9. New York Jets – Jonathan Cooper, OG/North Carolina – I know just yesterday I had Cooper going to the Jets at #13, but they can’t chance the Titans or Miami would take him before then. The Jets, more than most teams, need a starter from day 1 at probably 4 positions. If Tavon Austin is drafted by either Buffalo, or St. Louis as predicted, The N.Y Jets will tell all the viewers at #9 who exactly is making the decisions for the team. If they trade this pick… It’s Idzick. If they pick a defensive player, Rex Ryan is making the decisions, and if they pick a lineman, Woody Johnson is thinking longevity with his early pick in 2013.

8. St. Louis Rams 8. Buffalo Bills – Tavon Austin, WR West Virginia – Everything I have read today had mentioned that both the N.Y. Jets as well as the Bills are very high on Tavon Austin, but neither is as high on him as St. Louis. With St. Louis having two first round picks, the ability to move up is infinite. This also works in favor for Buffalo who has to pick in front of Minnesota to make sure they get their pick of a QB like Ryan Nassib at 16, or E.J. Manuel and still acquire more picks later this year, or possibly next. If the Jets don’t go after Nassib at #13, he will fall directly to Buffalo.

7. Cardinals – Star Lotulelei, DT/Utah – ESPN’s Todd McShay “loves” this guy. I also think he can play in either scheme (4-3 or 3-4) as both at DT, or DE. He beats the Offensive line early in games and often and makes his presence felt. At 6’3” 311lbs, Star has the prototypical size and strength to be an impact player right away, which is exactly what a first round pick should do for your team.

6. Oakland Raiders – Sharrif Floyd, DT/ Florida – Floyd racked up 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two kick blocks as a junior before declaring and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was quoted as saying, “everybody” has Floyd pegged as a top-five pick.” . At 6’3 297 pounds, and with a solid 40 time, Oakland loves highly touted athletic players of which Floyd definitely fits the mold. West Virginia WR Tavon Austin could also go here, or the Raiders could do something smart and move further down again in order to grab more talent, much like the Patriots do every year.

5. Detroit Lions – Ezekiel Ansah DE/ BYU – Ansah reportedly didn’t hire a trainer for the combine instead focusing on finishing his classes at BYU. His draft stock was already high but this news makes him seem kind of freakish. Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds with 35 1/8-inch arms, Ansah posted the sixth fastest forty times (4.63) of 37 defensive linemen who ran, and his 34 1/2-inch vertical tied for seventh. There is also a rumor that his 40 at the combine was the first one he ever ran in his lifetime. In 5 years’ time, this will either seem like the steal of the top 10, or a total bust.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Joeckel, OT/ Texas A&M – Chip Kelly gets to choose between a dynamic DE in BYU Ziggy Ansah or the consensus #1 for the last few months. I understand his new offense has been quoted by LeSean McCoy as being “a track meet” and I truly think that unless another team that is looking to move up, like the San Diego Chargers, trades into this position the choice will be Joeckel or North Carolina OG Lane Johnson.

3. Cleveland Browns – Geno Smith, QB/West Virginia – In the first trade of the NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders are said to be looking to trade down, and Cleveland has been rumored to be very interested in both, West Virginia QB Geno Smith, or BYU DE Ezekiel Ansah. Brandon Weeden was the last regimes QB, and unfortunately his biggest loss will be the fact that his new bosses didn’t draft him, and therefore will never have “their guy” until they draft “their guy.” There is also talk that if the top two tackles don’t go 1 & 2, Oakland would be willing to trade for nearly anyone who thinks the LT is a position of need and is willing to pay with multiple picks.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dion Jordan, DE/Oregon – Dion is an anomaly. Most prospects unable to compete at either the combine or their pro day typically fall on draft boards. Instead, all this kid has done is run a 40 and he’s being considered as one of the best defensive players available this year. Jordan was unable to help his draft stock at the Oregon Pro day because he is recovering from a recent surgery to repair a torn labrum. He ran a 4.53 unofficial time at the combine, which is amazing. GM David Caldwell recently said, “We’re pretty close – It’s down to two people.” Most people believe the two he referenced are Oregon DE Dion Jordan and West Virginia QB Gen Smith., but there is new talk that OT Luke Joeckel or Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher depending on who Kansas City takes is a likely pick for Jacksonville. Again, I don’t see it. The Jags offense was woeful, but it’s still better than their defense.

1. Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Fisher OT/ Central Michigan – Yes for the first time in 3 months Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel has fallen from the top spot. A lot of chatter has been made about Fisher being the favorite of Andy Reid and I can’t say there is a heck of a difference between him and Luke. It will come down to who the coaches liked more, and thought was the better guy. There has been some speculation the Chiefs will try to trade down, but I don’t see it.

32. Baltimore Ravens – Kevin Minter, ILB/LSU – I am not alone in thinking Baltimore will be looking to somehow replace Ray Lewis and the skill set he gave the Ravens throughout his career. Minter has been compared to Jets LB David Harris. Harris has 22.5 sacks in 6 seasons with the Jets, so to be honest; I think Baltimore would be thinking bigger than those numbers. Minter was the most dependable player on an LSU defense chock-full of prospective NFL talent, According to NFL.com’s Rob Rang, Minter compares to DeMeco Ryans and not Harris as mentioned before. Rang was quoted as saying “Like Ryans, Minter is slightly undersized and relies on his instincts and reliable tackling ability — rather than sheer explosiveness — to accumulate impressive stat-lines. Florida International SS Jonathan Cyprien is another name to watch for here.

31. San Francisco 49ers – Zach Ertz, TE/Stanford – I believe the 49’ers will move up in the draft in order to secure Ertz. Zach has been mentioned as a target for plenty of teams and because of his popularity, as well as the 49’ers having more picks than anyone else in the draft, they’ll move up somewhere in the teens to make this pick. With the departure of Delanie Walker the 49ers need a substitute for their 2 TE sets. Colin Kaepernick needs the keep with the same offensive sets to make the pistol offense as effective as we saw it in 2013. Ertz is a poor blocker and will struggle at time at the next level, but his hands are that of a possession WR. Look for the NY Jets to trade out of the #13th pick they just got from Tampa in order to acquire 2-3 picks from San Fran in exchange.

30. Atlanta Falcons – Desmond Trufant, CB/ Washington – The brother of Seattle Seahawk CB Marcus Trufant and NYJ CB Isiah Trufant, little brother Desmond may be the best of all three. He set career-bests in 2011 as a junior with a pair of interceptions and 16 passes defended, and has the luxury of picking the brains of his two older brothers about the trials and tribulations of the NFL. Atlanta is also short at the DE position and if a big name, (Moore, Werner, Jones) were to fall to 30, I think they’d gobble them up.

29. New England Patriots – Margus Hunt, DE/ Southern Methodist – The Patriots are one of the best at scouting small school kids, with big time talent. Speaking of talent, Hunt hails from Karksi-Nuia, Estonia, and came to SMU as a decorated track and field athlete (he’d set a junior world record in the discus throw at the 2006 World Junior Championships). Margus first started playing football in 2009 and set an NCAA record with 17 blocked kicks (10 field goals, seven extra points) for Southern Methodist. His lack of time spent around the game of football may be the only critique scouts have given him. Good for Margus, Coach Bill Belichick can push him into the film room, and let him learn in training camp and practices what it takes to be a complete NFL player before rushing him out there.

28. Denver Broncos – Datone Jones, DE/ UCLA – Offense is no longer a problem in Denver, thank you Peyton Manning, Wes Welker, etc.. Jones ran a 4.80 official forty at the Combine and was a top-five performer among defensive linemen in the 20-yard shuttle (4.32). Gil Brandt of CBS believes Jones is more of a fit as a DE in a 4-3. Denver will be looking for a replacement for Elvis Dumervil who recently signed with Baltimore. Jones will team up with Von Miller to cause havoc on the rest of the AFC West.

27. Houston Texans – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/Tennessee – Patterson scored a touchdown via kickoff return, punt return, receiving, and rushing, joining Carl Pickens (receiving, KR, PR, INT) as the only players in Tennessee history to score a touchdown four different ways in a career. Andre Johnson isn’t getting any younger and this kid would be a top 12 selection if he had his head on straight. I think going to a veteran team like Houston would be a great fit. He would get to see how real professionals work every day, and learn how to read and react to defenses, while making crisp cuts and running good routes. Originally I had Patterson going as high as 8 to the Bills, but as we get closer to the draft, the chatter in Buffalo is to move down and grab Syracuse QB Ryan Nassib somewhere in the 20’s.

26. Green Bay Packers – Eddie Lacy, RB/ Alabama –This is a luxury pick. The luxury of having one of the best QB’s in the game! Aaron Rodgers has done virtually everything possible in the passing attack for the Packers. Having a quality, forceful downhill runner to get those tough third downs, is something Lacy proved he could do having totaled 1,046 yards and 17 touchdowns in 7 games last year. He’s proven to be worthy of a 1st round pick.

25. – Minnesota Vikings (Via Seahawks) – Alec Ogletree, ILB/Georgia – Coach Leslie Frazier strongly hinted that the Vikings may use one of their first-round picks on a middle linebacker, and it should be between Ogletree, LSU ILB Kevin Minter, and Notre ‘ Manti T’eo. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock says he is “scared to death” of Georgia LB Alec Ogletree as a first-round pick due both to off- and on-field concerns, but the need for a linebacker is too high for the Vikings to not take the chance that Mayock is wrong.

