2013 NFL Mock Draft: Kevin Hanson
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Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
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The 2013 NFL Draft will be held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in April 2013. Below you will find the very early
first-round projection from EDSFootball.com owner Kevin Hanson. This mock draft will be updated from now until draft
day with changes, as needed, and additional rounds will be added as we get closer to the draft.
Until the draft order is known, we will use the inverse order of our 2012 NFL consensus power rankings. The one
exception is picks 31 and 32 will belong to one AFC and NFC team, even when two teams from the same division are in
the top two teams of our power rankings.
More mock drafts: Our 2013 NFL Mock Draft Database
To keep track of our updates, follow me on Twitter (@EDSFootball) and/or LIKE us on Facebook.
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1. Arizona Cardinals (projected trade with Colts): Matt Barkley, QB, USC
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Cardinals Draft History
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If the Colts end up with the first overall pick again in 2013, it is likely that they trade down with a quarterback-needy team.
After drafting Notre Dame's Michael Floyd with 13th overall pick in 2012, the Cardinals have a pair of stud receivers with
a dud quarterback. With Kevin Kolb due to earn $9 million in 2013 and a $2 million March roster bonus, the Cardinals
may opt to go with another USC quarterback named Matt that decided to return for his senior season. Hopefully, that
works out better for the Cardinals this time around.
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2. Cleveland Browns: Robert Woods, WR, USC
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Browns Draft History
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By drafting Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden and Mitchell Schwartz with their first three picks in 2012, the Browns
have improved at three offensive positions in need of an upgrade. That said, they still have one glaring weakness on
the offensive side of the ball -- playmakers at wide receiver. In his sophomore season, Woods finished with 111
receptions for 1,292 yards and 15 touchdowns and is likely to be the top receiver selected in next year's draft.
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3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas
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Jaguars Draft History
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I'm not sure what Gene Smith was thinking when he drafted a punter in the third round. Perhaps he figured that the
Jaguars would have plenty of three-and-outs with Blaine Gabbert under center. With an improved receiving corps that
includes rookie Justin Blackmon and free-agent addition Laurent Robinson, Gabbert needs to take a big step forward
from his dismal rookie season. If he doesn't, the Jags could draft his replacement. In his first year as a starter, Wilson
posted a 24:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio last year.
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4. St. Louis Rams: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
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Rams Draft History
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With two first-round picks, the Rams could use help on the offensive line and at wide receiver (although the team used
two top-100 picks on receivers in the 2012 draft). No team allowed more sacks than the Rams (55) last year and Fluker
(6-6, 335 pounds) is one of the top offensive tackles in the country.
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5. Minnesota Vikings: Dave Amerson, CB, North Carolina State
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Bucs Draft History
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Although they used two of their first three picks on defensive backs (Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith and Central
Florida cornerback Josh Robinson), no defense allowed more passing touchdowns (34) or had fewer interceptions
(eight) than the Vikings last year. The Vikings have to face Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler a minimum
of six times per season. Amerson, who led the country in interceptions (13), has the size (6-3, 195 pounds), ball skills
and athleticism to help significantly upgrade the Vikings secondary.
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6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
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Bucs Draft History
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Although the Bucs have used some early picks to improve their interior defensive line, those picks haven't yet lived up to
expectations. As a sophomore, Hankins, who has great size but the versatility to also play defensive end, had 67
tackles (fourth on team), 11.0 tackles for loss (second) and three sacks (tied for second).
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7. Miami Dolphins: Sam Montgomery, DE/OLB, LSU
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Dolphins Draft History
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As a first-team All-SEC selection last year, Montgomery led LSU in sacks (9.0) and ranked third in the conference.
Montgomery should be one of the first pass-rushers off the board in 2013 and gives the Dolphins a pass-rusher to pair
with Cameron Wake.
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8. Oakland Raiders: Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech
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Raiders Draft History
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With Carson Palmer due to earn $13 million in 2013 and Matt Leinart signing a one-year contract to back him up in
2012, the Raiders need a long-term (and perhaps short-term) solution at quarterback. Thomas (6-6, 262 pounds) has
as much upside as any other quarterback in the draft. In his first year as a starter, the sophomore signal-caller
completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for more than 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also ran for 469 yards
and 11 touchdowns, which is a Virginia Tech quarterback record.
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9. Indianapolis Colts (projected trade with Cardinals): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
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Colts Draft History
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In the first six rounds of the draft, the Colts used all of their picks to improve their offense with the exception of taking
Alabama nose tackle Josh Chapman in the fifth round. A transfer from USC, Jones led the Bulldogs and the SEC in
sacks (13.5), had 19.5 tackles for loss and was an first team All-American last year.
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10. Carolina Panthers: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
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Panthers Draft History
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Lotulelei was a first-team All-Pac-12, led the team in tackles for loss (nine) and helped the Utes hold opposing
offenses to only 97 rushing yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry last year. Meanwhile, the Panthers allowed 130.8
rushing yards per game and 18 rushing touchdowns, fourth-most in the NFL, last year.
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11. St. Louis Rams (via Redskins): Keenan Allen, WR, California
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Rams Draft History
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Not only did the Rams rank dead last in sacks allowed as noted above, but they ranked last in the NFL in passing
touchdowns (nine) last year. After improving their offensive line with their first pick in this mock, they give Sam Bradford,
the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, another weapon on the outside. While he had all five of his 100-yard games in the first
six games of the 2011 season, Allen (6-3, 205 pounds) had a breakout season: 98 receptions, 1,343 yards and six
touchdowns.
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12. Buffalo Bills: Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU
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Bills Draft History
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After signing Mario Williams to a $100 million contract and drafting cornerback Stephon Gilmore in the first round, the
Bills continue to improve themselves on the defensive side of the ball here. Mingo led LSU and ranked fourth in the
SEC in tackles for loss (13.5) and finished second on the team in sacks (8.0) behind Montgomery last year. Both
starting OLBs for the Bills (Nick Barnett and Kirk Morrison) are in the early-30's.
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13. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee
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Chiefs Draft History
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Depending on how Matt Cassel performs in 2012, the Chiefs could look to go in a different direction in 2013. As I noted
in our fantasy football rankings, Cassel has averaged less than 200 passing yards per game in his first three seasons
in Kansas City. Then again, depending on how Bray performs in 2012, he could be long gone by this spot.
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14. Seattle Seahawks: Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State
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Seahawks Draft History
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Perhaps the Seahawks will go with a quarterback here. Considering they signed Matt Flynn to a three-year deal and
drafted Russell Wilson in the third round, it seems unlikely. Instead I have the Seahawks adding a weapon to help
whichever quarterback is under center. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-4 receiver set school records with 82 receptions for
1,388 yards in addition to scoring 12 times and is the third Pac-12 receiver off the board in the top half of the first round.
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15. Tennessee Titans: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
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Titans Draft History
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After having four interceptions as a freshman in 2010, Rhodes had an off year with only one interception and battled
some nagging injuries throughout the season. That said, Rhodes is a big (6-2, 215 pounds), physical and athletic
cornerback and could be the second cornerback off the board with a solid season.
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16. Cincinnati Bengals: Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
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Bengals Draft History
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Although his season was cut short by an ACL injury in October, Lattimore has rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 27
touchdowns in his season and a half at South Carolina. Perhaps he'll have a slow start this year, but the 230-pound
back will be 18 months removed from the injury by the time the 2013 NFL draft rolls around.
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- Continue to Picks 17-32 (Round 2 will be added later this week)
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- More Mock Drafts: Our 2013 NFL Mock Draft Database
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