2013 NFL Draft Thread

[TFM_Dale]

The Panthers had a glaring need at defensive tackle. Now they have a Star, drafting Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei with the 14th overall pick.

It didn’t take them long to get their card in, apparently eager to land the big man, who will start next to Dwan Edwards
inside, on a defensive front seven that is suddenly quite good, with endsCharles Johnson and Greg Hardy outside, and a corps of first-round linebackers including Luke Kuechly, Jon Beason and Thomas Davis.

Lotulelei was thought the be a top-five pick before a scare about a heart condition at the Combine, but those concerns turned out to be unfounded.

[TFM_Dale]

Is it me or was the Dolphins' pick completely bizarre and terrible?

All I can think is they have the Albert trade pretty much done so they filled a different hole. Why they traded up to not take a tackle I have no fucking idea.

[TFM_Dale]

Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has himself a new safety. Kenny Vaccaro, a safety from Texas, has gone to New Orleans with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft.

Vaccaro was the consensus pick as the top safety in this year’s draft, and the Saints wanted a youngster to go along with veteran startersRoman HarperandMalcolm Jenkins. Vaccaro can cover slot receivers and is good at playing the run inside the box, and he should make an immediate difference, both on defense and on special teams.

Last year, the Saints’ secondary was nothing short of pathetic. This year, Vaccaro should make that secondary better.

[Nickdfresh]

And the Bills take E.J. Manuel. I'm happy with the pick, but Buffalo is a place where talent comes to die (since 1997)...

[TFM_Dale]

When the Buffalo Bills traded out of the eighth pick in the draft to move down, it seemed they were moving down with the intention of selecting a quarterback.

The Bills were thought to be high on Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib and West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. Just about every quarterback was linked as a possibility for the Bills at some point in the process. The Bills were able to accomplish their goal of drafting a quarterback, it just wasn’t the one everyone was expected.

Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel become the first quarterback off the board in the 2013 NFL Draft. It’s the first time since 2000 that a quarterback wasn’t selected in the Top 10. Manuel comes in alongside recent acquisition Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson to compete for the Bills starting job. Manuel is the first quarterback taken by Buffalo in the first round since J.P. Losman in 2004.

[TFM_Dale]

Gotta bail for now.

[Nickdfresh]

When the Buffalo Bills traded out of the eighth pick in the draft to move down, it seemed they were moving down with the intention of selecting a quarterback.

The Bills were thought to be high on Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib and West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. Just about every quarterback was linked as a possibility for the Bills at some point in the process. The Bills were able to accomplish their goal of drafting a quarterback, it just wasn’t the one everyone was expected.

Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel become the first quarterback off the board in the 2013 NFL Draft. It’s the first time since 2000 that a quarterback wasn’t selected in the Top 10. Manuel comes in alongside recent acquisition Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson to compete for the Bills starting job. Manuel is the first quarterback taken by Buffalo in the first round since J.P. Losman in 2004.

The Bills weren't high on Geno Smith; Marrone basically owned him as the coach of the Orangemen and it was said didn't really think much of Geno. It is a big surprise the they didn't take Nassib seeing as so far the Bills are becoming Syracuse West. But I really like this pick, but only if Marrone and his staff are the real deal and are able to settle this stallion down and tweak his fundamentals. I think this guy sounds like the can't miss kid unless the development staff is completely fucking terrible...

[TFM_Dale]

The Bills weren't high on Geno Smith; Marrone basically owned him as the coach of the Orangemen and it was said didn't really think much of Geno. It is a big surprise the they didn't take Nassib seeing as so far the Bills are becoming Syracuse West. But I really like this pick, but only if Marrone and his staff are the real deal and are able to settle this stallion down and tweak his fundamentals. I think this guy sounds like the can't miss kid unless the development staff is completely fucking terrible...

I like the pick but it is a gamble. I think they are hoping for RG3 part 2 and when you look at the upside of the available QBs Manuel is surely at or near the top of the list. I think it was a reach but hell, the Lions took Ziggy at number 5 and I'm kind of liking it, why settle for solid when you have a chance at a home run?

[TFM_Dale]

The Steelers added a young outside linebacker to bolster their pass rush and help replace the departed James Harrison, selecting Georgia’s Jarvis Jones No. 17 overall on Thursday night.

Jones (6-2, 245) notched 14.5 sacks in 2012 for the Bulldogs. If Jones is to push for a starting role as a rookie, it would likely be at the expense of veteran Jason Worilds.

