One last mock draft before the real thing. As always, this is what I would do in these teams positions, I am not making any real attempt to guess at what mistakes they are going to make. I prefer to make my own.
FIRST ROUND
PICK 1: PANTHERS
DL Marcell Dareus: The Panthers need everything, and Dareus is at the top of my board. He will be a physical upgrade at any spot on the Panthers line. They need to find a day-one starter with this pick and he will be one. If Greg Hardy can meet his potential, the Panthers may have a solid D-Line, which would give them one more solid area than they had last year.
PICK 2: BRONCOS
CB Patrick Peterson: The Broncos defensive front is going to be a mess this year with the expected transition back to a 4-3. They have some players who should fit the areas they need as they hadn't really fully transitioned to a 3-4 personnel set, but, even if they do find the right players, it's going to take awhile. Pairing Peterson with Champ Bailey will ease some of that pain by allowing for more blitzes up front.
PICK 3: BILLS
OT Gabe Carimi: The Bills haven't had a left tackle in a few years. It's time that they go get one, and Carimi was the best in college football last year. If I were a Bills fan, I would be hoping that they take a shot at a second Offensive Tackle later in this draft too.
PICK 4: BENGALS
QB Ryan Mallett: I haven't really connected to what the concerns are here. Yes he was a bit of a punk as a freshman in college, but weren't we all? This kid was the leader of his team and he is a more pro-ready quarterback than any other with the talent to be at the top of this draft. This kid has an absolute cannon.
PICK 5: CARDINALS
DE/OLB Robert Quinn: The Cardinals are still putting together their 3-4 defense and Quinn can play any of 4 positions. He has the size and ability to play the 5 technique and the speed to play OLB. A perfect fit for what they are looking for in the desert.
PICK 6: BROWNS
WR Julio Jones: Julio Jones is a physical freak who is a great blocker. Colt McCoy needs a go to receiver to stretch defenses away from the line of scrimmage. Some people will argue that A.J. Green should be picked ahead of Jones, but I have never agreed with that ranking. Jones is nigh-uncoverable and his blocking will fit what the Browns have going for them with Peyton Hillis and their power rushing attack.
PICK 7: 49ERS
CB Prince Amukamura: The Niners are a couple players away from having a premier defense. Prince might count as 2. He will start from day out in San Fran, and with the front 7 they have bringing the heat behind their leader, Patrick Willis, a lockdown corner could be deadly.
PICK 8: TITANS
QB Cam Newton: They love their athletic Quarterbacks in Nashville, and Cam will be a natural replacement for Vince the headcase. They want to run that belly option with Chris Johnson and if their are 2 players athletic enough to make that work, it's Newton and Johnson. It won't matter if they can't find some linemen though.
PICK 9: COWBOYS
OT Tyron Smith: The Cowboys have to take the top tackle talent available. Have to, but thankfully, this isn't a huge reach. 10 picks or so, but not huge.
PICK 10: REDSKINS
WR A.J. Green: The Skins have been looking for a QB to fix their passing attack, but Donovan needs weapons. With A.J. Green still on the board, they will jump at the chance.
PICK 11: TEXANS
OLB/DE Von Miller: The Texans will want to take a hard look at the 3-4 defense this season and they are going to need some big-time edge rushers to make that work. The local boy Von Miller is the best in the bunch this year and will be a very popular pick in Houston.
PICK 12: VIKINGS
DE Adrian Clayborn: The Purple People Eaters are getting old up front and need a bookend for Jared Allen with Ray Edwards heading out the door. Clayborn is a Big-10 kid who demanded consistent double-teams for a reason. He won't see those in the NFL and he will a contributor early for the Vikings.
PICK 13: LIONS
OT Anthony Castonzo: The Lions need to find a way to keep Matthew Stafford on the field. That means they need a left tackle. Castonzo was good enough to protect Matty Ice as a freshman and he only got better from there.
PICK 14: RAMS
DT Nick Fairley: The Rams were really hoping that either Julio Jones or A.J. Green would be available at 14, but Nick Fairley is a damn fine consolation prize. Chris Long, George Selvie, and Fairley are 3 starter-level talents at this level up front, and if Fairley can be consistently motivated, one of the ends might get some pub too.
