Path to the Draft, 4/6

Appearing: Paul Burmeister, Charlie Casserly, Charles Davis

* Team news:

Washington after #2: Redskins have a lot of holes to fill around Robert Griffin III, especially right tackle, where they could look to players like Mitchell Schwartz or Jeff Allen in the third round. Also looking for help at inside linebacker, secondary and possibly defensive line.

Philadelphia at #15: Hasn't this show talked about the Eagles enough lately? They've addressed OT and MLB, so they should really be looking for DT here. Fletcher Cox really matches what the Eagles like to do up front.

N.Y. Giants at #32: Offensive tackle is a big need, they need a player who can come in and play right tackle right away, and they have possible injury issues at left tackle. The Giants correspondent likes the Martin “family”: Jonathan on the offensive line, or Doug to replace Brandon Jacobs in the Giants' RBBC. (I will be very glum if Doug Martin goes one pick before the Rams can get him.) (I think Doug Martin just became 2012's Marvin Austin.)

San Diego at #18: Chargers D was terrible on third downs last year and they need to beef it up. They have to improve their ability to get after the QB. Their new LBs coach coached at USC last year, so Nick Perry is the leading candidate. Whitney Mercilus could make it back-to-back Illini in the first round for the Chargers. Casserly adds Courtney Upshaw as a candidate. Need safety health and offensive line depth as well. Cordy Glenn could definitely come in and compete for a starting job in camp. Jonathan Martin or Mike Adams would also be good fits.

* Player news:

Casserly's top prospects, 13-18:

13. Michael Brockers – 6'5, 325, long arms, strong and physical. Needs work on pass rushing but is already good enough to be a top run defender. Only a redshirt sophomore.

14. Riley Reiff – Uses hands well, has good feet, good body control. Iowa linemen are always excellent technicians. Casserly would start him at LT in the pros – if he doesn't make it there, he's certainly good enough to play right tackle for a long time.

15. Janoris Jenkins? Can play man and press and can return punts. Played well against the SEC's top receivers. 2^nd-best cover corner in the draft. Davis thinks he's the best cover corner in the draft. His talent merits ranking him this high. However teams weigh his off-field issues will affect how far down they rate him from here.

16. Dre Kirkpatrick – excellent as a press corner and plays zone well. Physical, instinctive, breaks to the ball and closes well. Not as explosive as an elite man-to-man defender should be. Does everything at 120%.

17. Quinton Coples – productive and showed a good motor as a DT his junior year, or on the outside where all he had to do was get upfield without having to read and react. Didn't handle head coaching change well his senior year. (Gee, good thing NFL teams never change head coaches, huh?)

18. Stephon Gilmore – has athletic ability and speed to be an excellent off-coverage corner. Kirkpatrick is a better press-zone corner. Man-to-man teams will rank Gilmore higher. Gilmore's also a good tackler and an effective blitzer.

Davis is still sticking with Morris Claiborne going to the Rams in his mock draft, with Justin Blackmon going to Cleveland and Trent Richardson to Tampa. Other surprises in his mock draft: Ryan Tannehill going 11^th to the Chiefs; Cleveland also taking Stephen Hill; Dontari Poe not going in the first 22 picks (which is where this mock stops). Still hasn't seen the production from Poe that would make him a high pick. Cox is the highest-ranked DT for his inside rushing ability.

More on Doug Martin: does everything well. Terrific production. Some scouts were worried about his pass protection but that concern is lessening. Knows how to sift and move. Power runner and successful goal line weapon.

Second-round value picks:

Mychal Kendricks – stands out athletically. Great motor, quickness, instincts. Plays downhill and finds the football. Undersized (5'11”, 239). Can cover in nickel and can be a three-down LB. Poor man's Derrick Brooks, Casserly says. Would be best used as a covered-up Will backer. Hmm, I think I know a team with an opening at that very position. Fastest LB at the Combine – 4.47.

Brandon Taylor – third-best safety on the board. Physical tackler down low. Can get over-aggressive and miss tackles, but that can be coached. Excellent, instinctive zone player, can find the football. Fast enough to cover tight ends or slot receivers but not the most fluid athlete.

Amini Silatolu – physical, strong, explosive. Can pull and block in space. Played LT at Midwestern State but quickness-wise is probably a guard in the pros. Casserly says this despite rating him the best lineman in position drills at the Combine. Plays like a first-round pick.

Trumaine Johnson – can press and off-cover. Ran in the low 4.5s. Good physical, downhill player. Can play press corner or could be moved inside to safety.

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