Top 2013 Team Drafts

With the 2013 NFL Draft now over, it is time to analyze.  This draft saw many rarities, from three teams only drafting five players, to no running back being selected in the first round since 1963.  What it lacked in star power, it produced in depth, and therefore many teams picked up many solid players.  Only a select few teams however truly aced the draft.
Here's a look at my top three best team drafts of the 2013 NFL Draft, with grades included:

Vikings GM Rick Spielman(far left) and Head Coach Leslie Frazier(far right) look on happily as Minnesota's first round
draft trio displays their new jerseys to the media.

1. Minnesota Vikings
Draft Grade: A
Notable Draft Picks:
Rnd. 1, pick 23: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Rnd. 1, pick 25: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida St.
Rnd. 1, pick 29: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Rnd. 4, pick 23: Gerald Hodges, OLB, Penn St.
Rnd. 7, pick 7: Michael Mauti, MLB, Penn St.
Rnd. 7, pick 23: Everett Dawkins, DT, Florida St.
This is an obvious choice.  GM Rick Spielman's brilliance was on full display as he and his team managed to snag three picks in the first round, and didn't even lose a 2014 draft pick to do it.  Many draft gurus were shocked to see Sharrif Floyd fall as far as he did.  The Vikings, already with two picks in the first round, decided he was worth whatever risk other teams were repelled from him for.  Xavier Rhodes and Cordarrelle Patterson fill the most obvious needs on the team, boosting the air attacks on both sides of the ball.  Fellow Penn State linebackers Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti have a chance to make an impact, at least on special teams, and Everett Dawkins provides depth for an already crushing, run-stopping defense.  After stunning experts and making the playoffs last season, the Vikings continue their achievement streak with the best draft of 2013.

2. St. Louis Rams

The Rams' brass drafting college teammates Tavon Austin and Stedman
Bailey is the best thing to happen to Sam Bradford in the NFL.

Draft Grade: A
Notable Draft Picks:
Rnd. 1, pick 8: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Rnd. 1, pick 30: Alec Ogletree, MLB, Georgia
Rnd. 3, pick 9: T.J. McDonald, FS, USC
Rnd. 3, pick 30: Stedman Bailey, WR, West Virginia 
Rnd. 4, pick 16: Barrett Jones, OT, Alabama
Rnd. 5, pick 16: Brandon McGee, CB, Miami
Rnd. 5, pick 27: Zac Stacy, HB, Vanderbilt
Growing up as a 49ers fan, it is tough to say this, but this is my favorite team draft.  While all three of these drafts are deep, this one may be the most.  The drafting of WVU duo Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, along with Bama tackle Barrett Jones' protection, sparks life in a seriously lacking passing attack.  Alec Ogletree is flexible in that he can play any linebacker position.  T.J. McDonald and Brandon McGee help a growing secondary.  Zac Stacy is a great pick with great timing.  They don't need a top running back as most think they do because I believe Daryl Richardson will blossom this year after racking up 638 total yards behind Steven Jackson.  All together, these newly acquired weapons give the Rams more ammunition in a very stacked NFC West.


3. San Francisco 49ers
Draft Grade: A-
Notable Draft Picks:
Rnd. 1, pick 18: Eric Reid, FS, LSU
Rnd. 2, pick 8: Cornellius Carradine, DE, Florida St.
Rnd. 2, pick 23: Vance McDonald, TE, Rice
Rnd. 3, pick 26: Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn
Rnd. 4, pick 31: Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech
Rnd. 4, pick 34: Marcus Lattimore, HB, South Carolina
Rnd. 5, pick 24: Quinton Dial, DE, Alabama
The Rams had a phenomenal draft.  The 49ers struck gold too.  The defending NFC champs bolstered an already formidable team.  After trading up to draft Eric Reid which filled a need at safety post-Dashon Goldson's departure, San Francisco picked up Cornellius Carradine, along with two other defensive ends later in the draft, to fill the void left by Isaac Sopoaga and the bound to retire soon Justin Smith.  Offensively, the Niners drafted Vance McDonald, proving that two solid tight ends is considered a necessity in today's NFL.  Quinton Patton has the skills to play outside at receiver, complimenting Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin, where he can immediately contribute.  Finally, we come to Marcus Lattimore.  My favorite player in the game today is Frank Gore.  He's tough, can receive, loves to pass block(a rarity in half backs), and has incredible field vision.  As much as he is a 49er forever, he can't play forever.  If San Francisco was to draft any back, this was the best choice.  Lattimore's horrific injury may be a gift in the long run.  He will sit behind Gore, learn from him, and only become better at what he is already talented at.  While they just missed out on a ring this past season, the 49ers may have just given themselves the upgrade to push them to the top.

Eric Reid holds up his 49ers draft jersey with his daughter at the 2013 NFL Draft.

Other Excellent Team Drafts:


Arizona Cardinals
Draft Grade: B+
Notable Draft Picks: Jonathan Cooper, Kevin Minter, Tyrann Mathieu, Alex Okafor, Stepfan Taylor, Ryan Swope, Andre Ellington
These are almost all rock solid picks with a low chance of busting.  The only need the Cardinals didn't address in the draft or during post-draft free agency is quarterback, something I still believe they lack.  Carson Palmer is not the answer.