That said, the Steelers generally don’t rush their rookies into the lineup. They have to earn their way onto the field. Maurkice Pouncey played in his rookie season of 2010 because he was too good to sit, and guard David DeCastro looked poised to be a Week One starter before a knee injury last summer.

“Quite honestly, I don’t envision anyone coming in and being an impact in Year One,” Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said this week, according to the club. “I never do because I think there is always a growing process that has to occur.”

It can take time for Steelers’ outside linebackers to master Dick LeBeau’s defense. LaMarr Woodley, it should be noted, did not start as a rookie in 2007. If Jones can at least be a solid situational rusher (a la Woodley as a rookie) and pick up the defense, he will have done well, considering how other rookies have fared with this veteran-laden club.

[TFM_Dale]

The 49ers entered the draft with 13 selections and they used some of them to swing a trade with the Cowboys for the 18th pick in the first round.

They used the pick to shore up the safety spot, grabbing Eric Reid from LSU to join a group that lost Dashon Goldson to the Buccaneers in free agency. That made safety one of the few needs on a team that had more picks than they had roster spots open for newcomers.

Reid has the size/speed mix that teams are looking for in safeties in an age when tight ends move like wide receivers. Reid uses that size and speed to lay some serious hits on ball carriers, which should make him right at home alongside Donte Whitner in the 49ers secondary. We’ll see if Reid’s arrival ends the chance that Charles Woodson winds up in San Francisco.

The 49ers gave up the 74th overall pick in addition to sending the 31st pick of the first round to Dallas.

[TFM_Dale]

The Giants needed to add some youth to their offensive line, and found it with their first-round pick.

With the 19th overall selection, the Giants took Syracuse tackle Justin Pugh, who will likely begin inside at guard.

He can push David Diehl out of the starting lineup at right tackle eventually, if not now. The 32-year-old Diehl took a pay cut this offseason to stay, which might buy him some time.

They locked up left tackle Will Beatty prior to free agency, and now have another solid piece to protect Eli Manning.

[TFM_Dale]

The Bears have beefed up their offensive line with their first-round draft pick.

Kyle Long, a guard from Oregon, is Chicago’s choice with the 20th overall pick, and an immediate starter whose job is keeping Jay Cutler upright.

Long is the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long and brother of Rams defensive end Chris Long. Football talent runs in the family.

This isn’t a sexy pick for the Bears, but it is a pick that should make everyone in Chicago who has been grumpy about the Bears’ porous offensive line happy. And it’s certainly a pick that should make Cutler happy.

[TFM_Dale]

For the second time in four years, the Cincinnati Bengals have taken a tight end with their first round selection. The Bengals became the first team to take a tight end in this year’s draft by selecting Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert with the 21st overall pick.

Eifert won the Mackey Award as college football’s top tight end last season over Stanford’s Zach Ertz and Washington’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins. At 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, Eifert is a more effective pass catcher than blocker.

The Bengals still have Jermaine Gresham under contract for two more seasons after taking him in the first round of the 2010 draft. The Bengals needed to add to their weapons on the offensive side of the ball. A.J. Green is one of the league’s best receivers but Cincinnati still was looking to find more options for quarterback Andy Dalton. While tight end may not have been the most pressing need, Eifert should help Cincinnati be more productive offensively next season.

[TFM_Dale]

The Falcons, who had the draft-pick surplus necessary to make a move up the board in Round One, did just that, trading into the No. 22 spot to take Washington cornerback Desmond Trufant.

The No. 22 pick belonged to the Rams, who had acquired it from Washington in the trade that landed Robert Griffin III in Washington last year. According to the Rams, the Falcons surrendered picks Nos. 30 (Round One), 92 (Round Three) and No. 198 (Round Six). St. Louis also included a conditional 2015 seventh-rounder in the deal.

Trufant (6-o, 190) helps address a need for the Falcons, who released Dunta Robinson and had Brent Grimes depart in free agency. Trufant,who intercepted six passes in four seasons with Washington, is likely to compete to start opposite of Asante Samuel. An All-Pac 12 performer in 2012, Trufant is the third corner to be selected in the draft, joining Dee Milliner (Jets) and D.J. Hayden (Raiders).

Desmond Trufant is the third member of his family to get an NFL shot. His brothers, Marcus and Isaiah, both have league experience, with Marcus a first-rounder of Seattle 10 years ago.

[TFM_Dale]

The Vikings recently restructured defensive tackle Kevin Williams‘ contract so that he will become a free agent after the 2013 season.

