2013 Backward NFL Mock Draft: Picks 17-32

Last update: Thursday, April 4, 2013.

This is our fifth-annual backward mock draft. It's what it sounds like: What would the 2013 NFL Draft look like if the order were reversed? Whom would the Ravens take with the first pick? My annual Backward NFL Mock Draft is listed below.

Go here for my 2013 NFL Mock Draft or here for my 2014 NFL Mock Draft.

Back to 2013 Backward NFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-16.

17. St. Louis Rams: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
    I've mocked Alec Ogletree to the Rams quite a few times. They need help at linebacker, and they have proven that they won't be concerned with Ogletree's off-the-field issues.
    
    
18. New Orleans Saints: Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU
    I've had the Saints taking Barkevious Mingo for a while. They just signed Victor Butler, but I don't think that will preclude them from selecting either Mingo or Jarvis Jones at No. 15 overall.
    
    
19. Carolina Panthers: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
    OK, I promise that this is the final boring repeat pick in this Backward Mock. The Panthers would take Sheldon Richardson at No. 15, so they'd definitely snag him off the board with the 19th-overall selection.
    
    
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
    The Buccaneers are obviously desperate for cornerback help, but if Dee Milliner and Xavier Rhodes are off the board at No. 13, as expected, they'll either have to reach for Desmond Trufant or wait another round to address the position. Trufant provides good value at No. 20, so maybe Tampa will be able to trade down.
    
    
    
    
    
21. Miami Dolphins: D.J. Fluker, OT/G, Alabama
    The Dolphins have offered a short-term deal to free agent Eric Winston, but he wants a larger contract. If they can't find a right tackle in free agency, they'll have to address the position in the 2013 NFL Draft.
    
    
22. San Diego Chargers: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
    Adam Schefter recently said that Menelik Watson will be chosen in the first round, so he makes sense as an option for San Diego at No. 22. The Chargers have absolutely nothing at left tackle, which is a problem because they're in danger of watching Philip Rivers completely fall off - if he hasn't already.
    
    
23. Tennessee Titans: Tank Carradine, DE/OLB, Florida State
    Derrick Morgan and Kamerion Wimbley combined for just 12.5 sacks in 2012. That stat is a bit misleading because the Titans were constantly behind, but the fact remains that they could use a third pass-rusher to harass Andrew Luck.
    
    
24. New York Jets: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
    I don't think the Jets will take a quarterback as early as No. 9 overall, but they can certainly grab someone like Ryan Nassib or Matt Barkley in Round 2. A pick this late in the first round would be like New York moving up into the bottom of Day 1 without surrendering any picks.
    
    
    
    
    
25. Buffalo Bills: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
    Buddy Nix made it known that he's targeting a quarterback, a big receiver and a tight end this offseason. He somewhat addressed the former with the Kevin Kolb trade - click the link to see a grade for that move - and now he can add a reliable intermediate target by selecting Tyler Eifert.
    
    
26. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Glennon, QB, N.C. State
    I have this as a second-round pick in my 2013 NFL Mock Draft: Mike Glennon has been linked to the Cardinals. You can check out my 2013 NFL Draft Rumors page for more. It could be smoke, but Glennon is a perfect fit for Bruce Arians' vertical offense.
    
    
27. Cleveland Browns: Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State
    The Browns are expected to draft Dee Milliner if they stay put at No. 6 overall. They desperately need a corner across from Joe Haden. They'd consider someone like Jamar Taylor with an early second-round pick if they had one.
    
    
28. Detroit Lions: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
    The Lions brought in Justin Hunter for a pre-draft visit. That's understandable, given that he fills a big need and fits the range at the top of the second round. He would also make sense at the bottom of the first.
    
    
    
    
    
29. Philadelphia Eagles: E.J. Manuel, QB, Florida State
    Here's another quarterback-team match. Chip Kelly tried recruiting E.J. Manuel out of high school, so I'm sure he'd love to coach him now. Manuel fits his offense perfectly.
    
    
30. Oakland Raiders: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
    A bunch of quarterbacks will be chosen atop the second round in the real 2013 NFL Draft, so that translates to the bottom of the first in the Backward Mock. Matt Barkley is a great scheme fit for the Raiders, who didn't exactly surrender much to land Matt Flynn. Barkley would be in play here.
    
    
31. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse
    Will the Jaguars pick Geno Smith with the No. 2 overall selection? Maybe, but if not, they'll definitely target a quarterback on Day 2. Daniel Jeremiah recently tweeted that there's a link between Jacksonville and Ryan Nassib - once again check out my 2013 NFL Draft Rumors page for more.
    
    
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
    The Chiefs still have a big hole on their roster next to Derrick Johnson in the wake of the tragic Jovan Belcher suicide. Arthur Brown has drawn comparisons to Ray Lewis by many analysts and he would be quite a bargain at the very bottom of the first round.
    
    Follow @walterfootball for updates.
    
    
    
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