Matt Falk @Matt_Falk and Will Lomas @jlomas72 bring you the much to early 2013 NFL Mock Draft. Yes, it is much to early and yes many of these players will in fact resign with there current teams (Mike Wallace). But what better way to kill time as the final rookies are signing and the boring week before NFL Training Camps start up. Check it out in all the glory below.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars- Mike Wallace WR
Jacksonville is putting together quite a receiving core with this move. Now Gabbert has Justin Blackmon, Laurent Robinson, and Mike Wallace to throw to, and if he can’t thrive with those weapons it is definitely time to start looking for a new QB.
2. Tennessee Titans – Chris Long DE
Titans are looking for a face to put in at the defensive end position. They have brought in Wimbley who will bring some quality play, but Morgan has been a bit of a let down. Long is still a young buck who can be the face of any defense.
3. Cleveland Browns – Joe Flacco QB
While Drew Brees may be locked up, Flacco could be the odd man out in Baltimore. Joe Flacco never had great offensive weapons in Baltimore, so with a steady run game (Richardson) and a receiver the organization believes has potential (Josh Gordon), Flacco could be the missing ingredient to a potent offense.
4. Kansas City Chiefs – Greg Jennings WR
With no real options on the board for a young quarterback the Chiefs look to grab the best available offensive weapon. Bowe will be a free agent and K.C. still isn’t entirely sure what they have in youngster Baldwin.
5. Cincinnati Bengals – Chris Clemons DE
Quietly one of the best defensive ends in the league, Clemons has 22 sacks over the last two years. When top flight edge rushers are at a premium, Clemons would be a steal at 5.
6. Philadelphia – Jonathan Stewart RB
Sure Philly already has McCoy but adding Stewart to the mix would give them one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. Although the Eagles had a down year last year fact is they don’t have any huge holes to fill. So I give them BPA at a very important position.
7. Tampa Bay – Wes Welker WR
Wes Welker has been very good for the Patriots during his time in New England, but it seems like Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will be the new targets over the middle for Tom Brady. With a diminished role (and likely a diminished paycheck to match) Welker could chose to take off, and Tampa Bay would be a great landing spot. With a strong running game, a mobile QB, and a true number one receiver, Welker in the slot could be the missing piece to that offense.
8.Indianapolis – Jake Long OT
Sure the Colts have some promising youngsters on the offensive line. But who better to bring in to protect the new face of the franchise. Long still has a handful of years in his prime and is one of the top tackles in the entire league. A full blown steal at pick 8.
9. Green Bay – Ed Reed S
Ed Reed may not have much left in the tank, but in Green Bay his only jobs would be to educate and intercept. Between Woodson and Reed, the young Packer defensive backs would get a chance to learn from the best, and when Reed wasn’t teaching his only job on the field would be to play center-fielder and to track down long-balls like he has done throughout his Hall of Fame career.
10. Denver – Cliff Avril DE
You can never have enough defensive lineman. Avril is still a young buck and can bring any team 10+ sacks on a year to year basis.
11. New England – Brent Grimes CB
The Patriots don’t have many needs, but CB is definitely one place they need to upgrade. Tom Brady is getting older every year and the defense will need to start pulling its weight soon, this move could go a long way towards that end.
12. Minnesota – Dwayne Bowe WR
The Vikings wide receiving corps are all over the place. They have more question marks than answers. Bowe could help the development of youngster Ponder and help the purples offense get over the hump.
13. Carolina – Henry Melton DT
For a team that desperately needs a defensive tackle, Melton would be an absolute gift. Melton is a disruptive force that plays like a defensive end in the body of a defensive tackle. I can see him being a full time run defending end that can move inside and be a nickel (pass rushing) defensive tackle when called upon.
14. Seattle – Jason McCourty CB
The Seahawks secondary has a few solid pieces in place but to add a guy like McCourty might be to hard to pass on. McCourty is still in his mid 20′s and has quite a bit left in the tank.
15. Buffalo – Victor Cruz WR (RFA)
Cruz is a dynamic playmaker that had 9 touchdowns and over 1,500 receiving yards in his first and only year of production. Cruz was a thorn in the Patriots side last year, and in their two match ups he totaled 10 receptions, 116 yards and a TD, as the third option.
16. Dallas – Connor Barwin LB
Barwin can play multiple positions on defense adding depth at a few positions with 1 player. Barwin is becoming a sack artist racking up 11.5 sacks in 2011.
