2013 NFL Mock Draft Version 2

2013 Mock Draft Version 2 with trade projections

1 Kansas City – Luke Joeckel OT

Trade rumors abound, but the serious contenders to move up just don’t have enough picks.

2 Jacksonville – Dion Jordan OLB

Jaguars need a difference maker on defense, Jordan is the best fit.

3 Cleveland (Via Oakland) – Dee Milliner CB

Cleveland moves up to snag the corner they crave.

4 Miami (Via Philadelphia) – Eric Fisher OT

The Dolphins have the picks to make a big more and Philadelphia is looking for value.

5 Detroit – Ezekiel Ansah DE

Lions come up short in the Milliner derby but still walk away with a quality defensive addition.

6 Oakland (Via Cleveland) – Sharrif Floyd DT

Raiders get the picks they need, and still get their guy.

7 Arizona – Lane Johnson OT

No brainer for the Cardinals to upgrade its terrible offensive line.

8 Philadelphia (Via Buffalo) – Geno Smith QB

Eagles jump back into the top ten to snag their quarterback of the future.

9 New York Jets – Barkevious Mingo OLB

Jets have to do something to help their defense, Mingo is the safest pick.

10 Tennessee – Chance Warmack G

Titans get the safest player in the draft.

11 San Diego – Jonathan Cooper G

Chargers get all the upside of Warmack at a cheaper price.

12 Buffalo (From Miami via Philadelphia) – Tavon Austin WR

Bills get a playmaker to pair with Johnson.

13 Tampa Bay – Star Lotulelei DT

Buccaneers benefit from a top 10 talent falling.

14 Carolina – Sheldon Richardson DT

Carolina gets the guy they have been targeting all along.

15 New Orleans – Jarvis Jones OLB

Saints find a dynamic pass rusher from the outside.

16 Saint Louis – Kenny Vaccaro S

Rams plug a major hole in their secondary with the best safety in the draft.

17 Pittsburg – Cordarrelle Patterson WR

Steelers gamble on Pattersons huge upside to replace Wallace.

18 Dallas – Sylvester Williams DT

Cowboys shock the world by making a safe pick.

19 New York Giants – D.J. Fluker OT

An athletic tackle to protect a grateful Eli.

20 Arizona (Via Chicago) – Matt Barkley QB

Cardinal get their QB of the future, Bears recoup some picks.

21 Cincinnati – Alex Ogletree ILB

Bengals value potential more than they fear character issues.

22 Saint Louis – DeAndre Hopkins WR

Rams reach for a weapon in a make or break year for their not-so-young-anymore quarterback.

23 Minnesota – Justin Hunter WR

Vikings try to replace Harvin’s productivity with a big target.

24 Indianapolis –  Xavier Rhodes CB

Colts bolster a weak secondary.

25 Minnesota (Via Seattle) – Manti Te’o ILB

Vikings fill a major need with a solid leader.

26 Green Bay – John Cyprien S

Packers address their biggest weakness.

27 Houston – Menelik Watson OT

With the top four wide receivers off the board the Texans reinforce their offensive line.

28 Denver – Kevin Minter ILB

Broncos fill a big hole in the middle with a solid player

29 New England – Keenan Allen WR

Patriots reach for a often injured but very productive wide receiver to mollify Brady.

30 Atlanta – Tyler Eifert TE

Falcons address next year’s biggest need while getting another weapon for Ryan.

31 San Francisco – Cornellius (Tank) Carradine DE

An aging defensive line gets an infusion of talented youth.

32 Buffalo (Via Baltimore) – Ryan Nassib QB

After missing on Smith, Buffalo jumps back into the first round to get a quarterback their new coach is very familiar with.

2013 NFL Mock Draft Version 1

2013 Mock Draft Version 1

1 Kansas City – Luke Joeckel OT
The Chiefs solidify the core of what could be an explosive offense.

2 Jacksonville – Dion Jordan OLB/DE
A team with many needs invests in a player with huge upside.

3 Oakland– Shariff Floyd DT - Trade Possibility
If the Raiders keep this pick they need a sure thing.

4 Philadelphia – Eric Fisher OT – Trade Possibility
Eagles fix a hole in the oline, but may trade back if the right offer comes along.

