An Interactive Sports Experience

NFL DRAFT ROUND 1

The First round of the 2013 NFL Draft was a crazy one. Six of the first eleven picks were offensive lineman, a total of 12 SEC players were selected in the first round, matching a 1st round record by the ACC in 2006, and EJ Manuel was taken before other quarterbacks including Geno Smith, Matt Barkley and Ryan Nassib, who ended up not getting picked up in the first. After a crazy first day, here are my three winners from day one.

#3: New York Jets
Although the Jets didn’t address their embarrassing quarterback situation in the first round, I think they got two very good players at the nine and thirteen spot, and with only one QB taken in the first (not even the top one) the Jets have a shot at a good QB in the 2nd round. Dee Millner (CB, Alabama) is a first day starter that has the ability to create his own “Dee Island” in New York. Although Sheldon Richardson (DT, Missouri), isn’t the ideal fit for the Jets scheme, he is an explosive D lineman with great ability, which Rex Ryan will find a way to use to the best of its potential.
Grade: B

#2: St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams had a great first round, trading up to snag Tavon Austin (WR, WVU) with the eighth pick overall and then picking up Alec Ogltree (ILB, Georgia) at the thirty spot. In my opinion, the Rams got the two best athletes on their respective sides of the ball in the first round, picking up Austin, a electrifying WR who “wowed” scouts at the combine with his impressive 4.34 40 yard dash and Ogletree, an ex-safety inside linebacker who has the athletic abilities to cover TEs and WRs down the field, complimenting the tackling machine of James Laurinaitis in the middle of the Ram defense. The Rams made good moves to pick up athletes and game changers for them on both sides of the ball.
Grade: B

#1: Minnesota Vikings
There is no team that compares to the Vikings first day at the draft, getting three picks in the first round and filling voids in their defensive line, secondary and wide receiver positions with three first-day starters. Minnesota got a steal in Shariff Floyd (DT, Florida) at the 23 spot, who was a popular top ten pick in most experts mock drafts, replacing Pat Williams on their interior D-line. They then followed up at the 25 spot with CB Xavier Rhodes from Florida St., filling another void in the secondary with the loss of Antoine Winfield. Finally, the Vikings traded with the New England Patriots to move back into the first round at the 29th spot to draft Cordarelle Patterson (WR, Tennessee). With the 29th pick, the Vikings had the choice between Patterson or ILB Manti Teo, but made the right choice in my opinion with Patterson. With an offense that literally ran through Adrian Peterson and his 2000 rushing yard plus season, and a passing attack ranked almost dead last, the Vikings made the right the move drafting Patterson to compliment Greg Jennings. The Vikings made it clear to the NFC North today that they are trying to compete for the division starting next year, and are a force to be reckoned with.
Grade: A

An Interactive Sports Experience

468 ad

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *