McLafferty’s 1st Full 1st Round NFL Mock Draft
Sep 7, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Darqueze Dennard (31) walks off the field during the 2nd half of a game between the Michigan State Spartans and the South Florida Bulls at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 21-6. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
11.) Tennessee Titans – Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh
The Titans would be wise to look at DT, OLB, or CB to help bolster their D, especially with Ray Horton stepping in as Defensive Coordinator. He’ll be changing schemes and they need to update the line and backers. The pick comes down to Donald, OLB Anthony Barr or Dennard at corner after losing Alterraun Verner to the Buccaneers. Dennard and Donald rank higher than Barr who is slipping, but Donald helps fill a need where this nothing. At corner they have some prospects but in the middle of the line the cupboard is bare. Donald should help Horton transform this D.
12.) New York Giants – Eric Ebron TE North Carolina
The Giants don’t have a tight end to start on a playoff team, which is something they’re aiming to do in a bounce back year. Injuries took a toll on last year’s team and the offense had some issues but with a resurgence on the offensive line, thanks to some free agent spending, it leaves the Giants able to pursue Ebron. Ebron will add another explosive playmaker with Reuben Randle getting accustomed to full time #2 (with Hakeem Nicks leaving for the Colts) and Victor Cruz coming off injury to help Eli Manning lead the Giants back to the playoffs.
13.) St. Louis Rams – Ha Ha Clinton-Dix S Alabama
In this draft the Rams already grabbed Sammy Watkins improving the WR crew so it’s time to turn the attention to either OL (where Taylor Leman is still avaliable), CB (Dennard) or S (Clinton-Dix). Dennard is a great player but Clinton-Dix fits the scheme of new Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams and should be a playmaker all over the field.
14.) Chicago Bears – Timmy Jerigan DT Florida St
The Bears have had problems on the defensive line and safety positions mostly so it’s important to upgrade here. I feel they’ll try and trade down, with the 49ers (trying to get a corner) or the Panthers (looking to upgrade at wide-out), because S Calvin Pryor and DT’s Jerigan and Ra’Shede Hageman should be available later but here no trade gets done and the Bears get the guy who best fits into their scheme. Jerigan should help the worst run defense in the league. The Bears already have great corners and just spent some money on safeties so that should be improved, Another way to help improve the secondary is to help the pass rush and bringing Jerigan in to help eat blockers should free newly signed Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston have their way into the backfields. They can address safety later but here the defensive line gets rebuilt in a season and goes back to being dominant.
15.) Pittsburgh Steelers – Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan St
The Steelers need a good draft this year. They’re not the Steelers of past but they have made some upgrades and some of the younger players are starting to step up. But there are still big holes especially at WR, DE and ILB. But the biggest and the one with the best prospect on the board is CB with Dennard. He’s a physical beast of a corner, something that fits into Pittsburgh’s style of D, and that will be needed when going up against A.J. Green and Josh Gordon, two of the best young WRs in the NFL, twice a year. Dennard will take the place of the open #2 corner spot and eventually take over for the aging Ike Taylor as the #1 corner.