5 Detroit – Ezekiel Ansah DE
The best 4-3 lineman available is a must for the Lions in a increasingly offensive-minded NFC North

6 Cleveland – Dee Milliner CB
The Brown plug the biggest hole in their defense.

7 Arizona – Lane Johnson OT
The worst o-line in the league gets an instant upgrade.

8 Buffalo – Geno Smith QB
The Bills need a franchise QB, the only question is: do they move up to try to get Smith?

9 New York Jets - Barkevious Mingo DE/OLB
A hot name to an over the hill defense.

10 Tennessee – Star Lotulelei DT
While they need a guard, Star’s upside is too much for the Titans to pass up.

11 San Diego - Jonathan Cooper OG
The Chargers take a versatile guard to strengthen a weak unit.

12 Miami – Xavier Rhodes CB
The Dolphins need a corner to challenge the receiver talent in the AFC East.

13 Tampa Bay – Travon Austin WR
Trade possibility, but the Bucs can’t pass up the opportunity to finish building an elite receiver corps.

14 Carolina – Sheldon Richardson DT
Panthers steal a big time talent in the middle of the first round.

15 New Orleans – Jarvis Jones OLB
Major upside talent with the speed and power to frighten NFC South quarterbacks

16 St. Louis – Kenny Vaccaro S
Rams fill a major defensive hole after cutting Mikell and losing Dahl.

17 Pittsburg - Cordarrelle Patterson, WR
Steelers replace Wallace and give Big Ben a big target.

18 Dallas – Chance Warmack OG
Cowboys can’t pass up this much value at such a huge need position.

19 New York Giants – D.J Fluker OT
Giants nab an athletic tackle to protect Eli.

20 Chicago – Arthur Brown LB
Expect the Bears to trade back, but if they keep the pick Brown has the potential to secure the middle of the defense for a decade.

21 Cincinatti – Desmond Trufant LB
Bengals begin the rebuild of the defense that is holding them back.

22 Saint Louis (from Washington) – Sylvester Williams DT Trade Possibility
May trade back but Fisher’s love for powerful defensive tackles will make it hard for him to pass Williams up.

23 Minnesota – Keenan Allen WR
Vikings try to replace Harvin with the best of the rest of the receivers

24 Indianapolis – Blidi Wreh-Wilson CB
Colts add a solid piece to a defense in transition.

25 Minnesota (from Seattle) – Kevin Minter ILB
Vikings add a solid middle linebacker to fill their biggest need.

26 Green Bay – Menelik Watson OT
Packers try solidify a shaky offensive line with another late 1st round tackle.

27 Houston – DeAndre Hopkins WR
Texans try again to fill the spot opposite Andre Johnson

28 Denver – Manti Te’o LB
Broncos get a leader for great value.

29 New England – Justin Hunter WR
Trade possibility, but after a tough offseason for Brady, the Pats give him a new weapon.

30 Atlanta – Tyler Eifert TE
Falcons give Ryan a new weapon and address next offseason’s biggest need with one pick.

31 San Francisco – Cornellius Carradine DE
Trade possibility, but I think the 49ers stay put and strengthen their impressive defense.

32 Baltimore – John Cyprien S
Ravens plug the hole left by Reed.

Thoughts on a Past Love

Recently, I was talking with a friend about Albert Pujols and his chances to break Bond's home run record. It lead me to a sad realization:

Those records don't mean anything to me anymore.

I feel like baseball broke my trust

Part of my love for that game that I grew up with has died

I am not sure i will be able to revive it

Even when my Cubs were good I was still holding back

One of the things that enthralled me as a kid was the idea of these epic numbers and the idea of watching someone approach them

But now the numbers seem smaller

And mean less

Part of what made baseball so magical for me is that it was such an old game with so much tradition

Almost anything amazing that happened had happened before

But when you got to see something that had never happened before in baseball

You knew it was something that you would likely never see again in your life

And in that context every game had to opportunity to be The Game that changed baseball history forever

Now changing baseball history is like turning the page of a newspaper

Almost simplicity itself to do, yet somehow you still end up with dirty hands

2012 NFL Draft: Breaking Down Day Two Trades

Since there is a new CBA in the NFL, the traditional draft pick value chart is out of date. I have taken it upon myself to make a new one and I will be breaking down all of the trade deals to see who came out on top.

