Jericho4854's Mock 2.5 (Round 1)

1 - KC: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Several reports have come out that the Chiefs are actually very interested in Smith. Though I can't say I love the pick. It's hard to argue against it. Remember when Reid took over in Philly and drafted an athletic QB with a big arm and a high ceiling? And with the rookie pay scale, you don't have to sell the farm on a #1 QB anymore. With at least a solid QB under center, the Chiefs are ready to make some noise. Especially if they bring Bowe and LT Brandon Albert back.

2 - JAX: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
Star is a DT that can take over a game. He's drawn comparisons to Haloti Ngata and Warren Sapp. His athleticism and strength are rarely found in one package. He pushes linemen around and rarely gets handled himself. For Jax to improve their pass rush, they need to build up front. Alualu is a capable pass rusher, but is a turnstile in run defense. The Pats, Steelers, and Ravens know it all starts up front.

3 - OAK: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
Something about the name Bjoern Werner just belongs in Oakland. He is a premiere pass rushing prospect for a team that desparately needs it. Oakland has too many issues to be fixed in one draft, but they need defensive playmakers and you'll be hard pressed to find a more solid prospect at rushing the QB and defending the run.

4 - PHI: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
If Joeckel is available, there is no way this isn't the pick. Jason Peters has been a great LT in the league, but he's been hurt. And even if he regains form, Demetress Bell has been a disaster. Joeckel can play on the right side until he's ready to take over for Peters. Regardless of how they take care of the logistics, they will have 2 bookend tackles for Vick or Foles. Maybe if he's not running for his life, Vick can return to his 2010 form. And let's not forget how good Shady McCoy will be

5 - DET: Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M
Moore put his hand in the dirt for the first time this season at DE with impressive resuls. Vanden Bosch is gone and Avril will get overpaid somewhere else, so DE is a huge need. Though nothing measureable about Moore says top 5 pick, his effort cannot be denied. We've seen year after year that you don't need great athleticism to be a great football player. Detroit needs high effort guys

6 - CLE: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Some have Jones falling out of the top 10, but I just don't see it. His spine is a concern, but his game is not. He has been college football's sack master over the last 2 seasons. The Browns are transitioning to a 3-4 and Jones will be a terror coming off the edge. Their offense will continue to be a question mark, but their defense is starting to look scary.

7 - ARI: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
BOOM! Arizona finally gets a solution at LT. Though they continually express confidence in Levi Brown, who has improved, that's no reason to pass on Fisher who has risen up draft boards consistently for weeks. This pick will actually improve 2 positions as it is rumored that Brown could move to guard a la Robert Gallery. Whoever is under center may actually have time to throw the ball. Who knows what this could mean for the franchise?

8 - BUF: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Buffalo takes a chance on the athletic Volunteer. Not all the offensive problems stem from Ryan Fitzmagic. His lack of receiving talent would actually make him envious of St Louis. With only Steve Johnson as a threat, his is forced into holding the ball and making bad decisions. Patterson can take the top off a defense and will open things up for Johnson. All I can say for sure is that the pick will NOT be Nassib.

9 - NYJ: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas
Hey, did you hear? The Jets QBs suck. Sanchez is expected to stay on the roster as cutting him will cost the team $16 million. That's why Tannenbaum is out of a job. QB is such an immediate need, I don't think the Jets should wait for a "better value" prospect later. They should take the top QB on their board and try to move on from this nightmare. Wilson doesn't have overwhelming tangibles, but he's a gritty player willing to take a hit to make a play down the field.

10 - TEN: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
One of the best DT propects this year, Richardson will provide playmaking ability from the inside the Titans haven't had since Haynesworth.

11 - SD: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
So Philip Rivers has been abused by defenders the last few seasons. Johnson is a slight reach here, but the Chargers desparately need someone to watch Rivers' blindside. Given more time, we may see the return of the fantasy football darling we saw for most of his career. If he doesn't regain form, the Chargers may be looking for a QB early next year.

