Are you ready for the NFL Draft?

33. Houston Texans - Blake Bortles, 6’5”, 232lbs, QB, Central Florida, Jr.

The Houston Texans will get their QB of the future.  I don’t expect it to be with the 1st overall pick, but I could definitely see Bill O’Brien trading back into Round One to get the QB he covets.  I think that guy is Blake Bortles.  Bortles played in George O’Leary’s pro-style offense at Central Florida.  O’Brien once coached for O’Leary, so the connection is there.  Bortles has the prototypical size for a QB, which seems to be a natural fit for O’Brien’s offense.  Bortles sees the field well, goes through his progressions and can push the ball down the field.  He has good pocket presence, feeling the rush and stepping up or sidestepping defenders to make a play.  Bortles is often compared to two-time Super Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger because he’s so strong in the pocket and is difficult to bring down.  I have Bortles coming off the board at No. 33, but I expect Houston to use this pick to trade up to get him toward the end of the 1st Round.  2013 Season:  259-382 3581 pass yds 67.8% 25 TD 9 Int.; 2012 Season:  251-399 3059 pass yds 62.9% 25 TD 7 Int.; 2011 Season:  75-110 958 pass yds 68.2% 6 TD 3 Int.

34. Washington Redskins – Chris Borland, 5’11”, 248lbs, ILB, Wisconsin

The Skins use their first pick to improve their defense and secure an immediate starter.  Skins fans were spoiled when they had London Fletcher patrolling the middle of their defense for years.  I think Borland can be that guy in Washington for the next decade.  There may not be a more instinctive linebacker in this year’s draft than Chris Borland.  Had he been a few inches taller, Borland would have been talked about as a top 15 pick.  I compare Borland to Carolina’s Luke Kuechly in that if you watched # 44 for Wisconsin, he’ll take you to the ball.  He has incredible instincts and diagnoses plays very quickly.  While he does not have great top-end speed, he trusts his eyes and flies to the ball.  Borland has the ball skills to drop into coverage and can rush the passer off the edge when needed.  Borland covers a lot of ground because of his anticipation and is a textbook tackler in the open field, driving through the ball carrier as he wraps up.  When you look at Borland, he doesn’t look like a top NFL prospect.  However, the guy just makes plays.  In his career, he has 15 forced fumbles, good for second-most in NCAA history, 50 tackles for loss, 17.0 sacks an 18 pass breakups.  I believe he’ll make an impact at the next level.  2013 Season:  112 Tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4.0 Sacks, 2 PBU; 2012 Season:  104 Tackles, 10.0 TFL, 4.5 Sacks, 6 PBU; 2011 Season:  143 Tackles, 19.0 TFL, 2.5 Sacks, 7 PBU, 2 Int.; 2010 Season:  2 games, 7 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 Sacks; 2009 Season:  54 Tackles, 10.5 TFL, 5.0 Sacks, 3 PBU, 1 Int.

35. Cleveland Browns – Stephon Tuitt, 6’6”, 304lbs, DE, Notre Dame, Jr.

I originally had the Browns taking Bradley Roby here, but I think the character concerns will continue to drive him down draft boards.  Instead, Cleveland would be ecstatic for a five-technique like Stephon Tuitt to fall in their laps.  Tuitt was slowed by injuries, but there’s no questioning the athleticism he brings to the table.  Just watch the Michigan game, where QB Devin Gardner was trying to get rid of the ball to avoid a safety and Tuitt made a diving Int. in the end zone for a TD.  Tuitt gets a good push off the ball, uses his hands well to create separation and has the short-area burst needed to get to the QB.  Tuitt can put pressure on the QB, which should take some pressure off Paul Kruger, Karlos Dansby, Barkevious Mingo and the rest of the linebackers .  I’d expect Tuitt to start early.  2013 Season:  49 Tackles, 9.0 TFL 7.5 Sacks; 2012 Season:  47 Tackles 13.0 TFL 12.0 Sacks; 2011 Season:  30 Tackles, 3.0 TFL 2.0 Sacks.

