2013 First Round Draft Grades

The first round of the 2013 NFL Draft is in the books.  What I am going to do is go pick-by-pick and award draft grades for each selection.  I understand the absurdity of it all though.  You cannot accurately assign a draft grade until 3-5 years down the road.  I get it.  Still, I want to grade the teams based on what I think I know now.  For those who have never read a draft review of mine before, I grade on an A-F scale.  A key is below to help you understand what I mean by each grade.  Also, I take into account a few different factors when I assign a grade.  First, I look at the player and his fit on the team that drafted him.  I also look at the value the pick brings based on where the player fell on my overall draft board.  High value picks increase grades, while reaches decrease grades.  I also compare what the team picked, with what was available to be picked when they came on the board too.

So lets take a look at my initial assessment of the 2013 NFL Draft's first round.

1. Kansas City - Eric Fisher, OT, CMU
      Although not a sexy pick, this was a good pick for KC.  As of this writing, Braden Albert is still on the roster and the addition of Fisher fills their hole at RT.  If Albert does in fact get dealt, Fisher will shift to the left, and KC will have to work to fill RT some other way.  Either way, Smith is safer in his new home because of this pick.  Grade: B

2. Jacksonville - Luke Joeckel, OT, TAMU
     The Jags have so many needs that it was going to be hard not to hit on this pick.  Today Eugene Monroe is the team's LT and he has been a bit disappointing thus far.  Adding Joeckel gives them an immediate upgrade and allows for Monroe to be moved to the right side where he may have more success.  Thanks to the way the draft has shaped up, they are also in position to kick of round 2 with a pick and lots of talent still available.  Geno Smith anyone?  Grade: B

3. Miami via Oakland - Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon
     Miami continued their offseason of bold moves by trading up to the third overall pick to grab the top defender on their board in Dion Jordan.  I like Jordan, but don't love him as I see him as a bit one dimensional   Having said that, if he develops into a Jason Taylor type player as some have sad he could, this would be a great addition to the Dolphins pass rush.  Considering they only had to give up 1 number two to swap 1st rounders (very low cost), you an't be too hard on Miami for making the move.  Grade: B-

4. Philadelphia - Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
     When the Eagles got on the clock, I was thinking they should grab Milliner.  When they didn't, my reaction was adverse, but I gave the Lane Johnson selection some more thought since.  I actually like this selection.  Of the OTs at the top, Johnson is the only one of them who could play in Chip Kelly's fast paced system.  He is athletic enough to constantly run up the field to fire off the next play, and from a fit perspective, this make perfect sense.  The Eagles still have other holes to fill, but after further consideration, I do like this choice.  Grade: B

5. Detroit - Ziggy Ansah, DE, BYU
      If this grade were on potential alone, this would be an A+.  Ziggy Ansah is all about the upside.  Right now however, he is very raw and will take some time to develop.  Everyone is making comparisons to South Florida's Jason Pierre Paul, but Ansah is even more raw than JPP was.  Also, Detroit passed on Dee Milliner, an available stud at a bigger position of need, which also impacts the draft grade.  It may pan out in the end, but for now, this will be wait and see.  Grade: C

6. Cleveland - Barvevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU
     Cleveland used their first pick of this new regime to add pass rushing specialist Keke Mingo.  He does have a real upside as in pertains to getting after the passer, but there is a lot of risk with this pick too.  In my mind it is equally as possible that Mingo will be a bust.  Considering this team also passed on Milliner (also a major need for them) to add Mingo, who plays a position that they already seem to have a lot of talent at, I am left scratching my head.  Grade: C-

7. Arizona - Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
     Normally I am not a fan of picking an OG so high, but this is a different case for the Cards.  They have a lot of needs, and Jon Cooper has the potential to be a special player.  He is flexible enough to play any of the three interior positions up front, and although not a sexy pick, this does in fact address a major deficiency for the Cardinals.  At the end of the day, this is a great match of need to talent.  Grade: A

8. St Louis via Buffalo - Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
    I understand why they did it.  Austin was one of the hottest names in the draft.  They expected the Jets to pounce next.  They have a glaring need for a player who can make plays in the offense and returning kicks now that Amendola is gone.  I get it.  I just don't love it.  Before the draft I explained in details some of my concerns with the diminutive Austin.  I know many Rams fans and just as many pundits are stoked about this pick.  I am just not as enamored, especially having to pay to move up.  Grade: C

9. NY Jets - Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
     Milliner was the top defensive player on my board going into draft night.  The Jets, after trading Revis, have a major need at the corner position.  I never expected for Milliner to be there when NY picked at 9, but when he was they pounced.  Excellent move by the new Jets regime.  Milliner is the only corner in this class with a chance to replace what they lost by dealing Revis.  Grade: A+

10.  Tennessee - Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
    In free agency, the Titans recognized their needs up front a went and made a very good "under the radar" type move by signing the underrated Andy Levitre away from Buffalo.  Kudos to Tennessee for not thinking they were done.  I've been quite laudatory in my opinion about Chance Warmack.  I expect him to be tremendous at the next level.  Tennessee made a bold move to provide Locker with protection to help get this offense moving.  Grade: A

11. San Diego - DJ Fluker, OT, Alabama
     After seeing what the Dolphins had to pay to get up to three, you really have to wonder why San D didn't try and make that trade to get Lance Johnson.  Clearly the Bolts needed to address o-line or ILB, but now at 11 they faced a situation where the only o-linemen or ILBs available would be a reach.  Here, they went for the smallest reach in Fluker.  I think Fluker will be a good solid pro.  I don't think he should have gone this high. Grade: C-

12. Oakland via Miami - DJ Hayden, CB, Houston
    I just don't get what Oakland did on Thursday night.  I know they fell in love with Hayden.  I know he has some ball skills.  Why they traded down to this point for such little compensation, and then still reached for their guy without trading down again I don't understand.  I also can't see taking Hayden over either Sharrif Floyd or Tyler Eifert, both who were higher rated players still available at positions of greater need.  Maybe Hayden will be really good.  He probably needs to learn how to tackle first though.  Grade: D+

13. NY Jets - Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
     The Jets were in perfect position to address another glaring need on this team with either a pass rushing OLB like Jarvis Jones or TE with Tyler Eifert.  Instead, they took Sheldon Richardson.  My criticism here is not of Richardson himself, I like him as a player.  My indictment is of how poorly he fit this team's system.  Richardson is not a true 3-technique linemen, and the Jets already have Coples and Wilkerson at DE.  I think this is a situation of square peg in a round hole.  Grade: D

14.  Carolina - Star Lotulelei, DL, Utah
     Carolina stayed patient, and they were big beneficiaries of this strategy.  They were able to add a top 5 overall talent in Lotulelei sitting in the 14th position.  In this defense Lotulelei will be tasked with occupying blockers up front so the Panther linebackers can roam and make plays unfettered.  Overall, great value, great fit.  Grade: A+

