2013 NFL Draft: First round mock draft

The Senior Bowl has come and gone, and several players improved their stock, ensuring they'll be out of the reach of the Steelers, barring a trade up from the No. 17 spot.

It's a strong first round draft class, though, and the Steelers can still go in several directions.

1. Kansas City Chiefs - Geno Smith, quarterback, West Virginia - Smith is not the best player available here and its not that close but if the Chiefs take Luke Joeckel, the only other player who makes any sense here, their GM will eventually be fired. Brandon Albert is a top 10 left tackle and moving him to right tackle would just be a beyond stupid move.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars - Bjoern Werner, defensive end, Florida State - The Jaguars will have their choice of defensive ends here between Werner, Moore, and Jones and I have Werner as the best player available.
3. Oakland Raiders - Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Utah - The Raiders defense is just atrocious and they need to start rebuilding it by rebuilding the defensive line. Lotulelei is the best defensive tackle in the draft and could go number one overall when it is all said and done.
4. Philadelphia Eagles - Luke Joeckel, offensive tackle, Texas A&M - The Eagles desperately need a starting tackle and Joeckel just happens to be the top player in the draft.
5. Detroit Lions - Damontre Moore, defensive end, Texas A&M - The Lions biggest need is to add a pass rusher at defensive end. Moore is a very well rounded player and can instantly add a pass rushing force to that awful defense.
6. Cleveland Browns - Jarvis Jones, outside linebacker, Georgia - The Browns are switching to a 3-4 defense and need a star outside linebacker to have that defense work. Jones is a do-it-all 3-4 OLB who can still improve as a pass rusher.
7. Arizona Cardinals - Eric Fisher, offensive tackle, Central Michigan - This pick will come down to Fisher and Ansah and I think Fisher is the better choice. Fisher was the best offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl and dominated every defensive linemen he faced. He was a top 20 pick before the Senior Bowl and is now basically a top ten lock.
8. Buffalo Bills - Dee Milliner, cornerback, Alabama - The Bills could use a quarterback here but all the QBs are terrible. Milliner is the best corner in this class and will give the Bills a lockdown corner that they don't have.
9. New York Jets - Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end, BYU - This pick makes a ton of sense, scheme wise and value wise. Ansah is coming off an awesome week at the Senior Bowl and his stock should end up in the top ten to fifteen. He fits in the Jets hybrid schemes and can play 3-4 or 4-3 defensive end.
10. Tennessee Titans - Chance Warmack, offensive guard, Alabama - The Titans could go in a lot of directions here but Warmack is the best player available and fills a huge need. If the Titans want Chris Johnson to get back to being himself, they need to upgrade both guard positions.
11. San Diego Chargers - Barkevious Mingo, outside linebacker, LSU - The Chargers would love it if Eric Fisher made it here but if he does not, the choice would likely be an outisde linebacker. Mingo is my top player available and he fills their biggest need outside of tackle.
12. Miami Dolphins - Johnathan Banks, cornerback, Mississippi State - The Dolphins could take a receiver here but there is too much value in the later rounds for them to reach for one here. Banks is the best player available and fills a big time need.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle, Missouri - The Bucs get screwed by the Dolphins taking Banks and would likely try and trade down here. However, since they are "stuck" here in my mock draft, they elect to take the talented defensive tackle from Missouri. Richardon would give them a dominant interior pass rusher.
14. Carolina Panthers - Johnathan Hankins, defensive tackle, Ohio State - The Panthers have the worst defensive tackles in the league and need to spend multiple picks on the position in this draft. Hankins would fit as the nose tackle in their 4-3 scheme and they could find a 3-tech later in the draft.
15. New Orleans Saints - Kenny Vaccaro, safety, Texas - The Saints defense is dreadful and it starts with awful play from the secondary. Vaccaro is the best prospect available in the secondary although Xavier Rhodes is intriguing here as well.
