Every year the NFL Draft produces a fresh young class of future stars. Some teams get a plethora of these stars and watch them go bust, and some teams get quality picks and watch their team thrive. Now that the draft is over, it’s time for us to break down this year’s winners, losers, and the steals of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Winners
5. Pittsburgh Steelers – The Steelers addressed just about every need on their roster in this year’s draft. With their first pick, the Steelers took linebacker Jarvis Jones. Jones will look to take over for longtime Steeler James Harrison. This is solid pickup seeing as how Jones was projected fairly high before the combine. The Steelers were also able to draft Le’Veon Bell to come in and provide some help in the running game. They also picked up two wide receivers in Markus Wheaton and Justin Brown, both good value picks. They added two defensive backs, another linebacker and a defensive tackle, all priorities coming into the weekend.
4. Green Bay Packers – The Packers could be ranked in the winner’s circle on two picks alone, and that’s the two running backs they were able to pick up: Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin. The one thing the Packers were lacking last season was a run game. With an MVP quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, the Packers offense just got a whole heck of a lot stronger this weekend. They were also able to add two offensive tackles, an area in which they struggled with injuries last season. To round out their draft, they picked up two wide receivers, two defensive ends, two linebackers, and a corner back.
3. St Louis Rams – The Rams biggest need was to get Sam Bradford some weapons. When they traded up to number eight in the first round to draft Tavon Austin, they did just that. Later in the 3rd round they picked up Austin’s teammate, Stedman Bailey. Now Bradford has two legitimate weapons in the offense. They were also able to get him some protection on the offensive line with stud Barrett Jones, who can play anywhere on the line. On the defensive side, Alec Ogletree and TJ McDonald are both solid picks who could come in and start. They also added a corner back and a running back in the late rounds.
2. Philadelphia Eagles – The Eagles were predicted to take a quarterback in the first round, but when they decided to take offensive tackle Lane Johnson instead, they set themselves up to be ranked this high on my winners’ list. After Johnson, the Eagles got tight end Zach Ertz, who is probably the best tight end in the entire draft. They followed that pick up by solidifying the middle of the defense with a big defensive tackle in Bennie Logan. The 4th round is where things went from good to great. The Eagles traded up to the first pick in the 4th round to take USC quarterback Matt Barkley. Last season Barkley was projected to go top 15. One year later and he’s in the Eagles lap in the 4th round.
1. San Diego Chargers – The Chargers are ranked number one for the simple fact that they got three first round talents with their first three picks. To start out, they took offensive tackle DJ Fluker. Offensive tackle was undoubtedly the Chargers biggest need and they met that with the best tackle available at the time. Next, the Chargers traded up in the 2nd round to take linebacker Manti Te’o. Inside linebacker was the next biggest need for San Diego. In the 3rd round, they got their star quarterback a nice weapon in Keenan Allen.
Losers
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jaguars took Luke Joeckel with the 2nd overall pick and then proceeded to take project picks. Safety John Cyphrien could be league ready, but time may prove that wrong. Receivers Ace Sanders and quarterback turned receiver Denard Robinson are the two project players I was referring to. Sanders is a smaller player, who can excite but who can also get bottled up in NFL backfields. Robinson is the type of guy who has potential anywhere but isn’t solid at any one position. The two corners that the Jaguars drafted could’ve been better picks, and, not to mention, they never took a quarterback.
4. Chicago Bears – I can’t name one solid pick in the Bears draft except for linebacker John Bostic in the 2nd round. The Bears went out and got veteran linebacker James Anderson in the off-season and then drafted two sub-par outside linebackers. Khasheem Greene could maybe surprise a few people, though. The Bears failed to upgrade their defensive line and their secondary.
3. New York Giants – The only pick that I liked here was quarterback Ryan Nassib. I think Damontre Moore is overrated and there’s a reason that he lasted this long in the draft. Nassib is a future pick, just in case something happens to Eli Manning. Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins probably would’ve been available a little later in the draft. I thought that the Giants would’ve done more to get their secondary help.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The only decent pick I can see here is quarterback Mike Glennon, but I see him as a scare tactic for Josh Freeman. They had no first round picks after trading for Darelle Revis and then drafted a corner back with their first pick. In my opinion, they could’ve gotten Leon McFadden, a better value, later in the third round. They also could’ve used a big strong tight end in the 2nd round to help in the passing game. To finish the draft out, they have decent late round picks but nothing spectacular.
1. Washington Redskins – The Redskins best picks came towards the end of the draft when they picked up Chris Thompson and Brandon Jenkins. With an injured Robert Griffin III, you’d think the ‘Skins would have worked on their offensive line just a little bit. Instead, they got a bunch of small pieces for the offense in the form of running backs. Nothing stands out here.
Steals
5. Ryan Nassib – Nassib was projected to go in the top ten at one point. The Giants found their next quarterback, after Manning fades out, in the fourth round.
4. Keenan Allen – Allen had legitimate first round talent, in my opinion. The Chargers got him in the 3rd round. San Diego is still looing for someone to step in and take over in the receiving corps. Allen could easily be that guy.
3. Montee Ball – Ball can come into a playoff bound team and bring a solid force to the Bronco running game. The Broncos picked Ball up towards the end of the second round. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ball went on to win Rookie of the Year.
2. Matt Barkley- It’s no doubt that the Eagles got a steal when Barkley landed in their laps in the 4th round. Barkley could come in and compete for the starting job or he could sit, learn, and take over. Either way, this was a good pickup for the Eagles on Day 3.
1. Ryan Swope – Swope was one of my favorite guys in this receiving class. He had almost 1,000 yards last season and he scored 8 touchdowns playing with Johnnie Football. What scared teams away was the fact that he’s had multiple concussions. Personally, I think he can come in and be an instant impact for the Arizona Cardinals.
As with all post-draft grades, they can all be proven wrong. Some players use the NFL as a clean slate and start over, while some players are a complete bust. Only time will tell if these teams and players live up to their hype.
Photo Credit: Coshocton Tribune
