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: Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. Round 3 added.
Next update: Next week. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

The order of this 2013 NFL Mock Draft is loosely based on my 2012 NFL Power Rankings.


    *** YOU ARE LOOKING AT AN ARCHIVED 2013 NFL MOCK DRAFT. Go here for the most recent 2013 NFL Mock Draft. ***

  1. San Diego Chargers: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
    Both Quentin Jammer and Antoine Cason will be free agents following this season. The Chargers will have to find some reinforcements at cornerback if they lose either defender.

    What happened since: Johnthan Banks fell because of an awful Combine 40 time. He probably would have gone in this range had he run well.

  2. New Orleans Saints: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
    The Saints will need an offensive tackle next spring if they can't re-sign free agent-to-be Jermon Bushrod. Bushrod isn't that good to begin with, so New Orleans could stand to find an upgrade.

    What happened since: Luke Joeckel's stock soared with a terrific 2012 campaign. The Chiefs' scouts and general manager wanted to take him first overall, but Andy Reid got his way despite having a dubious history in the NFL Draft.

  3. St. Louis Rams: Brennan Williams, OT, North Carolina
    Jason Smith was benched in favor of Barry Richardson and subsequently traded for turnstile Wayne Hunter, so Jeff Fisher will probably search for a tackle next spring. Fisher played against the Texans twice per year when he was with Tennessee, and he watched Houston completely ruin David Carr's career by not building a competent offensive line around him. He won't want to make the same mistake with Sam Bradford.

    What happened since: Brennan Williams never lived up to his enormous potential. He was inconsistent, which is why he fell out of first-round consideration.

  4. Detroit Lions: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
    The Lions take the best player available, and that, by my estimation, would be Xavier Rhodes. It was disappointing that third-round pick Bullet Bill Bentley couldn't beat out Jacob Lacey for the starting cornerback position across from Chris Houston. If Bentley doesn't overtake Lacey, cornerback will be an option this early.

    What happened since: Xavier Rhodes was chosen a few selections after this, so he was pretty steady throughout the draft process.



  5. New York Jets: Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
    I have to believe that the Jets are tired of Shonn Greene's mediocrity. They need a legitimate starting running back on the roster; not some plodder who falls down after he gains three yards every time.

    What happened since: Poor Marcus Lattimore. Hopefully he can recover and become a stud back for the 49ers.

  6. Pittsburgh Steelers: Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame
    The Steelers wanted Dont'a Hightower, but David DeCastro was just too good to pass up at No. 24 this past April. Pittsburgh now has few needs, but one of them is still at inside linebacker.

    What happened since: Lennay Kekua.

  7. Green Bay Packers: T.J. McDonald, S, USC
    It's a shame that Nick Collins' career had to be derailed by a devastating neck injury, but he was cut earlier this offseason. The safety position really needs to be upgraded.

    What happened since: Another USC player who had a miserable 2012 season. T.J. McDonald had issues in coverage.

  8. Dallas Cowboys: Barrett Jones, G/C/OT, Alabama
    The interior of Dallas' offensive line is an abomination. The front office actually found two downgrades at guard this offseason, while center Phil Costa is a sieve. Barrett Jones can play all three positions, as well as right tackle.

    What happened since: Barrett Jones is not expected to be ready for training camp, which is why he went way later than he should have. The Rams obtained a steal.



  9. Denver Broncos: Johnathan Jenkins, NT, Georgia
    The Broncos spent a second-rounder this past April on Derek Wolfe, but he's going to play defensive end and move inside on nickel situations. That's why Denver still needs a ton of help at defensive tackle.

    What happened since: I eventually dropped John Jenkins and the other nose tackles to the second day because I just couldn't find fits for them. There are concerns about Jenkins' weight.

  10. Atlanta Falcons: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
    Peter Konz will eventually move to center and replace Todd McClure, but the Falcons will still need an upgrade at right guard.

    What happened since: It's amazing to me that two guards went in the top 10. Guards grow on trees. Chance Warmack probably should have gone in the 15-20 range.

  11. Chicago Bears: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
    The Bears were expected to address their defensive tackle depth in the 2012 NFL Draft, but they never did so. They can make amends for it here.

    What happened since: Kawann Short went about 20 selections after this. It was just tough to fit him into a 4-3 team that needed him.

  12. Baltimore Ravens: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
    Ozzie Newsome needs to find a successor for Ray Lewis. He also has to secure one for Bryant McKinnie. Joe Flacco might be the best quarterback in the NFL, but even he needs protection on the blind side. In this scenario, Michael Oher would move back to right tackle, with Kelechi Osemele shifting inside.

    What happened since: I have Jake Matthews going way early in my 2014 NFL Mock Draft.



  13. New York Giants: Alex Okafor, DE, Texas
    I imagine that Jerry Reese was crying in his sleep all offseason because he didn't get to add a pass-rusher in the 2012 NFL Draft. I'm sure he'll make amends next April.

    What happened since: I have no earthly idea why Alex Okafor went as late as he did in the 2013 NFL Draft. The Cardinals were very lucky to obtain him so late.

  14. Houston Texans: Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin
    The Texans were interested in bringing in a right tackle early in the 2012 NFL Draft, but they never got the chance. Well, here's their opportunity. The position will have to be addressed if Rashad Butler can't properly fill in for Eric Winston.

    What happened since: This was a stupid pick because the Texans wouldn't take a right tackle in the first round, especially one who didn't fit their blocking scheme. Ricky Wagner himself slipped because of mediocre play in 2012.

  15. San Francisco 49ers: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
    Anthony Davis surrendered 10 sacks in 2011. If he can't get his act together this year, it could be his last in San Francisco.

    What happened since: D.J. Fluker probably should have been chosen in this area, but he went higher because the tackles were flying off the board. The Chargers panicked a bit, but they didn't really have a choice.

  16. New England Patriots: Jesse Williams, NT, Alabama
    Bill Belichick loves big defensive linemen. He has a need at the position because he didn't address it this past April. Jesse Williams would also act as a successor for Vince Wilfork, who will turn 32 several months after the 2013 NFL Draft.

    What happened since: I had Jesse Williams in the third round in my final 2013 NFL Mock Draft, but some were still surprised that he didn't make it into the first round. The supply-demand just wasn't there for him and the other nose tackles.



    2013 NFL Mock Draft - Round 2


    2013 NFL Mock Draft - Round 3


    Back to 2013 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-16


    2012 NFL Mock Draft