Greg's Mock Draft (1):

After the first two full weeks of Free Agency are over many of the marquee free agents are off the board, teams (and enthusiastic fans) can now have a better idea of what should be done in the first round of draft day. This is my first posted mock draft and reflects the free agents signed through Thursday March 21st. Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay have time to go over hours and hours of tape, which I do not. My hope is that these picks are somewhat informative to you on what your team's needs might be and what direction they might choose to go on draft day. I love the NFL draft, and I love player evaluation and projection. This is only the first half of the first round, the second half is coming next week. Here's hoping your team makes the right choice!

1. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M (Team needs: OT, CB, S, DE/OLB) - The Chiefs used their franchise tag on Brandon Albert, and have not yet re-signed RT Eric Winston, leading us to believe that they will probably move Brandon Albert to RT and draft a LT. However, they could look at spending $15-$20 million dollars on their two tackles as too much money and go with a corner at the #1 overall pick. If they go that route there is only one option: Dee Milliner, but I still think they go with a tackle, and the most proven, ready to start tackle in the draft is Luke Joeckel.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida (Team needs: DT, CB, RB, OL, LB, S, QB) - Let's face it, what doesn't this team need. They lost their best interior lineman (Terrance Knighton) to the Broncos and probably would be inclined to take another one had they not used a first round pick on Tyson Alualu a few years ago. I would tend to think they take the best player available here, who happens to fit a need that they have, in Sharrif Floyd. The Jags new GM took a punter in the 3rd round last year, however, so I have no way of predicting what they will do. Floyd makes the most sense here, but Milliner or Eric Fisher would not be surprising here.

3. Oakland Raiders: Dee Milliner, DB, Alabama (Team needs: DT, LB, S, CB, RB, WR) - The Raiders have a ton of salary cap issues, and a lot of holes to fill. I think they go with a player that goes against their usually philosophy of terrible drafting and pick Dee Milliner who can step in and play right away. Milliner will probably fit right into where Nnamde Asomugha left off though and leave in FA a few years from now.

4. Philadelphia Eagles: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan (Team needs: DE, CB, OLB, QB, OT) - Chip Kelly probably would love to take a player like Tavon Austin with this pick, but it is too high for that. I expect the Eagles to either trade down to take him, or take Eric Fisher or Damontre Moore with this pick. Those are both positions of need for the Eagles and would justify this pick. Though Dion Jordan would also be an option, I don't think he's worthy of this high a pick or fits in a 4-3 scheme. Eventually cooler heads will prevail and the Eagles will take Eric Fisher.

5. Detroit Lions: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU (Team needs: DE, LB, CB, S, RB, WR) - This team could do just about anything, but with the loss of Cliff Avril and Kyle Van Den Bosch it would be smart to take a defensive end to generate an edge rush. That pretty much narrows their options to either Damontre Moore or Ziggy Ansah. The advantage for the Lions is that their coaching staff was at the senior bowl and were able to see the players up close and personal. I think they pick upside and go with Ansah.

6. Cleveland Browns: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee (Team Needs: MLB, DE, WR, QB, TE) -The Browns could go a number of ways with this pick, depending on how committed to Brandon Weeden the new coaching staff is. I think they let him continue to prove himself though and get him a weapon to throw to. This is a little high for a TE, so they either trade down to the mid-teens and nab either Eifert or Ertz, or they take a WR with this pick. My guess is that Cordarrelle Patterson trades in Volunteer orange for the orange of the Cleveland Browns. Keenan Allen would be a better pick, but I don't know a lot about the new staff in Cleveland and I think a splashier choice is in order.

7. Arizona Cardinals: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah  (Team Needs: QB, TE, LB, CB, DT) - The general consensus seems to be that the Cardinals and new coach Bruce Arians will go the rookie QB route and draft Geno Smith with this pick. I have no reason to doubt that, but I would not be surprised if Arians instead drafted Matt Barkley, who has a similar makeup and skillset to Andrew Luck. Barkley would be more of a sure bet than Smith at this point, and could probably be had with their second round pick. I think they go in a slightly different direction and pick a key cog that could be in their defense for the next 10-12 years (health permitting).

