As you saw last week, eDraft switched some of our coverage over to the 2013 NFL draft set to take place at Radio City Music Hall in April. As four teams prepare for league championship games, 28 other franchises move on to the offseason where their primary focus for the next couple months will be to evaluate prospects, set a big board and come up with a plan for the draft.
eDraft will have a weekly mock draft from here on out. We will be switching from one writer to another in order to give you the most in-depth coverage you can find.
Head editor, Vincent Frank comes up with the first mock of the season for the site.
* Draft order is based on the records of the four teams remaining in the playoffs and not a reflection of any sort of predictions from here on out.
1. Kansas City Chiefs: Geno Smith, Quarterback, West Virginia
Smith is nowhere near the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2013 NFL draft. He is going to need more seasoning in order to be a decent starting quarterback at the next level. In short, there are no Andrew Luck's, Robert Griffin III's or Russell Wilson's in this draft.
That being said, Kansas City needs to find a quarterback to lead its franchise. With the advent of the new rookie wage scale, this is less of a risk than prior to 2011.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jarvis Jones, Defensive End, Linebacker, Georgia
The Jaguars tallied an NFL-worst 20 sacks during the regular season. Rookie Andre Branch struggled a great deal, while Jeremy Mincey failed to repeat a solid 2011 performance. Even if Jacksonville goes offense with its head coaching search, it needs to get more talent up front on defense to compete with Indianapolis and Houston.
3. Oakland Raiders: Dee Milliner, Cornerback, Alabama
Is this a bit of a reach? Of course. Though, Oakland cannot go into the 2013 season with a combination of Shawntae Spencer, Ronald Bartell and Michael Huff playing cornerback. That isn't going to get it done. Additionally, general manager Reggie McKenzie doesn't have much salary cap flexibility to find a decent starting defensive back. Milliner is the consensus No. 1 corner in the draft. Still, look for Oakland to try to trade out of this slot in order to pick up more selections.
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Joeckel, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M
There is no telling whether Jason Peters will be able to return 100 percent next season after missing all of 2012 with an injury. Other options Philadelphia has at offensive tackle leave a lot to be desired. Joeckel can come in and immediately be a dominating pass-protecting tackle in the NFL. He is, for all intents and purposes, a franchise book end. My most recent comparison would be Matt Kalil, who was great as a rookie for Minnesota.
5. Detroit Lions: Bjoern Werner, Defensive End/Linebacker, Florida State
Cliff Avril is set to become a free agent and Detroit has a lot of decisions to make as they relate to free agents. Milliner would be the pick here if he was still available. Without another top 10 defensive back on the board, Detroit goes with the best remaining defensive player. Even if Avril does return, Kyle Vanden Bosch is getting a bit long in the tooth.
6. Cleveland Browns: Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver, California
Josh Gordon was a surprising performer for Cleveland as a rookie in 2012. He gave its offense a great down field threat to utilize in the passing game. With that said, the Browns need someone to come in and be the true No. 1 guy. I might be a bit higher on Allen than others, but I believe he has the potential to be a dominating outside threat. This addition also enables Cleveland to push Greg Little down to a more suitable No. 3 wide receiver role.
7. Arizona Cardinals: Tyler Wilson, Quarterback, Arkansas
In watching tape, Wilson has been the most impressive of an average quarterback draft class. He has the arm and accuracy to be a top of the line starting quarterback in the NFL. While there are issues with mechanics, Wilson has untapped potential moving forward. You don't need me to tell you how much Arizona needs a quarterback. After all, it got 11 touchdowns compared to 21 interceptions from that position during the regular year.
8. Buffalo Bills: Jake Matthews, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M
This is more of a value pick than anything else. Buffalo has 2012 second-round pick Cordy Glenn slated to play left tackle. Ryan Fitzpatrick was also sacked just 30 times during the regular season. With that in mind, Matthews is going to be a dominating blindside protector at the next level. When you can get a top five player here, you just need to pounce on it.
9. New York Jets: Tyler Bray, Quarterback, Tennessee
Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow are as good as gone from New York, who will have to find a legit long-term quarterback moving forward. While I am a huge fan of it going after Alex Smith, it does need to find a franchise-type guy in one of the next two drafts, even if it adds a vet. Bray isn't a sexy pick here in terms of value, but he does have top-20 upside with a great arm and above average metrics.
