2013 NFL Mock Draft: Updated Top 10 Picks Following Scouting Combine: The first round of the 2013 NFL Draft is slowly starting to come together. Pro days are still to come, but the top prospects had their first chance to show their stuff at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, providing a few hints to which players teams picking near the top may be targeting. More importantly, rumors that San Francisco is going to be shipping quarterback Alex Smith to Kansas City, eliminating the chances of the Chiefs drafting a QB with the No. 1 overall pick. In addition, a potentially serious heart condition was discovered with highly-touted defensive tackle prospect Star Lotulelei, putting his status in limbo and all but ending his chances of being a top-10 pick in April. There will be more changes to come, but on the heels of the scouting combine, here is a look at the updated top 10.
1. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M
It looks like the Chiefs are going to be trading for their potential franchise QB rather than drafting one, and the most important thing after the guy under center is a guy to keep him upright. Joeckel has the size, technique and SEC grooming to be a pillar at either tackle spot for the next decade. He is a rock solid, safe pick at the top spot, and after rolling the dice on Alex Smith, the Chiefs will opt for the security.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Shariff Floyd, Defensive Tackle, Florida
Going into the combine, teams already knew that Floyd was big, strong and nasty in the trenches. After he posted a 40 time under five seconds, the big man is suddenly a potential explosive game changer at the point of attack. Jacksonville ranked dead last in the NFL in sacks last year, and while Floyd may not be an edge rusher, he can still help the problem by bringing consistent pressure up the middle
3. Oakland Raiders: Dee Milliner, Cornerback, Alabama
He was already regarded as the best cover corner in the draft, and Milliner’s 4.37 second 40-yard dash time all but guarantees that he will be a top-five pick. Oakland’s secondary has plenty of holes, and the Raiders allowed the eighth-most touchdown passes last season. Milliner has a chance to come in and control opposing No. 1 receivers sooner rather than later, and Oakland won’t miss a chance to add the draft’s clear-cut No. 1 corner.
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Eric Fisher, Offensive Tackle, Central Michigan
Philadelphia has resigned Michael Vick, and it appears new coach Chip Kelly is sticking with what he has as far as the skill positions are concerned. That being the case, upgrading the offensive line is a must, and Fisher’s stellar combine has some scouts grading him basically equal to Luke Joeckel. Whether the Eagles play him at right or left tackle is irrelevant. Fisher will be a major upgrade wherever he ends up and help ensure that Vick .
5. Detroit Lions: Chance Warmack, Guard, Alabama
There is a stigma that guards don’t get picked in the top five, but few prospects at the position have ever possessed the skill set of Warmack. More importantly, Detroit’s offensive line could be in need of three new starters as soon as this year, and it’s not like the current unit was dominating in the trenches anyway. Warmack will sure up the interior of the line immediately and bulldoze some holes for Lions’ embarrassing ground game.
6. Cleveland Browns: Dion Jordan, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End, Oregon
The Browns know they aren’t going to win in the AFC North without a stout defense, and Jordan is the athletic playmaker the unit has been lacking. He is strong enough to hold his own against the run and fast enough to be a force off the edge. Jordan’s combination of size and speed has drawn comparisons to that of San Francisco’s Aldon Smith, and Cleveland could certainly use a dominant pass rusher.
7. Arizona Cardinals: Lane Johnson, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma
Although there is a chance that Arizona could opt for a quarterback with this pick, the offensive line is so bad that I don’t think the Cardinals’ brass will waste a chance to upgrade. Johnson shined at the combine when it came to his measurables, showing his has the speed and athleticism to go with his strength and technique. Johnson did an excellent job protecting the immobile Landry Jones at Oklahoma for the past couple of seasons, and he should do the same for a group of Cardinals’ QBs that took turns getting killed last year.
8. Buffalo Bills: Geno Smith, Quarterback, West Virginia
Buffalo’s front office has basically said it is going to take a quarterback in the first round, and with Kansas City no longer in the market, Smith could still be on the board. He has already shown the ability to make just about every throw in the playbook, and a solid combine that included a 4.56 time in 40 answered any questions about his athleticism. The Bills want a franchise QB that they can plug in immediately, and Smith is looking like the best option in a relatively weak class.
9. New York Jets: Ezekiel Ansah, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End , BYU
If the Jets have any hope of salvaging things with their current core of players, getting the defense playing at a high level again is a must. Ansah is raw, but he is also freakishly fast and agile for a guy that is 6’5” and weighs about 270 pounds. He has a chance to be a dominant pass rusher off the edge and a guy that makes big plays in the backfield. Landing a player that can pressure the pocket will become even more vital if the rumors about a Darrelle Revis trade turn out to be true.
10. Tennessee Titans: Jonathan Cooper, Guard, North Carolina
Getting Chris Johnson going again is the top priority for Tennessee, and strengthening the middle of the offensive line is the best way to reach the goal. Cooper can play center or guard, and more importantly, he has the strength to move the pile downhill and the speed to kick out on stretch plays. He may not have as much raw strength as Chance Warmack, but Cooper is pretty darn close to the total package as far as an interior lineman goes.
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