24. Indianapolis Colts – Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE/ Florida State – Can I start by saying I love his nickname “Tank.” With Dwight Freeney looking to sign elsewhere, the Colts will be in a position of need at DE. “Tank” has been rising up boards and some have him going to the Vikings who sandwich the Colts with picks after the Percy Harvin deal. We’ll get to the Vikings in a second; Carradine suffered a torn ACL in November of 2012, and was performing at his pro day in April. That’s Adrian Peterson like, heh, another Vikings reference. With that being said…

23. Minnesota Vikings – Sylvester Williams, DT/ North Carolina – How do you continue to make the Williams wall work in Minnesota?? Draft another Williams of course! In the first of their 2 picks the Vikings will give the Williams wall a little help at DE and DT with Sylvester’s help. If Williams gets past the Cowboys, which is a big “If,” I would expect Minnesota to jump at the chance of having what many consider to be a highly touted prospect.

22. St. Louis Rams (Via Redskins) – Matt Elam, S/Florida – At 5’9”, Elam’s size is a major concern for NFL teams looking to draft him since he will be the last line of defense against the Gronks and Calvin Johnsons on the league. He was asked to cover slot receivers at Florida so he has shown his ability to cover well, and he’s also known for laying a hit. St. Louis has many needs, safety being one of the most prevalent. The Rams should send Robert Griffin a thank you card for this one.

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Jonathan Cyprien, SS/ Florida International – The Bengals will be choosing between a DB, S, and RB so there is no guarantee on Cyprien. However the needs to address to secondary may seem more logical when what most seem to think is the best Strong Safety in this years’ class is still on the board. Since TE’s have become such an important factor for how offenses move the ball these days, the ability to stop them becomes a defensive priority. Cyprien is known to explode into opposing players, but is criticized for taking bad angles on plays, therefore missing tackles. Something a coach can fix if he’s willing to listen.

20. Chicago Bears – Tyler Eifert, TE/ Notre Dame – In my last draft I had mentioned that I wouldn’t rule out the Bears as a potential landing spot for Eifert. Well after more reading, I understand new HC Mark Trestman likes to run a 2 TE set in his offense often, and that was the key to this pick. Martellus Bennet just signed with Chicago, but having Eifert on the opposite side would give Jay Cutler 2 safety nets, when his offensive line fails him again and again. Offensively, Eifert is a beast. At 6’5” 250lbs. he’s a massive target with great hands. His only trouble is blocking. He ran a 4.68 40 time at the combine and it’s been suggested on other mock drafts that he could go as early as the Dolphins. If there is one of the top 7 offensive lineman still available at this point Eifert should be an after-thought considering how often Jay Culter gets rushed out of the pocket. The likelihood of that happening seems to lessen the closer we get to draft day.

Tomorrow GmenHQ will post picks 19-10 with all the latest information corresponding to each team, and picks 9-1 on Thursday.

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OFFENSE – Needs – OL, RB

The offensive line was been slowly dissolving into a weaker unit as a whole. Chris Snee and David Diehl are both getting up there in age, and the need for a rock solid starter for years to come should be a focal point at some point early in 2013. Luckily for the Gmen this year is a great year for lineman and they should have their pick of whoever may fall out of the top 15 this year, or even have the opportunity of taking a solid starter in rounds 2-4. The ability for that prospect to learn the nuances of the line from veterans like Snee and Diehl would also work in the Giants favor.

It’s believed up to 7 offensive linemen could go in the first round. I would not expect the top 4 lineman, Joeckel, Fisher, Cooper, and Warmack to be available at 19; however, guys like D.J. Fluker, and Melenick Watson would be an excellent addition for the Giants. Fluker earned preseason All-SEC recognition in 2012 and went on to earn many honors, including second-team All-America by AP and Walter Camp and first-team All-SEC from the coach and second-team from the media while starting each of the Crimson Tide’s games en route to the national title. Menelik Watson recorded a 27.5-inch vertical jump and 19 strength lifts. He played right tackle at Florida State but the feeling is he can play left tackle. If the Giants decide to go in another direction in round 1, look for Justin Pugh in round 2, or Barrett Jones in Round 3. Both players versatility is unparalleled to the entire lineman class outside of the top 4 lineman in the draft. Pugh may be the biggest reason Ryan Nassib is considered to be a good QB prospect since he kept him on his feet throughout his college career, while Jones was D.J. Flukers’ teammate and has won a national championship playing 3 separate positions on the offensive line (C, OG, and OT.)

Running back is a much smaller need since we’re really talking about a back-up here. David Wilson will be the #1 back going forward and Andre Brown can’t stay healthy, so were looking for a versatile back with some pass catching ability to be a fill in while Wilson and Brown get some rest. Brown will be a free agent after next season so there should be an interest in having some security at the position, but it won’t be until round 4 or lower. Guys I love like Michigan State Le’Veon Bell and North Carolina Giovanni Bernard will be long gone, so the Giants will be looking for a RB who can also be used as a punt returner, or a great blocker on special teams. Enter Florida RB Mike Gillislee. Gillislee went crazy in his senior season after finally getting the starting gig. He totaled 1,152 yards and 10 touchdowns in the SEC. That takes talent, and this kid has some serious upside. Considered a top prep-school prospect coming out of high school, Gillislee sat behind Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps before they both left for the NFL. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not going to be a starter, but he would be more than helpful. He should be chosen in rounds 4 or 5.

DEFENSE – Needs – LB, DB

Dan Connor, Mark Herzlich, Mathias Kiwanuka, Keith Rivers. Those are the best ILB’s on the Giants roster as of now. Kiwanuka is no slouch. He’s a heck of a player and a great LB, but he’s not a natural MLB. Rivers was just signed to a 1 yr. deal, but he’s not a MLB either. Herzlich is a fantastic story, and an inspiration in the locker room, that being said he’s not going to the pro-bowl this year, though I wish him the best on making it one day. The glaring need for a captain in the middle has been a problem for the last two years, and it should be a priority.

The problem is this isn’t a great class of ILB. As a matter of fact I only really like two of them and that’s LSU’s MLB Kevin Minter and Georgia LB Jarvis Jones. Just like Gillislee at Florida, Minter and Jones played in the SEC, which is a tutoring lesson for the NFL. So many great NFL players come from that conference. Minter was clearly the best defensive player on his team at LSU, but is he worth the #19th pick overall? Jones on the other hand would be a gift if he somehow falls to #19. Teams are very skeptical of Jones because of some pretty serious medical concerns. Jones was diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis, a narrowing of the spine that can result in numbness, loss of muscle control, and in some cases paralysis. He has since been cleared by doctors, saying that it was a miss-diagnosis, but that really tainted his draft stock. He is a top 10 talent that will fall some but I’m not sure he makes it to 19. If he should, would the Giants consider him healthy enough for them to draft? That’s a question for Jerry Reece. I think it would be an easy pick myself. Jones isn’t even considered a true MLB, which goes against my own thought process. He’s just too good to pass up if he’s still there. Now if he isn’t I think the Giants should look at OL or a CB in the first round.

With that being said, let’s talk about the CB / S class for the 2013 NFL Draft. This class has some serious talent. Dee Milliner barring any major injury will be a shutdown corner in the NFL. The Giants would need to move way up in the draft to even think about Dee and that’s not Mr. Reece’s style. Instead the Giants should be looking at 3 guys in particular.

(1) Florida State CB, Xavier Rhodes – Rhodes, like Jarvis Jones would have to fall in the draft according to most mock drafts. According to what you read, he could go to the Dolphins at 12, the Bucs at 13 and the Saints at 15. The kid has a 40.5” vertical leap, an 11’ broad jump, and he ran a 4.39 40 at the combine. All 32 teams were present at his pro-day, and is considered by most to be the second best CB prospect in this class.

(2) Texas FS, Kenny Vaccaro – Vaccaro emerged as arguably the best safety in the Big 12 as a junior, posting 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, eight passes broken up and two interceptions. While the Longhorns’ talented defense struggled in 2012, Vaccaro registered a career-high 107 tackles and five turnovers (two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery). He has great instincts and hits hard, 2 qualities needed to be successful as a FS in the NFL. Giants’ fans should be thrilled if Vaccaro is taken at #19.

(3) Houston CB, D. J. Hayden – Hayden, also has similarities to Jarvis Jones. Hayden had what could have been a fatal injury last year. Hayden suffered a heart issue — a torn inferior vena cava — which was called the “most unique injury in the history of the draft” by a Packers executive, but he’s getting good news in his team physicals after checking out at the Combine. Hayden was elected to the 2012 ALL Conference USA team even though he only played 9 games after the heart related injury. He was a team Captain at Houston, and shows the willingness to fight through adversity. I would take him last of the three only due to the unbelievable injury he suffered in a practice! Still, he’s very talented and would be a good pick for the Giants.

For those of you who follow my draft and are wondering how I could have written this entire piece without mentioning Florida State DE Bjoern Werner after having him as the Giants pick for many weeks now, I say… I just did. (HA!) I would like to remind everyone reading this that the article is about players the Giants should be looking at to fill a need, not who they think is the best player available at the time. I know, semantics but hey! What can you do?

