Daniels’s pick for the 2013 NFL Mock Draft in round 2
1. (33) Jac Menelik Watson, LT Florida State (LT/RT)
Watson is a great athlete and former basketball player who is still learning the game. The Jaguars can take the best player available because they need to rebuild from scratch.
2. (34) SF (KC) Matt Elam, SS Florida (FS/SS)
Elam made a ton of big plays in college in spite of his 5’10” height. He is a good fit for the 49ers who need to replace Dashon Goldson.
3. (35) Phi Kyle Long, OG Oregon (OG/LT/RT)
Chip Kelly needs to upgrade the offensive line and he could look to do so with his former college player. Long is a former baseball player whose father, Howie, is in the Hall of Fame and brother, Chris is a star for the Rams.
4. (36) Det Terron Armstead, LT Arkansas-Pine Bluff (LT)
Armstead showed the athleticism to protect the blindside when he opened eyes with a 4.71 forty at the combine. This would allow the Lions to move Riley Reiff to right tackle or guard.
5. (37) Cin (Oak) Johnathan Cyprien, FS/SS Florida International (FS/SS)
Cyprien was a big playmaker against lower competition and then turned heads at the Senior Bowl. The Bengals are slow in their back seven. That’s never good.
6. (38) Ari E. J. Manuel, QB Florida State (QB)
Manuel has not been a consistent player in college but he has the dual threat ability that has become all the rage in the NFL. New coaches mean new quarterbacks and Bruce Arians can’t really believe Carson Palmer is the long term answer.
7. Cleveland Browns select Josh Gordon, WR Baylor in Supplemental Draft
8. (39) NYJ Cornellius Carradine, DE Florida State (DE/34OLB)
Carradine is recovering from a torn ACL but he still has a very good chance to go in the first round. He isn’t really a good fit for a 3-4 defense but he is clearly the best pass rusher available and the Jets like bigger players in their front seven.
9. (40) Ten Tyler Eifert, TE Notre Dame (TE)
Eifert is the consensus top tight end in the draft and was the best offensive player on the championship runner-up Notre Dame team. The Titans replaced Jared Cook with Delanie Walker but Eifert is a bigger, more athletic player with a different type of skill set.
10. (41) Buf Matt Barkley, QB Southern California (QB)
In August Barkley looked like a lock for the top overall pick but had a disastrous senior season. He is an accurate pocket passer on short and intermediate throws back lacks arm strength. The Bills signed Kevin Kolb but not to a long term deal so new coach Doug Marrone will look for someone in the draft to develop.
11. (42) Mia Jonathan Banks, CB Mississippi State (CB)
Banks won the Thorpe award as the nation’s top defensive back but ran very poorly at the combine. He would still be a good fit for a Dolphin defense that likes bigger corners.
12. (43) TB Jamar Taylor, CB Boise State (CB)
Taylor is a solid corner from a good college program that can play man or zone coverage and tackle well. The Buccaneers absolutely have to draft a corner early if they don’t trade for Darrelle Revis.
13. (44) Car David Amerson, CB North Carolina State (CB/FS)
Amerson is a big corner who can run and has a nose for the football. He could also move inside to safety. The Panthers have needs at both positions.
14. New Orleans forfeits pick
15. (45) SD Kevin Minter, MLB Louisiana State (MLB/34ILB)
Minter is a solid run stuffing linebacker but his lack of straight line speed raises questions as to whether or not he can play on third down. The Chargers just cut Takeo Spikes so they could want another inside linebacker.
16. (46) StL Eddie Lacy, RB Alabama (RB)
Lacy is a physical runner who can gain yards after contact. This is very low for the first running back to be taken but the position is being valued increasingly less. Still, Lacy would be a solid replacement for Stephen Jackson in the Rams’ backfield.
17. (47) Dal Eric Reid, FS Louisiana State (FS/SS)
Reid is a big hitter with good size and straight line speed. The Cowboys need to find two new starting safeties so they would do well to draft one early.
