Mark Sanchez…What is Going on?

Maybe one of the most confusing stories now is the involvement/no involvement of Sanchez being tossed into the pot for Tampa Bay in the proposed Darrelle Revis trade. It does seem like this is legitimate and the Jets are not trying to force the hand of another team in order to make some type of move. Looks like the sticking point is the Jets wanting a 1^st round pick and Tampa not wanting to part with that and other players being brought into the mix. This is one of the most interesting stories leading up to the draft. As the draft approaches normally we see the value of college signal callers increasing. With the movement we have seen in this offseason that doesn’t seem to be the case for 2013.

Lawrence Okoye From the Most Interesting College of Them All

If you don’t know who Lawrence Okoye is…you are not alone. If you talk to someone who says they have seen film on the raw prospect then they are lying because Okoye is from…well….England. Okoye is a British Discus thrower who is draft eligible and is raising a few eyebrows with his athletic ability and measurable. At 6-5 and just under 310 pounds Okoye showed massive strength and great speed running in the 4.8-4.9 40 range. Okoye has 3 team visits already scheduled (New Orleans, San Francisco and Denver) and there will probably be a few more on the horizon. I have Okoye being drafted at the end of Round 5 in Mock 11.0 by the aforementioned Broncos.

Tim Tebow on the Move

It wouldn’t be the NFL without some sort of Tim Tebow news. Starting to hear some rumblings that a team showing some minor interest….the Chicago Bears. With Jason Campbell now in Cleveland and Jay Cutler seeing the sidelines for an extended period in some recent seasons there has been talk that the Bears may be looking at a quarterback in the middle rounds. There was news about some Buccaneer and Saints interest but the Bears news seems to be the most credible at this point. If not the Bears my guess is Tebow may be looking for work or waiting for the inevitable, when the injury bug strikes a quarterback or two in the preseason.

Stews 7 Round Mock Draft >>

Orinda’s 5 Round Mock Draft

Cal’s 7 Round Mock Draft

Mock Draft Database

Thanks for reading. 2013 NFL Mock Draft News and Notes by DJ is a post from 2013 NFL Mock Draft | New NFL Draft

By Raymon Marceau

The Texans are looking good after free agency. The loss of Quin IMO was the one that hurt the most but with the addition of Ed Reed it shouldn’t be that big of a loss. The addition of Lechlar and Greg Jones are great to fill team needs.

1^st Round 27^th pick: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

When deciding a WR for this pick I had to go to the tape. It came down between DeAndre Hopkins and Justin Hunter. They both fit well with the style of offense the Texans run with great short routes and the ability to catch it down the field.  I like Hunter better with a bigger size at 6 ft. 4 200 pounds and has blazing 4.44 speed. He can fit in nice across from Andre Johnson.

2^nd Round 57^th pick: Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Last year the Texans had some trouble on the right side of the offensive line. I believe Ben Jones will be fine at RG but Derek Newton showed why he doesn’t belong there. Armstead was getting division 1 offers but went to Arkansas-Pine Bluff to play football and compete in track and field. Armstead could be plugged in to beef up this offensive line.

3^rd Round 94th pick: Baccari Rambo, S, Georgia

The Texans got rid of Glover Quin. Luckily they were able to pick up veteran safety Ed Reed. I don’t know how many years Reed will be in Houston. Rambo has 1^st round talent but off the field issue has plagued him to fall to 3^rd-4^th round range. Rambo could go under Ed Reeds wing and learn to become a better safety and stay out of trouble off the field.

3^rd Round 97^th pick: Jon Bostic, ILB, Florida

The Texans biggest hole last year was inside linebacker. With Cushing and Daryl Sharpton getting hurt they had veterans Tim Dobbins, Barrett Ruud and Bradie James play. They lacked speed and play making ability. Bostic can come in and fight for a starting job with Daryl Sharpton who hasn’t stayed healthy throughout his NFL career so far.

4^th Round 129^th pick: Montori Hughes, NT, Tennessee Martin

The Texans haven’t shown any real interest in signing veteran NT Shaun Cody. He hasn’t really been a great run stopper or pass rusher the past few years. Montori Hughes has had off the field issues but had a great Senior Bowl and Combine.

5^th Round 158^th pick: Matt Scott, QB, Arizona

I have never been a big fan of Matt Schaub. He is only a product of the system that Houston runs. An offense that relies on running the ball and play action. Any pass over 15-20 yards is iffy because he under throws the ball and lacks accuracy. The NFL has become more diverse with dual threat QBs. Scott had a big year in Rich Rodriguez system in Arizona and could give Schaub a run.

