I’m not one of those that can process a great deal of advance-year scouting until after the current draft season is wrapped up. I find it intellectually and professionally dishonest to spare attention from the existing draft and focus ahead. Sure I have players I have some feelings and initial impressions about, but if you asked me to do a thorough and proper scouting evaluation for 2013 players right now, you’re asking the wrong guy.

But I’m starting to watch some film on some players and teams right now, after the 2012 draft is completely out of my system. Here are some preliminary thoughts on a few:

Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech–this is one impressive physical specimen. I’ve watched the Clemson, Virginia, and Wake Forest games so far and Thomas has been the best athlete on the field regardless of position in every game. He has a very easy, natural throwing motion with a very high release point even for a taller QB. Thomas gets good velocity with minimal effort thanks to what look like huge hands and very strong wrists. I liken it to basketball players that can shoot with the same form from the free throw line and from 25 feet thanks to wrist strength and balanced, powerful knees and feet; Thomas has that ability as a thrower. There is a very innate feel for touch and pace on the ball, from short crosses to deep outside passes. He throws on the move very naturally and accurately, in fact probably with better pinpoint accuracy than in the pocket. He is definitely better at processing the defense while on the move.

And that is my primary criticism of Thomas at this point–he seems too uncomfortable when playing to the structure of the offense. To go basketball again, if Peyton Manning is John Stockton running a precise offense with perfectly engineered spacing and timing, Logan Thomas is Allen Iverson freelancing and creating on his own terms. Sometimes he gets lucky and creates true magic, other times it looks chaotic and results in too many positive plays left on the field. There were a couple of plays in the Wake game where Thomas opted to try and extend a play rather than take an easy short completion. On one he got absolutely smacked for a big loss, and another he twice ignored open receivers in the flat to try and force a ball over the deep middle into coverage while moving out. One of the reasons Cam Newton thrived as a rookie was that he inherently understood how and when to take what the defense gave him after struggling with that early. Michael Vick achieved his best results in the same manner. RG3 elevated himself from mid-round intriguing athlete to #2 overall pick because he improved his ability to stick to the script without sacrificing his dynamic creativity. Thomas desperately needs to get yoked in and not try to hit the big play on every play. If he can show progress there in 2012, I have little doubt he is going to be the #1 pick in the 2013 NFL draft.

Oday Aboushi, T, Virginia–My first thought in watching Aboushi is, why in the world didn’t he declare in 2012 with a relatively weak offensive tackle class? His length, footwork, and leverage with arms extended are easily superior to Riley Reiff, Jonathan Martin, or Cordy Glenn. Aboushi is a much smoother athlete than any of those guys, and his mirror skills and kick step in pass protect are better than any of them right now as well. One of the things I really liked: he got better as games progressed, learning his opponent and making adjustments accordingly. He needs to work on being stickier as a blocker, especially not falling off run blocks or engaging too high with his hand punch. He reminds me at this point of 2010 Packers first round pick Derek Sherrod.

Bennie Logan, DT, LSU–I caught quite a bit of Logan while scouting Michael Brockers, and though it’s tempting to compare the two as they were linemates and about the same size/build, Logan is a different kind of player. Logan has impressive movement skills for an inside player, very agile and quick-footed. He often tries to melt around blocks rather than taking them on, and in parts of four tapes I rarely saw him initiate the contact with the offensive lineman. What he’s really good at is turning the leverage game into his favor. Logan has exceptional timing at hitting with max force just as the offensive lineman raises a foot or bends an elbow. That allows him to gain control of the battle, and he often worms his way thru the crease or drives his man into it. It’s a move that Geno Atkins of the Bengals uses very effectively, a passive/aggressive bull, to quote a scouting friend. Logan is still young (he’ll be in his third season next fall) and could stand to pack on about 8-10 pounds of lower body bulk, but if he can continue to improve his run defense and burst off the snap–both of which were sporadic–he could match Brockers’ draft position next April, ideally as a heavy 5-technique DE. I could also see him stagnating and needing another year of development or sliding into the middle rounds. Playing at LSU will certainly give him ample opportunity for exposure.

Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU–A lot of fans were aghast that the Seahawks drafted a guy that didn’t even start in college with the #15 pick this year. Just wait until next April when Mingo, who has yet to start regularly and figures to be merely a piece of a deep pass rushing rotation, goes in the top 10. It’s easy to spot him on film, as his #49 absolutely flies around the corner and flattens quickly and powerfully. His first step is pretty good, but it’s his ability to explode laterally that allows him to thrive. Where a lot of smaller and speedier edge rushers of his ilk tend to be pretty straight-linish, Mingo utilizes very quick-but-powerful cut that looks more like a running back than a defensive end. He’s got a nice spin move (though he loves it a little too much) and he’s good at never allowing the blockers to get square on him. I saw pretty good field vision and spatial awareness, quickly diagnosing some screens and providing backside support without losing containment. I definitely see him as someone that 3-4 front defensive coordinators are going to love as a ROLB, though he seems on the light side; he frequently lines up in a 2-point stance and moves around from B gap to outside the tight end. If the 2012 draft taught us anything, teams covet speed over any other attribute for pass rushers. I would guesstimate Mingo runs in the mid-4.5s and will tear up the short shuttle drill. Hard to see him not being a top 10 pick at this point if he keeps himself clean.

Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State–The first thing that stands out is his length. He is every bit of 6’1” and I would guess his arms are at least 33.5” long, though he could stand to add some meat to his legs. From the games I’ve seen (LSU, Arkansas, Ole Miss, an older game vs. Michigan) he has solid instincts, but what makes him a likely top 50 talent is his playmaking ability. Banks can blitz, he can tackle with oomph, and he anticipates routes and attacks the ball in the air very well. Alas, he really struggled to stick with quicker receivers and change direction fluidly. Banks seems pretty stiff in the hips and very leggy as he runs, which means he is almost certainly a boundary zone corner or even a hybrid safety/corner in the NFL. He is a better prospect, particularly in tackling and off-ball awareness, than the similar Casey Hayward from this draft from what I’ve seen.

Twitter @JeffRisdon

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The 2012 NFL Draft is behind us and we begin to look forward.  Instead of boring you with pointless 2012 NFL Draft grades we will turn our focus to the 2013 NFL Draft.  If you were wondering, my grades for every team are as follows, wait and see.  For all we know Jacksonville’s 3rd round punter will be an immediate Pro Bowler and the Browns 3rd round reach on John Hughes will turn out to be a stud.  We break down the rearview mirror today and look forward at the grunts on the offensive and defensive line over the next two weeks.  Today we look at the defensive tackle class.

1. Johnathan Hankins, Ohio St.*

Height: 6-4  Weight: 318

Big Hank is a scary force in the middle.  He gets very little national attention but has consistently been among the top DT’s in the Big Ten since his freshman season.  He’s big and athletic which is a needed commodity in the middle of the defense.  I would look for another solid season during his junior season and rise up draft boards, possibly into the top ten.  Hankins has trimmed down this offseason from as high as 335 pounds to 318.

2. Star Lotuleilei, Utah

Height: 6-4  Weight: 325

Lotuleilei won the Morris Trophy as the top Pac 12 defensive lineman in 2011.  He returned to the Utes for his senior season and looks primed to garner some top 15 attention this season.

3. Kawann Short, Purdue

Height: 6-3  Weight: 310

Short is a disruptor in the middle of the defense.  He tallied 17 TFL and 6.5 sacks during his junior campaign and will be a contender for the LOTT Trophy this season.  Short’s ability to play multiple positions should make him a very valuable commodity come next April.

4. Sharrif Floyd, Florida*

Height: 6-3  Weight: 305

This one is based solely on potential.  Floyd has the ability to be a disruptive 3T in the NFL.  Unfortunately, he hasn’t produced as much on the field at Florida as was expected out of a highly recruited DT.  Floyd’s off-the-field issues have marked him in a negative way and he will look to rebound during his junior season.

