2013 NFL Mock Draft: Thanksgiving Break Edition
By Jason McIntyre
1. Jacksonville – Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah. Been in our top five all year, and with no QB distinguishing himself, Jags push for a trade or shore up the league’s 4th worst run D with 6-foot-4, 325-pound monster.
2. Kansas City – Matt Barkley, QB, USC. Won’t be popular, but the Chiefs are in dire need of a QB. USC QBs have largely flopped in the pros, and Barkley didn’t have a great senior year. Trade down to take him? I think Barkley will shine at the combine and impress in interviews and go in the Top 10.
3. Cleveland – Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M. Browns will have a new coach, so this pick could go to anything. The defense is solid, but the offense can’t move the ball.
4. Oakland – Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU. Like him more in the 3-4, but too much of a physical monster to pass up for Oakland, which refuses to play defense.
5. Carolina – Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia. Panthers going LB two years in a row? Thing is, I’m not sure Jones falls this far. He has some Von Miller in him and could go first. Kiper/McShay are salivating.
16. Miami – Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama. Good run defense could use help in the secondary. Right now, Milliner looks like the best corner in the draft.
17. Detroit – CJ Mosley, LB, Alabama. Having an outstanding junior year for the Tide: 55 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions. Or do the Lions go OL?
18. Seattle – Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA. We talked about him earlier this week. Carroll knows him from his USC days. Barr, a tremendous athlete, figures to be a combine beast. Suddenly, this is a strong draft for linebackers.
19. New Orleans – Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State. Worst secondary in the NFL has to go corner or safety here.
20. Tampa Bay – Tavon Austin, WR/KR, West Virginia. He’s a smurf (5-9, 175), but a playmaker. He’s nearly the same size as Randall Cobb, the budding star in Green Bay.