36. Oakland Raiders – Allen Robinson, 6’3”, 220lbs, WR, Penn State, Jr.

Oakland must upgrade their WR corps as Denarius Moore and Rod Streater proved that while they were the team’s top two WR’s a season ago, neither struck fear into defenses.  Robinson is a physical receiver with excellent ball skills and can make plays after the catch. Robinson uses his strength off the line to fight through the jam.  He attacks the ball in the air, has a large catch radius and is able to high-point a pass in a crowd.  Robinson is tough and won’t shy away from contact, especially when he’s going over the middle.  However, he may be at his best after the catch, where he is able to use his frame and his strength to shake off defenders and get upfield.  While he’s big, physical and athletic, Robinson is not a burner, having run a 4.6 40 time at the Combine.  He also struggles to create separation as he fails to sink his hips and really drive out of cuts.  I would compare Robinson to Anquan Boldin, a big-bodied receiver known for his physical play, large catch radius and ability to make plays down the field.  Robinson, who has been compared to the Texans’ Andre Johnson, should become a favorite target of Matt Schaub’s very early.  2013 Season:  All-American, 1st Team All-Big 10, 97 rec. 1432 yds 14.8 avg 6 TD; 2012 Season:  1st Team All-Big 10, Big 10 WR of the Year, 77 rec. 1013 yds 13.2 avg 11 TD; 2011 Season:  3 rec. 29 yds 9.7 avg

37. Atlanta Falcons – Demarcus Lawrence, 6’3”, 251lbs, OLB, Boise State, Jr.

The Falcons have lacked a pure pass rusher off the edge since losing John Abraham to Arizona prior to the start of last season.  The result was a disappointing 32 sacks, with only Osi Umeniyora (7.0 sacks) recording more than 6.0 sacks on the year.  Lawrence was extremely productive at Boise State, racking up 33 tackles for loss and 20 sacks in two seasons for the Broncos.  He has an exceptional burst off the ball, can bend and run the arc off the edge to the QB.  He’s also strong at the point of attack and can work inside.  Lawrence registered 33 tackles for loss and 20 sacks in just two seasons for the Broncos.  Lawrence’s versatility makes him a shoe-in as a top 60 pick.  2013 Season:  67 Tackles, 19.5 TFL, 10.5 Sacks; 2012 Season:  48 Tackles, 13.5 TFL, 9.5 Sacks; 2011 Season:  JUCO; 2010 Season:  redshirted.

38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gabe Jackson, 6’3”, 336lbs, OG, Mississippi State

Tampa made it clear they wanted to improve a line that gave up 47 sacks a season ago when they signed LT Anthony Collins and C Evan Dietrich-Smith in free agency.  I think they continue to upgrade the interior of the line by selecting Jackson, a powerful four-year starter who has a chance to start right away.  Jackson is technically sound, anchoring well in pass protection and gets a tremendous push in the ground game.  Jackson could be this year’s Larry Warford, a rookie making an immediate impact along the interior of the line.

39. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jimmy Garoppolo, 6’2”, 226lbs, QB, Eastern Illinois

The Jaguars pass on a QB in Round One, but they land one of the more underrated prospects at the start of Day Two.  Garoppolo was the Walter Payton Award winner given to the top FCS player in 2013 after completing 66% of his passes, throwing for over 5000 yards and 53 TD with just 9 Int.  Garoppolo has one of the quickest releases I’ve seen in quite some time.  There isn’t a windup in his delivery, but rather a compact wrist snap to get the ball out before defenses can anticipate the throw.  He has the arm strength to push the ball down the field, but also has the touch to place the ball over the LB and in front of the safety.  Garoppolo works well in the pocket, but can throw on the run, getting his shoulders square to his target and getting his hips around to deliver an accurate ball.  Landing Garoppolo and Sammy Watkins in this year’s draft would go a long way toward making the Jags relevant again.  2013 Season:  375-568 66.0% 5050 yds 53 TD 9 Int.; 2012 Season:  331-540 61.3% 3823 yds 31 TD 15 Int.; 2011 Season:  217-349 62.2% 2644 yds 20 TD 14 Int.; 2010 Season:  124-211 58.8% 1639 yds 14 TD 13 Int.

