The 2013 NFL Mock Draft at NFL Draft Net has expanded to three rounds. Free agency has influenced a number of updates to the first round since our last update. Let’s look into some of those picks and some others worth mentioning.

1.8 Buffalo Bills: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

Previous: No change this update

It should be noted that the mock was completed before the Kevin Kolb signing in Buffalo. As we mentioned earlier today, this sets up a variety of moves for the Bills. However, rather than forcing an updated, it should be considered that Kolb could be the short term answer without forcing Smith into active duty.

1.15 New Orleans Saints: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

Previous: D.J. Fluker

The Saints have themselves in a bind at Offensive Tackle. Fluker was an impulse pick last update as it was still open as to whether or not he will make a Left Tackle in the NFL. At this point it is looking like he will be a standout OT on the right side. This puts us back with the Saints taking the top available defensive prospect on the board.

1.30 Atlanta Falcons: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

Previous: Datone Jones

With the Falcons addressing DE this week, we could see them being proactive at the Tight End spot with the inevitable retirement of Gonzo. There is a good chance Eifert won’t be available here as his stock is rising, but if he is it would be a great match.

2.1 Jaguars: Matt Barkley, QB, USC

This starts off a wave of QBs being selected in four out of the top seven picks in the second round. Just the thought of the need at the top of the order should have us seeing a lot of trade action in the later half of the first round when the real thing roles around.

2.21 Bengals: Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin

The Bengals have been known to take chances and have them pan out. This could be another one of those times.

3.35 Comp pick Titans: Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

View the entire three round mock draft: Updated 2013 NFL Mock Draft | Round One | Round Two | Round Three

The Combine President has come out and said that they make accommodations for players with learning disabilities if it is found it is needed for the test. This comes up after it was pointed out that Morris Claybourne scored a four on the test, and the media noted he has a learning disability. Pro Football Talk reports that if it is determined that the player had previously had accommodations, they will allow them to take the 12 minute test without a time-limit. This is an example of how accommodations may not be the correct accommodations. Prior to the Combine President’s addressing of the issue, in discussion on the subject at SportsJabber.net, I noted…

A student that has a learning disability will have accommodations made and differentiated work (not to be read as “easier”) if needed where they can still have access to the same “ideas” and “knowledge” as students without disabilities. Of course this would depend on the disability. If it was, for example, a developmental reading disorder, I’m guessing the Wonderlic would not have these accommodations, therefore is only a gauge of the answers of the questions but not an accurate gauge of understanding.

A common accommodation for a student with a developmental reading disorder is extended testing times. However, this is for the students that this works for, not every student with a developmental reading disorder. Other options that are often used is having tests read to them, or assistive technology like text to speech or a recording they can listen to. It should be noted that having a developmental reading disorder does not impact the student’s intelligence ability to understand complex materials, but impacts the way the information is received.

From the sounds of it, the Wonderlic folks feel they have accommodations covered with the extended reading time. But, if it were found that Claybourne needed additional accommodations in school, they may not have had him covered. With that said, we don’t feel the Wonderlic has much standing in the ability to play the cornerback position.

Other draft stuff…

NFL.com has really embraced the Mock Draft phenomenon this season, giving it big billing on the main page, as well as being linked to throughout. Chad Reuter was the best acquisition, coming over from CBS Sports this season. Just about every news media site has top billing for their resident mocker, but the NFL always seems to be the last to really grasp the popularity of things outside ther office that the fans are really into (like the so-so commitment to fantasy football  until recent years).

Eric Edholm at Pro Football Weekly thinks that a team with Dez Bryant and Miles Austin has a bigger need at WR than they do stopping the pass of other teams in the secondary. He lists defensive line as the top need for the Cowboys.

Robert Griffin III turned down the Colts for a private workout. Peter King at SI thinks it is no big deal.

If it were possible, Andrew Luck may have raised his draft stock this weekend with his showing at the NFL Scouting Combine.  Luck posted Cam Newton like numbers at the combine (Video). It should not change his stock, as nobody expected him to move from the top spot, but it should make the Colts feel good.

Kirk Cousins, Michigan State QB,  is coming into the first round talk at The Sporting News (Video).

Notre Dame WR, Michael Floyd, exceeded expectations with his 40 time.

LaMichael James is hoping his numbers move him up the Running Back boards as well.

The Houston Texans are in the need of a Wide Receiver and LSU WR, Rueben Randal may just be working his way up to their first round position.

Tom Pauline at CNN/SI has a long list of Risers and Fallers from the QB and RB drills. Chris Rainey of Florida tops the list…

Rainey continues to impress NFL decision-makers with his athleticism and the ability to handle several duties on the field. He was the fastest running back in attendance, posting a 40 time in the low 4.4-second area. Rainey later looked fluid, fast and very natural in all areas. He proceeded through the running drills with great balance and was exceptional catching the ball.

Janoris Jenkins is still trying to shake his past.

Quinton Coples, North Carolina Defensive End, is trying to shake his “dogging it” baggage as well since it is about the only thing holding him back.

Morris Clayborne could be a safe pick for the Browns at number four.

Mock Drafts are a funny thing when it comes to trades. Trades can be so unpredictable, even in an unreliable “science” that is an NFL Mock Draft. They are rarely put in, with the mocker taking the stance on the current draft order but the 2012 mock draft season is seeing a shift. With Andrew Luck expected to be gone by the second pick of the draft, Quarterback hungry teams, especially those with ammunition, have mockers thinking that they will be on the move to shore up the next best thing.

Since the start of February, the Mock Draft Database at Sports Jabber shows eight trades into the top two picks for Robert Griffin III. While the Cleveland Browns are the center of the RG3 talk with the #4 pick, many that are mocking trades have them moving up to take him before a team like the Redskins or Browns have a chance.

Elsewhere in the mocks, Andrew Luck takes up 100% of the top picks. Matt Kalil is drafted in the #2 or #3 spot in 95% of the mocks updated this month. Justin Blackmon lands in those spots in 55% of those mocks, while Morris Clayborne makes an appearance of 23% of the top three picks.

NFL Mock Draft

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Our 2012 NFL Mock Draft has been updated. Since our last mock, the Senior Bowl has came and went, and the Giants have officially been placed in the #32 pick with their Super Bowl crown. There are an astounding twenty-six changes from the last mock to this one, starting in the Top Five…

1.1 Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

No change here, and there isn’t likely to be one in the foreseeable future. The only real question at this time, one that is getting old already, is what will the Colts do with Peyton Manning?
1.2 St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Here is the pick that everyone expects someone to trade into for RG3. We are not projecting trades though, so the Rams upgrade in the trenches. Justin Blackmon landed here before, which could very well happen, but we are seeing the rams trying to seal up the line.

1.3 Minnesota Vikings: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.

If Kalil were to fall, we would see him going here. If not, it may be hard for the Vikings to pass up on the value that is Blackmon, especially when you have Ponder to build around. Another option is Riley Reiff, but at this point in the process he may be considered a reach. Watch as he or another OT works his way up into the Top 5 area after the combine though.
1.4 Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

No change here. We think there will be a trade to the #2 or #3 spot for Griffin, but in our scenario, he falls to the Browns here. Something to consider…imagine the Browns moving down like last year and accumulating more picks. Would they consider it even if Griffin was here?
1.5 Tampa bay Buccaneers: Morris Clayborn, CB, LSU

We had Trent Richardson going here previously. A talent like Clayborn would be hard to pass up in an NFC South that boasts Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, and Cam Newton (yeah, we think he will get even better).

Picks 6-32 HERE.