2013 NFL Draft Thread

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For the last 49 years, there’s been a running back taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Based on buzz over the last month or so, it looks like there’s a fair chance of that streak coming to a halt this year. Eddie Lacy of Alabama and Johnathan Franklin of UCLA are regarded as the top two backs in this year’s class, but neither one has solidified himself as a surefire first-round pick in the eyes of the ever-proliferating group of draft pundits.

Lacy’s heard the criticisms his performance at his pro day, telling 790 the Zone in Atlanta, via SportsRadioInterviews.com, that it’s tough to hear people knocking him when he wasn’t 100 percent because of a hamstring injury. He told Mike Garafolo of USA Today that he believes tape from his on-field work at Alabama tells a truer story of his abilities, a story that he hopes includes a chapter about how he kept the streak of first-round running backs going for at least one more year.

“Knowing I could keep it going would be a load off my shoulders,” Lacy said. “It’s good for me, like, ‘Whew, I survived, I made it. Good luck to those next year.”

The drop in perceived value of running backs in the draft and elsewhere in the NFL isn’t a new story, but Garafolo provides some numbers that make it impossible to ignore. In the 1980′s, 48 running backs went in the first round of drafts for an average of 4.8 per year. Things have steadily declined from there and only seven have been taken in the first round of the last three drafts.

Lacy isn’t responsible for the larger trends at running back, but he may be the guy standing between them and a draft affirming the reorganization of priorities across the football world.

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The Chiefs hold the first pick in the first round. Since the Jaguars had the same 2-14 record but lost the first overall pick due to tiebreakers, Jacksonville gets the first pick in round two.

And while the Jags surely will entertain trade offers from the time round one ends until the time round two begins, the thinking in league circles is that the Jaguars will be prepared to take one of two quarterbacks, if they use that pick.

The expected choices are Matt Barkley or Ryan Nassib.

Nassib makes sense; the Bills definitely fear that the Jags will take him in that spot. Which means that the Bills could end up taking Nassib at No. 8 or trading back into round one to get him.

Barkley likely will be available with the first pick in round two, unless someone trades up to get in front of the Jaguars to get the former USC quarterback.

Finding a quarterback who fits Jedd Fisch’s offense surely is a priority for the Jaguars. While Blaine Gabbert was a first-round pick two years ago, the team has since gotten a new owner, a new General Manager and not one but two new head coaches. Surely, coach Gus Bradley wants his own guy under center.

So don’t be surprised if the Jags go left tackle with the second overall pick, and then take a quarterback out of the gates tomorrow. We actually wouldn’t be shocked if the Jaguars opt to swing back into the bottom of round one tonight in order to avoid having the Ravens trade down from No. 32 with a team that takes the quarterback the Jags would target on Friday night.

It could be that the Ravens squeeze the Jaguars into a one-pick flip-flop to prevent someone else from getting the 32nd spot.

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The Rams currently hold the Redskins’ first-round pick in the 2013 draft, thanks to the RGIII trade. The Rams may not actually be using that pick.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the selection “clearly is for sale.”

That Rams, who also have the 16th overall pick, would surely like to trade down and get more picks. Last year, the combination of coach Jeff Fisher and G.M. Les Snead put together a great draft, thanks to having extra picks. The more picks, the better the chances of emerging with good players.

Pick No. 22 comes one spot before the Vikings’ first of two first-round selections. A team that wants a cornerback, receiver, or inside linebacker the Vikings may be targeting could be tempted to jump the line. Which is precisely why every team creates smokescreens about who they do and don’t want.

Like most round-one trades, don’t expect anything to happen before the Rams are on the clock. Teams that trade up want a specific player; trading up too early creates the risk that the player won’t be there.

Of course, doing the trade when the team is on the clock entails risk, since there’s a chance one of the two teams won’t be able to call the trade in to the league office. Unless each team calls the trade in separately, the trade doesn’t happen. And with only 10 total minutes to get it all done, there’s a chance that cutting it too close could keep the trade from happening at all.

