Conquering the NFL Draft isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Teams have to be aggressive in order to get the players they want. Sitting back and waiting for the prospects on the top of your draft board to fall into your lap simply won’t work.
Some franchises were able to execute their draft plan and make smart decisions to find value in the later rounds. Other organizations made picks that left their fans booing and scratching their heads.
Here are my winners and losers of the 2013 NFL Draft:
WINNERS
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona’s first selection, North Carolina offensive guard Jonathan Cooper, will provide stability on the offensive line for the next decade.
But the real value for Arizona came in the second and third rounds.
LSU linebacker Kevin Minter should have been a first rounder, but fell to the Cardinals with the No. 45 pick. Arizona also took a big risk selecting ex-Tiger Tyrann Mathieu in the third round.
But in this case, the risk is worth the reward. There’s no
denying Mathieu’s talent, and he’ll get to be mentored on and off the field by former Tiger Patrick Peterson.
Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor and Texas A&M wide out Ryan Swope were steals in the later rounds.
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers probably had the best first three picks of the 32 NFL teams.
I’ve watched Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker pound defensive linemen into the ground for a while in the Southeastern Conference. He’ll do the same for quite some time at the next level.
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o was a second rounder, so he won’t have the same pressure he would have felt if he went in the first. The Chargers just have to hope Te’o has put his girlfriend hoax behind him.
San Diego’s third round selection, Cal wide receiver Keenan Allen, will finally get to display his immense talent with a gunslinger like Phillip Rivers throwing him the ball.
San Francisco 49ers
It’s almost unfair how solid the 49ers draft was.
San Fran traded up to get LSU safety Eric Reid, who will be given the opportunity to start from day one. Florida State defensive end Tank Carradine, the 49ers’ second-round pick, has injury concerns, but when healthy, he is a handful
coming off the edge.
South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore got scooped up in the fourth round by the 49ers, which was the best possible scenario coming off the gruesome knee injury he suffered last season. Lattimore will get all the time he needs to rehab and won’t be rushed back since the 49ers already have Frank Gore and LaMichael James.
LOSERS
New York Jets
I’m convinced the Jets don’t want to be the best team in the NFL — they want to be the most entertaining one.
As if New York didn’t have enough drama in the quarterback department, adding West Virginia signal caller Geno Smith to the mix will only make matters worse. Here’s a spoiler, Jets fans: He’s not that good.
Alabama cornerback Dee Miliner was a solid addition with the ninth overall selection, but the Jets reached for Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson at pick No. 13.
Defensive tackles Sharrif Floyd and Star Lotulelei were still on the board and will be better pros than Richardson.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas passed on numerous players who could have made the Cowboys immediately better. Their first two selections didn’t make much sense.
The Cowboys took Wisconsin center Travis Frederick with their first round selection, but he probably would have been there in round two.
During the second round, “America’s Team” took another gamble on San Diego State tight end Gavin Escobar. It was an odd choice because the Cowboys already have perennial Pro Bowler Jason Witten at that position.
Dallas didn’t have a horrible draft, but none of the players selected will make an immediate impact. Owner Jerry Jones needs to hand over his general manager duties to someone who’s qualified to fulfill them.
Micah Bedard is a 22-year-old history senior from Houma.
San Diego Chargers draft pick, inside linebacker Manti Te'o, from Notre Dame, holds up his Chargers jersey during an NFL football news conference at the Chargers' facility Saturday, April 27, 2013 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
