Wild Guesses for the 2013 NFL Draft

Apr 26, 2012; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell during the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

I’m in no way a professional, but in every way a very intelligent human being, with slightly higher than average intuitive capabilities. I believe I may have a superpower. I call it wild guesses. Just kidding, but seriously, I have a couple of guesses that I can see happening in this draft.

1.The 1st pick in the draft is not Geno Smith. I say this because the Chiefs can get the top offensive lineman Luke Joeckel, or even Eric Fisher with the #1 pick, and come back and tab a QB with the first pick of round 2. That QB, I can see being either Matt Barkley, Mike Glennon, or Tyler Bray. Maybe even EJ Manuel, as they give Matt Cassell another season as mentor while grooming the new young gun.

2.Geno Smith goes to a team no one has him connected to. Not Kansas City, Jacksonville, Arizona, or Buffalo. He goes to the Cleveland Browns who have little to no intention of having a 30 year old 2nd year QB Brandon Weeden be the face of their franchise. They do an about face and follow up the front office face lift, with an unexpected QB change at pick # 6. Very quietly, they tab Geno Smith to fix the Brandon Weeden geriatric 1st round pick last year. The Bills quietly sob. Well, either that or they trade the 6th pick to a team for a couple of draft picks. That team jumps the line of Bills, Cards, etc to take Geno.

3.Jarvis Jones who some say could be the Jets selection at pick 9, will not be selected at all in the 1st round. He might last deep into the 2nd round. I’ll give you a scenario. In 2011 De’quan Bowers was expected to be a top 10 pick, and maybe a top 5 pick. A 6’5 290 pound athletic defensive end from Clemson every team wanted. Just before the draft, it was discovered he had bad knees, and had some damage that wasn’t previously known. He slid from top ten pick, to the 51st pick of the draft with the Bucs. Fast forward to the 2013 draft, and you have Jarvis Jones and his spinal stenosis, his neck injury history. This guy despite his college pedigree, and his game, will be med failed out of the 1st round. Teams will do the same thing on him they did on Bowers, and Bowers had knee issues, not spine and neck issues. I say if the Jets draft him, it will be with the pick in round 2, and not round 1. He could turn out to be the steal of the draft for NY, or only play football for 3 years before retiring. I’m not a doctor, and it’s just a guess. I do think he will be very good though, and I think for a long time.

4.Nine cornerbacks will be taken in the first two rounds with “Honeybadger” Tyrann Mathieu being the wildcard to make it ten.

5.Five rookie quarterbacks started in 2012. Luck, Griffin, Tannehill, Weeden, and Wilson. This year it’s back to the norm. Only QB to start the full season is Geno Smith, with three or four other QB’s holding clipboards and learning the system for a chance to start in year two.

Feb 24, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Montee Ball catches a pass during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

6.Montee Ball who starred for Wisconsin gets drafted by Green Bay. Cedric Benson and Ryan Grant are not going to come back, and the Packers probably won’t re-sign them. Ball can come in and instantly split carries with James Starks and Co. Despite his slow 40 time, he becomes the Green Bay bell cow for the next 5 years.

7.Miami has two 2nd round picks. They will trade one for a veteran receiver (Greg Jennings/Dwayne Bowe/etc). They may use the other to draft a receiver (Robert Woods/Terrance Williams/etc).

8.Ezekial Ansah DE from BYU is the most over hyped player in the draft. He’ll be selected early in the 2nd round and produce less than 5 sacks his entire career. You think I’m being too harsh? He had less than 5 sacks in the 2 whole years he played organized football at BYU. He had a good Senior Bowl, and suddenly he has that “potential” label. If someone drafts him in the 1st round they could be fired because of it down the road. He’s a great athlete, which helps in unscripted senior bowls, but since when has the NFL been only about being a great athlete?

9.Dion Jordan is 50/50 to be either Aaron Maybin 2.0 or a legitimate pass rusher in the NFL. Take away the fact that he had average numbers at an Oregon school that routinely ran up the score and forced opponents to throw a lot. If he couldn’t get it done in a big time way in college against PAC 12 opponents, why is he now some sort of “can’t miss” star in the NFL? I see the long arms, tall frame, and athleticism, but I don’t see the overall production that would imply. I’m not saying he won’t be good. He hustles until the whistle blows. I just don’t think he is a 1st round, no risk talent. Maybe it’s just me, but I see him as a 2nd or 3rd rounder with some speed to get run wide of the pocket play, after play, after play….

10. Denard Robinson will be drafted by the New York Jets if he is still available in the 6th round. I’m a big fan of him in college, but I don’t know if I’m an NFL Denard fan. I’ve heard the Jets are rumored to be big on him. I think he could be available in the 6th because A. He still isn’t very good as a receiver B. He has no position and isn’t really a special teams player yet C. He’s not a running back either, which covers all of his possible spots. The Jets will jettison Tim Tebow and get back to the Brad Smith type plays with Robinson taking on the role. Maybe even letting him throw a few passes and work his way into running routes as a receiver as well. He can even let his elbow heal and not have to worry about playing quarterback since NY has that covered…