They may have taken his replacement with the 23rd pick of the first round. The Vikings selected defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd of Florida, ending an unexpected slide down the draft board for the former Gator.

Floyd had been linked to the Raiders with the third overall pick, but Oakland traded down to 12 and then selected cornerback D.J. Hayden to send Floyd tumbling all the way to Minnesota. Williams is one of four impending free agents on the defensive line for the Vikings, so Floyd may spend this season working in a rotation until he gets his feet fully under him. If his athletic ability and quickness translate to the NFL, the Vikings shouldn’t miss a beat if Williams does leave the team after next season.

The Vikings also own the 25th pick, which could be used for a middle linebacker. There’s one from Notre Dame that you may have heard of, especially if you’ve been watching the television coverage of the first round.

[TFM_Dale]

The Colts needed a little bit of everything other than quarterback, and added some help for their pass rush with the 24th pick, taking Florida State defensive end Bjoern Warner.

The former German exchange student played with his hand on the ground in college, but will rush in the 3-4 now. He had 13 sacks last year, leading him to leave school a year early.

He’s still developing as a player, but walks into an defense that needs a lot of help, and fits with the try-hard mentality the Colts have developed in a short time.

[TFM_Dale]

For the second time tonight, the Minnesota Vikings have added a defensive player who should start from Week One.

First Minnesota drafted defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd with the 23rd overall pick, and now the Vikings have drafted Xavier Rhodes, a cornerback from Florida State, with the 25th overall pick.

After saying goodbye to veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield, the Vikings wanted to add a youngster at the position. Rhodes is a solid choice who should be able to start as a rookie.

There was talk that Minnesota was high on Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, but Te’o remains unpicked. Instead, the Vikings have gone with Floyd and Rhodes.

[TFM_Dale]

The Green Bay Packers elected to go back to the defensive line for the second straight year in a row by selecting UCLA defensive end Datone Jones with the 26th pick.

While last year’s selection, USC defensive end Nick Perry, was used in more of a standup linebacker role by the Packers last season, Jones is more likely to play with his hand on the ground. Jones could be a very solid fit for the Packers as an end in their 3-4 defense. At 6-foot-4, 283 pounds, Jones is a bigger end that can still pressure the quarterback.

Jones joins Jerel Worthy, C.J. Wilson and Mike Neal at the end position for Green Bay.

[TFM_Dale]

The Texans, who have had a good run with first-round picks lately, selected Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins with the No. 27 overall selection in Round One on Thursday night.

Hopkins hauled in 82 passes for 1,405 yards and 18 touchdowns in his junior season at Clemson. The Texans, who lack a clear-cut starting wide receiver opposite of Andre Johnson after the release of Kevin Walter, could make Hopkins a first-stringer right off the bat.

The Texans’ drafting has been key to their success in recent seasons. Consider their last five first-round picks: outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus, defensive end J.J. Watt, cornerback Kareem Jackson, linebacker Brian Cushing, offensive tackle Duane Brown. Watt is a dynamic player — one of the very best defenders in the league — and Brown has become an excellent left tackle. Cushing too has shown difference-making ability at times. Jackson’s play has stabilized after a rough start to his career, and Mercilus notched six sacks as a rookie as a key reserve.

The Texans are not afraid to plug rookies right into important roles. Mercilus, Watt, Jackson, Cushing and Brown all got chances to contribute in their first NFL seasons. Given the Texans’ track record and their WR situation, Hopkins could very well get on-the-job training.

Hopkins has denied involvement in the alleged mistreatment of a hotel room assigned to him and Rutgers’ Mark Harrison.

[TFM_Dale]

The Broncos used their first draft pick on defensive lineman Derek Wolfe in 2012 and they followed up this year by opening their draft with another big fella to stick on the front line.

Defensive tackle Sylvester Williams from North Carolina is the man this time around. The Broncos made him the 28th overall pick of the draft in hopes of improving their defense after winning the AFC West last season.

Williams should join Kevin Vickerson and Terrance Knighton in the rotation at defensive tackle and should be on the field when the Broncos are trying to get after the quarterback on passing downs. He’s got the right size and ability, but Williams will have to show consistency to move to the top of the depth chart in Denver. With Wolfe at end and Von Miller at outside linebacker, the Broncos are starting to put some young foundations in place for their defense moving forward.

They might need to turn to a veteran for pass rushing help in the short term, though. Elvis Dumervil’s shoes haven’t been filled and the Broncos might not have a better choice for that role than signing either Dwight Freeney or John Abraham.

