NFL Draft

2013 NFL mock draft: Luke Joeckel drops, Chiefs go another direction

Draft Day Eve is here, the time has arrived, let me be the first to wish you a Happy Draft Day. I will not use any trades in this mock. I went with the biggest impact for each team.

By Nick Jacobs Apr 24, 2013, 12:46pm CDT

1. Kansas City Chiefs: OT- Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
He is a well-balanced tackle. Fisher has a mean streak in him that you can't coach. He has some technique work to correct in his pass protection but he has the strength and bend to compete in the NFL immediately. I have fewer concerns with him than the other two tackles.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB- Geno Smith, West Virginia
I still feel Geno is going to be the first QB off the board. If a trade doesn't happen at one, I think the Jaguars will take him at two. Geno has the ability to become a very good quarterback in this league. It will be interesting to see how Jaguars OC Jedd Fisch handles his offense with Smith.

3. Oakland Raiders: DE- Ezekiel Ansah, BYU
The Raiders take the physical pass rusher. Ziggy is a good end at attacking up field. I like his arm length and his motor. Oakland could use a QB in this spot but if Smith is not on the board they will need to go pass rush.

4. Philadelphia Eagles: DL- Star Lotulelei, Utah
Without trades the Eagles get the other apple of their eye in Lotulelei. There is no mistaking that Lotulelei is a powerful presence along the defensive line. With the medical issue cleared up, I think Star could sneak his way back into the top five. Star can maintain the line of scrimmage and has a powerful bull rush. The challenge will be getting him to bring that effort on every snap.

5. Detroit Lions: OT- Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
Joeckel didn't become the first Aggie selected 1st overall in the NFL Draft but he did find a very good home in the Lions offense. Joeckel is a very good pass blocker. He is nimble in open space. He understands angles and how to get his body in position to seal off the defender. Joeckel also has a unique ability at recognizing stunts and picking them up. A lot to work on in his run blocking though.

6. Cleveland Browns: LB- Dion Jordan, Oregon
Jordan will thrive in a 3-4 scheme. That is his best chance to shine in the NFL. The Browns already have the power with Kruger. So they bring versatility with Jordan on the other side.

7. Arizona Cardinals: OT- Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
The Cardinals may have to trade up to get a tackle in the real world but in this world he drops to them at seven. Johnson has the most potential of the three tackles. When you look at a offensive linemen. Most look for three things: Does he have long arms?, How quick are his feet? Does he have good bend? You can say yes to all three on Lane Johnson. He has only had two seasons of playing tackle in his career, so there is a lot to develop.

8. Buffalo Bills: WR- Tavon Austin, West Virginia
The guy is a match-up nightmare. You can use him all over the field and he can go the distance on any play. Buffalo doesn't have that at the receiver position. In Doug Marrone's offense, that is going to be fun to watch.

9. New York Jets: CB- Dee Milliner, Alabama
The Jets may need to trade up for him on Draft Day, but he is a good replacement to Darrelle Revis at a much cheaper price. I like Milliner's instincts when I watch tape on him. He has a combination of great speed and can close quickly in a short area.

10. Tennessee Titans: OG- Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
The first thing that jumps out to me about Cooper is his knee bend. For a guy his size to have that kind of bend is impressive. The second thing is his desire to finish blocks. When you find a lineman who wants to finish a block on every play, you hold onto them very tightly and never let them go. He is quick at getting to the second and third level. He will open some holes for Chris Johnson in Tennessee.

11. San Diego Chargers: OG- Chance Warmack, Alabama
The Chargers missed out on a tackle and the best guard in the draft. They find a great consolation in Chance Warmack. The man strikes with purpose when he gets his hands on you. He is great out in space. Warmack will help set a clean pocket and will maul you in the run. He played in tough competition and will acclimate very well to the NFL game.

12. Miami Dolphins: CB- Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
I think the Dolphins will find the tackle they are looking for in a veteran. Rhodes is a need Miami created. He has a solid build. Rhodes can press and reroute his receiver very well. He can become one of the better corners in this league.

13. New York Jets: DE/LB- Barkevious Mingo, LSU
If Mingo can put it all together, he will be a force as a pass rusher. He allows you versatility to use him as a standup LB or a defensive end with his hand in the dirt. His burst out of his stance allows him to close very quickly. In Rex Ryan's defense he will be a force.

14. Carolina Panthers: DT- Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
The Panthers thank all the teams for letting such a dominant player drop so far. Richardson's stock rose playing against SEC opponents this season. No player at the University of Missouri gained more from the SEC move than Richardson. Scouts weren't able to ask if he could dominate against top-level competition because he did it on a weekly basis. Richardson has a bright future in the NFL.

15. New Orleans Saints: OLB- Cornellius Carradine, Florida State
The Saints will become an interesting defense with Rob Ryan at the helm this season. Carradine gives them an edge rusher, who has some serious power to him. He knows how to create space with his hands and has a great motor.

16. St. Louis Rams: FS- Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
Vaccaro fits the style of defense that Jeff Fisher likes to run. He can play center field, he is an aggressive safety willing to come up and attack the run. He is good in open field tackles and a effective blitzer.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: OLB- Jarvis Jones, Georgia
All you have to do is turn on the Missouri game. Jones dominated the entire Tigers offensive line and controlled the game all on his own. Jones displays good control and the ability to change directions very well. He has great instincts and quickness around the corner. Jones fits very well in Pittsburgh.