40. Minnesota Vikings – Teddy Bridgewater, 6’2”, 214lbs, QB, Louisville, Jr.

Minnesota likely won’t go with a QB at No. 8, but I could see the Vikes trading up to the end of Round 1 or even ahead of the Jags in the 2nd to take Bridgewater, who appears to be their guy after spending three days with the team prior to the draft.  Bridgewater does an excellent job seeing the whole field and does a great job reading defenses and finding the open man.  He’s mechanically sound, showing good balance, footwork and rhythm in the pocket.  Bridgewater is deadly accurate with a 68.4% career completion percentage, anticipates throws well, getting the ball out before the WR is out of his break and will throw the receiver open.  He has tremendous poise in the pocket, hanging in there to deliver a throw in the face of pressure and will take a big hit.  He’s a cerebral QB with a high football IQ.  There are concerns about his durability due to his lanky frame.  He also has smaller hands making ball handling difficult, which is likely one of the reasons why his play is better when wearing gloves.  Finally, while he’s accurate, he doesn’t have the arm strength to get the ball down the field, often having his passes hang up which will make it susceptible to an interception at the next level.  That’s why he may drop to the second round, which is just fine with Minnesota.  2013 Season:  303-427 71.0% 3970 yds 31 TD 4 Int.; 2012 Season:  287-419 68.5% 3718 yds 27 TD 8 Int.; 2011 Season:  191-296 64.5% 2129 yds 14 TD 12 Int.

41. Buffalo Bills – Ja’Wuan James, 6’6”, 311lbs, OT, Tennessee

The Bills must keep QB E.J. Manuel healthy.  Manuel sprained is lateral cruciate ligament in his knee, forcing him to miss five weeks of the season.  Buffalo’s line gave up 48 sacks a season ago, tied for the 4th highest in the league.  Cordy Glenn will be a starter on one side, but the Bills need to do better than Erik Pears and Chris Hairston at RT.  James was a four-year starter for the Vols.  He has excellent size and length, is light on his feet and displays tremendous power to anchor and push the pile. 

42. Tennessee Titans – Tre Mason, 5’9”, 207lbs, RB, Auburn, Jr.

The CJ2K era is officially over in Tennessee as Chris Johnson signed with the Jets this offseason.  Shonn Greene and Jackie Battle will have to do what they can to fill the void.  Adding another RB to challenge the two for playing time makes a lot of sense.  Mason had a phenomenal season leading Auburn to the National Title game.  The Heisman Finalist and SEC Offensive Player of the Year runs with both power and speed.  Mason is a punishing runner between the tackles, often wearing down defenses with his physical play.  He runs with a low pad level, will spin off and run over defenders.  Mason has the vision to see cutback lanes, has good change of direction skills and has the speed to get into the secondary in a hurry.  He set Auburn’s single-season record for all-purpose yards last season with 2,374 yards.  If Mason can hang onto the football (8 fumbles in two years), he should be the Week 1 starter for the Titans.  2013 Season:  317 car. 1816 yds 5.7 avg 23 TD, 12 rec. 163 yds 1 TD; 2012 Season:  171 car. 1002 yds 5.9 avg 8 TD, 7 rec. 86 yd; 2011 Season:  28 car. 161 yds 5.8 avg 1 TD.