12 - MIA: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Miami's got problems in the secondary. Milliner isn't an elite prospect in the mold of Revis or Peterson, but he is tall and physical in coverage and is willing and solid in run support. Miami will pick up a solid player who will contribute from day 1.

13 - TB: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
You know how bad the Jets' QB situation is right? That's how bad the Buc's CB situation is. People are getting higher on Rhodes every day. I see him leap frogging Banks over the next several weeks. He is physical and fast, comparing favorably to Lardarius Webb. Once considered a day 2 talent, he may just make his way into the top half of the first round.

14 - CAR: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
I have Hankins here in my previous mock, and I see no reason to change it. Yes, Shariff Floyd is getting more attention, but Hankins is just better. He has good footwork for a guy his size and is one of the most powerful players in this year's draft. The Panthers were comfortable with their DT tandem last year and paid dearly. Though Kuechly proved to be a good addition, putting a big body in front of him will open him up to make more plays.

15 - NO: Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU
Mingo has been all over the draft boards from #2 to round 2. Here are the bare facts. He is the most athletic linebacker this year with ridiculous explosion and change of direction ability. A concern was his ability to bulk up, but he recently reported gaining 15 lbs of muscle while getting faster. Damn. NO is moving to a 3-4 and Mingo should be a terror for offenses to deal with.

16 - STL: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
All the best tackle prospects are gone, but Warmack is a top 10 talent. Guards aren't valued as highly as most other positions, but Warmack is that rare guard to be a game changer. He is physical with a mean streak and will bring attitude to a line that has not found consistency in all of Sam Bradford's time there. However, if they do not retain Amendola, I would expect to see a receiver here or with their next pick.

17 - PIT: Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon
Steelers got a little excited as Warmack fell like DeCastro did last year, but getting Dion Jordan makes all well. We don't know if Harrison will be back next year or if Worilds is ready to step up as the starter. Jordan is the perfect 3-4 OLB prospect with long arms, power, and athleticism to cover tight ends and even slot receivers in the flat. Just like when Harrison replaced Joey Porter, Steelers fans may be asking "James who?" in a couple short seasons.

18 - DAL: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
Cowboys are converting to a 4-3. That means Demarcus Ware rushing EVERY DOWN. Anthony Spencer may have played his way out of Dallas' willing pay range, so they grab a guy who has a ceiling that interacts with other solar systems. He is an athletic freak and showed productiveness after playing football for just 2 years. He isn't the best fit standing up on the outside, but if the Dallas coaching staff just says "Sick em boy." Ansah could be one of the best pass rushers in the league.

19 - NYG: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Giants have a big need on the inside of their line. Chris Canty was released, Marvin Austin has shown nothing, and Shaun Rogers was hurt all year and is 33. Outside that, they have a 7th rounder from last year. Floyd is a hot name now and could conceivable go higher come April. It's not a sexy pick, but it's an important one if the Giants want their D line to continue to be a strength.

20 - CHI: Keenan Allen, WR, California
The top tackle prospects are gone. Fluker or Dallas Thomas wouldn't be bad choices, but I can't justify them over Keenan Allen. He is a playmaker who's skill set complements Marshall's perfectly. He's tall and does his best work underneath and after the catch. He is an excellent redzone target and catches balls away from his body. There are solid lineman to be had later on, but getting weapons for Cutler is a must. The Bears have tired of Hester as a receiver and Johnny Knox was just released.

21 - CIN: Arthur Brown, ILB, Kansas State
Cincinatti is a team on the rise and they could go a number of directions here. One of their biggest areas of concern is at linebacker and they have their pick of top prospects availbale. Brown is rangy and athletic and plays his best game against the run which is very important in the AFC North. He's going to need to bulk up some, but he's young and room to grow. He is considered a perfect fit for the Will position in a 4-3.

