2013 NFL Mock Draft: Noles' Top 10 Prediction

In lieu of my weekly draft mailbag this week, I'm doing a Top 10 prediction post as promised on MCM Radio last night. This mock doesn't reflect any potential trades because they are virtually impossible to predict. Folks, don't believe anything this time of year until the draft actually happens. If teams spread any more smoke this year, Cheech and Chong would show up and ask where all the smoke is coming from.

1. Kansas City Chiefs - Eric Fisher OT Central Michigan

- The Chiefs after acquiring Alex Smith from the 49ers and Chase Daniel from free agency, obviously won't go Geno Smith with the top pick. It's still yet to be determined what they will do with the franchise tagged Brandon Albert. If Albert isn't traded before the draft, it's Fisher since he can play right tackle while Albert mans the left side. If Albert is gone, it's going to be Luke Joeckel since the Chiefs obviously need a left tackle to build around and protect Alex Smith.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dion Jordan DE/OLB Oregon

- A franchise defensive cornerstone for the new defensive minded head coach. Jordan provides such an opportunity to do so. He's a great athlete that proved he can put on weight without losing a step. The Jaguars were dead last in in most pass rushing categories so Jordan would provide an immediate upgrade. I don't buy the Jags sent everyone to Geno Smith's Pro Day hysteria. It's an elaborate smokescreen. It was a tough debate between Jordan and Ezekiel Ansah but Jordan won out due to his better production.

3. Oakland Raiders - Shariff Floyd DT Florida

- Another potential Geno Smith suitor went off the boards when they traded for Matt Flynn and paid him accordingly. The Raiders also recently cut DT Tommy Kelly so Floyd makes great sense going to them. Floyd is a terrific athlete who had a great Combine. Like Richard Seymour, Floyd can play DE with very little dropoff.

4. Philadelphia Eagles - Luke Joeckel OT Texas A&M

- The Eagles need to upgrade their offensive line desperately. Joeckel gives them the opportunity to do so. They trotted out various tackles such as Jason Peters, King Dunlap, and Todd Herremans to varying degrees of misadventure. The Eagles cannot rely on Peters any longer as he's become injury prone and old. Adding Joeckel to the roster would enable Herremans to move back to guard where is best suited.

5. Detroit Lions - Dee Milliner CB Alabama

- When's the last time the Lions had a good corner? Exactly. Milliner would shore up their atrocious secondary in a heartbeat. Despite Milliner's recent injury scares, the Lions will take him with the fifth pick to address their secondary.

6. Cleveland Browns - Ezekiel Ansah DE/OLB Brigham Young

- The Browns are the real wild card pick that could set off a massive chain reaction for the rest of the draft. They could go in about 10 different justifiable directions. However, Ansah is the pick here because they have virtually no pass rush outside of Jabaal Sheard. Ansah is extremely raw but has a skill set that teams feel that they can mold into the next Jason Pierre Paul. I don't see how teams can justify a guy with a whopping four sacks in his career with a top ten pick.

7. Arizona Cardinals - Lane Johnson OT Oklahoma

- With the top two tackles off the board, the Cardinals take the fast rising Lane Johnson to address their gaping hole at either tackle spot. Newly acquired QB Carson Palmer will need all the protection he can get. Yet another Smith suitor goes off the board after they traded for Carson Palmer and paid him a bunch of money.

8. Buffalo Bills - Ryan Nassib QB Syracuse

- I would give the Bills Geno Smith here but new HC Doug Marrone takes his boy Nassib instead. The hot rumor is that the Bills love Nassib more than Smith so it could be speculated that he's the one. Also, Marrone was there in person to witness Smith being a miserable wreck in the snowy Pinstripe Bowl on the opposite sideline. I'm not sure if Smith's game is suited for the cold and wintry weather that Buffalo is known for.

9. New York Jets - Barkevious Mingo DE/OLB LSU

- The Jets add to their defense with the ninth pick in Mingo. He could be an interesting player in the Jets' 3-4 scheme as a pass rushing outside linebacker ala DeMarcus Ware and LaMarr Woodley. With the 13th pick, I think the Jets go with Alabama's Chance Warmack to shore up their shoddily built OL.

10. TENNESSEE TITANS - JOHNATHAN COOPER OL NORTH CAROLINA

- Despite all the recent DJ Fluker noise, the Titans take Cooper over Warmack because of his versatility. Scheme versatility has been a common refrain in the team's multiple free agency pursuits. I don't see why they would stop preaching that message in the draft.

Alternate scenario - The Titans theoretical smokescreen works and some team in the 15-20 range trades up to take Fluker. I could see this happening as well as just sticking around at 10 to take Cooper.