I can talk about the NFL Draft and Madden NFL for hours by themselves, so I imagine this will be at least a small e-book by the time I get to the New York Giants at 32. Consider yourself fairly warned. In this mock, we’ll look at who I think is going where, what I think their Madden NFL 13 rating will be, and some projected stats for Season 1 of your Franchise Mode. Also, I’d like to note that the above image is a personal screenshot taken from Madden NFL 12 and not a representation of Madden NFL 13 in any way, shape or form. Also, I was told to include “MUH NAME IS DAVE N I AM THA BEST EVAR!!!11!!1!”, so there’s that. With the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select…
Indianapolis Colts – QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
Projected Madden NFL 13 OVR – 83
Projected Stats – 3,623 yards (23 TD/7 INT)
One does not simply pass on Luck. This one’s already in the books as official thanks to new Colts GM Ryan Grigson and Owner Jim Irsay confirming the selection, and I’d like to extend a belated congratulations to the Colts for winning the “Suck for Luck” sweepstakes, much to the chagrin of Miami Dolphins fans. Colts fans; just keep a level head. He will likely never replace Peyton Manning, nor will the transition be as seamless as many have come to expect due to the constant hype. What he will be is a good-to-great QB with an organization that is currently rebuilding.
Washington Redskins – QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor
Projected Madden NFL 13 OVR – 84
Projected Stats – 3,123 yards (19 TD/11 INT), 614 rush yards (8 TD)
Wait, what? A higher OVR than the quarterback who would have been the #1 selection in 2011’s Draft had he declared? Griffin is more dynamic as a runner (though Luck is no slouch as he proved at the Combine) and we all know how deadly dual-threat QBs are in Madden. My main fear (well, outside of my Eagles having to face RGIII twice a year) is that Griffin’s combination of speed and passing attributes will make Madden NFL 04 Michael Vick look like Joey Harrington in his prime (you know, terrible.)
Minnesota Vikings – OT Matt Kalil, USC
Projected Madden NFL 13 OVR – 81
Projected Stats – 9,000,000 pancakes (for breakfast, that is)
I see a lot of talk about this pick being up for grabs, perhaps Tampa Bay moves up to secure Alabama RB Trent Richardson. Even if the Vikings stay at 3, there is still plenty of speculation on who they’ll take: Is it Kalil, who has been widely mocked to the Vikings at 3 since they secured their pick or could it be LSU CB Morris Claiborne? I’ll opt to stay safe on this one, because as much as the Vikings need to be able to cover the WRs in the NFC North I’m a firm believer that you build your team from the lines outward.
Cleveland Browns – RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
Projected Madden NFL 13 OVR – 80
Projected Stats – 958 rush yds (12 TD), 412 rec yards (3 TD)
Richardson is a better prospect than last year’s first round Crimson Tide RB (Mark Ingram, 28th overall to the Saints), and for good reason. With the dwindling interest in taking a running back high in the NFL Draft, it takes a lot to still be considered a top five selection. Richardson will immediately make fans forget about a certain cover athlete-turned-Chiefs-backup on his way to a reserve Pro Bowl (if they still have one next season.) Plus, the Browns have more up their sleeve, but we’ll get to that later. For now, they get the best playmaking RB in the Draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CB Morris Claiborne, LSU
Projected Madden NFL 13 OVR – 79
Projected Stats – 53 tackles, 5 INT (1 TD)
As I mentioned earlier, this pick could be made by a different team if Tampa feels the need to grab Richardson at #3. If Tampa stays put, they’d be smart to take Claiborne. In my opinion (which falls just short of that of an eight year old,) the former Tiger is not as purely talented as the former Tiger taken at the #5 selection last year (Patrick Peterson, Cardinals) but he is still the best CB in this year’s Draft. He’ll be effective in the NFL from day one and maybe even become a top-flight CB in the NFL. If not for anything else, you secure a future starter after Ronde Barber hangs up the cleats next season.
