2013 NFL Rookies are now free to sign with their respective teams. The 2013 NFL Draft is in the books and with the new rookie wage scale teams are working fast to sign their rookies. The New Orleans Saints already signed first round pick Kenny Vaccaro (15th overall) and the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears have their first round picks (Ezekiel Ansah and Kyle Long) under contract as well.

With so many rookies though, it can be tough to keep up with all the signings. That’s why I created this 2013 NFL Rookie Signing Tracker, which will keep track of the contracts signed by all first round picks.

What will number one overall pick Eric Fisher’s contract look like? What about surprise first round pick E.J. Manuel? Don’t forget about playmakers like Tavon Austin and Jarvis Jones.

Bookmark this page and come back frequently to see which 2013 NFL Rookies have signed contracts with their new teams and how much they have signed for.

1. Eric Fisher, OT, Kansas City Chiefs

2. Luke Joekel, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars

3. Dion Jordan DE/OLB, Miami Dolphins

4. Lane Johnson, OT, Philadelphia Eagles

5. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Detroit Lions

• 4 years, $18.6 million (fully guaranteed)
• $11.9 million signing bonus

6. Barkevious Mingo, OLB, Cleveland Browns

7. Jonathan Cooper, OG, Arizona Cardinals

8. Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis Rams

9. Dee Milliner, CB, New York Jets

10. Chance Warmack, OG, Tennessee Titans

11. D.J. Fluker, OT, San Diego Chargers

12. D.J. Hayden, CB, Oakland Raiders

13. Sheldon Richardson, DL, New York Jets

14. Star Lotulelei, DT, Carolina Panthers

15. Kenny Vaccaro, S, New Orleans Saints

• 4 years, $9.42 million (fully guaranteed)
• $5.2 million signing bonus

16. E.J. Manuel, QB, Buffalo Bills

17. Jarvis Jones, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

18. Eric Reid, S, San Francisco 49ers

19. Justin Pugh, OG, New York Giants

20. Kyle Long, OG, Chicago Bears

• 4 years (money not yet revealed)

21. Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

22. Desmond Trufant, CB, Atlanta Falcons

23. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Minnesota Vikings

24. Bjoern Werner, DE, Indianpolis Colts

25. Xavier Rhodes, CB, Minnesota Vikings

26. Datone Jones, DL, Green Bay Packers

27. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans

28. Sylvester Williams, DT, Denver Broncos

29. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

30. Alec Ogletree, LB, St. Louis Rams

31. Travis Frederick, C, Dallas Cowboys

32. Matt Elam, S, Baltimore Ravens

This offseason, the Miami Dolphins have been given a lot of attention for being one of the most aggressive teams in both free agency and the NFL Draft. Despite the loss of some veteran players such as Jake Long, the additions of potential difference makers on both sides of the ball have led some to believe that the Dolphins may be set for a break out year.

In the NFL, a quarterback-driven league, a large amount of a team’s success depends on the play of their quarterback. Ryan Tannehill, the Dolphins’ 2012 first-round draft pick, came in and played fairly well at quarterback last season; he threw for 3,294 yards, twelve touchdowns and thirteen interceptions. Tannehill seemed to improve every week and led the Dolphins to a 7-9 record, which was an improvement on the team’s 6-10 record in 2011. Tannehill was no RG3, Andrew Luck, or Russell Wilson, but he was solid.

This offseason, the Dolphins’ front-office added offensive weapons Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson to their receiving corps in order to aid Tannehill’s development, as well as re-signing of Brian Hartline. Wallace is one of the best downfield threats in the NFL today and is a true speedster. His ability to take the top off a defence should enable the Dolphins’ run-game to flourish, whilst giving Tannehill a legitimate number one receiver. The addition of Brandon Gibson gives Tannehill another reliable receiver, despite the fact that he’s not a “big name”, unlike Wallace. Gibson had his best season for the St. Louis Rams in 2012, with 691 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Moreover, Miami also retained the services of Brian Hartline, their best receiver in 2012, who recorded a team-high 1,083 receiving yards. Clearly, their receiving corps is in good shape, thanks to some good offseason work by the Dolphins’ front office. With the help of these receivers, Tannehill’s play should continue to improve, which could result in the Dolphins being an aerial force in the AFC East.