43. New York Giants – Jace Amaro, 6’5”, 265lbs, TE, Texas Tech, Jr.

Let’s face it, Eli Manning needs weapons, not only at WR but also at TE.  The Giants haven’t had a difference maker at the position since the days of Jeremy Shockey.  Brandon Myers is gone, meaning New York really has a need at the position.  Jace Amaro was a nightmare for defenses to cover him.  He lined up all over the field, from the slot to split wide, in addition to lining up as a traditional TE.  While Amaro doesn’t have blazing speed, he’s an excellent route runner with a knack for getting open. Amaro will lean to get the LB inside, then cut outside to create separation, putting the LB on his back hip.  He has excellent hands and plucks the ball out of the air away from his body.  Amaro has the body control to adjust well to the ball in the air.  Once the ball is in his hands, Amaro is a load to bring down, often dragging defenders for extra yards.  2013 Season:  106 rec. 1352 yds 12.8 avg 7 TD; 2012 Season:  25 rec. 409 yds 16.4 avg 4 TD; 2011 Season:  7 rec. 57 yds 8.1 avg 2 TD.

44. St. Louis Rams –Jimmie Ward, 5’11”, 193lbs, SS, Northern Illinois

The Rams will definitely need help at the safety position in Gregg Williams’ defense.  There were few players more active than Ward over the last three years.  In his Husky career, Ward recorded 320 tackles, broke up 26 passes and registered 11 interceptions.  He’s instinctive, a nose for the ball and has excellent range.  2013 Season:  95 Tackles, 10 PBU, 7 Int.; 2012 Season:  104 Tackles, 11 PBU, 5 Int.; 2011 Season:  100 Tackles, 4 PBU, 1 Int.; 2010 Season:  21 Tackles, 1 PBU.

45. Detroit Lions –Cody Latimer, 6’3”, 215lbs, WR, Indiana, Jr.

Detroit has Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate slated at WR, but there is little depth behind them.  Many have Latimer rated as a 1st Round pick, but I would caution everyone that Latimer could just as easily be the next A.J. Jenkins to come out of the Big 10.  There is no question Latimer is a tremendous athlete.  He can separate from defenders and has excellent size.  Latimer is thick and strong (he bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times at the Combine), allowing him to fight through press coverage at the line.  He also has excellent ball skills to position his body to allow him to shield the CB away from the ball.  The former basketball prospect has very strong hands and is very physical.  To me, Latimer is not a good value in the 1st Round, but could be a steal in Round 2.  Can you imagine a WR corps that has Megatron and Latimer on the outside, with Tate manning the underneath route from the slot?  2013 Season:  72 rec. 1096 yds 15.2 avg 9 TD; 2012 Season:  51 rec. 805 yds 15.8 avg 6 TD; 2011 Season:  12 rec. 141 yds 11.8 avg 2 TD.

46. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jeremiah Attaochu, 6’3”, 253lbs, OLB, Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh drafted Jarvis Jones in the 1st Round a year ago to bolster their pass rush.  However, Jones struggled to produce and the Steelers finished the season tied for 25th in the league with just 34 sacks.  TO make matters worse, veteran OLB Lamarr Woodley left via free agency.  Jason Worilds registered 8.0 sacks, but he’s going to need some help.  Attaochu is a high-energy player with a relentless motor off the edge.  He’s played both a 3-4 OLB and a 4-3 DE, but is at his best in space rushing the passer.  Attaochu is Georgia Tech’s career leader in sacks with 31.5 and has the speed and flexibility to bend off the edge, but also the power to take an inside move to the QB.  He’s instinctive, reads the play and uses his hands to get off blocks before exploding to the ball career.  2013 Season:  45 Tackles, 16.0 TFL 12.5 Sacks 2 PBU; 2012 Season:  69 Tackles, 12.0 TFL, 10.0 Sacks 1 PBU; 2011 Season:  59 Tackles, 11.5 TFL, 6.0 Sacks, 2 PBU, 1 Int.; 2010 Season:  23 Tackles 4.0 TFL 3 Sacks.

47. Dallas Cowboys – Timmy Jernigan, 6’2”, 299lbs, NT, Florida State

The Cowboys need difference makers up front defensively in Rod Marinelli’s system to be successful.  Henry Melton was signed this offseason, but he’s going to need some help and Jernigan looks like a perfect fit.  When you look at Jernigan, he doesn’t have ideal size, has a soft, round midsection and short arms.  However, there’s no question strength against the run is his game.  He is stout at the point of attack to clog holes at the line of scrimmage and stuff the run.  He plays with good leverage and uses his hands well to get off blocks.  2013 Season:  63 Tackles, 11 TFL, 4.5 Sacks; 2012 Season:  45 Tackles, 8.0 TFL, 1.5 Sacks; 2011 Season:  30 Tackles, 6.0 TFL, 2.5 Sacks.