15. New Orleans - Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
     With Bjoern Werner still on the board, I thought that the Saints may be tempted to grab the DE in the hopes that he could help an ailing pass rush.  Instead, they address the secondary with the hard hitting Kenny Vaccaro.  Vaccaro is a good character guy who plays hard at a position of need.  You have to like that. They did not reach too far either to get him, so again, that is a plus. Grade: B

16. Buffalo via St Louis - EJ Manuel, QB, FSU
    I said it repeatedly prior to the draft.  There is no QB worth a 1st round pick in this class.  It apperaed that all but 1 of the NFL's teams agreed with that.  Every draft there is one pick where the whole draft world says "WTF?"  This year this was that pick.  I know Buffalo needs a QB, and Manuel has some talent, but at 16?  Really?  He was the 4th best QB on my board.  He is a major project and came with a 3rd round grade.  Come on Buffalo, trade down again, and again, and then get your guy a round or two later. Grade: F

17. Pittsburgh - Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia
     If ever there was a player made for a system, it may be Jarvis Jones for Pittsburgh.  Th fact that Jones is a top 10 overall player in my book, and was grabbed here at 17, was also great.  The fact the Pittsburgh needs a player of this type, with this kind of attitude is another big plus.  Bottom line, I love everything about this pick.  One of my favorites of the night. Grade: A+

18. San Francisco via Dallas - Eric Reid, S, LSU
    Some teams are so difficult to question because of how successful they have been a decision making over the years.  The Niners are one of those teams.  There is no doubt that they needed to replace Dashon Goldson at Safety.  I just don't see why they had to trade up to do it.  Considering that a kid like John Cyprien (#2 safety on my board) is still available now, it is obvious they could have sat put at 31 and grabbed a safety.  I like Eric Reid, and if they had him over Cyprien, then fine, but the trade up is really what is baffling me.  Then again, as I said earlier, it is so hard to question what San Fran does, because it all seems to work out. Grade: C-

19. NY Giants - Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse
    Many of the experts were fairly high on Justin Pugh coming into the draft.  I however was not as much.  I do not see him projecting as an OT in the league.  I think he would be better off moving inside to Guard, where his lack of wingspan is less a concern.  I had Pugh rated with a mid round 2 grade, so grabbing him almost a round too early is another issue I have.  Sure the Giants have needs, but a linebacker like Brown or Ogletree would have been much better fits, and created much more value.  Grade: D

20. Chicago - Kyle Long, OG, Oregon
     I am glad the Bears read my blog, and decided I was right and they needed to address holes in their o-line.  I'm just not sure why they felt that trading down first and then doing it was not the better option.  Kyle Long has the bloodlines (son of Howie Long, brother of Chris Long) and the raw talent to be a good player. Still, he is another guy who could have still been around in the mid second round.  With players like Arthur Brown and Alec Ogletree still available  I think this was a reach.  Grade: D

21. Cincinnati - Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
      Sometimes sitting put and looking for one of the best players available works out, and this is the case with the Bengals selection of Tyler Eifert.  Eifert was the top TE in this class, and paired with the weapons already in place (Green, Sanu, & Gresham) this gives Andy Dalton another great toy for his collection.  This does not address any area of need for the Bengals, which is about the only critique you can have of this pick.  Otherwise, awesome.  Grade: A

22. Atlanta via St Louis via Washington - Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
     I can't criticize Atlanta for trading up here.  They knew they needed a corner, and it was looking more an more likely that the best ones remaining would not be there for them at the very bottom of the round.  On my board I had Trufant rated one spot behind Xavier Rhodes who was still available, but Rhodes and Trufant are very different styles of corner.  Based on the system Atlanta plays, Trufant is actually the better fit, so despite my early criticism last night, I have decided I am good with this pick. Grade: B

23. Minnesota - Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
    Hard to argue with a pick that nets you a top 5 talent at the 23rd spot in the draft.  Even harder to argue when this fills a position of need, as it does with the Vikings now that Pat Williams has retired.  I am not sure what led to Floyd's drop.  Every year it seems that this inexplicable happens to someone.  This year it was Sharrif, and Minnesota was in the position to benefit.  Grade: A+

24. Indianapolis - Bjoern Werner, DE, FSU
     This pick was a little surprising to me.  With all of the available talent at linebacker (their biggest need position) still available, the Colts instead choose to address their pass rush with Werner.  Werner is a talent, albeit an inconsistent one.  Sometimes he looks like an unstoppable barbarian coming of the edge.  Other times, he completely disappears.  He does have the talent to become an impact player though, but I see it as a challenge to the coaching staff.  Grade: C

25. Minnesota - Xavier Rhodes, CB, FSU
     I can absolutely see myself 4 years from now talking about how it was this draft that put Minnesota back on the map as a perennial NFC power.  Two picks ago, they added value with the falling Floyd.  Now they do the same thing with the falling Rhodes.  Xavier Rhodes is a bigger corner, who is a perfect fit for Minnesota's system.  Using these picks to address their defense and get value each time made Minnesota the big winners of the first round. Grade: A

26. Green Bay - Datone Jones, DE/OLB, UCLA
    Like San Francisco, Green Bay is a team that is so hard to question because of that Midas touch.  I had Jones as a mid/late 2nd round grade though coming into the night, so it is equally as difficult not to view this pick as a reach.  Having said that, I am aware that I had a harsher grade on him than most experts, and he really does fit into Green Bay's system quite nicely.  This is definitely one of those pick where in 4 years I could be saying how wrong I was with this grade.  Grade: D

27. Houston - DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
    This is a really solid first round selection in my book.  It was obvious to me, and likely to everyone else, how badly this team needed to add another wide receiver or three .  Going after the receiver with the best hands in this class at this position was a very smart move.  With the injury to Posey, and the constant focus put on Johnson, they had to get Schaub another weapon, and I think Hopkins is going to be a great fit in this system.  Grade: B

28. Denver - Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
    Over the last few weeks only one other player moved up my final board as much as Sylvester Williams (DJ Hayden).  Williams really belonged in the discussion with Lotulelei and Richardson, and is explosiveness is the reason why.  He is one of the most powerful players I have seen, and I see him being very disruptive at the next level.  Denver's need at the position only further solidifies this as one of the better picks of the first round, in my opinion. Grade: A

29. Minnesota via New England - Cordarrell Patterson, WR, Tennessee
     After two phenomenal picks already, Minnesota trades back up into the first round again, and this time adds another weapon to the offense in Patterson.  Patterson is very talented, but he is raw and immature.  There is a considerable amount of risk assumed with this pick, and considering the price Minnesota paid to move up (2-3-4-7), it makes the cost of missing here much higher.  Still, I did think Patterson would have been gone by this point, so there is some value here, and if newly acquired Greg Jennings can mentor Patterson and teach him what it means to be a pro, it could pan out in a big way.   Grade: C+