[TFM_Dale]

The Vikings had plenty of picks and a need at wide receiver, both because of the Percy Harvin trade.

So they made a bold move, trading second-, third-, fourth- and seventh-round picks to the Patriots for the 29th pick, which they used on Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.

Patterson played one year of Division I football, but has big-play ability (16.9 yards per reception), and will get a chance to stretch the field for a Vikings team in great need of a deep threat.

The Vikings are now out of business until Saturday, but they need a chance to catch their breath after using three first-rounders, adding defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and cornerback Xavier Rhodes earlier in the night.

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Rams coach Jeff Fisher loves taking chances on talented players whose draft stock slipped because of off-field concerns. And now he’s done it again.

The Rams traded down and selected Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree with the 30th pick in the 2013 NFL draft.

Ogletree is a very good athlete who flies all over the field, but there were character questions about him at Georgia, and those questions were compounded when he was arrested for drunk driving in February. Had it not been for that arrest, Ogletree wouldn’t have been available at pick No. 30.

But he was available, and the Rams grabbed him. Now, just as with Janoris Jenkins last year, Fisher has added a talented but troubled player to his defense.

[TFM_Dale]

With a brand new contract for Tony Romo in the books, the Dallas Cowboys are making an effort to help protect the cornerstone of their franchise.

After trading down from the 18th pick earlier in the first round, the Cowboys took Wisconsin center Travis Frederick with the 31st overall pick. The Cowboys also re-signed Phil Costa to a two-year deal earlier this offseason. The addition of Frederick will likely push Costa to the guard position. Dallas needed to upgrade the interior of their offensive line and Frederick addresses the problem.

Frederick is the first center to be selected in the first round since Mike Pouncey was taken by the Miami Dolphins out of Florida in the 2011 Draft.

[TFM_Dale]

Taking a safety in Round One for the first time since selecting the great Ed Reed in 2002, the Baltimore Ravens closed out Day One of the 2013 NFL Draft by selecting Florida’s Matt Elam with the No. 32 overall choice.

Elam could compete to start immediately opposite of Michael Huff in the Ravens’ revamped safety corps. Reed signed with Houston in free agency, and the Ravens parted ways with veteran Bernard Pollard.

The 5-foot-10, 208-pound Elam was a first-team All-American in 2012 for Florida, intercepting four passes. He was a two-year starter for the Gators, departing after his junior season. His brother, Abram Elam, has made 71 NFL career starts at safety since entering the league in 2006.

The Ravens have 11 more draft picks, including four non-tradeable compensatory picks. They have the No. 62 (Round Two) and No. 94 (Round Three) selections Friday.

[TFM_Dale]

PFT Round 2 Mock Draft

After assessing each team’s draft needs, offensive and defensive approaches and the prospects still left on the board, here is PFT’s Round Two mock draft:

33. Jaguars: Cornerback Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State

34. 49ers: Nose tackle John Jenkins, Georgia

35. Eagles: Quarterback Geno Smith, West Virginia

36. Lions: Offensive guard Brian Winters, Kent State

37. Bengals: Cornerback Darius Slay, Mississippi State

38. Cardinals: Outside linebacker Cornelius Washington, Georgia

39. Jets: Quarterback Ryan Nassib, Syracuse

40. Titans: Wide receiver Justin Hunter, Tennessee

41. Bills: Tight end Zach Ertz, Stanford

42. Raiders: Quarterback Matt Barkley, USC

43. Buccaneers: Cornerback Jamar Taylor, Boise State

44. Panthers: Cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut

45. Chargers: Nose tackle Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State

46. Bills: Offensive tackle Menelik Watson, Florida State

47. Cowboys: Running back Eddie Lacy, Alabama

48. Steelers: Linebacker Manti Te’o, Notre Dame

49. Giants: Tight end Gavin Escobar, San Diego State

50. Bears: Defensive tackle Kawann Short, Purdue

51. Redskins: Linebacker Kevin Minter, Louisiana State

52. Patriots: Wide receiver Robert Woods, Southern California

53. Bengals: Safety Johnathan Cyprien, Florida International

54. Dolphins: Cornerback Will Davis, Utah State

55. Packers: Nose tackle Jesse Williams, Alabama

56. Seahawks: Running back Andre Ellington, Clemson

57. Texans: Outside linebacker Damontre Moore, Texas A&M

58. Broncos: Defensive end Margus Hunt, Southern Methodist

59. Patriots: Center Barrett Jones, Alabama

60. Falcons: Defensive end Tank Carradine, Florida State

61. 49ers: Cornerback David Amerson, North Carolina State

62. Ravens: Wide receiver Keenan Allen, California

UPDATE 12:54 p.m. ET on Friday, April 26: A new addition to the mock is Florida International safety Johnathan Cyprien — surely a well-regarded prospect, as some have mentioned in the comments. After further review, he’s in. This bumped down Andre Ellington to No. 56. Also, I switched picks Nos. 40 and 41.