Despite the fact that the Dolphins failed to retain the services of Reggie Bush, their top rusher in 2012, they may well be set at running back. Both Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller remain on the roster, and the addition of Mike Gillislee in the fifth-round of the 2013 NFL Draft should provide competition in training camp. I’m quite a fan of Gillislee, who seems to be an all-around solid back. If one or two of these running backs can step up this season, the Dolphins should achieve good balance on offense. Don’t be surprised if Gillislee emerges as Miami’s first-choice running back during training camp.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Dolphins have also managed to improve. The addition of ex-Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan gives the Dolphins another explosive pass-rusher, capable of making big plays. Along with Cameron Wake, Jordan’s addition gives Miami one of the best pass-rushing tandems in the NFL, and should result in Wake’s productivity increasing, as offensive coordinators will also have to account for Jordan in their game plans. Dannell Ellerbe’s addition gives the Dolphins a quality linebacker with a winning pedigree who should come in and contribute right away. Moreover, the addition of cornerbacks Brent Grimes, via free agency, and Jamar Taylor in the second-round of the 2013 NFL Draft fill a huge need for the Dolphins after the loss of Sean Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs. Grimes is recovering from a season-ending Achilles injury, however, if he returns to his pre-injury form, he may well be one of the steals of free agency. Taylor has all the skills to become an effective NFL cornerback: he has good size, he’s quick, and he can cover and make tackles well. I expect him to emerge behind Grimes as the Dolphins’ number two cornerback.

So, what should we expect from the 2013 Miami Dolphins? The Dolphins have winnable games on their schedule, particularly against division rivals Buffalo and the New York. In week one, the Dolphins travel to Ohio to play the Cleveland Browns, which is another winnable game. There are, however, plenty of games on Miami’s schedule that I could see going either way, such as against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the San Diego Chargers and Carolina Panthers in weeks ten, eleven and twelve respectively, along with a trip to Indianapolis to face the Colts in week two. Moreover, Miami has to play the New Orleans Saints, the Atlanta Falcons, the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, in what will be five very difficult games. On top of this are two games against division rivals the New England Patriots, who are still one of the best teams in the NFL. I feel the Dolphins – along with many other NFL teams – will find it very difficult to beat any of these six teams.

Despite improvements on both sides of the ball, the Dolphins have a very difficult schedule. I’m not saying it’s impossible for the Dolphins to reach the playoffs, but realistically, I don’t expect them to. I expect the Dolphins to finish second in the AFC East behind the Patriots, with a record of around .500.

This article was written by Rhys Norman. You can follow him on Twitter @RhysNorman1

The initial wave of NFL Free Agency has come and gone, but there is still plenty of talent left in the free agency pool. Most of the players available are veterans who were cut from and want more money than teams are willing to give them. Regardless, they would be great additions to any teams and will probably come at a bargain price as well.  With that said, here’s our look at the Top 10 free agents still available.

1. Dwight Freeney (DE/OLB)

Freeney was hampered by injuries throughout the 2012 season. As a result, he recorded only twelve combined tackles and one forced fumble. However, he did log five sacks; clearly he can still find the quarterback. Therefore Freeney would be a good addition to any team as a rotational player on the defensive line, or at outside linebacker.

I don’t think he would be on this list had he not been asking for such a high salary since the start of free agency: Freeney is expected to receive around $4 million a year after initially asking for double that sum. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported that Freeney was visiting the Tenessee Titans this week. Other fits include Denver and Indianapolis.

2. John Abraham (DE)

Like Freeney, Abraham is another good veteran pass rusher. In 2012 he recorded thirty-five tackles, ten sacks and six forced fumbles – third most in the NFL – to help the Atlanta Falcons reach the playoffs. The New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans have all shown an interest in signing the thirty-four year old defensive end, however, he still remains a free agent.

Despite tweets saying he will retire, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports otherwise. Abraham would fit well in Denver, New England or Tenessee; regardless of who he plays for, Abraham will make plays in 2013.