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BYU defensive end Ziggy Ansah never played football at any level until he was persuaded to give the sport a try in 2010. He immediately showed off great burst and speed for his size, and he’s viewed as a raw talent but the kind of guy who might be good enough at going and getting the quarterback to justify a Top 5 pick.

Ansah told the Detroit Free Press that he likes seeing the mock drafts that have the Lions taking him fifth overall, but he disputes the notion that he needs to play for a team that runs a wide-nine scheme like the Lions. Ansah says he can fit in any defense, for any team.

“I think I can fit anywhere, it don’t matter. Play head up on a tackle and stop the run, play outside [in a five technique] or rush the quarterback from a nine. It just depends on the team I’m going to be on and how they want to use me,” Ansah said.

Ansah said the Lions haven’t contacted him at all since the Senior Bowl. Whether that means they’re not interested or it means they’re very interested and trying to hide their interest remains to be seen.

“If they want to call me, they will,” Ansah said.

In Ansah’s view, it doesn’t matter which team takes him: He can contribute anywhere.

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Might as well go ahead and make all the mock drafts (more) fruitless early in the day.

According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network, the “rumor out there” is that the Browns want to move up into the top three picks, from their current sixth slot.

The thinking is that they want to get in front of the Eagles (fourth) and Lions (fifth) to get the pass-rusher they covet. And since Browns CEO Joe Banner has insight into the Eagles front office from his days there, he has a clear sense of what they need and what general manager Howie Roseman values.

If they’re third, they’d miss out on no more than one of the top prospects there, as the Chiefs are expected to take an offensive lineman, and no one’s clear whether the Jaguars in the second spot go tackle or find a Leo for new coach Gus Bradley’s defense.

Such a move would put the Browns in position for perhaps Dion Jordan or Ziggy Ansah or Barkevious Mingo, as the annual run on guys who get to the quarterback begins.

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The end of running back Felix Jones‘ contract with the Cowboys was met with mostly dry eyes in Dallas.

Since the team made him a first-round pick in 2008, Jones alternated between injury and ineffectiveness without ever becoming the feature back the team thought he could be when using such an early pick to acquire him. Jones may be unlamented, but his loss does leave the Cowboys without a back to lighten DeMarco Murray’s load in the coming season. That’s why Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said that the team is “absolutely” looking for a running back over the next three days.

“If you do look, unfortunately, at DeMarco’s history, he had [injuries] at Oklahoma, although he was very productive,” Jones said on an interview with KZDC in San Antonio, via the Dallas Morning News. “He’s had [injuries] here, so obviously without Felix Jones in the fold right now, we don’t have that answer in terms of having a complementary back to DeMarco, so that will be something that we have our eyes on as well.”

The team has more glaring needs on the offensive line and at safety, but Murray’s injury history does make another running back significant. The Cowboys have gone 4-5 over the last two seasons in games Murray has missed since he burst on the scene with 253 rushing yards against the Rams in October 2011 and 10-6 with Murray in the lineup, which means they may have left a few wins on the table because they didn’t have a second back capable of carrying the load. For a team that’s been playing for (and losing) a playoff spot in the final week of the last two seasons, one or two wins would make a pretty big difference.

Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Joseph Randle of Oklahoma State could be the player the Cowboys are targeting for this spot, although they’ll have plenty of options in the middle rounds assuming teams continue to prioritize other positions before running back. That’s a safe bet, as is one that has the Cowboys taking a running back before the draft comes to an end.

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We had an initial mock draft because everyone does.

We had a second version of the mock draft because everyone does.

And now we have a final version of the mock draft because I’ve got nothing else to do tonight.

We welcome your comments, criticisms, and questions regarding our sanity.