10. Tennessee Titans: Chance Warmack, Guard, Alabama
Steve Hutchinson is as good as done and Leroy Harris leaves a lot to be desired at the right guard position. In order for Tennessee to get a decent passing game going, it is going to need to find a dominating interior lineman to go along with a decent offensive tackle tandem. Warmack is on the level of David DeCastro, who I had as a top-ten pick prior to the 2012 draft.
11. San Diego Chargers: Eric Fisher, Offensive Tackle, Central Michigan
One of the primary reasons that Philip Rivers struggled so much in 2012 was due to disastrous performances from a multitude of offensive tackles throughout the season. In reality, San Diego probably had among the worst units in the entire league in that category. Fisher will skyrocket up draft boards in postseason events and would be tremendous value/need here.
12. Miami Dolphins: Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver, West Virginia
Brian Hartline did record over 1,000 receiving yards during the regular year, but he is set to become a free agent and can't be counted on to be a true No. 1 wide receiver. Austin, despite some struggles with route running, is one of the most electric receivers in the draft. Look for his stock to rise leading up to April.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Johnthan Banks, Cornerback, Mississippi State
Tampa's defense couldn't stop anyone in the passing game. It finished the regular season dead last and without both of its starting corners from the start of the year, Aqib Talib (traded) and Eric Wright (suspended). In short, the Buccaneers need major upgrades in the defensive secondary. Banks brings tremendous on-ball skills to the table and can be an immediate starter in their defensive scheme.
14. Carolina Panthers: Star Lotulelei, Defensive Tackle, Utah
How does my No. 1 overall player from the draft fall to 14? Well, it is pretty simple. Team' needs just weren't there among the top-13 picks. Do I expect Star to fall this much in April? No way. Her has the size and muscle to be a dominating interior lineman in the NFL. In addition, Carolina needs all the help it can get at the defensive tackle position.
15. New Orleans Saints: Dion Jordan, Defensive End, Oregon
Expect the Saints to go defense, defense and more defense in the draft. They were nearly historically bad during the regular season and need major upgrades along every tier of the unit. It all starts with generating a pass rush without having to blitz on nearly every down. Will Smith might find himself out of a job and Cameron Jordan played more inside as the season progressed. Jordan brings elite speed and a couple solid pass-rush moves with him. Look for Jordan to continue climbing the draft board as the scouting combine and other postseason events take place.
16. St. Louis Rams: Sheldon Richardson, Defensive Tackle, Missouri
St. Louis is set at the defensive end position for a while not with Chris Long and Robert Quinn doing their thing. Meanwhile, Michael Brockers seemed to get better as his rookie season went on. That being said, the Rams are going to need to build a dominating front four if they hope to stop the likes of Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick in the NFC West moving forward. Richardson is a physical marvel who can come in and create a new fearsome foursome for this franchise.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Manti Te'o, Linebacker, Notre Dame
To say that I came away from the BCS National Championship unimpressed by Te'o's performance would be an understatement. He struggle reading Alabama's offensive formations, took himself out of too many plays, took bad angles and missed a few tackles. This, however, doesn't take away from what I saw during his entire career in South Bend. He is going to be a Pro Bowl linebacker in the NFL. Te'o can come in and play solid along the interior of Pittsburgh's linebacker core, next to Lawrence Timmons.
18. Dallas Cowboys: Jonathan Cooper, Guard, North Carolina
Dallas needs to upgrade the interior of its offensive line. It just didn't have any talent or success in terms of opening up holes between the hashes or protecting Tony Romo on a consistent basis. Cooper, despite some struggle in his career at Carolina, has the physical tools to come in and be a solid all-around guard in the NFL.
19. New York Giants: Johnathan Hankins, Defensive Tackle, Ohio Sate
The Giants could easily go a few different ways here. They need an upgrade at defensive end and on the offensive line. Though, I think they could find help there later in the draft. Meanwhile, Hankins, a top-10 type of prospect, is sitting here for New York to take at a need position. This would be a no-brainer.
20. Chicago Bears: D.J. Fluker, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
The Bears are not going to contend in the NFC North without multiple offensive line upgrades. They need help at tackle, guard and center. With that in mind, I have them going with the best available offensive lineman that can come in and contribute immediately. Fluker was a regular start in a pro-style blocking scheme in Alabama. While he might not have a great ceiling, his bottom isn't too low either.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Arthur Brown, Linebacker, Kansas State
Bengals' fans should be happy with this selection, but don't get used to it. Brown will be a top-12 pick when all is said and done in April. He will show scouts and front offices that he has the physical ability (speed, strength and brute force) as well as an uncanny ability to read plays. The Kansas State standout is going to be this years' Bobby Wagner. Etch that in stone.