5. Jesse Williams, Alabama

Height: 6-4  Weight: 320

The Brisbane, Australia native is still learning the game which is a scary proposition for Alabama opponents.  Williams help anchor the top run defense in the country last season and looks prime for a breakout senior season.

6. Kwame Geathers, Georgia*

Height: 6-6  Weight: 328

Geathers slimmed down this spring and drew the praises of his coaching staff.  He forms a giant wall in the middle of the UGA defense with John Jenkins.  The junior should garner some solid attention on what should be a very good defensive front seven.

7. Johnathan Jenkins, Georgia

Height: 6-3  Weight: 350

The other half of the Georgia duo comes with some solid production.  Jenkins is a massive force that netted 28 tackles and 3 sacks during his junior campaign.

8. Bennie Logan, LSU*

Height: 6-3  Weight: 290

Logan is a bit of a tweener at this point in his career and would do well to add some quality weight to his frame.  He’s a 3T only at this point that needs to get stronger at the point of attack.  Logan was impressive in 2011 playing alongside Michael Brockers as he finished with 57 tackles, 6.5 TFL, and 3 sacks.

9. Sylvester Williams, North Carolina

Height: 6-3  Weight: 320

Williams put up solid numbers during his junior campaign when he racked up 54 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 7 TFL.  Williams possesses the size and strength to be a force in the middle at the next level.  He needs some work on technique issues but the talent is there.

10. Baker Steinkuhler, Nebraska

Height: 6-6  Weight: 290

Steinkuhler is most likley headed to a move to the outside in the NFL.  He has prototypical 5T size and should find himself a home on day two to a 3-4 team.

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This website is called NFL’s Future, and right about now that future isn’t looking so rosy. A confluence of recent events has led me to become increasingly pessimistic about where the game America cherishes is headed.

Last week was one of the worst public relations nightmares the NFL has ever faced. On the same day where Commissioner Roger Goodell hammered four Saints for actively participating in bounty payments for injuring fellow players, one of the most recognizable and respected players, Junior Seau, committed suicide. In the background loomed a lawsuit by over 100 former players over injuries suffered during their careers and the post-career medical benefits and treatment afforded them by the NFL.

To tackle each issue individually, first understand the general state of the game. Many long-time fans and old-school players have expressed repeated and vocal disgust about the changes to the way the game is now being played. Highlight-reel hits of yesteryear now bring hefty fines and suspensions. Quarterbacks are heavily protected to the point where John Madden opines that within 5 years they will be literally untouchable. Kickoffs have moved up and now returns, arguably the most exciting play in all of professional sports, are down significantly. Stadium ticket prices are prohibitively expensive to the vast majority of fans, if they can first pony up thousands for PSLs, plus hundreds for parking, souvenirs, and concessions that cost up to eight times what they would at the nearest convenience store. Antiquated, archaic, and overtly punitive television blackout rules anger millions of potential fans from Jacksonville to Oakland. Several prominent players (Drew Brees, Matt Forte, Osi Umenyiora) are waging the annual bellyaching over just how many millions they demand in a general culture where more and more people have to make do with less and less. That comes on the heels of a lockout that the general populous almost universally framed as millionaires versus billionaires, again in the worst overall economy since the Great Depression.

Against that rather disheartening backdrop, four Saints defenders were suspended for their roles in Bountygate. Most notably, star middle linebacker and leader of the defense Jonathan Vilma was whacked for the entire 2012 season. Goodell rather calculatingly delayed the suspension announcement to the post-draft calendar to get increased visibility, presumably to send the stern message of zero tolerance. Vilma joined his head coach Sean Payton in being sentenced to a year without participation, while Anthony Hargrove, Scott Fujita, and Will Smith all got at least three games. Saints fans everywhere are aghast and disgusted, not at the evidential accusations against their beloved franchise but rather because they feel undeservedly targeted; the punishments do not fit the crimes in their eyes, nor the eyes of millions of other fans. Many point to the relative slap on the wrist given to Bill Belichick and the Patriots for Spygate a few years back, which many more fans (but not this one) believe was a more blatant and direct violation of the integrity of the game than the debatable impact of Bountygate. If message boards, talk radio callers, and bar patrons are any guide, the vast majority of fans believe Goodell is an overarching dictator drunk on power, hellbent on turning the NFL into his own personal North Korea.

