Movin' On Up

Every year, there is a player who starts out as perhaps a low 1st Round pick in mock drafts, but through his play in all-star games, the NFL Scouting Combine and draft workout Pro Days, as well as his play during his final college season, he moves up towards the top of the draft. Last year, Cleveland made sure they got Trent Richardson by trading up one spot to the 3rd pick, even though many were skeptical about drafting a running back that high in the draft. Luke Kuechly started out in the mocks in the middle of Round 1, then was taken #9 by Carolina. Both players proved their worth by producing outstanding seasons. In 2011, Tryon Smith was seen as the left tackle of the future by Dallas, and the Cowboys selected him #9, even though he was seen as a little raw. Von Miller moved all the way up to #2, and Denver now has one of the best outside linebackers in the game. In 2013, the one player who looks like he was going to be a mid to late first rounder but now he looks like a lock for the top 10 is Eric Fisher, the left tackle from Central Michigan. Fisher is working out this week for the Senior Bowl, and he has looked better than advertised. Big, strong, agile with very good footwork, if Fisher can keep his quarterbacks upright this weekend, has impressive workouts at the Combine and his pro day, Fisher will go in the top 10. But he also has three players to thank just a bit for his selection position. The first two are Jake Matthews and Taylor Lewan. Matthews and Lewan were seen as the second and third best tackles behind Luke Joeckel, but both decided to stay in school for their senior seasons. As valuable as quarterbacks are, quality left tackles are just as much so. Adrian Peterson nearly broke the nearly 30 year old single season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson, and in the games I watched I saw a lot of Peterson running left. Right behind Matt Kalil, the Vikings first round pick from 2012 taken 4th overall. Chrisian Ponder may not be developing as quickly as some would like to see, but he made progress and Kalil protecting his blind side will help greatly. Fisher could be a target of Tennessee at #10 or Arizona at #7. Detroit might take a look at #5, but I have a hard time seeing the Lions passing on defensive help there, even at the cost of Matthew Stafford's protection. The third player who will help Fisher move up the draft boards is Joe Staley. Staley came from Central Michigan as well, and teams were leery of taking a smaller school tackle too high at that time. Staley fell all the way to #28 in 2007, but he now anchors the best offensive line in the NFL with San Francisco, is a consistent Pro Bowl pick, and is now getting ready to play in the Super Bowl. Because of his success, teams are more likely to take a look at the player and his ability, not where he played his college ball at. Now is the time for Eric Fisher to shine. The Senior Bowl is this weekend, and this is his opportunity to his move up to the top of the 2013 NFL Draft.