16. St. Louis Rams - Lane Johnson, offensive tackle, Oklahoma - The Rams have to protect their franchise quarterback better if they want him to succeed. Johnson had a great week at the Senior Bowl and cemented himself as a first round prospect.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers - Dion Jordan, outside linebacker, Oregon - Jordan is a dynamic player who still has a lot to learn. He has the athleticism and size to become a dominant pass rusher but will need to be coached up by Keith Butler and Dick LeBeau.
18. Dallas Cowboys - Jonathan Cooper, offensive guard, North Carolina - The Cowboys interior offensive line is dreadful and Cooper would be a huge upgrade at guard. He is the ultimate technician and is NFL ready. He is not overly powerful but could add ten pounds to his frame rather easily.
19. New York Giants - Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State - The Giants love picking athletes and Rhodes is an unbelievable athlete. At 6-foot-3, he is built in the mold of the Seahawks corners and that seems to be the way the NFL is going in terms of size at the position.
20. Chicago Bears - Khaseem Greene, outside linebacker, Rutgers - Greene had an awesome week at the Senior Bowl and has cemented himself as a first round prospect in my book. He could come in and make an instant impact at linebacker for the linebacker deprived Bears.
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Manti Te'o, linebacker, Notre Dame - The Bengals defense is an outside linebacker away from being very good. Te'o is suited to be a 4-3 OLB and provides good value here despite his recent off the field problem.
22. St. Louis Rams - from Washington - Keenan Allen, wide receiver, California - The Rams have to give Bradford a legitamate number one receiver and Allen is the best receiver in the draft. He is a fluid route runner who catches passes with his hands, not his body. He has all the tools to be a very good but not great number one receiver.
23. Minnesota Vikings - Terrence Williams, wide receiver, Baylor - Williams is an explosive receiver who led the NCAA in receiving yards last year. He is a great route runner, has good size and speed, and is a willing blocker. He fits well in the Vikings scheme and would be a great compliment to Percy Harvin.
24. Indianapolis Colts - Jesse Williams, nose tackle, Alabama - The Colts defense must improve next year for them to compete for a Super Bowl and Williams would give them a dominant nose tackle to anchor their 3-4 defense.
25. Seattle Seahawks - Kawann Short, defensive tackle, Purdue - The Seahawks couldn't get any pass rush when Chris Clemons went down and it was becuase their defensive tackles can't get any pass rush. Short dominated the Senior Bowl and will be a great player in the NFL.
26. Green Bay Packers - Cordarelle Patterson, wide receiver, Tennessee - Aaron Rodgers managed to put up another huge year despite not having a true number one wide receiver. Patterson would be a replacement for the former number one receiver, Greg Jennings.
27. Houston Texans - Alec Ogletree, inside linebacker, Georgia - The Texans don't need much but they could use an upgrade at inside linebacker. Ogletree is an unbelievable athlete who could become one of the best inside linebackers in the NFL with good coaching.
28. Denver Broncos - Shariff Floyd, defensive tackle, Florida - The Broncos interior defense needs upgrades and Floyd would be a huge upgrade at the DT spot. Floyd is a great pass rusher who would be a top 20 pick in most draft classes.
29. New England Patriots - Sylvester Williams, defensive tackle, North Carolina - The Patriots could go a bunch of ways here, including a trade down but Williams would be a nice prospect to add to their defensive front. He had a huge week at the Senior Bowl and cemented his stock as a late first rounder.
30. Atlanta Falcons - Sam Montgomery, defensive end, LSU - The Falcons were unable to get any pass rush this season and really need a pass rushing defensive end. Montgomery is a great athlete who needs some work on his technique.
31. San Francisco 49ers - Logan Ryan, cornerback, Rutgers - The 49ers weakness is in the secondary and with a lockdown man corner like Ryan, their defense could go from being great to being legendary. Ryan is an awesome run defender as well.
32. Baltimore Ravens - Kevin Minter, inside linebacker, LSU - The Ravens are going to need a replacement for the legendary Ray Lewis and Minter is a guy built in that mold. He is a phenomenal run stopper and could step in and start at the Buck LB spot right away.