Famous Five

An early look at five freshmen poised to make a huge impact in college, with bright futures as NFL draft prospects.

TJ Yeldon, RB, Alabama

It's just a pleasure to watch TJ Yeldon run. He's benefited from being kept fresh while Eddie Lacy grinds opposing defenses to soft and pliable powder, but Yeldon is undeniably the more exciting of the backs. He has more room to add a bit more muscle going forward, but he's a violent runner who finishes well. His most profound asset, however, is his ability to make people miss spectacularly in implausibly tight spaces. Those little cuts in the hole, coupled with very good stop/start acceleration, make him an absolute nightmare to try and defend. Add in great skills as a receiver, and Yeldon is the complete package. What's scary is that he'll receive such great coaching at Alabama that we'll see him evolve even further, learning to adapt his natural running skills to an improving ability to read the game and run more patiently. If he stays healthy, he has the potential to develop into a Heisman calibre back and top 5 pick. He reminds me most of CJ Spiller, but is the only back currently in college to tempt me into comparison with Adrian Peterson.    

Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

Like his storied Quarterback, Mike Evans is a redshirt freshman who exploded onto the scene in 2012. At 6"5, he's a huge receiver, and he doesn't waste an inch of his physicality. He's not the fastest wideout in college football, but always has separation thanks to his ability to go up and fight for the football. He's also a weapon after the catch, since it's so hard for your typical defensive back to bring the big guy down. With Ryan Swope leaving, and Johnny Manziel developing as a passer, Evans can hope to improve on his already stellar numbers if the Aggies can cope with the departure of Kliff Kingsbury. Even more potential just as a player also looms; he's a tweener athlete who focused on basketball in High School, so he has a lot to learn about the wide receiver position. He'll be draft eligible next year, although I wouldn't expect him to be a prospect until 2014, and looks possible to go at the top of the second round, in the Alshon Jeffery range. If he plays consistently and improves his speed, he could become a future first round pick.

Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

It's difficult to watch Amari Cooper and not realise you're watching something special. My preferred comparison in the NFL right now would be Antonio Brown; a guy you don't know whether he's more exciting as a deep threat or as a runner in the open field. Cooper isn't as big as Alabama's last true no.1 receiver Julio Jones, but he's every inch as fast. He's so difficult to defend because if you don't play him conservatively, he'll run right by you and you'll just have to watch as the ball sails over your head. If you do, he'll still run right by you, except this time he'll be carrying the ball already. Alabama don't have to rely on their passing game very often, but it's clear that when they really want to pass, they're trying to get the ball into Cooper's hands. If Cooper can keep up the electricity he generates even in that run heavy offense for two more years, I can't see him getting out of the top ten.

Caleb Azubike, DE, Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt are a hot program right now; in all of college football, there's no other team that can be so emphatically described as on the rise. One of the stars of the first big recruiting classes to make beleagured commodores fans really believe, Azubike has made an immediate and surprising impact on the defensive line. Recognised as extremely raw, and more athlete than football player coming in, he was still put on the field. He responded with flashes of brilliance, using his 6-4, 245lb frame to bulldoze offensive linemen. Despite inexperience and sloppy technique, he still finished second in sacks on one of the SEC's stouter defenses. Azubike figures to improve going forward, has the coaching to do it, and can emerge as future first rounder if he reaches his potential.

Leonard Williams, DT, USC

A freshman all-american selection, Williams was one of the only bright spots on a defense that dissappointed majorly in 2013. Rangy and athletic, the young interior lineman starred as a pass rusher, picking up an extremely impressive eight sacks. He needs to develop his discipline against the run; his playmaking ability and his areas for improvement were both on show in the bowl defeat against Georgia Tech. However, there's nothing stopping him from doing this, and as he gains more experience he could develop into an unblockable force. Reminiscent of Bengals' star Geno Atkins, Wiliams is player for whom development should be incentivised by the possibility of being one of  the first defensive players off the board in 2015.    

All of these playes have a long way to grow- and a long way they can fall, too. But they're fun to watch, and worth keeping an eye on going forward.

The New York Jets Season Review
Three Up

1. Muhammad Wilkerson and Quinton Coples
Rex has made New york a factory for the defensive line in recent years, and 2012 was no exception. The two first round picks both made their presence felt, Wilkerson especially emerging as one of the premier players at his position. He was stout and disruptive in the run game, while both players made impacts rushing the passer down the stretch. Coples, whose motivation had been questioned, proved his passion by making plays even after the Jets season had collapsed and all eyes were alredy on 2013.

2. The Secondary
Even after the injury to Darelle Revis, which would have crippled many teams, the Jets secondary balled out all year. LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell played consistently around the line of scrimmage, blitzing and crowding the box with impunity, safe in the knowledge that Cromartie, Wilson, Lankster and Trufant were all steppting up their game behind them.

3. Jeremy Kerley
A steal in the fifth round, Jeremy Kerley has emerged as a legit big play wide receiver. He's shown that he can play outside and in the slot, and has earned a big role in the offense going forward. With over 800 receiving yards in the league's most dysfunctional wide receiving corps, imagine what he can do if we can get the rest of the unit in order.

Three Down

1. Mark Sanchez

After years of infuriating inconsistency, Mark Sanchez finally got into a steady and consistent rhythm of fumbles and interceptions. Asked to execute gameplans that involved massive overestimations of our ability to run the ball, and then told to make big plays to scrubs on the outside, Mark's confidence finally collapsed and he regressed to making the rookie-est of rookie errors on an incessant basis. He's performed so badly this year that even an $8 million cap hit doesn't guarantee him a starting gig next year. With Sparano on his way out, the Jets could be relying on a new OC to spark an Alex Smith type revival, but there is a lot of pressure for them to start fresh, meaning Sanchez would have to wait for a starting gig elsewhere. Either way, the ship has finally sailed on Sanchez living up to his promise in a reasonable timeframe.

