12
DJ Hayden
Houston
CBOakland
from Miami
What he brings: Hayden has one of the best combinations of footwork and closing burst in the 2013 corner class. He is also rarely caught out of position. What separates him, though, are his playmaking instincts and ability to manufacture turnovers. He can get stronger and more consistent in run support, but overall Hayden shows a shut-down skill set in coverage.
How he fits: This was one of the worst secondaries in the NFL a year ago. Part of the problem was corners with marginal cover skills. A bigger problem might have been the lack of an upfront pass rush. As a result, it puts the defensive backs on a lot of island situations. They are forced to blitz to create pressure, which means a lot of tight man-to-man coverages. The problem is that none of their guys did it very well. This will at least be a step in the right direction to allow Oakland's coaches to get back to more aggressive cover packages. They obviously hope that Hayden can be a shutdown corner like the type of player you used to identify with this secondary.
13
Sheldon Richardson
Missouri
DTNY Jets
From Tampa Bay
What he brings: There are concerns about durability, character and an underwhelming workout, but on the other hand, tape trumps all. Richardson is a disruptive run stopper with an explosive first step and much better range than his timed speed would suggest. He needs work as a pass-rusher in terms of setting up moves and eliminating wasted motion. He has lined up at end at times, as well, and shown better ability to translate speed to power at that spot than he does inside.
How he fits: He's a good football player, but he appears to be selected at a position that has pretty good depth for the Jets. However, they are looking for versatility on their defensive front. They are a traditional 3-4 defensive line, but they can go to 4-3 looks, and it's likely they think Richardson fits as a defensive end in the 3-4 and a defensive tackle in the 4-3, which makes him a three-down player. He also has the one-gap attacking skills that Rex Ryan really likes. But they already have one ascending player in Muhammad Wilkerson and another with unrealized talent in Quinton Coples. You continue to look at the Jets and wonder where the edge pass rush comes from, but Richardson will give them more physicality.
14
Star Lotulelei
Utah
DTCarolina
What he brings: Lotulelei is a massive interior run defender with natural strength and power. He shows heavy and violent hands, is light on his feet and has above-average range to make plays outside the tackle box. He doesn't have ideal pass-rush ability, but he has the quickness and power to collapse the pocket from the inside and create disruption in the backfield. He will also occupy blockers and help protect the linebackers behind him.
How he fits: The edge of this defensive front seven is really good, with defensive ends Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy. What the Panthers are missing is a dominating inside player to not only clog against the run, but also give them inside pass-rush pressure. Lotulelei will potentially give the ends more favorable blocking matchups. The happiest guy on the Panthers should be middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, because Lotulelei will eat up blocks and allow Kuechly to fly to the football. He should also dramatically upgrade the short-yardage offense, which wasn't very good last season. Lotulelei's overall presence will upgrade a defensive line that really struggled in producing tackles for loss.
15
Kenny Vaccaro
Texas
SNew Orleans
What he brings: Vaccaro can do a lot for a defense, and do it all well. He can match up with slot receivers underneath, play a center fielder role over the top, and also match up with tight ends. Outside of some slightly inconsistent tackling, he is also an excellent run stopper who fills hard from the high slot and is big enough to hold up in the box. If he had run a better 40 time he likely would have been picked earlier, but his speed is not an issue on tape and we have no concern that he is fast enough to hold up at the next level.
How he fits: This was a horrible secondary a year ago, which gave up a ton of big plays against both the run and the pass. A lot of those came inside versus safeties who had no chance to play man-to-man or turn and run with wide receivers. Under new coordinator Rob Ryan, the Saints will be aggressive. They will blitz from all over the formation, and that requires safeties who can hold up on an island where they don't have to play soft zone schemes. Right now, it looks as if last year's starters need to be upgraded. Malcolm Jenkins has regressed, and age seems to be catching up with Roman Harper. Vaccaro will not only give the Saints an outstanding athlete on the back end of this defense, but he should also be a real asset in sub packages, because he's a guy who won't be exploited in coverage.
16
EJ Manuel
Florida State
QBBuffalo
from St. Louis
What he brings: There is no questioning Manuel's physical tools, size, mobility and leadership qualities. However, the tape reveals concerns about his ability to get through progressions and make sound decisions under pressure. He also needs to improve his spotty accuracy, because he forces his receivers to adjust too often.