3. Richard Seymour (DT)

Seymour is another veteran coming off an injury-plagued season. In eight games, Seymour logged only fifteen combined tackles and three sacks. Like Freeney, Seymour would serve as a good rotational player on the defensive line. However, he has said he will only play another season if he’s paid enough which will put some teams off due to salary cap issues.

I think Seymour’s best fit is back in Oakland with the Raiders as he could still get playing time and help the team develop this year’s sixth-round pick Stacy McGee. However, the Raiders don’t have much cap room, so this may not be possible. If they can free up the salary-cap space, I think the Atlanta Falcons would also be a good fit.

4. Ahmad Bradshaw (RB)

Bradshaw is without a doubt the best running back on the free agent market. Despite battling injuries throughout the 2012 season, Bradshaw still rushed for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns. Bradshaw reportedly received medical clearance in late April, however due to his injury history – he has had operations on both ankles and feet – some teams may have reservations about signing him, despite his recent productivity.

Bradshaw has met twice with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, however still has no contract. The Cincinnati Bengals also showed an interest in Bradshaw before the draft, however, after adding running back Giovani Bernard in the second round of this year’s draft, they have no clear need at running back. I think Bradshaw would be a good fit for the Dallas Cowboys, who need to find a good back up for the injury prone DeMarco Murray, and Bradshaw would be fired up to play against his old team, the New York Giants, twice a year in the NFC East.

5. Karlos Dansby (LB)

Despite setting a personal season best and leading the Miami Dolphins with one hundred and thirty-four tackles, Dansby was released after the 2012 season. Dansby is clearly still an effective player and is still capable of being a quality starter. He recently drew interest from the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, however, neither team has pursued him further. Along with the Bills, I think Dansby would be a nice fit with the Ravens. He would potentially line up next to rookie Arthur Brown, giving the Ravens a solid pair of inside linebackers.

6. Brandon Lloyd (WR)

In 2012 Lloyd had the second-best season of his career despite being thirty-one years of age. He had seventy-four catches for nine hundred and eleven yards receiving. Lloyd should have a few years left in him and could come in and play for a team that needs an experienced receiver. After losing Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers, the Baltimore Ravens are a team with such a need.

7. Eric Winston (T)

Winston is a solid starting tackle that I imagine won’t be out of work long. He hasn’t missed a game since his rookie season in 2006 when he played for the Houston Texans. NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus reported on April 30th that he was scheduled to work out for the Miami Dolphins last week, however, Miami signed tackle Tyson Clabo on May 5th so they may no longer be interested. He is also reportedly in talks with Dallas who have serious need on the offensive line.

8. Kerry Rhodes (S)

In fifteen games in 2012, Rhodes racked up sixty-seven combined tackles and four interceptions. Rhodes could come in and start for a team like the New England Patriots who, despite drafting Duron Harmon in the third round of this year’s draft, still need help in the defensive backfield. The Denver Broncos could also use some veteran help at safety – see Joe Flacco’s seventy yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones vs. Denver in the divisional round of the 2012 playoffs.

9. Nick Barnett (LB)

Like Dansby, Nick Barnett is another good linebacker who was released after a solid year. Barnett racked up a team-high one hundred and twelve combined tackles, along with three forced fumbles for the Buffalo Bills in 2012. Potential fits include the Oakland Raiders, who are in serious need of a leader on defense, and the Baltimore Ravens.

10. Tim Tebow (QB)

Some of you reading this will be wondering why I’ve included Tebow on this list, but hear me out. The NFL is seeing multiple teams gravitate towards using the read-option offense, and Tebow could suit these teams as a decent back up. He’s twenty-five years old, so he’s still got time to resurrect his career if given some solid coaching. I’ve not forgotten watching Tebow’s Broncos defeat a solid Pittsburgh Steelers team in the playoffs in January 2012. However, I’m not sure many teams will wish to sign Tebow due to the media circus that surrounds him.

This article was written by Rhys Norman. You can follow him on Twitter @RhysNorman1. 

The 2013 NFL Draft is over, yet it is impossible to say who the “winners” and “losers” are immediately. However, I will analyze the picks that stood out to me, which ones seem like good fits, which were good value, and which were questionable. So, without further ado, my 2013 NFL Draft analysis.