1. Chiefs: Eric Fisher, tackle, Central Michigan.

2. Jaguars: Luke Joeckel, tackle, Texas A&M.

3. Raiders: Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle, Florida.

4. Eagles: Dion Jordan, defensive end, Oregon.

5. Lions: Ezekial Ansah, defensive end, BYU.

6. Browns: Dee Milliner, cornerback, Alabama.

7. Cardinals: Lane Johnson, tackle, Oklahoma.

8. Bills: Ryan Nassib, quarterback, Syracuse.

9. Jets: Barkevious Mingo, defensive end, LSU.

10. Titans: Chance Warmack, guard, Alabama.

11. Chargers: Johnathan Cooper, guard, North Carolina.

12. Dolphins: Desmond Trufant, cornerback, Washington.

13. Jets: Tavon Austin, receiver, West Virginia.

14. Panthers: Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Utah.

15. Saints: Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State.

16. Rams: Cordarrelle Patterson, receiver, Tennessee.

17. Steelers: Jarvis Jones, linebacker, Georgia.

18. Cowboys: Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle, Missouri.

19. Giants: Tyler Eifert, tight end, Notre Dame.

20. Bears: Sylvester Williams, defensive tackle, North Carolina.

21. Bengals: D.J. Fluker, tackle, Alabama.

22. Rams: Kenny Vaccaro, safety, Texas.

23. Vikings: D.J. Hayden, cornerback, Houston.

24. Colts: DeAndre Hopkins, receiver, Clemson.

25. Jaguars (trade with Vikings): Geno Smith, quarterback, West Virginia.

26. Packers: John Jenkins, defensive tackle, Georgia.

27. Texans: Robert Woods, receiver, USC.

28. Broncos: Tank Carradine, defensive end, Florida State.

29. Patriots: Justin Hunter, receiver, Tennessee.

30. Falcons: Bjeorn Werner, defensive end, Florida State.

31. 49ers: Eric Reid, safety, LSU.

32. Ravens: Jonathan Cyprien, safety, FIU.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/24/pft-final-mock-draft/

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At a time when many believe the Browns would like to jump the draft-pick line in front of the Eagles to get a pass rusher, some think that the Browns could be targeting a pass thrower.

There’s a building buzz that the Browns could be plotting to move from No. 6 to No. 3 to get quarterback Geno Smith before the Eagles take him at No. 4.

The move, if it happens, would be a shock. Smith currently is regarded as a guy who could slide to the bottom of round one, if not out of the first round completely.

Still, it makes more sense to move up for Smith than a pass rusher, given that there are more than a few of them pegged for the top ten — Ziggy Ansah, Dion Jordan, Barkevious Mingo, to name a few.

The Eagles have shown strong interest in Smith. The entourage that traveled last month to Morgantown for a private workout with Smith included owner Jeffrey Lurie. While most think the Eagles wouldn’t be inclined to use a rare (for Philly) top-five pick on a quarterback at a time when Mike Vick and Nick Foles are under contract, the one thing that everyone is expecting with new coach Chip Kelly is something unexpected.

For the Browns, a move to No. 3 would mark the second straight year in which the Browns climbed into the three spot. Last year, the Browns traded from No. 4 to No. 3 to get running back Trent Richardson. This year, a move to get Geno Smith would be far bolder.

But it would at least go a long way toward getting folks in Cleveland to quit talking about Jimmy Haslam and Pilot Flying J.

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He’s small, but he’s an impact player. As one G.M. privately put it at the Scouting Combine, “He runs like he has a rocket in his ass.”

West Virginia receiver Tavon Austin could be riding that rocket all the way to the top 10.

Currently, Austin’s sweet spot widely is believed to be somewhere between 13 with the Jets and 16 with the Rams. As the start of the draft approaches, that range could be going up, into the bottom of the first 10 picks.

One source who has demonstrated to us in the past that he is as plugged in as anyone when the draft approaches believes that Austin will indeed be one of the first 10 players selected.

Whether the source is right or wrong will be determined soon. Either way, it’ll be fun to watch.

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Former North Carolina State quarterback Mike Glennon doesn’t have the same kind of college football pedigree as some of the better known quarterbacks in this year’s draft, like Geno Smith and Matt Barkley. But Glennon may have an ideal skill set for a team that plays an old-fashioned NFL offense that emphasizes pocket passing.

