NFL Mock Draft: Post Super Bowl Edition

Round 2

33. Houston Texans
Jace Amaro
Tight End, Texas Tech
Analysis: After getting their franchise quarterback, they opt to give him a weapon that can attack the middle of the field and make it easier for Andre Johnson and Nuk Hopkins to win on the outside.

 34. Washington Redskins
Deone Bucannon
Safety, Washington State
Analysis:  The safety spot for Washington was a train wreck last season.  They might have a player for the free safety spot in either Bacarri Rambo or David Amerson, but could use an upgrade for Reed Doughty.  Bucannon is an impressive physical specimen who can contribute in coverage and lay the wood as a tackler.

35. Cleveland Browns
Joel Bitonio
Offensive Tackle, Nevada
Analysis: The Browns may be moving from a gap blocking scheme to more of a zone blocking one and if they do, they may move Mitchell Schwartz inside to right guard.  That would free up a tackle spot and Bitonio has been a good left tackle who can get out and pass protect, but he brings a nasty streak to the running game as well.

36. Oakland Raiders
Dominique Easley
Defensive Tackle, Florida
Analysis: With all due respect to the Raiders, they are not going anywhere fast and can afford to take a player who likely will not play this year in Easley.  His knees need to check out medically, having two torn in his past, but he blossomed into an elite defensive tackle starting in the bowl game last year and into his senior year.  The combination of Clowney and a healthy Easley could be devastating for opponents.

37. Atlanta Falcons
Bishop Sankey
Running Back, Washington
Analysis: The Falcons addressed the need at pass rusher and could use offensive line help, but they also need a better option at running back.  Sankey is perhaps the most complete back in the draft with his ability to run, catch and block.  Assuming Steven Jackson is back, they have two different looks in the backfield that can hopefully revitalize a putrid running game, taking pressure off of Matt Ryan.

38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bryan Stork
Center, Florida State
Analysis: The Bucs have a pretty sizeable hole in the middle of the line.  The possibility exists that Carl Nicks may never play again due to the MRSA breakout and the Bucs had a weakness at center regardless.  Stork is a terrific run blocker and would give them a nice presence in the middle to help keep opponents away from Mike Glennon and open up holes for Doug Martin.

39. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jeremiah Attaouchu
Defensive End, Georgia Tech
Analysis: The Jaguars find their leo backer for Bradley’s defensive scheme.  Attaochu has developed into a nice pass rusher and is more comfortable in space than he is with his hand in the ground.  He should give them a nice dose of speed and a more productive pass rush.

40. Minnesota Vikings
Trent Murphy
Outside Linebacker, Stanford
Analysis: The Vikings are continuing to reload their defensive line as they prepare to lose Jared Allen.  With Brian Robison on the other side, new head coach Mike Zimmer should love the motor, talent and upside of Trent Murphy.  Regarded as undersized, Murphy shows impressive functional strength and the ability to get leverage against opponents.  With added strength, he can be a terrific player and continue an impressive defensive line tradition in the Twin Cities.

41. Buffalo Bills
Dee Ford
Defensive End, Auburn
Analysis: If new defensive coordinator adjusts to the talent of his players, they could use an edge rusher that can play as an end or rush backer.  Ford should be able to benefit from the pressure the Bills defensive line generates up the middle and be able to have a nice rookie year.

42. Tennessee Titans
Carlos Hyde
Running Back, Ohio State
Analysis: The Titans may part ways with Chris Johnson and will need a new running back.  Ken Whisenhunt has used a lot of bigger backs in his history and Hyde gives them a plow horse with athleticism.  If they can get a consistent running game, it should help Jake Locker, who can hopefully stay healthy this year.

43. New York Giants
Cornelius Lucas
Offensive Tackle, Kansas State
Analysis: The Giants addressed the defensive line in the first round and come back and address the offensive line in the second.  Lucas is an intriguing player because he has incredible size and length for the position, flashing the ability to dominate at times.  He is a work in progress as a run blocker, but the Giants really just need to keep Eli Manning on his feet and hopefully throwing the football to his teammates.

