[Rain Man]

Okay, here goes. My team's 2013 draft.

Note the post below, in which we traded our 1-1 pick and our 7-207 pick for the Jets' 1-13, 2-39, 3-72, and 5-141 picks. While I needed an OT, it was a no-brainer to trade down and pick up so many high picks even at a massive discount.

We also decline the Alex Smith trade and thus keep our 2-34 pick as well. This leaves us with 11 picks.

And here we go...

Round 1, Pick 13 - Star Lotulelei, DT (Panthers)

We desperately need multiple DTs, and I liked Star because he can apparently play 3-4 NT, 3-4 DE, or 4-3 DT. The only other player I considered was Jarvis Jones, but while I like him we don't have a need at OLB and we had a desperate need at DT. He will immediately move to the top of the depth chart as a starter at either 4-3 DT or 3-4 DE.

Round 2, Pick 34 - Geno Smith, QB (Jets)

This was a much harder pick than one would guess. For much of my consideration Geno was not my guy, and I was figuring I would take DT Jonathan Hankins with this pick to continue beefing up my line. But in the end I couldn't pass up a likely starting QB with only a second-round pick. Geno will back up Russell Wilson as my likely second-string QB and insurance policy.

Round 2, Pick 39 - Menelik Watson, OT (Raiders)

I struggled with this pick. Hankins was still available and highly attractive, and I really wanted him. He was my second choice yet again. I also strongly considered DT Kawann Short and TE Gavin Escobar, and flirted with ILB Kevin Minter, DE Margus Hunt, and even DE Tank Carradine. But in the end, this whole Eric Winston thing screwed me over. I only have Branden Albert, Winston, and Carolina backup Bruce Campbell as holdovers, and I need someone who can step in and start at RT. If I didn't take Watson, my only other option was Terron Armstead in the third, and I decided that Watson was a better risk

Round 3, Pick 63 - Travis Kelce, TE (Chiefs)

This was purely a need pick. I think my fullbacks are headed out of the league, and my starting TE, Tony Gonzalez, is likely in his last year. I considered Escobar as a long-term replacement, but landed on Kelce because I can play him as an H-back type this year, and either leave him in that position long term or move him to TE when Tony retires. I'm not thrilled about this pick because I really wanted and needed DE Demontre Moore here, but Kelce was the only strong candidate who could fill my roster hole. He'll likely move into the starting lineup as an H-back.

Round 3, Pick 72 - Brandon Williams, DT (Ravens)

This is my year to fix the defensive line. I was very torn between Williams and DT John Jenkins, who seemed to be ranked a little higher. I went with Williams because he's a little more versatile (4-3 DT and 3-4 NT as opposed to purely a NT) and because he has a history of generating a pass rush inside. I really hated passing on Jenkins and it killed me to watch Demontre Moore go off the board. But I need versatile DTs. I also strongly considered WR Keenan Allen as a BPA move, but receiver isn't an area of great need. OT Terron Armstead got a long look too, as I pondered whether to take him or Watson (Round 2) or both. In the end, though, I have to fix my DT spot since my incumbents were Alex Carrington (fine backup), Anthony Toribio (backup), and Ron Edwards (retiring, I think). Brandon will likely move into the starting lineup as either my NT in a 3-4 or as a 4-3 DT.

Round 3, Pick 96 - Tyler Wilson, QB (Raiders)

Controversial pick here. If I was going to take a developmental quarterback, Matt Barkley was still available. But in the end I like Tyler Wilson's prospects more, and he can sit at third string behind Russell Wilson and Geno Smith and get some seasoning.

There were a bunch of players I really liked here, including DT Akeem Spence, DE Alex Okafor, WR/PR Ace Sanders, WR Quentin Patton, RB Marcus Lattimore, LB Jelani Jenkins, C Barrett Jones, FS Phillip Thomas, and C Brian Schwenke. I need a backup C, a returner, a backup RB, and a starting FS, so these guys were hard to pass up. But in the end, it's all about the quarterback and I need insurance there. I can get by in these other areas in the short term.

Round 4, Pick 99 - Denard Robinson, RB/KR (Jaguars)

All of the guys in the previous paragraph were still available for this pick, and I liked a lot of them. My initial thought was Spence or maybe Okafor, and I also took a long look at Schwenke. But when I started analyzing my roster, I realized that I really needed a returner. Ace Sanders rose to my top, but he's a receiver and I have depth there. I kept looking to see if I could find a RB who could be a returner. While Lattimore was very intriguing as a long-term play at RB, he didn't solve my return problem.

Then I found Denard Robinson down further. During the draft, one of the talking heads was the coach of Notre Dame, and he made some comments about Robinson being the most dynamic playmaker he had faced this year. The Jags are apparently going to make him a RB and returner, so I'm taking him as a high-risk, high-reward candidate. He'll be a third-stringer behind Jamaal Charles and C.J. Spiller, but will contribute as a returner and potential gadget. My backfield is built on speed, baby!

Round 5, Pick 134 - Jesse Williams, DT (Seahawks)

This was a no-brainer. I need DTs, and this guy slipped way further than I thought. Apparently there's some long-term concern about his knee, but screw that. Perfect value pick that fills a need. Never even really considered anyone else other than a look at RB Stepfan Taylor. Williams will battle for a starting DT or NT job.

Round 5, Pick 141 - A.J. Klein, ILB (Panthers)

I probably should have taken DE Quanterus Smith or DE Lavar Edwards here and looked really hard at Smith, but I have no depth at ILB and I liked Klein as a prospect. If we go 3-4 he'll fight Rey Maualuga for a starting job alongside Derrick Johnson, or if we go 4-3 he'll fight for a backup job. I also briefly considered WR Tavarres King and G/T Oday Aboushi, but didn't feel that they offered an upgrade over my current roster.

Round 6, Pick 170 - Bacarri Rambo, FS (Redskins)

One area of need that I haven't addressed so far is FS, where my current starter is Kendrick Lewis. I need to upgrade, but couldn't justify a high pick on the position given other needs. Rambo is a character risk with talent, so I figure he has a fighting chance to unseat Lewis as my starter or at least be a backup.

I also strongly considered OT David Quessenberry, RB Kenjon Barner, and TE Nick Kasa at this spot, particularly Quessenberry.

Round 6, Pick 204 - Jordan Poyer, CB (Eagles)

I wasn't sure what to do with this spot, and CB isn't a strong area of need. I looked at Poyer, who seemed like a really good value pick, and was also very interested in ILB Mike Mauti, DE Armonty Bryant, and FBs Braden Wilson and Tommy Bohannan. The latter two were of interest more to divert the third round pick from Kelce to Demontre Moore. Undrafted FAs WR Da'Rick Rogers and ILB Kevin Reddick also interested me. But in the end I already had Klein at ILB, and it's hard to predict if fullbacks will even make the final cuts. I went with Poyer as a safe, talent-adding pick, even if CB isn't a real need.


When all was said and done, the two guys I really lament passing on are DE Demontre Moore and DT Jonathan Hankins. They could have really helped. I also think that WR Keenan Allen and WR Quentin Patton could be steals, but I just had too many other fires to put out and have a good pair of starting WRs already.