Here is the third and final section of our one round mock draft, with picks 21 through 32.
The first portion, with picks 1-10 is available here and the second portion, with picks 11-20, is available here.
21 – Cincinnati Bengals
The Pick: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
The Bengals used their first pick in the first round to improve the defense, with their second pick they should get Andy Dalton and the offense some help. AJ Green had a fantastic rookie season but the Bengals don’t have much else at the WR position. Wright could step right in and help take some of the pressure off Green.
22 – Cleveland Browns
The Pick: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State
The Browns can’t be sold that Colt McCoy is their quarterback of the future, so it makes sense for the Browns to take a chance on Weeden. Weeden is an unusual prospect being that he is 28 years old but that shouldn’t stop him from being a good player in the league for the next eight years or more. Cleveland would be buzzing if the Browns end the first round with Richardson and Weeden on the roster.
23 – Detroit Lions
The Pick: Mike Adams, T, Ohio State
The Detroit Lions need to make sure that Matt Stafford stays clean. Adams has elite size and strength and a ton of upside. The negative is that he was suspended for seven games during his collegiate career and that could cause some teams to shy away. If not for his troubles Adams would be long gone by 23rd and that might be enough to get the Lions to take a chance.
24 – Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pick: Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin
The Steelers need to get Ben Roethlisberger some protection. Ben he has made a career out of making plays when the pocket breaks down, but I am sure he would like to give it a try with some protection. Zeitler could play next to Maurkice Pouncey and the Steelers can build there line from the interior out.
25 – Denver Broncos
The Pick: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
The Broncos will begin the Peyton Manning era this season and conventional wisdom would say to use the draft to surround Peyton with more weapons. Randle is 6’4” and 210 pounds and will create matchup problems on the outside. Demaryius Thomas has great size at 6’3” and with Randle the Broncos would have two giant targets for Peyton on both sides of the field.
26 – Houston Texans
The Pick: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
Much like the Broncos, the Texans have the chance to pair their top WR (Andre Johnson) with another match up problem on the outside. Hill is 6’5” and is a speed threat. Kevin Walter would fit great in the slot and the Texans would have one of the best offenses in football.
27 – New England Patriots (via the New Orleans Saints)
The Pick: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
The Patriots almost never get through the draft without making a trade or two or three. If they do make this pick Jones makes a lot of sense. The Patriots lost Marc Anderson to the Bills in free agency and Jones could fill that void as a pass rusher. Jones has great size and strength. Jones also has a great pedigree. His brother, Jon “Bones” Jones is a UFC superstar.
28 – Green Bay Packers
The Pick: Doug Martin, RB, Boise St.
The Packers don’t seem to have any plans to bring back Ryan Grant. James Starks has shown flashes during his NFL career but hasn’t been able to stay healthy. The Packers offense would benefit if teams had to respect the run more. Martin would be just another weapon on a team spoiled with them.
29 – Baltimore Ravens
The Pick: Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
The Ravens love to go with defense in the first round. Ray Lewis isn’t getting any younger and would be a great mentor for Hightower who left Alabama early. Hightower is very versatile and can play several different positions on the Ravens front seven. Former teammate Rolando McClain (8th overall pick by the Raiders last year) called Hightower, “A freak who can play any position.”
30 – San Francisco 49ers
The Pick: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
The 49ers lost Nate Clements to free agency and could use their late first round pick to replace him with Jenkins. Jenkins has top ten talent but is still very raw and proved to be immature in college. Jenkins started his career in Florida before being dismissed from the team for a second charge involving marijuana. The 49ers might view Jenkins as a risk but that risk is what makes a top ten talent available at pick 30.
31 – New England Patriots
The Pick: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC
Perry is considered a “tweener” who could play defensive end or linebacker in the NFL. Like Jones (the other player I projected the Patriots to select) Perry can rush the quarterback and did so often in college. Last season, Perry led the Pac-12 with 9.5 sacks and was a finalist for the Hendricks Award.
32 – New York Giants
The Pick: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
The Giants added Martellus Bennett in free agency but he was a big disappointment in Dallas. Fleener is the top tight end in the draft. He is a former basketball star with soft hands and great leaping ability. Many think he is a fit in San Francisco at 30 so if he slips passed them the Giants should be all over it. The knock against Fleener is that he isn’t a great blocker. I think that makes him a great fit in New York. Bennett could do the blocking and Fleener can be free to catch passes and make plays down the field.