Follow me on Twitter @Jferguson631

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dion Jordan, DE/Oregon – Dion is an anomaly. Most prospects unable to compete at either the combine or their pro day typically fall on draft boards. Instead, all this kid has done is run a 40 and he’s being considered as one of the best defensive players available this year. Jordan was unable to help his draft stock at the Oregon Pro day because he is recovering from a recent surgery to repair a torn labrum. He ran a 4.53 unofficial time at the combine, which is amazing. GM David Caldwell recently said, “We’re pretty close – It’s down to two people.” Most people believe the two he referenced are Oregon DE Dion Jordan and West Virginia QB Gen Smith.

3. Oakland Raiders – Geno Smith, QB/West Virginia – I jokingly put “the ghost of All Davis lives” when I first put Geno to the Raiders in late January. The truth is Davis would have been drooling at the opportunity to grab a mobile QB, especially if he had been alive to see RGIII the year before. Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie will be left with making a franchise changing decision, as QB’s taken in the top 5 can cost a GM their job if they don’t pan out. Just ask Mike Tannenbaum. The Raiders released Carson Palmer due to salary cap issues, and have only have Matt Flynn & Terrelle Pryor on staff at QB. This pick is easy.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Ezekiel Ansah DE/ BYU – Ansah reportedly didn’t hire a trainer for the combine instead focusing on finishing his classes at BYU. His draft stock was already high but this news makes him seem kind of freakish. Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds with 35 1/8-inch arms, Ansah posted the sixth fastest forty times (4.63) of 37 defensive linemen who ran, and his 34 1/2-inch vertical tied for seventh. There is also a rumor that his 40 at the combine was the first one he ever ran in his lifetime. Ansah is a lightning in a bottle type of player and would be a welcome addition to any defense that drafts him. Billy Davis should be thrilled.

5. Detroit Lions – Dee Milliner CB/ Alabama – The Lions were active in free agency acquiring RB Reggie Bush, DE Jason Jones, and CB Chris Houston. Former Colts GM Bill Polian mentioned Detroit as the “greatest show on turf.” That ought to be billboard material for division rival Bears, Vikings and Packers. The ability to stop those teams, as well as the rest of their opponents next year will be a priority on draft day. In a past mock I mentioned that according to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, teams wanting Alabama CB Dee Milliner will “probably have to trade ahead of Detroit at No. 5 to get him. Enough said.

6. Cleveland Browns – Sharrif Floyd, DT/ Florida – NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was quoted as saying, “everybody” has Floyd pegged as a top-five pick.” The reason for his fall to six has more to do with the rise of Dion Jordan and Ziggy Ansah up opposing teams’ draft boards. At 6’3 297 pounds, with a solid 40 time, Floyd racked up 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two kick blocks as a junior before declaring. Cleveland recently spent some big money on DE Paul Kruger and will be developing an intimidating pass rush after drafting Floyd to compliment him. Utah DE Star Lotulelei could also fit nicely here.

7. Arizona Cardinals – Eric Fisher OT/ Central Michigan – Carson Palmer was recently acquired and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Total Access that the Cardinals are unlikely to draft a quarterback at No. 7 overall. This may not be the popular thing to do from a fan perspective, but it makes a heck of a lot of sense. The QB class outside of Smith is not worthy of a selection this high and a good LT is a necessity in a rebuilding process. Bruce Arians and his imaginative play calling would love to feel confident their QB, whoever it is, will stay upright no matter what the play, and Fisher can do just that. Watch for Arizona to draft a QB in the 2nd round.

8. Buffalo Bills – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/Tennessee – I am less confident in this pick every day. Last time I had mentioned “Patterson needs a coach that isn’t going to take any crap and can bring him in with more a drill instructor mind set than a player coach mentality”. Now there are reports from a WR coach that Patterson would be an offensive coach’s dream. This is pure crap. You don’t change from a head case to a saint in the time since the combine. GM Buddy Nix mentioned to the press that he wanted to draft a big time WR as well as a franchise QB. Good luck with that. Patterson is considered to be as immature as he is talented. There was a report from a scout that he questioned Patterson’s intelligence and thinks the team that drafts him will have to simplify their offense to make him successful. Still, he scored a touchdown via kickoff return, punt return, receiving, and rushing, joining Carl Pickens (receiving, KR, PR, INT) as the only players in Tennessee history to score a touchdown four different ways in a career. Some drafts have Buffalo grabbing Ryan Nassib here, but I can’t see it. His combine was average and he’s not coming from a football powerhouse in Syracuse. His talent is fantastic, but even with his former coach now in charge of the Bills; Nassib would be a major risk here. I do however think West Virginia WR Tavon Austin has a legitimate chance to be drafted here.

9. New York Jets – Star Lotulelei, DT/Utah – The Jets are a tough team to gauge simply because they have so many needs and on both sides of the field. Lotulelei has been all over draft boards due to his supposed heart issues which have since been declared a non-issue. Star won the Morris trophy which is the award given to the best defensive player, voted by the Pac-12 offensive lineman he played against. His prototypical size at 6’3 311lbs. will help Rex Ryan in his pursuit of a pass rush. He should be a great addition to a line that just lost Sione Pouha and is in desperate need of improvement.

10. Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack, OG/Alabama – I stand by this pick since the first mock in Late January. The Titans need to give Jake Locker a chance. Ha! Chance… In order to do that he needs to stay on his feet and taking the best guard at 10 would be a big time pick for the Titans. Warmack is a wild card to me, as the Jets, Cardinals, and Eagles could all use some help at the offensive line, so if he’s still available Tennessee will pounce. CBS Sports has Warmack as the second best prospect in this year’s draft behind only Luke Joeckel.

11. San Diego Chargers – Lane Johnson, OT/ Oklahoma – The new regime of GM Tom Telesco, HC Mike McCoy, and OC Ken Whisenhunt have a lot of work to do to keep the Chargers relevant. Johnson did 28 reps of 225lbs at the combine and with his strength will help Philip Rivers try to redeem himself after getting sacked on 50 of his 587 drop backs. The Bolts’ most glaring need is at left tackle, where Jared Gaither up and quit last season, and Johnson will also help fill the void on the right side where Louis Vasquez played before he departed to Denver.

12. Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Cooper, OG/North Carolina – Miami lost Jake Long to St. Louis and now are left with Jonathan Martin at left tackle and they brought in Nate Garner to be a swing tackle/guard. That being said, neither of those guys is going to a pro bowl any time soon. Cooper will help Miami recover from their loss of a former 1st round lineman. Greg Cossel from NFL films praised Cooper saying “the most purely athletic guard I can remember seeing” coming out of college. Cooper plays with “light feet, great balance,” and also showed a “nasty streak,” consistently “looking for contact.” Cooper is considered by some to be the best guard prospect in the class.

13. New York Jets (Via Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Tavon Austin, WR/West Virginia – For this to happen, Derrelle Revis must first become a Buccaneer. Consider it done! This trade is going to happen and it will happen before the draft, simply because no team would be willing to give up a first round pick for a player that they haven’t medically deemed healthy. Austin is a heck of a talent and will do wonders in the west coast offense the Jets are planning on using. Jets fans should also be looking towards receiving a 3rd round and maybe a late round pick or a pick in 2014 in the Revis trade.

14. Carolina Panthers – Sheldon Richardson, DT/Missouri – The Panthers statistically had a top 15 defense in 2012 finishing 10th in the league for yards per game allowed. Richardson, who stands 6’2”, 294lbs., became Mizzou’s first-ever All-SEC designee, as he was named to the 2nd-team for his outstanding play. His presence should help solidify Carolina’s front seven.

15. New Orleans Saints – Menelik Watson, OT/ Florida State – This kid is very intriguing. He has only played 2 years of football after coming over from Manchester England, but is considered by NFL.com’s Gil Brandt as a “very good offensive lineman.” Pursued by the likes of Oklahoma, Oregon, Auburn, Cal and Rutgers, Watson elected to sign with Florida State where he emerged as a starter in just his second season of playing the sport. Drew Brees and Mark Ingram will enjoy Watson’s services as he is helpful in both the run and the pass.

16. St. Louis Rams – D.J. Fluker, OT/Alabama – Some scouts doubt if Fluker can play tackle in the pro level. St. Louis is in dire need of offensive line help, so the concerns will be listened to, but ignored. D.J. Fluker who measures in at 6’6” 339 would be the 7th offensive linemen taken in this mock and the second of the first round coming from a SEC powerhouse in Alabama that produces NFL players every single year.

Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Syracuse offensive lineman Justin Pugh speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Pugh from Syracuse is projected as an early second day pick, so if he falls to the Giants, it will be another teams mistake. At 6’5 309lbs, Pugh, can play nearly every position on the offensive line with the most experience at LT. He would be a perfect pick for the Gmen with his versatility. The Giants should continue to look at offensive lineman throughout the draft as they need to get some younger talent on the roster.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Sharrif Floyd, DT/ Florida – NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was quoted as saying, “everybody” has Floyd pegged as a top-five pick.” At 6’3 297 pounds, with a solid 40 time, Floyd racked up 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two kick blocks as a junior before declaring. There are rumors that Jaguars owner Shad Khan was present at Geno Smith’s Pro Day, and Blaine Gabbert hasn’t proven anything at the NFL level, so this is still a fluid situation.

