By
ANDREW CHAMPAGNE
Twitter.com/AndrewChampagne
With
that, on to the latest mock!
1)
Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
This
pick is all but set in stone with the news that K.C. released Nick
Winston. Plus, Alex Smith going here means the Chiefs won't draft
Geno Smith, and defense wasn't K.C.'s problem last year.
2)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon
I
had Jarvis Jones here, then replaced him with Damontre Moore. Jones’s
medical condition raises a red flag, and Moore bombed at the Combine
with a 4.9 40 time. Meanwhile, Jordan is a physical freak who can
rush the passer or cover slot receivers. He may need to get a little
thicker and more physical, but there’s no doubt he has the ability
to wreak havoc coming off the edge.
3)
Oakland Raiders (4-12): Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Star
Lotulelei’s heart condition couldn’t have popped up at a worse
time. He was a consensus top-five pick, and his stock is falling.
Floyd, meanwhile, has been flying up draft boards. Mike Mayock
compared some aspects of his play to Warren Sapp, which is certainly
a nice standard.
4)
Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): DeMarcus Milliner, CB, Alabama
I
wouldn't be stunned if the Eagles took Eric Fisher, but Chip Kelly
and company have put a priority on revamping their defense. There's
still a need at cornerback despite the signing of Cary Williams, and
they can fill it with the top defensive back in this year's draft
class.
5)
Detroit Lions (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
I'm
a little torn between Fisher and Ezekiel Ansah, as both fill huge
needs. This is based solely on the current draft class, one that's
rich in defensive talent but not in quality offensive linemen. The
Lions lost Gosder Cherilus to free agency and Jeff Backus to
retirement, so Fisher obviously fills a pretty big gap.
6)
Cleveland Browns (5-11): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
The
Browns have made a couple of moves in free agency to shore up their
defense, including signing Paul Kruger away from the Ravens. Still,
they need playmakers for their new 3-4, and that's what Ansah brings
to the table. I wouldn't be surprised if they traded down, especially
if Buffalo wants Geno Smith, but for now, Ansah is the pick.
7)
Arizona Cardinals (5-11): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Smith
looked very good at the Combine. He ran a good 40, and his throws
were indicative of a good quarterback prospect. Arizona needs help
under center in the worst way possible, and if Smith is still
available at #7, new head coach Bruce Arians will be very happy. If
not, I could easily see the Cardinals taking an offensive tackle, but
in this mock, they get a possible franchise quarterback in the
making.
8)
Buffalo Bills (6-10): Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia
Geno
Smith shouldn’t make it past #8 if Arizona goes in another
direction, but in this mock, he’s gone. Personally, though, I feel
like the Bills are getting a steal here. Jones is a premier talent
who may be falling due to something that isn’t even an issue.
There’s no denying he can wreak havoc in the backfield, and this
should give the Bills another playmaker in the front seven.
9)
New York Jets (6-10): Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
The
Jets have a huge need at safety after losing both Laron Landry and
Yeremiah Bell. Vaccaro has been rising up draft boards, and while
safety prospects generally don't go this early in the draft, this is
a weird draft, and you can't say the Jets don't have a history of
surprising draft picks.
10)
Tennessee Titans (6-10): Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
We
still don’t know just how severe Lotulelei’s heart problem is.
For now, I’ll slot him here, simply because the Titans desperately
need an impact player in the middle of their defensive line. There’s
no denying Lotulelei has a ton of talent. He’s also generally
thought to be a high-character guy, so if the heart condition turns
out to be fairly minor, this could be a steal.
11)
San Diego Chargers (7-9): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Lane
Johnson wowed scouts at the Combine with his athleticism. That
doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s going to be a fantastic player
(remember scouts fawning over Robert Gallery’s 40 time?), but
there’s no doubt that he’s climbing up draft boards and that San
Diego has needs on their offensive line.
