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This is my 3rd go at a mock draft, but the first that I'll attempt to incorporate some trades in to. Since there were a record setting number of trades last year, and since trades are such a big part of what the NFL draft is all about, I had to throw a few in my mock.
Plus it's the general consensus around Windy City Gridiron that the Bears will want to move back from #20. The details of the trades aren't important, what is important is you giving us your take on the Bears pick.
1) Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M - At this point in the game, Joeckel is the guy. They may have been enamored with Eric Fisher for a little while, but Joeckel not only has tremendous upside, but he's NFL ready.
2) Jacksonville Jaguars: Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon - Some mock drafts have gone Eric Fisher with this pick, but I think new defensive minded head coach Gus Bradley will want the versatility that Jordan will bring. He's the best pure pass rusher in the draft, and he has 4.6 to go along with his skills.
3) Oakland Raiders: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida - The Raiders have a lot of needs, and this was the first spot I really thought about a trade down. They need D-LIne help, and either Floyd or Star Lotulelei would help them out.
4) Philadelphia Eagles: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia - I'm trying to buy into the buzz that Smith will fall, but I just can't help thinking he's the perfect guy to build the new Chip Kelley offense around.
Previous pick V1: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
5) TRADE: Arizona swaps 1st round picks with Detroit:
Arizona Cardinals (From Det): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan - Arizona moves up a couple spots to ensure they get an elite LT prospect to protect the QB in Bruce Arians' pass happy offense.
Previous pick V1: Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU to the Lions
6) Cleveland Browns: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama - Don't buy the medical concerns floating around about Milliner, he's the #1 corner in the draft and the Browns would like to add him to their revamped defense.
7) Detroit Lions (From AZ): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU - The Lions move back a couple spots, pick up a later round draft pick, and grab a player that would fit in perfectly in their Wide 9 defense.
Previous pick V1: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia to Arizona
Previous pick V2: Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU to Arizona
8) Buffalo Bills: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma - I still think the Bills are going to roll the dice and get a blind side protector in the first round, and grab Ryan Nassib of Syracuse later. Don't forget new Bills head coach Doug Marrone was Nassib's head coach last year.
Previous pick V1: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
9) New York Jets: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama - When the Jets picked up the Bucs 1st round pick, it gave them the luxury of addressing both sides of the ball early in the draft. Warmack will be an immediate starter, and help keep defenders out of Mark Sanchez's face.
Previous pick V1/V2: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
10) Tennessee Titans: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah - I had them going WR in my first mock, but Star Lotulelei has a chance to be a rock on the interior of their defense for a long time. The Titans haven't had a disruptive DT since Albert Haynesworth.
Previous pick V1: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
11) San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina - I think they would rather have a left tackle, but Cooper is a heck of a consolation prize.
Previous pick V1/V2: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
12) TRADE: St. Louis swaps 1st round picks with Miami:
St. Louis Rams (From Miami): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia - The threat of the 49ers moving up to get Austin prompts the Rams to move up for their guy.
Previous pick V1: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma to Miami
Previous pick V2: D.J. Fluker, T, Alabama to Miami
13) New York Jets (From TB): Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU - The Jets get the pass rusher they need.
Previous pick V1: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida to the Bucs
14) Carolina Panthers: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri - This picks makes so much sense that the Panthers will probably do something else.
15) New Orleans Saints: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia - Jones would be a great fit as an OLB in their new 3-4 defense. He led the nation in sacks and will be the edge rusher they need.
Previous pick V1: Star Lotulelei, NT, Utah
Previous pick V2: Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU
16) Miami Dolphins (From STL): Xavier Rhodes, CB Florida State: I still think D.J. Fluker is in play for the Fins if they can't deal for Branden Albert, but that deal seems close. They fill a need with Rhodes.
Previous pick V1: Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas to the Rams
Previous pick V2: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia to the Rams
17) Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee - I think the Steelers would have liked to take Austin, but with him gone, they go next WR up. Patterson is a raw prospect, but they need a WR, and his upside is huge.
Previous pick: Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU
18) Dallas Cowboys: Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State - I still believe they want some help for their new 4-3 Tampa 2 defense, only now I think they'll go with Carradine who has scouts buzzing after his latest workout.
Previous pick V1: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Previous pick V2: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
19) New York Giants: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State - I had the Giants going with Werner in my first mock, and now I'm back around to him. Safety Kenny Vaccaro or linebacker Alec Ogletree are possibilities.
Previous pick V1: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
Previous pick V2: Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas
20) TRADE: San Francisco swaps 1st round picks with Chicago:
San Francisco 49ers (From Chi): Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas - As I was inching closer to the Bears pick at 20, I started to wonder who I would trade back with. San Fran and Atlanta were two logical partners, but I didn't think there would be a player here worth trading up for. As luck would have it the top safety in the draft is still available, and the Niners need a safety. With the Bengals and Rams also in need of a safety, having the 49ers leap in front of them makes sense.
21) Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International - They could go with LSU's Eric Reid, go for a tackle, or trade back, but there are rumors that they are enamored with Cryprien.
22) St. Louis Rams: Eric Reid, S, LSU - Since they snagged Austin earlier, they can go defense with this pick. Reid fills a need at safety for the Rams..
23) Minnesota Vikings: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina - With the Colts in need of d-line help, I think the Vikes grab Williams here, and go linebacker at 25.
24) Indianapolis Colts: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA - The Colts have a lot of options with this pick, but I think they go with defense since last year was offense heavy. The Colts need to get after the QB, and Jones may be the best guy on the board with that skill.
25) Minnesota Vikings: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington - OK, I lied, no linebacker here at 25 with Trufant on the board. Minnesota can look for their MLB in the 2nd.
26) Green Bay Packers: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame - Taking Eifert seems like a logical Packers move to me, and adds another talented weapon for Aaron Rodgers. Trading down is also a possibility as they need safety and o-line help, and both could be addressed further down the draft.
27) Houston Texans: Robert Woods, WR, USC - Woods is a polished wide out that will immediately help the Texans offense.
28) Denver Broncos: Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State - The Broncos need d-line help, but this might be too high to reach for one of those, instead they fill a need at corner.
29) TRADE: New England Trades back with Buffalo:
Buffalo Bills (From N.E.): Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse - The Patriots are always a good bet to trade back, and Buffalo jumps up before a QB run takes place so they can get their guy.
30) Atlanta Falcons: Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford - The Falcons could go corner, o-line, or find the eventual replacement for Tony Gonzalez. I think they take Ertz, and look at o-line later.
31) Chicago Bears (From San Fran): ________, __, ________ - Now it's your turn... Let us know who you're taking if the real NFL draft fell this way.
It wasn't planned, but the consensus top three MLBs are all still available. So are tackles Fluker and Menelik Watson. USC QB Matt Barkley is sitting there for SMD, so are a few talented wide outs. So get in touch with your inner Phil Emery, and decide who you would pick?
The only rule for the purposes of this mock draft is you can't trade down again!
Make a choice...
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