2. Mike Tannenbaum

Tannenbaum's star was pretty high two years ago, but in a few short hours he's likely out of a job or demoted. His drafts in recent years have actually been consistently good, but the systemic error of drafting the QB and then spending three consecutive picks on defense has ultimately caused his downfall. He became too reliant on Rex for backup on the draft, and Rex only loved the defensive players, so he went years without drafting a blue chip player or immediate contributor on the offensive side of the ball- the horrible lack of depth there leaving his coaches with the unenviable task of developing a young QB with a mixture of volatile divas, late round picks and street free agents. While the defensive pieces he put in place will allow the team to be competitive in the years to come, the Jets have learned the hard way that defense is not enough.

3. The Linebackers

A steady and consistent force throughout Rex's tenure, the Jets' linebackers finally started showing signs of decline. Bryan Thomas struggled to get on the field, and Calvin Pace now offers literally nothing in the form of pass rush. Scott and Harris showed well down the stretch, but both were uncharacteristically inconsistent and missed far too many tackles. Only Harris will definitely return, but the Jets only have Demario Davis in place to come in. The others may return on reduced deals, but in truth the Jets need to turn their attention to finding younger and more disruptive players to play on the outside.

Quick Hits

Decision no.1 for the offseason in terms of players is what to do about Dustin Keller. The cap-strapped Jets probably can't justify the franchise tag for the Tight End, especially since he struggled with injuries in 2012, but can they really afford for their only proven weapon to leave?

Another player who might not return is running back Shonn Greene. Though he posted his second consecutvie 1000 yard season, Greene makes few big plays and offers little in the passing game. With Powell and McKnight still on their rookie deals and poised to make an impact as complementary backs, the Jets will likely let Greene walk in a strong draft for more rounded power backs.

The Jets have some big question marks around the position of offensive guard. None of Matt Slauson, Vlad Ducasse or Brandon Moore are guaranteed to return next year. While Moore has had an all-pro calibre year, the annual cap contortions could force the Jets to go with less expensive options such as re-signing Slauson and Ducasse or rolling with existing backup Caleb Schlauderaff.

Another postion with a lot of uncertainty is at safety. Yeremiah Bell and LaRon Landry are 38 and a free agent respectively. Bell may finally hang up his boots, while Landry will likely be able to attract a better deal on the open market than the Jets can afford. Will the Jets let late round picks Josh Bush and Antonio Allen take over? Could they make a play for former Jet Jim Leonhard in free agency?

Right tackle Austin Howard should be re-signed. He's played well enough to justify another year as the starter, but not so well that he'll be overly expensive.

Coaches

A number of coaching changes are imminent. Tony Sparano is on his way out, and there are a number of good options for his replacement likely to hit the open market. The potential house cleaning of the Bills, Chiefs, Chargers, Eagles and Browns will see a lot of respected offensive minds in line for new jobs, and the Jets would like to acquire a playcaller with a good record of developing young quarterbacks. Mike Westhoff is retiring, so assistant Ben Kotwica will take over and attempt to get the traditionally strong special teams unit back on track after a tough season. Defensive co-ordinator Mike Pettine turned down a contract extension early in the season in order to keep his options open, and could move on if he feels he needs to emerge from Rex's shadow to build a head coaching resume. Like Westhoff, he's more likely to be replaced in house, with defensive backs coach Donald Thurman the heir apparent.

Front Office

All signs are pointing to a major restructuring of the front office, with Tannenbaum likely to be re-assigned or fired. Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta is the obvious choice if a powerful new GM is needed, since he's worked with Rex before aswell as emerging from the respected tutelage of Ozzie Newsome. However, he will likely have his pick of jobs elsewhere, so he won't relish the split responsibilities if Tannenbaum is retained elsewhere in the organisation. If Tannenbaum is retained for his cap dexterity, one intriguing hire to bolster the scouting department could be Gene Smith, who will imminently be fired by the Jaguars. Prior to flaming out as the Jags GM, Smith was a respected college scout, and could be a valuable asset in that area. Another possibility is former Jets VP of scouting Joey Clinkscales, who has worked with everyone in the building before and could be tempted to return from Oakland with the promise of final say on personnel decisions.

Mock Draft Mk. I

1^st Overall Pick, KC Chiefs- Geno Smith, QB, WVU

6-3, 214. 4201 yards, 66.7% completion, 42 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 2012.

Kansas haven’t won a game with a quarterback they’ve drafted themselves for 20 years. While Romeo Crenell is gone, Pioli could stay. If he does, it will be on the condition that he finds his quarterback, now. Geno Smith is the only player with the physical tools and college resume worthy of the no.1 pick. Kansas won’t feel as good about this pick as the Colts did about Luck, as Smith had some midseason struggles and comes with some mechanical issues, but the strength and intelligence is there. While some defences really troubled him, he showed good consistency in making decisions from the pocket, and flashed quality in making some tough plays under pressure. He’ll have the rare luxury of a talented supporting cast and sturdy offensive line in Kansas City, so he should be able to develop these abilities in relative comfort.

Other candidates: Matt Barkley, Mike Glennon. I just don’t think Kansas can get away from this pick without a long term answer to the QB question.

2^nd Overall Pick, JAX Jaguars- Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

6-4, 295. 75 tackles, 10.5 for a loss and 4 sacks in 2012.

Jacksonville spent years accumulating fatass linemen under Del Rio, so a supreme and versatile athlete like Richardson is desperately needed to enliven that front. With the addition of Jason Babin the Jaguars have some talent on the edge, and a guy like Richardson will be able to complement him on the inside. His speed and relentlessness are unreal, and he could become a JJ Watt type disruptor, who plays outside for two downs, but comes inside on passing situations. The more desperate need is at QB, but it looks like that’s a Tebow shaped gap in Jacksonville right now.

Other possibilities: Luke Joeckel, Star Lotulelei. Richardson might be my favourite player in the draft, but rumours are that Jacksonville will be choosing between Luke and Star as the best overall players on the board.

3rd Overall Pick, Oakland Raiders- Bjoern Werner, DE, FSU

6-4, 256. 18 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks in 2012.