30. St Louis via Atlanta - Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
       After paying to move up earlier in the round, now St Louis gets paid to slide down to this spot here, and they are still faced with some great options.  On defense the biggest need this team has is at linebacker and safety.  John Cyprien, Arthur Brown, and Alec Ogletree were all still available.  The truth is, I like Ogletree, but I like both Brown and Cyprien more.  Either of those guys would have earned St Louis an "A" in my book.  Ogletree is talented, but he played inside at college.  In the Rams system, it seems they will move him to the outside.  He has the skill set to do this, but that plus some off-the-field concerns simply sets this as the third best option.  If anyone can pull this off though, it is Jeff Fisher.  Grade: C

31. Dallas via San Francisco - Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin
    So I agree that Dallas needed an improvement in the middle of their o-line.  I agree that Travis Frederick could turn out to be a good player, and is a nice fit for their system.  What I don't agree with is taking him at this juncture.  I would have much preferred to see Dallas trade down again, maybe with a team like the Jets who could have been enticed to trade up for Geno Smith, and then take Frederick in the early/mid second round, where he belonged.  Maybe the Cowboys knew of someone who was willing to pull the trigger early in the second?  Then again, maybe they didn't.  Grade: C-

32. Baltimore - Matt Elam, S, Florida
     I don't know how Ozzie does it, but every year, he seems to figure out a way to get exactly what he wants out of the draft.  This year, he did it by staying put.  The team needed to come away from round 1 with either a safety or MLB.  When they got on the clock, Mantei Te'o and John Cyprien were both there to choose from.  The Ravens chose to go safety, but instead of Cyprien, they chose Elam.  Elam is a hard hitter and good tackler.  Both of those qualities will be valued in Baltimore.  My only knock is he lacks the upside of Cyprien.  Grade: C+

2013 NFL Draft Pick 32 - Matt Elam, S, Florida

With the final pick in the first round, the Ravens have to start filling the holes left as the Ravens were raided following their Super Bowl win.  They needed safeties, and linebackers, and they had some good ones to choose from.  Ozzie Newsome always seems to be in excellent position to refill the cupboard.  With his pick he chooses Elam from Florida.  Elam is a hard hitting safety, who I had projected to go to Baltimore with this pick, but then I did not expect John Cyprien to still be available.  If I were GM, Cyprien would have been the name I sent in, but Elam is not a bad alternative.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 31 - Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin

Dallas made a good move earlier tonight trading down in the first round.  Now, on the clock again, the Cowboys choose to add Travis Frederick.  The Cowboys meet a need by adding Frederick, but he has a mid round 2 grade in my book.  Frederick has the potential to make an impact, but I simply see this as a reach.  I would have much preferred to see Dallas trade down again, another 10 picks or so, and then take him if he was their target.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 30 - Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

So St Louis started the day with two picks in the first round, and after a lot of movement, they finish with two picks in the first round, albeit two different first round selections.  With their first they gave their offense a new weapon in Tavon Austin.  Now, here at 30, they add a new piece to their defense.  Ogletree is an excellent tackler, and plays well sideline to sideline.  Ogletree has some real concerns about his off field decision making, but I think his on field potential makes this a worth while pick.  He is very athletic, and will fit in well in St Louis.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 29 - Cordarrell Patterson, WR, Tennessee

The Pats started this draft with the 29th pick in the first round.  But as is well known, you can never trust New England to stay put.  Would this year's first round be the year that New England actually stays put and makes their designated selection?  Of course not.  Instead, they collect a king's ransom of 2-3-4-7 from Minnesota to come back into the first round. Now I loved what Minnesota did with their first two first rounders.  As for their third, they add Cordarrell Patterson.  Patterson is raw, but very talented.  He has some maturity issues, but pairing him with a Greg Jennings may be a perfect combo.  I still think they need a QB, and they no longer have the ammo to grab one in this draft to challenge Ponder, but I still like this pick too.  All said and done, I really love what Minnesota did on day 1 of this draft.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 28 - Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

In my previous mocks, I had the Broncos looking at DT Sly Williams with this pick.  Guess who is still available now that Denver is on the clock?  That's right.  Sylvester Williams.  So who does John Elway choose?  That's right, Sylvester Williams.  This kid is exceptionally explosive.  I think he will be a terror in the NFL, and I think the Broncos got themselves an excellent player with this pick.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 27 - DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

The Houston Texans were a trendy pick for the AFC crown a year ago.  They made excellent strides, but still have to make some more moves to get to the promised land.  No need glares brighter than at wideout, where they need to give Schaub a different option to Andre Johnson.  So, they go out and add DeAndre Hopkins.  Hopkins can be a great player.  He has great hands.  He is good after the catch.  He is willing to go over the middle.  He has upside, just not as much as there is with Cordarrell Patterson.  But, Hopkins has much less risk than Patterson does.  For the Texans, I love this pick.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 26 - Datone Jones, DE/OLB, UCLA

Green Bay is one of the best drafting teams in the NFL.  This team is very good at not reaching and instead, adding value picks that fall to them.  With their first pick in the 2013 draft, the Packers add Datone Jones.  The Packers need OLB help, and Jones will do that for them.  I have not been as impressed with him though.  To me he had a strong round 2 grade, so this could be a uncharacteristic reach for them.  Then again, lots of football people who are a lot smarter than me seem to really like this pick.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 25 - Xavier Rhodes, CB, FSU

I said with their prior pick it was between Rhodes and Floyd.  First they got Floyd.  Now they get Rhodes.  I love this pick too.  Remember, I had both of those guys as top 10 picks in my last mock.  They both go to Minnesota at 23 and 25.  The Vikes do need help at ILB, but you simply can't pass on the value that Rhodes provides at this point.  The Vikes needed to get better on defense, and with this first round they have done just that. "A+" for Minnesota again.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 24 - Bjoern Werner, DE, FSU

Indy made exceptional strides after picking Andrew Luck first overall last year.  Now, a playoff team again, the Colts are positioned well to add some additional playmakers, with the biggest needs being on the defensive side of the ball.  They need to get better at getting after the QB, and they add Werner with the hopes that he will be able to do just that.  Werner had some games where he was unblockable.  Then again, he had some games where he disappeared.  If he puts it all together at the pro level this will be a great pick. 

