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.