How he fits: The quarterback position has been a revolving door for a while in Buffalo. You just got the feeling that this new coaching staff, under Doug Marrone, wanted to start with its own guy. The Bills already had a couple quarterbacks on their roster with Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson, and it's interesting that they passed on Geno Smith and Ryan Nassib. Manuel's upside could be very intriguing, although this coaching staff has been very secretive about its offensive philosophy. We will likely see creative personnel groupings, an up-tempo passing game with some read-option wrinkles and perhaps even see an old version of the K-Gun offense that the Bills ran years ago with Jim Kelly. This is a coaching staff which can afford the time to bring along Manuel, and it already has a potentially good run game to take some pressure off him. This selection seems to tell us this is going to be a very creative offensive package. It will be fun to watch, with a variety of exotic looks.
17
Jarvis Jones
Georgia
OLBPittsburgh
What he brings: There are concerns about his long-term durability and whether his spinal stenosis diagnosis will affect the length of his career. The 40 time he turned in at his pro day also raises some eyebrows, and sent scouts back to the film. However, he is quicker than fast around the edge with an outstanding motor. He finds and gets to the ball as a run defender, and is relentless as a pass-rusher who doesn't have to win with his first move to get to the quarterback.
How he fits: This appears to be a perfect marriage of a player that the Steelers really like who also fills their No. 1 need. Veteran James Harrison is gone, promising Jason Worilds hasn't played up to his expected potential, and this defense really needed an edge rusher to complement LaMarr Woodley. If Jones can step in immediately at right outside linebacker, it gives Pittsburgh a nice three-man rotation. What we have to keep in mind is that almost all of the Steelers' pass rush comes from the outside linebackers, with occasional blitz help from safety Troy Polamalu. But this defense, year in and year out, is only as good as its edge pressure, and Jones must give them that.
18
Eric Reid
LSU
SSan Francisco
from Dallas
What he brings: Reid's 2012 film was not quite as good as his 2011 tape, but he came on late in the season and showed how good he can be. He has great size and length, as well as excellent fluidity. He needs to clean up his angles in run support, though his range and closing burst provide him with a lot of upside both in coverage and as a run defender.
How he fits: This defense is very aggressive, and it also wants its safeties to be effective in sub packages and stay on the field for all three downs. The 49ers will play combo coverages. They are outstanding tacklers, and Reid is a guy who seems to fit the mold. San Francisco lost free safety Dashon Goldson in free agency, and strong safety Donte Whitner is entering the final year of his contract. The 49ers have a couple young guys they like as depth players, but they don't appear to be ready. So the coaching staff will likely expect Reid to step in and start at free safety. As mentioned, one of the unique qualities of the 49ers defense is to have guys that never have to come off the field. Because of that, they are tough to expose in matchup situations. That should be a strength of Reid's.
19
Justin Pugh
Syracuse
OTNY Giants
What he brings: There is some debate as to whether Pugh fits best at guard or tackle, because he has short arms at just 32 inches. There are concerns about his ability to protect the edge. But there is no debating his ability to be a starter immediately. He is an aggressive, fundamentally sound run blocker who gets in good position and sustains. And aside from his arm length, there is no reason to doubt him in pass protection. His footwork and balance, in particular, are impressive.
How he fits: While the Giants probably didn't draft Pugh because of his versatility, they have needs both inside and outside on the offensive line. There is some debate whether he belongs at offensive guard or right tackle, and either position would be welcome. They might be OK at tackle with Will Beatty and get another year out of David Diehl. They also like young James Brewer at right tackle or guard, which gives them the option of moving Diehl inside. They will likely look at Pugh in both positions and find a spot where he can step in and start immediately. This has been a very good Giants offensive line for a long time, but they started to show cracks last season. Pugh will help.
20
Kyle Long
Oregon
OGChicago
What he brings: Long is a raw prospect, but his size, strength, flexibility and athleticism give him one of the highest ceilings in the entire offensive line class. He has the versatility to play inside at guard and eventually kick outside to tackle with more experience in the league.
How he fits: The Bears addressed their struggling offensive line in free agency with two new starters on the left side in Jermon Bushrod and Matt Slauson, and they moved OT J'Marcus Webb to right offensive tackle and Gabe Carimi to guard. However, the right side of this offensive line is still not at a comfort level. As much as this new coaching staff and Jay Cutler want to throw the ball downfield, they must improve their pass protection to give them the ability for the seven-step drops and seam routes they would like to run. Long probably fits in at right guard or right tackle as a starter, and if left guard Slauson struggles, Long could even fill in there.