48. Baltimore Ravens – Cyrus Kouandjio, 6’7”, 322lbs, OT, Alabama, Jr.

Baltimore could use an upgrade at RT and while Kouandjio struggled mightily with speed, especially against Oklahoma’s Eric Striker in the Sugar Bowl, he's an ideal fit on the right side.  Entering the 2013 season, Kouandjio was looked at as one of the top two or three OT’s in this year’s draft.  However, Kouandjio struggled throughout his junior season with speed off the edge.  The tape showed very stiff hips, staying too high at times, making it difficult to move laterally to pick up the outside rush.  However, while Kouandjio is raw, he already shows an ability to clear the way in the running game.  He’s a punishing blocker with a powerful punch at the point of attack.  Kouandjio extends his long arms and keeps his leg drive to sustain blocks to the whistle.

49. New York Jets – Troy Niklas, 6’7”, 270lbs, TE, Notre Dame, Jr.

The Jets need another TE to give Michael Vick another target to throw to and Niklas is one of the fast risers in this draft because of his potential.  Niklas is a big bodied TE that is known for his blocking.  He gets out quickly to seal the edge and can win 1-on-1 battles with DE’s and LB’s.  He plays with good leverage and leg drive to sustain his blocks.  What has NFL executives excited is how far he’s come as a receiver.  He is a weapon up the seam and on underneath routes and is difficult to bring down after the catch.  He has surprisingly soft hands for a guy his size and will attack the ball.  Keep in mind Niklas has just two years at the TE position under his belt after moving over from OLB for his sophomore year.  It’s clear Niklas is not just a blocking TE and his best days are ahead of him.  2013 Season:  32 Rec. 498 yds 15.6 avg 5 TD; 2012 Season:  5 rec. 75 yds 15.0 avg 1 TD; 2011 Season:  12 Games at OLB.

50. Miami Dolphins – Donte Moncrief, 6’2”, 221lbs, WR, Ole Miss, Jr.

Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline proved to be a solid duo for QB Ryan Tannehill.  However, Tannehill is going to need more weapons down the field.  Moncrief has deceptive speed (4.4 40 time at the Combine) and is quick out of his breaks.  He tracks the ball well and makes adjustments while the ball is in the air.  Moncrief attacks the ball in the air and will pull away from defenders after the catch.  Moncrief is another deep threat for Tannehill, who should be looking to push the ball down the field more in Bill Lazor’s offense.  2013 Season:  59 rec. 938 yds 15.9 avg 6 TD; 2012 Season:  66 rec. 979 yds 14.8 avg 10 TD; 2011 Season:  31 rec. 454 yds 14.6 avg 4 TD.

51. Chicago Bears – Keith McGill, 6’3”, 211lbs, CB, Utah

Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings have been an impact duo at CB, but both will be over the age of 30 when the 2014 season starts.  Like Tillman, McGill is over six-feet tall and has long arms that allow him to make a play on the ball.  McGill also sports a 39-inch vertical leap, so you can expect he’ll cover considerable amount of ground.  Why has McGill flown under the radar?  He was a JUCO transfer to Utah for the 2011 season, where he played just 5 games before a shoulder injury cost him the rest of the season and the entire 2012 season.  However, the surgically-repaired shoulder was cleared at the Combine, so I would expect McGill to continue to build upon his senior season, where he broke up 12 passes for the Utes.  2013 Season:  37 Tackles, 12 PBU, 1 Int. 19 yds TD; 2012 Season:  redshirted; 2011 Season:  5 games, 12 tackles, 1 PBU; 2009-10 Seasons:  JUCO.

