TMG DraftZone 2013 NFL Draft Grades: AFC East

The New England Patriots continued their dominance of the AFC East, and as long as Bill Belichick is calling the shots and Tom Brady is calling the plays, things don't look to change any time soon. The Patriots also continued their tradition of trading down in the draft, while Buffalo, Miami and the Jets were making moves to catch up. Free agency was very good for the Dolphins, and they made the biggest splash in the draft to trade up to #3 and select Dion Jordan third overall. The Jets made their big move before the draft by trading Darrelle Revis to Tampa Bay for the 13th overall pick, and the Bills made their move by trading down from #8 to #16 with the Rams. On a side note, I'd like to pat myself on the back just a bit by being one of the first mock drafters to have Tavon Austin going eighth in the draft. Playmakers are at a premium, and Austin was a player the Bills could use. So could the Rams, and they wanted him more and made the move up to get him. Buffalo then made the shocking move of the entire draft by selecting E.J. Manuel at #16 with the pick they got from St. Louis. Many see Manuel as needing work and seasoning, but with the Bills quarterback situation, he could very well be Day 1 starter for Buffalo. So here is the TMG DraftZone grades for the AFC East, with key selections and sleeper picks for each team: Buffalo: B E.J. Manuel (QB)/Robert Woods (WR) Marquise Goodwin (WR) The Bills immediate future is tied to Manuel, who has all the physical gifts to star in the NFL, his game is going to need some time to adjust, and the future of Manuel is tied to Woods. I don't put as much stock in workouts as game film, but just watch Woods catching balls from Matt Barkley at the USC Pro Day. He caught everything. Manuel and Woods could very well be the QB/WR combo to build around. Goodwin can find his place in the league because you can coach a player to play the game, but you can't coach them to be fast. As in what one analyst called him at the Senior Bowl practice as Spaceballs fast, because Goodwin has Ludicrous Speed. Players with that kind of speed can always make an inpact. Miami: B+ Jamar Taylor (CB) Jelani Jenkins (LB) The Dolphins made the bold move to move up and get their next Jason Taylor by selecting Dion Jordan at #3 overall, and they did it by not breaking the bank and only giving Oakland the #12 and #42 picks. Miami then got the cornerback that many looked for them to take at #12 in Round 2 by picking Jamar Taylor, who was seen as a late riser to the bottom of Round 1. Dallas Thomas could be the eventual replacement to Jake Long at right tackle. Jenkins needs to add some strength and bulk up just a bit, but he is a smart player who, if Jordan is Jason Taylor, Jenkins could be Zach Thomas. New England B- Jamie Collins (LB) Logan Ryan (CB) The proudest person coming out of the draft has to be the defensive coordinator at Rutgers, as just about all of his players now play for the Patriots. Ryan could have an immediate impact depending on what kind of punishment the league gives to Alfonzo Dennard, and Jamie Collins was overlooked by many just because he played on a team that went winless in 2012 at Southern Mississippi. But the previous year, they were conference champions and Collins is a talent that Belichick can mold into a solid pro. NY Jets: C+ Sheldon Richardson (DT) Oday Aboushi (OT) The Jets filled re-occupied Revis Island with Dee Milliner, the top rated cornerback in the draft. The pick of Richardson had many scratcing their heads, with Muhammad Wilkerson and Quinton Coples already in place, but you can never have too many athletic defensive lineman who can get after the quarterback, and Richardson might be able to work his way into the starting rotation. The Jets only made their quarterback situation murkier by taking Geno Smith in Round 2, but now that Tim Tebow is out of the picture, Smith could also eventually become the starter. But the Jets did not address their need to get playmakers on offense, but Aboushi and Brian Winters can help solidify the offensive line.

