The lights dim down and men in white polo shirts with a black ‘NFL’ logo branded on the chest, rush around Radio City Music Hall in New York City. They clean up all the paper, water bottles and empty popcorn containers thrown from fans who love what has happened to their team and then from the fans who are disgusted and are just ready for the start of the 2014 NFL season, not this upcoming one. More shocking trades happened in this draft than ever before and sure enough, some coaches and general mangers sealed their fate with some bonehead moves.
Let’s take a look at the first round:
1. Kansas City Chiefs – OT from Central Michigan – Eric Fisher – We all knew they were going offensive tackle, we just didn’t know who it was going to be. Eric Fisher is their man and no way do the Chiefs regret this decision.
Grade: A+
2. Jacksonville Jaguars – OT from Texas A&M – Luke Joeckel – They need help on the offensive line but they also need help on their pass rush. With this draft being loaded with defensive ends and hybrid outside linebackers who can play stand up end, the Jaguars take the best player available who fits a pressing need.
Grade: A+
3. Miami Dolphins (trade with Oakland) – DE from Oregon – Dion Jordan – Considered a top 5 talent, Dion Jordan doesn’t disappoint. I thought for sure the Dolphins were going to overpay for Jordan like they have been on all their free agent acquisitions but they don’t. Overall, this was a good move and surprising one at that with the OT from Oklahoma – Lane Johnson still on the board.
Grade: A
4. Philadelphia Eagles – OT from Oklahoma – Lane Johnson – To me this was a reach at the 4th spot but in reality it was a need and he will fit right in with Chip Kelly’s vertical offense.
Grade: A
5. Detroit Lions – DE from BYU – Ziggy Ansah – The man in the 3D glasses will be taking the field with pot smoking, car crashing, getting tasered and beating up on your wife kind of players. Yeah he’ll fit right in. He won’t make any promises but he’ll give it his all. He better, that’s all I have to say. This pick is the worst pick in the top 10 in my opinion. A draft filled with defensive ends, the Lions basically slap their free agent acquisition Reggie Bush in the face with not drafting OG from Alabama – Chance Warmack or OG from North Carolina – Jonathan Cooper. I’m not expecting the Lions to be much different in 2013 than they were in 2012.
Grade: D+
6. Cleveland Browns – DE from LSU – Barkevious Mingo – People question this pick with Mingo only putting up 4.5 sacks but I think he was the second best DE in this years draft outside of Dion Jordan. The Browns will put him on the other side of Paul Kruger and should have a really good pass rush.
Grade: A
7. Arizona Cardinals – OG from North Carolina – Jonathan Cooper – There is no way you pass on Chance Warmack right? Well the Cardinals did. I agree with going offensive line here but you take the best offensive lineman, not the second best. The Cardinals reach on this and probably could have traded down a few picks to make this selection. Oh well, it’s Arizona.
Grade: B
8. St. Louis Rams (from Buffalo) – WR from West Virginia – Tavon Austin – We knew a team was going to overpay for the receiver but the question was who is it going to be? I like the pick even though I believe as a receiver he’ll be limited because of his size.
Grade: B+
9. New York Jets – CB from Alabama – Dee Milliner – Milliner is quite the actor and I thought for sure the Jets were passing him up for another CB. Maybe DJ Hayden or Desmond Trufant but the Jets make their next Darrelle Revis hopeful Dee Milliner. I wish him luck at the circus. He’d be quite the one arm act…
Grade: B
10. Tennessee Titans – OG from Alabama – Chance Warmack – The Titans are licking their chops with Warmack on the board here and so is Chris Johnson. I believe Johnson is overrated as a running back but he’ll be better now with Warmack in front of him.
Grade: A
11. San Diego Chargers – OT from Alabama – DJ Fluker – Somewhat of a reach here as I didn’t think Fluker could be drafted in the first round a week ago. I changed it last minute yesterday with the Bengals taking him in the first round, however, the Chargers reacedh for a player they desperately needed. You can’t hate on them for this pick.
Grade: B
12. Oakland Raiders (trade from Miami) – CB from Houston – DJ Hayden – I don’t hate on the Raiders for trading down but there is no way you take this corner back when he WASN’T the best CB on the board. Way too far of a reach in my eyes when they only got a second round pick in return.
Grade: D+
13. New York Jets – DT from Missiouri – Sheldon Richardson – Rex Ryan must have had pizza sauce in his eyes with this pick. Sharrif Floyd and Star Loutelli were still on the board here, why not one of them? The Jets continue to disappoint their fans.
Grade: D
14. Carolina Panthers – DT from Utah – Star Lotulelei – I love this pick for the Panthers and I can’t wait to see what they do in round two. I hope they add some more pieces around Lotulelei. He was certainly the best player on the board and will be better than Richardson.
Grade: A
15. New Orleans Saints – SS from Texas – Kenny Vaccaro – I thought for sure this pick would have been Jarvis Jones but Vaccaro is no bum. He’ll fit well with the Saints and for the fans of New Orleans, you’d have to hope he becomes the next Rodney Harrison who I compare him too.
Grade: B
16. Buffalo Bills (from St. Louis) – QB from Florida State – EJ Manuel – The fact the Bills traded back and got what they got, I like that part of it all. The fact that the first quarterback taken in this draft was EJ Manuel completely put my shock face on. I couldn’t believe it. Manuel is athletic and definitely has the size to be the next quarterback for the Bills. I don’t hate on this pick as much as others but I question why not Ryan Nassib, Matt Barkley or Geno Smith?