The Raiders had to clean house for cap reasons during the offseason last year, leaving them with a horrible talent deficit on both sides of the ball. While they have a need at almost every position on the field, they’re hurting most at defensive end, and Werner fits the bill. He’s a complete player, who can make a real impact against the run and pass, and plays with both strength and speed on the outside rush. The Berliner will help Reggie Mackenzie further, by embodying the sort of discipline the Raiders need from their more wayward stars of the Al Davis generation.

Other possibilities: Matt Barkley, Manti Te’o. There are rumblings that the Raiders are moving on from Carson Palmer, and could then opt to keep Barkley in California. With McClain done in Oakland, they could also opt to bring stability and leadership to their defense in the form of Te’o.

4^th Overall Pick- Philadelphia Eagles- Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M

6-6, 310.

Whoever arrives in Philadelphia to start the post Andy Reid era will have a long to do list, on which items 1 through 10 are “Develop Nick Foles”. The first step on this road is protecting him adequately- Demetress Bell has been a bust, and King Dunlap a disappointment. Though the Eagles will likely expect Jason Peters to be back, Joeckel provides insurance against him having further issues. If he does return at full strength, Foles will have the luxury of the best tackle pairing in the NFL, and a rounded player like Joeckel will help Lesean McCoy no small amount too.

Other possibilities: Dee Milliner, EJ Manuel. If Chip Kelly arrives in Philadelphia, there’s no way of knowing which way this pick will go. Manuel is the mobile QB who can thrive in Chip’s system over the more statue-like Foles, Milliner a long term replacement for the Eagles’ disappointing solutions at cornerback.

5^th Overall Pick- Detroit Lions- Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

6-1, 198. 18 pass breakups, 51 tackles, 4 for a loss and 1.5 sacks in 2012.

The Lions secondary has been too bad for too long, and the balance of their offense suffers enormously from having to try and compete in shootouts. With no complementary receiver worth taking here the Lions instead take a player who can finally lock up one of their corners. Though they shouldn’t expect him to be  a star right away, as corners rarely are, the talented Milliner’s experience of tough SEC competition and Nick Saban’s coaching should mean he’s better prepared for the NFL’s standards than most.

Other possibilities: Barrett Jones, Alec Ogletree. The Lions have a bunch of holes. The versatile Jones could upgrade their line at three positions, or Ogletree could solidify an inconsistent linebacking corps.

6^th Overall Pick- Buffalo Bills- Matt Barkley, QB, USC

6-2, 230. 3273 Yards, 63.6% completion, 36 Touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2012.

 I think it’s a near certainty that the Bills will pick a Quarterback here, regardless of the GM. They’ve been telegraphing this for a while, and if they pick this high it’s unlikely anyone will trade above them in a weak QB class. Barkley has been falling on the basis of a disappointing season, but he’s decisive, and distributes the ball well. While this could change depending on who, if anyone, replaces Chan Gailey, he’d be a good fit for most systems based around CJ Spiller and Steve Johnson. His arm strength and height leave a little to be desired, but you know this is a guy who Ralph Wilson can get behind. He’ll be able to lean on CJ Spiller through his rough patches, and has a legitimate no.1 target in Stevie Johnson.

Other possibilities: Ryan Nassib, Keenan Allen. The tougher, more consistent Nassib could be preferred to Matt Barkley, or they could wait for their man until the next round and focus on acquiring a complementary weapon for Johnson here.

7^th Overall Pick- Cleveland Browns- Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M

6-4, 250. 20 tackles for a loss and 12.5 sacks in 2012.

The second player from an exceptional Tamu side off the board, Moore fills arguably Cleveland’s most pressing need. While Pat Shurmur is  gone, Dick Jauron may well stay either as defensive co-ordinator or as the new head coach, a reward for building a capable defense in difficult circumstances. Holmgren and Heckert have done a good job of building a talented young interior line, and they hit on Sheard, but they need a true star end to top it off. Moore provides exactly that- he’s quick and powerful, adept at setting the edge but also a dominant pass rusher. The most important tape which will see Moore vault into first round consideration is against Alabama, where he maintained his ability to make impact plays against an offensive line made up entirely of future NFL players.

Other possibilities: Mike Glennon, Tyler Eifert. The Browns have loved to trade down in the past, so these are options if the new front office continues where the old one left off. Brandon Weeden could be collateral damage of the Browns cleaning house, or alternatively they grab a playmaking tight end to act as his security blanket.

8^th Overall Pick- Tennessee Titans- Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

6-3, 320.

Tennessee have decided to hang on to Chris Johnson for next year, so they need to find a way to make that rushing attack functional between the tackles. While Stewart and Roos are talented enough, their guards are getting consistently overwhelmed. Mike Munchak has previously disavowed picking interior linemen this high, but the experience of this season could have persuaded him to change his ways. Enter Chance Warmack, the most impressive piece on a stellar offensive line in Tuscaloosa. He’s almost unrealistically athletic, and has been blasting holes in competitive SEC defences for years. As good a shot as any interior lineman has had to go in the top ten for a long time.

Other possibilities: Ezekiel Ansah, Jonathan Cooper. If Munchak stays true to his word on the interior line, they could deepen their pass rush with the hyper athletic Ansah. If he doesn’t, Cooper is another impressive guard who could leapfrog even the exceptional Warmack.

9^th Overall Pick- Arizona Cardinals- Mike Glennon, QB, North Carolina State

6-6, 232. 3648 yards, 57.7% completion, 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2012.

Arizona are in a tough position. They have the resources to protect their quarterback- they have two talented rookies at tackle who should improve going into next year, and one more good player coming back from injury at that position. However, it’s increasingly clear that Kolb can’t stay healthy and neither of their other options should be allowed to start right now. The best players available don’t fill Arizona’s needs. They do need a QB. They’ve been known to prioritise arm strength- hence drafting the raw Lindley and Skelton, both of whom have big ticks in the arm strength section of their resumés. Glennon’s arm is very impressive, but we’ll see if the Cardinals have learnt from their mistakes in developing it.