TMG DraftZone 2013 NFL Draft Grades: NFC East

The 2013 NFL Draft has come and gone, my vacation is over and it's time to hand out grades to the teams. I posted in a blog earlier this draft season that without the big names at the top, with loads of depth and with players at 15-35-55 that would wind up having similar talent and value, that it would be tough for any team to really screw up their draft. I was right on that point. I was wrong on my very early prediction that 5 quarterbacks would go in the first round. For this year, Panic In The Draft Room did not take over. But it did hit in Round 4. The quarterbacks in this draft may end up being quality players, but teams went for what they saw as the moer sure thing and waited to take the signal callers. When Round 4 came around, the quarterbacks went off the board. But 2013 was all about The Big Uglies. 6 offensive lineman taken in the first 11 picks. 3 defensive lineman in the first 6 picks. Even Travis Frederick, seen by many as a third round pick, went in Round 1 to Dallas. No running backs selected in the first round, and only one quarterback. What in the name of Russell Erxlaben is going on here? My team draft grades will be followed by key selections and sleeper picks. So here is the TMG DraftZone team grades for the 2013 NFL Draft, starting with the NFC East: NFC East Dallas: C Gavin Escobar (TE) Joseph Randle (RB) Frederick will move into the center position and plug up the revolving door there, but he could have been gotten in late Round 2 or even Round 3. Escobar will give Tony Romo an excellent target, and Randle could get his chance to carry the ball if the Dallas backs keep getting injured. NY Giants: B+ Johnathon Hankins (DT) Damontre Moore (DE) New York looked to shore up their offensive line with the pick of Justin Pugh. His running mate from Syracuse, quarterback Ryan Nassib, may not get much of a chance to play but he gives the Giants a solid backup to Eli Manning. Hankins is a load who can tie up the middle of the defensive line and free up the Giants pass rush from the ends. And if Moore plays like the one who racked up 12 sacks last year at Texas A&M instead of the player who looked like he took his future for granted at the combine, he could have a big impact down the road. Philadelphia: A- Matt Barkley (QB) Jordan Poyer (CB) The Chip Kelly Era starts with the building block of the most athletic tackle in the draft with Lane Johnson. Zack Ertz will give the Eagles quarterback a big target down the middle, and I believe that the quarterback who will be throwing the ball to Ertz, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and others will be Barkley. I don't believe he will begni the year as the starter, but I can see Barkley finishing the year taking snaps. Jordan Poyer was seen as an early round pick, and he fell all the way to the seventh round. With the Eagles porous pass defense, Poyer could get a chance early. Washington: B David Amerson (CB) Phillip Thomas (S) Washington surrendered their first round pick last year to move up and take Robert Griffin III, and that move worked out very well as the Redskins won the NFC East. Washington beefed up their pass defense early and often with the picks of David Amerson in Round 2 and later on with Phillip Thomas in Round 4. Jordan Reed gives Griffin another target to throw to when he finally learns that he will last a lot longer in the NFL by not running as much as he did last year.

TMG DraftZone Final Mock Draft for 2013

As I posted in my final DSA Player Rankings, I am putting out my final 2013 NFL Mock Draft. I'm heading on vacation and leaving the computer behind. Looking at the upcoming draft, about the only certainty is that nothing is for certain. Will Luke Joeckel go #1? Or will it be Eric Fisher, Sharrif Floyd, or Star Lotulelei. Will a quarterback even be selected in Round 1? Or will there be up to 5? This is a crazy year because you just don't know what is going to happen. I made a bold prediction earlier in the draft season that there will be 5 quarterbacks go in Round 1. And as you look down my Mock Draft, you will not find any at all. But that does not mean that I do not forsee any signal callers going on Thursday. Teams will trade up, and I can see Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Buffalo and possibly Arizona making the moves. It will be a long night for the pretty boys if Geno Snmith does not go in the Top 10. They may as well bring a deck of cards and start up a game of Texas Hold 'Em. They could be there a long time. So here is the Final NFL Mock Draft from the TMG DraftZone for 2013: 1) Kansas City Luke Joeckel 2) Jacksonville Dion Jordan 3) Oakland Sharrif Floyd 4) Philadelphia Lane Johnson 5) Detroit Eric Fisher 6) Cleveland Dee Milliner 7) Arizona Chance Warmack 8) Buffalo Tavon Austin 9) NY Jets Jarvis Jones 10) Tennessee Star Lotulelei 11) San Diego Jonathon Cooper 12) Miami Xavier Rhodes 13) Tampa Bay Ezekiel Ansah 14) Carolina Sheldon Richardson 15) New Orleans Barkevious Mingo 16) St. Louis Kenny Vaccaro 17) Pittsburgh Cordarrelle Patterson 18) Dallas Matt Elam 19) NY Giants Alec Ogletree 20) Chicago D.J. Fluker 21) Cincinnati Eric Reid 22) St. Louis Keenan Allen 23) Minnesota Sylvester Williams 24) Indianapolis Johnathon Hankins 25) Minnesota Manti Te'o 26) Green Bay Tyler Eifert 27) Houston Robert Woods 28) Denver Bjoern Werner 29) New England Desmond Trufant 30) Atlanta Cornelius Carradine 31) San Francisco Jonathon Cyprien 32) Baltimore Justin Hunter Tavon Austin is the most exciting playmaker in the draft, and I can easily see Buffalo making the pick to give Kevin Kolb another threat to go along with C.J. Spiller and Stevie Johnson. If the Bills pass, don't overlook Jerry Jones moving in front of St. Louis to take Austin. Tony Romo needs to start earning that big contract, and putting Austin in the slot with Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Jason Witten would give the Cowboys the most exciting receiving corps in the NFL. I'm going to be putting my final mock draft selections on NFL.com in their Predict The Pick Contest. It will be interesting to see the winning scores against the last few years, when there were locks at the top of the draft every year. I'll be back with my team draft grades after the draft. Good luck to all of you in your mock drafts, and with the 1st Pick of the 2013 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select...(unless they trade down, of course).

