The NextEra 2013 NFL Mock Draft Part 1

 

This is the latest edition of the NextEra 2013 NFL 2 Round Mock Draft. Dated 03/05/2013.

The order is based on The Official 2013 NFL Draft Order.

The mock features our new grading system. Click here for more information on the system.

1.  Kansas City Chiefs : Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

NextEra RAP Rating - 115.5 (LT)

Big Board Ranking - #1

As you may have noticed we have had a new addition to our mock drafts, our new player evaluation system. For more information on what the numbers mean, click through to our system explanation page.

KC have made the big trade to acquire Alex Smith from San Francisco for a 2nd round pick according to reports, so that completely rules out QB here with the first pick.

With the new signal caller in place, they would be wise to draft a new Left Tackle to protect him, particularly in this tackle heavy draft.

My pick would be Central Michigan LT Eric Fisher. If your a frequent visitor to NextEraNFL.com you will know we have been real high on Fisher for the past couple of months, and we are only getting higher on Fisher the more tape we watch. He has been slotted at #1 for some time now and we see little reason to change that as it currently stands.

Fisher displays exceptional lateral movement and solid technique to go along with an impressive 6-7 frame. Fisher goes a little unnoticed playing in the MAC with Central Michigan, so doesn’t get a lot of recognition nationally.

Putting on the Michigan State game tape, he was absolutely terrific against William Gholston and company and despite his team getting blown out he kept playing hard to the very end.

Fisher had an outstanding Senior Bowl week and combine and has risen on most draft boards into top 5 contention. Whoever the QB is in KC, they will need protecting and getting Brandon Albert to slide over to right tackle or Guard would be beneficial for him as well.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars : Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida

NextEra RAP Rating - 108.7 (43 DT)

Big Board Ranking – #4

Floyd has risen across everybodys boards the past few weeks. After declaring for the draft we had him slotted at #10, but after an astonishing combine performance, I struggle to see how he will make it out of the top 5.

Floyd is only 20 years old and has plenty of room for growth. He possesses an exceptional first step quickness that simply couldn’t be handled at the college level.

 

3. Oakland Raiders: Jarvis Jones, DE/ OLB, Georgia

NextEra RAP Rating - 101.3 (Von Miller Role), 77.6 (43 DE) 

Big Board Ranking - #7

Von Miller has had such an impact in the NFL in just two years, that he has created a new type of Defensive playmaker that teams will look to try and replicate in the future.

As a “Von Miller” style Defender Jarvis Jones can have great success at the NFL level and could well be a multiple pro bowler. As anything else i can see him having some production, but his lack of size may prevent him from reaching the level a 3rd overall pick demands.

Why does this pick make so much sense? Who created the Von Miller role?

It just so happens to be current Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen, formerly the Defensive Co-Ordinator of the Denver Broncos. Allen should see that Jarvis Jones is the next Von Miller and adjust his Defense to maximise Jones’ abilities.

The medical issue, i expect to clear up quite quickly. Jones has played at an incredibly high level the past two seasons and unless something new crops up in the medical evaluations, it would be a big mistake to pass him up.

4. Philadelphia Eagles : Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

NextEra RAP Rating - 104.4 (LT)

Big Board Ranking – #5

Philadelphia’s offensive line was their Achilles heel last year. Even when healthy, the talent simply isn’t there.

Joeckel is a great scheme fit for Chip Kelly’s new offense and would be a tremendous pick up here at #4.

 

5. Detroit Lions : Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

NextEra RAP Rating - 102.5 (Outside Corner) 

Big Board Ranking - #6

The Lions have some options at this selection. However, the prospect of finding a stand-out corner is too enticing to turn down. Xavier Rhodes is our top rated corner in the draft and possesses the physical and intangible skills to turn into a Pro-Bowl corner.

 

6.  Cleveland Browns : Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee

NextEra RAP Rating - 88.9 (QB)

Big Board Ranking – #35

New Browns GM Mike Lombardi clearly isn’t sold on Brandon Weeden and on his days on NFL Network, he kept going on about you need a QB to be a success in the NFL. I think he understands to get a good one you usually have to draft a Quarterback in the first round (unless your name is Russell Wilson).

Not the QB you were expecting? Well as our #1 rated QB Tyler Bray earns the honour of being the first QB selected in this mock.

In terms of natural arm talent, Bray is by far the best QB in this class, that has never been the issue. The knocks on Bray have always been based around his maturity and his decision making, both are fair criticisms at this point.

Tackling the immaturity topic, firstly lets give the kid a break he’s 21 years old after all. And when did maturity become a pre-requisite for success just look at the NFL’s all time passing leader, Brett Favre, he’s 40+ and still not that mature! As long as you can lead a team and have a strong coach to help manage you (like Steve Mariucci did for Favre) then you should be okay. Arizona have Bruce Arians, a coach that should be able to get the best out of Bray.