8. Buffalo Bills: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia (Team Needs: QB, RB, WR, LB) - If the Cardinals do not take Geno Smith, expect the Bills to take him. They just released Ryan Fitzpatrick and really have no other options at QB besides Tarvaris Jackson, who isn't really an option. The other option for them is Eric Fisher, but really the only reason you'd draft a LT is if you already have a franchise QB for him to protect. The Bills do not have that.

9. New York Jets: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia (Team Needs: Everything) - I honestly have no idea where the Jets will go with this pick. Their needs are so glaring at so many positions, and their only real positions of strength lie on the offensive line.  A lot can happen between now and the draft, and if the Jets trade Revis, or others prior to the draft, this can change. Mike Idzik (Jets new GM) seems to be a cautious man, and seeminly much smarter than people give him credit for. That typically lends to a 'best player available' draft strategy. The best available player here, in my opinion, is Jarvis Jones. I think that is the pick here.

10. Tennessee Titans: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas (Team Needs: DL, DB, TE) - The Titans most glaring need was on the offensive line, which they addressed by signing G Andy LeVitre away from the Buffalo Bills. They could really solidify their offensive line by drafting one of the remaining tackles, or by taking Jonathan Cooper or Chance Warmack to solidify both G's. That is quite a bit of money tied up in your offensive line, however, so I don't think they will do that. They need help in the secondary, and there is a pretty deep class of DB's but only one worthy of a pick this high. Even with the signing of S Bernard Pollard this week, I still think this is a good pick for Tennessee.

11. San Diego Chargers: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama (Team Needs: OL, DL, LB) - The Chargers breathe a huge sigh of relief in my version of this draft. They take the best player for them, and the best player available off of the board. This fits a need, and is a good spot overall to take a player of Warmack's caliber.

12. Miami Dolphins: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma (Team Needs: OL, DB, WR) - This is a dream scenario for the Dolphins, as they have multiple options with this pick, and all of them are good. With the loss of Jake Long though, Lane Johnson is the best pick here, and he can start from day 1. Miami may also choose to go with either Keenan Allen, or Tavon Austin in this spot. Either would be a good fit and provide another good weapon for Ryan Tannehill. Austin would be used similarly to the way Randall Cobb is used in Green Bay's offense, and I think that would be a scary proposition for opposing defenses. In the end though, protecting your QB is paramount in every organization, and Johnson has all the tools to do that at a quality level.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Matt Elam, S, Florida  (Team Needs: DB, DE, LB, TE) - The Bucs really need a lot of help in the secondary. This pick might be a little bit or a reach to fill a need, but it would pair two of the better young safeties in the game together and provide a lot of help to their ailing LB's in the run game until they can be improved.

14. Carolina Panthers: Keenan Allen, WR, Cal (Team Needs: WR, DB, DL) - Allen is a good fit for the Panthers. He's a bigger, disciplined, solid route-running WR who will work well in that offense. Cam Newton will be pleased.

15. New Orleans Saints: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri (Team Needs: DT, WR, DB) - The Saints would love it if Richardson fell to them. They need a big bodied DT to clog up the middle and help to get their linebackers free. This would be great for them.

16. St. Louis Rams: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia (Team Needs: WR, RB, DB) - If the Rams had known the draft would fall this way, they probably wouldn't have signed Jared Cook in free agency. (Why they did is a mystery to me anyway - Lance Kendricks is no slouch at the TE position), but I think another option actually fits them better. Tavon Austin would be a great option for Sam Bradford to have in the slot, and with Amendola gone, the Rams have a need at that spot. Austin fits it.

More to come next week...

By: Greg Branda