52.Arizona Cardinals – Deone Bucannon, 6’1”, 211lbs, SS, Washington State

The Cardinals hit a home run when they drafted Tyrann Mathieu to play free safety and hope they can do it again by finding a strong safety to pair with him.  Bucannon is known for his physical play and is an intimidating presence in the secondary with his ferocious hits on WR’s over the top.  Bucannon is like a heat-seeking missile coming downhill versus the run.  He will get overly aggressive and will bite on play fakes, but if the Cards can get Bucannon to harness his aggression and play within the confines of the defense, they could have a steal in the 2nd Round.  2013 Season:  114 Tackles, 1 PBU, 6 Int.; 2012 Season:  106 Tackles, 4 PBU, 4 Int.; 2011 Season:  80 Tackles, 4 PBU, 3 Int.; 2010 Season:  84 Tackles, 5 PBU, 2 Int.

53. Green Bay Packers – Brock Vereen, FS, 6’0”, 199lbs, Minnesota

The Packers have a need at free safety and Brock Vereen is an underrated prospect that seems to fit the mold for GM Ted Thompson.  Vereen is versatile, having also played corner for the Golden Gophers.  He has good cover skills for a safety and knows how to make a play on the football.  He’s intelligent, reads the QB well and has very little wasted movement when he reacts on a play.    Vereen would be an excellent fit next to Morgan Burnett.  2013 Season:  56 tackles, 5 PBU, 2 Int.; 2012 Season:  45 tackles, 4 PBU, 2 Int.; 2011 Season:  14 tackles, 5 PBU, 1 Int.; 2010 Season:  2 Tackles, 1 PBU.

54. Philadelphia Eagles – Philip Gaines, 6’0”, 193lbs, CB, Rice

The Eagles must put more consistent pressure on the QB.  Starting OLB’s Trent Cole and Connor Barwin combined for 13.0 sacks, but Brandon Graham managed just 3.0 and there’s no depth behind him.  However, without a pass rusher worthy of the 54th pick, the Eagles turn to their secondary, where Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher are listed as the starters and Brandon Boykin and Nolan Carroll backing them up.  Phillly gave up the most passing yards per game (289.8) than any other team in the league a year ago.  Adding another CB to push for playing time isn’t out of the question.  Gaines is a bigger CB who has surprising speed, having run a sub-4.4 40 time at the Combine.  Gaines is a smooth athlete with very quick hips to turn and run stride-for-stride with the WR.  He also does a good job reading the QB, often coming off his man to make a play on the ball.  He has excellent length and racked up 38 pass breakups in his career with the Owls.  Of the 40 passes thrown his way in 2013, only 14 were completed, meaning QB’s only completed 35% of the passes against Gaines.  2013 Season:  36 Tackles, 9 PBU, 4 Int.; 2012 Season:  33 Tackles, 18 PBU; 2011 Season:  4 games, 11 Tackles, 2 PBU; 2010 Season:  64 Tackles, 6 PBU; 2009 Season:  31 Tackles, 3 PBU.

55. Cincinnati Bengals – Bradley Roby, 5’11”, 194lbs, CB, Ohio State, Jr.

The Bengals need help in the secondary.  Corners Terrence Newman and Adam Jones and safety Reggie Nelson are over 30, so Cincy has to start thinking about the future.  Roby’s stock has dropped due to his character concerns, but that’s not something from which Cincy would shy away.  Roby is a smooth athlete with fluid hips to transition out of his back pedal to turn and run with the WR.  He has good ball skills and a 38-inch vertical leap, which allows him to play bigger than his size.  Roby will even be a factor on special teams, having blocked two kicks in his career.  Had it not been for some of his off-field and durability issues, Roby would have been taken on the first day.  As it is, the Bengals would be happy to have Roby fall to Day 2.  2013 Season:  70 Tackles, 13 PBU, 3 Int., 2 TFL, BP 63 yards for TD; 2012 Season:  63 Tackles, 17 PBU, 2 Int., 2 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 blocked kick; 2011 Season:  47 Tackles, 6 PBU, 3 Int., 3.5 TFL.

