Updated 2013 NFL Mock Draft

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Since the first iteration of my 2013 NFL mock draft on May 1st, we have released our consensus NFL power rankings.

Therefore, the draft order used for my mock is the inverse order of our consensus power rankings. All future updates (until the draft order is known) will be based off of our power rankings.

Here is how I see the first half of the 2013 NFL mock draft:

1. (Projected trade with Colts) Arizona Cardinals – Matt Barkley, QB, USC

If the Colts end up with the first overall pick again in 2013, it is likely that they trade down with a quarterback-needy team. After drafting Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd with 13th overall pick in 2012, the Cardinals have a pair of stud receivers with a dud quarterback. With Kevin Kolb due to earn $9 million in 2013 and a $2 million March roster bonus, the Cardinals may opt to go with another USC quarterback named Matt that decided to return for his senior season. Hopefully, that works out better for the Cardinals this time around.

2. Cleveland Browns – Robert Woods, WR, USC

By drafting Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden and Mitchell Schwartz with their first three picks in 2012, the Browns have improved at three offensive positions in need of an upgrade. That said, they still have one glaring weakness on the offensive side of the ball — playmakers at wide receiver. In his sophomore season, Woods finished with 111 receptions for 1,292 yards and 15 touchdowns and is likely to be the top receiver selected in next year’s draft.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas

I’m not sure what Gene Smith was thinking when he drafted a punter in the third round. Perhaps he figured that the Jaguars would have plenty of three-and-outs with Blaine Gabbert under center. With an improved receiving corps that includes rookie Justin Blackmon and free-agent addition Laurent Robinson, Gabbert needs to take a big step forward from his dismal rookie season. If he doesn’t, the Jags could draft his replacement. In his first year as a starter, Wilson posted a 24:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio last year.

4. St. Louis Rams – D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

With two first-round picks, the Rams could use help on the offensive line and at wide receiver (although the team used two top-100 picks on receivers in the 2012 draft). No team allowed more sacks than the Rams (55) last year and Fluker (6-6, 335 pounds) is one of the top offensive tackles in the country.

5. Minnesota Vikings – Dave Amerson, CB, North Carolina State

Although they used two of their first three picks on defensive backs (Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith and Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson), no defense allowed more passing touchdowns (34) or had fewer interceptions (eight) than the Vikings last year. The Vikings have to face Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler a minimum of six times per season. Amerson, who led the country in interceptions (13), has the size (6-3, 195 pounds), ball skills and athleticism to help significantly upgrade the Vikings secondary.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

Although the Bucs have used some early picks to improve their interior defensive line, those picks haven’t yet lived up to expectations. As a sophomore, Hankins, who has great size but the versatility to also play defensive end, had 67 tackles (fourth on team), 11.0 tackles for loss (second) and three sacks (tied for second).

7. Miami Dolphins – Sam Montgomery, DE/OLB, LSU

As a first-team All-SEC selection last year, Montgomery led LSU in sacks (9.0) and ranked third in the conference. Montgomery should be one of the first pass-rushers off the board in 2013 and gives the Dolphins a pass-rusher to pair with Cameron Wake.

8. Oakland Raiders – Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech

With Carson Palmer due to earn $13 million in 2013 and Matt Leinart signing a one-year contract to back him up in 2012, the Raiders need a long-term (and perhaps short-term) solution at quarterback. Thomas (6-6, 262 pounds) has as much upside as any other quarterback in the draft. In his first year as a starter, the sophomore signal-caller completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for more than 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also ran for 469 yards and 11 touchdowns, which is a Virginia Tech quarterback record.

9. (Projected trade with Cardinals) Indianapolis Colts – Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

In the first six rounds of the draft, the Colts used all of their picks to improve their offense with the exception of taking Alabama nose tackle Josh Chapman in the fifth round. A transfer from USC, Jones led the Bulldogs and the SEC in sacks (13.5), had 19.5 tackles for loss and was an first team All-American last year.

10. Carolina Panthers – Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

Lotulelei was a first-team All-Pac-12, led the team in tackles for loss (nine) and helped the Utes hold opposing offenses to only 97 rushing yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry last year. Meanwhile, the Panthers allowed 130.8 rushing yards per game and 18 rushing touchdowns, fourth-most in the NFL, last year.

11. St. Louis Rams (via Redskins) – Keenan Allen, WR, California

Not only did the Rams rank dead last in sacks allowed as noted above, but they ranked last in the NFL in passing touchdowns (nine) last year. After improving their offensive line with their first pick, they give Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, another weapon on the outside. While he had all five of his 100-yard games in the first six games of the 2011 season, Allen (6-3, 205 pounds) had a breakout season: 98 receptions, 1,343 yards and six touchdowns.

12. Buffalo Bills – Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

After signing Mario Williams to a $100 million contract and drafting cornerback Stephon Gilmore in the first round, the Bills continue to improve themselves on the defensive side of the ball here. Mingo led LSU and ranked fourth in the SEC in tackles for loss (13.5) and finished second on the team in sacks (8.0) behind Montgomery last year. Both starting OLBs for the Bills (Nick Barnett and Kirk Morrison) are in the early-30′s.

13. Kansas City Chiefs – Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee

Depending on how Matt Cassel performs in 2012, the Chiefs could look to go in a different direction in 2013. As I noted in our fantasy football rankings, Cassel has averaged less than 200 passing yards per game in his first three seasons in Kansas City. Then again, depending on how Bray performs in 2012, he could be long gone by this spot.

14. Seattle Seahawks – Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State

Perhaps the Seahawks will go with a quarterback here. Considering they signed Matt Flynn to a three-year deal and drafted Russell Wilson in the third round, it seems unlikely. Instead I have the Seahawks adding a weapon to help whichever quarterback is under center. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-4 receiver set school records with 82 receptions for 1,388 yards in addition to scoring 12 times and is the third Pac-12 receiver off the board in the top half of the first round.

15. Tennessee Titans – Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

After having four interceptions as a freshman in 2010, Rhodes had an off year with only one interception and battled some nagging injuries throughout the season. That said, Rhodes is a big (6-2, 215 pounds), physical and athletic cornerback and could be the second cornerback off the board with a solid season.

16. Cincinnati Bengals – Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

Although his season was cut short by an ACL injury in October, Lattimore has rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 27 touchdowns in his season and a half at South Carolina. Perhaps he’ll have a slow start this year, but the 230-pound back will be 18 months removed from the injury by the time the 2013 NFL draft rolls around.

For picks 17 to 32, click here. For our 2013 NFL mock draft database, click here.

We have also recently updated our 2012 NBA mock draft as well.

For all of our updates, you can either (1) follow me on Twitter @EDSFootball or (2) like us on Facebook — or both.

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