1. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel Left Tackle, Texas A&M
With all the talk of the Chiefs possibly trading away their current left tackle, Brandon Albert, they're going to need a replacement. So, why not pick up Luke Joeckel, arguably the best left tackle in this years draft first overall? Even if they don't trade him away, building the offensive line is a great idea and could pave the way to success with awesome running back Jamaal Charles and their new quarterback Alex Smith. This pick makes a lot of sense for the Chiefs to create their newborn hope of being successful next season.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dion Jordan Offensive Tackle, Oregon
The Jacksonville Jaguars could go many ways with this pick, but they desperately need some new, young talent to fill their roster this draft. The Jags are a team that doesn't have many explosive playmakers and Dion Jordan is someone who can fix that. Especially since their defense was terrible last year, the speedster in Jordan would definitely help the pass rush and ultimately help the secondary by forcing the quarterback to make quicker decisions. The Jags could use a talent like Jordan after a season like last year.
3. Oakland Raiders: Sharif Floyd Defensive Tackle, Florida
Currently, the whole Raiders franchise is in disarray and they desperately need to find some sure talent this draft. In order to help their defensive line immensely, they decide to grab Sharrif Floyd. Floyd is a player that can definitely make an immediate difference against opponents' interior offensive line. Also, Floyd is only 20, meaning he can give two extra years over other draft prospects to be a long lasting impact on Oakland's defense.
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Eric Fisher Offensive Tackle, Central Michigan
The Philadelphia Eagles have many needs coming into this year's draft, but the biggest one was the offensive line. Their two quarterbacks, Michael Vick and Nick Foles, were sacked 48 times, making the Eagles the 5th most sacked team last year. That obviously shows a big hole in the offensive line last year. So to improve their outside blocking tremendously, they pick Eric Fisher, who is also being argued to be just as good as Luke Joeckel. This pick would help Philadelphia reduce their sacks allowed number and ultimately contribute to the offense as a whole.
5. Detroit Lions: Lane Johnson Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma
The Lions have a franchise quarterback in Matt Stafford, a new explosive running back in Reggie Bush, and the amazing wide receiver Calvin Johnson. All they need to make the offense firing on all cylinders next year is the offensive line to protect Stafford and pave the lane for Bush to run. They would love for the top tackles Joeckel or Fisher to fall into their laps but unfortunately, it doesn't pan out. Luckily, they get the next best thing in Lane Johnson who will improve the offensive line on the other side of tackle Riley Reiff.
6. Cleveland Browns: Ezekiel Ansah Defensive End, BYU
The extremely athletic yet raw in skill Ezekiel Ansah would make a great fit for the Cleveland Browns. They do also need a defensive back to play opposite of Joe Haden, but that can be found easily in the second round. Ansah, who is quick, fast, and has a gold mine of potential just waiting to be dug into by the new Cleveland coaching staff and be a tremendous player in the NFL. His block shedding abilities would help the defense as a whole, which is something the browns definitely need in a brutal division against top-tier quarterbacks in Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger.
7. Arizona Cardinals: Chance Warmack Offensive Guard, Alabama
Arizona is the team that finished first in total sacks allowed with 58 and managed to have the third-string quarterback start while the other quarterbacks sit injured on the sideline. Obviously, offensive line should be the biggest need for the Cardinals in this draft. Chance Warmack was great against the top college competition South Eastern Conference (SEC) and would provide great value as he fills a huge whole.
8. Buffalo Bills: Geno Smith Quarterback, West Virginia
The Bills just recently gave up their below average quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, which means they need to find a starting caliber and franchise quarterback to last them the next ten years. Geno Smith is rated as this draft's best quarterback so they grab him off the board before they have to suffer another season and spend another draft searching for their quarterback.
9. New York Jets: Dee Milliner Cornerback, Alabama
The New York Jets jump for joy as the top rated cornerback of this draft falls to them. Previously ranked within the top-five, the Jets are extremely lucky to find a great cornerback like Dee Milliner. Especially since they lost their amazing corner, Darrelle Revis, they need to find a replacement. Milliner is that answer as he shut down great wide receivers in the SEC.
10. Tennessee Titans: Star Lotuleilei Defensive Tackle, Utah
The Titans need to find a player who can disrupt the interior blocking on defense and Lotuleilei, who was previously ranked the top defensive tackle before it was revealed that he had a serious heart condition, will be a steal for them. Fills a great need and is great value at the tenth pick overall.