56. San Francisco 49ers (from Kansas City) – Davante Adams, 6’1”, 212lbs, WR, Fresno State, Jr.

Adams, who I had in the 1st Round at one point, was extremely productive for the Bulldogs, hauling in 233 passes for 3031 yards and 38 TD in only two seasons.  While Adams may not be a burner, he has a knack for getting open and there is little wasted movement getting up the field after the catch.  Adams does a great job tracking the ball while it’s in the air and can adjust to the ball while it’s in the air.  He can also work outside the numbers, showing excellent body control to work the sidelines and come down with the pass inbounds.  Adams uses his length on back shoulder throws and can be a terror in the red zone with his 39 ½-inch vertical and ability to attack the ball at its highest point.  Cleveland needs another WR with big-play potential and Adams would certainly fit the bill.  2013 Season:  131 rec. 1719 yds 13.1 avg 24 TD; 2012 Season:  102 rec. 1312 yds 12.9 avg 14 TD; 2011 Season:  redshirted.

57. San Diego Chargers – Louis Nix III, 6’2”, 331lbs, NT, Notre Dame, Jr.

Cam Thomas left in free agency, creating a large hole in the middle of their defensive front.  Nix III was a consistent presence up front for the Fighting Irish, penetrating the line against the run and collapsing the pocket when needed against the pass.  Nix III is stout at the point of attack, taking on multiple blockers to free up LB’s to make plays.  He’s also surprisingly quick off the snap for his size and uses good leverage to get penetration in a hurry.  Nix III would be reunited with former Irish teammate Manti Te’o.  2013 Season:  8 games, 27 tackles, 2.0 TFL; 2012 Season:  50 Tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2.0 Sacks; 2011 Season:  45 Tackles, 4.5 TFL, 0.5 Sacks.

58. New Orleans Saints – Jarvis Landry, 6’0”, 205lbs, WR, LSU, Jr.

If the Saints don’t go with a WR in the 1st Round, the position must be addressed in Round 2.  Marques Colston was the team’s 3rd leading receiver behind TE Jimmy Graham and RB Pierre Thomas, while the next two leading receivers Darren Sproles and Lance Moore both left in free agency.  The Saints must add another playmaker to play behind Colston and Kenny Stills. Landry was once thought of as a possible 1st Round pick, but after running a 4.77 40 time at the Combine, his stock dropped sharply.  Landry remind me of Anquan Boldin, whose stock also dropped following a slow 40 time at the Combine.  Like Boldin, Landry is a physical receiver known for strong hands and an ability to attack the ball in the air.  Landry can get down the field, but isn’t afraid to stick his nose in over the middle and will catch the ball in a crowd.  He has excellent body control when the ball is in the air and is a load to bring down once he has the ball in his hands.  2013 Season:  77 rec. 1193 yds 15.5 avg 10 TD; 2012 Season:  56 rec. 573 yds 10.2 avg 5 TD; 2011 Season:  4 rec. 43 yds 10.8 avg.

59. Indianapolis Colts – Weston Richburg, 6’3”, 298lbs, C, Colorado State

Peyton Manning had Jeff Saturday, so it’s only fitting that Andrew Luck will get his own protector in Colorado State’s Weston Richburg.  He has very good short-area quickness to pull and seal and also has the strength to take on DT’s and turn his man outside to open holes.  Richburg is also very durable and is a true veteran at the position, having started all 49 games in his career.  He made all of the line calls for the Rams and seems like a natural fit in Indy.

60. Carolina Panthers – Jack Mewhort, 6’6”., 309lbs, OT, Ohio State

Jordan Gross is no longer manning the left side, so the Panthers must find his replacement.  I could see Carolina trading up to take Joel Bitonio or Cyrus Kouandjio or they could go after Mewhort if they stay at No. 60 overall.  Mewhort has long arms and the lateral agility to be an effective pass protector and can really generate a lot of movement as a run blocker.  Is he a good enough athlete to play on the left side? That’s his biggest question because there’s no doubt he has the skills needed to start at the next level.