21
Tyler Eifert
Notre Dame
TECincinnati
What he brings: Eifert is a versatile weapon who can line up in-line, in the slot or flexed wide. There is no receiver or tight end in this class in terms of attacking jump balls, and Eifert almost never loses 50-50 balls downfield. He also has the speed to work the seam and can pick up some yards after the catch. And while he will never be elite as a blocker, he can be an effective positional blocker.
How he fits: Because this didn't appear to be a high need, it certainly looks as if the Bengals were picking the best athlete left on their board. They already have two decent tight ends in Jermaine Gresham and newly acquired Alex Smith. While neither are difference-makers, it's not a bad tandem. However, Eifert is an excellent matchup tight end. He can play in-line or flex, and what makes him interesting is that the Bengals have been looking for a quality No. 2 wide receiver to complement A.J. Green. Eifert may give them some of those matchup plays. Where he will really help this offense is in the red zone. In this new era of multiple tight-end sets, Eifert will allow the Bengals to get creative.
22
Desmond Trufant
Washington
CBAtlanta
from St. Louis via Washington
What he brings: Trufant has an above-average blend of size, speed and foot quickness for a corner prospect. Add in his ability to anticipate breaks, and receivers have a tough time separating from him. He can also bump inside and match up with quicker slot receivers. There is also a lot to like about his willingness to cover the opponent's top receiver and compete on every snap. It also doesn't hurt that his older brother, Marcus, has had some success in the NFL. The two knocks on him are that he is not an elite playmaker, and could get stronger against the run.
How he fits: This is a secondary that prefers to play nickel/sub packages almost 50 percent of the time. That requires multiple defensive backs. Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes are gone. That leaves the Falcons with veteran Asante Samuel and young Robert McClain as starters, which makes this secondary a bit unsettled. They are very good inside at safety, but their ability to play with at least three corners in their base package is important, and Trufant gives them the flexibility to do that, which they didn't always have in 2012 because of injuries.
DJ Hayden
Houston
CBOakland
from Miami
What he brings: Hayden has one of the best combinations of footwork and closing burst in the 2013 corner class. He is also rarely caught out of position. What separates him, though, are his playmaking instincts and ability to manufacture turnovers. He can get stronger and more consistent in run support, but overall Hayden shows a shut-down skill set in coverage.
How he fits: This was one of the worst secondaries in the NFL a year ago. Part of the problem was corners with marginal cover skills. A bigger problem might have been the lack of an upfront pass rush. As a result, it puts the defensive backs on a lot of island situations. They are forced to blitz to create pressure, which means a lot of tight man-to-man coverages. The problem is that none of their guys did it very well. This will at least be a step in the right direction to allow Oakland's coaches to get back to more aggressive cover packages. They obviously hope that Hayden can be a shutdown corner like the type of player you used to identify with this secondary.
13
Sheldon Richardson
Missouri
DTNY Jets
From Tampa Bay
What he brings: There are concerns about durability, character and an underwhelming workout, but on the other hand, tape trumps all. Richardson is a disruptive run stopper with an explosive first step and much better range than his timed speed would suggest. He needs work as a pass-rusher in terms of setting up moves and eliminating wasted motion. He has lined up at end at times, as well, and shown better ability to translate speed to power at that spot than he does inside.
How he fits: He's a good football player, but he appears to be selected at a position that has pretty good depth for the Jets. However, they are looking for versatility on their defensive front. They are a traditional 3-4 defensive line, but they can go to 4-3 looks, and it's likely they think Richardson fits as a defensive end in the 3-4 and a defensive tackle in the 4-3, which makes him a three-down player. He also has the one-gap attacking skills that Rex Ryan really likes. But they already have one ascending player in Muhammad Wilkerson and another with unrealized talent in Quinton Coples. You continue to look at the Jets and wonder where the edge pass rush comes from, but Richardson will give them more physicality.
14
Star Lotulelei
Utah
DTCarolina
What he brings: Lotulelei is a massive interior run defender with natural strength and power. He shows heavy and violent hands, is light on his feet and has above-average range to make plays outside the tackle box. He doesn't have ideal pass-rush ability, but he has the quickness and power to collapse the pocket from the inside and create disruption in the backfield. He will also occupy blockers and help protect the linebackers behind him.
