The Buffalo Bills signed strongside linebacker Manny Lawson on the second day free agency opened up. How might that signing affect their draft philosophies?
Here is the second look at what the 2013 NFL Draft may look like. Once again, it's very important to note that this is for entertainment purposes only. We'll get a much better idea of who teams will be really interested in once we get close to the draft. Until then, mock drafts should be looked at as merely a fun look at the many scenarios that could unfold on draft day.
With that said, here is my latest offering:
Round 1
1)
- OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M- The Chiefs believe they're close. No matter if they're planning to put Joeckel on the right side, or flip Branden Albert over to right tackle, this is their most glaring need.
2)
- CB Dee Milliner, Alabama- I considered the explosive Sharrif Floyd here, but cornerback is thin for the Jaguars. Parting ways with Derek Cox, Aaron Ross and Rashean Mathis, all that remains is Mike Harris, Alan Ball, Antwuan Molden and Kevin Rutland. A cornerback is needed in a bad way.
3)
- QB Geno Smith, West Virginia- The Raiders need to start fresh at quarterback, and while still having a year to use him if they want, Carson Palmer can serve as starter until Geno is ready.
4)
- DE/DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida- Listed as DE because he'll slot in to the 5-technique in Philadelphia's 3-4 defense.
5)
- OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan- Riley Reiff is not a left tackle, and Jeff Backus has now retired. This is an underrated but humongous need for Detroit to keep Matthew Stafford healthy and throwing. Also, Michigan product. What's not to love?
6)
(via CLE) - DE/OLB Ziggy Ansah, BYU- It's clear that the Dolphins are going for it, based on their free agent spending. While cornerback remains an issue for the time being, they have two second round picks and two third round picks to deal with. To move up, they give up one of their second round picks and gain a fourth rounder back from Cleveland. The Browns missed out on Milliner, so they move down and pick up a second round pick they lost when taking Josh Gordon last year in the supplemental draft.
7)
- OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma- Protecting the quarterback is essential in Arizona. As of now, I'm buying the talk that they'd look at a different position rather than the quarterback in the first round. Drew Stanton buys them that in my opinion. I think he could do better than expected under Bruce Arians. Underrated player.
8)
- QB Matt Barkley, USC- And in the end, the Bills go with Matt Barkley. This is the second time I've had Barkley mocked to the Bills, only last time I had him lasting a whole lot longer. However, with his pro day coming up I believe Barkley will do well enough to place him back in to the top 20 picks. For the purposes of the Bills, that would mean they wouldn't have the luxury to wait around if they do really want him. Barkley makes more sense than you'd think at first. I think he fits right in to what Nathaniel Hackett liked to do in his time at Syracuse, highlighted by a firm belief in West Coast principles. Barkley possesses a better arm than many give him credit for and will have the arm talent to make the throws quarterbacks need to in the NFL, especially in Hackett's offense. His natural leadership and experience in taking a down program over the first year he arrives is also especially appealing for what Buffalo is looking for. Barkley and Buffalo makes a lot of sense in my opinion. And if you're the 'But he went to USC!' guy, just get over it. Not every player from that college is the same person, and he's much different than the last one to come out of that program.
9)
- OLB Dion Jordan, Oregon- Needing both youth on defense and someone to put pressure on the quarterback, the Jets go with the explosive Jordan that dropped a little bit.
10)
(via TEN) - OG Chance Warmack, Alabama- Jerry Jones and the Cowboys not waiting around and trading up to get someone they think can help right away? I know, color you surprised. With Lane Johnson off the board and fear that the Chargers might take Warmack, Dallas shoots up to 10, gives up their second round pick and gains a 5th round pick for their troubles.
11)
- CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State- The Chargers did pretty well taking a freakishly athletic cornerback from Florida State in the past.
12)
(via MIA) - WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee- Josh Gordon was a pleasant surprise, but the additional pick gives them flexibility and Patterson is an explosive talent. I wouldn't rule out those Tennessee ties for Jimmy Haslam, either.
13)
(via TB) - WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia- Tampa Bay moves down and picks up a second round selection, which could facilitate a deal for Darrelle Revis. If it doesn't, the Vikings are going to have a heck of a time in replacing Percy Harvin. They keep their other first round pick in tact, and select a do-it-all wideout in Austin.
14)
- DT Star Lotulelei, Utah15)
- DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo, LSU16)
- S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas17)
- DE/OLB Jarvis Jones18)
(via DAL) - CB Desmond Trufant, Washington19)
- LB Alec Ogletree, Georgia20)
(via CHI) - DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State- If you're keeping track, this is the same trade I had last time around. Falcons give up their second round pick to Chicago (who lacks a third round pick) and get a fourth round pick in return. They need a defensive end. Also, their starting defensive ends would be named Kroy and Bjoern. Thats... awesome.
21)
- LB Arthur Brown, Kansas State22)
(via WAS) - OG Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina- A solid value pick to fortify the offensive line. If Sam Bradford is going to succeed, he needs to be protected.
23)
(via MIN) - DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri24)
- NT Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State25)
(via SEA) - DT Kawann Short, Purdue26)
- C Barrett Jones, Alabama27)
(via HOU) - OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama- Give up a fourth-round pick to take care a major need on their offense? No problem for David Caldwell, who has seen trading up in the draft can work out from his time with Atlanta.
28)
- DE Datone Jones, UCLA29)
- WR Keenan Allen, Cal- Allen's jump ball ability, and Tom Brady throwing to him, could make him in to a huge contributor early on in his career.
30)
(via ATL) - TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame31)
(via SF) - QB Ryan Nassib, Syracuse- The Jets give up their 2014 third round pick to move up ten slots to bring in a new quarterback. Philadelphia and Arizona in front of them induced the move up.
32)
- ILB Kevin Minter, LSURound 2
33)
(via JAX) - WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson34)
(via KC) - DE/DT Margus Hunt, SMU35)
- QB E.J. Manuel, Florida State- E.J. Manuel will get overdrafted, and it seems like the Philadelphia Eagles are very interested in his services.
36)
- DE Damontre Moore, Texas A&M37)
(via OAK) - HB Eddie Lacy, Alabama38)
- QB Tyler Bray, Tennessee- Last time around, this was Mike Glennon. If Bray can put it all together, he will be a steal here. That's a huge if. He is extraordinarily talented, though, and the right coach could bring it all out.
(Used in 2012 Supplemental Draft on WR Josh Gordon)39)
(via SF, through NYJ) - CB Logan Ryan, Rutgers- San Francisco could use a corner, and Logan Ryan is a solid fit for teams that run zone looks for their cornerbacks, which the 49ers run. So do the Buccaneers, so they take no chances and give San Francisco a 4th round pick in 2014 to move up four slots.
40)
- S Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International41)
- OG Justin Pugh, Syracuse- The Bills could do a number of different things with this pick, but I think Pugh's value at this point in the draft would make him a solid fit. Wide receiver is certainly in consideration, but there are some big target wideouts that the Bills could go after in the third or fourth round, based on how the board plays out. Pugh would come in and immediately fill the void for Andy Levitre, at a much lower price. Oh, yeah, not to mention he played for both the Bills head coach and offensive coordinator his entire college career. Pugh to Buffalo seems like a natural fit. He also offers versatility, to where he can kick outside if need be, having played there throughout college.
Twitter: @JoeBuscaglia


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