2013 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys Go On The Defensive

 21. Cincinnati Bengals – Manti T’eo, Linebacker, Notre Dame

T’eo’s character stock took a nose dive with all of this fake girlfriend business but the Bengals have had the likes of Ochocinco and Terrell Owens.  They are used to drama so I see the Bengals picking up the former top ten pick.

22.  St. Louis Rams (From Redskins) – Eric Reid, Safety, LSU

The Rams will already have addressed the offense, now they tackle the defensive side of the ball.  In the pick from Washington in the RG3 trade, the Rams pickup Reid from LSU who will help the most when it comes to zone coverages. 

23. Minnesota Vikings –  Justin Hunter, Wide Receiver, Tennessee

A gifted athlete, Hunter could go higher than this but because of team needs; he will slip all the way down to #23 and become a Viking to complement Percy Harvin.

24. Indianapolis Colts – Jonathan Hankins, Defensive Tackle, Ohio State

At 6-4, 322 this kid can shed some blocks and wreak havoc in offensive backfields.  Hankins will be a part of the 4-3 to 3-4 conversion as Indy changes defensive schemes.

25. Seattle Seahawks – Cordarelle Patterson, Wide Receiver, Tennessee

Playing solid defense and having a dual threat quarterback as well as a very good running back; the Seahawks lack a good, top-flight receiver.  Patterson may not be the best route runner but his yards after the catch has been higher than most.  This will be a good pick for Seattle to bolster their already lethal offense.

26. Green Bay Packers– Givoanni Bernard, Running Back, North Carolina 

Bernard would be a great fit in Green Bay.  The Packers need a complimentary back to carry their offense as Cedric Benson was not the answer.  Bernard probably could go higher; even to the Cardinals but if not he could be sporting Packer green and yellow.

Never the main receiver in college, Williams would complement Andre Johnson perfectly and give Matt Schaub another target to throw to help get the Texans a step closer to winning them a Super Bowl.

28. Denver Broncos – Sharrif Floyd, Defensive Tackle, Florida

Floyd has adequate size and quickness but he is a project player.  Lacking in the strength department, don’t expect Floyd to be playing right away but he is a good enough athlete to be drafted towards the end of the 1^st round or early 2^nd round.

29. New England Patriots – Matt Elam, Strong Safety, FloridaBill Belicheck likes a jack-of-all-trade’s kind of player and Elam can do just about do it all.  What he lacks in size and speed, he makes up in overall ability. 

30. Atlanta Falcons – Zack Ertz, Tight End, Stanford

The heir apparent to Tony Gonzales, Ertz is an excellent pass receiver but will need some time on the block sleds to refine his skills as a blocker.

31. San Francisco 49ers – Jonathan Cyprien, Safety, Florida International

The buzz surrounding Cyprien was how he wowed scouts at the Senior Bowl, from his work ethic during his practices to his relentless and aggressive play during the game.  Cyprien has raised the bar and has gotten some people excited including the 49ers.

32. Baltimore Ravens – John Jenkins, Nose Tackle, Georgia

An excellent run stopper, the Ravens will like his skill set.  He has tremendous size at 6 ft 3 in and 351 lbs.  The Ravens will continue to add to their defense to defend their Super Bowl title.