DSA Player Rankings 6.0--2013 Final Edition

It is time for the final edition of the TMG DraftZone DSA Player Rankings for 2013. I normally post this the day of the draft, but this year I'm going on vacation and leaving my computer and research behind. There may be a surprise player move up, but I don't see the top of the draft changing much at all. Geno Smith is the biggest drop at the top, falling four spots down to #9. With a clean bill of health, Star Lotulelei looks to be a near certain Top Ten pick, and he moved up 3 positions in the final DSA's. Tavon Austin is the premier playmaker on offense in the draft, and he jumped up 4 spots to #14. Safety is one position that is deep with very talented players, and I can see a run on the top players at the position come Thursday night. Kenny Vaccaro is the top rated safety at #17, but Matt Elam jumped 9 spots to #21, and Eric Reid and Jonathon Cyprien but made a huge move up the charts. Both players gained 16 positions in the DSA's, up to #28 and #29, respectively. And it seems that the fall of Damontre Moore is nearly complete. Once seen as a possible #3 overall pick to Oakland, Moore was shut out of all the mock drafts I researched for the final DSA's. In all the time I've done this, I've never seen that happen. Moore might still get a surprise call in Round 1, but if not I do not see him lasting too long in Round 2. There is too much talent there for teams to pass him by for too long on Day 2. So here is the final TMG DraftZone DSA Player Rankings for 2013: 1) Luke Joeckel 1.60 2) Dion Jordan 3.10 3) Eric Fisher 3.90 4) Sharrif Floyd 5.50 5) Dee Milliner 6.40 6) Lane Johnson 6.60 7) Ezekiel Ansah 7.20 8) Star Lotulelei 8.80 9) Geno Smith 11.30 10) Chance Warmack 11.30 11) Barkevious Mingo 11.80 12) Jonathon Cooper 12.30 13) Xavier Rhodes 13.80 14) Tavon Austin 14.30 15) Sheldon Richardson 14.80 16) Jarvis Jones 15.90 17) Kenny Vaccaro 16.60 18) Cordarrelle Patterson 20.50 19) D.J. Fluker 22.00 20) Alec Ogletree 22.60 21) Matt Elam 24.10 22) Bjoern Werner 24.30 23) Tyler Eifert 24.50 24) Sylvester Williams 24.50 25) Keenan Allen 25.90 26) Desmond Trufant 26.00 27) Manti Te'o 27.00 28) Eric Reid 30.10 29) Jonathon Cyprien 30.50 30) Cornelius Carradine 31.40 31) Datone Jones 31.40 32) Justin Hunter 31.40 33) Robert Woods 31.90 34) Menelik Watson 32.60 35) Kevin Minter 32.60 36) Zach Ertz 34.40 37) DeAndre Hopkins 34.50 38) Jamar Taylor 35.40 39) Margus Hunt 36.40 40) Eddie Lacy 36.80 41) D.J. Hayden 37.80 I look forward to the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft on Thursday. Without a sure fire lock at the top, is could very well be one that people will be debating for a long, long time.