St. Louis Rams – DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State
Projected Madden NFL 13 OVR – 80
Projected Stats – 53 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 2 FF
My maturity level is forbidding me from starting this piece by saying anything other than the Rams like Cox, so there’s that. Honestly though, he’s a complete DT and the Rams could definitely use some more power in their front seven. While I contemplated the Rams choosing Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon as most expect, I keep hearing that the Rams don’t really like him for their own reasons. For the sake of this mock, the Rams stick to 6 and get the best defensive lineman in the Draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars – WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
Projected Madden NFL 13 OVR – 79
Projected Stats – 71 catches, 886 rec yards, 9 TD
While I do believe Blackmon is the best WR in this year’s deep crop, he isn’t an elite prospect like A.J Green or Dez Bryant (let’s remember he only slipped so far due to character concerns.) Still, the Jaguars really like Blackmon and will pull the trigger without looking back if he is available at 7. He’ll immediately step in as the “#1” receiver and help Blaine Gabbert recover from a lackluster rookie year. Other options are a trade out of this pick, DE Melvin Ingram from South Carolina or even Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd.
Miami Dolphins – QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
Projected Madden NFL 13 OVR – 75
Projected Stats – 2,563 yards (17 TD/13 INT)
I don’t want to say I feel bad for the Dolphins, but I really feel bad for the Dolphins. Their fans have been through so much heartache over the past two seasons to last a decade, from Harbaugh to Fisher to Manning to missing out on Luck and Griffin..even Alex Smith turned the Dolphins down. The Dolphins give Tannehill no option to bail on them and promptly select their quarterback of the future. I don’t really like this pick as it reeks of need, but if the Dolphins do the smart thing against the grain of the fans desires and start Matt Moore next year while giving Tannehill a year to learn he could become a solid starter in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers – LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
Projected Madden NFL 13 Rating – 80
Projected Stats – 80 tackles, 4.o sacks, 1 INT
Luke Kuechly hasn’t had less than 100 solo tackles a year since his Freshman season in 2009. That said, the NFL is a different game and it will be tough to compete with Jon Beason if he can return to form following his Achilles’ injury. I don’t see the Panthers passing up on Kuechly since their primary target became a member of the St. Louis Rams just a few picks earlier. They let Dan Connor walk and need to beef up a defense with some question marks to help take the pressure off of Cam Newton.
Buffalo Bills – S Mark Barron, Alabama
Projected Madden NFL 13 Rating – 81
Projected Stats – 76 tackles, 3 INT
The hard hitting safety out of Alabama has seen his stock rise considerably (if not obscenely) over the past week, even at one point being referred to as “one of the safest picks in the entire Draft.” Buffalo opts out of upgrading their offensive line at this spot with mixed reactions from the fan base, instead taking the best available player remaining and the top talent of a weak safety class. Barron comes in as the highest rated defensive player in Madden NFL 13 and has the hit power to back it up.
For picks 11-32, I’ll provide the player chosen and my mock OVR rating since we’re approaching “tl;dr” status quickly.
11) Kansas City Chiefs – OG David DeCastro, Stanford
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 79
TRADE- New York Jets send #16 and #77 to Seattle for #12 overall.
12) New York Jets via SEA – DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 79
13) Arizona Cardinals – OT Riley Reiff, Iowa
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 78
14) Dallas Cowboys – NT Dontari Poe, Memphis
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 76
15) Philadelphia Eagles – DT Michael Brockers, LSU
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 77
16) Seattle Seahawks via NYJ – WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 78
17) Cincinnati Bengals via OAK – CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 77
18) San Diego Chargers – DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 76
19) Chicago Bears – DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 76
20) Tennessee Titans – CB Dre’ Kirkpatrick, Alabama
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 75
21) Cincinnati Bengals – OG Cordy Glenn, Georgia
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 77
22) Cleveland Browns via ATL- WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 76
23) Detroit Lions – OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 77
24) Pittsburgh Steelers – LB Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 78
25) Denver Broncos – DT Kendall Reyes, UConn
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 73
26) Houston Texans – DE/OLB Nick Perry, USC
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 76
27) New England Patriots via NO – LB Shea McClellin, Boise State
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 75
28) Green Bay Packers – DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 76
29) Baltimore Ravens – WR Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 74
30) San Francisco 49ers – TE Coby Fleener, Stanford
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 76
TRADE: Cleveland Browns send #37 and #100 to New England for #31 overall.
31) Cleveland Browns – QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 74
32) New York Giants – RB Lamar Miller, Miami
Projected Madden NFL 13 Overall Rating – 75