Cincinnati Bengals
Draft Grade: A-
Notable Draft Picks: Tyler Eifert, Giovani Bernard, Margus Hunt, Sean Williams, Sean Porter, Rex Burkhead, Cobi Hamilton
The first three picks could all be considered first round prospects.  The only reason this isn't one of my top three team drafts is the latter half lacks potential.

Green Bay Packers
Draft Grade: B+
Notable Draft Picks: Datone Jones, Eddie Lacy, David Bakhtiari, Jonathan Franklin, Micah Hyde, Charles Johnson, Sam Barrington
GM Ted Thompson drafted many players that perfectly fit Green Bay's playing style.  I could see all the notable picks starting at some point.

Jacksonville Jaguars
Draft Grade: B+
Notable Draft Picks: Luke Joeckel, John Cyprien, Dwayne Gratz, Ace Sanders, Denard Robinson, Josh Evans, Demetrius McCray
Joeckel is the best offensive lineman in the draft(yes, better than Eric Fisher).  New Head Coach Gus Bradley's presence was noticed as five of Jacksonville's eight picks are defensive backs.  This could be the most exciting season ever for Jaguars fans, with a radically new team(and jersey).

Pittsburgh Steelers
Draft Grade: A-
Notable Draft Picks: Jarvis Jones, Le'Veon Bell, Markus Wheaton, Shamarko Thomas, Landry Jones
This is an urgently efficient team draft in that the first four notable picks could all start a considerable amount of games this season.  Head Coach Mike Tomlin and co. still showed aggressiveness while only trading up once.  Wheaton and Thomas were two of my favorite prospects heading into the draft.


San Diego Chargers
Draft Grade: B+
Notable Draft Picks: D.J. Fluker, Manti T'eo, Keenan Allen, Steve Williams
This is again a team draft where the first three picks were all considered to go in the first round. It is a classic example of a GM mixing needs with the best players available.

We're 95 days away from the Hall of Fame game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins.  As the off-season draws to a close, coaches and fans alike will be eager to see these rookie classes in action.

2013 NFL Mock Draft

It's Christmas for me.  I'm busy opening the present that is the nine hour pre-draft show on NFL Network.  My gift to you is my mock draft.

1.  Chiefs: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

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

3.  Raiders: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

4.  Eagles: Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon

5.  Lions: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

6.  Browns: Ziggy Ansah, DE, BYU

7.  Cardinals: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

8.  Bills: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama

9.  Jets: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

10.  Titans: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

11.  Chargers: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida St.

12.  Dolphins: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida St.

13.  Jets(from Buccaneers): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

14.  Panthers: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

15.  Saints: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

16.  Rams: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

17.  Steelers: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

18.  Cowboys: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

19.  Giants: Alec Ogletree, MLB, Georgia

20.  Bears: Manti Te’o, MLB, Notre Dame

21.  Bengals: Eric Reid, S, LSU

22.  Rams(from Redskins): Kyle Long, OG, Oregon

23.  Vikings: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

24.  Colts: D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston

25.  Vikings(from Seahawks): Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

26.  Packers: Matt Elam, S, Florida

27.  Texans: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

28.  Broncos: Kevin Minter, MLB, LSU

29.  Patriots: Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise St.

30.  Falcons: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

31.  49ers: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

32.  Ravens: Arthur Brown, MLB, Kansas St.

The 2013 NFL season begins now.

A New Breed of NFL Quarterback

Dual-threat quarterbacks like Colin Kaepernick are becoming more prevalent in the modern NFL.

(I wrote this paragraph shortly after Super Bowl XLVII.  It didn't fit into what I was writing then, but considering I haven't posted something new in a while and the NFL Draft is approaching, I felt it was appropriate to post now.)

Before Cam Newton, the mobile quarterback was becoming a dying breed.  Attaining one was looked at as more of a safeguard option than a championship plan, and passing was becoming the most popular way to win games.  After Cam's statistical success in the air and on the ground in 2011, teams reopened their playbooks to welcome this evolution of the most important position in the sport.  They devised new play formations, some already used at the collegiate level, and adapted them to fit in an NFL system.  Player personnel looked for athletic signal callers to lead their franchises.  Now, this new collection of play-makers is challenging the conventional QBs for a share of the title elite.  The latest high point of the scrambling quarterback came in the final game of the NFL post-season, where 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick challenged an underrated gunslinger in Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.  Using the pistol formation at its finest, thanks to offensive coordinator Greg Roman, Kaepernick went 7-3 in his first ten starts, and led a more than compelling playoff run to the Super Bowl.  While he failed to complete the final pass needed for a Niners championship, he helped cement the future of the mobile QB in the National Football League, and helped pave the way, along with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, for hopeful newcomers like West Virginia's Geno Smith and Florida State's E.J. Manuel.  As these new competitors bring their specialized talent under center, the traditional play of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers will always be carried on, specifically by the Matthew Staffords, Andy Daltons, and Andrew Lucks of the league, leading to a truly intriguing future for the NFL quarterback.