2013 NFL Draft Pick 23 - Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

With the first of their two first rounders, Minnesota comes on the clock with some options that they could not have expected to be available.  The Vikes need a corner, and the second best corner on my board, Xavier Rhodes is still available.  Then again, DT Pat Williams just retired, and Sharrif Floyd (top 5 player) is still available.  I love the addition of either, and they get Floyd which is the best value pick in the first round thus far.  Floyd will step in immediately for Williams, and with another pick only two away, they will be able to strike again. "A+" for Minnesota here.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 22 - Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

St Louis paid to move up and get Austin, and now they get paid to move down.  More smart moves for the Rams.  The Falcons now pay a price to move up, and add themselves a cornerback to help this defense.  They choose Desmond Trufant from Washington.  Trufant has good speed and ball skills.  I have some questions about his tackling ability, and with Xavier Rhodes still on the board, I'm not sure this is a value pick.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 21 - Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

For the first time in some time, the Cincy Bengals are the class of the AFC North.  With the Steelers rebuilding, the Ravens being raided, and the Browns being Cleveland, Cincy adds another offensive weapon in Tyler Eifert.  On the surface this pick may seem strange, but Eifert is as much a wide out as he is a TE.  Gresham will still be the better blocker, but Gresham, Eifert, Green, and Sanu can give opponents headaches.  If the Bengals are in position to add Eddy Lacy a little later this would be a huge haul.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 20 - Kyle Long, OG, Oregon

Let the Marc Trestman era begin in Chicago.  With needs up front, at TE, and at LB the Bears could go in many different directions with this pick.  They choose to address the front and add Kyle Long.  Long has some upside at guard and overall I like him, but I would not have taken him at this point.  He has great bloodlines, and excellent potential though.  They fill one of their biggest needs, but they could have traded down, added assets, and still gotten this job done 20 picks later.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 19 - Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse

Earlier this offseason I though adding Tyler Eifert would be a good addition for the G-Men.  They also needed help at MLB, which could have brough Te'o into the equation.  Instead, they look to add Justin Pugh.  I'm not sure Pugh will be an OT in the NFL.  I think he will likely move inside in a year or two.  The Giants needed to refresh up front, but Pugh is a reach here, in my opinion.   

2013 NFL Draft Pick 18 - Eric Reid, S, LSU

Dallas had the 18th pick, but they deal down with the 49ers, and add some additional picks instead of picking here.  With the top two DTs gone, and Vaccaro already off the board, I like Dallas' decision.  San Fran moved up, and they grabbed Reid to fill the hole left by Dashon Goldson's defection.  I simply don't understand this move though.  I think Reid makes sense for the 9ers, but I think John Cyprien would have been a much better fit.  If Reid was the target, I think San Fran could have simply stayed put and Reid would have been there for them at 31. "A" for Dallas.  "C-" for San Francisco.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 17 - Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia

Pittsburgh come on the clock with some real needs for the first time in years.  They really need corners and Xavier Rhodes is still available.  They also have some other needs too.  Jarvis Jones has very physical hands and he has the best potential to replace James Harrison as any player in this draft.  I love Jones, and I think he is a great fit for Pittsburgh, despite it not being their biggest need.  With corners falling, the Steelers can grab one in the second round.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 16 - EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State

So the Bills had pick 8, but made a smart move and added picks by trading down.  Now they sit at 16, and with this pick they take QB EJ Manuel. Oh my.  FOr months I have been saying someone will reach and take a QB in round 1.  I just didn't think they would reach for Manuel, a kid with a 3rd-4th round grade in my book.  This is simply nuts.  Sure the Bills need a QB, but they could have gotten Manuel a round or 2 later.  This is the biggest mistake in the first round thus far.  Giving out my first "F" of the draft.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 15 - Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

As GM of the New Orleans Saints, I would have focused my efforts with pick 15 on a pass rusher. Jarvis Jones is still available, as is FSUs Bjoern Werner.  My regular readers know how fond of Jarvis Jones I am, and I would have seen this as an excellent addition for this ball club.  Instead of a pass rusher though, the Saints look a Kenny Vaccaro at Safety.  I like Vaccaro, but don't love him.  The Saints do need help in the secondary though.  Vaccaro is a hitter, and the physical presence he brings will be valued by New Orleans.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 14 - Star Lotulelei, DL, Utah

Carolina comes on the clock, and they are in the perfect position to bolster their biggest need at DL with both Floyd and Lotulelei on the clock.  Both of these guys were very highly rated in my book, and either way I think they win.  Star Lotulelei was picked, and he will be a great addition for this team.  He will swallow up players on opposing o-lines and it will allow for the Carolina linebackers to roam free and make big plays.  If this big fella can keep is weight in check, I think the Panthers will be thrilled with this pick.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 13 - Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

The New York Jets are back on the clock again, and after adding Milliner a few picks ago, the Jets are now able to further their rebuild.  So to do this they add Sheldon Richardson.  Richardson is a better fit as a DT in a 4-3 in my opinion, and this makes this an odd pick to me.  I don't think he is a 3-technique player.  I think the Jets would have been better off adding Star if they were looking for a DE, or Jarvis Jones as the pass rushing OLB they so sorely need.  Heck, even picking Eifert to fill the void at TE would have been a better fit to me.  Don't get me wrong, I like Richardson enough, just not in this system.

2013 NFL Draft Pick - DJ Hayden, CB, Houston

The Raiders obtained this pick from the Dolphins when Miami traded up for Jordan at pick 3.  The fact that TE Tyler Eifert is still available makes me even more critical of Miami's decision to trade up.  Oakland was the beneficiary of Miami's hasty move, and with this pick Oakland could add Sharrif Floyd.  Floyd was they guy that me, and about every other draftnik on the planet thought they should have added at 3.  instead they go after DJ Hayden.  Hayden is a late fast riser on the board.  He has excellent coverage skills as evidenced by his tape.  There are some questions though about his physicality.  I would have given Oakland an A+ had they added Floyd.  With Hayden they get a B.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 11 - DJ Fluker, OT, Alabama

San Diego is a team also in rebuilding mode.  This team desperately needs some big fellas to protect Phillip Rivers.  Unfortunately, the top 3 OTs and the top 2 OGs are gone.  They also need some help in the middle of their defense, but any ILB would be a reach here.  Their best bet would have been to trade down, but instead they reach and take Fluker.  I like Fluker as a player, but I don't like him at 11 overall.  I am not sure he is athletic enough to make it in a pass happy AFC West, so the fit is a bit questionable to me.  My grade, mainly because of the stretch pick, C-.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 10 - Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama

In my mocks I had Tennessee looking at either OG or CB with this pick.  Milliner is now gone, but Xavier Rhodes is still there.  Bama Guard, Chance Warmack is also still available.  Warmack is the best Guard I have ever seen coming out of college.  With the Titans needing to protect their franchise QB, Locker, getting Warmack would be the better choice, and that is exactly what they did.  I like this pick for the Titans.  It may not be sexy, but it sure will make Locker and CJ2K very happy campers.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 9 - Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