PICK 15: DOLPHINS
OLB Justin Houston: The Fins needs edge players to run Parcell's version of the 3-4. Justin Houston is a solid all-around player who can really rush the passer and played in a 3-4 for in Athens. He will have a natural transition to OLB in Miami.
PICK 16: JAGUARS
DE Cameron Jordan: The Jaguars had pretty good luck drafting a defensive lineman out of Cal last year, and Jordan was regardd as the talented one. This should be the last piece to a hell of a defensive line in Jacksonville.
PICK 17: PATRIOTS
DL Muhammed Wilkerson: The Pats need to get younger up front. Wilkerson was THE star for Temple and he still dominated. When the other team knows you are what they need to stop, and they can't, it's a great sign. He should transition directly to a 5-technique in New England. Another small school diamond for Belichek.
PICK 18: CHARGERS
OL Rodney Hudson: Despite a dissapointing season, the Chargers really are just drafting best available as they have no glaring holes. Their front office ruined last season, not their roster. Rodney Hudson is considered to be the best Offensive Lineman EVER at Florida State. He'll start from day one for the Chargers.
PICK 19: GIANTS
DT Marvin Austin: If Marvin Austin would have just stayed in his dorm room and kept his head down, he would have been a top 10 pick. Turns out it didn't hurt him all that much. He is an extremely athletic DT who will fill a hole for the Giants.
PICK 20: BUCCANEERS
DE Da'Quan Bowers: Bowers dropped from the proposed #1 overall due to a minor knee injury and concerns about his lack of consistency. He is still the best Defensive End who played college football last year, and the Buccaneers need to get some production from that position. Not to speak ill of the dead, but let's hope this pick works out a little better than the last time they picked a touted DE from Clemson.
PICK 21: CHIEFS
OL Michael Pouncey: The Chiefs patched up their Offensive Line with some veterans the last few years. The problem with that is, the players ended up in KC because their old teams thought they were over the hill. Jon Asomoah has the potential to fill one of the guard spots, but it's likely that in the next couple, they will need both guard spots and a center. Pouncey can play any of them.
PICK 22: COLTS
OT Nate Solder: If the Colts want Peyton to survive, they had better get a left tackle. Solder is advanced as a pass blocker and could be just what the Colts are looking for.
PICK 23: EAGLES
DE/OLB Aldon Smith: There is some confusion about whether Smith will fit better as a DE or an OLB, but the Eagles need both. He is a superior athlete and has the potential to be a difference maker in Philly's aggressive scheme.
PICK 24: SAINTS
DE Cameron Heyward: Ironhead's boy is just what the doctor ordered for the Saints. Will Smith and Alex Brown aren't what they once were, and it's time to start thinking about tomorrow up front for the Saints. Cameron is family, and he's talented enough to see a couple Pro-Bowls.
PICK 25: SEAHAWKS
QB Blaine Gabbert: The Hawks need a Quarterback of the future and Gabbert is as physically talented as anybody in this draft. He needs some time to adjust his footwork to a dropback passer, but he can make all the throws and has shown the potential to light up a defense. Consistency in his decision making would be good too.
PICK 26: RAVENS
CB Jimmy Smith: As strange as it is to see 2 Colorado Buffaloes going in the first round after the rough couple years they have had, Solder and Smith can play. They were leaders for their team and they will be around the league for awhile. There are questions about where Smith falls in regards to ther other corners in this draft, but I have him third, and he would be the latest defensive stud for Baltimore who is in dire need of cornerbacks.
PICK 27: FALCONS
TE Kyle Rudolph: The Falcons are good, and they have shown it consistently. They brought in Tony G. to give their offense depth. They don't want to lose that when he retires. Kyle Rudolph is the best TE in this draft and giving him the chance to learn behind the best as his position in our generation is a huge opportunity.
PICK 28: PATRIOTS
OL Stefen Wisniewski: The Pats need players in the middle of the Offensive Line and they love tough players who can play multiple positions. Wisniewski is nasty, talented, and can give the Pats time at 4 of the Offensive Line positions. This will look like a reach to people outside of Massachussetts and Pennsylvania, but Billy boy does not care what anyone else thinks. He wants his kind of players, and Stefen is one of those.
