2013 NFL Mock Draft Picks 21-32 by DJ Boyer
The last section of the first round in the 2013 NFL Mock Draft
21. Cin D. J. Fluker, RT Alabama (RT)
Fluker was the top offensive lineman in the country coming out of high school and anchored the right side of a championship caliber offensive line at Alabama. At 6’6”, 340lb. he never developed the quick feet needed to protect the blindside; this was also evident in combine position drills. But he is a mauling, road grader and superior run blocker which makes him the best pure right tackle in the draft. The Bengals will be in the market for just such a player if they cannot retain free agent Andre Smith. If they do they could turn their attention to linebackers Alec Ogletree and Arthur Jones or running back Eddie Lacy.
22. StL (Was) Arthur Brown, MLB/OLB Kansas State (OLB/34ILB)
Brown was another top recruit in high school who originally signed with Miami before transferring to Kansas State. While his college career did not go according to plan he still has the physical skills that NFL teams covet. He is a tackling machine with all the speed you could want from a linebacker. On tape he shows up on nearly every play. He could reasonably play any linebacker position in a 4-3. With their second pick in the first round the Rams could address one more of their needs at wide receiver (Keenan Allen if they cannot get Tavon Austin with the sixteenth pick), linebacker, safety (Matt Elam), or running back (Eddie Lacy).
23. Min Keenan Allen, WR California (WR)
Allen is a physical wide receiver who can use his strength to make difficult catches. He can out-jump and out-muscle smaller defensive backs to make a contested catch and becomes difficult to tackle thereafter. Similar to Hakeem Nicks, he will not blow by defenses with straight line speed but he has more than talent in other areas to become a consistent 1,000 yard receiver. The Vikings added a first round pick by trading Percy Harvin so they are likely to target a pass catcher with one of their nearly back-to-back picks. They might also like a defensive tackle like Sylvester Williams or Jonathan Hankins, a linebacker like Arthur Brown, or cornerback Desmond Trufant.
24. Ind DeAndre Hopkins, WR Clemson (WR)
Hopkins had a breakout junior year for Clemson, surpassing 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns. Athletically the total is greater than the sum of the parts. He has good speed, size, quickness, and hands without being great at anything. He is a hard worker and should prove to a be a solid, productive NFL starter. The Colts were aggressive in free agency to add players for their new 3-4 defense but don’t rule out a defensive lineman like Jonathan Hankins or Jesse Williams. Cornerback Desmond Trufant would be a solid pick as well.
25. Min (Sea) Sylvester Williams DE/DT North Carolina (DT/34DE)
Williams transferred to North Carolina from the junior college ranks and quickly became a focal point of the defense. He is surprisingly quick for a 6’3”, 310 lb. athlete and has great burst at the snap. He has the versatility to play nose or three-technique in a 4-3 defense. The Vikings have been searching for a second tackle to go along with Kevin Williams since Pa Williams retired. Sylvester would resurrect “The Williams Wall”. As mentioned previously, linebacker and cornerback are alternative options.
26. GB Damontre Moore, DE/OLB Texas A&M (DE/34OLB)
Up until the combine Moore looked like he could go as high as number two overall. His game tape shows a lithe, explosive, and powerful athlete with the potential to be an elite pass rusher. He flashed a variety of pass rush moves and even showed good awareness in coverage. Unfortunately he showed none of these attributes at the combine. He ran the forty in just under 4.9 seconds, posted an anemic 12 reps at the bench press, and reportedly bombed the interviews. That will drop him to the bottom of the first round. As they have demonstrated in the past with Aaron Rodgers, Brian Bulaga, and others, the Packers are quick to catch a falling star in the draft. They would be happy to roll the dice with a boom-or-bust like Moore to pair with Clay Matthews Jr. Other potential matches could be tight end Tyler Eifert, safety Matt Elam, and running back Eddie Lacy.
27. Hou Jonathan Hankins, DT Ohio State (DT/34NT)
This draft is absolutely stacked with defensive lineman and Hankins is the best true nose tackle in the class. He displays excellent power and ability to anchor the line against the run. He moves his feet very well for a 320 lb. man. This is a case of “best player available” for the Texans but Hankins also fills a need in the middle of their line. They might have a lot of options here with needs for a receiver like DeAndre Hopkins or Justin Hunter, inside linebacker like Kevin Minter, and right tackle like D. J. Fluker or Menelik Watson.
28. Den Desmond Trufant, CB Washington (CB) (DE/34OLB)
Trufant will follow his two brothers Marcus and Isaiah into the NFL. He set himself apart from the pack of corners with an incredible combine performance. He is a bit of a project and needs to hone his coverage skills but he has the upside to be a top cover corner. The end of the first round is the bottom of Trufant’s draft range and he could easily go as high as the top fifteen. After seeing their secondary torched in the playoffs (especially future hall of Famer Champ Bailey) the Broncos will want to add youth and depth. Defensive ends Datone Jones and Tank Carradine would help offset the inexplicable loss of Elvis Dumervil. Running back Eddie Lacy and one of the many defensive tackles available will also be options for the Broncos.
29. NE Jesse Williams, DE/NT Alabama (DT/34NT)
The Australian-born Williams anchored the defensive line for a championship program and could feasibly by one of as many as five first round picks from Alabama. He carries his 320 lb. frame extremely well, running a 4.9 forty with 30 reps on the bench press. He has displayed versatility to play all over the line which Patriots coach Bill Belicheck covets. They also have a pronounced need for pass catchers and might prefer DeAndre Hopkins or Justin Hunter.
30. Atl Kawann Short, DT Purdue (DT/34DE)
Short is a solid all-around defensive tackle. His combination of long arms and pure strength make him a challenge for any offensive line. His game film shows he can take on double teams and still make plays. Despite winning thirteen regular season games the Falcons need to add talent in the front seven, such as Datone Jones, Tank Carradine, or Kevin Minter. They would also be thrilled if cornerback Desmond Trufant fell this far and could even reach for Jonathan Banks or Jamar Taylor to replace Brent Grimes.
31. SF Datone Jones, DE/DT California-Los Angeles (DE/34DE)
What was once deemed a “tweener” is now considered versatile. Many NFL defensive coordinators like to a have a player that can play left end on running downs and move inside in passing situations. Jones appears to be a great fit for this role because he made plays from both positions in college. He also could fit well as a pass rushing 3-4 defensive end similar to Justin Smith. That makes him convenient for the 49ers because their defense suffered when the actual Justin Smith was injured. The 49ers have seven picks in the first four rounds so they will surely improve their talented roster. Safties Matt Elam and Jonathan Cyprien, corners Jonathan Banks and Jamar Taylor, or nose tackles Jonathan Hankins and Jesse Williams could all be targets with the 31st and 34th picks.
32. Bal Justin Hunter, WR Tennessee (WR)
The appeal of Hunter is obvious when you combine very good production at Tennessee, 6’4” height, and sub-4.4 speed in the forty. His upside is clearly very high with his physical skills but he is very raw and will probably need at least a year or two of NFL coaching to hopefully reach his potential. The Ravens need a receiver to replace Anquan Boldin. They also need to replace two future Hall of Famers on defense so they could look at linebackers Kevin Minter and Manti Te’o as well as safeties Matt Elam and Jonathan Cyprien.