3. Oakland Raiders – Geno Smith, QB/West Virginia – The fever is here! The QB buzz is beginning to rise, and Geno Smith is obviously the best QB prospect in this draft. Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie will be left with making a franchise changing decision, as QB’s taken in the top 5 can cost a GM their job if they don’t pan out. Just ask Mike Tannenbaum. The Raiders retained Terelle Pryor and Carson Palmer on their roster, however neither of them is in the future plans for the Oakland Raiders.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Dion Jordan, DE/Oregon – Jordan was unable to help his draft stock at the Oregon Pro day because he is recovering from a recent surgery to repair a torn labrum and he’s still a top 5 pick! Jordan ran a 4.53 unofficial time at the combine, which is amazing. At 6’6” but only 248lbs., he’s going to get pushed around at the next level. That is, if they can catch him. The Eagles will run a 3-4 defense under DC Billy Davis and Jordan should be a dynamic speed rusher from the outside for Davis defensive unit.

5. Detroit Lions – Dee Milliner CB/ Alabama – The Lions were active in free agency acquiring RB Reggie Bush, DE Jason Jones, and CB Chris Houston. Former Colts GM Bill Polian mentioned Detroit as the “greatest show on turf.” That ought to be billboard material for division rival Bears, Vikings and Packers. The ability to stop those teams, as well as the rest of their opponents next year will be a priority on draft day. Last mock I mentioned that according to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, teams wanting Alabama CB Dee Milliner will “probably have to trade ahead of Detroit at No. 5 to get him. I’m still working off that theory, until I read something that tells me otherwise.

6. Cleveland Browns – Ezekiel Ansah DE/ BYU – Ansah reportedly didn’t hire a trainer for the combine instead focusing on finishing his classes at BYU. His draft stock was already high but this news makes him seem kind of freakish. Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds with 35 1/8-inch arms, Ansah posted the sixth fastest forty times (4.63) of 37 defensive linemen who ran, and his 34 1/2-inch vertical tied for seventh. There is also a rumor that his 40 at the combine was the first one he ever ran in his lifetime. Ansah is a lightning in a bottle type of player and would be a welcome addition to any defense that drafts him, especially one that just signed DE Paul Kruger to rush from the opposite side.

7. Arizona Cardinals – Eric Fisher OT/ Central Michigan – NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Total Access that the Cardinals are unlikely to draft a quarterback at No. 7 overall. This may not be the popular thing to do from a fan perspective, but it makes a heck of a lot of sense, even if West Virginia QB Geno Smith was somehow still on the board. The QB class outside of Smith is not worthy of a selection this high and a good LT is a necessity in a rebuilding process. Bruce Arians and his imaginative play calling would love to feel confident their QB, whoever it is, will stay upright no matter what the play, and Fisher can do just that.

8. Buffalo Bills – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/Tennessee – Patterson needs a coach that isn’t going to take any crap and can bring him in with more a drill instructor mind set than a player coach mentality. Doug Marrone may have his hands full, but GM Buddy Nix mentioned to the press that he wanted to draft a big time WR as well as a franchise QB. Good luck with that. Patterson is considered to be as immature as he is talented. There was a report from a scout that he questioned Patterson’s intelligence and thinks the team that drafts him will have to simplify their offense to make him successful. Still, Patterson scored a touchdown via kickoff return, punt return, receiving, and rushing, joining Carl Pickens (receiving, KR, PR, INT) as the only players in Tennessee history to score a touchdown four different ways in a career. The Bills would welcome his talents. Now all they need is a QB and will be looking towards Ryan Nassib in the second round.

9. New York Jets – Jarvis Jones OLB/ Georgia – The National Football Post reported Georgia OLB Jarvis Jones’ neck injury is “starting to look like it might be a non-issue on draft day,” and “there is little chance he falls out of the top ten.” Jones has so much risk attached to him, and yet so much potential. The Jets need a pass rush, but missing out on what could be a dynamic MLB is more of a risk than Jones supposed neck injury. ESPN is reporting the Jets are looking beyond the upcoming season and are already planning for the 2014 draft where Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel would be eligible to be drafted if he chooses to leave. The Jets have been working on a Darrelle Revis trade with the Tampa Bay where they are looking to acquire at least a 2014 first round pick.

10. Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack, OG/Alabama – I stand by this pick since the first mock in Late January. The Titans need to give Jake Locker a chance. Ha! Chance… In order to do that he needs to stay on his feet and taking the best guard at 10 would be a big time pick for the Titans. Warmack is a wild card to me, as the Jets, Cardinals, and Eagles could all use some help at the offensive line.

11. San Diego Chargers – Lane Johnson, OT/ Oklahoma – The new regime of GM Tom Telesco, HC Mike McCoy, and OC Ken Whisenhunt have a lot of work to do to keep the Chargers relevant. Johnson did 28 reps of 225lbs at the combine and with his strength will help Philip Rivers try to redeem himself after getting sacked on 50 of his 587 drop backs. The Bolts’ most glaring need is at left tackle, where Jared Gaither up and quit last season, and Johnson will also help fill the void on the right side where Louis Vasquez played before he departed to Denver.

12. Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Cooper, OG/North Carolina – Miami lost Jake Long to St. Louis and now are left with Jonathan Martin at left tackle and they brought in Nate Garner to be a swing tackle/guard. That being said, neither of these guys is going to a pro bowl any time soon. Cooper will help Miami recover from their loss of a former 1st round lineman. Greg Cossel from NFL films praised Cooper saying “the most purely athletic guard I can remember seeing” coming out of college. Cooper plays with “light feet, great balance,” and also showed a “nasty streak,” consistently “looking for contact.”

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Star Lotulelei, DT/Utah –I personally think this guy is a top 5 pick who will fall all the way to the Bucs because of concerns with his heart. There are many rumors that his heart related issues could be nothing more than a dietary problem which would make Tampa the big winner if that were true. Star is exactly that, a star in the making, and Tampa just lost Michael Bennett to Seattle so they will need some depth on the line to compliment Gerald McCoy and Da’Quan Bowers who should be starting this year.

14. Carolina Panthers – Sheldon Richardson, DT/Missouri – The Panthers statistically had a top 15 defense in 2012 finishing 10th in the league for yards per game allowed. Richardson, became Mizzou’s first-ever All-SEC designee, as he was named to the 2nd-team for his outstanding play. His presence should help solidify Carolina’s front seven.

15. New Orleans Saints – Barkevious Mingo, DE/LSU –Mingo possesses the frame at 6-5, 240 pounds and athleticism to warrant top 10 considerations but at this point he remains an unpolished prospect, and that’s why he will fall to 15. Mingo had a great combine as expected from the athletically gifted DE/OLB. He ran the 40 time in 4.58 which was incredibly fast, and his ten yard splits were also very good which is used to gain short yardage burst. A skill needed at the OLB or DE position in the NFL. With Jonathan Vilma back playing for an entire season, the Saints should regroup and be a much better defense than they showed in 2012.

16. St. Louis Rams – Tavon Austin, WR/West Virginia – The Rams were able to lure OT Jake Long from Miami, so the need to draft a lineman here is much less. Danny Amendola left in free agency to the Patriots after they lost Wes Welker, which is ironic because Austin wants his game to resemble Wes Welker. The Rams would love to get that kind of production from him which would give Sam Bradford a target across the middle much like Tom Brady did for so many years with Welker.

19. New York Giants – Manti Te’o, ILB/Notre Dame

Someone is going to spend a first round pick on Te’o and each week it’s a different team. Maybe this is so when the draft actually arrives, no one take Te’o, but as much fun as it is to hate on his fake girlfriend and his bad 40-time, Te’o isn’t that bad of a prospect. He was slow at the combine, but he’s got football speed and that’s something more valuable than a linebacker being able to quickly run 40-yards.  Te’o will be a side-to-side player, not a straight line player and he fills a major hole for the Giants that they can’t fill on the open market.

I want to say this as clearly as possible, If Tavon Austin and Bjoern Werner are still available and Jerry Reece picks Manti “Catfish” Te’o? I would ask the team doctor to check him for a concussion. I hope he has a baseline test like all the players for the doctors to work with because something doesn’t seem right. First of all, Reece has an affinity for DE, just look at Osi, JPP, Kiwanuka.. . Second, if by some disastrous circumstance the Giants can’t resign Victor Cruz, your gonna pass on a slot receiver like Austin? Somebody get the smelling salts. I wholeheartedly disagree with this pick. Sure the Giants need help at LB. We all get that Chase Blackburn is not the answer, he’s more of a complimentary player next to a stud in the middle. LSU LB Kevin Minter, or even the supposed immature idiot Georgia LB Alec Ogletree are safer picks than Te’o.

19. New York Giants – Zach Ertz, TE/Stanford

Eli Manning got a taste of what life is like with a great pass catching tight end and Zach Ertz would bring him up to date with the rest of the elite passers in the NFL. Brady has Gronkowski, Brees has Graham and Manning would have Ertz. He’s smart, he’s huge and most importantly he’s ready to play right now. Ertz is going to create matchup problems all over for opposing defenses and he can beat defenders up the seam as well. Defensive end and linebacker are areas of need as well but Ertz is too good to pass up if the Giants are serious about exploiting Manning’s skills to their fullest.

