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33. New England Patriots (from Carolina)—Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona
I can 100 percent guarantee the Pats will trade one of their three picks in the top 33, and if they miss out on Cameron Heyward, Danny Watkins and Justin Houston in the late first round like they do in this mock situation, then they will more than likely be jetting out of there. They need O-line help, but reaching won’t help them though. Clint Boiing from Georgia is the best next interior lineman available—they can get him later with their collection of picks.
34. Buffalo Bills—Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
No QB pick for Buffalo, because I don’t think they will jump the gun here, or in the first round. Too many second round QBs that may fall to them in round three, there is no pressure on them to go QB here, especially with a more-proven Ryan Fitzpatrick under center.
35. Cincinnati Bengals—Jake Locker, QB, Washington
He may be gone before the second round with team’s possibly trading up anywhere from No. 25-32 to nab him as their next QB; however patience works out well for the Bengals in this situation.
36. Denver Broncos—Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
I’d hope the Broncos remain on the defensive end of the ball as there are countless amounts of needs. With all the top-DT’s gone, the Broncos should go secondary where Williams is as talented as any late-first round, early second round prospect. Marvin Austin from UNC or Stephen Paea would be the two DT options, which I wouldn’t be opposed to.
37. Cleveland Browns—Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
If it fits a pressing need, why wouldn’t you do it? Sheard is the only Pittsburgh defensive prospect that panned out after a terrible 2010 season.
38. Arizona Cardinals—Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State
See pick No. 37. The Cardinals are probably 32 out of 32 in terms of quarterbacking currently. They need help badly, and Ponder could blossom in a year or two.
39. Tennessee Titans—Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
Paea is a safe bet for a team that needs to get better on defense, especially in the front seven, if it wants to compete in the grueling AFC South, where Maurice Jones-Drew and Arian Foster run wild.
40. Dallas Cowboys—Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
The Cowboys need secondary help, and Dowling can give them a cover presence that Mike Jenkins has failed to give them.
41. Washington Redskins—Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
This pick could be spent on defense, but the Skins offense is in need of a major makeover. Smith is the No. 3 receiver available in this draft class.
42. Houston Texans—Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
They are looking for a compliment to Brian Cushing, and although Bailey will probably play as a down lineman, he will still give the Texans a much-needed boost in their weak pass rush.
43. Minnesota Vikings—Benjamin Ilajana, OT, Villanova
Gritty warrior from college football subdivision helps give the Vikings a much-needed powerful lineman. Nothing wrong with adding beef.
44. Detroit Lions—Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
Harris falls into the laps of a team that desperately needs a play maker in the secondary. If Detroit can’t find a CB in round one, they will address the need here undoubtedly.
45. San Francisco—Ryan Mallet, QB, Arkansas
He’s off the board, but what could have been for this physically gifted, yet fundamentally flawed QB prospect. The question is, would Jim Harbaugh, who doesn’t have a QB in the wings, will even want to risk pick No. 45 on Mallet? Yea, it leaves me wondering too.
46. Denver Broncos (from Miami)—Marvin Austin, DT, UNC
He’s a first round talent (Todd McShay has him at No. 29 to the Bears), but his off-the-field issues (Mel Kiper has him going No. 62 to the Bears) has left him in a sort of free fall heading into this draft. Denver needs a DT, and Austin needs a home to prove himself. Perfect match.
47. St. Louis Rams—Titus Young, WR, Boise State
They don’t get Julio Jones in round, but Young is a great fit and should blossom with Bradford as his QB. The Rams offense is coming together faster than the rest of the division would like to see it.
48. Oakland Raiders—Clint Boling, OL, Georgia
The Raiders aren’t on the clock until now, so its odd they’d go under the radar and pick an interior lineman, however, it is the teams top need, and besides Orlando Franklin from Miami, Boling is the best option here.
49. Jacksonville Jaguars—Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
If the Vikings, 49ers and Broncos all pass on the best safety prospect in this draft, then the Jaguars will reap the benefits. Huge need pick here.
50. San Diego Chargers—Quan Sturdivant, OLB, UNC
Nice fit here for the Chargers who will be looking for a DE/OLB prospect in round one, but didn’t get one. Here is Sturdivant, another UNC defender who has a lot of ability.
51. Tampa Bay Bucs—Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
A steal of a pick here, and although it doesn’t fit a need, the team can’t be set with Carnall Williams and LaGarrette Blount. Worse case, Leshoure competes and makes the other two better, but doesn’t play. Nothing wrong with having too many RBs.
52. New York Giants—Kevin Sheppard, ILB, LSU
The long overdue pick for the Giants as they have failed to grab a top inside backer in recent years. Bruce Carter makes sense here too.
53. Indianapolis Colts—Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
This team has some other glaring holes, but getting another back, such as Williams, can only make Peyton Manning better, which can only make Indy better.
54. Philadelphia Eagles—Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
With Ellis Hobbs done for his career, and other potential future secondary problems looming, the Eagles can’t ignore Brown, who is a talented corner from a Texas program that has become a hot-bed for future NFL DB’s.
55. Kansas City Chiefs—Bruce Carter, OLB, UNC
Have we ran out of UNC defenders yet? I mean how many of these guys are there?
56. New Orleans Saints—Christian Ballard, DE/DT, Iowa
Ballard will most likely develop into a defensive end, but for now he gives the Saints depth in their weakest position.
57. Seattle Seahawks—Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
If you want to call the Seahawks the losers of the QB race that will take place in round two, that’s ok. I’m sure they are enthused to have Dalton at this spot. Guy is a heck of a winner.
58. Baltimore Ravens—Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
Hankerson gives Joe Flacco another target to throw to, which is good, however I don’t see the WR being as pressing as a need as others say it is for Baltimore.
59. Atlanta Falcons—Rodney Hudson, OL, Florida State
He can move around the offensive line, and provide an older unit some much-needed youth. A pass-rusher of some sort is still needed to join with John Abraham.
60. New England Patriots—Orlando Franklin, OG, Patriots
Overall I have the Pats picking by need, but there is nothing to say they will go off the map here and get Tom Brady another WR or add some help in the secondary.
61. San Diego Chargers (from Jets)—Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
The pick makes sense if Vincent Jackson takes his talents elsewhere, not to mention the Chargers make shift receiving core was productive, yet extremely inconsistent for one of the game’s top passers, Phillip Rivers.
62. Bears—Da’Norris Searcy, S, UNC
It’s hard to say Searcy is the second best safety in this draft, because most experts are unsettled on the matter. However, in a second round dominated by UNC defenders, I don’t mind throwing another one in the mix.
63. Steelers—Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky
Cobb Is a versatile WR who can return kicks, which isn’t something that the Steelers really have at this point. Cobb can team with Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown to form the Steelers WR group of the future. Scary.
64. Packers—Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State
Although James Starks proved himself as a viable backup for the oft-injured Ryan Grant, it’s unseen how long Grant will make it this year. And it’s time Brandon Jackson is cut by a Packers team that doesn’t need his services….wait did he ever provide them anything?