That’s what former North Carolina State offensive coordinator Dana Bible told the News & Observer: What the tall, strong-armed Glennon does is what NFL teams need a quarterback to do.

“His skill set is made for Sunday,” Bible said. “Like anything else, there’s an evolution to our game but in the end it comes down [to] can you make throws under duress. You’ve got less than three seconds and somebody’s trying to knock you down and you’ve got put a throw 28 yards down the field on the money. Mike has shown he can do that.”

Glennon says he will play golf today and “hope my name will be called at night.” At this point, it would be an upset if Glennon’s name is called tonight. But the team that drafts him may find that it has a quarterback who’s more NFL-ready than some of the quarterbacks drafted ahead of him.

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The Jaguars secured a promising offensive tackle prospect with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, selecting Texas A&M’sLuke Joeckel on Thursday evening.

In his final season as the Aggies’ left tackle in 2012, Joeckel garnered the Outland Trophy, the award given to college football’s top interior lineman. The 6-6, 306-pound Joeckel declared for the draft with one season of eligibility remaining.
It’s unclear whether Joeckel fits at left tackle (currently held down by the capableEugene Monroe) or at right tackle with Jacksonville. Either way, Joeckel figures as a Day One starter for the Jaguars.

With Joeckel now in the fold, the question becomes how the Jaguars proceed with pick No. 33, the first selection in Round Two. The Jaguars could use more help at defensive end and cornerback, to name two positions. And will they add a quarterback to compete withBlaine Gabbert and Chad Henne?

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The Kansas City Chiefs had long been thought to be targeting an offensive tackle with the first pick in the draft. PFT learned earlier today that Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher would be the Chiefs choice. Now it’s official. The Chiefs have selected Fisher with the No. 1 overall selection.

Fisher is the first non-quarterback to be selected with the first overall pick since 2008 when the Miami Dolphins selected tackle Jake Long out of Michigan.

The Chiefs chose Fisher over Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel.

Fisher has been able to overcome concerns over his level of competition in the Mid-American Conference to become the first player off the board. Fisher performed well at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine and impressed teams during the interview process. The impression he made on the Chiefs was enough to lift him over Joeckel in the eyes of the Chiefs front office.

When Alex Smith was in San Francisco, his blindside was protected by a Central Michigan product in Joe Staley. That trend will continue in Kansas City with Fisher likely poised to take over the left tackle position for the Chiefs.

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Sorry about the quality of the posts, doing the draft posts from my phone.

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Everyone expected the Dolphins to trade up and take one of the three left tackles at the top of the draft. The Dolphins traded up , but not for a tackle.

Dion Jordan of Oregon, one of the premier edge rushers in this year’s draft, was their target and the Dolphins took him with the third overall pick of the draft.

Jordan has drawn comparisons to former Dolphins pass rusher Jason Taylor and should look awfully good lining up on the opposite side of the line from Cameron Wake. In an AFC East where you’re chasing Tom Brady and the Patriots, getting after the quarterback is vital and the Dolphins just made a big move to improve their chances of doing it.

The Raiders received the 12th and 42nd overall picks from the Dolphins in the deal. That leaves a big question for Miami, namely whether or not they’ve used up their capital for a Branden Albert trade. The Chiefs were thought to be interested in that 42nd pick, the higher of two Dolphins picks in the second round, and if that deal falls by the wayside the Dolphins will be forced to look for tackle help elsewhere.

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The Eagles were able to get their tackle, and they didn’t have to trade up to do it, taking Oklahoma’s Lane Johnson
fourth overall.

With the Dolphins trading up a spot in front of them to get Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan with the third pick, the way was clear for the Eagles to get their needed pass-protector.
The Dolphins likely thought new Eagles coach Chip Kelly was going to reunite with his pass-rusher, but the Eagles had to have someone to keep Michael Vick (or Nick Foles) on his feet.
Johnson’s athletic enough to be able to handle Kelly’s fast-paced style, and gives them some cover at a position that was thread bare when Jason Peters was injured last year.