44. St. Louis Rams (from Washington)
Kyle Fuller
Cornerback, Virginia Tech
Analysis: Cortland Finnegan has been a train wreck in St. Louis, so the Rams look to get another young corner to pair with Janoris Jenkins.  Fuller has been a good cover corner who is willing to come up and make a hit on the opponent.  The hope is that the combination of Fuller and Jenkins can take advantage of the opportunities the pass rush is creating.

45. Detroit Lions
Stanley Jean-Baptiste
Cornerback, Nebraska
Analysis: The wide receiver turned corner gives the Lions another nice athlete to pair with Darius Slay and gives them even more length at the position in a division that has a good amount of it with a team like the Bears.  Both Slay and Baptiste are still learning, but they could grow into a terrific tandem .

46. Pittsburgh Steelers
Jimmie Ward
Safety, Northern Illinois
Analysis: The Steelers have their strong safety in waiting in Shamarko Thomas but they need a safety to inherit the free safety spot from Ryan Clark.  Ward gives them a rangy safety who can also add something in man coverage.

47. Dallas Cowboys
Will Sutton
Defensive Tackle, Arizona State
Analysis: The Cowboys need a 3-technique defensive tackle in the middle of that defense and it stands to reason that Sutton will get his weight down much closer to where he was as a junior in college, which would be a great fit for the Cowboys scheme.  Sutton wins with quickess and can shoot gaps to put quick pressure on the opponent.

48. Baltimore Ravens
Morgan Moses
Offensive Tackle, Virginia
Analysis: The Ravens could lose both Michael Oher and Eugene Monroe to free agency an while they could move Kelechi Osemele to right tackle, he has been a terrific left guard.  If Osemele stays at guard, Moses could step in at right tackle and give them a nice, big run blocker who is a solid pass protector as well.

49. New York Jets
Ju’Wuan James
Offensive Tackle, Tennessee
Analysis: The Jets could certainly go with a receiver here, but they need offensive line help too.  James is a nice athlete who could have played left tackle for a number of teams in college, but was a right tackle because of Antonio Richardson.  The Jets have D’Brickashaw Ferguson on the left side, but could use a nice right tackle like James.

50. Miami Dolphins
Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Tight End, Washington
Analysis: The Dolphins not only need offensive line help, but they were in a tough spot at tight end when Dustin Keller went down for the season.  Jenkins gives them a huge target for Tannehill, but can also help further bolster their running game.  Having a tight end like Jenkins could help create more opportunities for Mike Wallace.

51. Chicago Bears
Scott Crichton
Defensive End, Oregon State
Analysis: The Bears continue to rebuild the defense by drafting a replacement defensive end for Shea McClellin, who is likely moving to outside linebacker.  Crichton has been a tail of two defensive ends the past two years.  From a strong, bull rusher as a sophomore to a finesse, quick twitch end as a junior, if he can find the balance between the two, he could be a complete threat.

52. Arizona Cardinals
Jack Mewhort
Offensive Tackle, Ohio State
Analysis: The Cardinals desperately need someone who can play left tackle and the Cardinals seem to have more to a lighter, more athletic offensive line.  Mewhort has terrific athleticism but needs to work on maximizing his functional strength in addition to just building more muscle.  If he can do those things, he can be a nice player.

53. Green Bay Packers
Kelvin Benjamin
Wide Receiver, Florida State
Analysis: The Packers might be looking for a dynamic tight end to place the oft-injured, inconsistent Jermichael Finley.  However, they could get the benefits of a joker threat tight end in receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who is raw, but has unbelievable physical tools between his size and speed.  He did his best work for the Seminoles attacking the middle of the field, but certainly can stretch it vertically as well.

54. Philadelphia Eagles
Jarvis Landry
Wide Receiver, LSU
Analysis: The Eagles are likely going to lose a couple of wide receivers to free agency and simply not wanting to pay them.  As a result, they will need new blood and Landry is not only a talented receiving threat, he is a monster blocker in the running game, which fits in extremely well with Chip Kelly’s offense.

