It’s possible this will be the rare NFL Draft where no quarterbacks or running backs are taken in the first round, though some quarterback-starved team is liable to reach for the one who has impressed it the most. Most teams will be lining up to choose from the lines, with as many as five on the offensive side potentially being taken among the first 10 picks. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise if former Arkansas-Pine Bluff tackle Terron Armstead sneaks into the opening round after testing as one of the fastest and most athletic offensive linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine. If Armstead isn’t the first Arkansan taken, look for former Arkansas Razorback Tyler Wilson to possibly be grabbed by one of the teams with an unstable quarterback situation, such as the Oakland Raiders.
1.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
The Chiefs are considering trading franchised LT Branden Albert and cut RT Eric Winston earlier this off season, making it obvious that Andy Reid will begin his first draft in Kansas City by taking Joeckel or Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher.
2.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
QB Geno Smith, West Virginia
Playing quarterback Blaine Gabbert has gotten two Jacksonville head coaches fired, so Gus Bradley might not take any chances, reaching for Smith ahead of higher-rated prospects like Fisher or Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan.
3.OAKLAND RAIDERS
DE/OLB Dion Jordan, Oregon
Although the Raiders are another possible landing spot for Fisher or Smith, the Raiders badly need some pass-rushing help. Their front four combined for 18 1/2 sacks last year, and only Lamarr Houston (4 sacks) and Andre Carter (2 1/2) remain on the roster at defensive end.
4.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
If Fisher falls to the fourth pick, Coach Chip Kelly might have his team run to the podium to select him. Offensive line problems, including former Arkansas Razorback Jason Peters missing the year because of injury, were one of the main reasons the Eagles struggled last season and fired Coach Andy Reid.
5.DETROIT LIONS
CB Dee Milliner, Alabama
Although the Lions re-signed CB Chris Houston (Arkansas Razorbacks), Detroit doesn’t have a starting corner to pair with him. General Manager Martin Mayhew seems to like Milliner’s size (6-0) and speed (4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash).
6.CLEVELAND BROWNS
LB Barkevious Mingo, LSU
The Browns could end up with a quarterback here, but it might be tough to swallow drafting one in the first round for the second consecutive year, especially since they would be reaching for one. Mingo makes more sense, giving new defensive coordinator Ray Horton another pass rusher for his 3-4.
7.ARIZONA CARDINALS
G Chance Warmack, Alabama
It has been 16 years since a guard was taken in the top 10 picks of the draft, but Warmack is considered one of top players in the first round and the Cardinals need help on the line.
8.BUFFALO BILLS
QB Matt Barkley, Southern Cal
The Bills picked up Kevin Kolb this off season, but Coach Doug Marrone isn’t likely to stake his first season on the oft-injured quarterback washout. Buffalo is rumored to like Barkley, but Maronne could end up bringing Ryan Nassib with him from Syracuse.
9.NEW YORK JETS
DE Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah, BYU
Although the Jets have brought back defensive end Calvin Pace, they are badly in need of someone who can consistently create pressure off the edge.
10.TENNESSEE TITANS
G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
The Titans picked up guard Andy Levitre in free agency and could solidify their line by taking Cooper. Rarely have two guards been taken in the top 10, though.
11.SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
The Chargers released left tackle Jared Gaither in March after picking him up the previous off season, making it likely they will make Johnson his replacement.
12.MIAMI DOLPHINS
OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama
The Dolphins need some protection for quarterback Ryan Tannehill after losing Jake Long to St. Louis in free agency, and Fluker is the best of the rest even though he is more of a right tackle.
13.NEW YORK JETS
WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia
Although the Jets would make their fans somewhat happy by drafting someone who can throw the ball, they’d likely wait until the second round with Geno Smith gone and sorely need a complement to wide receiver Santonio Holmes.
14.CAROLINA PANTHERS
DT Shariff Floyd, Florida
Floyd is widely considered the top defensive tackle in this draft and the Panthers have visited with him, hoping that Floyd would drop this far. If it happens, Carolina won’t pass him up.