Best Drafts

Minnesota Vikings

I like what Minnesota did in the draft this year. They got great value at number twenty-three with the selection of Sharrif Floyd (DT, Florida) who many had ranked as the top defensive player in this year’s draft. He will line up alongside Kevin Williams and provide the Vikings with a strong push up the middle. The Vikings received a first-round pick (number twenty-five overall), a seventh-round pick and a mid-round pick in next year’s draft in the Percy Harvin trade to the Seattle Seahawks back in March. They used the twenty-fifth overall pick to select Xavier Rhodes (CB, Florida State), who will come in and replace Antoine Winfield, who departed for Seattle in mid-April via free agency. Minnesota added two playmakers with their two first-round picks, but they didn’t stop there.

The Vikings traded their second, third and seventh-round picks for New England’s first-round pick (twenty-ninth overall), which enabled them to draft Cordarrelle Patterson (WR, Tennessee). One word describes Patterson: explosive. He will help give the Viking’s passing game great balance, alongside receiver Greg Jennings and tight end Kyle Rudolph. Watch out NFC North.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams arrived in New York with a huge need at wide receiver. On Thursday night, they traded their sixteenth, forty-sixth, seventy-eighth and two hundred and twenty-second picks to the Buffalo Bills in order to move up in the first-round to grab the best receiver in the draft, Tavon Austin (WR, West Virginia), at eight overall. The addition of Austin, who was described by NFL draft analyst Mike Mayock as ‘the most explosive player in the draft’, gives Sam Bradford a dangerous weapon in the passing game. More importantly, Austin will replace Danny Amendola, who departed to the New England Patriots in March.

Later in the first-round, the Rams traded again, this time with the Atlanta Falcons, to move down from twenty-second overall (received from Washington) to thirtieth overall. With this pick they selected Alec Ogletree (LB, Georgia), one of the most athletic linebackers in the draft. The addition of Ogletree bolsters an already stout defense in St. Louis. Fourth-round selection Barrett Jones (G/C, Alabama) is another solid pick. The former Rimington Trophy winner could come in and start this season.

Honorable Mention

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In last week’s article, I gave my thoughts on the ramifications of the Darelle Revis trade. Despite trading their first-round pick to the Jets, I like what Tampa Bay did in subsequent rounds. The addition of Jonathan Banks (CB, Mississippi) gives Tampa a press corner to line up opposite Revis. The selection of Mike Glennon (QB, N.C. State) in the third-round gives Josh Freeman some competition, which Bucs fans will be hoping will push Freeman return to his 2010 form. Despite having some issues with consistency, William Gholston (DE, Michigan State) is a solid fourth-round pick who has the potential to become a playmaker in the NFL.

Questionable Decisions

Travis Frederick

The Dallas Cowboys traded their eighteenth overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for the 49ers’ first-round (thirty-first overall) and third-round (seventy-third overall) picks. Dallas entered the draft with a huge need at safety, along with both offensive and defensive lines. When the Cowboys were on the clock at thirty-one, the highest rated safety – according to NFL.com – Jonathan Cyprien (S, Florida International) was still on the board.

However, the Cowboys chose to select former Wisconsin center Travis Frederick. Frederick is a solid player, however the Cowboys might have been able to pick him up in the second-round. Dallas drafted Georgia Southern safety J.J. Wilcox in the third-round, however, in my opinion, he is not as good as Cyprien. The Cowboys missed out on arguably the best safety in the draft.

Oakland Raiders Trade Down in the First Round:

This year’s draft saw multiple trades, particularly in the first-round. One such trade was that of Oakland’s first-round pick (third overall) to Miami. The Dolphins managed to get the selection for only their first and second-round picks. In all honesty, the Dolphins robbed the Raiders; they should have been forced to give up much more for the pick. This decision by the Raiders’ front office will be costly. The Raiders are a rebuilding franchise, and the picks they should have received from Miami would have been extremely useful. Miami’s subsequent selection of Dion Jordan (DE/OLB, Oregon), who will line up opposite Cameron Wake, gives Miami a frightening pass-rush.

The Bills Drafting EJ Manuel

After moving down from number eight to sixteen overall, the Bills pulled the trigger on Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel. My problem? Manuel, like most of the quarterbacks in this year’s draft, isn’t a first-round talent. He could develop into a good NFL quarterback with proper coaching, but I feel the sixteenth pick is a huge reach.