6^th Round 190^th pick: Joe Kruger, OLB/DE, Utah

The Texans need a replacement for Barwin to backup up Mercilus and Reed. Joe Kruger comes from a great bloodline with his brother Paul having a break through year and his brother has similar play style and physique. Kruger would be a great pass rusher and backup.

6^th Round 201^st pick: Jake Stoneburner, TE, Ohio State

The Texans are known to have a bunch of TE’s in their offense who can catch 1^st block 2^nd. James Casey bolted to Philly and Stoneburner should be picked to replace him. He had a decent year at Ohio State and could be good on Houston.

7^th Round 222^nd pick: Kyle Juszcyk, FB, Harvard

Even though Houston did sign Greg Jones it was a one-year deal. He may leave at the end of the year so why not draft a FB with good run blocking and a decent receiver. Juszcyk could backup Jones this year and possible start next year if Jones leaves.

Tyler’s 6 Round Mock Draft >>

Stews 7 Round Mock Draft >>>

Orinda’s 5 Round Mock Draft >>>

Mock Draft Database

Thanks for reading. Houston Texans 7 Round Mock Draft is a post from 2013 NFL Mock Draft | New NFL Draft

By DJ Boyer

As mentioned earlier, the Kansas City Chiefs are hoping the stock for Geno Smith continues to rise in order to generate enough interest for an attractive deal out of the the #1 spot. The Browns seem to be looking for something similar, if Smith does not go #1 the Browns will be hoping he is still on the board at #6. The cardinals and Bills at #7 and #8 seem to have the most interest so a team further back that would want Smith seems be a fit for #6. The Browns are looking to acquire more selections, especially since they are without their 2^nd round selection which they used in the Supplemental Draft last year for Josh Gordon.

Stews 7 Round Mock Draft >>

Orinda’s 5 Round Mock Draft

Cal’s 7 Round Mock Draft

Mock Draft Database

Thanks for reading. Cleveland Browns on the Move? is a post from 2013 NFL Mock Draft | New NFL Draft

By DJ Boyer

News seems to be good for aspiring NFL defensive tackle Star Lotulelei. Lotulelei was not allowed to work out at the NFL Combine due to a heart condition that was discovered. The condition was abnormally low Ejection Fraction, which measures the amount of blood pumping to the different ventricles and chambers within the heart. Lotulelei has been given a clean bill of health from various doctors and is having the condition monitored. Teams must be feeling very good about the diagnosis because we are starting to see more interest from teams selecting higher in the draft order.

 DJ’s Mock Draft

Tylers 5 Round Mock Draft

Orinda’s 5 Round Mock Draft

Cal’s 7 Round Mock Draft

Mock Draft Database; NFL Draft BLOG; @Newnfldraft

Thanks for reading. Star Lotulelei back in the Top 10? is a post from 2013 NFL Mock Draft | New NFL Draft

By DJ Boyer

I have been waiting for news about Matt Flynn being offered to the masses to hit the street as the Seahawks will try to offload his huge salary. A few suitors have emerged but it looks like the Oakland Raiders will be leading the way in a move that would certainly signal the cutting of Carson Palmer. This comes around the same time that more word is out of Kansas City that the Chiefs are hoping the stock for Geno Smith has risen so much that they will get offers for the top pick. Teams behind them seen to have been drumming up in interest in Smith in order to get teams like Arizona or Buffalo to trade up. No word on revised financials for Flynn if this deal comes to fruition but it will change strategy at the top of the board.

DJ’s NFL Mock Draft

Tylers 5 Round Mock Draft

Orinda’s 5 Round Mock Draft

Cal’s 7 Round Mock Draft

Mock Draft Database; NFL Draft BLOG; @Newnfldraft

Thanks for reading. Matt Flynn to the Raiders? is a post from 2013 NFL Mock Draft | New NFL Draft

Check out his latest mock draft here: DJ’s 2013 NFL Mock Draft

FBS Schools                                                        228

Non FBS Schools                                               26

FCS Schools (Former Division I-AA)          19

Division II Football Schools                             5

Division III Football Schools                            1

Division III NAIA Football Schools               1

Breakdown of Picks By Conference

SEC                                                                                                                                         61

LSU 10, Alabama 8, Florida 8, Georgia 6, South Carolina 5, Texas A&M 5, Mississippi State 5, Tennessee 4, Arkansas 3, Vanderbilt 2, Missouri 2, Auburn 2, Kentucky.