Other possibilities: Ryan Nassib, Jonathan Cooper. The Cardinals, having missed on one athletic QB with footwork issues, could opt for the better coached Nassib over Glennon. Alternatively, they could bolster their interior line with the road grading Cooper.

10^th Overall Pick- San Diego- Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan

6-8, 309.

Step one on getting that previously explosive offense back on track is keeping Rivers healthy and upright. With Danario Alexander emerging and Vincent Brown returning, he’ll have people to throw to, but no time to do it if Mike Harris is still trying to protect his blindside. Lewan has experience, and all the athleticism on his enormous frame that you could look for in a top flight tackle. Investing resources in this will help get Rivers’ relationship with his new coach on the right track.

Other possibilities: Manti Te’o, Logan Ryan. Te’o could help soften the loss of leadership which will happen when Takeo Spikes finally retires, while the fast rising Ryan could also be needed to replace the production of aging Quentin Jammer.

11^th Overall Pick- New York Jets- Sam Montgomery, DE/OLB, LSU

6-5, 260. 32 tackles, 12 for a loss and 7 sacks in 2012.

The Jets have a desperate need at the outside linebacker position. Aging Bryan Thomas insists he’s not retiring, Calvin Pace could be cut and re-signed, but in reality the Jets just badly need a premier player on the edge so they don’t have to blitz every down. Montgomery is exactly what they want- a varied, strong pass rusher who has the strength to set the edge, capable of running both through and around tackles. Rex loves long arms, so if he’s still helping make the decisions this could finally be their year to get a featured pass rusher to capitalise on the inside rush generated by young stars Wilkerson and Coples.

Other possibilities: Margus Hunt, Jonathan Cooper. I really can’t stress enough how much Rex loves long arms, and Hunt could be the best man available if the Jets continue to move towards a 4-3. Meanwhile, the Jets have pretty much no-one at guard who is guaranteed to return next year, so they could view Cooper as just the thing to enliven their pedestrian run game.

12^th Overall Pick- Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

6-4, 320. 42 tackles, 11 for a loss, and 5 sacks in 2012.

The Brian Price experiment collapsed in Tampa Bay, and they need a young playmaker to bolster their run defense. Lotulelei likely won’t fall this far because he’s so adept at clogging blockers and making plays, but, contrary to popular belief, he’s not quite Haloti Ngata. Nevertheless, if the Bucs see him on the board they’ll salivate at the defensive line they could have.

Other possibilities: Jarvis Jones, Jake Matthews. Schiano, a college coach, could be tempted by Jones’ college production to overlook his one dimensional game. Meanwhile, Matthews could be called upon to replace the inept Trueblood as he tries to resurrect Josh Freeman’s moribund career.

13^th Overall Pick- Carolina Panthers- Jonathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

6-3, 335. 55 tackles, 4 for a loss, and a sack in 2012.

All the indications are that the Carolina Panthers are going to shore up the interior of their defensive line with this pick, and Jonathan Hankins is exactly the kind of talented and versatile player the new GM will want to give that defense. He’s a rock in the middle of the unbeaten Ohio State unit, and he should be able to work into Carolina’s rotation immediately.

Other possibilities: Keenan Allen, Tavon Austin. While DT is the obvious need for Carolina, they should also look for Steve Smith’s successor if they’re keen to maintain Newton’s development. Allen is the more reliable option, whereas Austin is a multi-faceted weapon who could thrive if Chip Kelly comes to Carolina.

14^th Overall Pick- Pittsurgh Steelers- Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

6-1, 218. 100 tackles in 2012.

The Steelers haven’t had a pick this high in ages, so it’ll be interesting to see if that influences their strategy. Nevertheless, their only huge need is on the offensive line but they’ll be loath to go down that road here, having spent two high picks there this time last year. If they stick with their strategy of drafting for a year in the future, Vaccaro makes sense, with Troy Polomalu finally on the downslide and Ryan Mundy not representing a blue chip replacement.

Other possibilities: Giovani Bernard, Jonathan Cooper. I really don’t have much idea where the Steelers will go with this pick. They could bite the bullet and pick for value in Cooper, or otherwise look to galvanise their run game with a more electric back.

15^th Overall Pick- Miami Dolphins- Keenan Allen, WR, California

6-3, 210. 61 catches for 737 yards and 6 Touchdowns in 2012.

The Dolphins might make a play for Greg Jennings, in which case this pick goes up in the air. However, as it stands the Dolphins need to concentrate all their resources on developing Ryan Tannehill. Hartline’s emergence has been a bonus, and Davone Bess is a good weapon from the slot, but both will be made more effective if defences have to contend with Allen. He’s a well rounded player, reliable and tough with a fantastic catching radius, who can get separation on a range of routes and also get yards after the catch. If he shows good speed at the combine he should be the first receiver off the board, and Miami could really use him.

Other possibilities: Jonathon Banks, Eric Fisher. With Vontae Davis gone, the Dolphins could do with adding Banks to their coverage unit. With Jake Long’s future also in question, they may opt to keep Martin on the right side and bring in Fisher.

16^th Overall Pick- New Orleans Saints- Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

6-5, 270. 57 tackles, 13 for a loss, 4.5 sacks and eight pass breakups in 2012.

The New Orleans Saints were overjoyed when a falling Cameron Jordan seemed to answer their glaring need for a pass rusher in 2010. However, while a stellar player in run defense, he has disappointed going after the quarterback and this remains the biggest issue with New Orleans defensively. Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah is the most intriguing athlete in the class, and has shown some skill in addition to his top tier blend of speed, strength and length. Since he’s not a career football player, originating as he does from track athletics in Ghana, he has a lot of potential to develop these talents. Steve Spagnuolo always benefited from the New York Giants’ commitment to drafting pass rushers, and he’ll bang the table for this one( if he’s still sat at it).

Other possibilities: Robert Woods, Jonathan Cooper. Brees could do with another big receiver on the outside, and Woods’ playmaking ability comes as a “welcome home” present to Sean Payton. Though he continues to slide in this mock, the Saints are another team that could consider the talented Cooper.

