2013 NFL Draft: DraftInsider’s Mock Draft 4.0

17. Pittsburgh Steelers — Barkevious Mingo OLB LSU

The Steelers are ecstatic to see Mingo fall to them at 17th overall. Losing James Harrison leaves a gaping hole for them at outside linebacker, and Mingo gives Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau an opportunity to mold themselves a future star.

18. Dallas Cowboys — Sheldon Richardson DT Missouri

The Cowboys are making the transition from the 3-4 back to the 4-3, and will need to fortify the interior of their defensive line. Richardson gives the Cowboys an athletic presence they haven’t seen at defensive tackle in quite some time. Richardson is one of, if not the most athletic defensive tackle in this entire draft, and with the right coaching could become the steal of the first round.

19. New York Giants — Alec Ogletree LB Georgia

The Giants have no real answer at middle linebacker, and Ogletree provides them with a young player they can mold to be the anchor of a consistently solid defensive unit. Ogletree fits perfectly in Coughlin’s defensive scheme, and could very well start from day one. While starting Ogletree week one might be a risk for New York, it’s certainly better than any player at the position currently on the roster.

20. Chicago Bears — Jarvis Jones OLB Georgia

Phil Emery and new Head Coach Marc Trestman are looking to build a team that can win right now. With veteran linebacker, and long time captain Brian Urlacher no longer with the team, the Bears need to bring in young talent that can lead by example and produce right away. Jarvis Jones has cleared nearly every medical test thrown his way, and while he isn’t the top five prospect we all once thought he was, he’s a great pick for the Bears at 20th overall.

21. Cincinnati Bengals — Bjoern Werner DE Florida State

The Bengals have one of the top defensive line units in the entire league, and by adding Werner they can solidify any question marks fans may have. Adding Werner to a line that already includes Geno Atkins, and Michael Johnson, would propel the Bengals to the upper-echelon of NFL defenses. Werner is my top rated defensive end in this year’s draft, and I consider the Bengals extremely lucky to see him fall into their laps at 21st overal.

22. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) — Keenan Allen WR California

Keenan Allen provides quarterback Sam Bradford with a quality play making threat on the outside that could end up being one of the top receivers to come out of this draft two or three years down the road. There are flaws to Allen’s game that worry you when you watch him on tape, but that’s no different from any other player in any draft. Allen will need the right coaching to maximize his true potential, if he does that in St. Louis, the Rams could wind up with one of the better picks of the latter part of the first round.

23. Minnesota Vikings — Jesse Williams DT Alabama

The Vikings haven’t had a solid counterpart to veteran defensive tackle Kevin Williams since long-time partner in crime Pat Williams departed the team a few years back. Ironically, with this pick the Vikings once again solidify the “Williams Wall” by selecting Jesse here with the 23rd pick. Jesse could start immediately, and become dominant by learning and playing along side a former All-Pro in Kevin Williams.

24. Indianapolis Colts — DeAndre Hopkins WR Clemson

Andrew Luck was stellar during his Rookie campaign, and did it without top tier play makers. Reggie Wayne is nearing the end of his rope, and T.Y. Hilton won’t ever become a number one target. Hopkins provides the Colts with the opportunity for him to learn from a future Hall of Famer in Wayne, who can help him turn into the future prime target for Luck.

25. Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle) — Robert Woods WR USC

The Vikings traded star wide receiver Percy Harvin to the Seahawks in exchange for this first round pick, and other picks as well. There’s now a hole in the Vikings offense where Harvin once was, and the Vikings need to fill it. While Woods is not the receiver the Vikings would ideally want to replace him with, he’s easily the best wide receiver left on the board and could eventually become their number one receiver, surpassing veteran wide receiver Greg Jennings. I have high doubts that Jennings will see the full life of his five-year contract, so by selecting Woods, the Vikings add a future number one receiver in the late first round.

26. Green Bay Packers — Datone Jones DT/DE UCLA

Jones is an immediate upgrade form any defensive end the Packers currently have on the roster. Pairing Jones with a stud nose tackle in B.J. Raji solidifies Green Bay’s defensive line for years to come. I personally think that Jones could end up being the most productive 3-4 defensive end in this entire draft.

27. Houston Texans — Jonathan Cyprien S Florida International

Although the Texans signed veteran safety Ed Reed, they could look to find his eventual replacement, as he is an aging veteran and is no longer the play maker he once was. Cyprien has a lot of similar characteristics to Reed, and would be the perfect eventual replacement for the all-time great ball hawk.

28. Denver Broncos — Cornelius “Tank” Carradine DE Florida State

The Broncos lost their best defensive lineman thanks in large part to a fax machine. That’s still a crazy thought to me, really, a fax machine? Anyway, they need to do their best to replace the production that’s now gone along with Dumervil. Carradine is a great value pick for the Broncos here at 25th overall, and has the skill set to mirror what Dumervil was early in his career. Had he not had a serious knee injury last season, I highly doubt he would’ve lasted this long.

29. New England Patriots — Eric Reid S LSU

The Patriots lost veteran safety Patrick Chung to the Eagles in free agency, and are left with an immediate need to fill. Reid is a quality play making safety, who relies on his instinctive nature to carry his game as a defender. Reid couldn’t ask for a more perfect situation to learn and round out his game at the next level under a defensive guru like Bill Belichick.

30. Atlanta Falcons — Tyler Eifert TE Notre Dame

Future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez designed to return in 2013 instead of sticking to his decision to retire. There’s no doubt that he will once again be one of quarterback Matt Ryan’s favorite targets in the end zone, but Eifert gives Ryan and the Falcons a dynamic at the tight end position that Gonzalez’s body no longer can provide. Eifert’s athleticism and great receiving skills will be exactly what the doctor ordered once it’s time for Gonzalez to finally hang up the cleats for real.

31. San Francisco 49ers — Zach Ertz TE Stanford

What better way to replace Delanie Walker with a player Jim Harbaugh recruited during his tenure at Stanford? Ertz is arguably the best tight end in this draft alongside of Tyler Eifert, and is a great value pick for a team that doesn’t have many gaping holes. Ertz is merely another link in a chain of high quality play makers at quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s disposal.

32. Baltimore Ravens — Kevin Minter LB LSU

The Ravens just can’t seem to avoid the Post-Super Bowl fire sale. For the second time after winning their second Lombardi Trophy, the Ravens saw many players who were key contributors to their Super Bowl run leave town. Minter will be asked to replace future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. While that may be a Mount Everest type task to fulfill, Minter certainly possesses the skill set needed to succeed in the Ravens 3-4 defensive scheme.

While no one’s mock draft will ever be perfect, it’s always fun and exciting to predict what teams will draft what players. Surprised to see Manti Te’o fall out of the first round? Only one quarterback taken in the first 32 picks? leave a comment below to begin an exciting discussion about the 2013 NFL Draft.