Trade 1: New York Jets acquire No. 43 pick from Seattle Seahawks for No. 47 pick, No. 154 pick and No. 232 pick.

Under the Old Value Chart: This trade is even

Under my chart: Jets underpay by the value of an early 6th

Trade 2: Chicago Bears acquire No. 45 pick from St. Louis Rams for No. 50 pick and No. 150 pick.

Under the Old Value Chart: Bears under pay by the value of a late 6th

Under my chart: Bears underpay by the value of a mid 6th

Trade 3: Green Bay Packers acquire No. 51 pick from Philadelphia Eagles for No. 59 pick and No. 123 pick.

Under the Old Value Chart:  Packers under pay by the value of a late 5th

Under my chart: Packers overpay by the value of a mid 7th

Trade 4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquire No. 58 pick and No. 233 pick from Houston Texans for No. 68 pick and No. 126 pick.

Under the Old Value Chart: Buccaneers underpay by the value of a late 5th

Under my chart: Buccaneers overpay by value of an early 5th

Trade 5: Green Bay Packers acquire No. 62 pick from New England Patriots for No. 90 pick and No. 163 pick.


Under the Old Value Chart: Packers get a steal and underpay by the value of an early 4th

Under my chart: Packers get a steal and underpay by the value of a mid 4th

Trade 6: Denver Broncos acquire No. 67 pick from Cleveland Browns for No. 87 pick and No. 120 pick.


Under the Old Value Chart: Broncos underpay by the value of a late 4th


Under my chart: Broncos overpay by the value of a late 7th

Trade 7: Buffalo Bills acquire No. 69 pick from Washington Redskins for No. 72 pick and No. 217 pick.

Under the Old Value Chart: Bills underpay by the value of a late 7th


Under my chart: Bills underpay by the value of an early 7th


Trade 8: San Diego Chargers acquire No. 73 pick from Miami Dolphins for No. 78 pick and No. 183 pick.


Under the Old Value Chart: Chargers overpay by the value of a late 7th

Under my chart: Chargers underpay by the value of a late 7th

Trade 9: Baltimore Ravens acquire No. 84 pick from Atlanta Falcons for No. 91 pick and No. 164 pick.


Under the Old Value Chart: Ravens underpay by the value of a mid 6th

Under my chart: Ravens get a steal and underpay by the value of a late 5th

Trade 10: San Francisco 49ers acquire No. 97 pick in 2012 and a fifth-rounder in 2013 from Indianapolis Colts for No. 92 pick in 2012 draft.


Under the Old Value Chart: This trade is even


Under my chart: This trade is even

2012 NFL Draft: Breaking Down First Round Trades Buccaneers and Broncos

Since there is a new CBA in the NFL, the traditional draft pick value chart is out of date. I have taken it upon myself to make a new one and I will be breaking down all of the trade deals to see who came out on top.

Trade #9 Denver trades the 31st and 126th pick to Tampa Bay for the 36th and 101st picks

Under the old system: This trade is dead even.

Under my chart: This trade is dead even.

Eye Test: A dead even trade. Enough said.

2012 NFL Draft: Breaking Down First Round Trades Ravens and Vikings

Since there is a new CBA in the NFL, the traditional draft pick value chart is out of date. I have taken it upon myself to make a new one and I will be breaking down all of the trade deals to see who came out on top.

Trade #8 Baltimore trades the 29th pick to Minnesota for the 35th and 98th picks.

Under the old system: Vikings overpay by a mid 6th rounder to move back in to the 1st.

Under my chart: Ravens win as Vikings overpay by the value of a late 4th round pick.

Eye Test: Vikings reach for a need. Ravens win the pick, unless the Harrison Smith turns out to solidify a weak secondary.

2012 NFL Draft: Breaking Down First Round Trades Broncos and Patriots

Since there is a new CBA in the NFL, the traditional draft pick value chart is out of date. I have taken it upon myself to make a new one and I will be breaking down all of the trade deals to see who came out on top.

Trade #7 Denver trades the 25th pick to New England for the 31st and 135th picks

Under the old system: Patriots slightly underpay for the ability to move back into the first round by the value of a early 5th round pick

Under my chart: This trade is nearly even.

Eye Test: Another surprise by the Patriots. Both teams get good value. "Eye" have to call this one a tie.