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After reading the comment section in my first mock draft of the year, I noticed a call for a second round. I apologize for not including round two in the original version. Putting together a mock draft isn't a quick process, they take time to properly assemble.
Round two isn't that easy of a task because you have to account for what player you gave a team in the first round. Blending need and best available player is my preferred strategy. In this mock I attempted to answer needs, but not at the cost of robbing them on a great value left on the board.
In version 2.0, I will finally cave in and allow trades. Not allowing trades had been my golden rule for mock drafts, but the people have spoken and I highly value their opinion. It does make for a more realistic mock draft experience when you include trades involving Robert Griffin III. Watch out for the trading mania in my updated mock draft. I will begin preparing that one next week.
In the meantime, let's finish off version 1.0. Take the jump for the epic conclusion...
33. St. Louis Rams- David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech
During his career in St. Louis, Steven Jackson hasn't exactly been the healthiest running back in the NFL. The Rams land one of the best running backs in the draft and a potential replacement for Jackson down the road. Great value for the Rams right here.
34. Indianapolis Colts- Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
I am not a big fan of Hill, but the Colts need a wide receiver and they get a talented one here. Reggie Wayne could depart via free agency, leaving a major void at the position. Pierre Garcon is a good wide receiver, but he can't do it all by himself and Austin Collie is one concussion away from serious brain damage.
35. Minnesota Vikings- Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
Jared Allen is one of the best pass rushers in the league, but the Vikings defensive tackles are getting old quickly. They passed on the meanest defensive tackle last year in Nick Fairley. Worthy possesses the same mean streak he does and would be a great fit for them.
36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson
In the second round, the Bucs could go in a variety of directions. I decided to mock them Allen because their current tight end Kellen Winslow is beginning to get up there in age. It's also not a bad idea to begin following the Patriots blueprint of playing two athletic tight ends, and as we all know this is a copycat league.
37. Cleveland Browns- Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson
Thompson is just too great of a talent to pass on this late. Adding him next to Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard will give the Browns a great defensive line to build their defense around.
38. Jacksonville Jaguars- Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Gilmore reminds me a lot of Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis, so I figured they would love another player that is similar. He has the size and athleticism to make the transition to free safety if he doesn't work out at cornerback.
39. Washington Redskins- Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
Not having trades in my mock draft did make this a harder process, but the Redskins land their signal caller of the future in the second round. Tannehill is a arguably a first-round talent, so the Skins get a great value here. Having a reliable quarterback will finally allow head coach Mike Shanahan to open up the playbook. Trent Richardson and Tannehill give the Redskins a great future and they can immediately compete in the NFC East.
40. Carolina Panthers- Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State
The Panthers need to start protecting their franchise quarterback and Sanders is the best offensive tackle on the board. He is an experienced starter from a good conference and his athleticism should translate over to the NFL.
41. Buffalo Bills- Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
Fleener falls out of the first round, but he has a first-round skill set. The Bills did utilize former Cowboys tight end Scott Chandler very well in 2011, but it will be hard for him to repeat his success on a regular basis. Fleener will be a reliable target for Ryan Fitzpatrick and should score a lot of touchdowns like Chandler did.
42. Miami Dolphins- Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
I want to make clear that I think the Dolphins will either trade up for RG3 or go the veteran route in free agency. This is why I will not reach and give them a QB here. Instead, I mock them a great defensive end that will thrive in their transition back to the 4-3 defense.
43. Seattle Seahawks- Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State
Pete Carroll knows Osweiler pretty well from his days coaching in the Pac-10. He is one of the rising quarterback talents and is being compared to Ben Roethlisberger because of his arm and size. This may be a project, but it also could be a wise decision to grab him in the second-round.
44. Kansas City Chiefs- Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington
The Chiefs would love to grab another offensive lineman here such as an offensive tackle, but there is nobody left on the board worthy of a second-round pick. Instead they land one of the best nose tackle prospects in the draft and Scott Pioli finally gets his next Vince Wilfork prospect in the middle of his defense.
45. Dallas Cowboys- Bruce Irvin DE/OLB, West, Virginia
Bruce Irvin destroyed the NFL Combine and had his draft stock rise, but he still falls to the second round due to his ability to play three downs in the NFL. He comes from a questionable background, but it appears that he has cleaned up his act. The Cowboys will franchise outside linebacker Anthony Spencer, but that doesn't mean they should ignore upgrading the position.
46. Philadelphia Eagles- Mike Martin, DT, Michigan
Andy Reid loves drafting defensive lineman. He has the pass rushers he needs for his wide-nine defense, but could use a stout defensive tackle. Martin is a nasty and physical tackle that will provide the Eagles with the force they need in the middle.
47. New York Jets- Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin
Running back may be a possibility here, but I felt that adding a starting caliber guard over Doug Martin or Chris Polk made more sense for the Jets. Zeitler can instantly help the running game get back to the ground and pound style Rex Ryan loves to base his offense around.