Ertz is a 6’5″ big time target for Eli Manning, and as Josh Hill wrote, now gives Eli what some of the other elite passers in the NFL have, and that’s a premier catching tight end. Zach ran a 4.65 40 and had 24 reps of 225lbs to lead the class of TE in this years draft. Still, there are questions about his matador-like blocking which would essentially make him only available on passing downs. I like his overall level of talent, but would question taking him over CB Xavier Rhodes or MLB Kevin Minter.

1. Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Joeckel, OT/ Texas A&M – After the combine, Joeckel is still considered the best lineman in the draft, and now that the Chiefs have officially traded a 2nd round pick and a conditional 2014 pick to the 49’ers for Alex Smith he would certainly love a little protection. I am a firm believer a lineman must have great upper body strength. Joeckel did 27 reps of 225lbs. at the combine. Eric Fisher who is also getting some play at #1 also completed 27 reps, but Luke has the force on his side.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Sharrif Floyd, DT/ Florida – NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was quoted as saying, “everybody” has Floyd pegged as a top-five pick.” At 6’3 297 pounds, with a solid 40 time, Floyd racked up 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two kick blocks as a junior before declaring. He is the one player whose stock went up the most due to the combine.

3. Oakland Raiders – Geno Smith, QB/West Virginia – ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported on NFL 32Wednesday that the Raiders have interest in West Virginia QB Geno Smith with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. This is exactly what I have been saying since January 26th when the first mock draft came out. Palmer’s 13 million dollar base salary is a big concern, and then there’s the fact that he’s 33 years old.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Star Lotulelei, DT/Utah –As mentioned in the last draft with the hiring of Billy Davis as DC, The Eagles will run a strict 3-4 defense, as that’s all Davis runs. Any good 3-4 can’t run without a big body in the middle. Just ask the Jets! Lotulelei is considered to be the best DT prospect at this time.

5. Detroit Lions – Dee Milliner CB/ Alabama – According to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, teams wanting Alabama CB Dee Milliner will “probably have to trade ahead of Detroit at No. 5 to get him.” I trust Peter King’s opinion. He has access to information few others do in the industry. Milliner will require surgery right after the combine but should be ready for training camp and my bet is it’s in Detroit

6. Cleveland Browns – Bjoern Werner DE/ Florida State – Werner has an incredible motor, and great hand use to keep separation, He is also very new to this game, after only picking up the game at 15. Remind anyone else of Jason Pierre Paul’s story? The Browns are also rumored to be interested in bringing in some QB competition for Brandon Weeden. I don’t see them going QB here, but I could see them go with Eric Fisher if the new regime believes Trent Richardson is their workhorse for the next few years.

7. Cardinals – Eric Fisher OT/ Central Michigan – Yes, the Cardinals need a quarterback and almost all this years’ QB’s are still available I get that. What’s the point if he isn’t standing upright after most downs? Call me old fashioned but I believe the only way to fix a bad offense is by helping both the run and the pass with a 6’7” 304 pound tackle who has the potential to be an immediate impact for Bruce Arians and his offensive prowess. Plus after the outstanding play of Russell Wilson some teams will feel confident in taking a signal caller later in the draft.

8. Buffalo Bills –Dion Jordan, DE/Oregon – Jordan ran a 4.53 unofficial time at the combine. WOW, that’s lightning fast. He honestly would be a top 5 pick if he was about 30 pounds heavier. At 6’6” but only 248lbs., he’s going to get pushed around at the next level, that is if they can catch him. The Bills defense needs a compliment to Mario Williams, and Jordan fits the mold.

9. New York Jets – Ezekiel Ansah DE/ BYU – With the hiring of Marty Mornhinweg, the Jets will be looking to change the pathetic attempt at ground in pound in an era known for quarterback and 5,000 yard seasons. That means there’s a chance they go offensive line here. Too bad they’re known for making poor decisions on the first day of the draft. As I had mentioned earlier, their defense can’t function without a pass rush. Ansah is as good of a prospect as the Jets could hope for and would certainly help their inept pass rush. Ansah finished as MVP of the senior bowl and one of the studs of the combine putting up ridiculous numbers including a 4.62 40 time.

10. Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack, OG/Alabama – Considered the best guard prospect in this year’s draft, Jake Locker should be thanking his lucky stars if the Titans can have Warmack fall to 10. With 40 career starts and the ability to get to the second level, Warmack has developed himself into a definitive top ten selection. CBSSports.com has him ranked as the 2nd best player in the draft as of 2.27.2013.

11. San Diego Chargers – Barkevious Mingo, DE/LSU –Mingo possesses the frame at 6-5, 240 pounds and athleticism to warrant top 10 considerations but at this point he remains an unpolished prospect, and that’s why he will fall slightly out of the top 10. Mingo had a great combine as expected from the athletically gifted DE/OLB. He ran the 40 time in 4.58 which was incredibly fast, and his ten yard splits were also very good which is used to gauge short yardage burst. A skill needed at the OLB or DE position in the NFL.

12. Miami Dolphins – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/Tennessee – Lots of rumors have been spread about Miami and their intentions. I stand by my thoughts that they take Patterson here though I read that he is considered to be as immature as he is talented. I was pretty sure the Dolphins just got rid of Brandon Marshall and have a hard time accepting they’d draft another knucklehead into that locker room. His baggage also come with some amazing talent as Patterson scored a touchdown via kickoff return, punt return, receiving, and rushing, joining Carl Pickens (receiving, KR, PR, INT) as the only players in Tennessee history to score a touchdown four different ways in a career. Since the Dolphins are high on hopes and low on offensive talent, Patterson seems like a likely target considering the shortage of first round talent on skill positions in this year’s draft.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers –Xavier Rhodes, CB/ Florida State – After not even including this guy in my first mock I have come to learn through a lot of reading that people consider him to be the 2nd best CB prospect in this year’s draft. Some even believe he has shutdown corner ability. With a 4.41 40 times, and 6’2 210 pound frame, Rhodes is now expected to be a top 20 pick post combine.

14. Carolina Panthers –. Jarvis Jones OLB/ Georgia – I can’t understand how a player with so many medical questions could choose to not participate at the combine. Think Da’quan Bowers. Bowers injuries weren’t nearly as significant of a concern as Jones. Now there are rumors that Jones has walked off most draft boards. His size 6’2” 242 is prototypical for his position and Mel Kiper loves this guy. Still his health risk is so high since Jones suffers from Spinal Stenosis; a restriction to the spinal canal that causes pain, numbness, and in some cases loss of motor control.

15. New Orleans Saints – Sheldon Richardson, DT/Missouri – The Saints have elected to move to a 3-4. This only makes me more confident in this pick. NO ranked 26th in sacks and 24th in forced fumbles, so evidently they need some help with the front seven. Richardson, became Mizzou’s first-ever All-SEC designee, as he was named to the 2nd-team for his outstanding play in 2012. Richardson led all SEC interior linemen with 75 tackles which is 2nd-best on the Tiger squad.

16. St. Louis Rams – D.J. Fluker, OT/Alabama – Bradford clearly needs protection. His head coach Jeff Fisher knows that and won’t disappoint his quarterback. On Feb 6th I read a post that said; “According to SI’s Tony Pauline, teams are “falling in love” with Alabama OT D.J. Fluker and “some in (the) scouting community” believe he could go as high as No. 19 to the Giants.” Well the Rams aren’t even going to let him get that far. Bradford threw for a miserable 59.5% completion in 2012 while constantly throwing off his back foot on the run. Expect Flukers presence to give his QB a chance for more accurate passes.

19. New York Giants — Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Rhodes is a big, versatile defensive back who would help out an underachieving backfield in New York. They could have some really nice young pieces at CB if they picked him up in round one.

Rhodes was a high school wide receiver, which is something I love in corners. It means he may know whats coming from his opposition. The 6’2 210 pound former Florida State star ran a 4.41 forty, and can be considered at safety as well as corner. The Giants have certainly had a problem drafting corners in recent years. Rhodes was a red-shirt in his freshman year due to a hand injury, but that turned out to be his greatest friend since it gave him the time to watch film and pick up the nuances of the corner position. He has the potential to be a good defensive back, but he’s not a ball hawk. That may just be his inexperience at the position. The Giants should consider Kevin Minter, or any top 15 O lineman that falls to them here as well.

1. Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Joeckel, OT/ Texas A&M – Johnny Manziels blindside protection is without question the best overall prospect. It’s just a matter of whether Kansas City puts an emphasis on rebuilding from the trenches or if they plan on drafting a quarterback. I still say Luke goes # 1.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Damontre Moore, DE/ Texas A&M – People are really hyping this guy up. But there are now questions as to if he can play at the line at the NFL level. I stand by my word he will “Moore” than do enough to get people in the stands, and a swagger to the Jaguars defense ranked 30th overall in 2012.

3. Oakland Raiders – Geno Smith – In my first Mock I mentioned that I wasn’t sure if Carson Palmer would be with the team by OTA’s. Well now I’m damn well sure of it! CBS Jason LaCaforna was quoted as saying there’s “no way” the Raiders pay Carson Palmers $13 Million dollar salary in 2013. This just reassures my belief in this pick. Jacksonville could rock the boat on this one, but there defense is appalling and there are a bunch of talented defensive players in this draft.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Star Lotulelei, DT/Utah – This is another player whose stock keeps rising just based on pure speculation and hype. Much like Moore, everyone wants to put the Star on his back. ( Ha! Get it, Star! ) With the hiring of Billy Davis as DC, The Eagles will run a strict 3-4 defense, as that’s all Davis runs. Any good 3-4 can’t run without a big body in the middle. Just ask the Jets! Lotulelei is considered to be the best DT prospect at this time.

