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Who's down for Round Two?
Being that we've pretty much dedicated ourselves to draft season besides that little blip on the radar signifying Romo's extension, there was no way we were ending our Writer's Mock after just one round. Everyone is still on board as we navigate our way through prospects. The 2013 draft has been described in a lot of ways. First and foremost, it's a draft that is lacking in elite talent at the skill positions. Second, it's a tremendously deep draft with several players graded out similarly.
This could mean several things. Teams could be wary of making a move for any particular player because they see that a similarly rated one would be available without giving up any picks. On the flip side, they might have a player rated much higher than their counterparts and want to ensure they get him.
The actual draft figures to be very interesting. You could see name after name that you thought would go in the third or fourth rounds, being called in the second. And, despite knowing what I just typed in the previous paragraphs, you'll still hear a bunch of "Reach!" calls coming through the Twitterverse.
So, without further ado, let's tackle the start of the second round of our Writer's Mock and see who's left on the board for the Cowboys next selection.
BTB Writer's Mock Draft: Selections 33-46
| Pick | Player | GM |
| 33. Jacksonville | Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington | Archie |
| This pick came down to need versus best player available. Alec Ogletree is one of the best players in this draft, but the Jags desperately need a cornerback who can come in and start for them immediately. Trufant is a four-year starter and has great character. He's a smooth athlete that can play either man or zone coverage, and the Jags need all the help they can get in the secondary. | ||
| 34. San Francisco | Jesse Williams, NT, Alabama | KD |
| On the heels of getting the draft's best tight end, the 49ers now turn to defense and get the drafts best nose tackle. Williams is a monster best suited for the middle of a 3-4 scheme and he will become an instant difference maker by the Bay. Williams has unbelievable strength and can actually play both the 1 and the 5 technique if needed. Has what's referred to as "phone-booth" quickness. | ||
| 35. Philadelphia | Jonathan Hankins, NT, Ohio State | OCC |
| The Eagles are going to find out in a hurry that you can't play 3-4 defense without a nose tackle. They did sign 32-year old Isaac Sopoaga, who graded out as the worst NT in the league on just 335 snaps last year, so he is a backup at best. Hankins, a surprisingly light-footed 320-pounder, drops a little due to concerns about inconsistency, but this unexpected drop is a bonus to Eagles fans. Hankins is not a great pass rusher - which NT really is? - but he's excellent against the run and can eat up double teams with ease, creating room for others to shine. | ||
| 36. Detroit | Alec Ogletree, OLB, Georgia | Rabble |
| The Lions gleefully dance to the podium to deliver Ogletree's name to the commissioner. In Ogletree, Detroit gets an explosive player with terrific range and athleticism. The former safety can run like a deer and arrives at the ballcarrier with nasty intentions. The Lions, not the kind of organization to shy away from his off-the-field issues, have a first-round grade on the former Bulldog. In Dee Milliner and now Ogletree, Detroit has significantly upgraded its defensive back seven with tough, physical SEC players. | ||
| 37. Cincinnati | Eric Reid, S, LSU | Joey |
| After selecting Arthur Brown in rd 1 to sure up the line backing corps and signing Adam Jones and Terrance Newman as CBs in Free Agency. Mike Zimmer is ecstatic to have a safety like Eric Reid to add to the defense. He will step in day one and start next to Reggie Nelson. Although his play declined slightly this season at LSU, many draft evaluators believe that he was limited due to the down grade in Corner play. | ||
| 38. Arizona | Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse | Joey |
| Ryan Nassib is a QB considered by more than one talent evaluator to be the best QB in the draft. Russ Lande who is a former NFL scout (and current college scouting director for the Montreal Allouettes) Russ Lande, and NFL Films Greg Cosell have both said publicly that they consider Nassib to be the best QB available. Noted QB guru Bruce Arians is excited to see Nassib available in rd 2. | ||
| 39. NY Jets | Sam Montgomery, OLB, LSU | Tom |
| The Jets signed Antwan Barnes to help the pass rush, but they have more than enough room for two pass rushing OLBs. Barnes was signed as a situational pass rusher, but Montgomery is more likely to give them an every down player, having the ability to track down runners as well as get after the quarterback. | ||
| 40. Tennessee | Alex Okafor, DE, Texas | Rabble |
| The Titans add much needed defensive line depth with Okafor, who displays good hands and plays with power, key attributes for a strongside defensive end. Although not a deluxe, quick-twitch athlete, Okafor provides a solid pass rush; scouts say Okafor's ability to make plays against the run and pass makes him the most well-rounded senior defensive end in the country. With Chance Warmack and now Okafor, Tennessee is building its lines with tough, hard-nosed athletes. | ||
| 41. Buffalo | Matt Barkley, QB, USC | Tom |
| Having cut Ryan Fitzpatrick loose, the Bills take a player who was once in the conversation for the Heisman and to be the top pick in the draft, but who fell precipitously after an injury shortened senior season. Now supposed to be back to full health, he is either an incredible pickup at this stage of the draft, or a false hope in a very off year for quarterbacks. But in the second round, the Bills snatch him up like tech junkies grabbing a new gadget. | ||
| 42. Miami | Johnathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State | Tom |
| The biggest need for the Dolphins is cornerback, but without a player who seemed worth of a first round pick, the Dolphins traded back for an additional second round pick. Now the move looks to be paying off, and some high fives are exchanged as they grab the tall, ball-hawking Banks, who holds his school's record for career interceptions. He is also very good against the run and unafraid to stick his nose in. Some time in the strength and conditioning program should bulk him up and improve his endurance, the biggest concerns for him. | ||
| 43. Tampa Bay | Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State | Archie |
| While the Bucs have a great tandem at safety with Mark Barron and Dashon Goldson, they are seriously lacking talent at the cornerback position. After adding our pass rusher in the first round, the Tampa Bay war room addresses their cornerback need with a sleeper of sorts in Jamar Taylor. There have been comparisons to Ronde Barber, and the Bucs would love to land another player like that. Taylor is a good athlete, but his high character and work ethic fit what coach Greg Schiano is looking for in his players. | ||
| 44. San Francisco | Matt Elam, S, Florida | KD |
| Trade Note:Carolina trades 44 (460) + 105 (82) to SF for 61 (292) + 74 (220) + 157 (28.6)The 49ers move up to pluck someone they feel is going to be a great asset to their secondary. After losing Dashon Goldson to free agency, SF picks a big hitter that has also shown the ability to play single-high safety as well as in the box enforcer. Elam's resume includes big plays against the biggest opponents, which should translate into being a bigtime player on the NFL stage. San Francisco thinks they have the next Troy Polamalu. | ||
| 45. San Diego | Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama | OCC |
| What a difference four years make. In the 2010 draft, the Chargers invested the 12th overall pick and only got the second running back drafted that day. In 2013, they pick the top running back with the 45th pick - a steal any way you look at it. But it's time to face facts in San Diego: Ryan Matthews is injury prone and looks like a bust. They already brought in Danny Woodhead in free agency, and now look to Lacy to be the "bellcow back" that Matthews never was. | ||
| 46. St. Louis | Phillip Thomas, FS, Fresno State | Archie |
| When two of our choices go off the board the St Louis war room attempts to settle down and focus on the task at hand. We address and discuss our needs, coming to a consensus that it's time to draft a safety. The Rams have a serious need at safety, and Thomas is a certified ballhawk who instantly brings that playmaking element that's been lacking in the deep half of the Rams' secondary. With a safety who can capitalize on mistakes and make plays on the football, Thomas is a solid selection for a defense that is on the rise. | ||