The Jets added a second first round pick with the trading of Revis a week ago.  Now with these two first round picks, the Jets need to start their rebuild.  They need an OT, CB, QB, TE, and OLB pass rushers just to name a few.  With this pick, they go with Milliner.  Milliner is the top defensive player on my board, and although I don't know that he will be as good as Revis, he should still be good.  He is the best cover corner from Alabama in years, and not only can he cover but he can tackle too.  He has some injury concerns, but I think the Jets did great with this pick.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 8 - Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

Initially belonging to the Bills, they instead decide to deal this pick to the St Louis Rams.  The Rams have the ammo thanks to the RG3 deal a year ago, and now they use some of it to add the dynamic Austin to the WR needy Rams.  I mentioned in a post a little more than an hour ago why I was concerned about Austin, but if the Rams really believe in this kid, I think they had to do this.  As with Ansah and Mingo, this pick comes with a considerable amount of risk.  He can be electric, but let the buyer beware.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 7 - Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

The Arizona Cardinals are a team that really needs some help.  They do need a QB, but they also need some guys who can keep him upright.  They also need some defensive help too.  The team chose to go with the flexible Cooper who can fill multiple positions on the o-line (not all at once).  I really like this selection for Arizona.  I project Warmack to be a better pro gurad than Cooper, but with Zona's needs, I like the fit of Cooper more.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 6 - Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

So here is a surprise... the Cleveland Browns are in a state of flux. With a brand new front office, the Browns make Keke Mingo their fist selection.  Mingo is a player who could become a solid OLB at the next level, but I don't really care for this pick very much for Cleveland.  This offseason the Browns added Kruger and Groves to play OLB.  Now Groves is a bit of a backup, but with some of the needs this team has, I don't see why they take this risk with Mingo here.  Too much boom/bust possibility for my liking.  I would have either taken Milliner or traded down instead.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 5 - Ziggy Ansah, DE, BYU

Throughout this offseason, I projected the Lions to grab an OT with this pick.  Especially considering the retirement of Jeff Backus, this just made sense.  When they actually get on the clock, the Lions find that all three of the top OTs are gone.  As disappointing as this may be, the Lions are now able to look at defense with this pick.  The Lions need help in both getting after the QB and in the secondary.  I would have taken CB Dee Milliner.  Detroit took Ziggy Ansah.  This kid is as raw as they come, but he has all of the physical tools to be an impact pass rusher in the NFL.  I think this pick comes with some real risk, but if the Lions have patients, they could get a big payoff.  I give this pick a B.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 4 - Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

The first pick of the Chip Kelly era in Phily is Lane Johnson.  Kelly's system strives to run an incredible 84 plays per game.  To do this you need everyone on the offense to be fast and athletic.  Lane Johnson is a former QB turned TE turned OT.  He will have the energy to play the up-tempo style of football that Kelly wants to play.  I think this could turn out to be an excellent pick for the Eagles.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 3 - Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon

Leading up to the draft there was a lot of chatter that the Raiders were going to deal out of the third spot to try and get some additional picks.  In the end, they were able to get the Dolphins to bite.  Miami has made some splashes this offseason, and now they make another by moving up to number 3 to take Dion Jordan.  The Phins needed help getting after the QB, and they added a guy who has the potential to do just that.  Trading up to get him seems a bit odd to me though.  I would have not done that.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 2 - Luke Joeckel, OT, TAMU

Jacksonville has so many holes to fill, so it would be hard to pick someone who couldn't come in and be an immediate upgrade for them.  LT was not their biggest need, but Joeckel was the best player on their board.  The ESPN guys keep talking about Boselli, and the Jags will be thrilled if Joeckel pans out similarly.  This team still needs to find their signal caller of the future, but round 2 can serve to help them do that.  I like this pick.

2013 NFL Draft Pick 1 - Eric Fisher, OT, CMU

With the failure of KC to reach an agreement on the Braden Albert to Miami deal, Eric Fisher makes perfect sense.  With Albert unwilling to move to the right, Fisher can come in an fill that hole immediately, and should Albert get dealt, he could move over to the left.  Considering the Chiefs have some talent on this roster, adding Fisher will help them make those next steps.

2013 NFL Draft Final Thoughts

So welcome everyone to the 2013 NFL Draft.  Its about time.  Before KC gets things going, I want to share some final thoughts I some of the things I am hearing.

1. Tavon Austin - I continue to hear that Tavon Austin is a sure fire top 10 pick.  I understand he is an electrifying player, but I am concerned about Tavon in the top 10.  He is very small.  He actually makes Percy Harvin look big.  Also, despite his big play ability, I am a bit concerned about his productivity and intelligence.  From a productivity perspective, Austin was outperformed by teammate Bailey while at West Virginia.  Bailey is a 3rd - 4th round prospect.  Simply put, I don't expect Austin to be a big enough presence to justify him in the top 10.

2. Joeckel v Fisher - It has been reported that KC is now leaning towards Fisher over Joeckel.  If the Chiefs are going to deal Braden Albert, I think Joeckel is the better pick.  If they are going to keep him, Fisher should be picked.  Fisher can play on both the left and right.  Joeckel is really better suited for the left.  Joeckel is the safer pick.  Fisher has better upside.  When it is all said and done, I expect both players to be exceptionally successful, so KC should be fine either way.

3. QB Class - I know that there will be a QB or two taken in the first round.  I still wouldn't do it if I were a GM.  Geno Smith is the best of this class in my opinion.  Top pick in round 2 is where I have him slotted.  He will go earlier.  After Smith, I have Barkley and Wilson.  Both of these guys have some upside, but both have limitations too.  Barkley is smarter, but Wilson has better physical tools.  After these guys there are some intriguing guys (Glennon, Scott, Dysert) and some scary prospects (Manuel, Nassib).  Many have Nassib high on the board.  I just don't see it.  I know he plays with great energy, but he is not a winner.  He is not a careful QB.  He does have a live arm, but his accuracy is somewhat erratic.  I think he will be a career backup... at best.

4. Injuries - Of all of the drafts I've studied, this class has more injury concerns than any.  Having said that, there is a lot of starting caliber talent available starting tonight.  I think teams need to step away from some of these injury concerns, and just draft football players.  Very few, if any of these guys will emerge as stars, but getting long lasting contributors who can start games for your franchise is what will make teams successful.  This is where that begins.

We are now 5 minutes away, so it is time to get going.  This should be the most entertaining draft in years, and it is now upon us.  So without any further discussion... Kansas City is on the clock.

Instant Analysis of Every Pick

Tonight the NFL Draft begins.   This is the event that we have been waiting for all year long.  Tonight, beginning at 7:30pm EST, EZ Football Futures will, for the third year in a row, provide instant analysis of every pick, trade, and rumor through a live blog.

Come check it out, only at EZ Football Futures!