17th Overall Pick- St Louis Rams, Barrett Jones, C/G, Alabama

6-5, 310.

This needs little explanation. Sam Bradford desperately needs weapons if he’s not going down in flames, but this is more a question of developing raw talents like Quick and Givens than adding new players. However, an intelligent and versatile lineman like Jones would be a perfect fit to slide onto that line wherever they decide their biggest problems lie, and help clear running lanes for Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead.

Other possibilities: Jake Matthews, Sharrif Floyd. Matthews is another option to upgrade in the trenches, while Floyd could be a nice prospect to pair with Michael Brockers in the long term.

18^th Overall Pick- Dallas Cowboys, Jesse Williams, DT/NT, Alabama

6-4, 320.

An immovable object in the centre of Nick Saban’s 3-4 defense, and a big part of the Crimson Tide’s excellent run defense, Williams is a nice consolation prize for Jerry Jones missing out on Barrett Jones. He’s a plug in and play player who’ll move around that line, but can finally give them good play at the Nose when Jay Ratliff isn’t on the field.

Other possibilities: Khaled Holmes, Eric Reid. Though neither of these players represents value, Jerry Jones could do something desperate to try and solve the problematic Center and Safety positions.

19^th Overall Pick- New York Giants, Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame

6-2, 255. 103 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 7 interceptions in 2012.

Coming close to the Heisman, it’s little question that Te’o has the pedigree to perform in the NFL. However, the devalued nature of the position, and more prototypical frame of rival Alec Ogletree, mean that Te’o risks a fall on the first day of the draft. However, the Giants always seem to manage to pick up blue chip prospects way later than they have any right to. A mixture of journeymen and undrafted players have given Perry Fewell’s men some good play over the last few years, but Te’o will bring leadership to a defense that has looked a little rudderless this year. More importantly, he’ll crack down on big running plays and be a weapon in coverage.

Other possibilities: Jonathan Cooper, Jonathan Banks. The Giants lack of investment on the O-line 

caught up with them this year, while Corey Webster has regressed badly at corner.

20^th Overall Pick- Chicago Bears, Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia

6-3, 232. 98 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, 1 interception and a blocked kick in 9 games in 2012.

Few teams ask as much of their linebackers as Chicago, and it’s finally taking its toll on Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. Even if they last one more year, Ogletree finally presents an heir apparent who will provide depth as he learns. The country strong Ogletree as shown he can take on big linemen in the SEC, and will relish twice yearly duels with Adrian Peterson.

Other possibilities: Jake Matthews, Tyler Eifert. A consistent tackle or a playmaking tight end would both do Jay Cutler’s offense the world of good.

21^st Overall Pick- Cincinnati Bengals, Tavon Austin, WR, WVU

5-9, 172. 110 catches for 1259 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012. He also has 61 rushes for 598 yards and 3 touchdowns, and two return touchdowns. He averages 230 all purpose yards a game.

Jay Gruden has done a great job of coaching up young receivers and getting production out of less heralded players in Cincinnati, but he could be on his way to greater things. His successor needs to load up the wide receiver position so that the Red Rifle doesn’t regress. Tavon Austin, a smaller wide receiver who does a brilliant job gaining separation and making plays in the open field, would provide a contrasting and complementary threat to AJ Green. The WR screens and end arounds that he specialises in could also take some pressure off the Bengals beleaguered running game.

Other possibilities: Marquess Wilson, Kyle van Noy. Wilson needs a team, usually the Bengals, who overlook character concerns in favour of talent. Kyle van Noy has had a great season at BYU and could add playmaking and depth in that linebacking group.

22^nd Overall Pick- St Louis Rams(from Washington), Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon

6-5, 243. 44 tackles, 10.5 for a loss and 5 sacks in 2012.

Jeff Fisher never showed any aversion to stacking the D-Line in Tennessee, and continues that trend by bringing Dion Jordan off the board. Jordan has been a key and productive piece in the Ducks’ impressive defense, playing well against both run and pass. The depth provided in St Louis by Long and Quinn also means that they can have the patience to develop his raw athletic ability into more consistency as a pass rusher.

Other possibilities: Da’rick Rogers, Montee Ball. Jeff Fisher likes these talented, troubled guys, so Rogers fits the bill. Ball could be the next Steven Jackson.

23^rd Overall Pick- Minnesota Vikings, Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

6-3, 205. 46 catches for 778 yards and 5 touchdowns, 25 rushes for 308 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2012. Also a Kick return average of 28 yards and a touchdown. He also returned four punts, one for a touchdown.

Minnesota comes into the offseason with an enormous need at wideout, and will potentially exacerbate this by parting ways with the rebellious Percy Harvin. Minnesota have been bitten before on injury prone wide receivers with Sidney Rice, so they’ll steer clear of Justin Hunter and Robert Woods. Instead, they get a wide receiver who’s home run ability can help soften the potential impact of Harvin’s departure, but who’s speed and size display a serious potential to develop into a real no.1 target, in addition to his unreal special teams threat.

Other Possibilities: Sharrif Floyd, Quinton Patton. Floyd could add depth to the interior D-Line, while Patton is an alternative target for Christian Ponder.

24^th Overall Pick- Indianapolis Colts, Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

6-5, 305.

The Colts need to start protecting Andrew Luck. He’s already playing at a very high level, and moves in the pocket brilliantly, but the constant pressure he’s under is affecting his accuracy and consistency. It’s rare that an elite tackle prospect plays on the right side, and it’s harder than commonly known to move from one side to the other. While many linemen this year will have to learn a new position, since many of the best prospects at RT or G play at LT in college, Matthews will be able to plug in at his old position at Indianapolis and become the next piece of that high functioning offense.

Other possibilities: Giovani Bernard, Robert Woods. Bernard could be the speed back to lead that offense, while Woods has drawn comparisons to Reggie Wayne.

25^th Overall Pick- Baltimore Ravens, Khaseem Greene, ILB, Rutgers

6-1, 230. 125 tackles, 6 forced fumbles, 5.5 sacks and 2 interceptions in 2012.