Best Bargains

Two players I have already mentioned in this article stick out in my mind as bargain picks. It is not often you call a first-rounder a “bargain” pick, but Sharrif Floyd fell way further than I expected; I couldn’t see him falling out of the top ten, especially with the Jets sitting at nine and the Titans at ten.

Jonathan Cyprien is another first-round talent who made it to the second-round, where he landed straight away with the Jacksonville Jaguars at thirty-three overall. Cyprien will provide the Jaguars’ secondary with a great physical presence over the middle.

After Ray Lewis’ retirement and the loss of Dannell Ellerbe to Miami during free agency, the Ravens had a huge need at inside linebacker. With the fifty-sixth overall pick the Baltimore Ravens selected Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown. Brown is a tackling machine who also plays well against the pass. He should step in immediately at inside linebacker for the Ravens and play consistently.

My final “bargain” pick is Seattle’s selection of former Alabama defensive tackle Jesse Williams. Williams, who slid to the fifth-round due to medical concerns over his late-season knee injury, was picked up by the Seahawks with the one hundred and thirty-seventh overall pick. If Williams gets healthy, he will be a stout defensive tackle on Seattle’s already impressive defense.

This article was written by Rhys Norman. You can follow him on Twitter at @RhysNorman1

Interesting Stats
-over past 21 games: Zach Randolph- home: 9/9 double-doubles, away: 0/12 double-doubles.

Lineup 1 (60K)

PG

Patrick Beverly ($4200)
Reggie Jackson ($4100)

SG

James Harden ($9600)
Kevin Martin ($4200)

SF

Kevin Durant ($10500)
Paul George ($8900)

PF

Ivan Johnson ($4200)
Zach Randolph ($6700)

C

Roy Hibbert ($7200)

PG

Tony Parker ($6900)
Jeff Teague ($6500)

SG

Manu Ginobili ($4500)
Devin Harris ($5300)

SF

Paul George ($8000)
Metta World Peace ($4500)

PF

Serge Ibaka ($6500)
Pau Gasol ($8000)

C

Dwight Howard ($9500)

On April 21 the New York Jets accepted a trade offer from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis. The Jets will receive Tampa Bay’s first-round pick (13th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft, along with a conditional pick in the fourth-round of the 2014 Draft, which could be upgraded to a third-round pick if Revis is on Tampa Bay’s roster on the third day of the 2014 league year.

Revis, 27, signed a new contract soon after his arrival in Florida which saw him become the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history; he is now set to earn $96 million over six years. The addition of Revis, who is arguably the best cornerback in the league, along with the recent acquisition of safety Dashon Goldson, should bolster the Buccaneers’ secondary and substantially improve a unit that was ranked last in pass defense in the 2012 regular season. However, that is assuming Revis gets back to his pre-injury form.

Revis tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in week three of the 2012 season against the Miami Dolphins, resulting in him being placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. Jets general manager John Idzik cited one of the reasons for the trade being the “degree of uncertainty” regarding Revis’ recovery from injury.

Revis recently uploaded a video of him running on a treadmill, however there is still uncertainty as to whether or not he will be fit to play again in week one when the Buccaneers travel up to the MetLife stadium to play against Revis’ old team, the Jets.

In week sixteen of the 2011 regular season, Minnesota Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson tore both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Peterson managed to return to action in 2012 from what some saw initially as a potentially career ruining injury; some even thought it may be the end for AP. Peterson returned to rush for a career high 2,097 yards, which was also the highest individual rushing yards total in the NFL last season.

I’m not saying Revis will return from his injury and have a career year, but his injury does not mean he will never return to “shutdown corner” status. If Revis returns to anything like the form he displayed in New York, this trade will have definitely been worth it for the Buccaneers, especially in a division with quarterbacks Cam Newton, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan, not to mention some of the receiving threats in the NFC South.