How he fits: The edge of this defensive front seven is really good, with defensive ends Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy. What the Panthers are missing is a dominating inside player to not only clog against the run, but also give them inside pass-rush pressure. Lotulelei will potentially give the ends more favorable blocking matchups. The happiest guy on the Panthers should be middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, because Lotulelei will eat up blocks and allow Kuechly to fly to the football. He should also dramatically upgrade the short-yardage offense, which wasn't very good last season. Lotulelei's overall presence will upgrade a defensive line that really struggled in producing tackles for loss.
15
Kenny Vaccaro
Texas
SNew Orleans
What he brings: Vaccaro can do a lot for a defense, and do it all well. He can match up with slot receivers underneath, play a center fielder role over the top, and also match up with tight ends. Outside of some slightly inconsistent tackling, he is also an excellent run stopper who fills hard from the high slot and is big enough to hold up in the box. If he had run a better 40 time he likely would have been picked earlier, but his speed is not an issue on tape and we have no concern that he is fast enough to hold up at the next level.
How he fits: This was a horrible secondary a year ago, which gave up a ton of big plays against both the run and the pass. A lot of those came inside versus safeties who had no chance to play man-to-man or turn and run with wide receivers. Under new coordinator Rob Ryan, the Saints will be aggressive. They will blitz from all over the formation, and that requires safeties who can hold up on an island where they don't have to play soft zone schemes. Right now, it looks as if last year's starters need to be upgraded. Malcolm Jenkins has regressed, and age seems to be catching up with Roman Harper. Vaccaro will not only give the Saints an outstanding athlete on the back end of this defense, but he should also be a real asset in sub packages, because he's a guy who won't be exploited in coverage.
16
EJ Manuel
Florida State
QBBuffalo
from St. Louis
What he brings: There is no questioning Manuel's physical tools, size, mobility and leadership qualities. However, the tape reveals concerns about his ability to get through progressions and make sound decisions under pressure. He also needs to improve his spotty accuracy, because he forces his receivers to adjust too often.
How he fits: The quarterback position has been a revolving door for a while in Buffalo. You just got the feeling that this new coaching staff, under Doug Marrone, wanted to start with its own guy. The Bills already had a couple quarterbacks on their roster with Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson, and it's interesting that they passed on Geno Smith and Ryan Nassib. Manuel's upside could be very intriguing, although this coaching staff has been very secretive about its offensive philosophy. We will likely see creative personnel groupings, an up-tempo passing game with some read-option wrinkles and perhaps even see an old version of the K-Gun offense that the Bills ran years ago with Jim Kelly. This is a coaching staff which can afford the time to bring along Manuel, and it already has a potentially good run game to take some pressure off him. This selection seems to tell us this is going to be a very creative offensive package. It will be fun to watch, with a variety of exotic looks.
17
Jarvis Jones
Georgia
OLBPittsburgh
What he brings: There are concerns about his long-term durability and whether his spinal stenosis diagnosis will affect the length of his career. The 40 time he turned in at his pro day also raises some eyebrows, and sent scouts back to the film. However, he is quicker than fast around the edge with an outstanding motor. He finds and gets to the ball as a run defender, and is relentless as a pass-rusher who doesn't have to win with his first move to get to the quarterback.
How he fits: This appears to be a perfect marriage of a player that the Steelers really like who also fills their No. 1 need. Veteran James Harrison is gone, promising Jason Worilds hasn't played up to his expected potential, and this defense really needed an edge rusher to complement LaMarr Woodley. If Jones can step in immediately at right outside linebacker, it gives Pittsburgh a nice three-man rotation. What we have to keep in mind is that almost all of the Steelers' pass rush comes from the outside linebackers, with occasional blitz help from safety Troy Polamalu. But this defense, year in and year out, is only as good as its edge pressure, and Jones must give them that.
18
Eric Reid
LSU
SSan Francisco
from Dallas
What he brings: Reid's 2012 film was not quite as good as his 2011 tape, but he came on late in the season and showed how good he can be. He has great size and length, as well as excellent fluidity. He needs to clean up his angles in run support, though his range and closing burst provide him with a lot of upside both in coverage and as a run defender.
