Below is my 8th annual NFL mock draft on Buffalobills.com. This is how I believe things could play out in round one Thursday night. This should help provide a better feel of what other teams will be looking to address in terms of position need. Enjoy the draft, Bills fans and follow our wall-to-wall draft coverage on Buffalobills.com/draft.
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Team
Top 3 Needs
Possible Selections
1. Kansas City
OL, LB, S
Top choice:OT Luke Joeckel – Texas A&M
OT Eric Fisher – Central Michigan
They franchised OT Branden Albert, but the Chiefs may move him on draft weekend for more picks.
2. Jacksonville
DL, OL, DB
Top choice:DT Sharrif Floyd - Florida
OT Eric Fisher – Central Michigan
The Jags need help at cornerback, but this is just a bit too high to consider Milliner.
3. Oakland
OL, CB, WR
Top choice:OT Eric Fisher – Central Michigan
CB Dee Milliner – Alabama
GM Reggie McKenzie has used free agency to overhaul the defense, so odds are his top pick addresses offense.
4. Philadelphia
OT, WR, CB
Top choice: QB Geno Smith – West Virginia
OT Lane Johnson - Oklahoma
The Eagles will look long and hard at Milliner and Lane Johnson, but Chip Kelly wants his own signal caller to mold.
5. Detroit
CB, OL, DE
Top choice: DE Ziggy Ansah – BYU
OT Lane Johnson – Oklahoma
The Lions get to address any one of their top three needs with a quality player. Johnson and Milliner are other possibilities.
6. Cleveland
OLB, CB, DL
Top choice:OLB Dion Jordan - Oregon
CB Dee Milliner - Alabama
Cleveland adds another pass rusher in a division with durable opposing quarterbacks.
7. Arizona
OT, QB, S
Top choice:OT Lane Johnson - Oklahoma
OLB Barkevious Mingo - LSU
The Cardinals were dead last in sacks allowed in 2012 with 58. Johnson is too good to pass up.
8. Buffalo
QB, WR, CB
Top choice: QB E.J. Manuel – Florida St.
OLB Barkevious Mingo - LSU
You can't rule out QB Ryan Nassib, but the Bills take the signal caller that has more versatility and upside and the intangibles of a rare leader.
9. NY Jets
CB, OLB, G
Top choice:OLB Barkevious Mingo - LSU
CB Dee Milliner - Alabama
The overwhelming need for a pass rusher trumps the value that Milliner would represent here.
10. Tennessee
OL, CB, DE
Top choice:CB Dee Milliner - Alabama
DT Star Lotulelei - Utah
Milliner offers too much value and addresses a need in the process for the 26th ranked pass defense last season.
11. San Diego
OL, DL, CB
Top choice:CB Xavier Rhodes – Florida State
OT D.J. Fluker – Alabama
The Chargers need better protection for Philip Rivers, but San Diego's board could lead them to Rhodes.
12. Miami
OT, CB, DE
Top choice: OT D.J. Fluker - Alabama
CB Desmond Trufant – Washington
If the Dolphins can't swing trade with KC for OT Albert they add a bookend to fill the void left behind by former number one pick Jake Long.
13. NY Jets
OL, CB, TE
Top choice:G Jonathan Cooper – North Carolina
CB Desmond Trufant – Washington
Rex Ryan would love to add a press corner after trading Revis, but Cooper is the better value for an offense that needs help.
14. Carolina
DT, CB, WR
Top choice:DT Star Lotulelei - Utah
CB Desmond Trufant - Washington
The Panthers need an interior presence on their defensive line. Lotulelei offers power and playmaking ability.
15. New Orleans
OLB, DT, CB
Top choice:LB Jarvis Jones – Georgia
DT Sheldon Richardson – Missouri
New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan could use some pass rush help at linebacker.
16. St. Louis
WR, RB, S
Top choice: WR Tavon Austin – W. Virginia
S Kenny Vaccaro - Texas
The Rams cannot believe their good fortune and replace departed free agent Danny Amendola with Austin.
17. Pittsburgh
OL, TE, LB
Top choice:TE Tyler Eifert – Notre Dame
S Kenny Vaccaro – Texas
GM Kevin Colbert addresses a positional need and adds a playmaker in the pass game following loss of Wallace in free agency.
18. Dallas
DL, G, S
Top choice:G Chance Warmack - Alabama
S Kenny Vaccaro – Texas
Taking the safety from down the road at Texas is tempting, but the Cowboys need help on the O-line.
19. NY Giants
LB, OL, CB
Top choice:CB Desmond Trufant – Washington
DE Bjoern Werner – Florida St.
The Giants would like to fill the void left by Umenyiora's departure, but more help is needed on the back end.
20. Chicago
CB, LB, G
Top choice:CB D.J. Hayden - Houston
LB Manti Te'o – Notre Dame
The Bears wouldn't mind trading back, but if there is no one willing Chicago takes a defender.
21. Cincinnati
CB, OLB, RB
Top choice:LB Alec Ogletree - Georgia
RB Eddie Lacy – Alabama
Cincinnati needs more linebackers that can cover. Ogletree is a former safety with uncommon athleticism.
22. St. Louis
DT, RB, CB
Top choice: S Kenny Vaccaro - Texas
DT Sheldon Richardson – Missouri
The Rams get great value here and add a playmaker to their secondary.
23. Minnesota
WR, CB, LB
Top choice:WR Cordarrelle Patterson - Tenn.
CB Jamar Taylor – Boise St.
Patterson adds a bigger target outside and the return ability lost when Percy Harvin was traded.
24. Indianapolis
OL, DL, LB
Top choice:DT Sheldon Richardson - Missouri
WR Keenan Allen - Cal
The Colts added some vets on the defensive interior, but Richardson is a needed dose of youth.
25. Minnesota
CB, LB, DL
Top choice:DE Tank Carradine – Florida St.
CB Jamar Taylor – Boise St.
Carradine might be too big an injury risk, but the Vikes need to get Jared Allen some pass rush help up front.
26. Green Bay
S, TE, WR
Top choice:WR DeAndre Hopkins - Clemson
S Eric Reid - LSU
Aaron Rodgers is the Pack's meal ticket, so adding another offensive weapon that's ready to contribute is essential.
27. Houston
OT, OLB, ILB
Top choice:ILB Kevin Minter - LSU
WR Keenan Allen – Cal
Minter would be a great combination with Brian Cushing, who returns from injury.
28. Denver
RB, DL, DB
Top choice: CB Jamar Taylor – Boise St.
LB Manti Te'o – Notre Dame
The Broncos need an heir apparent to Champ Bailey to line up opposite Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
29. New England
DE, CB, G
Top choice:DE Datone Jones – UCLA
DT Sylvester Williams – North Carolina
Bill Belichick loves hybrid players and Jones offers DE, DT flexibility in a league where passing continues to increase.
30. Atlanta
DL, OL, TE
Top choice: DT Sylvester Williams – No. Carolina
OT Menelik Watson – Florida St.
The Falcons were 21st against the run last season and can't pass on a value like Williams at this point.
31. San Francisco
DL, CB, S
Top choice:S Jonathan Cyprien – FIU
DE Bjoern Werner – Florida St.
The 49ers reload to fill the void left by the free agent loss of Dashon Goldson.
32. Baltimore
OL, LB, S
Top choice: LB Manti Te'o – Notre Dame
S Eric Reid - LSU
Rolando McClain's latest run-in with the law prompts the Ravens to pick a viable replacement.
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