PICK 29: BEARS
DT Kenrick Ellis: The Bears have not drafted a starting Defensive Tackle worth having in quite a few years. Ellis is a big time talent who will keep the Bears' stud linebackers clean and making life difficult for opposing offenses. They would have loved to have one of the top Tackles but with them flying off the board early, Ellis will be a nice addition to their defense.
PICK 30: JETS
DE J.J. Watt: The Jets are very thin on their defensive front. Ellis was born to play DE in a 3-4. He is big, athletic, and does not stop. He will be a perfect fit for Gang Green.
PICK 31: STEELERS
OT Derek Sherrod: Flozell Adams stood in very well at Right Tackle, but he is aging fast. Sherrod is a road grader who was battle tested in the SEC. If he can learn for a year behind Adams, the likely future hall of famer, he could star(t) for years in the Steel City.
PICK 32: PACKERS
DL Corey Liuget: The Packers need to find ends for their 3-4. They weren't deep before the offseason's legal fun with Johnny Jolly. Liuget was a pass rushing tackle in college and has the ability and skill set to transition to a 3-4 end.
SECOND ROUND
PICK 33: PATRIOTS
RB Mark Ingram: The Patriots have a plethora of picks in this draft and there is no way that they don't address their running back position. They have been aging fast and need an every down type of ball carrier. Ingram won't hit homeruns, but he is a positive yardage type of guy. Oh, and the Heisman, yeah, that's nice too.
PICK 34: BILLS
OLB Akeem Ayers: There are proponents for Ayers as the top OLB in this draft. I don't have him that high, but he is a starter quality athlete who was a leader on his team in a big conference. The Bills need players for the front 7 of their 3-4 and Ayers has the potential to start from day one.
PICK 35: BENGALS
WR Leonard Hankerson: This may look odd as the Bengals have had a couple productive picks on the outside the last few years, but they don't have a #1. T.O. is gone, and Chad Johnson/OchoCinco is soon to be. Hankerson was one of the receivers who scared defenses, and I think he will be that in the NFL with some work too. He should be the last piece to a very nice, long-term, crew at receiver for the Bungals.
PICK 36: BRONCOS
MLB Greg Jones: The Broncos, much like the Bills, need players who can step into their defensive front 7 and play. Greg Jones is a leader and a beast at Middle Linebacker.
PICK 37: BROWNS
FS Rahim Moore: The Browns need a Defensive End, but there are a ton of them in this draft. There are far fewer quality safeties. Rahim Moore will be an immediate upgrade at the back of the Cleveland defense, pairing well with last year's #1 pick Joe Haden to shore up their pass defense.
PICK 38: CARDINALS
QB Christian Ponder: This pick may change if the Cardinals are able to pick up Kevin Kolb or some other veteran to step in who has some tread left on the tires. If not, Ponder is smart enough to adjust and survive as a rookie in the league and has enough of all the tools to, potentially, be a long term starter. They will need to keep him alive though.
PICK 39: TITANS
WR Austin Pettis: The Titans really weren't looking like a team who would be looking hard at wide receiver with Kenny Britt starting to act like he wanted to be a starter and Randy Moss coming to town. Now Britt is facing charges and the good lord only knows where Moss will be pouting....errr...playing this year. So, Austin Pettis....he's big, fast, and has great hands. How much were his abilities inflated by playing for Boise? Well, we'll see, but his size and speed are certainly for real.
PICK 40: COWBOYS
SS DeAndre McDaniel: McDaniel is a athletic safety with good size and a ton of experience. He didn't gain much draft-wise by coming back for another year, but he is still a first day kind of pick. He can give time at either safety position, can tackle, and will be a coverage upgrade from day one for the Boys.
PICK 41: REDSKINS
NT Phillip Taylor: The 3-4 requires a Nose Tackle, which is going to serve Phillip Taylor well. Baylor didn't have a lot of defense this year, but they did have big, athletic body in the middle of the line. He won't star from day one, but he will contribute, keeping their undersized linebackers running free.
PICK 42: TEXANS
DB Aaron Williams: Williams can play all 4 secondary positions as is pretty common for UT defensive backs. The Texans feel that Grover Quin would be a great free safety moving over from corner, but they need a guy who can take his spot at corner. Williams gives them the chance to evaluate 2 players who can play either position and pick the best for each.