Just hours after news of the suspensions broke, the tone quickly shifted. Junior Seau’s suicide seized the spotlight and reminded everyone that the men we worship who play this game are quite human after all. Seau was wildly popular on and off the field with both his fellow players and fans. His munificence to charities and children were a great example of a star player not forgetting that he became a star by thanks to those he was helping. Even though he hasn’t played for the Chargers in a decade, Seau was still very much the face of the franchise, the hometown hero who never forgot from where he came. He was fresh from hosting a charity golf tourney where fellow attendees found him his typical gregarious self, wide smile omnipresent and happy to pose for pictures. His act shocked and horrified fellow players and the NFL world in general, in part because of the peculiar timing. On a day where four players were hammered for reckless pursuit of increased violence, one of the game’s most beautifully violent greats gave away his life.

Immediately everyone jumped to the same easy conclusion: Seau ended his life because of the pain and trauma directly resulting from the violence of the game. The manner of his suicide, a gunshot wound to his rippled chest, spawned rampant speculation that he suffered from football-induced PTSD. Surely he spared his head so that his brain could be investigated along those lines! Never mind that a couple of years ago he drove off a cliff, or that he continued to play long after his usefulness as a player hit the wall. I think the latter fact is particularly important in demonstrating why so convieniently chalking up his actions to head injuries is reckless. This is a man who clearly lived to play football, continuing to play even as his body kept failing him and his usefulness declined precipitously. I think that he fell victim to a malady that so many great athletes suffer, the inability to adjust to life after sport. Seau clung to his football career because he just couldn’t handle the prospect of life without it. Certainly head injuries bear some culpability; anyone who watched Seau for more than a quarter would not be surprised if the fierce hitter suffered as many as 25 minor concussions in his career. I hope his family does donate his brain to Boston University for research purposes, and I hope his acts throw cold water onto the faces of any appeals from the Bountygate Four.

Seau’s suicide should draw attention to the ever-growing list of plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit against the NFL for failing to properly protect players against concussions. These litigants argue that the league did not do enough to inform them of the risks, or protect them from doing further damage to themselves. While I respect their position, I can’t help but think that many of these plaintiffs are in hand with the vocal group crying oppression and damning Goodell for taking player safety too damned seriously. In the culture of football, getting a bell rung was a rite of passage; continuing to play after being knocked out was often viewed as a mandatory badge of honor, not just from the coaches but from teammates and opponents as well. Players that got knocked out of the game with head injuries were widely perceived as soft and cowardly. One of the most vocal advocates for retired player welfare is Mike Ditka, a man who questioned his own players’ toughness for not playing with broken legs while coaching the Bears. His former quarterback, Jim McMahon, has come forward openly with his battles with dementia and post-concussion disorders; this was a player that Ditka routinely criticized for putting himself above the team.

The unintentional hypocrisy here is mind numbing. The players are suing because the league failed to adequately stop them from doing more damage to their own bodies, yet they cry bloody hell at the prospect of taking condoned violence out of the game. On one hand they are rife with anger about making the game safer, yet they sue the very people trying to make it safer for not having it safe enough. They not only want to eat their own cake, they want extra layers and kvetch about the frosting.

To the fans, all this white noise erodes popularity and passion. Parents are more reluctant to allow their children to play football. My own son turns 7 this summer and was ready to begin his football career. But he is aware enough of the potential to get hurt and has heard me talk about my firsthand experiences with former players like Brian Demarco and Michael Dean Perry and their chronic pain and disabilities that he waffled on wanting to play. The Seau suicide pushed my wife to pull the plug completely; my Layne will not play tackle football, period. I know we are not alone in making that decision, because when we called the team organizer she advised us he was the fourth child to back out since March and they cannot find anyone to replace them. In football-mad Texas where we reside, that’s shocking. Where I grew up in Northeast Ohio, boys were considered strange and got ridiculed if they didn’t want to play football. Now many high schools there struggle to field 25-man rosters.

