Jericho's 1st Round Mock (Round 1)

1 - ARI: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Geno Smith won't do the Chiefs many more favors than some later prospects. A QB with this pick would be a misstep by a club who can't afford another QB gaffe. So they trade down with AZ who takes Luke Joeckel. AZ decidedly has the worst O Line in the NFL and some have said Joeckel is an even better prospect than Jake Long or Joe Thomas. I'd say a good investment.

2 - JAX: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
What can I say? Dude's got a motor and Jax needs someone to get pressure. Less time for QBs to throw can hide deficiencies in the secondary and improve the defense overall. Geno could go here as well, but you don't want to pass up on someone truly special for a position of need. That's how you stay in the top half of the draft. Chad Henne can be serviceable for another season or they could sign a guy like Hasselbeck or Campbell.

3 - OAK: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Oakland is a mess, what else is new? But as far as I've been able to tell, you start a team with either of 2 positions, left tackle or defensive tackle. Star Lotulelei is almost certain to be here for them, but I don't see any scenario where they pass on Geno here is he's available. Carson Palmer has performed admirable considering the circumstances. But he's by no stretch of the imagination a long term answer.

4 - PHI: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
What Philadelphia NEEDS is some chemistry and to use Shady McCoy, but I suppose if they had either of those, they wouldn't be sitting at 4 would they? The Eagles went an entire month without a sack this season. You'd expect better from Cole and the departed Babin. Lotulelei is a special prospect and the best player available. He'll routinely see double teams, opening things up for Cole and Brandon Graham. They could go O line but their poor play could be accredited to health more than talent.

5 - DET: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
This was a playoff team a season ago so there must be something right going on here. Detroit was 20th in sacks this season. Cliff Avril will be a free agent and Vanden Bosch will be 35. Ansah is an athletic freak with upside rarely seen. He has nowhere to go but up over the next few months. Teaming him up with Suh and Fairely could give them a defensive line that lives up to the hype.

6 - CLE: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
Believe it or not, Cleveland is an up and coming team. They were the youngest in the NFL this year and have room to grow as players and as a team. The Browns were in the middle of the pack in sacks and run defense but 24th in pass D. Getting more pressure will help the young but talent secondary and may push them into the top half.

7 - KC: Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M
I fully expect KC to draft a QB, just not in the first round. This QB class lacks elite prospects, but it is deep. There really aren't many holes on this team and actually sent 5 guys to the Pro Bowl. But both starting ends (both underachieving former top 10 picks) are entering contract years. Moore is arguably the best player available so it fits need and value.

8 - BUF: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
Chan Gailey, Fitzpatrick's biggest supporter, is out in Buffalo and Ralph Wilson has given up control of the club, so that 7 year contract will unlikely see its end. Barkley is a solid QB that should at least cut down on the turnovers that have plagued Fitz over the years. If the Bills can provide some weapons, Matt should have a successful career. This time last year, he was conisered a top prospect, but he may not even be as good as Russell Wilson who went in the 3rd. This is kind of a reach.

9 - NYJ: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
Valdimir Ducasse should be tried for assault the way he protects the Jets' backfield. Who will be starting at QB for them is a mystery, but he will be in good hands. This will also help open up more holes for Shonn Greene who isn't a feature back, but has shown flashes over the years. Maybe some better interior blocking is the key. Guards don't usually go this high so he may slip like DeCastro did last year, but there's no doubt the Jets need help.

10 - TEN: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
The Titans were 26th in pass defense and gave up 31 TDs through the air. Milliner is great in coverage and in run support. Last April, Tennessee was interested in taking a top corner but did not get the opportunity. Can't get a higher rated corner than Milliner this year.

11 - SD: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
Tackle has been an issue for San Diego for quite some time now. They overpaid for Jared Gaither who has never played more than 11 games in a season. Rivers has had his struggles, some his fault, some not. Lewan on his blind side should help him cut down on the mistakes as well as give Ryan Matthews a chance to fully spread his wings.

12 - MIA: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
A lot of people think WR here, but just like the QB class, there are no distinct #1 prospects. Miami already has a set of very nice #2 receivers in Bess and Hartline, so a WR can wait. Vontae Davis is now in Indy, so CB is a pretty big need. There are plenty of analysts who put Banks on or above Milliner's level. Until Brady retires, they're going to need serious talent in the secondary.

13 - TB: Matt Elam, SS, Florida
Ronde Barber got more comfortable at his new safety position as the season went on, but that doesn't change the fact that he's five years older than Iron Maiden. Elam has the abilities to play either safety position and could conceivably overtake Barber before the first game is played. After taking Mark Barron last year, this could easily become a top safety tandem like Polamalu and Clark. Elam is projected a little low now, but a good combine could put him in the top 20.

14 - CAR: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
Finally, Carolina takes a defensive tackle. Wide receiver is definitely a possibility here, but there will be good prospects in the 2nd round. Every great defense starts with great interior line play. The Panthers have lacked in this area since the departure of Kris Jenkins to New York. Hankins is a playmaker and has a motor for a guy his size. He will routinely command double teams.

15 - NO: Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon
Will Smith could be owed some serious money and could be a cap casualty. The Saints defensive line isn't bad, but the addition of Jordan along with last years 1st round pick, Cam Jordan, can turn this line into a sack assembly line. The Saints aren't far from being back in the playoffs. If they can improve from 29th in sacks, that might push them to a few more wins.