22. St. Louis Rams (From Washington): Justin Hunter, Wide Receiver, Tennessee
While Brian Quick really didn't produce as a rookie in 2012, he has a bright future ahead of himself. Meanwhile Chris Givens looks to be a solid deep threat moving forward. That being said, St. Louis doesn't have a whole lot after that. Brandon Gibson's ceiling is what we saw this season and Danny Amendola is set to be a free agent. Hunter has tremendous upside and already possesses plus route-running ability. He will be an immediate impact performer.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Robert Woods, Wide Receiver, Southern California
It appears that Percy Harvin's relationship with Minnesota is on the mend. By no means does that indicate that they will not look for a wide receiver in the draft. Harvin is a solid possession guy, but not really one of those top of the line No. 1 guys. Meanwhile, Jarius Wright seems to be a solid deep threat after a good rookie year. While I am not that high on Woods, I will say that he does have the ability to be a consistent threat for Christian Ponder in the passing game.
24. Indianapolis Colts: Barkevious Mingo, Defensive End/Linebacker, Louisiana State
The Dwight Freeney experiment at outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense didn't pan out too well for Indianapolis. Its defense is also going to have to get younger and more talented in the front seven. Despite being extremely raw, Mingo possesses the threat to get pass offensive tackles on the outside and do a solid job in terms of being a pass-rush specialist early in his career.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Damontre Moore, Defensive End/Linebacker, Texas A&M
Red Bryant may be one of the most underrated defensive ends in the entire NFL, but he isn't going to be able to perform at this level for too much longer. Besides, Seattle is going to look to get another elite defensive end opposite a talented Bruce Irvin. Moore has tremendous upside and fits its scheme to a T.
26. Green Bay Packers: Kenny Vaccaro, Safety, Texans A&M
Charles Woodson isn't getting any younger and will have to be replaced at some point. Morgan Burnett has been a solid free safety in his first couple NFL seasons. Why not go out there and get him a running mate for the future? Vaccaro can be dominating in the box against the run and is as physical as they come.
27. Houston Texans Terrance Williams, Wide Receiver, Baylor
The Texans has absolutely nothing at wide receiver outside of Andre Johnson. Yes, I know that DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin are youngsters, but neither have the look of a No. 2 wide receiver. Williams was one of the most productive receivers in college football this past season and can act as the Robin to Johnson's "Batman."
28. Denver Broncos: Xavier Rhodes, Cornerback, Florida State
I think we all got a wake-up call on Saturday. Champ Bailey is a shell of his former self and cannot be counted on to be more than a No. 2 or nickel corner moving forward. Rhodes is one of those corners that are not afraid to get in the face of the wide receiver. He can be physical at the point of contact and already possesses solid technique on the outside. A first-round prospect if I have ever seen one.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Alec Ogletree, Linebacker, Georgia
Say it ain't so, Ray Lewis? The future Hall of Fame linebacker has a maximum of two games remaining in his NFL career. While I cannot even imagine watching Baltimore play without him, it is going to need to go out there and find a replacement. Ogletree seems like a legit fit in the Ravens 3-4 defensive scheme. His tackling ability is second to none.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Sharriff Floyd, Defensive Tackle, Florida
One thing became clear towards the latter part of the regular season. San Francisco's defense just isn't the same without the services of Justin Smith. While the All-Pro defensive lineman did come back in the 49ers' victory over Green Bay Saturday, he probably has one or two more years of solid production in those legs. Floyd is an anchor that can play both defensive tackle and defensive end. He has the strength to push the pile and will be able to take up double-teams so that the likes of Aldon Smith get one-on-one scenarios on the outside.
31. New England Patriots: Eric Reid, Safety, Louisiana State
Alfonzo Dennard and Aqib Talib have played extremely well at corner for New England. In addition, Devin McCourty seems to have made a solid transition to safety. In just one short season, the Patriots have fixed three quarters of their secondary. They still need to find a running mate for McCourty. Reid reminds me a great deal of Dashon Goldson, but seems to have better coverage skills. It also helps that he comes from a pro-style defense at LSU.
32. Atlanta Falcons: Tyler Eifert, Tight End, Notre Dame
Tony Gonzalez is one of the best tight ends to ever play the game. He showed that against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. With that in mind, there are reports out there (started by Gonzalez himself) that he will retire following the season. We already know how much Matt Ryan relies on his tight end. Eifert is as physically imposing as they came and will cause tremendous matchup problems against opposing linebackers and safeties.