I’m old enough to remember when baseball was still the undisputed top dog on the American sports landscape. Some of the decline in popularity stems from fewer and fewer kids playing it and growing up with it in such high esteem. I can see football going down that road, and the events of last week make me genuinely fear that the NFL is going to crash hard down the line. The signs of decline are already evident. Safety has to come first, even if bitter opposition costs them some hardcore fans. It might take drastic measures, such as immediate ejection of any player leading with the crown of the helmet or developing better equipment and playing field technologies, but the NFL must proactively and aggressively pursue player safety as vigorously as it pursues advertising dollars and exponentially lucrative television contracts. The players must be saved from themselves at all costs, like it or not. If they don’t, the NFL’s long-term future is not pretty.

Follow me on Twitter @JeffRisdon or email Jeff.Risdon@RealGM.com

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1. Barrett Jones, OG/OT/OC, Alabama

Height: 6-5  Weight: 315

Jones is one of the more versatile offensive linemen to come out.  He played left tackle last season but will make the move inside to center in 2012.  The 2011 Outland Trophy winner’s versatility to play any line position should make him a valuable commodity come next April.

2. Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina

Height: 6-3  Weight: 310

The UNC guards were hands down the best guard tandem in 2011.  Cooper and Travis Bond made running in the interior very easy for RS Freshman RB Giovani Bernard.  Cooper graded out at 86% for the season and hopes to add to the momentum in his senior season.

3. Chance Warmack, Alabama

Height: 6-3  Weight: 320

How Chance Warmack didn’t make First Team All SEC, I’ll never know.  He was voted to the second team which was a travesty.  Watching Warmack pancake defenders last season was as exciting as offensive line play can be.  Warmack may creep up this list during his senior season and find his way into early day two consideration.

4. Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech

Height: 6-3  Weight: 300

Uzzi helped paved the way for a Georgia Tech rushing attack that ranked third nationally.  After being voted to the First Team All ACC, Uzzi gave consideration to the NFL after his junior season.  He wisely stayed at GT and could be a day two selection after all is said and done.

5. Alvin Bailey, Arkansas*

Height: 6-5  Weight: 319

Bailey was voted to the Second Team All SEC as a sophomore and may have a hard time staying at the collegiate level with another fine season during his junior campaign.  Bailey has the skill set to be a fast riser should he declare early and could hear his name called early on day two.

6. Larry Warford, Kentucky

Height: 6-3  Weight: 336

Warford is a massive human being with surprisingly nimble feet.  He allowed only one sack as a junior and graded out as Kentucky’s top offensive lineman.

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The 2012 NFL Draft is behind us and we begin to look forward.  Instead of boring you with pointless 2012 NFL Draft grades we will turn our focus to the 2013 NFL Draft.  If you were wondering, my grades for every team are as follows, wait and see.  For all we know Jacksonville’s 3rd round punter will be an immediate Pro Bowler and the Browns 3rd round reach on John Hughes will turn out to be a stud.  We break down the rearview mirror today and look forward at the grunts on the offensive and defensive line this week.  Today we look at an offensive tackle class that will be made or broken on the backs of the underclassmen.

1. Chris Faulk, LSU*

Height: 6-6  Weight: 325

Faulk was impressive in his sophomore season as he consistently graded out as top OL on a talented line.  Faulk’s blend of size, strength, and athleticism should push him to the top of draft boards with another solid season in 2012.

2. Taylor Lewan, Michigan*

Height: 6-8  Weight: 302

Lewan is a finesse tackle in the mold of Matt Kalil.  He possesses excellent feet and the length to keep quicker defenders off his body.  His strength needs some improvement but from a shear talent standpoint there aren’t many better than Lewan.  While this rating is based solely on projection, I feel safe in saying that Lewan is a top 10 talent if he declares for the 2013 NFL Draft.