5. Detroit Lions – Dee Milner CB/ Alabama – According to DetroitLions.com the Lions will “certainly consider” drafting Milliner at the #5. That’s all I have to hear at this point. No one doubts Milliners ability. The question comes with taking a corner so high in the draft. If Jim Schwartz thinks it was his secondary that was allowing all the defensive mistakes they were making, then the Lions are in for another long season. Still I have no argument in taking a guy who was a first-team All-American and unanimous All-SEC first-team pick after finishing the regular season tied for third nationally with 18 passes defensed. He totaled 54 tackles, four for loss and 22 pass break-ups on his way to a national title.

6. Cleveland Browns – Bjoern Werner DE/ Florida State – Werner has an incredible motor, and great hand use to keep separation, He is also very new to this game, after only picking up the game at 15. Remind anyone else of Jason Pierre Paul’s story? JPP measures in at 6”5 278, Werner 6’4, 273. Both freakishly talented defensive ends with a nose for the QB. Werner is now listed on some drafts as high as 2, so Browns fans should be very happy.
7. Cardinals – Eric Fisher OT/ Central Michigan – Yes, the Cardinals need a quarterback and Tyler Wilson, Mike Glennon, and Ryan Nassib are still available I get that. What’s the point if he isn’t standing upright after most downs? Call me old fashioned but I believe the only way to fix a bad offense is by helping both the run and the pass with a 6’7” 304 pound tackle who has the potential to be an immediate impact for Bruce Arians and his offensive prowess. Plus after the outstanding play of Russell Wilson some teams will feel confident in taking a signal caller later in the draft.

8. Buffalo Bills –Ryan Nassib QB/ Syracuse– Buffalo will need to address the quarterback position at some point in the draft. Fitzpatrick is not a starter in this league anymore, but he can be a stop gap until the next guy is ready. Nassib will be battling with Chance Warmack here and we will see which way Doug Marrone and his new coaching staff decide to go. My guess is its quarterback all the way, but I keep hearing NC State QB Mike Glennons name rising up the boards. By draft time this may be a very fluid story.
9. New York Jets – Ezekiel Ansah DE/ BYU – With the hiring of Marty Mornhinweg, the Jets will be looking to change the pathetic attempt at ground in pound in an era known for quarterback and 5,000 yard seasons. That means there’s a chance they go offensive line here. Too bad they’re known for making poor decisions on the first day of the draft. As I had mentioned earlier, their defense can’t function without a pass rush. Ansah is as good of a prospect as the Jets could hope for and would certainly help their inept pass rush.

10. Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack, OG/Alabama – Considered the best guard prospect in this year’s draft, Jake Locker should be thanking his lucky stars if the Titans can have Warmack fall to 10. The Cardinals, Bills, and Jets could all have interest in Warmack. With 40 career starts and the ability to get to the second level, Warmack has developed himself into a definitive top ten selection. CBSSports.com has him ranked as the 3rd best player in the draft.

11. San Diego Chargers – Jarvis Jones OLB/ Georgia – Jones will be fluctuating all over boards before draft day. I stay with what I said, that he has both the most to gain as well as the most too loose at this years’ combine. His size 6’2” 242, is prototypical for his position and Mel Kiper loves this guy. Still his health risk is so high since Jones suffers from Spinal Stenosis; a restriction to the spinal canal that causes pain, numbness, and in some cases loss of motor control.
12. Miami Dolphins – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/Tennessee – It looks like Miami found their quarterback last year in Tannehill, now it’s time to give him a weapon. Patterson scored a touchdown via kickoff return, punt return, receiving, and rushing, joining Carl Pickens (receiving, KR, PR, INT) as the only players in Tennessee history to score a touchdown four different ways in a career. His versatility will be even more important now that it looks like Reggie Bush will be hitting the open market.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers –Xavier Rhodes, CB/ Florida State – After not even including this guy in my first mock I have come to learn through a lot of reading that people consider him to be the 2nd best CB prospect in this years draft. Kenny Vaccaro will fall if the Bucs don’t take him here, but I am riding Rhodes until we learn more about everyone post combine.

14. Carolina Panthers – Barkevious Mingo, DE/LSU –Mingo possesses the frame at 6-5, 240 pounds and athleticism to warrant top 10 considerations but at this point he remains an unpolished prospect, and that’s why he will fall to the Panthers. Mingo reminds me of former draft bust Vernon Gholston. Any Jet fan who is reading this just felt shortness of breath and may have felt a pain in their chest.

15. New Orleans Saints – Sheldon Richardson, DT/Missouri – Since the last mock the Saints have elected to move to a 3-4. This only makes me more confident in this pick. NO ranked 26th in sacks and 24th in forced fumbles, so clearly they need some help with the front seven. Richardson, became Mizzou’s first-ever All-SEC designee, as he was named to the 2nd-team for his outstanding play in 2012. Richardson led all SEC interior linemen with 75 tackles which is 2nd-best on the Tiger squad. Oregon Duck Dion Jordan is also another hot pick for the Saints right now.

16. St. Louis Rams – D.J. Fluker, OT/Alabama – I had the lineman order wrong last time. I had Barrett Jones being taken here, but it turns out Fluker has been rising up the board, probably because of Jones’ injury. Bradford clearly needs protection. The truth is that you can’t win games without a healthy QB, and with Brain Quick starting to come into his own late in the season, and the rams recent acquisition of Titus Young, I believe the Rams use this pick to make their O-line respectable instead of giving Bradford another weapon.

It has been 21 weeks since the 2012 NFL Season began and there are just two teams remaining, the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. This is also the beginning of an era for one team and the end of an era for another. The 49ers have a brand new superstar in QB Colin Kaepernick. He looks to be the final ingredient needed for the already high-powered 49ers to once again become a perennial powerhouse and a regular visitor to the playoffs. On the other side of the field, The Ravens are losing their superstar, team leader, and source of inspiration, Linebacker Ray Lewis to retirement. Ray Lewis has been selected to the Pro Bowl 13 times, won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and 2003, won one Super Bowl and was named Super Bowl MVP. Clearly, he is irreplaceable. The Ravens may also be losing Safety Ed Reed to retirement. He has had been selected to eight Pro Bowls, he was the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year,  he has won one Super Bowl, he has the NFL record for the two longest interception returns (106 yards in 2004 and 108 yards in 2008), and he holds the all-time NFL record for interception return yards, currently at 1,506. Ed Reed is also irreplaceable. The loss of Ray Lewis and the possible loss of Ed Reed does not guarantee the demise of the Ravens, however, there will surely be some loss of productivity in their defense and a short time of adjustment.

No matter what happens next season, it looks like we’re going to have a great game this Sunday. Both teams are very physical and I expect a hard-hitting game with lots of great plays. I also expect this to be a pretty close game, as does Las Vegas. The odds in Las Vegas opened at 49ers giving 5.0 and 49.0 O/U. The current odds are 49ers giving 3.5 and 47 O/U.

Here’s my analyis:

Ravens vs. 49ers  Super Bowl XLVII – Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
The 49ers will win this game in a hard-fought battle. If there is one defense that can stop the 49ers then it is the Ravens’ defense. In the playoffs they have achieved 82.3 tackles per game, 2 sacks per game, 1.67 interceptions per game, and 1.3 forced fumbles per game. The problem is, in two playoff games, the 49ers have 36.5 points per game, 476 total yards per game, and 236 rushing yards per game. These numbers would be huge in back to back regular season games but to achieve these numbers back to back against playoff teams is amazing. I suspect the San Francisco sports fans, who were just treated to a World Series Championship, will soon be celebrating a Super Bowl Championship as well.

Find me on Twitter @JeffEllisRocks

My playoff record is an abysmal 3-5.  This week is my last chance to turn it around.

Niners @ Falcons Niners will win. I despise the Niners and I really want them to lose this game. They are very dynamic and I don’t think the Falcons can keep up with the Niners offense. Atlanta has a great offense but the Niners have a great defense and they will slow down Atlanta’s offense just enough to outscore them.

Ravens @ Patriots I like the Patriots here. The Ravens defense is very strong right now and I have no doubts that they will rip some heads off today. I’m concerned about the Ravens strength. They haven’t had a week off  in eleven weeks and they played a double-overtime game on five days’ rest last week. The Patriots have the best offense in the league, they are playing at home, they are playoff veterans,  and they had an extra week of rest during the Wildcard games. I expect the Patriots to run away with the game starting just after the middle of the third quarter.

I was 2-2 last week. I’m looking for  a 4-0 weekend. I originally picked the Colts to win but when Bruce Arians was placed in the hospital I changed my pick to Ravens. I was not able to update this on GmenHQ. The non-believers can confirm the change at http://www.beattheinsiders.com. You can find me there as jefe777.

I don’t think the picks this week are as easy as many people seem to think they are. Let’s take a look.

