This is a continuation of the sixth of this season's articles on newyorkjets.com about the draft and free agency from the independent personnel analysts at Real Football Services. It's Real Football's only Round 2 mock draft and follows out of Tuesday's Round 1 mock. Real's final Round 1 mock draft will appear next week.
The opinions, analysis and/or speculation expressed on newyorkjets.com represent those of individual authors, and unless quoted or clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of the New York Jets organization, front office staff, coaches and executives.
Keep in mind that Round 2 has only 30 selections. Cleveland exercised its second-round pick, seventh in the round, in last year's Supplemental Draft, and New Orleans forfeited its pick, 14th in the round.
1. Jacksonville (33rd overall) — Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
If Smith were to actually drop this far, Jacksonville would be crazy NOT to take him.
2. San Francisco (from KC, 34th) — Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International
Cyprien can lay the wood. But he also has speed and range to get over the top of vertical routes.
3. Philadelphia (35th) — Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
Physically strong and powerful, Hunt is an ideal workhorse type to play DE in a 3-4.
4. Detroit (36th) — Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M
Moore has exceptional speed off the edge, and though he started as a LB, he had 12½ sacks, 20 tackles for loss and 8 QB hurries as a 4-3 DE in 2012.
5. Cincinnati (from OAK, 37th) — Alec Ogletree, OLB, Georgia
Though best as a Will 'backer, where CIN has a need, Ogletree's an athletic freak who can play all three LB spots, has played safety, and was a special teams standout.
6. Arizona (38th) — Menelik Watson, T, Florida State
Watson is an extremely athletic — but extremely raw — prospect who has the mobility to play LT but will need time to develop.
7. JETS (39th) — DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
Though we like Hopkins a lot, this is why we don't like not taking a pass rusher with that first pick. They are in high demand and there aren't enough to go around. With a new corner already in the fold in this draft but with no pass rusher of value at this pick, we turn our attention to the offense and the goal of finding more weapons for the Jets' new West Coast offense.
Stanford TE Zack Ertz could be an option here, as could O-linemen Terron Armstead and Larry Warford. UCLA RB Jonathan Franklin is a player we noted in an earlier article who could help anchor the Jets' new running attack, and is a good value pick here. If you're one of the fans screaming for Mark Sanchez's head, Matt Barkley, EJ Manuel and even Syracuse's Ryan Nassib, whom the Jets reportedly have some interest in, could all potentially be had at this point. But it's still our feeling that there are many other needs to be addressed.
Hopkins falls this far because of a poor 40 time at the combine and a perceived lack of speed. But he has enough straight-line speed to be effective. He is a pure hands catcher, an excellent route runner who gets in and out of his breaks quickly, and is a dangerous run-after-the-catch guy. He's also a competitor who will go get the ball and is fearless over the middle. Oh, yeah, and he had over 200 receptions in three seasons with the Tigers, setting career marks for receiving yards (3,020), 100-yard games (12) and touchdown receptions (27), including a score in each of his last 12 games. That kind of production is hard to ignore.
8. Tennessee (40th) — Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame
Despite all the nonsense this offseason, Te'o is an instinctive, physical LB who can make plays against the run and the pass. He may not be the best pure athlete, but he's all football player.
9. Buffalo (41st) — Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
A fast riser up most boards who will step in immediately as a viable complement to Stevie Johnson
10. Miami (42nd) — Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Banks is a playmaking DB who has played safety and corner and has value as a returner and special teams cover guy.
11. Tampa Bay (43rd) — Zack Ertz, TE, Stanford
Ertz is a physically strong, tough receiver who led the nation in TE receiving yards in 2012. Bucs incumbent Luke Stocker recorded 16 catches last year.
12. Carolina (44th) — Terron Armstead, T, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
An athletic tackle who can play either side, Armstead could step in at RT and break the Panthers running game open with his ability to get to second-level blocks.
13. San Diego (45th) — Justin Pugh, T, Syracuse
Not ideal size, but Pugh is mobile and could be an ideal run-blocking guard or RT in the NFL.
14. St. Louis (46th) — Arthur Brown, OLB, Kansas State
Brown's not a big playmaker but he's smart, instinctive and a prolific tackler who is smooth in coverage drops.
15. Dallas (47th) — Kyle Long, OL, Oregon
The Cowboys have significant needs on the O-line and Long has played guard and tackle. His dad, Howie, and his brother, Jake, call him the most athletic member of the family. He can play G this year and develop into a starting T.
16. Pittsburgh (48th) — Kawann Short, NT, Purdue
Short is a wide-bodied run plugger for the middle of the defense. There are some motivation concerns, but Mike Tomlin will address that quickly.
17. New York Giants (49th) — D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston
A heart issue nearly ended Hayden's career in 2011, but without that, we might be talking about him as the top CB in the draft. A dynamic playmaker.
18. Chicago (50th) — Sio Moore, LB, Connecticut
Moore is a hybrid LB who is best suited to the weak side in a 4-3 but can play almost anywhere on the field.
19. Washington (51st) — Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
A Senior Bowl superstar who has size and moves well, Alford gives the 'Skins a playmaker at a position of need.
20. Minnesota (52nd) — Cornellius "Tank: Carradine, DE, Florida State
An injury that has kept Carradine from working out causes him to slide to this spot, but he's a high-effort player who had 24 plays behind the line before his knee injury. He can heal and develop behind Jared Allen and Brian Robison.
21. Cincinnati (53rd) — Larry Warford, G/C, Kentucky
A 330-pounder mauler, Warford didn't allow a sack as a senior in the SEC in 2012. That's saying something.
22. Miami (from IND, 54th) — Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
A productive runner and receiver with a nose for the end zone. Ball reminds many of Curtis Martin and fills a glaring need for the Dolphins in the wake of Reggie Bush's departure.
23. Green Bay (55th) — Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina
A productive, high-effort runner with speed who can catch and block. Bernard lacks ideal size but is a productive player for a team in dire need of a running game.
24. Seattle (56th) — Trevardo Williams, OLB, Connecticut
Another pass rusher for the 'Hawks, who love to get after the passer from multiple points on the field. Williams had 30½ career sacks for the Huskies.
25. Houston (57th) — John Jenkins, DT, Georgia
A huge, two-gapping run defender, Jenkins will open things up for the LBs in the Texans' 3-4 defense.
26. Denver (58th) — Alex Okafor, DE, Texas
Okafor's a solidly built two-way DE who can set the edge against the run and provide some secondary pass rush.
27. New England (59th) — Darius Slay, CB, Mississippi State
Smart, instinctive, good size, and a player who will make plays on the ball. Slay also returns kicks.
28. Atlanta (60th) — Vance McDonald, TE, Rice
McDonald is a receiving TE who had 120 career catches for over 1,500 yards. The eventual replacement for Tony Gonzalez.
29. San Francisco (61st) — EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State
If the doomsayers are right and Kaepernick gets hurt or shut down in year two of the read-option, Manuel is a guy who can do everything "Kap" can do and can run a more traditional offense as well with the proper coaching. Harbaugh was a QB, right?
30. Baltimore (62nd) — Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech
Over 180 catches for more than 2,500 and 24 TDs in two seasons at Tech — Patton's a productive player with route-running skills and sure hands who also returns kicks.
Tuesday: Real's Latest Round 1 Mock Draft