PICK 43: VIKINGS
CB Brandon Harris: Antoine Winfield and Lito Sheppard could really play in their days but they have both lost a step. Harris will be an upgrade at Nickel as a rookie, transitioning to start via Asher Allen for a couple years to come.
PICK 44: LIONS
MLB Quan Sturdivant: The Lions are getting better, but they still need players all over the field. They have missed on a couple of Linebackers the last few years, so MLB is still a need. Sturdivant is a nice athlete at that position who should be ready to go after losing last year to the Tar Heel's teamwide controversy.
PICK 45: 49ERS
QB Colin Kaepernick: The Niners need a QB of the future. Kaepernick is a project, but he is a good kid with leadership skills. Oh, and he is a stud athlete at QB. He has the arm to make all the throws, good height, and can really run. Playing the Pistol offense will require some adjustments and hard work on his part, but if he can handle that, he could be around a long time.
PICK 46: BRONCOS
DT Stephen Paea: S.T.R.O.N.G. He set the combine bench press record and was well regarding before that. The Donkeys need someone who can hold the line in their new 4-3 and he is a horse on the inside. He isn't going to run by anyone, but they sure aren't going to move him either.
PICK 47: RAMS
WR Jon Baldwin: They need weapons for Sammy, and Baldwin is a rare athlete at WR. He is huge with wheels and hands. There are some concerns about him as a prima dona, but the door is open for him to be man on the outside in St. Louis.
PICK 48: RAIDERS
SS Deaunta Williams: The Raiders fans love safeties who bring the wood and Williams is that guy. He could pair with Michael Huff to give them a nice pair of safeties.
PICK 49: JAGUARS
S Quinton Carter: If you are looking for a safety who can play either position, some thing Carter is the best of the bunch. He was a leader and an all-american for the Sooners, and has the attitude that they like in Jacksonville.
PICK 50: CHARGERS
CB Ras-I Dowling: This is a high-reward gamble for the Bolts. If Dowling had stayed healthy the last few years, he would have been fighting to the be the #2 corner in this draft. He didn't, so he's not, but Antonio Cromartie couldn't stay healthy either and that worked out ok for them. Well, till he left, but I digress. If they can get lucky here, it would be a huge win for them.
PICK 51: BUCCANEERS
CB Chimdi Chekwa: The Bucs need a corner now. Barber is going to show his age eventually, and Talib is looking at prison time. Chekwa is a track guy who proved he could play a little. A big time athlete, and one more piece for the Buccaneer youth movement.
PICK 52: GIANTS
MLB Nate Irving: A hard road back from injury has Nate Irving back where people expected him a few years ago. He is a tough, playing making MLB. A great depth pick for the G-Men.
PICK 53: SEAHAWKS
TE D.J. Williams: An explosive weapon at tight end. He is not strong as an in-line blocker, but will create big-time match-up problems for the Seattle offense.
PICK 54: PACKERS
OL James Carpenter: The Packers still need depth on their line, and Carpenter is a guy who can play 4 positions.
PICK 55: CHIEFS
OLB Bruce Carter: Mike Vrabel has done well helping them transition to their 3-4, but he doesn't have much tread left on the tires. Carter is a disruptive athlete at OLB.
PICK 56: COLTS
SS Will Hill: Bob Sanders is gone. Will Hill may not be Bob Sanders, but he was a multi-year starter and leader for one of the best D's in the country. He can play, and can really cover, which will be useful in the AFC south.
PICK 57: EAGLES
CB Johnny Patrick: The Eagles lack of depth at corner was exposed last year and was a serious Achilles heel. Patrick is not a well known player nationwide, but if you watched any Big East ball, you know why he is getting some draft love. All Big East, with good ball skills.
PICK 58: SAINTS
FS Ahmad Black: He's too small. He's too slow. But noone has been able to keep him off the field. It's a gamble, but he's the kind of smart player who finds a way.
PICK 59: JETS
OLB Matrez Wilson: The Jets need players to fill out their front 7. Wilson is a big athlete at OLB. His coverage skills need work, but he can really come off the edge.
PICK 60: RAVENS
WR Titus Young: He has been likened to DeSean Jackson. I don't know if I am going to give him that much, but he is fast and polished. The Ravens need young talent that can get down the field to take advantage of Joe Flacco's arm. Titus can do that.