Ravens @ Broncos I’m going with Denver. In the regular season, the Broncos outscored the Ravens 30.1 points per game to 24.9 points per game and Denver is arriving to the playoffs with an extra week of rest and an 11-game winning streak. If you read my posts regularly you’ll know that I’m a big fan of teams with momentum. The Broncos have the momentum of a tidal wave right now. The Ravens defense is probably the healthiest it has been all season so they can resist that tidal wave but they won’t be able to stop it. The Ravens defense gave up 21.5 points per game this season with some key players missing so they do have a decent defense. However, the Broncos defense is still a better defense giving up just 18.1 points per game. Their are two other factors that make me pick the Broncos. First, the Ravens are entering this game with just a five day rest after a hard fought game last week. Second, the Ravens live at sea level and will be playing in the thin air of Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

Packers @ Niners I’m picking the Packers. One obvious reason to pick the Packers is they know how to win in the playoffs, and that’s a fact. What I really like about the Packers is they are very healthy right now. Rogers has all of his receivers available now and all of them have seen action this season. In addition, the Green Bay defense has not been healthier all season than it is now. I believe this defense can keep Niners QB Colin Kaepernick contained in the backfield and force him to make bad throws. The Packers D had a very respectable 18 interceptions in the regular season and they’ll be prowling for more this week.

Seahawks @ Falcons I like Seahawks. They have the best defense in the league and they’ve now won six games in a row and three of those were on the road. Of those three road wins, one game was against the Bears and the other was in the playoffs against the Redskins last week.

Texans @ Patriots I have to take the Patriots. Again, the Patriots have proven time and time again that they know how to win in the playoffs. They also have the most powerful offense in the league and a solid defense that is tied with Houston as the ninth ranked in points allowed, 20.7 per game. The Texans are good team but I don’t believe that can rise to this challenge.

I finished the regular season at 172-84 (67%) and that put me in third place against the fourteen ESPN experts. I expect to do just as well in the playoffs. Here are my thoughts for this week.

Bengals @ Texans I like the Bengals. The ESPN Power Rankings state, “The Bengals have allowed an average of 12.8 points over the past eight games, and their defense has scored a touchdown the past three weeks. (Hensley)”, and that is huge. Teams that arrive to the playoffs with a lot of momentum tend to be victorious. The Bengals have also won three in a row and seven of their last eight. The Texans were 11-1 in week 13 and then lost three of their last four games. When you look more closely at their season you’ll see they struggled in all of their last seven games including the four wins. This is not the type of performance I like to see in a team heading into the playoffs.

Vikings @ Green Bay I like the Packers. These teams split there regular season games, both teams winning at home. This home field advantage when playing each other gives the Packers the edge this time around. The Packers have two other advantages. First they have a lot of playoff experience so I fully expect them to play at a very high level. Second, the receiving core is now as healthy as it has been all season which means that Aaron Rogers will probable put on a passing clinic today. Yes, Adrian Peterson is a big concern and he will not be shut down by the Packers. I do, however, believe that the Packers can contain him enough to let Aaron Rodgers’ passing clinic outscore the Vikings.

Colts @ Ravens I like the Colts. They have won two in a row and five of their last six games. That is the kind of momentum I like to see in playoff teams. The Ravens have lost four of their last six games. To be fair, three of the Ravens last four losses were against teams that are now in the playoffs. Only one of the Colts last five wins was against a team now in the playoffs. This says to me that the Ravens are currently unable to beat playoff-quality teams and the Colts currently have a winning mindset. The return of the Ravens’ 13-time Pro Bowler LB Ray Lewis will certainly help the team but I don’t see him as the complete solution to the Ravens’ recent failures.

Seahawks @ Redskins I like the Redskins. This is the most exciting game of the weekend. We’re going to watch two outstanding rookie QBs try to lead their teams to a playoff win. The probability of  seeing a rookie QB get to the playoffs is extremely small and now we’re guaranteed to see a rookie QB win his first playoff game. I believe RGIII will be that QB. Both teams enter the playoffs with a ton of momentum. The Redskins have won seven in a row and the Seahawks have won five in a row. The Seahawks are an excellent team and their road game performance is their weakness. They were just 3-5 on the road in the regular season and lost their last two road games. Compare this to the Redskins who are 5-3 at home and have won all of their last five home games. I believe we have to pick the Redskins to win. I predict the Redskins will win 24-20.

13-3 last week!! That puts me at 159-81 (.663) for the season and I’m still in third versus the ESPN Experts and I’m expecting to have another big week. Picking winners for week 17 is very tricky because it is hard to determine which teams are motivated to win and which have a lack of motivation. Some teams that have clinched a playoff birth are more concerned about resting key players and limiting injuries. Some teams that have clinched a playoff birth are playing for home field advantage. Some teams cannot make the playoffs but are still relevant because they have an opportunity to be a spoiler. Some teams are fighting to finish at .500. Some teams are above .500, didn’t make the playoffs, and have given up on the season. Let’s try to make some sense of week 17.

Buccaneers @ Falcons I like the Falcons. The Falcons have won the NFC South division title and they’ve secured home field advantage for the playoffs. This means they could slack of this game with no consequences. I believe they’ll still show up to play for the home fans and defeat the Buccaneers who have currently lost five games in a row.

Jets @ Bills I like the Bills. Both teams have struggled this season but the Jets are a three-ring circus and in the center ring this week is QB Mark Sanchez. He was benched for the third-string QB last week and now finds himself starting for a team that will most likely trade him in the off season. I think the Bills will work hard to end the season on a high note at home.

Bengals @ Ravens I like the Bengals because they’re really hot right now. They’ve won two in row and six of the last seven games. The Ravens had a real nice win over the Giants last week but they lost the previous three games in a row.

Bears @ Lions I like the Bears. The Bears are 9-6 and to get to the playoffs they need a win today and a Minnesota Vikings loss. The Lions are 4-11 and just 2-5 at home.

Jaguars @ Titans I like the Titans at home. The Jaguars are tied for the worst record in the league at 2-13 and I’m certain that the Titans would like to finish the season with a win after going 5-10 thus far.

Texans @ Colts The Colts win at home. The Texans have struggled a bit over the last three games winning just one game. The win was at home against the Colts but I feel like the Texans are coasting into the playoffs unlike the highly-motivated Colts who have won four of the last five games.

Panthers @ Saints The Saints will win. They are 4-3 at home and are looking for a win to get them to .500. The Panthers are 3-4 on the road.

Eagles @ Giants I like the Giants to win. The Eagles narrowly defeated the Giants 19-17 in week four and they won’t pull that off again this season. The Eagles have been a disaster all season and they are 2-5 on the road. The Giants have fallen apart at the end of the season and have won just 2 of the last seven games. The upside for the Giants is they are 5-2 at home and if they win today they can make the playoffs if the Redskins, Bears, and Vikings lose. Good luck with that, Giants.

Browns @ Steelers Steelers will win. The Steelers are 4-3 at home. The Browns are 1-6 on the road.

Chiefs @ Broncos Broncos win. The Broncos have won ten in a row and the Chiefs are 1-6 on the road.

Packers @ Vikings I like the Packers. This a tough pick because the Vikings clinch a playoff spot with a win and the Packers have already clinched a playoff spot but will secure a bye next week if they win today. I like the Packers because they held the Vikings to 14 points and three scoreless quarters just four weeks ago.

Dolphins @ Patriots I like the Patriots. They are 11-4, they have won the AFC East, they are 5-2 at home, and they always play strong until the last whistle of their regular season is blown. Dolphins are 2-5 on the road.

Raiders @ San Diego Both teams have really struggled this year. The Raiders have chosen to give QB Terrelle Pryor his first NFL start since the Sugar Bowl in 2011. This is a good move for the Raiders but I still like the Chargers to put together a win at home.

Cardinals @ Niners The Niners will win. If the Niners win and Seattle loses then they will be the NFC West Champs. Cardinals are 1-6 on the road and 5-10 overall.

Rams @ Seahawks The Seahawks are 7-0 at home and will win the NFC West today with a win and a Niners’ loss.

Cowboys @ Redskins The Redskins will win. The winner of this game will be the NFC Champion. The Redskins have won six in a row and defeated the Cowboys 38-31 in week 11. The Cowboys are notorious for losing in big games.

PART ONE

8-8 last week, and nothing to brag about there. Like the Giants, I will return to my winning ways this week.

Falcons @ Lions Falcons win. The 12-2 Falcons should crush the 4-10 Lions. The Falcons have clinched their division but they need another win to help secure home field advantage.

Saints @ Cowboys I like the underdog Saints. They want to win two in a row to finish the season at 8-8. Also, this is the Saints’ last opportunity to be significant this season. If they beat the Cowboys then the Cowboys will almost certainly miss the playoffs. I also don’t think the Cowboys can squeak out another win. They’ve had very close games recently and I don’t think that team can continue winning like that. I also like the Saints’ +1 turnover ratio compared the Cowboys’ -9 turnover ratio.

Titans @ Packers Packers win. The Packers are 10-4, 6-1 at home, and have won eight of their last nine games.  Tennessee is 5-9 and 2-5 on the road.

Colts @ Chiefs The Colts will win. The Colts are 9-5 and can clinch a playoff spot this week. The Chiefs are 2-12.

PART TWO

Bills @ Dolphins I like the Dolphins. They are 4-3 at home and the Bills are 2-5 on the road. The Bills have lost two games in a row and have lost RB Fred Jackson for the remainder of the season.

Chargers @ Jets Take the Chargers. The Jets have benched their number one and number two QBs and number three QB, a rookie, Greg McElroy will start. The Jets are missing too many key players to be able to support a rookie QB.