Staying with the coaching theme, I am very rarely critical of coaching in this mock, but i will be very critical here of the University of Tennessee’s coaching staff over the last few years. UT has had immense natural talent across the board the last few years and have translated that into very few wins. More so for the NFL, players such as Bray, Justin Hunter, Corradelle Patterson and Da’Rick Rogers are still categorized as really raw, which points to a very poor job coaching these players up during their time in college. You think if Nick Saban had his hands on these guys they will be as raw as they are now?

Bray does make some baffling decisions on game film, but i put a lot of blame for that on the coaching staff. The guy is a gun slinger and will get picked off occasionally you can deal with that, but some of the picks he threw in college will be coached out of him by better coaches, who will help him with his read progression.

7. Arizona Cardinals :  Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

NextEra RAP Rating - 99.6 (LT), 96.4 (RT) 

Big Board Ranking – #11

Arizona needs some help along the offensive line and the best Tackle on the board is Oklahoma LT Lane Johnson. Johnson would be a great pick here as it represents solid value and you’re getting a player that can play either side of the line at a very high level.

8. Buffalo Bills : Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

NextEra RAP Rating - 95.1 (WR)

Big Board Ranking – #18

I want to give Buffalo a QB, but i just can’t do it. Geno Smith would be a horrible fit playing in windy Buffalo and Glennon is a bit too much of a reach to consider in the top 10.

So let’s give Buffalo a WR that can help out whoever ends up being the QB in 2013 by selecting dynamic WR Corradelle Patterson.

 

 

9. New York Jets : Jamie Collins, LB/ DE, Southern Miss

NextEra RAP Rating - 99.2 (3-4 OLB), 83.5 (43 DE)

Big Board Ranking – #12

Jamie Collins absolutely blew up the combine and will rise rapidly as we get closer to the draft. Following that performance every evaluator will have gone back and looked at Collins’ impressive senior tape, where he racked up 10 sacks on a 0-12 Southern Miss team. For more on Collins, click on his name above for our in-depth scouting report on the explosive pass rusher.

10. Tennessee Titans : Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama

NextEra RAP Rating - 113.7 (OG)

Big Board Ranking – #2

Warmack didn’t have the greatest combine workout, but that hasn’t affected our opinion on him too much. He is still our #2 ranked overall player (Eric Fisher passed him after the combine) and is still an All-Pro Calibre prospect, that the Titans will struggle to turn down.

11. San Diego Chargers: David Amerson, CB, NC State

NextEra RAP Rating - 100.3 (Outside Corner), 108.3 (Zone Heavy Corner)

Big Board Ranking – #9

Amerson’s stock coming off his sophomore year couldn’t of been higher. After a few poor games to start the 2012 season, Amerson fell off the NFL map somewhat.

However despite the poor start, Amerson actually had a very good year picking off 5 passes, whilst doing a great job on NC State’s defense. Amerson also had an incredibly impressive combine workout to put his name back on teams’ radars.

His long 6-2 frame and exceptional zone coverage skills should remind Chargers fans of their former Corner Antonio Cromartie.

12. Miami Dolphins : Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

NextEra RAP Rating - 98.2 (Outside Corner)

Big Board Ranking – #14

Milliner ran a fast 40 at the combine, but he didn’t look as dominating as I had hoped in the drills. Millner is going to be a very solid pro but we just don’t see that elite potential that we see in some other guys. He is still our #3 corner behind Rhodes and Amerson at this point.

 

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers : Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

NextEra RAP Rating - 111.1 (WR-Slot)

Big Board Ranking - #8

Tampa have really lacked a dynamic option in the slot for years. Tavon Austin projects to be a great pro and the Bucs would be wise to select him here in the first round.

14. Carolina Panthers : Sylverster Williams, DT, North Carolina

NextEra RAP Rating - 95.8 (43 DT)

Big Board Ranking – #16

Carolina lack a big force in the middle of their defense. Williams is a dynamic interior defensive lineman that plays both the run and the pass very well.

15. New Orleans Saints: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

NextEra RAP Rating - 98.6 (3-4 DE)

Big Board Ranking – #13

With the Saints switching to a 3-4 set on Defense next year, some holes have been exposed. None bigger than inside along the Defensive Line. Cam Jordan will occupy one of those three spots, but i struggle to see who else will come in and play there at a high level.

Lotulelei falls to 15, on the basis of the heart concern alone. Even if things are proven to be Okay, it will still scare a lot of teams off drafting him early in the first round. Hopefully for Star’s sake it’s nothing too serious and he can still have a long and productive career in the NFL.

16. St Louis Rams : Jonathon Cooper, OG, North Carolina

NextEra RAP Rating - 108.8 (OG)

Big Board Ranking – #3

St Louis would be ecstatic if Warmack or Cooper fell to them here. In this mock, Cooper is available and little time was taken off the clock before the selection was made.

Go to Part 2 for picks 17-32….

Advance to Round 2