:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/11435589/20130106_kkt_aj6_827.0.jpg)
This has to be the hardest draft to predict I can remember. There seems to be a pretty good majority who believe Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel will go first overall. There are some who believe it will be Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher. After that it gets far more tricky.
The Jaguars at number two causes a great deal of problems for the rest of the draft. That problem has to do with them in desperate need of a pass rusher along with a lack of unquestioned talent at that position. They also have a new coaching staff and no one is entirely sure what kind of pass rusher they are targeting.
After that, the Raiders also present issues for prognosticators. They too didn't have a pass rush. Then again, they are woefully thin at the defensive tackle position. So, do they go straight for the pass rush or do they build from inside out? And if they do go with defensive tackle, there are two primary options available in Sharrif Floyd out of Florida and Star Lotulelei out of Utah.
It doesn't get any easier with the Eagles at number four. They too have an entirely new staff. Chip Kelly brings his high-powered offensive schemes to Philadelphia...or does he? He has not really indicated if he will try and duplicate his system from Oregon or if he will mold it to the NFL game. Does he, being an offensive guy, go with offense? Or do they try and upgrade their pass rush? Or pass protection?
Finally, at 5, it actually gets a little easier. The Lions have a lot of needs and will should simply wait for the best available at one of those positions.
Now that I have talked the top five picks to death, let's see what the mock draft gurus have each team taking in the top five:
| Chicago Tribune | Cleveland Plain Dealer | SB Nation writers mock | ||
| 1 | Chiefs | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M |
| 2 | Jaguars | Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon | Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia |
| 3 | Raiders | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida |
| 4 | Eagles | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan |
| 5 | Lions | Lane Johnson, LT, Oklahoma | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU |
| Walter Football | Mocking the Draft | CBS Sports concensus | ||
| 1 | Chiefs | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M |
| 2 | Jaguars | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon |
| 3 | Raiders | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida |
| 4 | Eagles | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia |
| 5 | Lions | Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU | Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan |
| Mel Kiper Jr | Todd McShay | FF Toolbox | ||
| 1 | Chiefs | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M |
| 2 | Jaguars | Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU | Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon | Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon |
| 3 | Raiders | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida | Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida |
| 4 | Eagles | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah |
| 5 | Lions | Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan |
| National Football Post | NFL.com consensus | NFL Draft Bible | ||
| 1 | Chiefs | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M |
| 2 | Jaguars | Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon | Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon | Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama |
| 3 | Raiders | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida |
| 4 | Eagles | Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan |
| 5 | Lions | Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State | Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama | Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU |
| Optimum Scouting | Ourlads | Pro Football Talk | ||
| 1 | Chiefs | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M |
| 2 | Jaguars | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon |
| 3 | Raiders | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida |
| 4 | Eagles | Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri | Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon | Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri |
| 5 | Lions | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU | Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU |
| Rotoworld | Sports Illustrated | USA Today | ||
| 1 | Chiefs | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M |
| 2 | Jaguars | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida |
| 3 | Raiders | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida | Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia |
| 4 | Eagles | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah |
| 5 | Lions | Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan |
Loading comments...