Grade: B-
17. Pittsburgh Steelers – OLB from Georgia – Jarvis Jones – It’s no surprise that Jones raised eyebrows with injuries but the Steelers get their next James Harrison here. I think this is a great pick for the Steelers and they couldn’t have picked anyone better.
Grade: A
18. San Francisco 49ers (trade with Dallas) – FS from LSU – Eric Reid – When you have 13 overall selections in the draft, you’re able to pull these kind of moves out of your hat. Dallas does the smart thing and moves back and the 49ers get their man to replace Dashon Goldson. Their defense won’t miss a beat with Reid back there.
Grade: A
19. New York Giants – OT from Syracuse – Justin Pugh – Fans boo this pick so you have to drink right? Well I did. Pugh was not expected here but he was needed. The Giants have a strict board and they don’t flirt with other players especially when the player they really want is there. If DJ Fluker would have been here, I believe that would have been their guy but Pugh makes sense and Manning now gets some needed protection.
Grade: B
20. Chicago Bears – OT from Oregon – Kyle Long – Howie Long has to be smiling now that his two sons are first round picks. Kyle Long jumps into the first round and to me it was a reach. The Bears could have traded back and got some additional picks as Kyle Long was a mid 2nd round pick at best. The Bears do get much protection for Jay Cutler though.
Grade: C+
21. Cincinnati Bengals – TE from Notre Dame – Tyler Eifert – Put your shock face on at first glance but then realize that starting tight end Jermaine Gresham has had injury concerns. Eifert was the best tight end in this draft and he won’t have any problem playing with AJ Green and Andy Dalton.
Grade: B
22. Atlanta Falcons (from St. Louis) – CB from Washington – Desmond Trufant – Word before the draft was that the Falcons were planning on moving up in this draft to take Mingo. Mingo is off the baord so the Falcons take Desmond Trufant who is the replacement for Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes. Terrific selection in my opinon.
Grade: A
23. Minnesota Vikings – DT from Florida – Sharrif Floyd – Could it be Manti Te’o? Nope. They go with the best player on the board with Sharrif Floyd and this is a terrific selection. Say hello to the steal of the draft.
Grade: A
24. Indianapolis Colts – DE from Florida State – Bjoern Werner – As expected, Werner falls in the first round and he couldn’t go to a better team in the Colts. Werner is the replacement for Dwight Freeney and he should be a fine replacement.
Grade: B+
25. Minnesota Vikings – CB from Florida State – Xavier Rhodes – I’m sure they wanted Desmond Trufant but the Falcons took him so they took Floyd two picks before hand. Here they get another great pick in Xavier Rhodes. Rhodes should be a really good pro as he replaces Antoine Winfield.
Grade: B+
26. Green Bay Packers – DE from UCLA – Datone Jones – Werner almost fell the Packers and if he did, that would have been the steal of this draft. Datone Jones is the 5th best DE in this draft and he should find a place on the Packers defense. I’ am a little surprised though that they didn’t go Eddie Lacy or with a defensive back.
Grade: B
27. Houston Texans – WR from Clemson – DeAndre Hopkins – This was no surprise as Hopkins has huge hands and was productive at Clemson. He’ll be a great weapon for Matt Schaub and should fit fine next to Andre Johnson.
Grade: B
28. Denver Broncos – DT from North Carolina – Sylvester Williams – Only getting a grade of 80.6 on nfl.com is quite a shock to me. I thought Sylvester Williams was the fourth best DT and he fits a need for the Broncos. I think he’ll be a really good football player.
Grade: B+
29. Minnesota Vikings (from New England) – WR from Tennessee – Cordarrelle Patterson – Typical Patriots here as they move out of the first round and get an addition 2nd and 3rd rounder. The Vikings overpay for Patterson who has the ability to be a number one receiver but his route running needs to be sharpened and his hands need some extra glue.
Grade: C+
30. St. Louis Rams (trade with Atlanta) – OLB from Georgia – Alec Ogletree – I did have Ogeltree and Austin for the Rams and surprise, surprise, it actually happened. The Rams move back and get a player they definitely needed. I like this pick for the Rams if Ogletree keeps his nose clean.
Grade: B
31. Dallas Cowboys (trade with San Francisco) – C from Wisconsin – Travis Fredrick – The assumption in my opinion is that Barrett Jones has more injuries then the sources are saying. Fredrick makes sense if Cowboy fans like it or not. You have to protect you’re QB in Tony Romo.
Grade: B
32. Baltimore Ravens – FS from Florida – Matt Elam – The Ravens have to take Matt Elam despite Manti Te’o being on the board. This is a team that doesn’t usually trade around the draft so taking Elam to be your Ed Reed replacement makes a lot of sense. I like this pick for the Ravens.
Grade: B
Trade Tracker
Miami Dolphins trade 12th overall pick (1st round) and 42nd overall pick (2nd round) to Oakland Raiders for the 3rd overall pick (1st round)
St. Louis Rams trade 16th overall pick (1st round), 46th overall pick (2nd round), 78th overall pick (3rd round) and 222nd overall pick (6th round pick) to Buffalo Bills for the 8th overall pick (1st round) and 71st overall pick (3rd round)
San Francisco 49ers trade 31st overall pick (1st round) and 74th overall pick (3rd round) to Dallas Cowboys for the 18th overall pick (1st round)
Atlanta Falcons trade the 30th overall pick (1st round), 92nd overall pick (3rd round) and 198th overall pick (5th round) to the St. Louis Rams for the 22nd overall pick (1st round)
Minnesota Vikings trade the 52nd overall pick (2nd round), 83rd overall pick (3rd round), 102nd overall pick (4th round) and 229th overall pick (6th round) to the New England Patriots for the 29th overall pick (1st round)