So, what ramifications will the Revis trade have on the Jets’ draft? The Jets now have two picks in the top half of the first round, at ninth and thirteenth overall. Before the Revis trade, I felt the Jets needed pass-rush help, along with a need at quarterback; now, the Jets also need a corner. If Dee Milliner (CB, Alabama) is still around at nine overall – I think Cleveland may take him with the sixth pick – I would expect the Jets to pull the trigger. If Milliner is off the board, I think the Jets will look to draft a linebacker at nine and come back for Xavier Rhodes (CB, Florida State) at thirteenth overall.

With the ninth pick, I expect the Jets to take either Jarvis Jones (OLB, Georgia) or Barkevious Mingo (DE/OLB, LSU). The Jets would improve their secondary with the selection of a top corner, and the addition of a pass-rushing linebacker would also help their secondary. Like many quarterback needy teams, I don’t feel the Jets will look to address the quarterback position until the second round of the draft with the thirty-ninth overall pick; EJ Manuel (QB, Florida State) or Matt Barkley (QB, USC) may still be on the board at this time.

Ultimately, this trade could work out well for both teams. If New York drafts well with the picks they received from Tampa, they could find Revis’ replacement and upgrade their pass-rush on Thursday night alone. If Revis recovers well from his injury, he could return to his dominant self and help Tampa Bay immensely. If Revis does recover to this extent, a first and third/fourth-round pick is an absolute steal for Tampa.

However, this is the NFL; if it doesn’t work out, this trade could also be seen as a major turning point for both franchises and both general managers in a negative way.

This article was written by Rhys Norman

The 2013 NFL Draft is a mere day away so now it is time to reveal my final 2013 NFL Mock Draft (see previous here, here, here, and here). I didn’t project any trade since it’s nearly impossible to do, but expect a lot of action on Thursday night. The top of the draft should see some trades with teams hot in pursuit of the top 3 tackles. Beware of teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons, who want to move up, and have the ammunition to do so. Also expect to see some maneuvering near the end of the first round as teams try to trade up to secure the quarterback they desire. With that said enjoy the draft.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

3. Oakland Raiders

Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

4. Philadelphia Eagles

Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon

5. Detroit Lions

Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

6. Cleveland Browns

Dee Milner, CB, Alabama

7. Arizona Cardinals

Jonathan Cooper, OL, North Carolina

8. Buffalo Bills

Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse

9. New York Jets

Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU

10. Tennessee Titans

Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

11. San Diego Chargers

D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

12. Miami Dolphins

Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU

13. New York Jets

Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

14. Carolina Panthers

Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

15. New Orleans Saints

Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

16. St. Louis Rams

Deandre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

18. Dallas Cowboys

Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

19. New York Giants

Chance Warmack, OL, Alabama

20. Chicago Bears

Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Johnathan Cyprien, Florida International

22. St. Louis Rams

Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

23. Minnesota Vikings

D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston

24. Indianapolis Colts

Datone Jones, DL, UCLA

25. Minnesota Vikings

Sylvester Williams, DT, UNC

26. Green Bay Packers

Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State

27. Houston Texans

Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

28. Denver Broncos

Cornellius Carradine, DE, Florida State

29. New England Patriots

Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State

30. Atlanta Falcons

Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

31. San Francisco 49ers

Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

32. Baltimore Ravens

Kevin Minter, LB, LSU

Who will be this year’s Alfred Morris?

Drafted in the 6^th round out of Florida Atlantic, not exactly a football factory, Morris wasn’t even supposed to start for the Redskins. But due to a Roy Helu injury and a strong training camp and preseason, Morris took the starting running back job and never looked back. Morris finished 2^nd in the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. So when Saturday comes around and the draft has moved into the late rounds, keep an eye or ear on the draft. You never know whose name could be making their first of many appearances on ESPN.

Will we see any quarterbacks or running backs in the first round?

After last year’s draft, which saw four QBs and three RBs hear their names called on Thursday evening, the 2013 draft could see zero of both. Matt Barkley of USC and Tyler Wilson of Arkansas returned for their senior seasons and likely hurt their draft stock. Geno Smith opened his 2012 campaign at West Virginia “oohing” and “ahhing” NFL scouts as well as Heisman voters, before closing the season in a disappointing fashion. Smith is the most likely of the three to be picked Thursday night, but there’s still even some doubt about that. Eddie Lacy of Alabama is the only running back that has a real shot of being picked in the first round. But, even that’s unlikely. So come Thursday night, don’t be shocked when Goodell keeps calling up 300 pound linemen or defensive phenoms.