11. San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Cooper Offensive Guard, North Carolina
The Chargers have a terrible offensive line that allowed 49 sacks, the 4th most in the league. This shows just how bad their line was last year. Jonathon Cooper can really contribute to the interior blocking of the offensive line as he is rated as one of the best guards this year. There is no way they pass on him if he is available at the 11th pick.
12. Miami Dolphins: DJ Hayden Cornerback, Houston
DJ Hayden is one of the most interesting prospects this year because of his back-story. During practice, Hayden suffered from a torn artery that has a 95% death percentage. He is thankfully alive today and continuing football. The Dolphins have made many moves in free agency to improve their team, but they still need to address their secondary, or pass defense. Hayden is a well-liked player and shuts down receivers.
13. New York Jets: Barkevious Mingo Outside Linebacker, LSU
Mingo is another prototype-like player because he stands at 6'4 and ran a fast 4.58 40-yard dash. That is fast for a man at his height and would upgrade the Jets' average pass rush. The Jets draft defense in the first round and if they got two great defenders in Mingo and Milliner, their defense could see a major improvement next year.
14. Carolina Panthers: Sheldon Richardson Defensive Tackle, Missouri
Carolina fills a big hole of need at this pick. Richardson is one of the most athletic DT's in this draft because of how he moves while weighing 310 lbs. At Missouri, the coaches even let him play linebacker, a position that usually weighs 50 lbs. less that him. The Panthers find great value with this pick and upgrade their defensive line.
15. New Orleans Saints: Jarvis Jones Outside Linebacker, Georgia
The Saint's defense was one of the worst last year and it was evident as they ranked last in rush defense and second-to-last in pass defense. Jarvis Jones is a top ten prospect whose draft value fell because of Spinal Stenosis and a slow 4.92 40-yard dash. But, Jones is a great football player on tape who plays much faster than his 40 time indicates and it showed through his astounding 13.5 sacks throughout last season alone. The saints get a real steal here and make other teams regret not taking Jones.
16. St. Louis Rams: Kenny Vaccaro Safety, Texas
St. Louis is team who has a lot of young potential just waiting to burst out onto the scene. They also have a good cornerback in Cortland Finnegan but need some help above in the safety position. Kenny Vaccaro has been coveted as the top safety prospect this year and matches up perfectly with the Rams.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyler Eifert Tight End, Notre Dame
With their current tight end, Heath Miller, on the injury reserve until next mid-season and aging quickly, the Steelers need to draft a replacement to mentor under Miller until he retires. Tyler Eifert is an amazing prospect at tight end who is a major threat for opposing defenses. With him, the Steelers will be set at tight end for years.
18. Dallas Cowboys: DJ Fluker Offensive Tackle, Alabama
DJ Fluker was a part of the astounding Alabama offensive line this past season. The Cowboys have a good defense and would have loved to get Kenny Vaccaro to improve the secondary even more, but that didn't happen. So, they fill the biggest need which is offensive line. The Cowboys have a great running back, two wide receivers, and their franchise quarterback. They only need to improve the offensive line to become a competitive team.
19. New York Giants: Arthur Brown Inside Linebacker, Kansas State
The New York Giants have a huge need to fill at middle linebacker this draft and Arthur Brown is probably the safest of all the inside linebackers this year. Manti Te'o with his girlfriend hoax, Alec Ogletree with his DUI, and Kevin Minter with a slow forty time. Brown is a great prospect who doesn't have huge upside but doesn't have a low floor as well. So, this pick will set the Giants up with a leader and linebacker they don't ever have to sweat about.
20. Chicago Bears: Alec Ogletree Inside Linebacker, Georgia
Last season, the Bears lost their biggest leader and legend Brian Urlacher, so they need to find their replacement. Alec Ogletree is an awesome athlete who played against top college competition in the SEC last year. With some good coaching, Ogletree has a huge upside because of his freakish athleticism, but he also has bust potential with his DUI problems and questionable character. However well he does in the NFL, Ogletree still has some big shoes to fill.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Cyprien Safety, Florida International
Cincinnati has an aging secondary that needs to be addressed. They are a playoff worthy team that just needs a few more components to make them real competitors in the off-season. Jonathan Cyprien is a safety that could be considered elite in the next few years. Coming out of small college Florida International, he didn't catch much attention his first few years. Finally, this year he blew up on people's boards and is now actually rated higher than Kenny Vaccaro on NFL.com. The Bengals continue to improve and get younger with this pick.