The Backless TMG DraftZone Mock Draft

The 2013 NFL Draft is now jsut two weeks away. All the buzz is surrounding players on both sides of the ball down in the trenches, as Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher, Sharrif Floyd and Dion Jordan are looking to be the surest bets to go first overall to Kansas City. The Big Uglies are going to be filing out one by one to shake hands with Commissioner Goddell and bear hug him half to death, and at this point one has to wonder just how long the quarterbacks and running backs are going to be waiting in the wings to hear their names called. This edition of the TMG DraftZone is unique, as it may be one of the few mock drafts without a quarterback or running back in the top 32 picks. I made a bold prediction earlier in this draft season that there would be 5 quarterbacks taken in the first round. There might still be that many selected, but that will depend on how many teams are willing to trade back up into Round 1 and take a chance on their perceived franchise signal caller. Thinking back to 2005 with Aaron Rodgers and 2007 with Brady Quinn, I wonder just how far Geno Smith could drop if he goes past the New York Jets at #9, and how uncomfortable he will look the longer he stays in the Green Room at Radio City Music Hall. I believe Smith will go in the Top 10, and I also believe that Matt Barkley and Ryan Nassib will go late in Round 1, but after that who really knows. But I'm pretty sure now that there will not be any running backs going in the first round. Eddie Lacy was seen as the back with the best chance to go in the Top 32, but after his workot today he will be lucky to go in the first half of Round 2. Lacy did not get to work out at the NFL Scouting Combine or at the Alabama Pro Day, and when he does get his chance at his personal workout today, he looks slow and out of shape. Not the proper way to impress your future employers. It is hard to believe that none of the first round draft picks are going to be taken from the two glamour positions of the NFL, but it might happen. So here is the Backless TMG DraftZone Mock Draft: 1) Kansas City--Luke Joeckel 2) Jacksonville--Dion Jordan 3) Oakland--Sharrif Floyd 4) Philadelphia--Dee Milliner 5) Detroit--Eric Fisher 6) Cleveland--Ezekiel Ansah 7) Arizona--Lane Johnson 8) Buffalo--Tavon Austin 9) NY Jets--Barkevious Mingo 10) Tennessee--Chance Warmack 11) San Diego--Jonathon Cooper 12) Miami--Xavier Rhodes 13) Tampa Bay--Bjoern Werner 14) Carolina--Sheldon Richardson 15) New Orleans--Jarvis Jones 16) St. Louis--Kenny Vaccaro 17) Pittsburgh--Alec Ogletree 18) Dallas--Star Lotulelei 19) NY Giants--Damontre Moore 20) Chicago--Cordarrelle Patterson 21) Cincinnati--D.J. Fluker 22) St. Louis--Keenan Allen 23) Minnesota--Justin Hunter 24) Indianapolis--Datone Jones 25) Minnesota--Sylvester Williams 26) Green Bay--Tyler Eifert 27) Houston--Matt Elam 28) Denver--Jesse Williams 29) New England--Robert Woods 30) Atlanta--Johnathon Hankins 31) San Francisco--Jonathon Cyprien 32) Baltimore--Eric Reid The lineman in the draft are going to be the story in two weeks on Draft Day. I have 19 offensive and defensive lineman combined going in Round 1. The Pretty Boys are representated well with 5 wide receivers and 1 tight end going in Round 1, and I have a feeling that Tavon Austin is going to be picked early. Austin is the most dynamic playmaker in the draft, and if he can go to Buffalo at #8 then Kevin Kolb will be one happy journeyman quarterback. The 2013 NFL Draft is in two weeks. Mock Drafts are flying around fast and furious. This is one year that just about anything could happen on Day 1. It's going to make for a fun and entertaining NFL Draft this year.