3. Jake Matthews, Texas A&M*

Height: 6-5  Weight: 305

The bloodlines are intact in the Matthews family and Jake is likely to continue the NFL success in the family tree.  He’s the son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews which speaks for itself.  Jake has the overall skill set to compete for first tackle off the board if he decides to bolt early for the NFL.

4. D.J. Fluker, Alabama*

Height: 6-6  Weight: 335

Fluker has been dominant at RT since stepping foot on the Alabama campus.  His combination of size, strength, and athleticism should push him into the top 15 picks of next April’s draft should he decide to declare early.

5. Oday Aboushi, Virginia

Height: 6-6  Weight: 310

Aboushi is an NFL ready pass protector that needs to get stronger in the run game.  If he cleans up his technique and adds some strength as a run blocker this season he could move to the top of this draft.  He’s as good a pass protector that you will find.

6. Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M*

Height: 6-6  Weight: 310

Joeckel mans the other tackle spot on a very solid Texas A&M OL.  There are some that believe Joeckel is the better pro prospect of the Aggies tackles, including Big XII coaches who voted Joeckel to the 2nd team and Matthews as honorable mention.

7. Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin

Height: 6-6  Weight:  322

Wagner is the next in line of first round Wisky lineman.  After earning Honorable Mention honors in the Big 10 many thought Wagner would declare for the 2012 NFL Draft.  He opted to stay but was dealt a blow when Wisconsin lost Bob Bostad to Pitt.  Bostad is considered one of the best line coaches in the game.  The senior has an opportunity to lead an upstart OL after losing three linemates to the NFL.

8. Seantrel Henderson, Miami*

Height: 6-8  Weight: 345

Henderson was the gem of his recruiting class but opted to leave USC amid the NCAA sanctions from the Reggie Bush saga.  Henderson is as talented as any OL eligible for the draft but comes with some character concerns.  After a very dramatic recruiting process, Henderson was suspended this spring due to a violation of team rules.  Henderson started nine games at RT as a true freshman and made two starts in 2011 following offseason back surgery.

9. Alex Hurst, LSU

Height: 6-6  Weight: 340

Hurst was voted to All SEC First team by coaches as a junior.  He’s a massive OL that has the skills to be taken in the first round of next April’s draft.

10. Mark Jackson, Glenville St.

Height: 6-5  Weight: 328

The former Illini transfer is an impressive athlete for his size.  He could challenge to be the first small school prospect off the board in April’s draft.

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A bad break for the Baltimore Ravens could turn into a featured role for 2nd round pick Courtney Upshaw.  News broke this morning that star OLB Terrell Suggs of the Ravens tore his Achilles and is likely to miss the entire 2012 season.  Definitely not the news that John Harbaugh wanted but at least there’s a silver lining.

The Ravens traded out of last week’s first round and into the second round.  Not many anticipated the Ravens picking up the value of Alabama pass rusher Courtney Upshaw with the 35th pick in the draft.  Upshaw’s slide turned out to be a major blessing in disguise for Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens.  The Ravens needed a player opposite Suggs coming into the draft but certainly wasn’t the biggest need.  Third year player Paul Kruger was the anticipated starter after Jarrett Johnson’s departure to San Diego.  Kruger will still be in line for that starter spot but he could be playing opposite Upshaw and not Suggs.

Courtney Upshaw was viewed as a tweener coming into the draft.  His Combine workout raised issue with his ability to drop in coverage as a 3-4 OLB but he lacks the size to be a three down base end.  With Suggs on the mend for 2012 (or it appears) Upshaw will have to compete with Sergio Kindle for Suggs rush end spot.

I keep getn these “it’s time to man up” tweets…I mean it’s the NFL…with T. Sizzle healthy I wud have to man up its big boy ball…

— Courtney Upshaw (@334Upshaw41) May 3, 2012

Terrell Suggs production isn’t likely to be replicated by Upshaw or anyone else for that matter.  Upshaw’s selection does soften the big blow dealt to the Ravens this morning.  Upshaw said it himself, its big boy ball.

