NFL mock draft: First round, Iowa/ISU/UNI

The only projections more worthless than an NFL mock draft is, well, a bad NFL mock draft.

By tonight this is worthless (and for all intents and purposes it is right now). But it's also interesting to project where top college players are going to play football next season.

So here's a look at who I think is going where tonight, plus a glance at Iowa, Iowa State and Northern Iowa's potential NFL players.

1. Kansas City -- Eric Fisher, T, Central Michigan

Who would have guessed the nation's top pro prospect played at Kinnick Stadium last year?

2. Jacksonville -- Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M

The "other" top tackle in the draft stays in the SEC

3. Cardinals (trade with Raiders) -- Lane Johnson, T, Oklahoma

Cardinals need a tackle; Raiders need picks

4. Eagles -- Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon

Chip Kelly sticks with a familiar face

5. Rams (trade with Lions) -- Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

St. Louis takes a big but necessary jump

6. Browns -- Ezekiel Ansah, OLB/DE, BYU

Major-league athlete needed for switch to 3-4

7. Raiders (trade with Cardinals) -- Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

A first step toward a legitimate Oakland defense

8. Bills -- Gen0 Smith, QB, West Virginia

West Virginia is close enough to count for Buddy Nix's Southern chauvinism

9. Jets -- Barkevicious Mingo, OLB, LSU

Rex Ryan hopes Mingo's bite is as good as his bark

10. 49ers (trade with Titans) -- Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

San Francisco has 13 picks and is too good to keep every player on its roster

11. Chargers -- Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

San Diego needs some offensive line help and Warmack might be the best lineman

12. Miami -- Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

A tough, solid player for the Dolphins secondary

13. Steelers (trade with Jets) -- Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

Pittsburgh needs to replace James Harrison

14. Panthers -- Cordarelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

Carolina must get Cam Newton some help in a high-powered division

15. Saints -- Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

Rolls Royce offense with a Pinto defense

16. Lions (trade with Rams) -- Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M

Lot of sacks last year and replaces Cliff Avril

17. Jets (trade with Steelers) -- Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina

Offensive line a need for Jets

18. Cowboys -- Star Lotulelei, DL, Utah

Nothing better than having your first name on your helmet

19. Giants -- Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

Could vault Giants back among NFL's best defenses

20. Bears -- Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State

Made a ton of plays for Wildcats last year and would fit opposite Lance Briggs

21. Bengals -- D.J. Fluker, T, Alabama

A need for Cincinnati against AFC North's 3-4 defenses

22. Rams -- Eric Reid, S, LSU

Jeff Fisher is quickly building St. Louis into a competitor

23. Vikings -- Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

Solid replacement for Antoine Winfield

24. Colts -- Manti T'eo, LB, Notre Dame

A heartbreaking miss for the Vikings, but Te'o just drives down the road

25. Broncos (trade with Vikings) -- Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

A value pick late for possible Super Bowl favorite

26. Packers -- Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

Replaces Greg Jennings' and Donald Driver's production with best tight end available

27. Texans -- Keenan Allen, WR, California

Could take some pressure off Andre Johnson

28. Jaguars (trade with Vikings through Broncos) -- Matt Barkley, QB, USC

Could spell the end of Blaine Gabbert's tenure

29. Patriots -- DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

Tom Brady needs to help to win a fourth Super Bowl trophy

30. Falcons -- Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

A pass rusher could vault Atlanta into the Super Bowl

31. Titans (trade with 49ers) -- Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama

Jones has played everywhere for Nick Saban and he'll find a home with Mike Munchak

32. Ravens -- Kewann Short, DL, Purdue

I just can't see a first round without at least one Big Ten player

IOWA PICKS

CB Micah Hyde, fifth round -- Denver (161)

It's obvious the Broncos could use a little help in the secondary and Hyde's versatility helps

OL Matt Tobin, seventh round -- Oakland (219)

Tobin has experience in a zone-blocking scheme and can play four positions

WR Keenan Davis, seventh round -- San Francisco (252)

49ers have 13 picks and can take a chance on a big, strong, fast receiver late in the draft

C James Ferentz, free agent -- Atlanta

Smart, tough and an asset in training camp for a team looking to take next step

QB James Vandenberg -- St. Louis

He's from the region and the Rams could use a third-teamer this year

IOWA STATE PICKS

LB A.J. Klein, fifth round -- Green Bay (159)

A two-for-one for the Packers: a local guy who can play multiple roles at linebacker

LB Jake Knott, sixth round -- Houston (195)

Never discount a player who can make plays

T Carter Bykowski, free agent -- Tampa Bay

Bucs go back to the Iowa State well for another season

WR Josh Lenz, free agent -- Green Bay

A practice team guy that could develop into that undersized, speedy possession receiver

DL Jake McDonough, free agent -- Kansas City

Chiefs need help along defensive line

UNI

WR Terrell Sinkfield, free agent -- Minnesota

His speed alone gets him this opportunity