NFL Mock Draft 2013: Second Round

Jan 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; LSU Tigers cornerback Tyrann Mathieu (7) before the 2012 BCS National Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Round 2

1. Jaguars – Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU: The Jags continue the trend of adding talent up front on defense, and although Montgomery isn’t a perfect prospect, he’s from a conference that best prepares him for the NFL. He’s hard to pass up.
2. 49ers (from KC) – Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford: The Alex Smith to KC trade nets the 49ers a player that fills a need and also is familiar with the head coach. Young quarterbacks need good tight ends, and Ertz will be a good one.
3. Eagles- Barrett Jones, G, Alabama: It didn’t matter who was playing quarterback for the Eagles in 2012, they were on the run. Jones provides immediate help and he is also a proven winner. Chip Kelly gets an instant starter in the second round.
4. Lions- Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M: Losing Cliff Avril to Seattle hurt the Lion pass rush, and Moore comes in with a chip on his shoulder attempting to prove his college production was no fluke. Perfect fit for the Lions
5. Bengals (from Oak) – DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson: The Bengals find a player available that many expected to be gone, and they pounce on the smooth running wide receiver. The Bengals need help overall in the playmaker department, and Hopkins fits the bill.
6. Cardinals– Traded to New England, Patriots select Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU: The Patriots have proven in the past that they aren’t afraid of guys that fail drug tests (Aaron Hernandez) and with the support system they have in place, this is the perfect place for the Honey Badger. This also fills a huge need for New England.
7. Jets- Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee: When Santonio Holmes went down last season, the Jets were exposed for their lack of talent in the receiving core. Hunter is a big, fast wide receiver that Mark Sanchez (or whomever else) will love throwing too.
8. Titans- Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame: The Titans defense was downright awful in 2012, but after finding the steal of the first round with Star Lotulelei, the Titans add talent to their linebacking core that is sorely in need.
9. Bills-Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse: Nassib has been compared most to Andy Dalton, and with Coach Marrone heading over from Syracuse, it makes sense to draft a player that they have a head start with. Nassib holds the ball too long, a habit he must break in the NFL.
10. Dolphins- Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State: The Dolphins lost Sean Smith in free agency, and even with Brent Grimes recent signing, the Dolphins are in the same division with New England. Lack of secondary talent=no chance at a division title.
11. Buccaneers- Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama: The Bucs already picked up the best cornerback in the NFL with their first round trade, and now they find a first round talent in Williams on the board. With Revis and Goldson in the secondary and Williams added up front, the Bucs defense may be the most improved in the NFL.
12. Panthers- Margus Hunt, DE, SMU: The freak athlete from SMU is just impossible to pass on for the Panthers, and they take him and his 81 inch wingspan with their second pick. Hard to question this pick considering the limited depth of the Panthers defensive ends. Hunt will be 26 when the season starts, one of the reasons for his drop into the second round.
13. Chargers- Kawann Short, DT, Purdue: Although the Chargers run defense wasn’t all that bad in 2012 (ranked 6th in yards against), the Chargers did lose Vaughn Martin in free agency, so adding talent up front on defense is a priority. Short can be a very good pro if he plays with more consistency.
14. Rams- Jonathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia: Jenkins is a BIG man, just what Rams head coach Jeff Fisher likes. He has gone this path many times before, and Jenkins, who many have ranked higher, fits the profile of a Fisher defensive lineman.
15. Cowboys- Eric Reid, FS, LSU: No offense to Will Allen, but he is not the answer at free safety for the Cowboys, not in 2013 or any other year. Jerry Jones likes big name guys, and Reid is just that. It doesn’t hurt that Reid can play and the Cowboys need help at safety.
16. Steelers- Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor: Williams is just what the Steelers like in their wide receivers; speed, athleticism, good build and he projects well in the NFL game. I think Williams may end up as the best receiver in the 2013 rookie class.
17. Giants- Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State: The Giants continue the plan from the first round- add youth and talent to the defense. Brown can play inside and outside and the Giants scoop up the 2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (much to the Bears chagrin.)
18. Bears- Khaseem Greene, OLB, Rutgers: After missing out on Brown, the Bears turn to Greene, the natural weak side linebacker out of Rutgers. Greene is one of Greg Schiano’ guys, and with Lance Briggs advancing in age, this is a great fit for the Bears.
19. Redskins- David Amerson, CB, N.C. State: Doesn’t it seem like the Redskins never draft? Well, they get it right with their first pick in 2013, grabbing the talented defensive back to add to an area of extreme weakness. Is Amerson a safety or a corner? The Redskins will have to figure that out, and as soon as possible.
20. Vikings- Mike Glennon, QB, N.C. State: Nobody can tell me the Vikings are sold on Christian Ponder, so why pass on Glennon if you believe he can play in the NFL? That is the position the Vikes will be in, and they will make the right move and we’ll see the second straight Wolfpack member come off the board.
21. Bengals- Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina: When the Patriots had BenJarvis Green-Ellis, everyone talked about them needing a speed-back compliment. Sound familiar, Cincinnati? Bernard is a perfect complement to Green-Ellis and will also be a huge addition to the Bengals passing game.
22. Dolphins (from Indy) – Alex Okafor, DE, Texas: Okafor was projected higher, and the Dolphins are pleasantly surprised to find him on the board at 54. The Dolphins have completely revamped their roster heading into 2013, and Okafor may end up as their top defensive pickup in the long run.
23. Packers- Travis Frederick, G/C, Wisconsin: Everyone is talking about how awful the Packers rush defense is, which is true, but the biggest issue with the Packers in 2012 was up front on offense. The Packers stay in Wisconsin and draft the flexible and talented Frederick, who strengthen them up the middle and improves offensive toughness.
24. Seahawks- Justin Pugh, T, Syracuse: The Seahawks were active in the trade market and free agency, but they have not addressed the offensive line. Pugh has been questioned due to his arm length, and he may have to be moved to guard, but those were the same things said about Matt Light when he was drafted by New England.
25. Texans- Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State: The Texans did have one the best defenses in football last season, but the secondary still had some rough moments. Taylor’ size and athletic ability makes him hard to pass up at this point.
26. Broncos- Cornellius Carradine, DE, Florida State: The Broncos continue their quest to make their defense as formidable as their offense, and they get lucky to find Carradine still on the board. Carradine still has some improving to do, and the Broncos will do all they can to see that he reaches his potential.
27. Patriots- Robert Woods, WR, USC: New England has not had a good track record when it comes to receivers in the draft, but that changes with the pick of Woods. Woods enters the NFL as maybe the most polished route runner in this class and he also possesses great hands. The Pats get a steal with the talented receiver out of USC, their first draft hit at the position since Deion Branch.
28. Falcons- Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers: Brent Grimes left in free agency, so finding a talented corner like Ryan that can come in and play right away is crucial for Atlanta. Ryan is another Greg Schiano recruit headed to the NFL.
29. 49ers- Philip Thomas, S, Fresno State: The Niners smartly waited to draft a safety, a need on their roster, and their patience pays off when they find Philip Thomas still on the board. The talented Bulldog safety has looked good leading up to the draft and he’s a great fit in the San Francisco secondary. (Don’t be surprised to see the Patriots make a trade for this pick or higher to draft Thomas.)
30. Ravens- Kyle Long, T, Oregon: When the Ravens got hot last year, much of the credit was devoted to their offensive line giving Flacco enough time to go deep. Bryant McKinnie hasn’t re-signed, and it looks like they are parting way. Long projects to be a starting right tackle in the NFL, and with his pedigree, he seems like a solid pick.

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