16 - STL: Kenny Vaccaro, SS, Texas
Quick, name one of the Rams starting safeties. Wasn't that a useful exercise. The Rams defense is starting to look like a real unit. Jeff Fisher might be trying to put put an exclamation point for his HoF bid with this Rams team. Getting more playmakers in a secondary that was 19th in interceptions is one step closer.

17 - PIT: Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame
Te'o won't likely fall this far, but I couldn't bring myself to mock him any higher. He certainly has top 10 potential, but he's hardly locked himself into that status and the need really wasn't there. Larry Foote had possibly his best year as a pro, but he may not be around much longer. Pitt spent a 3rd rounder on Sean Spence who suffered a bad knee injury in the preseason and isn't exactly a sure thing. Te'o will give the Steelers one of the best linebacker duos this side of Bowman/Willis.

18 - DAL: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Richardson has speed for a big man and shows consistent ability to get penetration into the backfield. The Boys' defensive line combined had less than a third of the sacks by Ware and Spencer combined and Spencer may not be back next season. Richardson has all the potential to be as disruptive as Jay Ratliff but with a bit more athleticism.

19 - NYG: Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU
Osi is on his way out and Tuck hasn't performed up to snuff. Montgomery is big, fast, and tenacious. He and JPP will terrorize backfields for the next decade.

20 - CHI: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia
Urlacher is singing his swan song and Chicago needs new blood to man the middle of that vaunted defense. They've been so good for so long, but now they'll be seeing a lot of turnover with the departure of Lovie Smith and the age of their playmakers. Time to start building for the future.

21 - CIN: Eric Reid, FS, LSU
Cincinatti has needed help at safety for quite some time now and Reid is the best player on the board. He is a do-it-all safety who can cover, stack the box, and make plays in the backfield. The Bengals defense showed that they are legit this season, this pick should solidify them as an elite unit.

22 - STL: Dallas Thomas, OT, Tennessee
No surprise here. The Rams just can't stop trying out tackles. They traded trash for trash with a deal that sent Jason Smith to the Jets for Wayne Hunter. Not sure what that accomplished besides getting Smith out of town. Thomas has a lot of upside as a left tackle but may start on the right side to start off. It's not out of the question that he kicks current LT Roger Saffold to the other end of the line. Bradford may actually have a chance to scan the field this year.

23 - MIN: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama
Welcome back Williams Wall. The Vikings, once known for dominant run defense, fell outside the top ten this season. Williams will provide a ig body who can move and get penetration.

24 - BAL: Keenan Allen, WR, California
Anquan Boldin has been showing decline and no receiver has shown enough to be a true #2 to Torrey Smith. Allen should make a good possession receiver who has a knack for making something happen after the catch. This will be a great compliment to Smith's deep game. If they franchise or work out a deal with Flacco he won't have any excuses to underperform.

25 - IND: Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU
Mingo is the best player available and was once in consideration for the #1 pick. The Colts needs help on the D line, but newly converted OLBs Freeney and Mathis spent a significant amount of time on the injury report and aren't spring chickens anymore. Freeney is entering his contract year and will count almost $20 millions against the cap. Mingo is a better fit as an OLB and should be a disruptive force early on.

26 - GB: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
The Packers line has been decimated by injury this season. Eric Fisher's big selling point is his versatility. He will make a very good left or right tackle but also has the ability to kick inside. The Packers running game has been nonexistent and Rodgers can't be his normal MVP self with constant pressure in his face.

27 - SEA: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
Seattle may be the most complete team in the NFL. The defense is scary good, Lynch is a beast, and they've found themselves a true franchise quarterback. Justin Hunter has supreme athleticism and length and will stretch defenses at the next level. Expect Seattle to see the playoffs more often in the years to come.

28 - HOU: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
This Houston team is built to win, but Andre Johnson can't be the savior of this offense forever. Getting Schaub a second playmaker at receiver is a must and Austin's skill set will compliment Johnson's nicely. He'll also provide depth as Houston's passing game suffered after Johnson's injuries. The Texans need to take advantage of the immense talent on this team while it lasts and not waste it like the Cowboys and Eagels have.

29 - SF: Jonathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia
The 49ers have essentially no depth in their defensive line. Starting NT Isaac Sopoago is very good at his job, but he's 32. Jenkins will keep the 49ers run defense dominant.

30 - PHI: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
Patriots don't see the value with this pick so they trade down with the Eagles. Jake Matthews has franchise LT potential. The Eagles O line was a problem all season. Both health and depth were issues. Matthews may not overtake the great Jason Peters, but if he goes down for any period of time, they have a reliable go to man. Matthews can play on the right side immediately and help protect Nick Foles as well as opening running lanes for Shady McCoy.

31 - ATL: C.J. Mosley, OLB, Alabama
A lot of mocks will have Atlanta taking a tight end here which isn't a bad choice. But Mosley is too good to pass on here. Mosley will form a great duo with Weatherspoon and give the Falcons a formidable linebacking corps.

32 - DEN: Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford
We all saw what Peyton could do with Dallas Clark. Now imagine getting him one of these new fangled tight ends everyone is raving about. Ertz isn't exactly Jimmy Graham, but he's better than Jacob Tamme and has a higher ceiling than Clark.