ACC                                                                                                                                        34

Florida State 10, North Carolina 6, Clemson 4, NC State 4, Virginia Tech 3, Boston College 2, Miami (Fla.) 2, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia.

Pac 12                                                                                                                                   30

USC 6, Oregon 5, Stanford 3, California 3, UCLA 2, Arizona 2, Utah 2, Colorado 2, Oregon State 2, Washington State 2, Washington.

Big 12                                                                                                                                    26

Oklahoma 6, Texas 4, West Virginia 4, Kansas State 2, Baylor 2, TCU 2, Iowa State 2, Kansas 2, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State.

Big 10                                                                                                                                    22

Michigan State 4, Michigan 3, Wisconsin 3, Ohio State 2, Penn State 2, Illinois 2, Purdue 2,Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern.

Big East                                                                                                                                                16

Connecticut 4, Syracuse 3, Rutgers 3, South Florida 2, Louisville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Temple.

Mid-American Conference (MAC)                                                                           8

Ohio 2, Western Michigan 2, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Central Michigan.

Mountain West                                                                                                                                 7

Boise State 2, San Diego State 2, Nevada 2, Colorado State.

Western Athletic Conference (WAC)                                                                      7

Louisiana Tech 3, Utah State 2, San Jose State 2.

Conference USA                                                                                                              7

SMU 2, Memphis, Southern Mississippi, Houston, Rice, Marshall.

Sun Belt                                                                                                                               5

Florida International 2, Western Kentucky, Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas

State.

Independents                                                                                                                    5

Notre Dame 3, BYU 2.

Ohio Valley (FCS)                                                                                                            4

Tennessee Tech, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee State.

Colonial Athletic Association (FCS)                                                                          3

William & Mary, New Hampshire, James Madison.

Ivy League (FCS)                                                                                                               3

Harvard, Cornell, Princeton.

Southland Conference (FCS)                                                                                      2

Southeastern Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin.

Southern Conference (FCS)                                                                                        2

Elon,  Appalachian State.

Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference  (MIAC Division II)      2

Missouri  Western, Missouri  Southern State.

Big Sky Conference (FCS)                                                                                             2

Eastern Washington, Portland State.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC Division II)                               1

Chadron State.

Missouri Valley Conference (FCS)                                                                           1

Youngstown State.

Southwest Athletic Conference (FCS)                                                                     1

Arkansas Pine-Bluff.

Big South (FCS)                                                                                                                 1

Stony Brook.

Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC Division II)                           1

California (Pa.).

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC Division II)        1

Grand Valley State.

Ohio Athletic Conference (Division III)                                                                  1

Mount Union.

Mid-South Conference (Division III NAIA)                                                           1

Belhaven University.

Thanks for reading. DJ Boyer’s Mock Draft pick breakdown is a post from 2013 NFL Mock Draft | New NFL Draft

As the draft approaches, prospects begin to solidify their draft grades.  Players fall into a range of picks, teams balance their own issues of player selection based upon an average of player talent and team need.  The current collective bargaining agreement favors a very strict rookie pay scale.  Obviously, understanding a bust pick no longer financially cripples a franchise, the era of trading picks takes prominence on draft day.

Below are teams with most to gain by negotiating a trade on draft day.