Final 2013 Mock Draft 6.0

Well folks, it is finally draft week, so let me lead into this final mock with some overall comments about this class.  As has been said before, this is a draft class that is light at the top.  Still, this is one of the deepest classes I have ever seen.  There are so many players who will be chosen in the third, fourth and fifth round who will be long time starters in the league.  Despite being light at quarterback and running back, this class is deep at almost every other position, so I expect many teams to come away from the weekend feeling very good about what they picked up.

So lets take one last look at the top 3 rounds of this weeks draft, and see what GM EZ would do if he was sitting in charge of every teams war room this weekend.

1.       Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Joeckel, OT, TAMU

As you all know, I have been looking at Joeckel with this pick almost all offseason.  The recent clamor surrounding a potential Braden Albert trade to Miami solidified this pick in my mind.  Although he shouldn't play the right side, it seems KC will indeed deal Albert (draft night trade anyone?) and open the space for their new anchor up front.

2.       Jacksonville Jaguars – Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon

For months I have touted DT Sharrif Floyd with this pick.  But after further roster analysis, I am going to change my tune.  I am going with Jordan.  I still see the Jags having so many needs, but the bottom line is I see a bigger value in the flexibility the team would have with Jordan being able to line up hand in the dirt, or upright at the second level.  I still think Floyd is one of the few studs in this draft, but Jordan is also, and he would be my pick here.

3.       Oakland Raiders – Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

This pick marks another change in direction at the top of my mock.  Previous mocks had the Raiders looking at Dee Milliner here, but this offseason the Raiders added some talent at the corner position.  It is not top tier talent, and could still use some bolstering, but when you are picking third overall, you do not have the freedom to use the pick for bolstering purposes.  They need to make an impact at a position of need, and no player still available would do that better than Sharrif Floyd.  I have been laudatory about Floyd's game for months, and the Raiders will benefit greatly from an addition like this.

4.       Philadelphia Eagles – Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

My previous mocks have had the Eagles reuniting new HC Chip Kelly with one of his Ducks, Dion Jordan.  Now Jordan is off the board, and despite being disappointed, Kelly and his Eagles will instead focus on filling the hole that was never quite filled by the signing of Nnamdi Asomugha.  Milliner is the top cover corner in this class, and starting their rebuild with a potential shut down corner is a nice way to start for Philadelphia.

5.       Detroit Lions – Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

With Jeff Backus having retired, the Lions have a need up front, and Fisher has the talent to be an impact player on either the left or right side.  Fisher is one of the top 5 players in this class, and the Lions could be looking at a host of suitors trying to trade up for Fisher at this juncture.  Since this mock will not try and predict trades, I say the Lions should sit tight, and get Fisher to be their new anchor up front.  This should help keep Stafford upright, and with the addition of the dynamic Reggie Bush during the offseason, mark Detroit as one of the most dangerous offenses in the league.

6.       Cleveland Browns – Star Lotulelei, DL, Utah

Of all of the mocks that I have read, I have yet to see this projection, but it really does make sense to me.  The health scare Star Lotulelei faced at the combine proved to be nothing, and he really is an impact player.  In the 3-4 the Browns will play, he would line up at DE.  He has Haloti Ngata upside, and I think, although not their biggest need, this pick still makes sense.

7.       Arizona Cardinals - Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

Many have predicted that the Cardinals will look to draft West Virginia QB, Geno Smith if he is still available.  On the surface this makes sense, but as all of my regular readers know, I'm not overly impressed with any QB from this class.  If GM EZ was in charge of the Cardinals war room, I would pull the trigger on the last of the big three OTs, Lane Johnson.  I like Johnson's work ethic, and his potential, although not as high as his counterparts', is still such that he could be starting for the Cards a decade from now.  If the Cards are going to compete, they need to be better at protecting the QB, regardless of who is under center.

8.       Buffalo Bills - Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama 

The Bills are another QB needy team, but like with the Cards one pick earlier, GM EZ still doesn't feel good about reaching for a QB here.  Instead, I see the Bills adding the best OG who I have ever rated coming out of the collegiate ranks.  Buffalo let Levitre go to Tennessee, and as I have said before, although not a headline making move, I think this was big.  Warmack would be his immediate replacement, and an asset for Buffalo as they look to do a little rebuilding themselves.

9.       New York Jets - Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia

If it wasn't before, it sure is now.  The Jets are a rebuilding team.  They have lost so much this offseason, including most recently dealing Revis to Tampa.  This means the Jets could go in any direction with this pick, and now CB needs to be considered too.  This means the pick came down to Jarvis Jones, and Xavier Rhodes.  Despite the new need at corner, I go with Jones.  Bottom line is Jones projects out higher than Rhodes does on my board.  Jones has some of the most violent hands I have ever seen, and I think he can develop into a premiere play maker in this league.  With this pick, I go with Jones, and hold my breath hoping Rhodes is still available in a few picks.

10.  Tennessee Titans - Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

My last mock has the Titans choosing CB, Xavier Rhodes with this pick.  When I did this draft that was still a possibility.  As I looked over my board and the depth chart of the Titans, I changed my mind.  Bottom line here was Ansah earned a higher overall rating than Rhodes and that made the final decision for me.  Ansah has some serious upside.  As has been said before, he is raw, but he sure can develop into a rare pass rusher in the NFL.  A fierce pass rusher can make the whole team better, and that is why he hold the higher rating, and is the choice of the Titans here.

11.  San Diego Chargers - Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

It is always nice when your team's biggest need matches up with the BPA in the draft.  In the Bolts case, that is exactly the case here.  The Bolts have to improve their o-line and Jonathan Cooper has the flexibility to play anywhere up front.  I think he steps into the lineup as a starter on day 1.  Considering the growth of Denver, and the developments in KC, I think the Chargers have to hit with this pick.

12.   Miami Dolphins – Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

Some called this pick a reach during my last mock, and I see how they may think that.  I don't.  I really like what Eifert brings to the table.  He really can stretch the seam of a defense and he has the ball skills to be an impact player downfield.  The Dolphins have done a great job of adding play makers to Tannehill's arsenal this offseason.  Adding this one final piece, and it will be hard not to see this Miami offense as explosive.

13.   New York Jets via Tampa Bay - Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

With the CB considering Titans and Dolphins picking in between the Jets two selections, somehow the Jets gets very lucky and find themselves in position to still get Rhodes with this choice.  He will not come in and entirely replace what was lost with Revis, but he will begin to stem the tide.  Cromartie is aging, and Wilson has been a bust, so adding Rhodes is necessary.  New York still has other holes that need to be filled, but getting Rhodes and a likely third next year for Revis is not too bad.