22. St. Louis Rams: Tavon Austin Wide Receiver, West Virginia
23. Minnesota Vikings: Cordarrelle Patterson Wide Receiver, Tennessee
With their wide receiver, Percy Harvin, recently traded away, the Vikings have to find a replacement that can make as big an impact as Harvin did. Cordarrelle Patterson is rated one of the top receivers this draft and definitely an athlete. Standing at 6'2, he can make plays for the Vikings in the endzone and stretch the field.
24. Indianapolis Colts: Bjoern Werner Defensive End, Florida State
Bjoern Werner has been falling down draft boards lately because of bad combine results and lack of explosion in games. Months ago, he was rated as the top defensive end this draft. So, the Colts fill a space of need and get a great player to fill it. The Colts defense needs work and Werner can bring a new element to their developing team.
25. Minnesota Vikings: Manti Te'o Inside Linebacker, Notre Dame
There has been a lot of speculation that the Vikings have been interviewing, working out, and testing Manti Te'o. This obviously shows a lot of interest in this falling prospect. Te'o was ranked as the top linebacker this college season but fell rapidly because of the whole girlfriend hoax and slow 40-yard dash. The Vikings linebacker core was weak last year and Te'o is an upgrade. So, they will look past his flaws and hope to get the linebacker he was projected to be months ago.
26. Green Bay Packers: Eric Reid Safety, LSU
The Green Bay Packers have a great offense behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but the defense is an area of improvement, especially the secondary. They recently lost defensive back Charles Woodson to free agency meaning they need to find a replacement and improve their defense. Eric Reid is one of this draft's top safety and will make an impact on the Packers.
27. Houston Texans: DeAndre Hopkins Wide Receiver, Clemson
Wide Receiver Andre Johnson is aging quickly and finding someone to be as good as him, if not better, is what the Texans hope to find this draft. Having two elite wide receivers running routes for Houston would make them a fantastic team next year. DeAndre Hopkins is a player who overwhelmed most of the defensive backs he faced during his college career and is very likely an immediate starter for the Texans. Hopefully, the Texans draft this new talent and take their team farther than where they have in recent years.
28. Denver Broncos: Cornellius Carradine Defensive End, Florida State
Cornellius "Tank" Carradine would be rated much higher in the draft if it weren't for his ACL injury this past season. But, that being said, doctors are able to heal injuries such as this one much faster with new technology and methods. So, it is very likely that Carradine can come back just as good as he was before the injury. This pick makes sense for the Broncos because they just lost their Outside Linebacker/Defensive End Elvis Dumervil. Tank is a force in the pass rush and could contribute to Denver's aging defense right now.
29. New England Patriots: Xavier Rhodes Cornerback, Florida State
The New England Patriots have a tremendous offense that pummels other teams, but a below average secondary. These result in many high scoring shoot out games that forces the offense to win games. Xavier Rhodes is a tall cornerback that is great in man coverage. The Patriots strengthen their secondary a whole lot by putting someone across from cornerback Devin McCourty and improve their team as a whole.
30. Atlanta Falcons: Desmond Trufant Cornerback, Washington
The Atlanta Falcons had one of the best secondaries in the league last season, but that could change because cornerback Asante Samuel is losing a step due to age. He just turned 32 in January so finding a worthy replacement is a necessity this draft. Fortunately, this draft has plenty of good cornerbacks to go around and Desmond Trufant is one of them. Trufant is a big physical corner that can push receivers around and make big plays while doing it. He was a big part of Washington's defense last season and looks to become an impact player for the Falcons.
31. San Francisco Forty-Niners: Matt Elam Safety, Florida
The Forty-Niners defense was already hard-hitting enough. But, with the release of safety. Dashon Goldson, they need to find someone who played the safety position as well as him and just hit as hard. Matt Elam is the answer. At Florida, Elam was bloodthirsty, always looking for the biggest hits and splash plays. This is someone the Forty-Niners would love because of his passion for the game and constant hunger.
32. Baltimore Ravens: Kevin Minter Inside Linebacker, LSU
Legend and team leader Ray Lewis retired this past season, leaving a gaping hole for someone to fill. Although it is almost impossible to find a talent as special as Lewis, the Ravens can find many leaders in this draft. To replace Lewis, Baltimore should draft Kevin Minter out of LSU because he was able to compete against SEC competition. Minter even held his own, becoming an All-SEC selection. With this pick, the Ravens find their replacement and continue to have a standard of great linebackers for years to come.
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