12)
Miami Dolphins (7-9): Bjoern Werner, DE/OLB, Florida State
I've
had Cordarelle Patterson here for a few mocks, but the Dolphins just
upgraded their receiving corps with Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson.
They do have needs elsewhere, most notably at tackle and across from
Cameron Wake on the defensive line. Werner fills the latter need
nicely.
13)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Trufant’s
stock is at an all-time high after big performances at the Senior
Bowl and the Combine. He’s performed well enough to emerge as the
#2 cornerback option in the draft class, and there’s no doubt the
Bucs need help in the defensive backfield. The Aqib Talib trade
created a huge hole, and Ronde Barber has to retire at some point,
right?
14)
Carolina Panthers (7-9): Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
There
are people saying Richardson could go even earlier than this. He
certainly has the athletic ability to, and this is probably as low as
he’ll go. Carolina’s defensive line is porous, and the Panthers
gave up several big games to opposing running backs in the 2012-13
season.
15)
New Orleans Saints (7-9): Damontre Moore, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
Damontre
Moore's poor Combine performance is a red flag, but this is a great
fit. Moore is tailor-made for New Orleans's new 3-4 defense, and
they've got plenty of gaps to fill on it after a godawful year on
that side of the ball in 2012.
16)
St. Louis Rams (7-8-1): Cordarelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
St.
Louis did sign Jared Cook, but Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson both
left. Patterson is very raw, but has the most physical tools of any
wide receiver in this draft class and the Rams desperately need
playmakers for Sam Bradford.
17)
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): Alex Okafor, DE/OLB, Texas
Okafor’s
stock has definitely improved in the past few months. He turned heads
in the Alamo Bowl, and his Senior Bowl performance was one of the
best of any defensive player that attended. He’s a low-risk player
that doesn’t take plays off, and his versatility should only help
him come April.
18)
Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU
Both
LSU edge-rushers have seen their stocks fall as of late. Mingo was
once a top-10 pick, but now it looks like he’ll go in the middle of
the first round. The Cowboys have a ton of holes on defense, and
could certainly use someone to draw attention away from DeMarcus
Ware. Mingo could easily be that kind of complementary player.
19)
New York Giants (9-7): Alec
Ogletree, LB, Georgia
The
Giants may be searching for a defensive end, and could have jumped on
Okafor or Mingo if they were available. In this mock, though, they’ll
zero in on Ogletree, probably the top inside linebacker prospect in
the draft. There are some character issues here, most notably his
pre-Combine arrest, but the Giants released Michael Boley and have
depth issues at that position.
20)
Chicago Bears (10-6): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Marc
Trestman got the Bears job. This means a quarterback guru will be
calling the shots in the Windy City, and as such, Jay Cutler may get
another young target to take some attention off of Brandon Marshall.
Alshon Jeffery had his moments, but was hurt for part of the season.
Austin had a great Combine that featured a scorching 40 time. He
gives Cutler another downfield weapon, and with him, the passing game
becomes very formidable.
21)
Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): Xavier Rhodes, CB/S, Florida State
Rhodes
is a physical defensive back that can play either corner or safety.
Cincinnati's pass defense isn't bad, but they also weren't all that
great a year ago, and you can never have too many quality defensive
backs, especially in the current pass-happy era of football.
22)
St. Louis Rams (7-8-1, from Washington (10-6)): Chance Warmack, OG,
Alabama
St.
Louis lucks out a bit in this mock, as nobody from 17 to 21 has a
huge need at the interior line spots. The Rams just signed Jake Long,
and this also gives them an upgrade at either left or right guard.
23)
Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor
Many
thought Terrance Williams would have a down year without RG3 under
center at Baylor. All Williams did was catch 97 passes for 1,832
yards and 12 touchdowns. He has a ton of tools to like, and here, he
gives a Vikings offense that desperately needs a playmaker opposite
the newly-acquired Greg Jennings a guy who can score any time he
touches the football.