14.   Carolina Panthers - Sheldon Richardson, DT, Purdue

When I got on the clock as the GM of the Panthers, this decision came down to two players.  It was Richardson vs Tavon Austin.  The Panthers need help at both positions and these are two of the top players left.  In the end, the decision came down to my feeling that Richardson would make a bigger impact faster, and that Carolina already had a player with a similar skill set to Austin (Steve Smith).  I think the Panthers have to hold up better at the defensive point of attack, and I think Richardson will help them do exactly that.

15.   New Orleans Saints -Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

I love it when a college standout gets to stay at home to play his pro ball.  It has the potential to be very special.  Mingo played his college ball at LSU and with this pick, he would get to stay in state and play for the Saints.  The Saints have to get better in the front seven, and Mingo has some real upside.  He is one of the guys in this class with boom-bust potential.  I think Payton will be very happy to add a talent like Mingo in his return from exile.

16.   St Louis Rams - Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

The Rams are in a good position with this draft because of the RG3 trade from a year ago.  Ultimately, they would love to see either Cooper or Warmack fall to them here.  In this scenario, neither is available.  Thus they look to either OLB or WR.  Arthur Brown and Tavon Austin are the top two candidates available.  Austin has been rocketing up draft boards this season.  Adding a speed demon like Austin to the Rams offense could really help Jeff Fisher get closer to the top of the league's best conference.

17.   Pittsburgh Steelers - Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

This is the first time in a very long time, I can remember looking over the Pittsburgh Steelers and seeing so many holes.  They have to fill needs at LB, NT, CB, WR, and RB.  When the team looks over the available choices I think they will look to either Arthur Brown or Desmond Trufant.  Trufant has very good speed and excellent ball skills.  Considering how much trouble the team had in the secondary a year ago, adding a player like Trufant seems like the best possible choice for them at this point.

18.   Dallas Cowboys - Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

Dallas is a team with a lot of talent that continues to fall short season after season.  Last offseason they spent a lot of money trying to upgrade their secondary.  They did better in 2012, but they still have some needs there.  Adding the local product, Kenny Vaccaro will make the Big D fans happy.  Although his measurables are a bit questionable, Vaccaro won everyone over at the combine with his personality and character.  Dallas could use some high character influence in their locker room, and his smarts at the safety position will be well received too.

19.   New York Giants - Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State

The Giants are a good team but they have few holes to fill on both sides of the ball.  The defense is the larger concern, and there, OLB and S are the areas that are the biggest needs.  I really love the game Arthur Brown plays. He covers ground so well, and he is an exceptional tackler.  In a very competitive division, this is really an asset for any defense.  Brown is one of my favorite players in this draft, and I love how he fits on this Giants squad.

20.   Chicago Bears - DJ Fluker, OT, Alabama

The biggest issue the Bears have faced over the last three seasons is the porous o-line they have.  This has created erratic play from Cutler, and thus, inconsistent results. This offseason the Bears added Jermon Bushrod to play OT for them.  In reality, this should likely preclude them from adding an OT with this pick... but it shouldn't.  Bushrod is not the answer.  I still see this team needing a real option to keep Cutler upright.  If I were calling the shots in Chicago, I'd look at DJ Fluker with this pick.  I like his production at Alabama, against some of the best competition anywhere in the nation.  Then again, if I were calling the shots in Chicago, I would not have signed Bushrod in the first place.

21.  Cincinnati Bengals - Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

Look over the AFC North and you will find it is the Bengals that are the best team in this division.  They made great strides a year ago, and now they have some needs, but not many.  Considering this, my decision with this pick came down to Tennessee WR, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Werner.  I picked Werner, because he is the safer of the two candidates.  Patterson has better upside, but is much riskier.  For the Bengals to solidify themselves as the class of the North, I think they need to draft the player who will more likely pay dividends.  Werner is that guy.  He has been a bit inconsistent at FSU, but when he is on, he is on.

22.   St Louis Rams via Washington - John Cyprien, S, Florida International

With their first pick in this round the team added Austin.  Now they need to look to the defensive side of the ball.  OLB is their biggest need, but Arthur Brown is gone, and all the other options are too much of a reach.  The Rams need a safety, and in ten years from now, I suspect we will view John Cyprien as the best from this class.  He has tremendous upside.  Despite a lack of big time competition, I think this kid is a stud, and Fisher and the Rams will be thrilled.

23.  Minnesota Vikings - Mantei Te'o, LB, Notre Dame

Minnesota was considerably better this year than I anticipated.  They still have some room to grow though.  The Vikes traded away Percy Harvin in the offseason, but then they went and added Greg Jennings from Green Bay.  They still need to add another WR, but they also have some additional holes. The biggest of these is at inside linebacker.  Te'o has had a crazy offseason, but in the end, he is still a pretty good football player.  He does have some limitations, as evidenced during the National Title Game, but Les Frazier will work to minimize those, and take advantage of the assets Te'o does have.

24.   Indianapolis Colts - Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

After a demonstration of seriously poor decision making earlier in the offseason, Ogletree fell down my board to the second round.  I think I may have overreacted.  Ogletree is still a hell of a football player.  He makes plays all over the field from his post in the middle of the defense, and the Colts could use that.  Ogletree needs to be around some good influences, and Andrew Luck and the coaching staff in Indy will be exactly that.

25.  Minnesota Vikings via Seattle - DJ Hayden, CB, Houston

During my previous Mock, I had the Vikes taking Werner with this pick, but now he is gone.  There are some other options at DE, including Werner's college teammate Tank Carradine, but Minnesota also has some other needs.  One of them is at corner, where my board's fastest riser resides.  DJ Hayden was one of the top corners in the college game prior to almost dying a year ago.  The injury that almost killed him was a freak thing, and doctors have said it should not impact him in any way.  This kid has great cover skills, and if I were sitting in the big chair in the Minnesota war room on Thursday night, it is Hayden's name that I would send in with this choice.

26.   Green Bay Packers - Eric Reid, S, LSU

Green Bay has built their franchise around smart draft picks.  This team does not often reach for players, and because of that, they get value from their picks, and have become one of the premiere franchises in the sport again.  When I cam on the clock as the Packers GM, I looked at the top players on my board who were still available.  Reid's name jumped out at me because he feels like a Packer type to me.  He does all of the little things well.  He may not be the fastest or strongest at his position, but he is one of the smartest, and he has a workman like mentality that I think would play well in the Packers system.

27.  Houston Texans - Cordarrell Patterson, WR, Tennessee

Previously, Patterson had been rated much higher on my board, even going in the top 10 at one point.  But as is my habit, I look over players again and again to see if I see new things about them.  When it comes to his play, Patterson still excites me with his upside.  Having said that, it was studying more about the kid that has him falling now.  Patterson seems to have some maturity issues right now.  The Texans need a receiver  but they are otherwise a very solid team.  Patterson's issues may be temporary, and if so, he could develop into one of the better receivers in the league, and thus this is a worth while risk for Houston at this point in the draft.