The Ravens have to get ready for the post Ray Lewis era. He’s been a machine for too long, and press ganging guys like Daniel Ayanbadejo into action during his absence has had mixed results. Greene is a pure playmaker and consistent tackler at the heart of the Scarlet Knights’ defense, and can play on day one in the NFL.

Other possibilities: Kenny Stills, Philip Thomas. Stills reminds me of Anquan Boldin, and could step in to that role, while a player like the Fresno State safety Thomas is needed to replace the irreplaceable in Ed Reed.

26^th Overall Pick- Seattle Seahawks, Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

5-9, 180. Did not play in 2012 due to problems with addiction.

Every year the Seahawks pick way out of left field, so why the hell not. Seattle need a slot corner, and Mathieu has enormous added value on special teams. He’ll move around their hybrid scheme to generate maximum impact, and Pete Carroll will back himself to sort out Mathieu’s troubled personal life.

Other possibilities: DJ Fluker, Tyler Eifert. Fluker could replace the ineffectual Breno Giacomini, while the Seahawks multiple attempts to upgrade the TE position have drawn a blank so far, and Eifert could be the next in that line.

27^th Overall Pick- San Francisco, Jonathon Banks, CB, Mississippi State

6-1, 185. Won the Jim Thorpe award as the nation’s best DB in 2012, to go with 4 interceptions and 59 tackles.

The 49ers like to draft for the future, and don’t have any especially pressing needs, so every pick is a luxury one. Here they bolster a corner group that has played well in recent years, but is helped enormously by a stellar pass rush and good safeties. They run a lot of man coverage, so netting a premier corner like Banks could take them to another, even scarier, level.

Other possibilities: Kawann Short, Zach Ertz. The 49ers need depth on the D-Line, exposed in the short absence of Justin Smith, which Short would bring. Otherwise, the rich get richer at tight end with the addition of a guy who played well for Harbaugh at Stanford.

28^th Overall Pick- New England Patriots, Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

6-4, 200. 73 catches for 1083 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2012.

New England need a new wide receiver. Brandon Lloyd has done some good things, but hasn’t emerged as the deep threat they wanted, while Wes Welker may not be back. Julian Edelman should be able to take over for Welker in the slot, but won’t have nearly the same impact unless they cna muster up a complementary threat outside. Enter Hunter, who’s a top-10 talent with fantastic size and speed. He will likely fall on draft day due to the succession of injuries that have marred his college career, but Bill Belichick has a long history of gambling on injury prone players with great upside, like Jones, Gronkowski and Ras-i-Dowling.

Other possibilities: Giovani Bernard, Barkevious Mingo. Bernard could add even more quality to an already stacked backfield, while Mingo could be the long term answer opposite Chandler Jones.

29^th Overall Pick- Green Bay Packers, Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

6-8, 305.

Green Bay have been struggling to protect Aaron Rodgers’ blindside since Chad Clifton was cut, and Derek Sherrod has had too many injury problems to be relied upon. Fisher is a massive prospect, but has shown surprising agility and movement skills for someone his size. Green Bay will be hoping he can step in right away and provide a bit more consistency for both the run and the pass.

Other possibilities: Philip Thomas, Jonathan Franklin. Green Bay never adequately replaced Nick Collins, and Thomas fits their opportunistic style. Franklin is the versatile and consistent running threat Aaron Rodgers has always needed alongside him in the backfield.

30^th Overall Pick- Denver Broncos, Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

6-3, 303. 41 tackles, 11 for loss, 1 sack and a blocked kick in 2012.

Denver have a real need at defensive tackle. While Joe Mays and Von Miller both play the run well from the linebacker spot, their run stuffing as a unit has not quite recovered from the departure of Broderick Bunkley to New Orleans. Like last year’s second round pick Derek Wolfe, Floyd can play at different spots along the D-Line, but projects best as inside as a pure run stopper, with enough speed to generate a bit of pass rush down the line. Floyd’s bulk and instincts inside will add another valuable piece to the Superbowl contenders.

Other possibilities: Giovani Bernard, Stedman Bailey. John Fox loves his running backs, while Bailey would be a much more explosive slot weapon than Brandon Stokley.

31^st Overall Pick- Houston Texans, Jonathon Cooper, G, North Carolina

The Texans didn’t really succeed in replacing Mike Brisiel, and it hurt Arian Foster and their run game down the stretch. Cooper has the mobility to fit Kubiak’s scheme, and the quality to upgrade even a stacked roster like the Texans, so his slide ends here.

Other possibilities: De’andre Hopkins, Corey Lemonier. Young players at both wideout and pass rusher haven’t emerged as expected in 2012, so Hopkins or Lemonier could be brought in to stiffen that competition.

32^nd Overall Pick- Atlanta Falcons, Margus Hunt, DE, SMU

6-8, 280. 32 tackles, 8 sacks, One INT and three blocked kicks in 2012.

One thing that has passed under the radar in Atlanta this season is a gradual shift to running a true hybrid defense, with plenty of elements of a 3-4. Margus Hunt is the perfect addition to make this scheme tick, capable of rotating in at 4-3 end and moving inside for pass rush situations. He’s been phenomenally productive at SMU, though a little raw, he’s freakishly athletic, tipped by many to bloy away Dontari Poe’s numbers at the combine, with enormous arms that give him a valuable sideshow blocking kicks on special teams. Not that his tape will let him down, as some of his best performances this year came against quality offenses like Fresno State and Texas A&M. As Atlanta gears up to move on from the aging John Abraham, Hunt is a player who, though very different from Abraham, has the talent to nevertheless replace his production.

Other possibilities: Logan Ryan, Montee Ball. The Falcons did well in acquiring Asante Samuel, but he’s not young, so Ryan presents good value to deepen that unit. Michael Turner has declined a lot, while Quizz Rodgers has yet to show feature back quality, so Ball’s arrival helps to maintain the talent around Matt Ryan.

