Cincy Jungle 2013 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

I know, the Bengals season isn’t over for four more weeks, but I also love the NFL Draft and I am accustomed to going into full-draft-mode during the first week of January every year. With 20 other teams already starting their offseason already, I’ve been receiving draft questions and pressure to do my first mock regardless of the Bengals success. With that, here is my first mock of the 2013 NFL Draft season. I’ll be answering questions and comments in the section below.

Goodberry's 2013 Mock Draft 1.0

1. Kansas City Chiefs: Geno Smith (QB) West Virginia
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Bjoern Werner (DE) Florida State
3. Oakland Raiders: Luke Joeckel (LT) Texas A&M
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Star Lotulelei (DT) Utah
5. Detroit Lions: Demontre Moore (DE) Texas A&M
6. Cleveland Browns: Barkevious Mingo (DE/LB) LSU
7. Arizona Cardinals: Tyler Wilson (QB) Arkansas
8. Buffalo Bills: Tajh Boyd (QB) Clemson
9. New York Jets: Mike Glennon (QB) N.C. State
10. Tennessee Titans: Dee Milliner (CB) Alabama
11. San Diego Chargers: Tyler Lewan (OT) Michigan
12. Miami Dolphins: DeAndre Hopkins (WR) Clemson
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dion Jordan (DE/LB) Oregon
14. Carolina Panthers: Eric Fisher (OT) Central Michigan
15. New Orleans Saints: Arthur Brown (LB) Kansas State
16. St. Louis Rams: Keenan Allen (WR) California
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jarvis Jones (OLB) Georgia
18. Dallas Cowboys: Chance Warmack (OG) Alabama
19. New York Giants: Manti Te'o (LB) Notre Dame
20. Chicago Bears: Kevin Minter (LB) LSU
21. St. Louis Rams: Kenny Vaccaro (S) Texas
22. Minnesota Vikings: Sheldon Richardson (DT) Missouri
23. Cincinnati Bengals: Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah (DE) BYU
    
    

    As this pick approaches, the Bengals would be crossing their fingers for guys like Arthur Brown, Jarvis Jones, Kenny Vaccaro and maybe even Manti Te'o. Without a running back worthy of this pick, although I really like Giovani Bernard, this pick is going defense all of the way. They're really afforded a luxury pick and can add to an already strong position. At this point, we follow the Bengals recent trend of going Best-Player-Available (BPA) with an eye on needs.

    Ansah is what you'll hear as being a "raw" prospect. I wouldn't call him that. I prefer inexperienced because he has only played football since 2010 after growing up in Ghana, Africa and playing soccer and basketball. He isn't exactly raw because he shows the tools and ability to be a complete player, and he's pretty good already. Playing time and practice will only help "Ziggy" reach his vast potential. He has played all over BYU's defense. Playing some LB early on, Ansah found a home playing Defensive End in a hybrid defense. He plays both DE side, and slides inside in passing situations where he really out-athletes every interior lineman he comes against. He needs refinement with hand usage and keeping blockers from grabbing him and getting into his chest, but he has an outstanding motor and flashes crazy athleticism for a man his size.

    With Michael Johnson, Robert Geathers and Wallace Gilberry all free agents this offseason, defensive end is not only an immediate need, but a future need. Even if the Bengals find a way to retain Johnson, Gilberry and Geathers combine for about 55 snaps per game. The Bengals play with three defensive ends for half of the game because their Nickel package only uses one DT, Geno Atkins. With Ansah, Zimmer could rotate the rookie with Johnson at RDE, Carlos Dunlap at LDE and also play DT in passing situations. He would see almost as many snaps as a starting DE. This move would also provide insurance in case Dunlap can't be retained with the money already spent on Atkins and Johnson (hopefully).

24. Baltimore Ravens: Sam Montgomery (DE) LSU
25. Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Eifert (TE) Notre Dame
26. Indianapolis Colts: Shariff Floyd (DL) Florida
27. Green Bay Packers: Gio Bernard (RB) North Carolina
28. San Francisco 49ers: Jesse Williams (NT) Alabama
29. Houston Texans: Robert Woods (WR) USC
30. New England Patriots: Tavon Austin (Athlete) West Virginia
31. Denver Broncos: Xavier Rhodes (CB) Florida State
32. Atlanta Falcons: Jonathan Cooper (OG) North Carolina
    
    BONUS: Round Two - Because the Bengals pick so high, we'll go until their next selection. Thanks, Raiders!
    
    
33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Matt Barkley (QB) USC
34. Kansas City Chiefs: Justin Hunter (WR) Tennessee
35. Philadelphia Eagles: Matt Elam (S) Florida
36. Detroit Lions: Johnathan Banks (CB) Mississippi State
    
    As this pick approaches, we should have our eye on Gio Bernard, Matt Elam, Xavier Rhodes or maybe one of the receivers that have fallen. The best available are now Alec Ogletree, Andre Ellington, D.J. Swearinger, Barrett Jones and...
    
    
37. Cincinnati Bengals: Khaseem Greene (WLB) Rutgers
    
    Vontaze Burfict has played pretty well despite being out of position as a weak-side LB. With Rey Maualuga heading towards free agency, expect Burfict to go inside where he'd be better off. Thomas Howard and Manny Lawson are also free agents. Linebacker is a big need and more specifically, an athletic, cover, weak-side LB is needed.
    
    Greene is a former safety that grew into a play-making LB for the Scarlet Knights. He's very athletic and always finds himself around the football in coverage or against the run. He would add speed and coverage elements that the Bengals severely lack in their LB unit.