28.  Denver Broncos - Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

Denver was awfully close last year, and now they have added Wes Welker to the offense.  If they can add a few more pieces to the defense, they could take that next step.  The addition of Dominique Rodgers Cromartie to the secondary was nice, and it really leaves the Broncos to look at d-line with this next pick.  Many are projecting them to try and replace Elvis Dumerville here, but based on what is available, I like the addition of Sylvester Williams.  Williams has grown on me.  The more I watch of him, the more I like.  This is his first appearance in the top round of my mocks this year, but I think he is deserving of this distinction.

29.   New England Patriots - Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama

Another mock, and again GM EZ goes with Barret Jones to the Pats with this pick.  I know why everyone hates this pick, but I simply don't see it as a reach.  As GM for the Pats, I value smarts, work ethic, and system fit above all else, and Jones has all three of those factors in his favor.  The fact that it is also at a position of need, makes this even more appealing.  Simply put, Jones fits, and thus he remains my selection, much to the chagrin of many of my readers.

30.   Atlanta Falcons - Jamar Taylor, CB, Bosie State

After looking over the Falcons roster in more detail, I decided another change was in order during the first round.  Adding a young TE like Ertz would be nice, but since there are other more glaring needs, this luxury pick would have to wait.  The Falcons lost Dunta Robinson this offseason, and although he may be a bit overpriced, his loss still leaves a hole to be filled.  Jamar Taylor has been moving up boards, including mine this offseason with his all around good performances.  He recently had a borderline round 1 grade, but after my final evaluation, I removed the borderline distinction.  I think his play fits the need in Atlanta, and thus I make this selection.

31.   San Francisco 49ers – Jesse Williams, NT, Alabama

The Niners are a very good team, and I expect for them to be back in the title picture again next season.  They really have very few holes so when I got on the clock for San Fran, I simply looked over the best available players.  Jesse Williams is an explosive athlete who can fill the middle even on a 3-4 defense.  Safety may be a bigger need for this club but Williams provides the better value for them at this point, especially when you consider how many more opportunities the Niners will have to fill their needs later in the draft.

32.   Baltimore Ravens - Matt Elam, S, Florida

When you are the Super Bowl champs, you wear a big target on your back.  The Ravens learned this only weeks after hoisting the Lombardi trophy as other teams began to pick them clean following their title.  Ray Lewis and Matt Birk retired.  Then Kruger, Reed, Pollard, Ellerby, and Boldin all committed to continuing their careers elsewhere.  This leaves the defending champs with some serious holes, and unfortunately, I suspect that this draft scenario would result in all of their top targets having been selected.  Next on their list should be Elam.  I love the way this kid plays the game, but I don't project him to be a superstar pro.  Can he be good?  Yes, and I think that is why the Ravens should select him here.  Everyone needs to start rebuild with someone, and I see Elam as the guy.



33. Jacksonville Jaguars - Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
34. San Francisco 49ers via Kansas City - DJ Swearinger, S, South Carolina
35. Philadelphia Eagles - Alex Okafor, DE/OLB, Texas
36. Detroit Lions - Darius Slay, CB, Mississippi State
37. Cincinnati Bengals via Oakland - Eddy Lacy, RB, Alabama
38. Arizona Cardinals - Matt Barkley, QB, USC
39. Cleveland Browns - Pick Forfeited
40. New York Jets - Dallas Thomas, OT, Tennessee
41. Tennessee Titans - David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State
42. Buffalo Bills - Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas
43. Miami Dolphins - Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
44. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jamie Collins, OLB, Southern Miss
45. Carolina Panthers - Keenan Allen, WR, California
46. New Orleans Saints - Pick Forfeited
47. San Diego Chargers - Kevin Minter, LB, LSU
48. St Louis Rams - Cornelius Washington, LB, Georgia
49. Dallas Cowboys - Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
50. Pittsburgh Steelers - Robert Woods, WR, USC
51. New York Giants - Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford
52. Chicago Bears - Kiko Alonso, LB, Oregon
53. Washington Redskins - Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
54. Minnesota Vikings - Cornellius Carradine, DE, Florida State
55. Cincinnati Bengals - Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse
56. Miami Dolphins via Indianapolis - Johnathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
57. Green Bay Packers - Sam Montgomery, DE/OLB, LSU
58. Seattle Seahawks - Demontre Moore, DE/OLB, TAMU
59. Houston Texans - Jordan Mills, OT, La Tech
60. Denver Broncos - Blidi Wreh Wilson, CB, UConn
61. New England Patriots - Deandre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
62. Atlanta Falcons - Brian Winter, OG, Kent State
63. San Francisco 49ers - Kyle Long, OG, Oregon
64. Baltimore Ravens - Jonathan Bostic, LB, Florida

65. Kansas City Chiefs - Datone Jones, DE/OLB, UCLA
66. Jacksonville Jaguars - Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
67. Detroit Lions - Zaviar Gooden, OLB, Missouri
68. Oakland Raiders - Jordan Reed, TE, Florida
69. Philadelphia Eagles - Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky
70. Cleveland Browns - Dwayne Gratz, CB, UConn
71. Arizona Cardinals - Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State
72. Tennessee Titans - Vance McDonald, TE, Rice
73. Buffalo Bills - Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
74. New York Jets - Travis Kelce, TE, Cincinnati
75. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State
76. San Francisco 49ers via Miami - Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
77. New Orleans Saints - Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers
78. San Diego Chargers - Shamarko Thomas, S, Syracuse
79. Miami Dolphins - JJ Wilcox, S, Georgia Southern
80. St Louis Rams - Sean Porter, LB, TAMU
81. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jonathan Hankins, NT, Ohio State
82. Dallas Cowboys - Sio Moore, OLB, UConn
83. New York Giants - Jordan Poyer, S, Oregon State
84. Miami Dolphins via Chicago - Quanterus Smith, DE, Western Kentucky
85. Minnesota Vikings - Ryan Swope, WR, TAMU
86. Cincinnati Bengals - Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin
87. Washington Redskins - Joe Kruger, DE, Utah
88. Indianapolis Colts - Sanders Commings, DB, Georgia
89. Seattle Seahawks - Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas Pine Bluff
90. Green Bay Packers - Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina
91. Houston Texans - Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State
92. Denver Broncos - Brandon Jenkins, DE/OLB, Florida State
93. New England Patriots - TJ McDonald, S, USC
94. Atlanta Falcons - Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn
95. San Francisco 49ers - Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma
96. Baltimore Ravens - Aaron Dobson, WR, Marshall
97. Houston Texans - Tharold Simon, CB, LSU
98. Kansas City Chiefs - AJ Klein, LB, Iowa State
99. Tennessee Titans - Devonte Holloman, LB, South Carolina