DSA Player Rankings 5.0--The Post Free Agnecy Edition

Greetings and Salutations to All. The TMG DraftZone is back after a brief hiatus. Too much work and not enough time to write is making your favorite NFL Draft Blogger a very worn out, very dull boy. But I've been able to accumulate the latest NFL Mock Draft data to compile The Post Free Agency DSA Player Rankings, Version 5.0 In the time since free agency started, what have we learned in regards to the 2013 NFL Draft? The more teams change their roster, the more their draft needs stay the same. Kansas City still needs a bookend tackle who can eventually replace Brandon Albert. Jacksonville still needs a pass rusher and a franchise quarterback. Oakland needs a defensive tackle, and just about everything else, including a quarterback. Just because they traded for Matt Flynn, are getting rid of Carson Palmer, and still have Terrelle Pyror on the roster don't count the Raiders out of the Geno Smith Sweepstakes. Flynn may be a change of direction, but if you keep changing your direction by turning the same way all the time, all you do is keep going in circles. The DSA Player Rankings 5.0 shows not a lot of movement at the top. Luke Joeckel is still the choice of mock drafts everywhere to go #1 Overall to Kansas City. The Jaguars need to get a pass rusher has moved Dion Jordan up to #2, Oakland still looks like the landing spot for Sharrif Floyd at #3, and Chip Kelly would love to have Eric Fisher anchoring his offensive line in Philadelphia, and Fisher is the pick of many to land with the Eagles with the fourth pick. One casualty of free agency appears to be Cordarrelle Patterson, who looked to be a lock to go no later than #12 to Miami, until the Dolphins went out and signed Mike Wallace. As Patterson falls seven spots, Tavon Austni rises seven as well. Patterson might still be targeted by Buffalo at #8, and Austin looks to be in the sights of St. Louis at #16, but this draft is truly shaping up to be one for The Big Uglies up front. No running backs look to go in Round 1, many see only 1 quarterback going in the first 32 picks (although I still see a major Panic In The Draft Room epidemic breaking out), and though as many as 4 receivers could go in round 1, none look to go in the first seven selections. This is going to be an interesting draft to say the least. So here is the DSA Player Rankings 5.0, the Post Free Agency Edition: 1) Luke Joeckel 1.70 2) Dion Jordan 3.90 3) Sharrif Floyd 4.10 4) Eric Fisher 4.20 5) Geno Smith 5.10 6) Dee Milliner 5.30 7) Lane Johnson 9.40 8) Ezekiel Ansah 9.90 9) Barkevious Mingo 11.00 10) Xavier Rhodes 11.90 11) Star Lotulelei 12.30 12) Chance Warmack 12.70 13) Jarvis Jones 14.10 14) Jonathon Cooper 14.40 15) Sheldon Richardson 15.10 16) Bjoern Werner 15.80 17) Cordarrelle Patterson 18.20 18) Tavon Austin 18.20 19) Kenny Vaccaro 18.40 20) Alec Ogletree 22.90 21) D.J. Fluker 24.20 22) Desmond Trufant 25.80 23) Datone Jones 26.90 24) Keenan Allen 27.40 25) Tyler Eifert 27.50 26) DeAndre Hopkins 29.60 27) Matt Barkley 29.70 28) Sylvester Williams 29.80 29) Manti Te'o 30.30 30) Matt Elam 31.00 31) Johnathon Hankins 31.40 32) Robert Woods 32.60 33) Cornelius Carradine 32.90 34) Arthur Brown 33.30 35) Jesse Williams 34.70 36) Eddie Lacy 34.70 37) Justin Hunter 34.90 38) Damontre Moore 35.30 39) Menelik Watson 35.60 40) Margus Hunt 35.60 41) Kevin Minter 35.60 42) Johnathon Banks 35.70 43) Kawann Short 36.90 44) Eric Reid 38.10 I listed the top 44 players on this edition of the DSA Player Rankings, because that is how many players are getting solid looks at going in Round 1. It doesn't look like there is going to be a Chandler Jones or Shea McClellan this year, a player who appears to come out of nowhere late to make his way up into the first round. But this draft is so deep that players who have been getting grades to go around #25 will be going late in Round 2. Eric Reid is at the end of the list at #44, but a very strong Pro Day at LSU will make him to be this years best candidate to surprise in Round 1. And every year there is one player whose stock falls so far all you hear is the Hollywood Wilhelm Scream and he disappears from sight. So to honor the player who looks to be the biggest faller on the draft boards, I'm going to name this the Da'Quan Bowers Stone Drop Award. Bowers went from the early presumptive #1 Overall Pick in 2011, until concerns about his knees dropped him all the way to Tampa Bay at #51 in the 2011 NFL Draft. The year's recepient is Damontre Moore, the defensive end from Texas A&M. When the first DSA Player Rankings were released, Moore was a solid #3. Then the NFL Scouting Combine happened. Moore showed a surprising lack of strength and speed, and his draft stock has increasingly dropped. DSA 2.0 had Moore 9th, 3.0 at 19th, 4.0 seemed to signal a halt at 20th, but the 5.0 DSA Player Rankings have Moore at #38. It does not appear that Moore will be rising up the ranks any time soon. With the depth of defensive lineman, why should a team take a flyer on a player who doesn't look to have the motivation to show teams that his performance at the Combnie is not the player they will be getting in the draft. Moore has the talent to be an impact pass rusher in the NFL, and if he plays with the chip on his shoulder to prove everyone wrong he will be just that. Let's hope for the team that takes Moore that that chip is there from Day 1. I'm sure the next DSA Player Rankings will be the Geno Smith Show. With all the quarterback moves taking place, the big mock draft debate will be who is going to take Smith and where. It's going to be an interesting 23 Days up until the 2013 NFL Draft.