Which team will make moves?

Who will trade up? Who will trade down? In 2012 the St. Louis Rams traded their second overall pick to the Redskins who then took RG3. Jerry Jones is hardly ever silent on draft weekend. Last year, he traded around and moved up to 6^th overall to take Morris Claiborne of LSU. It’s always a big part of the draft day fun. So pay attention because it can be confusing if you’re expecting your team to pick 20^th and don’t turn on the TV till an hour into the draft, only to find out they traded away their franchise player for an offensive tackle you never heard of.. Tune in early.

Who will take the risks on Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Lattimore?

Risky for different reasons, these two have a large amount of risk with tremendous upside. Mathieu, a cornerback, was dismissed from LSU after failing a series of drug tests along with run-ins with the law. However, his ability to make a play on the football and his punt-returning ability are excellent. It will be interesting to see which team takes a risk on this rare talent. Lattimore, on the other hand, suffered two serious knee injuries as a running back at South Carolina. Lattimore is a really special player and could make a name for himself in the NFL, if he stays healthy. That is a BIG if. Watch this weekend to see who takes that risk.

So as the draft approaches, keep these things in mind. Don’t expect the draft to be anything like last year’s draft because it may not happen ever again. Last year, we had one of the best drafts in a while. This year, we may have one of the weirdest. Offensive skill players may not show up till Friday. Don’t get me wrong. There are some spectacular young defensive players in this draft. Just not the same offensive specimen as the 2012 class. Regardless, the NFL draft could be one of the most exciting or disappointing times of year for NFL fans, depending on who you have in your front office. No matter what, it’s always fun. Happy NFL draft weekend everyone!

This article was written by Kenny Decker. You can follow him on Twitter @Inside__Sports

Griffin and Wilson ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the entire league in QB rating. Luck finished 7^th in the league in passing yards, ahead of Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, and Joe Flacco. Griffin and Wilson ranked 4^th and 8^th respectively in Completion Percentage, both ahead of Drew Brees and Tom Brady. You can go on and on with impressive stats these three rookie quarterbacks put up this past season, but the draft class’s depth goes even beyond the quarterback position.

Here are some notable stats regarding the rookies of last season:

1^st Overall Pick: Andrew Luck (see above paragraph or record books)

2^nd Overall Pick: Robert Griffin III (see above paragraph or watch one re-run of Sportscenter from September-January)

3^rd Overall Pick: Trent Richardson… Tied for 5^th in NFL in rushing touchdowns, Top 10 amongst all running backs in percentage of team offensive snaps

4^th Overall Pick: Matt Kalil… 100 percent of team’s offensive snaps, Vikings 2^nd in NFL in rushing yards

5^th Overall Pick: Justin Blackmon… 3^rd on team in percentage of team offensive snaps, top 15 amongst all WR in NFL in percentage of team offensive snaps

7^th Overall Pick: Mark Barron… 100% of team defensive snaps

8^th Overall Pick: Ryan Tannehill… Led Dolphins to 7-9 record, started all 16 games. Passed for 3,294 yards

9^th Overall Pick: Luke Kuechly… Led NFL in tackles

15^th Overall Pick: Bruce Irvin… 8.0 sacks, 2^nd on team

22^nd Overall Pick: Brandon Weeden…  Passed for 3,385 yards, started 15 of 16 games

31^st Overall Pick: Doug Martin… 5^th in the NFL in rushing yards (1,454 yards), tied for 5^th in NFL in rushing yards

173^rd Overall Pick: Alfred Morris… 2^nd in the NFL in rushing touchdowns, 2^nd in NFL in rushing yards (1,613 yards)

In addition to these guys, who all made significant impacts on the league as a whole, there’s plenty of other players that contributed to their team. For example, running backs: Vick Ballard, David Wilson, Robert Turbin, Bernard Pierce, Bryce Brown, LaMichael James, Lamar Miller, Daryl Richardson. All these rookie backs were either first or second on their team’s depth charts and therefore, contributed to their team’s offensive success. This also appears to be an advantage for the class of 2012 as experts are predicting the possibility of zero backs being taken in the first round on Thursday.