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| #17) Pittsburgh Steelers- Jarvis Jones (OLB Georgia) |  |
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Anybody who has been following this site knows how I feel about Jarvis Jones. Jones has been the No. 1 ranked player on our board since the college season and I never even considered changing that. Jarvis Jones has consistently received a clean bill of health and has "no restrictions" medically. As for the 40 time and workouts, I could not care less. Look at what this guy has done on the field. Total domination of the SEC; Jones is a proven commodity at the highest level. I believe this is a case of bad teams passing on a great player, while the best talent evaluating teams like the Steelers get incredible value.
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| #18) San Francisco 49ers- Eric Reid (Safety LSU) |  |
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I'm not a big Eric Reid fan, but I am not about to question Jim Harbaugh, Trent Baalke and the 'Niners personnel staff who have earned respect complete respect. We've been hearing all along that NFL teams liked Reid better than the analysts, and it must have been true considering the fact that San Francisco felt the need to trade up to get him. I wouldn't have done this, but the 49ers surely know better than I.
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| #19) New York Giants- Justin Pugh (OL Syracuse) |  |
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This pick was a shocker considering the fact that the Giants haven't drafted an O-Lineman in the first round since 1999. Also with Tank Carradine still on the board, it was unlike the Giants to pass on a pass rusher. Justin Pugh is a solid starter in the league, but nothing more. Pugh is not an impact player, and with the 19th pick the Giants should have gotten a more talented player.
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| #20) Chicago Bears- Kyle Long (OL Oregon) |  |
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From a positional standpoint this looks like a good pick because Long gives them an athletic lineman to plug in at the left guard spot and improve an offensive line that has been a huge issue for the Bears and Jay Cutler. But Kyle Long isn't worth the 20th pick in the draft. He's still somewhat of a project, and his true position remains unknown. Especially with Tyler Eifert and Sharrif Floyd still available, this was a bad value. Both of those players were more valuable and would have been bigger impact players
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| #21) Cincinnati Bengals- Tyler Eifert (TE Notre Dame) |  |
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When you look at the Bengals roster they really don't have too many needs so they could afford to make a luxury selection here. It looks like they expect to have Andre Smith back in the fold so there wasn't a glaring position of weakness. Eifert is a complete tight end prospect, possessing the athletic ability to make plays up the seam, but also the size and strength to be an effective blocker. Good value, and combined with Jermaine Gresham he gives the Bengals a lot of versatility.
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| #22) Atlanta Falcons- Desmond Trufant (CB Washington) |  |
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It's hard to go against what Thomas Dimitroff has done in Atlanta, but I'm not on board with this move. Clearly the Falcons love what Trufant brings to the table as an elite man-to-man cover corner. However, it's such a deep class of cornerbacks with guys like Darius Slay, Jamar Taylor and Robert Alford to name a few, who would be available later. I don't understand the need to give up a third round pick, but they must have a lot of confidence that Trufant is a notch above.
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| #23) Minnesota Vikings- Sharrif Floyd (DT Florida) |  |
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Sharrif Floyd's rise to the top of mock drafts was something that was created by the media and draftniks, not by NFL personnel. We've been among the few who have been outspokenly critical of Floyd's poor pad level, leverage and technique against the run. With the 23rd pick however, this was an absolute home run for the Vikings. There's no questioning Floyd's talent and athleticism and there's few better teams in the league he could have been drafted to. Dream scenario for the Vikings.
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| #24) Indianapolis Colts- Bjoern Werner (OLB Florida State) |  |
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We've been big Bjoern Werner supporters throughout the draft process, ranking him as our 11th overall player as many others dropped him on draft boards. I was very surprised though to see him go to a 3-4 team. Not a bad move whatsoever as Werner is so talented he can easily adjust to this scheme. Chuck Pagano will look to use him as the Ravens used Paul Kruger and play the strongside outside linebacker role.
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| #25) Minnesota Vikings- Xavier Rhodes (CB Florida State) |  |
The Vikings for the first time I can remember stole the show on draft night. Their manuevering and decision making was pretty much flawless. Xavier Rhodes is a six foot two cornerback who runs a 4.4 40 and has proven himself to be a physical corner who can also play man coverage. Josh Robinson and Chris Cook are both talented, but unproven. The Vikings have now solidified their secondary after losing Antoine Winfield.
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| #26) Green Bay Packers- Datone Jones (DT/DE UCLA) |  |
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You knew Datone Jones was going to go somewhere between 20 and 30, but nobody knew where. Jones is an excellent fit for Green Bay as a five technique defensive end in their 3-4. He's relentless and violent, using his strength, quickness and energy to split gaps and get upfield. The Packers have struggled to find consistency next to B.J Raji, and they may have finally found it here.
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| #27) Houston Texans- Deandre Hopkins (WR Clemson) |  |
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Everybody knew this pick was going to be a receiver, it was just a matter of which one. At this spot we would have preferred Robert Woods, who is our No. 2 ranked receiver, but we don't have much bad to say about Deandre Hopkins either. He's the ideal compliment to Andre Johnson as a possession receiver who can work the middle of the field and keep the chains moving.
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| #28) Denver Broncos- Sylvester Williams (DT North Carolina) |  |
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This was one of the best values of round one. Denver's run defense was patched together last year with retreads, and they needed to infuse some talent. They signed Terrence Knighton to play the NT spot and now have a new starting 3 technique defensive tackle. Williams is a stout defender who can play the run and has the speed and quickness to be a disrupter. Williams also fits in extremely well because on passing downs they'll be able to slide Williams down to the NT spot when they move Derek Wolfe from DE to the 3 technique spot. Need meets value!
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| #29) Minnesota Vikings- Cordarrelle Patterson (WR Tennessee) |  |
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Minnesota continued their dominance of the 2013 first round by picking up arguably the draft's best wide receiver with the 29th pick. Cordarrelle Patterson gives you most of the same things that Tavon Austin does, except Patterson is five plus inches taller. Patterson has the ability to be No. 1, outside the numbers receiver which Tavon Austin can't be. And I'm not as concerned about the character issues as some are. Patterson is immature, maybe dumb, but he's not a bad seed. Outstanding value at a position of need.
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| #30) St Louis Rams- Alec Ogletree (LB St Louis Rams) |  |
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| Save E.J Manuel, Alec Ogletree is the second most overrated player in this year's draft. If he continues to play as he did at Georgia, he will be a liability against the run as a middle linebacker. Nine out of ten times, Ogletree will try to avoid and slip past his blocker, rather than stand in the whole, square up his pads, and fill his gap. Ogletree also lacks physicality, playing with no power or strength, attempting to rely 100% on his athleticism to make plays. I love his athleticism, but that's about it. St Louis' best bet would be to play him outside, but I doubt they do that.
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| #31) Dallas Cowboys- Travis Frederick (OL Wisconsin) |  |
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The NFL Draft is all about value, and the Cowboys did not get good value here. Travis Frederick is a solid prospect and he fills a big need for the 'Boys, but he's just not the type of player you draft in round one. You could easily have gotten a comparable player like Larry Warford or Barrett Jones later in the draft and still have picked up an impact player in the first. Frederick will be a solid starter, but you should expect more from a first round pick.
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| #32) Baltimore Ravens- Matt Elam (Safety Florida) |  |
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There isn't a player who better personifies a "Baltimore Raven" than Matt Elam. Without question the most violent physical defender in the draft, Elam is the type of strong safety the Ravens love. He's definitely best against the run, but Elam is an underrated athlete who can range all over the field. I expect Elam to be a Pro-Bowler in Baltimore. Great value, great fit and at a position of need.
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Picks 1-16 |
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