2013 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 - Picks 17-32

WalterFootball.com's Archive

Walter of WalterFootball has been WalterFootball'ing since 1999'. Older Content is being kept around here. Thanks for reading.



Last update: Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Major changes in all 5 rounds.
Next update: Next week. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

You can find the complete seven-round 2013 NFL Draft Order by clicking the link.

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia
    As in my pre-Combine mock draft, Jarvis Jones drops to No. 17 overall. I had Jones going No. 2 overall back in January, but check out Charlie's rumor mill entry on why Jones is expected to slide. On top of that, at least a dozen teams have red flags on Jones because of his spinal issue.

    I believe dumb groupthink will cause Jones to fall on Draft Day. General managers will be petrified of his medical. But, as smart teams like the Steelers, Giants, Ravens, etc. often do, they'll snatch up a plummeting draft prospect and laugh at all of the dumb organizations constantly picking in the top 10 as they field yet another Pro Bowler.

    Jones isn't just the best player available; he fills a big need as well. James Harrison may not be back next year. He'll be due $6.6 million as a 35-year-old who is having trouble staying healthy. The Steelers may spend an early pick on a rush linebacker.

    Follow @walterfootball for updates.

  2. Dallas Cowboys: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
    Doug Free could be released sometime soon, as he's been a major disappointment since signing his 4-year, $32 million contract a couple of years ago. Even if he's not cut, there's been some talk about him moving to guard.

    Regardless, Dallas has to find an upgrade at right tackle to help protect Tony Romo. Sure, Romo has come up small in big moments, but since he's not going anywhere this year, the Cowboys better make sure they give Romo every chance to succeed.

    Pick change; previously Kenny Vaccaro, S

  3. New York Giants: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
    Smart teams like the Giants, Steelers and Ravens always end up getting a prospect who falls during the draft. Teams constantly selecting in the top 15 are stupid, so intelligent front offices take advantage of their dumb decisions on Draft Day. One player who's probably going to drop is Bjoern Werner. He did not perform as well as expected at the Combine, showing much less athleticism than 2008's Chris Long, whom he's been compared to.

    Giant fans know that general manager Jerry Reese loves drafting pass-rushers. With Osi Umenyiora entering free agency this March and Justin Tuck having a down year, Reese may select a defensive end early this April.

    Pick change; previously Damontre Moore, DE

  4. Chicago Bears: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
    The Bears have revealed that they will be searching for a speed element to their passing game this offseason. If that's the case, they won't hesitate selecting Tavon Austin if he's available at this juncture. Chicago cannot have Devin Hester on the field as a receiver any longer.

    Austin has jumped into top-20 consideration after a sterling Combine. He had one of the fastest 40s and was terrific in the drills. He has drawn comparisons to Percy Harvin and Wes Welker.



  5. Cincinnati Bengals: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
    The Bengals had a big need at safety last spring, but they didn't address the position until the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. They'll put more effort into finding an upgrade the following offseason because they won't survive with Reggie Nelson and the benched Taylor Mays (or cornerback Nate Clements, an impending free agent who was playing out of position) as their starters.

    Cincinnati is definiely targeting a safety with this selection, and Kenny Vaccaro happens to be one of the top prospects available.

    Pick change; previously Xavier Rhodes, CB/S

  6. St. Louis Rams: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
    James Laurinaitis and JoLonn Dunbar played pretty well this past season, but no one the team tried at strongside linebacker did very well. Alec Ogletree makes sense as one of the top prospects available.

    Ogletree was recently arrested for a DUI. He's also had some other off-the-field issues. However, this won't deter the Rams, who have taken chances on character guys in this regime. It's worked out so far.

  7. Minnesota Vikings: Keenan Allen, WR, California
    The front office has to add more talent to complement a very inconsistent Christian Ponder. The Vikings need an upgrade across from Percy Harvin, as Jerome Simpson is way too inconsistent to be a No. 2 receiver. Harvin may not even be back with the Vikings next year, so Minnesota may target two wideout upgrades this offseason.

  8. Indianapolis Colts: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
    If you've watched the Colts at all in the final couple of weeks to close out the season, you know that their offensive line must be upgraded because Andrew Luck constantly had defenders in his face. Winston Justice was always hobbling on and off the field with various injuries.