61. San Francisco 49ers – Paul Richardson, 6’0”, 175lbs, WR, Colorado, Jr.

San Francisco continues to add playmakers for QB Colin Kaepernick.  They are still lacking speed on the outside to stretch the defense, but that could come in the form of Paul Richardson.  The Niners could use Richardson’s 4.4 speed on vertical routes, but Richardson is also an effective route runner, creating separation with quick cuts, allowing him to get open all over the field.  2013 Season:  79 rec. 1289 yds 16.3 avg 10 TD; 2012 Season:  redshirted; 2011 Season:  39 rec. 555 yds 14.2 avg 5 TD; 2010 Season:  34 rec. 514 yds 15.1 avg 6 TD.

62. New England Patriots – Scott Crichton, 6’3”, 273lbs, DE, Oregon State, Jr.

If the Patriots want to play more of a 4-3 defense in 2014, they’re going to need to bolster their defensive line, especially at DE, even after the signing of Will Smith.  There is still little depth behind Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich.  Crichton is a Bill Belichick-type player, taking a workmanlike approach to the game.  Crichton is not an elite athlete, but he does have a good get off, uses his hands well and has a relentless motor, always working to the QB.  Crichton is disruptive getting up the field, having racked up 52 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks in just three years with the Beavers.  2013 Season:  47 Tackles, 19.0 TFL, 7.5 Sacks; 2012 Season:  44 Tackles, 17.5 TFL, 9.0 Sacks; 2011 Season:  74 Tackles, 14.5 TFL, 6.0 Sacks.

63. Denver Broncos – Kelvin Benjamin, 6’5”, 240lbs, WR, Florida State, RS Soph

I think this pick will ultimately be used on a WR.  While Demaryius Thomas is clear-cut No. 1 WR Sanders and Wes Welker are smaller WR’s under 6’0” that are best utilized out of the slot.  Denver’s roster is lacking a bigger, possession-type receiver that can take the place of Decker.   Penn State’s Allen Robinson would be a good fit.  At 6’5” and 240 pounds, Benjamin looks like a TE as much as he does a WR.  He ran a 4.61 40 at the Combine, but he’s a long strider who will eat up the cushion a CB gives in a hurry.  Benjamin is a physical mismatch against both LB’s and DB’s.  He uses his big body to box out defenders and force his man to go through him to get to the ball.  He will elevate and extend for the ball overhead, utilizing his incredible 83-inch wingspan and large hands to catch away from his body.  Benjamin will line up in the slot and isn’t afraid to go over the middle and catch the ball in a crowd.  He’s also a nightmare in the red zone, often allowing QB’s to simply throw the ball up so he can use his size and body control to go up and get it over defenders.  While his length creates mismatches, it also doesn’t allow him to sink his hips in and out of his cuts, making his route running a glaring weakness.  He also suffers from a lack of concentration at times and will drop some easy passes.  However, he’s an intimidating presence on offense and would be just the type of weapon the Broncos could use.  2013 Season:  3rd Team All-ACC, 54 rec. 1011 yds 18.7 avg 15 TD; 2012 Season:  3 rec. 495 yds 16.5 avg 4 TD.

64. Seattle Seahawks – DaQuan Jones, 6’4”, 322lbs, DT, Penn State

Seattle lost Red Bryant in free agency and need to find his replacement up front.  DaQuan Jones is a big, powerful DT with good quickness off the ball.  He’s stout at the point of attack when he’s not playing too high and has the burst to close on the ball.  Jones was a run stuffer for the Nittany Lions, racking up 11.5 tackles for loss his senior season.  He turned it on his last season at Penn State, which makes you think his best days are ahead of him.  He seems like a great fit in Seattle.  2013 Season:  56 Tackles, 11.5 TFL, 3.0 Sacks; 2012 Season:  22 Tackles, 2.0 TFL, 0.5 Sacks; 2011 Season:  8 Tackles; 2010 Season:  9 games, 6 Tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 Sacks.

2014 NFL Draft:
Second Round Mock Draft and Analysis
By:  Gregg Schutze