18. Dallas Cowboys: DT- Shariff Floyd, Florida
When I watch Floyd on tape, I see Glenn Dorsey. Floyd is a perfect fit for the Cowboys cover two system. He is explosive off his first step. He can disrupt a backfield with his speed. He keeps his hands active so the defender can't dominate him. You put him as a three technique in Dallas and he will shine.

19. New York Giants: LB- Arthur Brown, K-State
Brown provides the Giants with serious sideline-to-sideline speed. He is a backer who can drop into coverage. Brown is able to sneak through blocks. He has the speed to cover backs coming out into the flats and he can lay the wood.

20. Chicago Bears: LB- Kevin Minter, LSU
The Bears need to replace the loss of Urlacher. Minter gives them a good size back to do so. He fills gaps very well. He is an aggressive backer that would fit well in Chicago.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: OT- DJ Fluker, Alabama
I could see Fluker going much higher than 21. My favorite thing when watching Fluker is his punch. It can knock a lot of players off balance. Once Fluker gets a hold of you he is not letting go anytime soon. I see Fluker as a mauling right tackle that can improve in his pass blocking but he will be fun to run behind.

22. St. Louis Rams: WR- Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
The Rams need to find a receiving threat for Bradford. Patterson gives them an explosive receiver at the position. He has good instincts and can make defenders miss in the open field. If the Rams work to develop him, they will get serious bang for their buck.

23. Minnesota Vikings: DE- Datone Jones, UCLA
The Vikings need to find a better pass rusher on the opposite end of Jared Allen. Jones gives them a serious two-punch combo in the NFC North. Every team passes, so find another pass rusher to force teams to account for both sides of the line. I think Jones is going to be one of the steals in this draft. He knows how to use his hands and speed in such a smart combo that lineman struggle to get a good punch on him.

24. Indianapolis Colts: LB- Alec Ogletree, Georgia
The Colts built their offense last season. They need to build their cornerstones of defense this season. The best way to do that is to build up the middle. They can find a nose tackle in the next couple of rounds. Now is the time to take the best linebacker on the board. Ogletree could bring nastiness to this defense. He can be used on every down. He has good coverage skills, good blitzer and he has great sideline-to-sideline speed.

25. Minnesota Vikings: CB- Desmond Trufant, Washington
Trufant is a corner the Vikings need right now with the Offenses they face. He is an aggressive and physical corner who is not afraid to take risk.

26. Green Bay Packers: OT- Justin Pugh, Syracuse
He is an agile offensive lineman that fits the Packers system very well. He has a good shuffle and slide. He can get to the 2nd level on blocks.

27. Houston Texans: TE- Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
For the Texans this is a value pick. Eifert is the most athletic tight end coming out in this draft. He has a unique combo of size and athletic ability. He isn't afraid to catch the ball in traffic over the middle. He is a serious redzone threat and he can stretch any defense down the seams.

28. Denver Broncos: DE- Bjoern Werner, Florida State
Werner is a relentless pass rusher. He fits very well in Denver, if he is on the board at this point. I like his ability to read and react in a timely manner. He does a good job in helping collapse a pocket.

29. New England Patriots: DE- Margus Hunt, SMU
Hunt just feels like a natural fit to the Patriots for me. He is a large man, who is a less athletic version of JJ Watt. He has long arms and would fit in that Patriots defense. The Patriots have lacked size and ability like Hunt since they moved on from Seymour.

30. Atlanta Falcons: CB- Darius Slay, Mississippi State
Slay one of those sleeper corners. He flashes when you watch tape. Your eyes keep drifting to him. Slay has the wheels to keep up with the vertical routes and could play Zone for the Falcons as well.

31. San Francisco 49ers: NT- Jesse Williams, Alabama
Williams fits the scheme in San Fran very well. He is a massive man who is quick. He has a very strong upper body, you aren't going to move him very much and he can handle double teams.

32. Baltimore Ravens: LB- Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
After the incident with Rolando McClain, the Ravens need to address the middle backer position again. Te'o is the best player on the board at this point. He has good read and react skills. He can take on blocks. He has intensity and passion on the field.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Call on line one

Here are some of the teams I see trying to trade up on draft day.

Philadelphia Eagles- I think the Eagles are a very good fit for Geno Smith and his career. I believe they will need to get to one though to take him. I could also see them trading up for Star Lotulelei because he would make sense in Oakland.

Detroit Lions- I think the Lions have their eye on a left tackle or Dee Milliner. I think the Jets also have their eye on Milliner and the ammo to leap frog the Lions to take him.

Arizona Cardinals- The Cardinals need a tackle. And by the time pick seven hits, they maybe out of luck. I could see them trying to trade up for their guy.

New York Jets- I think the Jets are a great fit for Geno with the West Coast system. They need to create a spark very quickly in their fan base. I could also see the Jets moving up for Milliner if they think the Lions will take him at five.

San Diego Chargers- It doesn't look like the Chargers are going to get the left tackle. They either need to move up into the top six if they are serious about protecting Rivers.

Miami Dolphins- The Dolphins have ammo to trade anywhere they want. Unless the Albert trade happens, they need to find a left tackle otherwise Jeff Ireland may be looking for a new job next season.

Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals are another team that needs to secure a tackle with Andre Smith gone.

Atlanta Falcons- The Falcons have a history of making bold moves. I get the vibe they may have an interest in Sheldon Richardson and enhancing their pass rush.

San Francisco 49ers- I've got a feeling the 49ers have a man crush on Sheldon Richardson and want to move up for him. The 49ers really don't have many needs on their football team and the ammo to make any trade they want happen. And it makes since, they already have Mizzou's two best defenders, why not make it three?