[Never was]

EJ Manual not a great pick in my view, that kid makes really bad decisions with the ball although he has huge physical skills.

Jets w Geno Smith is pretty good value at that pick and makes the 13th pick of a DT more sense, other words they gots lucky. Smith has such small hands hope he learns how to not fumble.

Manti in San Diego is a good spot for him. His value is read and react into gaps so that system fits. His read ability and quickness outweigh his speed issue. His real issue is he can't shed blocks on run plays and he has not shown a consistent off season work ethic. Good spot him in terms of system and community.

[Never was]

Ty Eifert is a beast period, he will do very well but Ertz really is not far behind. Great hands for both but Ty can get more vertical in the passing game than Ertz but those two are both studs. Big drop off in TE after those two.

[TFM_Dale]

EJ Manual not a great pick in my view, that kid makes really bad decisions with the ball although he has huge physical skills.

Jets w Geno Smith is pretty good value at that pick and makes the 13th pick of a DT more sense, other words they gots lucky. Smith has such small hands hope he learns how to not fumble.

Manti in San Diego is a good spot for him. His value is read and react into gaps so that system fits. His read ability and quickness outweigh his speed issue. His real issue is he can't shed blocks on run plays and he has not shown a consistent off season work ethic. Good spot him in terms of system and community.

Still say Man-bi Gay-o will be a bust. Bama had their way with him and the kid just doesn't seem mentally strong enough to handle the pressure of needing to bust his ass to get much better in a short time. The current NFL is a speed game and if you don't have that going for you you have to have top notch instincts. He doesn't have either of those traits. We will find out soon enough though.

[TFM_Dale]

EJ Manual not a great pick in my view, that kid makes really bad decisions with the ball although he has huge physical skills.

Jets w Geno Smith is pretty good value at that pick and makes the 13th pick of a DT more sense, other words they gots lucky. Smith has such small hands hope he learns how to not fumble.

Manti in San Diego is a good spot for him. His value is read and react into gaps so that system fits. His read ability and quickness outweigh his speed issue. His real issue is he can't shed blocks on run plays and he has not shown a consistent off season work ethic. Good spot him in terms of system and community.

I like the Manuel pick over taking Geno, it's a roll of the dice sure but Geno had inflated stats from the system he was in and is a turnover machine. Nothing gets you benched faster then fumbling. That said if Rex the retard lets Marty the moron install a true west coast offense Geno could end up having the better numbers of the two. Coaching will determine who becomes the better QB, I just think Manuel has a far higher ceiling.

[Never was]

Good thing for Geno his comparison is Sanchez, there just is not anyway possible he can be worse but I agree Smith is a boom or bust no in between. I would not taken him in the first but second round and upside there is value. Rex is a brillant defensive coordinator, problem he is a head coach and has shown zero interest or ability towards the offense. Even last year with a shite roster the defense was respectable but my god that offense was McCay 1979 Buccaneer bad.

Well you something in Manual I don't. Body of a god with those physical skills but brain by Mattell. He has made so many bizaree decisions with the ball. Again in the second I would've but too many bad decisions for the first.

Manti is shockingly naive to outsiders but has had to grow up a lot from Dec. - Feb. Menatal toughness is not gonna be a downfall but ability to shed blo9ckers will be. He needs to be bigger and make football his life. For all his success football has never been his whole life, he now will be expected to make it his life.

[TFM_Dale]

Good thing for Geno his comparison is Sanchez, there just is not anyway possible he can be worse but I agree Smith is a boom or bust no in between. I would not taken him in the first but second round and upside there is value. Rex is a brillant defensive coordinator, problem he is a head coach and has shown zero interest or ability towards the offense. Even last year with a shite roster the defense was respectable but my god that offense was McCay 1979 Buccaneer bad.

Well you something in Manual I don't. Body of a god with those physical skills but brain by Mattell. He has made so many bizaree decisions with the ball. Again in the second I would've but too many bad decisions for the first.