24)
Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
Hankins
fell with a horrid performance at the Combine. He looked heavy, and
he ran like someone who was out of shape. However, Indianapolis has a
big need in the middle of their defensive line, and if Hankins gets
back in shape and plays like he did this past season at Ohio State,
he’s a steal at #24 overall.
25)
Minnesota Vikings (10-6, from Seattle (11-5)):
Manti Te'o, LB,
Notre Dame
On
the surface, this may seem like a puzzling pick. However, the Vikings
have a huge need at linebacker, as their only proven starter there is
Chad Greenway, and the team as a whole struggled against the pass
last season, an area Te'o can instantly improve. Te'o suffered at the
Combine, but Adam Schefter reported that he would not drop out of the
first round.
26)
Green Bay Packers (11-5): Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Banks
didn’t do himself any favors at the Combine, but his game tape is
solid and there’s no doubt Green Bay has voids to fill in the
secondary. Charles Woodson is moving on, and the unit wasn’t
anything special this past year anyway.
27)
Houston Texans (12-4): Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
The
Texans need to fill their need at defensive tackle with this pick.
J.J. Watt is a beast, and Antonio Smith also had eight sacks, but
they’ve got nothing up the middle. Short changes that, and also
brings a unique ability to rush the passer from the nose tackle spot.
28)
Denver Broncos (13-3): Jonathan Cooper, OG/C, North Carolina
I
could also see the Broncos taking a running back like Eddie Lacy or
Giovani Bernard, but Knowshon Moreno’s finished the year well and
probably deserves a shot at the starting spot next year. Cooper was
strong at the Combine. He showed very strong agility for a man his
size, and his versatility means he can play all three interior line
positions.
29)
New England Patriots (12-4): Keenan Allen, WR, Cal
The
Patriots obviously lost Wes Welker to Denver, and they also let Danny
Woodhead go to San Diego and cut Brandon Lloyd. That leaves targets
for other players, and while Danny Amendola and Shane Vereen should
get plenty of looks, they need to be on the lookout for young wide
receivers. Allen slipped a bit in this mock, but is a first-round
talent who can instantly earn playing time in this offense.
30)
Atlanta Falcons (13-3): Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Tony
Gonzalez is not retiring despite doing his annual tap-dance around
the subject. Still, he's not getting younger, and Tyler Eifert is
easily the top tight end in the draft.
31)
San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): Sylvester Williams, DT, North
Carolina
The
Niners let Isaac Sopuaga walk, leaving a pretty big hole on the
defensive line. Williams is a little bit of a reach, but he's an
agile, versatile player who defends both the run and the pass well.
32)
Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Kevin Minter, LB, LSU
Minter
is an old-school, run-stopping inside linebacker that may have
trouble fitting into some new-age defensive schemes. However, an
old-school, run-stopping inside linebacker just retired from
Baltimore’s Super Bowl-winning team, so Minter would be a pretty
nice fit for the Ravens.
SECOND
ROUND
33)
Jacksonville Jaguars: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
Anyone
who still thinks Blaine Gabbert can be an effective starting
quarterback needs to have their head examined. The Jags need to
address that position in the draft, and if Matt Barkley is still on
the board in the second round, this is a no-brainer.
34)
San Francisco 49ers (from Kansas City): Tank Carradine, DE, Florida
State
The
Niners may have a need behind Justin Smith, who turns 34 and is going
into the final year of his contract. Carradine is a bit of a risk
coming off a knee injury, but all signs are that he's healthy, and
when he is, he's a first-round caliber player.
35)
Philadelphia Eagles: Barrett Jones, OG/C/OT, Alabama
There’s
no arguing Philadelphia’s offensive line needs improvement. Jones
isn’t a tried and true tackle, which is what the Eagles probably
need, but he can play anywhere he’s asked and is a proven leader.