    Menelik Watson could be a surprise entry toward the end of the first round. With Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher, Lane Johnson and D.J. Fluker long gone, some team in the 22-32 range could take a tackle earlier than projected.

    Pick change; previously D.J. Fluker, OT



  9. Seattle Seahawks: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
    The Seahawks have shown a ton of interest in Datone Jones. They've met with him multiple times, as you can see here in the 2013 NFL Draft Prospect Meetings page.

    I don't think this is bogus at all. Jones makes a ton of sense for Seattle. He's very athletic, so he's the type of player Pete Carroll loves. He would also bolster a pass rush that needs to improve, especially in the wake of Colin Kaepernick developing into a dynamic threat in San Francisco.

    Pick change; previously Kawann Short, DT

  10. Green Bay Packers: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
    Jermichael Finley recently said that his chances of staying with the Packers is 50/50. Jason La Canfora reported that Finley won't return. If that's the case, the Packers will be searching for a tight end early in the 2013 NFL Draft. Tyler Eifert distanced himself from Zach Ertz at the Combine.

  11. Houston Texans: Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU
    There's a ton of uncertainty at inside linebacker for Houston. Brian Cushing is coming off a torn ACL, Bradie James is an impending free agent who isn't very good, while neither Tim Dobbins nor Darryl Sharpton is worthy of starting.

  12. Denver Broncos: Johnathan Hankins, NT, Ohio State
    The Broncos spent a second-rounder last April on Derek Wolfe, but he played defensive end and moved inside on nickel situations. That's why Denver still needs a ton of help at defensive tackle.

    John Fox doesn't really have a history of spending first-round selections on defensive tackles, but this is close enough to the second round to snap that trend. Plus, Johnathan Hankins could be viewed as the top player available.

    Pick change; previously Eddie Lacy, RB



  13. New England Patriots: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
    The Patriots don't have much of an interior pass rush. They may spend an early draft choice on a complement for Vince Wilfork.

    Kawann Short, who generated seven sacks in 2012 (a great number for an interior lineman), has the size and scheme versatility that Bill Belichick likes in his defensive linemen.

    Pick change; previously Sylvester Williams, DT

  14. Atlanta Falcons: Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State
    The overpaid Ray Edwards was cut during the season. John Abraham was also released recently. Defensive end will be a priority early in the 2013 NFL Draft, and the Falcons may even double dip at the position in the first few rounds.

    Tank Carradine is generating a ton of buzz and could find himself in the first round come Draft Day. Carradine tore his ACL in November, but his recovery is reportedly going much faster than anticipated.

    Pick change; previously Datone Jones, DE

  15. San Francisco 49ers: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International
    Despite making the Pro Bowl, Donte Whitner hasn't been very good this year (he surrendered more touchdowns than any safety). Dashon Goldson, meanwhile, was slapped with a franchise tag this prior offseason. The 49ers, who might want to upgrade the secondary after Joe Flacco torched them in the Super Bowl, will need a replacement if they can't sign him to a long-term deal.

    Jonathan Cyprien made this big leap recently. There's so much buzz about him recently, and there are multiple reports indicating that several teams have him ranked as the No. 2 safety in this class.

  16. Baltimore Ravens: Damontre Moore, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
    This pick is all about figuring out which player will fall to the Ravens. Ozzie Newsome frequently scoops up plummeting prospects, and there's no reason to believe that this year will be any different. The tumbling prospect could easily be Damontre Moore because he looked sluggish at the Combine and reportedly interviewed very poorly.

    The Ravens like to take chances on prospects like Moore. Besides, he fills a need with Paul Kruger leaving. The Ravens will have only two reliable outside linebackers on the roster once that happens, and one is Courtney Upshaw, who barely generated any sort of a pass rush last year.

    Pick change; previously Johnathan Hankins, NT



    2013 NFL Mock Draft - Round 2


    2013 NFL Mock Draft - Round 3


    2013 NFL Mock Draft - Round 4


    2013 NFL Mock Draft - Round 5


    Back to 2013 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-16


    2014 NFL Mock Draft