Kyle Ratke

Kyle_Ratke

11. Kansas City Chiefs

Team needs: Defensive line, linebacker, quarterback, offensive line

Luke Kuechly – Linebacker – Boston College

Kansas City would really love to have the option to draft Ryan Tannehill with this pick, but they won’t have that opportunity with Miami picking at eight. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Chiefs made a draft day trade with a team like Cleveland (No. 11, two second round picks and Matt Cassell for the No. 4? Am I talking crazy here?)

Kuechly is a talented inside linebacker and might not be a flashy pick, but he’s a solid player. Tambi Hali and Kuechly on the same front seven?

Don’t look now but…

Kansas City still sucks.

12. Seattle Seahawks

Team needs: Linebacker, defensive end, cornerback, running back

Mark Barron – Safety – Alabama

Seattle has a need for a linebacker, but with Ingram and Kuechly already off the board, I don’t see them reaching for one here. From all of the stories I hear, Barron was the smartest guy on Alabama’s defense last season.

The dude’s a winner. (I hate that line, by the way. Don’t most good players play on good teams? Doesn’t that make most players drafted winners? Okay, that’s enough.)

Barron is the draft’ hottest player (not looks wise, pervert). He went from being a borderline first round pick to top-15. Normally I don’t like it when players boost up after the college season (cough, Troy Williamson), but I’ll make an exception for Barron.

Maybe safety  isn’t a huge need for the Seahawks, but I think he’s too good to pass on.

13. Arizona Cardinals

Team needs: Offensive line, wide receiver, outside linebacker, quarterback

David DeCastro – Guard – Stanford

I don’t know who Arizona’s quarterback will be next year. With John Skeleton and Kevin Kolb you can’t really go right, right?

DeCastro will protect whoever Arizona’s quarterback of the future will be and helps open up the run game. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Cardinals drafted a quarterback (say Brandon Weeden or in-state boy Brock Osweiler with their third round pick to make Larry Fitzgerald happy. Seriously, since Kurt Warner left Fitzgerald’s had Skeleton, Kolb, Derek Anderson and Max Hall throwing him the ball. That’s disgusting.)

14. Dallas Cowboys

Team needs: Safety, offensive line, defensive line, wide receiver, tight end

Stephon Gilmore – Corner – South Carolina

Rob Ryan was probably hoping Barron slid this far, but Gilmore will work just fine. The Cowboys might have a worse defensive backfield than the Vikings (okay, not really). Do you remember watching the Cowboys play Philadelphia last season on Sunday Night Football? The defensive backfield for the Cowboys had no idea what the hell was going on, Ryan was about to have a heart attack and Jerry Jones was taking shots of really expensive vodka. It wasn’t a good day for the ‘Boys.

Gilmore doesn’t have the size you’d ideally like in a corner (6’0 feet), but in a division with small receivers like Victor Cruz, DeSean Jackson and Santana Moss, maybe the Cowboys won’t worry about that too much.

15. Philadelphia Eagles

Team needs: Linebacker, safety, defensive tackle, quarterback

Dontari Poe – Nose Tackle – Memphis

There’s been rumors that the Eagles are trying to trade up to get Cleveland’s No. 4 pick. I honestly have no idea who Philadelphia would take with that pick. They don’t need Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon or Ryan Tannehill. Something to keep an eye on, though.

Poe is regarded as a very talented player, and can be one of the most disruptive defensive players in the draft if he wants to be. The problem with Poe is the want part.

Here’s a quick comment from Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk:

“Some scouts have said they’re not impressed with Poe’s motor or his production in college, but it’s impossible to overlook his talent.”

Motor skills=effort. Poe could end up being the next Warren Sapp or could be the next Glenn Dorsey. Who’s Glenn Dorsey you ask? Exactly.

16. New York Jets

Team needs: Linebacker, tackle, wide receiver, safety, running back

Michael Floyd – Wide receiver – Notre Dame

Floyd could go as high as No. 10 to Buffalo, but I don’t see him sliding past the Jets. This is an ideal place for Floyd and besides Santonio Holmes, the Jets don’t really have a threat at the wideout position.

Some have questioned Floyd’s character (he has multiple DUIs), but on a team with Rex Ryan, Antonio Cromartie (he now has 3,940 kids), Holmes and Bart Scott, I don’t think it will be a problem.

Side-note: I once saw Floyd at a party near St. Thomas two years ago. While talking to a girl, she left mid-conversation and just stared and Floyd. No words. Just a stare. I never talked to her again. Things would have been a lot easier if I was athletic. Damn you, mom!

17. Cincinnati Bengals

Team needs: Running back, cornerback, defensive end, wide receiver, tight end

Dre Kirkpatrick – Corner – Alabama

The Bengals could  go after Janoris Jenkins with this pick as well, but I think his attitude problems might get in the way (not like the Bengals have ever cared about that before).

If the Steelers drop off this season, which I think they will, I have the Bengals competing with the Ravens to win the AFC South. Think about this: Within one season, the Bengals have acquired Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, two first round picks (likely a defensive back and offensive player), Nate Clements and got rid of the diseased Chad Ochocinco.

The Bengals are building their team right. If the Vikings go to LA, the Bengals are my new team.

18. San Diego Chargers

Team needs: Outside linebacker, safety, defensive line, running back

Courtney Upshaw – DE – Alabama

Running back Ryan Matthews hasn’t worked out as planned and bowling ball Mike Tolbert left for Carolina, but the Chargers can’t justify taking a running back this early – especially in a pass happy league. Upshaw is a versatile player that can play on the line or move back to linebacker – both needs for the Chargers.

I also could see them trading down if possible. It’s likely Whitney Merciulus from Illinois will still be around. Don’t sleep on them taking a wide receiver, either. We know Phillip Rivers isn’t a quiet guy. If he likes something or someone, he’ll make it known.

That’s probably why nobody on his team really likes him…

19. Chicago Bears

Team needs: Offensive line, defensive end, wide receiver, tight end, cornerback

Jonathan Martin – Tackle – Stanford

The Bears need a wide receiver badly, but they also need to protect Jay Cutler from getting killed. I loved the trade for Brandon Marshall. It might be the biggest steal of the last few years. Or he will kill someone. Stay tuned.

By the way, what are the chances that Cutler and Marshall go from Denver, both not really enjoying each other, leave the Broncos, they then realize having someone at quarterback or receiver is really helpful and then begged to get back together? Marshall’s had Matt Moore and Cutler’s had Roy Williams. They’ve gone through enough pain.

20. Tennessee Titans

Team needs: Cornerback, defensive end, offensive line

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Titans have already had to deal with Adam “Pac Man” Jones, I know. That didn’t end well and maybe predicting Jenkins going to them is the wrong pick here, but Jenkins is the second best cornerback in this draft. I don’t see him dropping any further than No. 20.

Also, Jenkins has four kids from three different women… Watch out Antonio Cromartie… Jenkins is coming for you!