PICK 61: BEARS
OL DeMarcus Love: The Bears need to flesh out their offensive line. It was piecemeal last year, and that won't due long term. DeMarcus played in a passing offense at tackle in the country's toughest conference and aquitted himself well.
PICK 62: STEELERS
RB Ryan Williams: The NFL is a game of running back by committee. Ryan Williams is an explosive, smaller back, who should be a great running mate for Rashard Mendenhall.
PICK 63: FALCONS
DE Markus White: The Falcons need production from their Defensive Ends. White is a bit smaller than the prototypical Defensive End, but he will be their best pass rusher when he steps on the field. He will need to gain weight to be more than a pass rush specialist.
PICK 64: PATRIOTS
QB Jake Locker: Jake Locker needs some coaching and time to put his considerable talent to good use. The Patriots have the time and the coaching to do it. A great fit for for Locker.
THIRD ROUND
PICK 65: PANTHERS
OT Joseph Barksdale: Barksdale is a mountain of a man at left tackle who is surprising athletic. He was the left-side anchor of a road grading O-Line. I project him as an average Left Tackle or a very good Right Tackle.
PICK 66: BRONCOS
QB Andy Dalton: John Fox has no allegiance to Tim Tebow as the future of the Broncos and Andy Dalton is his kind of QB. He is smart, with good athleticism,and is a great value at 66.
PICK 67: BILLS
DE Greg Romeus: Romeus should have came out last year. He has suffered some injuries which have hurt his stock fell, but if he recovers, he is a big end with the talent to play in any front. He might be a reach, but if it pays, it fills a big need for the Bills.
PICK 68: BENGALS
OL Kristopher O'Dowd: They have had some great drafts the last few years, but they have not addressed their internal offensive line positions. O'Dowd is a center by trade, but can help with depth at either guard spot as well.
PICK 69: CARDINALS
OL Marcus Gilbert: Gilbert played up and down the line at Florida, spending time at both tackle and guard spots. He was overshadowed by the Pouncey brothers but projects as guard stretching possible to Right Tackle in the NFL.
PICK 70: BROWNS
DE Ryan Kerrigan: The Browns are moving back to a 4 man front. They need Ends in a big way and Kerrigan is a prototype body type for a 4-3 Defensive End. He was hyper productive for Purdue and with a few pounds should be a very solid NFL End.
PICK 71: COWBOYS
OL Lee Ziemba: Ziemba is a massive tackle who has experience at guard as well. He was the senior leader of an exellent Auburn O-Line. He projects as a right tackle as he is much strong as run blocker, but this is a depth/project pick for the Cowboys. He could pair with Tyron Smith to give them a nice bookend in few years, and if Doug Free holds onto a Tackle spot, he can slide inside to Guard as well.
PICK 72: SAINTS
MLB Kelvin Sheppard: A run-stopping MLB from LSU. Sheppard is big and fast, and that speed is a requirement for how the Saints want to play defense.
PICK 73: TEXANS
DL Jerrell Powe: The Texans need Defensive Linemen for their 3-4 transition. Powe has the size to play Nosetackle, and was dominant at time in college. He may not be a star, but should be able to keep the Texans stud linebackers running free.
PICK 74: PATRIOTS
S Tejay Johnson: A big hitter with solid coverage skills. He can play either safety position and was a leader on the excellent TCU defense.
PICK 75: LIONS
OL Jason Pinkston: A very good athlete along the O-Line. He is not projected to left tackle due to being slightly shorter than is desirable. At worst, he should be able to play guard early in his career, especially for a team like the Lions.
PICK 76: 49ERS
RB Kendall Hunter: Hunter is a dynamic back who is very good in space and is very experienced. He will be a nice change of pace back to contrast Frank Gore's and Anthony's Dixon's bruising style.
PICK 77: TITANS
OL Orlando Franklin: Franklin should be an outstanding guard in the NFL, but does not have the foot speed to hold up at Left Tackle. The Titans may be able to steal some time with him playing Right Tackle if needed, but his greatest benefit is his flexibility and experience.
PICK 78: RAM
TE Luke Stocker: Stocker is a good all-around tight end who can be a weapon in the passing game. The Rams need weapons. He is also a great value at 78.
