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

Last update: Thursday, April 11, 2013. Major changes in all rounds. Round 6 added.
Next update: Next week. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

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

*** THIS IS A LIVE 2013 NFL MOCK DRAFT. PICKS ARE BEING POSTED NOW. TO SEE PREVIOUS VERSIONS, CHECK OUT THE ARCHIVED 2013 NFL MOCK DRAFT SECTION. FOLLOW @walterfootball FOR UPDATES ***


17. 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. His poor 40 didn't help matters. Some may want to reference Terrell Suggs' slow 40, but Suggs was 15 pounds heavier than Jones coming out of college.
    
    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 is gone, so the Steelers may spend an early pick on a rush linebacker. Pittsburgh usually doesn't like taking scheme conversion guys in the first round, but I've been told by a reliable source that Jones and Dion Jordan are the two exceptions.
    
    Follow @walterfootball for updates.
    
    
18. Dallas Cowboys: Jonathan Cooper, G/C, North Carolina
    The interior of Dallas' offensive line is an abomination. The front office actually found two downgrades at guard last offseason, while center Phil Costa is a sieve. The Cowboys have to find some help for Tony Romo.
    
    The Cowboys absolutely love both Jonathan Cooper and Kenny Vaccaro. Jerry Jones has shown that he's not afraid to move up for a prospect he really likes when he obtained Morris Claiborne last year. He may move up for either Cooper or Vaccaro.
    
    Pick change; previously D.J. Fluker, OT/G
    
    
19. 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.
    
    
20. Chicago Bears: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
    I've been slotting the two guards much earlier than this, but I'm starting to rethink things. David DeCastro slipped to No. 24 last year for some reason. This draft class is weaker at the top, so maybe Jonathan Cooper and Chance Warmack will go in the 16-20 range.
    
    The Bears will definitely be interested in Warmack if he falls to them. They signed Matt Slauson, but that was just to a 1-year deal worth less than $1 million. Gabe Carimi, meanwhile, has been a bust. Chicago has to make sure that Jay Cutler is protected.
    
    Pick change; previously Arthur Brown, LB
    
    
    
    
    
21. 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.
    
    Pick change; previously Alec Ogletree, LB
    
    
22. 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.
    
    Pick change; previously Cordarrelle Patterson, WR
    
    
23. Minnesota Vikings: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
    The Vikings can address one of their biggest needs with one of the top players available. Defensive tackle is a huge issue right now; Kevin Williams will turn 33 in August, and there's no one of note playing next to him. Letroy Guion is a decent rotational guy but should not be a starter. Sylvester Williams can play both interior positions and solidify the Williams Wall.
    
    
24. Indianapolis Colts: Datone Jones, DE/DT, UCLA
    The Colts signed Ricky Jean-Francois to a large deal this offseason, but they could still look to upgrade the defensive line, as the unit doesn't really have a consistent pass-rusher. Cory Redding is there, but he'll be 33 soon and he's due $7 million over the next two seasons. Datone Jones is one of the top prospects available and makes a ton of sense for Indianapolis.
    
    
    
    
    
25. Minnesota Vikings: Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame
    I've consistently mocked Manti Te'o in the second round. Teams won't take him because he's a Tebow-like distraction. A personnel man who works for a team drafting in the 20-32 range told us that his franchise will be passing on Te'o even though inside linebacker is a big need. However, the Vikings don't seem bothered by Te'o, as they've shown way more interest in him than any other team. If they're willing to take him in the second round, they could just as easily draft him at No. 25.
    
    Everyone knows Te'o's story by now. He had a miserable Combine. He ran a 4.82 40 and later blamed it on fatigue (as if the other players weren't tired). He looked stiff in the drills. Worst of all, he drew that ridiculous press conference. Te'o handled himself well in front of the media, but the press conference itself was the major problem. No team wants to deal with the media circus that will come with acquiring Te'o - except for the Vikings, apparently.
    
    Pick change; previously DeAndre Hopkins, WR
    
    
26. Green Bay Packers: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
    Greg Jennings is gone, while James Jones will be a free agent next spring. The Packers don't have to draft a receiver this year, but they'll definitely consider one if a talented wideout is available at No. 26. DeAndre Hopkins, who has been compared to Roddy White, is one of the top players on the board.
    
    Pick change; previously Tyler Eifert, TE
    
    
27. Houston Texans: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
    The Texans have needed a No. 2 receiver for years, but now that Andre Johnson is into his 30s, it won't be long before they have to secure a new No. 1 wideout for Matt Schaub.
    
    As Charlie reported recently, Justin Hunter is receiving tons of first-round interest.
    
    
28. Denver Broncos: Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State
    Elvis Dumervil defected for Baltimore in the wake of Faxgate, so the Broncos will have to find a potent pass-rusher to complement Von Miller.
    
    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.
    
    
    
    
    
29. New England Patriots: Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State
    Aqib Talib re-signed and Adrian Wilson was added, but neither might be around come 2014; Talib inked a 1-year deal, while Wilson will be 34 in October. The Patriots are always looking for secondary depth, and they've shown tons of interest in Jamar Taylor throughout this pre-draft process.
    
    Pick change; previously Kawann Short, DT
    
    
30. Atlanta Falcons: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
    The Falcons are really hurting in two areas: defensive end and cornerback. The latter is a huge issue with Dunta Robinson gone and Brent Grimes appearing as though he'll sign elsewhere. Desmond Trufant fills a need and happens to be one of the top players available.
    
    
31. San Francisco 49ers: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International
    Despite making the Pro Bowl, Donte Whitner wasn't very good this past year (he surrendered more touchdowns than any safety). Dashon Goldson, meanwhile, left for Tampa Bay in free agency. The 49ers, who might want to upgrade the secondary after Joe Flacco torched them in the Super Bowl, will need a replacement.
    
    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.
    
    
32. Baltimore Ravens: Keenan Allen, WR, California
    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 Keenan Allen because he ran a 4.7 at his Pro Day, which was very Anquan Boldin-like.
    
    Speaking of Boldin, Allen makes a ton of sense for the Ravens, as he would fill the void created by the Boldin trade to the 49ers. It's also worth noting that Daniel Jeremiah, who used to work for Baltimore, listed Allen as a top option for the Ravens on Path to the Draft.
    
    
    
    2013 NFL Mock Draft - Round 2
    
    
    2013 NFL Mock Draft - Round 3
    
    
    2013 NFL Mock Draft - Round 4
    
    
    2013 NFL Mock Draft - Round 5
    
    
    2013 NFL Mock Draft - Round 6
    
    
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