22 - STL: Kenny Vaccaro, SS, Texas
Again, this is dependent on St Louis bringing back Amendola. Though even if he resigns, they may want to bring in another guy due to his sketchy injury history. Vaccaro is the first safety off the board as is unanimously expected at this juncture. He has no holes in his game. He is perhaps the best coverage safety in the draft and can lay the wood in run defense. Safety has been a weak position for the Rams for quite some time and this is the pick Rams fans have been waiting for,

23 - MIN: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Things have gotten real sour between the Vikings brass and Percy Harvin. Many don't expect him back with the team next season. So who better to replace him than a guy who draws considerable comparison? His ability to find daylight is something special and he can go the distance on any play. The Vikings were short on offensive talent as it is. Ponder isn't that special quarterback that can turn bologna into filet mignon. He needs players around him to be successful.

24 - IND: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
The 2nd best guard prospect this year, he will help the Colts' paltry interior blocking. Coop can play any position on the interior so his versatility will be must appreciated. He's a plug and play guard who will help this Colts offense take the next step.

25 - SEA: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
I love this young Seattle team. They are chock full of talent and have room to grow. They have some free agents coming up at DT and it's unclear who they will keep. Short is rather raw, but he's been rising up draft boards the last few weeks. He has surprising athleticism for a DT and most of his issues can be solved by coaching and some time in the weight room. He has potiential to be an impact player as he excels in getting penetration into the backfield.

26 - GB: Barrett Jones, OG, Alabama
Aaron Rodgers was sacked over 50x last season. That's the second time in his career. This is unacceptable for your franchise QB, who may be the best in the NFL. Jones has enviable versatility as he can play every position on the line, winning 2 national champtionships from different positions. The Packers' line must have the same curse as the Steelers' as they ge hurt at an alarming rate. Jones will help with depth and flexibility if someone goes down.

27 - HOU: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia
Once Brian Cushing went down, so did the Houston Texans. Fans have wanted a big time receiver for quite some time, and rightly so. But the receiver talent from this pick to round 2 doesn't have much drop off. Ogletree is a fantastic ILB prospect with good athleticism, length, and coverage ability. He also may have the versatility to play rush linebacker on the outside if Connor Barwin doesn't live up to expectations. This is a little far for him to fall, but the need really hasn't been there

28 - DEN: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
There are several directions the Broncos can go here. Safety and defensive tackle have both been concerns and top prospects are available for both positions. Champ Bailey's best years are CLEARLY behind him after that showing against Baltimore. They need young talent at corner ASAP, so Banks ends his slide in Denver. Widely considered the 2nd best corner prospect this year, he also may be shifted to safety due to his frame. So either way, he will improve the Broncos' secondary.

29 - NE: Matt Elam, SS, Florida
Elam is the best player available in my opinion. He is a bit undersized, but his play is big time. He can play either safety position, stack the box, cover, and everything outside or in between. The Pats's secondary has its ups and downs. Talib was awesome for them, but it's unclear how long he'll stick around. Elam is a sure bet to be a difference maker.

30 - ATL: Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU
John Abraham is an old man, but he somehow stays productive. That won't last forever. The Falcons are in a good spot to address their needs. They could go with Dallas Thomas to address the uncertainty on the right side or a big body like Jon Jenkins on the inside, being that none of their DTs are over 300 lbs. Montgomery is overshadowed by Mingo, but Monty accels in run defense, where the Falcons are inconsistent. He has a good motor and should get consistent pressure from the outside

31 - SF: Jonathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia
Sopoaga is a free agent and tailed off a bit at the end of the season. Jenkins is a space eater with a good anchor. He doesn't have ideal stamina, but as an NT, he wouldn't be expected to be in on every down. I like his mean streak and he should be a force on that line for years.

32 - BAL: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
Boldin may or may not be back depending on how Flacco's contract shapes up. He's 32 and on the downslope, even though he still showed significant play making ability during the playoffs. If he isn't retained, the Ravens will need another #2 receiver to pair with Torrey Smith. Hopkins is already a solid route runner and does his best work after the catch. He's not overly physical, but he's willing to mix it up. If they're going to break the bank for Flacco, they better make sure he has weapons.