and it would allow Buffalo to play competitively within a "re-build" period.

9. New York Jets
Mel's Pick: Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU
Ray's Pick: SAME
Previous Pick :Ezekeil Ansah, DE/OLB, Brigham Young

I'll agree with Kiper on one thing: the Jets need a scary edge rusher who can be a game changer on defense, and I really believe the Jets find that player in Mingo.

Mingo possesses speed, ferocity and solid technique which the Jets will certainly be thinking about here. Compared to Seattle's Bruce Irvin, Mingo is the type of player who can be plugged in immediately and make an impact.

Good to know. The Jets will need all the help they can get.

10. Tenessee Titans
Mel's Pick: Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina
Ray's Pick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

This team was near the bottom of the barrel in pass coverage last season, and it fell more on the corners shoulders than the D-line. Milliner is the best corner in the draft, and last season the Titans just missed out on the two top corners in the draft—I don't see them making that same mistake twice in as many years. Also, there's a chance Alteraun Verner doesn't return, and if so, Milliner's presence would certainly soften that blow.

11. San Diego Chargers
Mel's Pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Ray's Pick: SAME
Previous Pick: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

A real short note on this one. The Chargers need help badly on the O-Line, and if they upgrade with this massive specimen of a football player they will give themselves a better pass protector and run blocker, as well as, the chance to see if Rivers can do any better than he has the past couple of years with better protection.

With Joeckel and Fisher already gone, the Chargers wisely pull the trigger.

12. Miami Dolphins
Mel's Pick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Ray's Pick: SAME

The Dolphins need another compliment in the passing game, and Patterson is the guy.

his size and speed are more than NFL ready and he would be the perfect student to study under Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline. I can see a future where the Dolphins phase out Davone Bess, move Hartline to the slot and inject Patterson opposite of Wallace, and if they grab him, you may even see them flirt with the experiment this season.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mel's Pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
Ray's Pick: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

Previous Pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

With Michael Bennett lost to the Seahawks, Tampa Bay will be forced to replace him first for the long and short-term.

This team cannot afford any other defensive deficiencies on the line, and I believe Floyd will "fall into the laps" of Tampa Bay. If so, the Bucs would get one helluva upgrade of Bennett who is now said to be dealing with aggravation from a torn rotator cuff.

14. Carolina Panthers

Mel's Pick: Tavon Austin, WR, WVU

Ray's Pick: SAME

Previous pick: Robert Woods, WR, USC

Another team that not only needs help at WR, but needs a WR who is above average at route running and has a good pair of sticky hands. Imagine the improvement to Cam Newton and this team offensively if they were to add an above average route-runner to play with Steve Smith?

Austin may get knocked for his size, but this is a kid that can play as an outside receiver just as good as a solt man.

The versatility here is enticing.

15. New Orleans Saints

Mel's Pick: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

Ray's Pick: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

The Saints need two things on the defensive line: 1. A guy who can stop the run and 2. A guy who can cause all sort of interior disruption in the pass-rush. New Orleans already has quality on the outside edge, but failed miserably to stop the run up the middle or get pressure up the middle and that made the rest of the defense pick up the slack—they too failed, but it wasn't necessarily their fault. Hankins has all the available skill-sets to be an immediate game-changer.

16. St. Louis Rams
Mel's Pick: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

Ray's Pick: Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina

The Rams absolutely need help up front if they are to get better at protecting Sam Bradford. After Warmack goes, Cooper is really the only other quality talent on the board before the floor gives way. They can concentrate on defense later in the second round.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Mel's Pick: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Ray's Pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

The Steelers could go a couple of ways here ( DT, TE, SS, FS) but I really believe they need help at the LB position, particularly from a player that can switch from inside to outside. The main reasoning here is to sure up what was a suspect bunch ( Larry Foote I'm looking your way, sir) and the talented Ogletree would be too good to pass up if available. Filling in the blanks at TE, SS, FS and even DT can be handled in the coming rounds with little to no waste in talent, but not LB.

18. Dallas Cowboys
Mel's Pick: Chance Womack, G, Alabama
Ray's Pick: Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon
Previous Pick: Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU

The Cowboys need to upgrade their pass rush, but they also need a versatile player who can play on the line, as well, as, behind it as a backer.

Jordan makes perfect sense if still available.

I originally had Montgomery here, but he has dropped considerably since February. I am still high on the guy; just not "this high".

19. New York Giants
Mel's Pick: Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame
Ray's Pick: Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

Usi Umenyiora will be playing for the Falcons sooner than you all think and Justin Tuck significantly underperformed in 2012. With this said the Giants need a replacement for now and later.

I can't see both walking, but I can see one of them going. If this happens, the tone will be already set, and if the massive 6'5" 265 Okafor is still available, I can certainly see the Giants pulling the trigger.

It is likely that Tuck plays out his final year and the Giants go into evaluation mode from there. it'll be easier to decide with an "heir apparent" on board already.

20. Chicago Bears
Mel's Pick: D. J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
Ray's Pick: SAME
Previous Pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

It has been abundantly clear for the last two years that this team needs a big-time upgrade at OT, and with the extension of Jay Cutler now finalized, they certainly have to have better protection if they are to utilize and PROTECT their investment. The O-Line is a glaring weakness period, and I can't see Chicago passing on Fluker if available.