1.  Buffalo Bills-Buffalo laid their cards on the table, face up.  With Tavares Jackson being the only QB on the roster, Kansas City and Jacksonville will begin the sales process of convincing Buffalo to trade up for a QB.  As Geno Smith continues to rise in popularity, clearly becoming the draft darling, Buffalo has the most to gain by drafting him.  Clearly Buffalo will be forced to give up more selections now than they would prior to the release of Fitzpatrick.  At this point they haven’t much of a choice considering the options will be Jackson or a 2^nd tier prospect.  Look for them to give a little less than the blockbuster RGII trade, a proper value will probably be their 2013, first and second round picks, and an additional second or third round pick in 2014.
2. San Diego Chargers-Though coming off of a couple of down years, the D consistently ranked better than average in the NFL.  After hiring an offensive minded coach, the team’s draft priority lies in selecting weapons for the aging, but talent Phillip Rivers.  Currently no left tackle is on the roster and the free agent market dwindles.  A possible scenario, should their division rival allow it, is shopping their second round pick, and possibly more, to Kansas City for Brandon Albert.
3. Miami Dolphins-Whipping out the check book early in free agency, the Dolphins still failed to fill the biggest holes.  Martin is the heir apparent at left tackle, so right tackle will come as a mid round pick.  What about an end pass rusher, and more importantly, a corner?  With six picks in the first four rounds, Miami has two options.  Find the best talent available and develop, or find a package of picks and select a star.  Oakland, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Arizona are good landing spots to select a premier end, left tackle, or corner.  With minimum talent on the roster, the cash strapped Raiders will invite a low cost trade to hoard draft picks to fill their roster.  A swap of first rounder’s, and either a third or fourth round selection will give the Dolphins the third pick in the draft.
4. New Orleans Saints-The fifteenth pick is a hard spot for the Saints.  With no draft picks to trade up for a premium left tackle or secondary help, they will surely trade down.  Teams like Dallas or San Francisco are trade friendly teams in need of a defensive help.  Both teams will covet free safety, Kenny Vaccaro.
5. St. Louis Rams-This team seems to act like the New England Patriots of old.  They will continue to deal picks and select an arsenal of young talent.  Possessing two first rounder’s, it’s highly unlikely they will stay in their current position.  Asking little in return, they will move up and down as needed to grab the players on their big board.
6. San Francisco 49er’s-With little to no needs and a bevy of picks, this team will trade up for talent.  Dahl is not the answer at free safety.  A top corner like Milliner, Rhodes, or Trufant are also very attractive prospects.  The Niners simply will not have the room to use all their picks and keep them on the roster.  They have the luxury of a pick package that will bring them the player they want, anywhere in the first round.

Naturally any team looks to pull the trigger on a beneficial trade.  The Jets need talent and will trade down for a small package of picks.  The Giants are in win now mode and may move up in the draft.  Green Bay shows limited needs on their roster.  Carolina needs talent to move from a rebuilding roster to a developing one.  Anything is possible on draft day, but the six teams listed have the most to gain, and lose, from a blockbuster on draft day.

Mock Drafts below:

Stew’s 7 Round Mock Draft

Orinda’s 5 Round Mock Draft

Tylers 3 Round Mock Draft

Mock Draft Database

2012 NFL Draft Blog | @Newnfldraft

Thanks for reading. 2013 NFL Draft Trade Opportunities is a post from 2013 NFL Mock Draft | New NFL Draft

By DJ Boyer

Hard to imagine a more bizarre fiasco than the process by which Elvis Dumervil was released by the Broncos. Only thing that may be stranger than the whole situation is the team that suddenly looks to be in the lead for his services, none other than the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens. There has been a jettison from the team with players leaving or being cut due to monetary restrictions but apparently there is still some money in the kitty. The Patriots and Lions also look to be players but Baltimore has the inside track with front seven schemes similar to what he ran in Denver. Also from the” Ummmmmm Really” files..Dumervil apparently phoned his agent to let him know he was “moving in another direction”……ahhhhh yeah I think we all saw that one coming!

Thanks for reading. Dumervil Suitors begin to Emerge is a post from 2013 NFL Mock Draft | New NFL Draft

By DJ Boyer

We are now getting word that Smith and new Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley met “at length” at Smith’s Pro Day. The Philadelphia Eagles has personnel there all week and there is some interest being shown by Oakland and these teams all pick in the #2-#4 range.  One scout I spoke with said it is hard to determine who is really interested and who is posturing in order facilitate a trade after drumming up interest in Geno Smith.  My feelings now tell me Oakland does have interest but that Jacksonville and Philadelphia are merely trying to garner extra picks and possibly move back in the draft order.

Thanks for reading. Who Really wants Geno Smith in the NFL Draft? is a post from 2013 NFL Mock Draft | New NFL Draft

By DJ Boyer

Seattle may have the biggest impact on the first round and they are doing it without a 1^st round selection after giving theirs away to Minnesota in exchange for Percy Harvin. By signing Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett it should ease the pain of losing Chris Clemons after watching him blow out his ACL in the playoff win against the Redskins. Seattle seems intent on looking at the offensive line where aside from Pro Bowlers Max Unger and Russell Okung, they have very little. Seattle may also try to add another linebacker and hopefully see the same impact Bobby Wagner gave them a season ago when the rookie led the team in tackles. With arguably the best starting secondary in football depth in the secondary should be addressed. With such a great corps of starters rumors have already begun that the Seahawks may be the team to bring in a playmaker for the slot/nickel and that could be in the form of The Honey Badger, Tyrann Mathieu.

Thanks for reading. Seahawks Motives in the 2013 NFL Draft is a post from 2013 NFL Mock Draft | New NFL Draft