Redskins @ Eagles Redskins will win. They 8-6, 4-3 on the road, they are fighting for a playoff spot, and they’ve won five games in a row. The Eagles are 4-10 and 2-5 at home.

Bengals @ Steelers I like the Steelers. If  the Steelers beat the Bengals today then they are still in the running for a playoff spot. I expect the veterans on the Steelers to rise to the occasion.

Rams @ Buccaneers I like the Rams. They’ve won three of their last four, including a win against the Niners, and the Buccaneers have lost four in a row. The Buccaneers’ are 3-4 at home so there’s no home field advantage for them.

Raiders@ Panthers I like the Panthers. Carolina is coming on strong at the end of the season. They’ve now won three of the last four games. Raiders have won one of the last seven games.

Patriots @ Jaguars Take the Patriots. The Patriots are looking to secure a bye in the playoffs and home field advantage. They also are the number one offense scoring 36.1 points per game versus the Jaguars’ 15.6 points per game (31st in NFL).

Vikings @ Texans Texans win. The Vikings are a good team at 8-6 but they are 2-5 on the road. The Vikings are a one-man show. RB Adrian Peterson has helped them achieve 160.2 rushing yards per game which is fourth in the NFL. They are only gaining 168.1 passing yards per game which is 32nd in the NFL. Since running is the only thing they can do I don’t see them winning because they’ll be running straight into the Texans’ fifth ranked rushing defense which is giving up a stingy 93.2 yards per game.

Browns @ Broncos I like the Broncos. Broncos are 11-3 and 5-1 at home. Browns are 5-9 and 1-5 on the road.

Bears @ Cardinals The Bears are having a lot of problems right now but I see them pulling it together this week as they make a final push for a playoff spot.

Giants @ Ravens I like the Giants. This is an interesting game. Both teams are having late season problems. The Ravens have lost three in a row and the Giants have lost four of the last six games. The Ravens have clinched a playoff spot and the Giants must win this game and the next to get to the playoffs. The Giants will win for two reasons. First, the Giants have a history of playing very well when their backs are against the wall. Second, the Ravens already have a playoff spot and I don’t think they have much motivation to win this game.

Niners @ Seahawks I like the Seahawks. The Seahawks have won five of their last six games, they are 6-0 at home, and they are fighting for a playoff spot. The Niners have already clinched a playoff spot. Statistically these teams are very well matched but I’m giving the edge to the home team.

8-8 last week, and nothing to brag about there. Like the Giants, I will return to my winning ways this week.

Falcons @ Lions Falcons win. The 12-2 Falcons should crush the 4-10 Lions. The Falcons have clinched their division but they need another win to help secure home field advantage.

Saints @ Cowboys I like the underdog Saints. They want to win two in a row to finish the season at 8-8. Also, this is the Saints’ last opportunity to be significant this season. If they beat the Cowboys then the Cowboys will almost certainly miss the playoffs. I also don’t think the Cowboys can squeak out another win. They’ve had very close games recently and I don’t think that team can continue winning like that. I also like the Saints’ +1 turnover ratio compared the Cowboys’ -9 turnover ratio.

Titans @ Packers Packers win. The Packers are 10-4, 6-1 at home, and have won eight of their last nine games.  Tennessee is 5-9 and 2-5 on the road.

Colts @ Chiefs The Colts will win. The Colts are 9-5 and can clinch a playoff spot this week. The Chiefs are 2-12.

More picks coming Sunday morning…

9-7 last week. An embarrassing performance. When making my picks last week many of the games looked like no-brainers to me. Clearly, I should have been much more careful in my analysis. I’m now 138-70 for the season and still in third place against the ESPN “Experts”. My picks for week 15 are listed below.

Bengals @ Eagles I like the Bengals. The Bengals are hot and have won 4 of their last 5 games. They lost to the Cowboys by just one point in the last seconds of the game last week. Philly has not faired as well. They have lost 8 of their last 9 games. There is no home field advantage for the Eagles as they are 2-4 at home and the Bengals are 4-2 on the road. The Bengals lead the Eagles in points fielded and have fewer points allowed. The Bengals have a 0 turnover ratio versus the Eagles’ -19 turnover ratio.

Giants @ Falcons I like the Giants. Atlanta’s loss to Carolina last week shows they are much more vulnerable than many people have expected. Carolina entered the game 3-9 and Atlanta was 10-2. This should have been a lop-sided win with Atlanta crushing Carolina. Instead the Falcons lost 30-20. The story was different for the Giants. They entered their game 7-5 facing the 4-8 Saints who have a very high-powered offense. The Giants soundly defeated the Saints 52-27. The Falcons have split their two games with the Saints. Against the Falcons, the Giants have the edge, statistically. The Giants are scoring 29 points per game and the Falcons are scoring 26 points per game. The Giants are giving up 20 points per game and the Falcons are giving up 19 points per game. The Giants have +16 turnovers and the Falcons have +6 turnovers. There is more to the story though. I like the Giants to win for three reasons. First, this is a big game and the Giants know how to prepare for and execute in big games. They beat the Niners 26-3 in San Francisco in week 6 and beat the Packers 38-10 in week 12. Second, The Giants’ last 15 offensive TDs have been scored by seven different players. This means the Giants have many offensive weapons available to them and I don’t think the Falcons can cover everyone. Third, five Giants players scored TDs against the Saints last week and I think that everyone was very happy to see Wilson have a break out game in which he returned a kick for a TD, scored a rushing TD, and ran for 100 yds. The win last week against the Saints created a lot of excitement for the Giants and this will carry them past the Falcons and into the playoffs.

Packers @ Bears I like the Packers. The Packers have won two games in a row and seven of their last eight. Chicago is struggling and has lost four of their last five games. Chicago is real tough at home with a 5-2 record at Soldier Field but the Bears are dealing with too many defensive injuries to stop the surging Packers offense.

Redskins @ Browns Redskins will win. The Redskins have won four in a row and the last two wins were against the Giants and Ravens, both are very good teams. The Redskins offense appears to be hitting its stride and the defense is confusing the heck out of QBs. The Browns have won three in a row but only the win against the Steelers showed any significant skill from the Browns.

Vikings @ Rams I like the Rams. The Rams have won three in a row and are 4-3 at home. The Vikings have won just two of their last six games and are 1-5 on the road. The Rams will need to contain Vikings RB Adrian Peterson to win this game.

Jaguars @ Dolphins I like the Dolphins. Jaguars QB Chad Henne will be looking for big win against his former team, the Dolphins, but Miami is a better team than the Dolphins, and not by much. Both teams have lost two in a row and I expect the Dolphins to break their losing streak in front of their home crowd. Jaguars starting RB Maurice Jones-Drew may return this week for his first game since week six. This would make a win more difficult for the Dolphins but their defense
is giving up a very respectable 102 rushing yards per game (9^th in NFL) so I believe they can contain MJD.

Buccaneers @ Saints I like the Buccaneers. Both teams have lost three games in a row. Both teams are scoring 27 points per game. Unfortunately for the Saints, they are giving up 29 points per game versus the Buccaneers 24 points per game. The Buccaneers also have +12 turnovers and the Saints have -4 turnovers.

Broncos @ Ravens I like the Broncos to win. The Broncos have won eight in a row, have clinched their division title, and their looking for a few more wins to lockup home field advantage. The Ravens are a good team but they’ve lost two in a row and this week they replaced their offensive coordinator with their QB coach who is now in his first offensive coordinator role.

Colts @ Texans I like the Texans to win. The Texans are 5-1, have clinched their division title, they have the best record in the conference (11-2), and like the Broncos, they’re looking for a few more wins to gain home field advantage in the playoffs.

Seahawks @ Bills I like the Seahawks. The Seahawks are just 2-5 on the road but the Bills are just 3-3 at home. The Seahawks proved that they can now win on the road with a nice 23-17 OT win against the Bear two weeks ago. Seattle is making a great run at the playoffs winning four of their last five and I think they’ll beat the Bills in Buffalo.

Lions @ Cardinals I like the Lions to win. The Cardinals beat the Seahawks and the Patriots in weeks one and two and went on to a 4-0 record. Since then they’ve lost nine games in a row. The Lions have lost five in a row and are just 4-9, but I like the Lions to win because they’ve had some very close games against some excellent opponents in those five losses in a row.

Panthers @ Chargers I like the Chargers. Both teams are struggling and both teams came away with nice wins last week. I like the Chargers because they’re a little bit more consistent and they’re playing at home.

Steelers @ Cowboys I like the Steelers. They are chasing a wild card spot and this team has the experience to win at the end of the season when every game counts. One might argue that the Cowboys have won four of their last five but let’s take a look at those games. They beat the Eagles twice, like everyone should, and then won in overtime to the Browns and beat the Bengals in the last few seconds. It is true that a win is a win but I’m not impressed with the Cowboys performance in these wins. The Steelers have beaten the Giants, the Ravens, the Bengals, and the Redskins this season so I think they can beat the Cowboys.

Chiefs @ Raiders Both teams stink and I like the Raiders to win. Statistically they are a little better and they are playing at home.

Niners @ Patriots I could go into great detail about this game but I’m going to make it simple. The Patriots will win because they are very experienced at playing big games and they proved this last week when they beat the Texans 42-14.

Jets @ Titans I like the Jets. They’ve won two in a row and have an outside chance of making the playoffs. The Titans have lost three in a row and have nothing to play for.