2013 NFL Mock Draft | 4 Rounds
by Daniel Epstein
04/21/13
1. KC Luke Joeckel, LT Texas A&M (LT)
In modern football there only three types of players that get drafted first overall: the guys who throw the football, the guys who hit the guy who throws the football, and the guys who protect he guy who throws the football. Joeckel is the consensus best player in the draft that can do any of those things. The Chiefs have been planning their offseason around drafting him. They acquired Alex Smith who they believe to be their long term quarterback. They franchised incumbent left tackle Branden Albert but neglected to give him a long term deal. Unless something drastic happens and Eric Fisher surpasses him in the final weeks before the draft this will be the pick.
2. Jac Dion Jordan, DE/OLB Oregon (DE/34OLB)
A former receiver and tight end, the long and lean Jason Taylor-esque Jordan is one of the most impressive pure athletes in the draft. This was confirmed by his film and his pre-draft workouts. It is rare to find an exceptional pass rusher who is also very good in coverage. The Jaguars have kept their plans for this pick remarkably close to the vest. Some believe they could consider a defensive tackle like Sharrif Floyd or even quarterback Geno Smith. Ultimately they had fewer sacks than any team in the NFL last season so selecting the best pass rusher in the draft makes sense.
3. Oak Sharrif Floyd, DE/DT Florida (DT/34DE)
In every draft class there will inevitably be a defensive tackle that had a few sacks in college and will be called the next Warren Sapp (though none have been). This year it’s Sharrif Floyd, but the difference is it is actually Warren Sapp who has made the comparison between Floyd and himself. He is a prototypical three-technique with rare pass rushing potential from the interior. This is a perfect fit for the Raiders because arguably no team has a greater need for a defensive tackle than them, especially one that can pressure the quarterback. In fact fellow defensive tackle Star Lotulelei might be the next option if Floyd is off the board.
4. Phi Geno Smith, QB West Virginia (QB)
Smith is the consensus best quarterback in the draft. That may not be saying much for this draft class but he is an accurate, athletic quarterback who throws first and can run if necessary. While he does not have devastating flaws like the other passers in this class he does have legitimate questions. Can he take snaps from under center in a pro-style offense? How much of his production was due to excellent run-after-catch receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey? The Eagles are the most likely team to find out. New coaches usually bring in new quarterbacks and the offseason has yet to bear one for Chip Kelly, whose offense seems to fit Smith well. If they decide not to take a quarterback Kelly would love to add his college star Dion Jordan or possibly a blind side protector like Eric Fisher.
5. Det Ezekiel Ansah, DE Brigham Young (DE/34DE)
Ansah is relatively new to football and didn’t start until his senior year. In spite of this he is a legitimate top five pick due to his elite athleticism and outstanding motor. He may have the highest upside of any player in the draft. The Lions had three major needs going into this offseason: offensive line, defensive end, and secondary. While Eric Fisher and Dee Milliner are certainly credible options Ansah is the best bet for a team with a track record of spending high picks on the defensive line.