55. Cincinnati Bengals
Brett Smith
Quarterback, Wyoming
Analysis: It seems improbable that the Bengals will not bring in some kind of quarterback to develop behind Andy Dalton and ultimately hope can supplant him.  Smith has a ton of tools and needs time to sit and continue to develop, which the Bengals have the ability to do.  The Bengals can afford to be patient and the time could pay off in a big way.

56. San Francisco 49ers (from Kansas City)
Darqueze Dennard
Cornerback, Michigan State
Analysis: Dennard is a tough corner who can be extremely physical but does have some questions about long speed and off man coverage.  The 49ers get a nice player that fits their tough mindset on defense and can improve one of the weaker spots on their roster.

57. San Diego Chargers
Cyril Richardson
Guard, Baylor
Analysis: The Chargers continue to build their offensive line.  They have a pair of tackles but now add a huge guard in Richardson.  He is still raw but simply enormous and if he can be developed, he could be a terrific player that can help create running lanes for Ryan Mathews.

58. New Orleans Saints
Shayne Skov
Inside Linebacker, Stanford
Analysis: The Saints continue to overhaul their linebacker group to fit the 3-4 scheme they have under Rob Ryan.  Skov gives them a big time thumper who can also blitz up the middle, which is something Ryan loves to do.  Skov is strong at the point of attack and can be a good downhill run defender.

59. Indianapolis Colts
Brandin Cooks
Wide Receiver, Oregon State
Analysis: After the injury to Reggie Wayne, the Colts seemed to have no other option than T.Y. Hilton as a viable option on the outside.  Cooks can do many of the same things as Hilton and has a knack for finding holes in the defense and does a great job in the red zone despite his size.

60. Carolina Panthers
Ryan Shazier
Outside Linebacker, Ohio State
Analysis: Luke Kuechly has effectively established himself as one of the best in the business in the middle and the Panthers front seven has been terrific.  They do have a real opportunity to get another great athlete with range for the weak side linebacker spot in Shazier.  With the protection up front from the defensive line, Kuechly, Shazier and Thomas Davis can fly around and make plays.

61. San Francisco 49ers
Allen Robinson
Wide Receiver, Penn State
Analysis: The 49ers are probably going to try to move one of these picks for future picks, but if they keep it, they can keep throwing receivers at the team, hoping to find more that stick.  It remains to be seen how much longer Anquan Boldin can go, but Michael Crabtree and Quinton Patton are more or less it after him.  Robinson is unbelievable from the waist down but needs to develop his technique.  He is extremely dangerous after the catch and could develop into a full service player with time.

62. New England Patriots
DaQuan Jones
Defensive Tackle, Penn State
Analysis: The Patriots are desperately in need of adding more talent and options at the defensive tackle spot.  Jones is impressive when he plays with leverage, showing a good amount of power and quickness.  He can potentially contribute as the 1-tech or 3-tech spots on the defensive line.

63. Denver Broncos
Justin Gilbert
Cornerback, Oklahoma State
Analysis: The Broncos have made the cornerback position work, but age, injuries and some ineffectiveness have been problematic.  They have a nice opportunity here to take a terrific athlete in Gilbert with length and the ability to attack the football, but needs to do a better job as a tackler and in mirroring routes.  Depth allows the Broncos to be patient with him.

64. Seattle Seahawks
Seantrel Henderson
Offensive Tackle, Miami(FL)
Analysis: There is no more Pete Carroll pick than this one.  Henderson looks like Atlas, but has had off the field issues (which never bothers the Seahawks), has questions with motivation which Carroll seems to be able to address, and Carroll tried to recruit him when he came out of high school.  There is no question how good Henderson can be if he wants to be, so the Seahawks could get a franchise right tackle and the combination of Jackson and Henderson could overpower opponents in the running game.  Henderson would step in and replace the likely departing Breno Giacomini.