2013 NFL Mock Draft: Post Super Bowl Edition
By Leo Howell
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Manti Te’o
Linebacker, Notre Dame
Larry Foote is a free agent, and in his 30’s. Time to reload the middle of the Steel Curtain, and why not start with a top-10 talent with some silly black marks on his resume.
18. Dallas Cowboys
Sheldon Richardson
Defensive Tackle, Missouri
Switching to a 4-3 means new personnel is needed, so the Cowboys stop Richardson’s slide and add him to their new look defense.
19. New York Giants
Zach Ertz
Tight End, Stanford
So long, Mr. Bennett. The Giants lock up a franchise tight end and give Eli yet another weapon to throw to.
20. Chicago Bears
Jonathan Cooper
Guard, North Carolina
Trestman looks to make sure his offense is taken care of, and it starts up front.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Kevin Minter
Linebacker, LSU
Rey Maualuga isn’t really a good football player, so the Bengals bolster the linebacking corps with another young talent to go alongside Burfict.
22. St. Louis Rams (from Washington)
Cordarrelle Patterson
Wide Receiver, Tennessee
Amendola might leave, and the Rams need a #1 receiver anyways. Patterson might just fit that role and give Sam Bradford a reliable target.
23. Minnesota Vikings
John Jenkins
Defensive Tackle, Georgia
Jenkins is a very large man who can play the nose position and allow Kevin Williams more room to work.
24. Indianapolis Colts
Johnthan Banks
Cornerback, Mississippi
A leader of his defense at an SEC school, Banks helps bolster a defense that is going to finally get a chance to gel after a season together.
25. Seattle Seahawks
Sharrif Floyd
Defensive Tackle, Florida
One of the best players available at a position where the ‘Hawks have a veteran free agent to make a decision about.
26. Green Bay Packers
D.J. Fluker
Tackle, Alabama
It was obvious that the outside pressure was able to get to Aaron Rodgers too often this season.
27. Houston Texans
Tavon Austin
Wide Receiver, West Virginia
I feel like this is a match made in heaven. A dynamic playmaker to go across from Andre Johnson (or in the slot next to him) and a special teams dynamo.
28. Denver Broncos
Jesse Williams
Defensive Tackle, Alabama
There is a handful of free agents at defensive tackle in the Mile High this offseason, and rather than resigning them all, why not take one who’s salary is capped by the rookie scale?
29. New England Patriots
Dion Jordan
Defensive End, Oregon
One of the best players left who has slid down draft boards due to health concerns that the Patriots won’t worry about; he’ll be listed as questionable every week of his career anyways.
30. Atlanta Falcons
Datone Jones
Defensive End, UCLA
With John Abraham getting older, the Falcons look to another sturdy defensive end to pick up the slack.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Xavier Rhodes
Cornerback, Florida State
The Niners need to make sure their pass defense is on the same level as the run defense. This is a good place to start.
32. Baltimore Ravens
Eric Reid
Safety, LSU
Ed Reed might be on his way out the door to the Colts or to retirement, and Reid would be a capable replacement.
For more NFL Draft coverage, check out Walter Football, Sports Jabber Mock Draft Database, and the Hail Redskins Mock Draft Database, and of course stay tuned to The Pewter Plank for Bucs specific news and speculation.