21. Cincinnati Bengals
Mel's Pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
Ray's Pick: Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin

This is an easy pick to agree with and make. OC Jay Gruden already said his top priority this off-season is to find a "game-changer" at RB, and Montee Ball is certainly that sort of runner. The Bengals can't rely on Bernard Scott, and BGE is suitable as a short yardage/goaline back at best.

22. St. Louis Rams
Mel's Pick: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
Ray's Pick: Kenny Varraco, S, Texas

I believe the Rams value defense over offense here, and I also believe they think they can find a WR solution later in the draft. Look they're only replacing Danny Amendola who has a ton of talent, but can never stay healthy, so it's conceivable to think the Rams will wait.

Varraco is simply too enticing to pass up here.

23. Minnesota Vikings
Mel's Pick: Keenan Allen, WR, Cal
Ray's Pick: SAME
Previous Pick: Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor

This would be a dream for Minnesota if Allen was still available, and the current expected trends suggest he will be.

I originally had Williams here due to the expectation that Allen would already be gone.

Drafting Allen would give the Vikings a solid outside threat who can learn from one of the best in the business, Greg Jennings. The combination of Jennings and Allen with Rudolph and AP in the background would make Minnesota very deadly.

24. Indianapolis Colts
Mel's Pick: Menelik Watson, OT, FSU
Ray's Pick: Barrett Jones, C/OT, Alabama

The Colts need help up front, period. It's amazing Andrew Luck did what he did with the amount of pressure he faced—a true indictment of his talent—but the Colts can't afford to roll the protection dice for another year. Jones is an underrated talent who can move within the offensive line. The Colts have a weakness in Mike McGlynn and have nobody else to speak of on their roster. This pick would go a long way towards protecting their investment at QB.

25. Minnesota Vikings
Mel's Pick: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
Ray's Pick: SAME
With the acquisition of a big-time playmaker at WR, the Vikings can now utilize their second pick to focus on upgrading their D-Line from an age standpoint.

We're not entirely sure here considering the Vikings could also target an offensive lineman, but I believe the idea is that Minnesota begins injecting so youth to that aging line. Plus, by doing so, the kids can still learn from a few quality players left in Minny.

26. Green Bay Packers
Mel's Pick: Eddy Lacey, RB, Alabama
Ray's Pick: Joseph Randle, RB. Oklahoma State

I can understand Kiper's choice here, but if the Packers choose a back they will be looking for an all around workhorse back who can do more than run.

Enter Joseph Randle.

Randle's frame is a bit smallish, but he's the perfect prototypical back that can run well AND catch which is paramount to Green Bay's system.

Lacey is smaller than Randle and to be honest there is question as to whether or not he can translate his success at the pro level. Remember a lot of Lacey's success came from an elite O-line; something GB does not possess.

TT always takes the best talent relative to his pick choice and needs, and Randle makes more sense than Lacey.

He's a bigger back than Ed Lacey or Giovani Bernard and is skilled in all phases of the game. He can hurt you up the middle, burn on the edge and is a solid pass-catcher. Grabbing a back of this caliber would hopefully take a ton of pressure off the O-line as well.

27. Houston Texans
Mel's Pick: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

Ray's Pick: Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU

I think the Texans can find a WR in the later rounds (even Hopkins) since it isn't as pressing as the Linebacker position. Bradie James is a free agent, and Brian Cushing is coming off of a torn ACL. The rest of the squad isn't worth mentioning. This team needs an upgrade at LB for sure and Minter is a nice consideration, one that could perfectly fit into Houston's system.

28. Denver Broncos
Mel's Pick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Ray's Pick: Xavier Rhodes, CB, FSU

In case you're wondering about this one, just remember what Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin (at times) did to the everlasting Champ Bailey in the playoffs this year. Look, Bailey's time is up and the Broncos need to find a comparable corner with their first selection. Rhodes is the type of physical, dominating corner that Bailey USED to be. And what a situation to have Bailey as a possible mentor. Too good to pass up.

29. New England Patriots
Mel's Pick: Xavier Rhodes, CB, FSU
Ray's Pick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

A solid corner is a huge need, and with Rhodes off the board, I see the Pats takings Trufant who is arbuably just as good.

The Patriots lost a bit on offense, so improving the defense would go a long way to the adjustment period that is expected to come.

30. Atlanta Falcons
Mel's Pick: Bjoern Werner, DE, FSU
Ray's Pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

There's no two ways about it now, the Falcons MUST grab a quality DE before the litter is picked clean.

Atlanta doesn't sacrifice anything here, though, in fact they could wind up with a versatile end who seems almost perfect for the scheme.

31. San Francisco 49ers
Mel's Pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Ray's Pick: Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M

There are a couple of different avenues that San Fran can explore here, but I believe they go DE first with Moore being the best available at this point.

The move is clearly based on the aging Justin Smith, but not just because of his elderly stature. Smith can also serve as a sage to the youngster, tailoring him as the next 49er great to follow in his footsteps.

32. Baltimore Ravens
Mel's Pick: Matt Elam, S, Florida
Ray's Pick: SAME

Obviously this now is a glaring hole that Baltimore MUST fill. The competition level rises significantly in the division, and the Ravens are not getting any younger.

This kid has been compared to Carolina's Charles Godfrey, a former elite corner from Iowa. He's the best talent on the board and a natural to make an immedieate impact as a starter from day one.

The only deviation from this pick I see is whether or not Baltimore sees concern with Elam's size. if so, they could lean towards Jonathan Cyprien who is right behind Elam.

Mel Kiper 2013 Mock Draft, Rays Tannock’s Take

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