Manti is shockingly naive to outsiders but has had to grow up a lot from Dec. - Feb. Menatal toughness is not gonna be a downfall but ability to shed blo9ckers will be. He needs to be bigger and make football his life. For all his success football has never been his whole life, he now will be expected to make it his life.

Good point, even if Dirty Sanchez is around he is absolutely horrible, Smith should be able to beat him out no problem, if they don't cut him before the preseason starts.

[TFM_Dale]

To start the third day of the draft, the Eagles traded to the top of round four to get USC quarterback Matt Barkley.

Coach Chip Kelly thereafter raved about Barkley.

“I’m going to steal a quote from [former Cleveland Browns head coach] Sam Rutigliano and he used to say, ‘With a quarterback, it’s like a tea bag,” Kelly told reporters. “You don’t know what you have until you put it in hot water.’

“The first time I saw Matt Barkley, he was a true freshman and he came into Autzen Stadium which is one of the toughest places to play in the world and it didn’t faze him a bit. Matt Barkley was never a freshman, there was just a poise about him, there was a calm about him – those intangible qualities that you really look for. It’s tough to quantify. There’s not a test for it.

“Over the course of time, when you watched him play, he’s played through all different sorts of scenarios at USC. He’s just always stood tall and when you meet him, you interview him at the Combine, there were a couple kids at the Combine that just were kind of off the charts when we interviewed them. Two of them we had the opportunity to take. Bennie Logan was one of them and Matt Barkley. You came out of there and you were like, ‘Wow. That guy is impressive.’ He’s a competitor, he’s been in big games all through high school and all through college. He’s handled everything the right way. I just talked to him on the phone when we drafted him. I think a lot of people, you could say, ‘What’s their attitude going to be like?’ He was like, ‘It’s a dream come true.’ I loved competing against him and we’re real excited to have him on our team now.”

Mike Vick may not be as excited, since he still considers “our team” to be “my team.” Either way, “their team” now has five quarterbacks.

“I think every team in football is going to go to camp with five guys,” Kelly said. “I’m kind of confused when people keep saying that you have a lot of quarterbacks. I think everybody in the NFL goes to camp with five guys. Are we going to keep five during the season? Absolutely not. There’s going to have to be cut down at some point in time. There’s no reason when your roster for preseason camp is 90 to not have five quarterbacks.”

The only one of the five who is virtually certain to have a roster spot come September is Barkley.

[PETE'S BROTHER]

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[TFM_Dale]

Lol, I love it, that is some funny shit right there!

[TFM_Dale]

The fallout from Geno Smith’s round one free-fall continues.

Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal reports that Smith, the 39th overall pick in the draft, has parted ways with his agents at Select Sports Group. After the five-day waiting period expires, Smith will be free to hire new representation.

Upon hearing the news, we assumed that the agents hadn’t properly prepared Smith for the possibility that he wouldn’t be selected in the first round. Given that the most important job for any agent in the weeks preceding the draft is to properly set the client’s expectations, failure to hammer into Smith’s head the chance that he’ll spend all of Thursday night in the green room at Radio City Music Hall would be enough to prompt a change.

But that’s not what happened, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Per Mehta, Smith fired his agents because he believed he “would be and should be” the first overall pick in the draft. Surely, the agents weren’t telling Smith he would be the first pick in the draft.

If that’s what Smith believed, he either didn’t listen to his agents, or he chose to listen to someone else more. (Smith has since told SiriusXM NFL Radio that the decision had nothing to do with the draft process. He declined to elaborate.)

Agents have only limited influence over a player’s draft stock, even though some agents try much harder than others to improve it. Ultimately, Smith ended up being the 39th overall pick because the teams took other players with the first 38, due to needs or perceptions or whatever.

While it’s possible that the agents could have persuaded another team selecting higher than 39 to take Smith, the notion (if true) that Smith thought he “would be and should be” the first overall pick suggests that Smith simply ignored whatever he was being told about the fact that the Chiefs weren’t going to take him at No. 1 and that no one else was trading up to do it — no matter how hard the Chiefs tried to generate interest by leaking the idea that they are “fascinated” by Smith.

Regardless of the reason for making a change, doing it in the immediate aftermath of the draft creates the impression that he did it in reaction to his failure to be drafted higher. And that means there’s now even more reason to believe that Smith will have a hard time handling adversity in the NFL and dealing with the intense scrutiny and criticism of the New York media.