17. Washington – Jarius Byrd S
The Redskins desperately need to upgrade their safety spots and Jarius Byrd is a budding young safety with talent. Over his three-year career, Byrd has 232 tackles, 6 forced fumbles, and 13 interceptions. That talent behind the quality pass rushers on the Redskins roster could make that defense much more dangerous.
18. New York Jets – Sebastian Vollmer OT
The Jets are aren’t completely sold at their right tackle position. Who better to bring in than an ex Patriot who would solve any issues on the right side. Vollmer is still young and has a handful of years ahead of him.
19. Arizona – Duane Brown OT
Arizona has serious issues protecting the quarterback, but Duane Brown is a very strong LT that can be a blind-side protector and a force in the run game. This move could set them up to have a dominant offense in 2013 (assuming they add a top-flight QB in the draft).
20. Miami – Anthony Spencer LB
The Fins will be in the hunt to upgrade their defense especially at linebacker. Spencer will be 29 next year who can still give a team a handful of good years, you can always expect a handful of sacks out of Spencer and solid production.
21. Houston – Kenny Phillips S
Houston’s secondary looked very strong last year, but with a diminished pass rush the safety position will need to be upgraded.
22. Chicago – Fred Davis TE
The Bears have some solid pieces in place on offense. Losing Greg Olsen has hurt a little more than they expected. Davis is a great pass catching tight end that could grab a ton of balls from Cutler.
23. Detroit – Dwight Freeney DE
Head coach Jim Schwartz brought a hard working, pass rushing defensive end from the AFC South a few years back when he signed Kyle Vanden Bosch away from the Titans. Now, with VDB getting older and Cliff Avril a year away from a free agency pay day, Freeney would be an excellent solution to the DE problem. Freeney gets good money, can play beside Suh, and can get back in his familiar 4-3, in return the Lions get an extra 8-12 sacks. That is a win-win situation.
24. Pittsburgh – Felix Jones RB
Steelers have no idea what to expect when Mendenhall gets back from injury. Felix Jones still has plenty to prove and plenty of tread left on the tires to provide the Steelers with a rushing attack they covet.
25. St. Louis – Jason Jones DT
At one point in the 2012 offseason rumors circulated that Jason Jones (a former Jeff Fisher pick) was going to take his talents to St. Louis. Since then, Jones has signed on with Seattle and the Rams draft Michael Brockers. In 2013 however, Chris Long will be a free agent and the Rams will need to upgrade their pass rush. Jones is a penetrating 3-technique that is the perfect compliment to Brockers the run-stuffer.
26. San Francisco – Sam Shields CB
The 49ers need depth and youth to their secondary. Shields has been solid during his short time in the league and could end up being quite the bargain on the free agent market.
27. New York Giants – Ryan Clady OT
Clady has been very good in his short NFL career, but to most people, he isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think of above average offensive tackles. Clady not only would be an improvement in New York, but he would be directly in the spotlight protecting Eli Manning from the likes of DeMarcus Ware, Jason Babin, and Brian Orakpo.
28. San Diego – Laron Landry S
Landry adds needed depth and a thumper in the secondary of the Chargers. Unless a quality lineman slips to them I go best player available that has great experience and can add some authority in the secondary.
29. Atlanta – Jared Cook TE
Cook has all the raw skills to become a high end hybrid TE, but it is hard to get a into rhythm in the passing game when you have a new QB every year (Vince Young, Kerry Collins, Matt Hasselbeck, Jake Locker). In Atlanta not only would he have consistency, he would fill a need since Gonzales only has so many years left in the tank.
30. New Orleans – Erin Henderson LB
Saints always seem to need more depth and talent at the linebacker position. Henderson is a young underrated linebacker who has work his way from special teamer to a quality starting outside backer.
31. Oakland – Daryl Smith OLB
The Raiders are desperate for outside linebackers and Daryl Smith is one of the hidden gems in this league. In a bigger city and with better pieces around him he will become a household name.
32. Baltimore- Brian Urlacher MLB
Urlacher is the gap-stop player that would be perfect for Baltimore. He would keep up the top-end production from the middle linebacker position, and the Ravens could find a raw linebacker to coach up behind the scenes for until Urlacher’s contract runs out.
About Matt Falk
The Bears may lose Brian Urlacher if he wants more than they’re willing to offer him at his age. He will likely produce well this year behind the up and coming duo (assuming Stephen Pae steps up his game this year due to his likely larger role with the release of Anthony Adams) of Henry Melton & Stephen Pae. Henry Melton will likely break out this season & earn himself another contract with the Bears. If Melton & Pae step up Urlacher could still be a competent middle linebacker for a few more years.