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It’s far too early to begin speculation on a 2013 NFL Mock Draft but it’s always fun to look at who we could be looking at in the next draft.  Without further ado, here’s our first edition (of many) of the 2013 NFL Mock Draft:

1. Oakland Raiders – Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech*

The Raiders wasted picks in the Carson Palmer deal and will move on in 2013.  Matt Barkley is widely considered the top QB prospect but Thomas has a rare skill set which may allow him to overtake the SC QB.

2012 1^st round pick: None

2. Miami Dolphins – Robert Woods, WR, USC*

Let’s face it, the Dolphins just aren’t real talented.  Matt Moore or David Garrard will start the season but Ryan Tannehill should end it.  That’s not exactly the recipe for success.  The Dolphins selected their franchise QB in the 2012 NFL Draft but it didn’t equate to many wins.  Now they will begin to surround him with talent at the skill positions.

2012 1^st round pick: Ryan Tannehill

3. Arizona Cardinals – Matt Barkley, QB, USC

The Cardinals will struggle with Kolb/Skelton running for their life behind the worst line in football.  The Cards had better secure a LT in free agency or pray for Barkley.

2012 1^st round pick: Michael Floyd

4. Minnesota Vikings – Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington St.*

If the Vikings land this high it may be tough for them to not pull the plug on Christian Ponder.  With the top two QB’s off the board they may elect to find Ponder a weapon on the outside.

2012 1^st round pick: Matt Kalil

5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

Mingo can cause headaches for the best of them.  He’s a speed rusher that is becoming trendy in today’s pass happy NFL.  The Jags didn’t lock up a difference making pass rusher in 2012 so they opt for the top one in 2013.

2012 1^st round pick: Justin Blackmon

6. Cleveland Browns – Keenan Allen, WR, Cal*

The Browns failed to address the WR spot in free agency or the draft, so they look to address with the 6^th pick in 2013.  Allen is a big receiver that has been highly productive despite poor QB play.  If the Browns don’t think they are secure with Weeden at the helm they may opt for Tyler Wilson.

2012 1^st round pick: Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden

7. Indianapolis Colts – Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia*

Indy’s transition to the 3-4 will demand a playmaker at rush end.  Dwight Freeney may not be around next season making Jones a more than logical choice.

2012 1^st round pick: Andrew Luck

8. St. Louis Rams – Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan*

The Jason Smith experiment will have likely ended if the Rams finish with the 8^th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.  Finding an adequate LT and moving Saffold to the right side offers a significant upgrade for this squad.

2012 1^st round pick: Michael Brockers

9. Buffalo Bills – Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas

If Tyler Wilson lands in the 9^th spot, it’s a steal.  Wilson is an underrated athlete with stellar arm talent.  Buffalo will likely move on from Fitzpatrick if they are stuck drafting 9^th.

2012 1^st round pick: Stephon Gilmore

10. Seattle Seahawks – Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee*

The Seahawks gave Matt Flynn a fairly cap friendly contract not making it impossible to move on from him when the next best thing comes around.  Bray is the next best thing and could be the end of the Matt Flynn era season in Seattle.

2012 1^st round pick: Bruce Irvin

11. St. Louis Rams (f/WAS) – Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina*

Steven Jackson wants big money to finish his career in STL. Something tells me he won’t be getting it, especially if the Rams use Washington’s pick to draft an underclassman stud RB.

2012 1^st round pick: Michael Brockers

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – David Amerson, CB, NC State*

Tampa Bay is going to ride into 2012 with Eric Wright, Aqib Talib, and Ronde Barber.  That’s good enough for this season but they need to address the position early in the 2013 NFL Draft.

2012 1^st round pick: Mark Barron

13. Carolina Panthers – Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M*

The Panthers got a steal in Amini Silatolu but they should look to address the tackle spot early in 2013.  Jordan Gross is aging and Jeff Otah can’t stay healthy leaving them some question marks at a position of major importance for their franchise QB.

2012 1^st round pick: Luke Kuechly

14. New York Jets – Sam Montgomery, OLB, LSU*

The Jets opted for a 5T instead of addressing the rush linebacker spot in 2012.  They don’t make the same mistake twice with Sam Montgomery slipping into Rex Ryan’s dirty paws.

