2013 NFL Mock Draft: Titan Sized 2 Round Mock
By Josh Gunnels
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
DE Barkevious Mingo, LSU – Would you look at that, the Steelers pick up a once highly-regarded player at a lower-than-expected position in the draft. The knocks on Mingo are that he doesn’t finish what he starts many times and many teams are worrying about his drop in production. The production doesn’t matter because he was asked to play more contain for LSU this past season, but he’s still a crazy explosive athlete and would fill the hole left by James Harrison’s release. – Matias Wodner
18. Dallas Cowboys
DE/OLB Datone Jones, UCLA – Things really didn’t go the way Dallas hoped here. They would have prefered to get one of the big DT’s in the this draft or an offensive lineman, but the both groups have been sucked pretty dry by this point. The Cowboys settle for Datone Jones, a big, strong guy out of UCLA who’ll work hard to get better at the next level. – Justin Stewart
19. New York Giants
CB Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State – Although the New York Giants could use some defensive linemen, they also need some cornerbacks who can stay healthy and produce. – Joshua Huffman
20. Chicago Bears
ILB Manti Te’o, ND – Well, someone had to do it. I know the National Championship game exposed Te’o a bit. Then you throw in the fake girlfriend and a poor combine to boot and Te’o’s stock took quite a hit. – Josh Gunnels
21. Cincinnati Bengals
OT Menelik Watson, FSU – This pick will depend largely on whether the Bengals re-sign right tackle Andre Smith. They usually don’t spend big in free agency, and Smith is looking for a big contract coming off a great year. If Smith goes elsewhere, Cincinnati will be looking for his replacement. Watson possesses incredible size and strength and would fill in immediately on the offensive line. – Matias Wodner
22. St. Louis Rams (from Washington)
RB Eddie Lacy, Alabama – The first RB off the board. The Rams added OT Jake Long during free agency and let Steven Jackson go. Lacy steps in and takes the reins while Jeff Fisher does a little happy dance. He’s gotten two great players with his two first round picks. – Justin Stewart
23. Minnesota Vikings
LB Arthur Brown, Kansas State – The Minnesota Vikings need some linebacker depth to join Chad Greenway and Erin Henderson. They may wait until 25 though. – Joshua Huffman
24. Indianapolis Colts
G Justin Pugh, Syracuse – The Colts made an initial stab addressing all their areas of concern in a free agency frenzy. They still need to protect their franchise star in Andrew Luck as tough as he proved to be last year. Pugh is the best offensive lineman available right now, and outweighs the 3-4 OLB rush ends they would be tempted to take. – Josh Gunnels
25. Seattle Seahawks
WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia – It would just make too much sense if Austin slips this far. Many are comparing Austin to Percy Harvin, so why not use the pick received for Harvin to draft Harvin Jr. Christian Ponder isn’t very good, but Austin can make him look good while helping this offense become more explosive. – Matias Wodner
26. Green Bay Packers
S Matt Elam, Florida – The Packers waved goodbye to Charles Woodson this offseason. He was a leader, as well as a playmaker for the Packers. In Elam, they get another playmaker who’ll lay out the hard hits. – Justin Stewart
27. Houston Texans
NT Jesse Williams, Alabama – Jesse Williams is a nose tackle who can give Wade Phillips’ defense another presence in the middle. They’ve lacked a true nose tackle the past couple of seasons. – Joshua Huffman
28. Denver Broncos
DE Bjoern Werner, Florida – The Broncos went crazy in free agency this year and fortified an already great team. they added Vazquez, Welker and are set at DT. They’ve literally put themselves in the position to do what all great teams at the end of the draft do, and that’s pick BPA. Somehow Bjoern Werner has fallen all the way to 28, but he won’t get any farther. The Broncos miss Dumervil a little less and get a lot younger and cheaper at the position. – Josh Gunnels
29. New England Patriots
S Jonathan Cyprien, FIU – The Patriots are looking for defensive back help yet again, but all the first-round cornerbacks have been taken so no need to reach. Instead, they draft a safety who can start from day one. Cyprien brings the wood and has great range for a safety. – Matias Wodner
30. Atlanta Falcons
DE Cornellius Carradine, Florida State – Carradine could have been a top-10 pick if not for his torn ACL in November. Carradine is quick off the snap and should have plenty of teams eyeing him, despite his injury. The Falcons cut DE John Abraham, one of their biggest sack producers. Hopefully Carradine heals well from his ACL injury and can step in quickly to to replace Abraham. – Justin Stewart
31. San Francisco 49ers
DE Margus Hunt, SMU – With 14 picks, they can afford to gamble one of them on a player with such high-risk, high-reward potential. – Joshua Huffman
32. Baltimore Ravens
ILB Alec Ogletree, Georgia – Things continue to look up for the Super Bowl Champions as the rich get richer. What many consider to be the best ILB in the draft has fallen into the Ravens laps at the last pick of the first round. After the loss of key defensive players this off season as well as the notable retirement of Ray Lewis, Ogletree fills their biggest need and provides ridiculous value at this spot in the draft. No brainer. – Josh Gunnels