36)
Detroit Lions: Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
Hunt
is very raw, but has a ton of speed and could develop into a solid
pass-rusher off the edge at the NFL level. The Lions have a big need
there, as mentioned in the first round, and Hunt provides both
insurance and a high upside.
37)
Cincinnati Bengals: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
I
still like Giovani Bernard a lot, but Lacy has become the consensus
top back in the draft. He’s a powerful runner that could compete
for time immediately in Cincinnati. BenJarvus Green-Ellis isn’t
anything special, and if Cincy’s line continues to be one of the
top run-blocking units, Lacy has a chance to be an impact player.
38)
Arizona Cardinals: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
Arizona’s
offensive line was probably the worst in the NFL last year, so the
Cardinals should certainly use a high pick to improve it. Fluker is a
decent value here, and was part of a fantastic line at Alabama that
spurred the Tide to a national championship.
39)
New York Jets: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
Pretty
good scenario here for the Jets, who need wide receivers in the worst
way possible. Justin Hunter had a great Combine, and I've been
mocking him in the first round for a while, but he slips here through
no fault of his own.
40)
Tennessee Titans: Matt Elam, S, Florida
Tennessee
needs help all over the defense, and I think they’ll take advantage
of a deep defensive draft with their first couple of picks. Elam is a
physical player who has openly said he wants to be the next Ed Reid,
and while his ceiling may not be THAT high, he can certainly step
right in and contribute in Tennessee.
41)
Buffalo Bills: Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee
I
like Bray much more than Ryan Nassib, who is the cliché pick because
Doug Marrone coached him at Syracuse. Bray has a big arm and was
impressive at the Combine. The Bills could very well trade up for
either Geno Smith or Matt Barkley, but for now, Bray is the pick.
42)
Miami Dolphins: Dallas Thomas, OT/OG, Tennessee
Miami
needs help on the offensive line given the departure of franchise
left tackle Jake Long. It wouldn't shock me if the Dolphins traded up
with this pick or traded down in the first round for D.J. Fluker, but
since I can't mock trades, Thomas is the pick.
43)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State
I
have the Bucs doubling up on corners because their secondary is very,
VERY thin. Taylor may be a slight reach, but assuming Tampa Bay
doesn’t make a splash in free agency, they need new blood in their
pass defense. Plus, this isn’t as much of a reach as it was before
the Combine, where the Boise State product clocked in at 4.37 in the
40.
44)
Carolina Panthers: Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky
While
some of Carolina’s non-Cam Newton rushing woes were injury-related,
it’s also true that the team’s offensive line has struggled at
times. Warford is the best lineman available, especially after a very
solid performance at the Senior Bowl.
45)
San Diego Chargers: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
Danario
Alexander is a restricted free agent and could very well leave in
free agency. Philip Rivers needs more to work with in the passing
game, and Hopkins proved to be a reliable wideout in college.
46)
St. Louis Rams: Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina
Daryl
Richardson was very good in spell duty as a rookie, and if Steven
Jackson doesn’t return, he could see a much bigger role. However,
Isaiah Pead is an unknown quantity, and Bernard is a playmaker who
can also impact a game as a kick and punt returner.
47)
Dallas Cowboys: Bennie Logan, DT, LSU
Monte
Kiffin's new 4-3 scheme needs some new blood for it to be effective,
and that's what Logan provides. He's a solid defensive tackle that
fills a need alongside Jay Ratliff.
48)
Pittsburgh Steelers: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama
Pittsburgh
will likely use this draft to fill a ton of needs in the front seven.
Plenty of their core players are getting up there in age, including
Brett Keisel, who turns 35 this year. Williams could have gone much
earlier and has good potential.
49)
New York Giants: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
The
Giants will likely have a need at defensive end since Osi Umenyiora
is a free agent. Jones had a great Combine and is the kind of player
the Giants love drafting.
50)
Chicago Bears: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
It
sounds like a broken record at this point since we say it every year,
but Chicago needs to improve its pass protection. Offensive linemen
have gone like crazy in this mock, but Watson is a good value pick
here that fills a need.