48. New England Patriots (From Oakland)- Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame
You never know what the Patriots will do in the draft, it wouldn't shock me to see Bill Belichick turn this pick into three more picks. Regardless of their trading ways, Smith is the type of safety that fits the Patriots style. He is a leader in the secondary with play-making ability that would be an upgrade for them in their secondary.
49. San Diego Chargers- LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
This was the easiest pick for me in my mock draft besides Andrew Luck. The Chargers miss Darren Sproles something fierce and that offense was totally out-of-synch without him in 2011. James was one of the most talented running backs in college football and his skill set is very similar to what Sproles did for the Chargers during his career there.
50. Chicago Bears- Orson Charles, TE, Georgia
Offensive coordinator Mike Martz does not use tight ends, but he is out of the picture now. Adding a tight end with the athletic ability that Charles has will give quarterback Jay Cutler a weapon he has lacked in Chicago.
51. Philadelphia Eagles (From Arizona)- Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana
The Kevin Kolb trade is the gift that just keeps on giving. Asante Samuel may be on his way out and the cornerback acquisitions didn't exactly put them over the top last year. Johnson is a Jimmy Smith like talent who could also move to free safety if needed.
52. Tennessee Titans- Brandon Washington, OG, Miami
Titans head coach Mike Munchak is a former offensive line guru and the Titans run game has really taken a step back since CJ2K's record breaking season. Washington is one of the best guards in the entire draft and should be a great fit for getting their running game back on track.
53. Cincinnati Bengals- Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State
If owner Mike Brown actually cared about high character, he would stay away from Burfict. There is no doubt that he is one heck of a talent, but he has major issues. He could either be the next Ray Lewis, or a monumental bust. The Bengals love talented linebackers, so he should be on their board this April.
54. Detroit Lions- Josh Robinson, CB, Central Florida
Drew Brees abused Lions cornerback Aaron Berry in the playoffs. Adding a reliable cornerback to the roster should be a priority for them in the offseason. Robinson blew up the combine and has great athleticism. In time, he could be a really good starter in the league.
55. Atlanta Falcons- Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
It wouldn't shock me to see a pass rusher go here either, but the Falcons do have a hole at center. Medical questions push Konz all the way down to the end of the second-round. A team should take a chance on him because he is one of the best offensive lineman in the draft.
56. Pittsburgh Steelers- Brandon Brooks, OG, Miami of Ohio
I would love to give them a nose tackle here, but there just isn't one good enough to take here. Brooks is one of the most underrated players in the draft. He would bolster the Steelers offensive line and immediately start for them.
57. Denver Broncos- Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas
Tim Tebow gets his Percy Harvin in the form of another SEC wide receiver. Adams has similar athleticism comparable to Harvin, so he should be a great weapon for Tebow. The Broncos would have a legitimate wide receiver pairing in Adams and Demaryius Thomas.
58. Houston Texans- George Iloka, S, Boise State
Iloka is a great value this late in the draft and he instantly offers them an upgrade at the safety position. He can pair up with Danieal Manning and offer defensive coordinator Wade Phillips versatility. In just two years, the Texans have totally revamped their secondary. This pick should finish the rebuilding process.
59. New Orleans Saints- Mychal Kendricks, LB, California
The Saints do not have a first-round pick after trading up for Mark Ingram last year, so they need to make their first pick of the draft count. Kendricks is another great value this late and the Saints need another linebacker. A pass rusher is a possibility here too.
60. Green Bay Packers- Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn
If the Packers first two picks go the way they did in my mock draft, their defense should improve next year. Reyes offers them the disruptive five technique defensive end that will open up plays for their outside linebackers. I don't know if he will fall this far in the real draft, but this is an amazing value for the Packers.
61. Baltimore Ravens- Jonathan Massaquoi, DE/OLB, Troy
Terrell Suggs can bring the pressure, but the Ravens lack another pass rusher at outside linebacker. Massaquoi is an interesting pass rushing prospect that could develop into a starter. At worst, he can give the Ravens another pass rusher on third down.
62. San Francisco 49ers- Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech
Carlos Rogers is about to hit the free agent market, so the 49ers may lose him after just one season. Hosley may not be the fastest cornerback in the draft, but his intelligence and quickness make up for his lack of top speed. I love this pick for the 49ers because they could use another quality cornerback.
63. New England Patriots- Andre Branch, DE, Clemson
The Patriots desperately lack a pass rusher and they need to upgrade there in the offseason. Branch is a developmental pass rusher that needs to add more weight and muscle to his frame. His talent should get him drafted somewhere in the first-two rounds this April.
64. New York Giants- Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
I am willing to bet that Giants fans will not be too happy with me not mocking them Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus back in the first-round. This pick should make up for that because Jones is the same type of pass rusher with long arms. The Giants really don't need another pass rusher, but general manager Jerry Reese likes to stock up his defensive line.