The draft is fast approaching, and if we don't get the rest of our mock draft out there, we're only guaranteed to get half of our picks wrong. We pick up at pick 17:
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Not fully over the loss of Jonathan Joseph, we like the Bungles to look to a corner who has been garnering some top 10 attention.
18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, LB, Illinois
Between Nick Perry, Andre Branch, Chandler Jones, and Courtney Upshaw, there are a plethora of athletic defenders with boom or bust potential. One of the most volatile of the bunch is Mercilus, who could be the Bolts new version of Lights Out.
19. Chicago Bears: David DeCastro, G, Stanford
A lot of talent still on the board, and nobody likes taking a guard in the first round, but DeCastro is a good fit for a shitty O-line. We're not sold on any of these Stanford guys--DeCastro, Martin and Fleener--who are all overhyped because there were a lot of scouts in attendance to watch their teammate this season.
20. Tennessee Titans: Courtney Upshaw, DE/LB, Alabama
Lots to like about Upshaw, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Could go as high as the early teens and as late as the end of the round. We're going with somewhere in between. BOLD.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Nick Perry, DE, USC
After snagging Gilmore a few picks earlier, the Bengals add to their defense with Perry. Not a bad haul by the Bengals. Thank the Raiders for that.
22. Cleveland Browns: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
We like Hill's upside better (and his downside worse), and really don't think too highly of Kendall Wright. But he's the guy with the momentum. RGIII is a little different than Colt McCoy, let's just say that much.
23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Pefect fit. If he gets here, should be the Lions pick and will immediately help a porous defense. Now the Lions just need three more starting cornerbacks to defend match up with the Packers.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
Tough call between Poe and Worthy (we like Worthy), but we think Pittsburgh will end Poe's slide. Some project him to be like Haloti; we think Ngata.
Eight picks to go! Who will your favorite team probably not end up taking? Check back tomorrow to find out!
