The 2013 NFL Draft.
As soon as the Lombardi Trophy is handed to the Superbowl victors I am shifting my sports focus to the upcoming NFL Draft and eagerly awaiting the first Mock draft from ESPN, Sports Illustrated, you name it. I love the buildup to the NFL Draft. The anticipation, the hope, the reward of a franchise player to be...or the disgust of the can't miss player who eventually does just that...misses. Having lived in Louisiana for the first 24 years of my life and the in Dallas, TX. the following 11, I have witnessed some major draft steals, busts, and head scratching moments from the New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys. Thankfully the people of Dallas and Cowboys fans everywhere are treated to Draft day drama every year due to the unimaginable yet irresistible Jerry Jones.
The Dallas Cowboys have had serious highs under Jones, from his teaming with Jimmy Johnson and the drafting of the eventual Cowboys Superbowl dynasty of the 90's, to the years of ash and dust in the 00's, most notably 2009 where all 12 draft picks are no longer on the Cowboys roster. 2013 is no different for the Cowboys in terms of importance. Every draft year in Dallas is do or die because Dallas fans and media know all too well how Jones can knock the wind out of everyone's collective sails with a critical trade up or trade down...and trading up or down is what Jerry is known for (for better or worse). Well, that and trading precious #1 picks for worthless wide receivers but that is for another time. In Dallas, we hold our breath as we wait for GM Jerry to either sit tight with the 18th pick (not likely) trade down for an extra pick while building much needed depth (the sensible thing to do) or betting the farm and trading up for that "Can't miss" prospect (if this happens, Jerry is officially Al Davis) It should be as maddening as always on Draft Thursday...and all through the weekend.
Enough about the Cowboys, lets talk about the draft.
The 2013 NFL Draft has been criticized for lacking "Star Power" Translation- No franchise Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, or Running Backs. What this draft does have though is depth. Serious team building depth. If your team has and makes the right picks. There are some quality offensive and defensive linemen to be had as well as solid safeties. In my opinion, after the top 5 in the 1st round, there is not much of a talent drop off all the way through the 2nd round. If my team was a team that had multiple picks in either round I would be an excited fan. Fans of offensive firepower, do not fret. 2014 will be loaded with future stud QB's and skill players.
The consensus #1 pick in most Mock Drafts is Luke Joeckel, the talented offensive tackle out of Texas A&M. There is a chance that Eric Fisher out of Central Michigan could sneak into the top spot but my money is still on Joeckel. Just those two names alone signify that offensive line will be the big position in the 1st round. The top 5 picks this year could very well have 3 offensive tackles taken. It is also not out of the realm of possibility that Chance Warmack the guard out of Alabama sneaks into the top 5 as well... but, I doubt it. Another position of great depth in this year's draft is defensive tackle. That will get tricky though as teams will draft according to the defensive schemes they run, as many of the defensive tackles in this draft may project better as nose tackles in a 3-4 defense. But, there is talent and depth to be had.
Below you will see my 1st Round Mock Draft. With any Mock Draft, take it with a grain of salt and expect much of this to be blown up after teams start trading up and down.
#1 Kansas City - OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
#2 Jacksonville- QB Geno Smith, West Virginia
#3 Oakland- DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida
#4 Philadelphia- DE Dion Jordan, Oregon
#5 Detroit- OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
#6 Cleveland- CB Dee Milliner, Alabama
#7 Arizona- OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
#8 Buffalo- WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
#9 New York Jets- G Chance Warmack, Alabama
#10 Tennessee- S Kenny Vaccarro, Texas
#11 San Diego- G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
#12 Miami- DL Ezekiel Ansah, BYU
#13 New York Jets- DE/LB Barkevious Mingo, LSU
#14 Carolina- DT Star Lotulelei, Utah
#15 New Orleans- LB Arthur Brown, Kansas State
#16 St. Louis- LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
#17 Pittsburgh- WR Deandre Hopkins, Clemson
#18 Dallas- OT/G DJ Fluker, Alabama
#19 New York Giants- DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State
#20 Chicago- LB Alec Ogletree, Georgia
#21 Cincinnati- RB Eddie Lacy, Alabama
#22 St. Louis- WR Keenan Allen, California
#23 Minnesota- DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
#24 Indianapolis- OL Larry Warford, Kentucky
#25 Minnesota- CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
#26 Green Bay- LB Kevin Minter, LSU
#27 Houston- WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia
#28 Denver- DE Demontre Moore, Texas A&M
#29 New England- DT Jesse Williams, Alabama
#30 Atlanta- DE/LB Alex Okafor, Texas
#31 San Francisco- S Eric Reid, LSU
#32 Baltimore- LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Quick Hits-
16 of my #1 picks are from the SEC. 5 from Alabama, 3 from LSU, 2 from Georgia, 2 from Texas A&M, and 1 each from Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky. The Big 12 is 2nd with six 1st round picks. Texas and West Virginia have 2 each.
10 Years ago the #1 pick in the 03 NFL Draft was QB Carson Palmer out of USC who was picked by the Bengals.
20 Years ago the #1 pick in the 93 NFL Draft was QB Drew Bledsoe out of Washington State who was picked by the New England Patriots.
30 Years ago the #1 pick in the 83 NFL Draft was none other than Hall of Famer QB John Elway out of Stanford who was selected by the Indianapolis Colts and later traded to the Denver Broncos.
And last but not least... 40 years ago the #1 pick in the 73 NFL Draft was Sloth from the Goonies! Yes you read that right. John Matuszak out of Tampa College was selected #1 overall by the Houston Oilers. He would become a Superbowl Champion and staple with the Oakland Raiders. He died in 1989 from a prescription drug overdose.
Get ready to boo Roger Goodell and have a great time watching the 2013 NFL Draft.
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