PICK 79: DOLPHINS
RB Mikel Leshoure: There has been a lot of talk that the Fins would not be resigned both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. It surprises me as they are both such talented players, but maybe they know something we don't. LeShoure is the #2 back on most boards and is a steal in the third.
PICK 80: JAGUARS
OLB Mason Foster: Foster is a nice athlete on the side who didn't get much love because the Huskies were not very successful for most of his career. He is a hard working with a good head and some wheels. A nice fit for how the Jags do things.
PICK 81: RAIDERS
DT Jarvis Jenkins: An athletic tackle who was overshadowed by Chris Clemons and Da'Quan Bowers on the outside of the Clemson line, Jenkins is going to surprise some people in the NFL. Letting him learn from Richard Seymour is just gravy.
PICK 82: CHARGERS
ILB Colin McCarthy: McCarthy is one of those guys who just makes tackles. He has good size and decent speed, but is definitely best suited to play the inside. A depth pick who could hang around for a lot of years, he should be a good pick for the Chargers flavor of the 3-4.
PICK 83: GIANTS
OL Zach Hurd: The Giants O-Line had some trouble last year. Hurd is a flexible lineman who can fill in up and down the line or step in at guard right now.
PICK 84: BUCCANEERS
OLB/DE Sam Acho: Another classic Tweener out of Texas. He played OLB and DE for Texas and was a star at both. A poor season by the team kept him out of the spotlight, but he is a solid, smart player, who can do a bit of everything. The Bucs will be able to either bookend him with Bowers at End or move him to OLB for depth at that position. This is a best player on the board pick.
PICK 85: CHARGERS
DT Drake Nevis: A big athletic body to plug in along the Chargers big front line on defense.
PICK 86: PACKERS
SS Tyler Sash: Sash is a very athletic safety who is technically sound and is very good in run support. He was a surprise to declare early, but he is very athletic and with some more weight room time, he could be a very good player for the Pack.
PICK 87: CHIEFS
WR Greg Little: Greg Little was a star coming in to UNC and he was a star at UNC, but he screwed up and cost himself his last year. The Chiefs need a second outside receiver, and if his suspension was a lesson learned, this will be a steal. He is big and fast, and knows how to use his talent to go get it.
PICK 88: COLTS
DT Jurrell Casey: Casey was a star on USC's defense and that says a lot. That said, this is a need pick for the Colts whose run defense has been a weakness for the last several years.
PICK 89: EAGLES
OL Jake Kirkpatrick: The Eagles need help at guard and center. Kirkpatrick can play both and they should be able to put him where they see the biggest need, or have him available as depth for all 3. A center by trade, he is smart and athletic, with a ton of experience coming out of TCU.
PICK 90: SAINTS
OLB Mark Herzlich: One of the best stories in college football the past few years. His cancer has made no noise since going into remission, and he is a winner.
PICK 91: CHARGERS
OLB Dontay Moch: One of the BEST athletes in this draft. He is raw and at this point kind of a one trick pony, but he can really bring it off the edge. An OLB running a 4.4 should be illegal. The Chargers love OLB's who can rush the passer.
PICK 92: RAVENS
RB Daniel Thomas: They need a back to take some of the load. Daniel Thomas is a big back who is shifty and has a bit of speed. He has good ball skills and understands the passing game as former JuCo QB as well. He was a pre-season all-american who did not dissapoint despite being the focus of every defense K-State saw last year.
PICK 93: BEARS
WR Vincent Brown: The Bears need a WR. Brown was very productive at San Diego State. He has good speed and runs very polished routes. They would love to see a bigger WR here, but he is the best on the board at this point.
PICK 94: STEELERS
NT Ian Williams: Williams is a big body who wreaks havoc on the inside of the line. The Steelers line D-Linemen who occupy offensive linemen, and Williams did a great job of that for Notre Dame.
PICK 95: FALCONS
WR Edmond Gates: Gates is this years small school workout warrior. He was productive, and had a great workout, but he is still learning to play. No, that is not a bad thing.
PICK 96: PATRIOTS
CB Brandon Burton: Burton is a big athletic corner who came out of a program with a good history of producing NFL cornerbacks. Bills likes corners who can press and cover, and Burton is exactly that.
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