12. Miami Dolphins – Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida St.
The Dolphins could go in a bunch of different directions on this pick. With Milliner, all the top tackles, and Patterson off the board they could look at a pass rusher to play opposite Cam Wake. Werner is a solid talent that may fall a bit with a whole slew of freakish athletes being taken ahead of this point. Werner opposite of Wake is a nightmare for AFC East quarterbacks.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kenny Vaccaro, FS/SS, Texas
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This pick comes down to a secondary player, either Vaccaro or Xavier Rhodes. Vaccaro will carry a higher grade and can team up with Mark Barron to give Tampa a vicious tandem in the backend. Vaccaro can cover the slot, tight ends, and be a factor in the box. He’s a special talent that is an interchangeable piece in the secondary.
14. Carolina Panthers – Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Best case scenario for the Panthers barring one of the OT’s falling to them. DT, WR, and CB are major need areas and in this case Richardson falls in their laps. Richardson is a top five talent in my book, so getting him at this point is unreal value.
15. New Orleans Saints – Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida St.
Saints fans could be scratching their heads on this one with Damontre Moore sitting there for the taking. The secondary is a major sore spot. Rhodes is huge and will continue to rise up draft boards. Big corners are en vogue in today’s NFL and Rhodes is the prototype.
16. St. Louis Rams – Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Cooper proved that he’s a freak athlete with better than advertised size/strength. While, LT is needed they won’t pass on the opportunity to take a guard unless Johnson, Fisher, or Joeckel slides to them (not happening). They could trade up for one of those guys but sitting at 16 and still getting Cooper is a pretty nice consolation prize.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Damontre Moore, OLB, Texas A&M
James Harrison doesn’t want to restructure which will make it very difficult for him to stay in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have their pick between Moore and Barkevious Mingo. Moore isn’t quite the athlete that Mingo is but he’s a safer pick for the Steelers. Moore is made to standup in the Steelers defense and could be an immediate impact player. The reason I have him falling to 17 is that I don’t see him as an eight-to-ten sack a year guy. He’s disruptive and could be a productive pass rusher but not on an elite level.
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18. Dallas Cowboys – Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
The fit may not make a ton of sense but I can’t see Monte Kiffin saying I can’t use this guy in my defense. His ceiling is through the roof but fears of a low floor could keep him out of the top 15 picks. Mingo opposite of Ware is a dangerous thought for Robert Griffin, Eli Manning, and whoever is taking snaps in Philadelphia.
19. New York Giants – Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Jarvis Jones hurt his draft stock by not competing in Indianapolis. It only feeds the perception that he is a limited athlete. Combine that with the fact that there is still questions about his medical exams in Indy and you have the makings for a fall in the draft. The Giants could be Jones’ floor as he’s just too talented to make it past Jerry Reese. He’s an ideal SLB in the 4-3.
20. Chicago Bears – D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
Stockpiling OL should be a priority for Marc Trestman’s club this offseason. Fluker wasn’t expected, nor did he, tear up the Combine. Don’t let that fool you into believing that he’s not a first round pick. At worst you get a very good RG at best he could be a Pro Bowl RT in the league. Sign Jay Cutler and Chicago up for two of those.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Cornellius Carradine, DE, Florida State
I’m going to take some venom on this pick. Hear me out. Carlos Dunlap is average and Michael Johnson is going to cost a lot of cash. I believe Johnson is back, maybe tagged, but finding a DE for the long-term should be a priority.
Now for Carradine. He’s a top 15 talent if healthy. His recovery is ahead of projections and word that he may be able to workout before the draft broke yesterday. That’s a great sign. Carradine was the best pass rusher on the field at times this season on a team that features Bjoern Werner.
22. St. Louis Rams (f/Washington) – DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
DeAndre Hopkins ran well enough to confirm the film. He’s not an elite blazer but is fast enough to keep DB’s honest in the vertical game. St. Louis is most likely going to lose Danny Amendola and have unproven youngsters behind him. They need someone that could emerge into a No. 1 receiver and Hopkins has the instincts and ball skills to emerge into that guy.
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