 This mock is a reflection of an odd balance of the players I personally like and those who are likely to go high. Some players, like Tyler Wilson, are excluded because I watched the tape yet. Others, such as Jarvis Jones, are excluded because I don't like them, even though they are unlikely, in reality, to escape the first round. I hope you found some of it interesting, and updates will be posted periodically through the process.

Preview: New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

The Jets travel to Miami today, desperate to take a winning record and some momentum into a ferocious section of schedule; they take on the Texans, 49ers and Patriots over the next four weeks. It's also an interesting homecoming for Tony Sparano, sacked by the 'phins last year but now back as a coordinator. The Dolphins are also 1-1, and keen to show the league that their victory over Oakland was a demonstration of their own ability, not simply a reflection of the Raiders' ineptitude.

3 Key Matchups to Watch

Randy Starks vs Jets' Interior Front

Randy Starks has been one of the Dolphins' best performers this year, and Jets fans remember with great pain his two interceptions of Mark Sanchez last year. Paul Soliai will have his hands full trying to hold his ground against all-pro center Nick Mangold, so the Dolphins will be looking for Starks to disrupt the Jets offense by overcoming the Matt Slauson/Vlad Ducasse rotation at left guard.

LaRon Landry vs Reggie Bush

Speed kills. Rex Ryan said as much when addressing CJ Spiller's success against the Jets week one, and it's speed more than anything else that has put Reggie Bush in the enviable position of being the NFL's second leading rusher. The Jets have upgraded their speed in a few positions precisely in order to give themselves a chance against backs like Bush, and nowhere is this more evident than at safety. Landry has 4.3 speed, can hit, and can tackle. If he has a big game, it will majorly undermine the Dolphins' efforts to get Bush going to the outside.

Ryan Tannehill vs Yeremiah Bell

The Dolphins' rookie quarterback had a solid game against Oakland, showcasing the willingness and arm talent to consistently drive the ball outside the numbers. Unfortunately for him, the Jets do a great job of locking down the outside, and are much more vulnerable in the middle of the field, covered by slower players like Bell, Scott and Harris. Tannehill has a good chance to consistently move the chains by making touch throws down the seam off play action, and has personnel in Davone Bess and Anthony Fasano who can do this with him.  If the wily veteran Bell, who has 13 years on the rookie, can get on top of these he has a good chance to crown his homecoming with big plays on the ball.

Quick Hits

Flatline- If Darelle Revis is fully fit, I'd be very surprised to see Brian Hartline achieve anything against his coverage. It's time for Joe Philbin's wide receiving by committee to come into it's own, which means players like Legedu Naanee stepping up to another level.

Holmes, sweet Holmes- After melting down spectacularly in Miami last year, Santonio Holmes returns to Miami as arguably the most important factor in the matchup. The Dolphins simply don't have anyone who can cover him at his best, so if he can stay focused he should have his first 100 yard game of the year.

High School Connection- With Dustin Keller and John Conner both out for this game, Konrad Reuland will be seeing increased action as both a TE and an h-back, after catching two passes against Pittsburgh. Though the recent waiver claim has had little time to pick up the Jets playbook, he does have a leg up on chemistry with the Quarterback, since he used to catch passes from him at Mission Viejo HS in California.

Miller Time - Though Daniel Thomas is also probable for this afternoon's game, the Jets do a pretty good job of shutting down power backs of his ilk. When Bush needs to be spelled, Miami would do well to turn to the quick rookie Miller, who recorded his first career TD against Oakland.

Air Sanchez- The Dolphins do an exceptional job defending the run, and the Jets really struggled to move the chains with Ground and Pound against the Steelers. The Jets should strive for balance, but they need to see Mark Sanchez have success in traditional passing situations and plays if they want to win this game.

Waiting for Wake- Cameron Wake will be eyeing this matchup with great relish. Though he inexplicably struggled against Wayne Hunter last year, the Dolphins' elite pass rusher will be lined up opposite the inexperienced Austin Howard all day, and has every reason to fancy his chances of getting his hands on Mark Sanchez.

Changing it up- If the Jets are serious about establishing the run in Miami then they need to employ all the variety at their disposal. In addition to looking to wear down the Miami linebackers with the bruising Shonn Greene, the Jets should be looking to incorporate Tim Tebow and Joe McKnight into the gameplan to try and generate some big plays.

Dazed and Confused- Ryan Tannehill has an enormous mental challenge ahead in the Jets defense. He'll be seeing all sorts of disguised blitzes and coverages from the Ryan/Pettine scheme, and needs to have the discipline to make his reads, not panic, and not throw hot reads to Revis island.

Hello, Goodbye- Having cut Jets' great Bryan Thomas on Saturday night, albeit a temporary move to allow room for Donnie Fletcher, Gang Green are hoping they can welcome Garret McIntyre to their playmakers list. He has a stern challenge ahead in the form of All-Pro Left tackle Jake Long. McIntyre has had struggles to tackle in the open field, so Reggie Bush will also be a fierce test of his ability to be the new starter full time.

Fields of Gold- The Dolphins could be punting a lot today, but they have the man to do it in Brandon Fields. If Fields shows up to play, it could be tough for the Jets to consistently drive 90 yards down the turf. Look for the Dolphins to prioritise ball security, keep the Jets pinned back, and let their defense keep them in the game until the bitter end.
 

Reaction to Giants @Panthers

1. Wideout Hideout - Gradually, and even a little under the radar, Jerry Reese has built up an unrealistically deep and loaded corps of receivers in New York. Both of the receivers who were injured last night, Nicks and Hixon, are playmakers, but Eli today was able to get the job done with Cruz, Ramses Barden and Reuben Randle. I loved Randle coming out of LSU, and he just provides another string to a group that makes things happen outside and from the slot. Barden's emergence is another plus, but he will have more to prove when he's not going up against a fifth round rookie in press.