18. (48) Pit Alex Okafor, DE Texas (DE/34OLB)
Okafor is a good pass rusher and run defender but his police record will drop him in the draft. The Steelers suddenly looked very old in the front seven and need to infuse youth.
19. (49) NYG Jordan Poyer, CB Oregon State (CB)
Poyer is a physical corner that to tackle. He would thrive in the Giants zone defense. They can use the help after a poor season from Corey Webster.
20. (50) Chi Barrett Jones, C/OG/LT/RT Alabama (C/OG/LT/RT)
Jones has rare versatility and could conceivably play any of the five positions on the offensive line. That would be valuable to a team like the Bears that needs to completely rebuild its blocking up front.
21. (51) Was Darius Slay, CB Mississippi State (CB)
Slay has a great combination of size and speed for the position. This is the Redskins’ first pick in the draft and they almost certainly will look for help for their porous secondary.
22. (52) Min Manti Te’o, MLB Notre Dame (MLB/34ILB)
Te’o was an absolute beast in college and won a ton of prestigious individual honors (as well as being the runner-up for the Heisman). However, poor offseason workouts have dropped him even more than his well-documented imaginary girlfriend. If the Vikings fail to acquire a linebacker in the first round they have to target one here.
23. (53) Cin Giovani Bernard, RB North Carolina (RB)
Bernard is a speedster with great quickness and home run speed. Cincinnati has been looking for a consistent running game since the days of Corey Dillon.
24. (54) Mia (Ind) Zach Ertz, TE Stanford (TE)
Ertz is the next in line from a burgeoning tight end factory at Stanford. He has good hands and size but may not have the speed to stretch the field. Still, the Dolphins would be thrilled if he fell this far because Dustin Keller is not signed long term.
25. (55) GB Terrance Williams, WR Baylor (WR)
Williams was a big playmaker in college despite not possessing ideal size or speed. He just finds ways to get open in Greg Jennings type of style. In fact he would be the Packers’ replacement for Jennings in this scenario.
26. (56) Sea Justin Pugh, LT Syracuse (OG)
Pugh was a smaller, agile left tackle at Syracuse but will surely move inside to guard in the NFL due to extremely short arms. Barring trades the Seahawks are the final team to make their first pick in the draft. Coach Pete Carroll craves speed at all positions, including guard.
27. (57) Hou Quinton Patton, WR Louisiana Tech (WR)
Patton is similar to Victor Cruz in stature, quickness, and the ability to run after the catch. The Texans have been looking for a complimentary receiver for Andre Johnson ever since they drafted him a decade ago.
28. (58) Den John Jenkins, NT Georgia (DT/34NT)
Good luck to any running back who dares challenge the 6’4”, 350 lb. Jenkins. The Broncos need to add quantity and quality at defensive tackle and coach John Fox likes big linemen.
29. (59) NE Logan Ryan, CB Rutgers (CB)
Ryan is a good tackling cornerback that would fit well in a zone defense. The Patriots have a history of drafting players from Rutgers including fellow defensive back Devin McCourty.
30. (60) Atl Khaseem Greene, OLB/SS Rutgers (OLB/34ILB)
Greene played safety as a freshman and sophomore, then moved to linebacker and was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior. The Falcons need a speedy three-down linebacker.
31. (61) SF Robert Alford, CB Southeast Louisiana (CB)
Alford isn’t a big cornerback but he has the speed and coverage skills to hang with the fastest receivers, especially in the slot. Joe Flacco illustrated in the Super Bowl why the 49ers need to upgrade their secondary.
32. (62) Bal Sio Moore, OLB Connecticut (OLB/34ILB/34OLB)
Moore is a speedy linebacker that can cover and tackle. He has been a rising player leading up to the draft. The Ravens need to replace two inside linebackers with Ray Lewis retiring and Dannell Ellerbe signing elsewhere.