How he fits: This defense is very aggressive, and it also wants its safeties to be effective in sub packages and stay on the field for all three downs. The 49ers will play combo coverages. They are outstanding tacklers, and Reid is a guy who seems to fit the mold. San Francisco lost free safety Dashon Goldson in free agency, and strong safety Donte Whitner is entering the final year of his contract. The 49ers have a couple young guys they like as depth players, but they don't appear to be ready. So the coaching staff will likely expect Reid to step in and start at free safety. As mentioned, one of the unique qualities of the 49ers defense is to have guys that never have to come off the field. Because of that, they are tough to expose in matchup situations. That should be a strength of Reid's.
19
Justin Pugh
Syracuse
OTNY Giants
What he brings: There is some debate as to whether Pugh fits best at guard or tackle, because he has short arms at just 32 inches. There are concerns about his ability to protect the edge. But there is no debating his ability to be a starter immediately. He is an aggressive, fundamentally sound run blocker who gets in good position and sustains. And aside from his arm length, there is no reason to doubt him in pass protection. His footwork and balance, in particular, are impressive.
How he fits: While the Giants probably didn't draft Pugh because of his versatility, they have needs both inside and outside on the offensive line. There is some debate whether he belongs at offensive guard or right tackle, and either position would be welcome. They might be OK at tackle with Will Beatty and get another year out of David Diehl. They also like young James Brewer at right tackle or guard, which gives them the option of moving Diehl inside. They will likely look at Pugh in both positions and find a spot where he can step in and start immediately. This has been a very good Giants offensive line for a long time, but they started to show cracks last season. Pugh will help.
20
Kyle Long
Oregon
OGChicago
What he brings: Long is a raw prospect, but his size, strength, flexibility and athleticism give him one of the highest ceilings in the entire offensive line class. He has the versatility to play inside at guard and eventually kick outside to tackle with more experience in the league.
How he fits: The Bears addressed their struggling offensive line in free agency with two new starters on the left side in Jermon Bushrod and Matt Slauson, and they moved OT J'Marcus Webb to right offensive tackle and Gabe Carimi to guard. However, the right side of this offensive line is still not at a comfort level. As much as this new coaching staff and Jay Cutler want to throw the ball downfield, they must improve their pass protection to give them the ability for the seven-step drops and seam routes they would like to run. Long probably fits in at right guard or right tackle as a starter, and if left guard Slauson struggles, Long could even fill in there.
21
Tyler Eifert
Notre Dame
TECincinnati
What he brings: Eifert is a versatile weapon who can line up in-line, in the slot or flexed wide. There is no receiver or tight end in this class in terms of attacking jump balls, and Eifert almost never loses 50-50 balls downfield. He also has the speed to work the seam and can pick up some yards after the catch. And while he will never be elite as a blocker, he can be an effective positional blocker.
How he fits: Because this didn't appear to be a high need, it certainly looks as if the Bengals were picking the best athlete left on their board. They already have two decent tight ends in Jermaine Gresham and newly acquired Alex Smith. While neither are difference-makers, it's not a bad tandem. However, Eifert is an excellent matchup tight end. He can play in-line or flex, and what makes him interesting is that the Bengals have been looking for a quality No. 2 wide receiver to complement A.J. Green. Eifert may give them some of those matchup plays. Where he will really help this offense is in the red zone. In this new era of multiple tight-end sets, Eifert will allow the Bengals to get creative.
22
Desmond Trufant
Washington
CBAtlanta
from St. Louis via Washington
What he brings: Trufant has an above-average blend of size, speed and foot quickness for a corner prospect. Add in his ability to anticipate breaks, and receivers have a tough time separating from him. He can also bump inside and match up with quicker slot receivers. There is also a lot to like about his willingness to cover the opponent's top receiver and compete on every snap. It also doesn't hurt that his older brother, Marcus, has had some success in the NFL. The two knocks on him are that he is not an elite playmaker, and could get stronger against the run.
How he fits: This is a secondary that prefers to play nickel/sub packages almost 50 percent of the time. That requires multiple defensive backs. Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes are gone. That leaves the Falcons with veteran Asante Samuel and young Robert McClain as starters, which makes this secondary a bit unsettled. They are very good inside at safety, but their ability to play with at least three corners in their base package is important, and Trufant gives them the flexibility to do that, which they didn't always have in 2012 because of injuries.