15.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
OLB/DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State
The Saints need some pass rushing help at outside linebacker in their switch to defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s 3-4. New Orleans could go with Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, but Werner is the kind of productive pass-rushing defensive end teams like to put at the position.
16.ST. LOUIS RAMS
S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
Both of the Rams’ starting safeties from last season are gone, Craig Dahl (free agency) and Quintin Mikell (released), so St. Louis should be targeting Vaccaro with this pick.
17.PITTSBURGH STEELERS
DT Star Lotulelei, Utah
A heart condition revealed at the NFL Scouting Combine might cause Lotulelei to fall from an early pick to the Steelers, who could end up choosing between him and Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.
18.DALLAS COWBOYS
DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
The Cowboys are moving back to the 4-3 under new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and turn their focus from stockpiling linebackers to bolstering the defensive line.
19.NEW YORK GIANTS
OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
The Giants are looking for inside and outside linebackers, and their choices could come down to Georgia teammates Jones and Alec Ogletree. Drafting Jones would allow New York to let Mathias Kiwanuka move to defensive end.
20.CHICAGO BEARS
ILB Alec Ogletree, Georgia
Longtime stalwart Brian Urlacher is gone, and replacing the perennial Pro Bowl middle linebacker could send the Bears after Ogletree.
21.CINCINNATI BENGALS
S Eric Reid, LSU
The Bengals have cornerback covered but are shaky at the safety positions, with only Reggie Nelson guaranteed to start.
22.ST. LOUIS RAMS
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson
The Rams had Hopkins work out for them twice and are badly in need of a receiver since only three are listed on their depth chart, with only four years of NFL experience among them.
23.MINNESOTA VIKINGS
LB Arthur Brown, Kansas State
The Vikings need a starting middle linebacker after Jasper Brinkley signed with Arizona in free agency, and Coach Leslie Frazier has said the team is likely to turn to the draft to find Brinkley’s replacement.
24.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
DE Damontre Moore, Texas A&M
The Colts parted ways with defensive end Dwight Freeney and probably would like to add a better pass rusher than they picked up in free agency, Green Bay’s Erik Walden, who has had three sacks in each of the past three years.
25.MINNESOTA VIKINGS
WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
The Vikings traded wide receiver Percy Harvin to Seattle for the Seahawks’ No. 1 pick and could use it on Harvin’s long-term replacement, even though they added Green Bay’s Greg Jennings in free agency.
26.GREEN BAY PACKERS
DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina
The Packers showed interest in nose tackle Steve McLendon in free agency, but he ended up re-signing with Pittsburgh, so Green Bay could turn to Williams to fill the role.
27.HOUSTON TEXANS
LB Kevin Minter, LSU
Although the Texans would love to get a wide receiver to pair with Andre Johnson to shore up a trouble spot and could reach for Tennessee’s Justin Hunter, the 3-4 defense used by defensive coordinator Wade Phillips could always use another big-play inside linebacker.
28.DENVER BRONCOS
DE Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, Florida State
A paperwork issue ended up causing the Broncos to lose defensive end Elvis Dumervil, so replacing him will be a priority.
29.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
Although the Patriots re-signed cornerback Aqib Talib and avoided losing their other starting corner, Alfonzo Dennard, to a lengthy jail sentence or suspension, New England’s secondary was a weakness and the Patriots might want to improve it more than just adding safety Adrian Wilson in free agency.
30.ATLANTA FALCONS
DE Alex Okafor, Texas
Starting cornerback Brent Grimes signed with Miami in free agency, so the Falcons might lean toward replacing him, but they also released defensive end John Abraham and need to find someone to produce a pass rush at his level of play.
31.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
S Matt Elam, Florida
The 49ers lost starting safety Dashon Goldson to Tampa Bay in free agency and could look to replace him with Elam.
32.BALTIMORE RAVENS
DT John Jenkins, Georgia
General Manager Ozzie Newsome said the Ravens “think we have to get better at defensive tackle,” and they could be targeting Jenkins, Alabama’s Jessie Williams or Purdue’s Kawann Short to do it.
Sports, Pages 20 on 04/25/2013