2. An Anxious Ron- When the Carolina Panthers finished last in the NFL in 2010, they replaced one defensive coach with another, in the hopes that Ron Rivera would be able to turn round an anaemic unit. Since then, the Panthers have spent a lot of money, and six picks in the first five rounds, trying to bolster the unit. With Jon Beason returning from injury and 9th overall pick Luke Kuechly also joining the mix, expectations were high for Ron's defenders. So far in 2012 however, the group hasn't impressed. The defensive line were bullied up front, and the young corners were victimised all day by Eli Manning. Jon Beason missed a chance at an interception, and Godfrey missed two. If the Panthers are serious about the Kalil promise and really believe that Cam's championship windows starts here, then Ron Rivera needs to get his guys playing a lot better than this.

3. Addition by Subtraction- The New York Giants offensive line had one of their best days in a long time against Carolina, giving Eli an unbelievably clean pocket with remarkable consistency, on top of blasting open huge holes for running back Andre Brown. One factor in the relative success of this particular lineup was the absence of perennial disaster David Diehl, currently the right tackle, who was sidelined with an injury Thursday night. The Giants' love affair with Diehl, who has been moved all over the Giants line in his role as a versatile liability, is pretty inexplicable, and they should seriously consider leaving Locklear and Will Beatty as the starters even once Diehl returns to his miserable 100%.

4. Follow the Leader- You never see the whole story on a TV broadcast, but I wasn't pleased to see so many pictures of Cam Newton moping alone on the sidelines. He, very admirably, criticised his own failings in leadership last year, and he needs to step up as a leader to get this young team through a difficult start to the season.

5. Fresh Prince- It was great to see Prince Amukamara healthy on Thursday night. Corey Webster has had a tough start to the year, and the first round pick has bags of potential if he can get on the field and build up the experience he needs. If the Giants are in the play-offs, a healthy Amukamara would be a huge boost to their side.

6. Adams' Family- Talented returner Joe Adams had arguably the worst night of any Panther, with two lost fumbles on returns. He's very young, and could provide some real explosion to that special teams unit, so it's up to his coaches and teammates to boost his confidence and help him forget about this game.

7. Stat of the Game- Giants linebacker Michael Boley now has an interception in each of the Giants first 3 games. It would seem that Quarterbacks are just not ready for a linebacker with his kind of speed and agility in coverage.

8. Don't Stop Believin' - It was a really tough outing for the Panthers, but don't write them off just yet. There's heaps of talent on that team, so they still have plenty of chances to recover and make a good run. On the other side, I wouldn't completely buy the Giants just yet. Their offense was given a lot of breaks tonight, and Eli will have more trouble against the opportunistic and aggressive defenses in his own divisional games.

Quickfire Review- Browns at Bengals

What I Liked for the Browns

1. Youth in Revolt- The Browns made a bold choice to go with rookies Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson at Quarterback and tailback respectively, and they showed a lot of good things against the Bengals after an abysmal opener. While I'm hesitant to crown Weeden immediately- he racked up a lot of stats chasing the Bengals lead and throwing checkdowns, I did love that he avoided any costly errors against a capable defense. Richardson looked fantastic, especially on an explosive touchdown reception where he looked impossible to tackle, and another rookie, 2nd round tackle Mitchell Schwartz, played a solid game.

2. Más Massaquoi- While the talk was, as usual, all about new acquisitions like Gordon and Benjamin, the real impact at receiver in Cleveland needs to come from incumbent starters Greg Little and Mohamed Massaquoi. While neither looks like a true no.1, the perennially disappointing Massaquoi hinted that he might be the kind of reliable seam option who can produce in the West Coast offense, especially given Weeden's ability to throw over the middle.

What I liked for the Bengals

1. Playmakers, playmakers everywhere- I have no idea where Jay Gruden keeps finding these people, but the Bengals seem able to consistently put very real talent around Andy Dalton. This was easily Dalton's best game since the first half of last year, and he was enormously helped by contributions from the electric Andrew Hawkins and the impressive Armon Binns("Who?" -Everybody). The emergence of these young playmakers is only going to aid Dalton's development, and open up things further for the real blue chip talents, AJ Green and Jermaine Gresham.

2. A Special Day- The Bengals did a great job in the third phase on Sunday, consistently generating yardage on returns, limiting the impact of the very dangerous Josh Cribbs, and springing a thrilling punt return touchdown from "The Artist formerly known as Pacman" Jones. 

What I didn't like for the Browns

1.  Mourning Joe- Joe Haden is the Browns' best player outside of Joe Thomas, and those two are so far ahead of the rest of the side it's almost comic. The Browns need Buster Skrine to play a lot better than he did Sunday if they want to make it through Haden's suspension without digging a hole they can't get out of.

2. Mutiny of the Bounties- I've never liked Scott Fujita especially as a player, and I have little respect for him as a person after the dubious shenanigans of bountygate. Whether or not the NFL may have overreached in the specificity of their accusations, to me it stands without doubt that the Saints players and coaches were involved in a culture most of us would consider morally reprehensible, and went to great lengths to cover it up. As it stands in Cleveland at the moment, it's got to be unwise to give so much playing time to the uninspiring and possibly evil Fujita while failing to give blue collar, impact rookie LJ Fort a single snap on defense.

What I didn't like for the Bengals

1. Livin' on the edge- The Bengals desperately need the likes of Michael Johnson, who recorded a sack but  not much else, to step up in the absence of blue chip edge rusher Robert Geathers. Brandon Weeden had a host of problems when tormented by Jason Babin and Trent Cole, but the Bengals failed to get after the rookie and instead let him pick them apart all day.

2. Run Dimensional - Don;t get me wrong, I loved the acquisition of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, a player whose consistency and sure hands will bring a very steady presence to a young offensive unit. However, he's not going to set the world alight, and the Bengals need to incorporate their other runners, especially the intriguing Brian Leonard, into their gameplan more if they want to really threaten opponents on the ground.

RIP Steve Sabol

A great man who pioneered how we watch football, and to whom much of the sports world is still trying to catch up. His list of achievements include overseeing over 100 Emmy's for NFL Films, which he stewarded to extraordinary heights. The link to follow gives a more detailed run down of his life, and details for a brain cancer charity recommended by his family.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000063643/article/steve-sabol-founder-of-nfl-films-dies