51)
Washington Redskins: Jon Cyprien, S, Florida International
Washington’s
secondary could use an upgrade. While there aren’t any cornerback
prospects that make sense, Cyprien is probably one of the best
players left on the board. He’s been flying up draft boards as of
late and could go much earlier than this.
52)
Minnesota Vikings: Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, Connecticut
As
I mentioned earlier, Minnesota was very bad against the pass last
year. In their division, they have to worry about Aaron Rodgers, the
Matt Stafford-Calvin Johnson duo, and a Marc Trestman offense, which
means they need to find cornerback help.
53)
Cincinnati Bengals: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
As
many as four Bengal linebackers could be on their way out of town
during free agency. If that’s the case, Cincy should use this pick
to help fill that void. Brown doesn’t have great size, but he’s a
versatile player who defends both the run and the pass very well.
54)
Miami Dolphins: Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
Alford
comes from a small school, but he hinted at big talent during the
Combine, where he posted a sub-4.4 40 time. The Dolphins are in need
of help in their back seven, and they’ll likely use an early pick
to address that need.
55)
Green Bay Packers: Kyle Long, OG/OT, Oregon
Green
Bay’s offensive line is aging, and they need to protect Aaron
Rodgers. Like many other top offensive line prospects, Long can play
a number of different positions up front, and it doesn’t hurt that
he’s got fantastic NFL genes.
56)
Seattle Seahawks: Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU
A
huge, huge fall continues for Montgomery, but Pete Carroll hasn't
shied away from taking players with character issues. If he coaches
Montgomery up and gets all his talent out of him, this may wind up
being the steal of the draft.
57)
Houston Texans: Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech
Houston
has long been searching for a #2 receiver behind Andre Johnson.
Patton didn’t play against great competition at Louisiana Tech, but
made the most of his opportunities at both the Senior Bowl and the
Combine.
58)
Denver Broncos: Eric Reid, S, LSU
Reid
slipped in this mock through no fault of his own, and he may be a
welcome addition in Denver. Their secondary was awful against Joe
Flacco, and 37-year-old Champ Bailey may finally be showing his age.
59)
New England Patriots: Darius Slay, CB, Mississippi State
New
England struggled against the pass last year, and again, you can
never have too many quality corners. Aqib Talib is a very good
player, but Alfonzo Dennard has off-the-field baggage and the rest of
their secondary isn't great.
60)
Atlanta Falcons: Corey Lemonier, DE/OLB, Auburn
Defensive
end is a big problem for the Falcons, and it was an issue even during
a stellar season. Lemonier had an impressive showing at the Combine
with a 4.6 40, and he’s bulked up a little as well. It wouldn’t
be a surprise to see him go in the second round.
61)
San Francisco 49ers: D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina
San
Francisco’s front seven is fantastic, but their group of safeties
is a question mark, especially after the defection of DaShon Goldson.
Swearinger, a captain for the Gamecocks and a physical presence, hits
hard and covers well, so he should be an instant upgrade.
62)
Baltimore Ravens: David Amerson, CB/S, N.C. State
Baltimore's
secondary is a huge question mark. Lardarius Webb suffered a bad
season-ending injury, and chances are Ed Reed won't be back. Amerson
adds versatility to a group that could have plenty of needs when it
tries to defend its Super Bowl title.
RSS
ELLICOTTVILLE — Girls freestyle skier Brett DeWeese, 14, of Saratoga Springs, took third place at the NY-PA State Freestyle Championships March 9-10 at Holiday Valley Ski Resort. The event was an official U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association competition featuring more than 100 of the top freestyle skiers from New York and Pennsylvania. Freestyle skiing is broken up into runs of aerials, slope style and moguls. DeWeese competes for the New York Ski Education Foundation (NYSEF) team out of Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid. 
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