2013 NFL Mock Draft by Evan | Picks 17-24
17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Keenan Allen, WR, California
The Steelers are likely to be losing Mike Wallace to free agency this year so they need to add another No.1 receiver to pair with Antonio Brown. There is a lot of receivers fighting for the first one to be picked, but Allen is someone who put up good numbers even with poor talent around him so put him with Big Ben and he could be brilliant.
18. Dallas Cowboys – Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Jerry Jones must have been smoking something funny when he gave Doug Free that huge contract so he can start to put that right by drafting Johnson out of Oklahoma. Johnson is someone who benefited when a lot of the junior OT’s went back to school but he had a very good Senior Bowl week to push his stock in the top 20.
19. New York Giants – Alec Ogletree, MLB, Georgia
As a Giants fan I think that linebacker is in fact our biggest need as Chase Blackburn and the whole linebacker group is too slow and can’t cover or stop the run. Ogletree is the opposite of that he is a fast linebacker who is a good all round player who can help take some pressure off the defensive line who struggled last year.
20. TRADE – Arizona Cardinals via Chicago Bears – Mike Glennon, QB, NC State
The Cardinals needed a QB but they added a defensive player with their first pick so instead they trade up to find a franchise QB who can help save the Cardinals from the disaster that are there current QB’s. Glennon is a raw prospect but who has elite size and arm strength which will help persuade the Cardinals to draft him.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Manti Te’o, MLB, Notre Dame
Rey Maulauga is not the answer at MLB because he cannot cover as shown in the wildcard game against the Texans. So they replace him with best cover linebacker in the draft in Te’o. His stock has dropped because of this bizarre catfish story but the Bengals have taken on board players with character issues and turned him into successful players and they do it again here.
22. St Louis Rams – Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina
The Rams need to a build a solid offensive line around Sam Bradford because at the minute he is going to be the next David Carr. They start this process off by drafting a guard who is a fantastic run blocker and pass blocker which can help give the Rams offense a chance to succeed with a better offensive line.
23. Minnesota Vikings- Cordarelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
The Vikings may be the most one dimensional team in the NFL as they rely on Adrian Peterson every game. They need to get a big target for Christian Ponder to partner with Percy Harvin. Patterson may be the best WR out of this class in this future as he has elite size and very good speed to make him a short, intermediate and a deep threat.
24. Indianapolis Colts – Alex Okafor, DE/OLB, Texas
The Colts have a good offense but there defense still needs improvement and especially with star pass rusher Dwight Freeney leaving the Colts this off season. Okafor was one of the bright spots in a poor Texas season and would probably go higher if this DE class wasn’t so deep and will fit right into the colts defense.