2012 1^st round pick: Quinton Coples

15. San Diego Chargers – Chris Faulk, OT, LSU*

Three LSU players off the board in the top 15 is a good sign for Les Miles.  Or bad depending on how you look at it.  The Chargers need to find a long-term solution at LT.  Jared Gaither played well but has struggled with injuries his entire career.

2012 1^st round pick: Melvin Ingram

16. Tennessee Titans – Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio St.*

Big Hank is a specimen that is athletic at over 320 pounds.  The junior DT could officially burst on the national scene playing opposite John Simon.  Both Simon and Hankins have destroyed the OSU first team OL this spring to the point that the coaching staff takes them off the field so they can get plays off.

2012 1^st round pick: Kendall Wright

17. Denver Broncos – Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida St.*

Rhodes is a giant sized CB with the feet to excel at the next level.  He will play on a talented defense with an eye on standing out during his (RS) junior season.

2012 1^st round pick: None

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Tight Ends

1. Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

Height: 6-6  Weight: 251

Eifert likely would have challenged Coby Fleener for the top TE spot in the 2012 NFL Draft.  He chose to return to ND and could solidify himself as a first round TE.  Eifert has good but not great speed.  His hands are elite caliber and he can block and uses his big body to shield defenders.

2. Zach Ertz, Stanford*

Height: 6-6  Weight: 249

Ertz was the second head of Stanford’s three-headed monster at TE.  He was the best blocker of the bunch but wasn’t as dominate a receiving threat.  Ertz should be counted on more this season to stretch the defense and could see more action from a production standpoint.  

3. Jake Stoneburner, Ohio St.

Height: 6-5  Weight: 245

I would fully expect Stoneburner to be the key cog in the OSU passing game under Urban Meyer.  Stoneburner is a WR in a TE body which should make him a valuable commodity in the 2013 NFL Draft.  Stoneburner was much approved as a blocker in 2011 but still has a ways to go before he could be used as an effective in-line blocker in the NFL.

4. Joseph Fauria, UCLA

Height: 6-7  Weight: 258

Fauria has NFL bloodlines at the TE with his uncle being Christian Fauria.  At almost 6-7 Fauria is a monster target that lacks great long speed.  The former Notre Dame transfer threw up solid numbers in 2011 and could be one of the favorites for the Mackey award.

5. Levine Toilolo, Stanford*

Height: 6-8  Weight: 263

Toilolo is a monster at all of 6-8 and makes defenses account for him in the redzone.  Toilolo should see an increased role with Coby Fleener heading to the NFL.  Toilolo has intriguing size and catching radius which should catch the eye of NFL scouts if the junior declares early for the draft.

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Wide Receivers

1. Robert Woods, USC*

Height: 6-1  Weight: 190

Matt Barkley has a bevy of wideouts to choose from.  His favorite target is junior Robert Woods and for good reason.  Woods has the physical tools to be in the elite category in grading out the position.  His size may be the only detractor but Woods should push for a top five selection in next April’s draft.

2. Marquess Wilson, Washington St.*

Height: 6-4  Weight: 183

Wilson is a long, linear athlete with the skills to push Robert Woods for the top receiver honors in the 2013 class.  Wilson will be aided by the addition of Mike Leach as HC of WSU and maybe the best QB that you’ve never heard of in Jeff Tuel.  Wilson shredded his own defense in the spring game for a buck, fifty and a TD after Leach publicly ripped him for his efforts (or lack thereof) in practice.

3. Keenan Allen, California*

Height: 6-3  Weight: 206

Marvin Jones was considered to be a sleeper WR in the 2012 NFL Draft.  The reason he was a sleeper was because of him being overshadowed by Keenan Allen.  The QB play at Cal was spotty to say the least but Allen was still able to haul in 98 catches for over 1300 yards and 6 TD’s.  

4. Justin Hunter, Tennessee*

Height: 6-4  Weight: 200

Hunter was on his way to becoming the SEC’s top receiver before he tore his ACL in the Florida game.  Hunter has the size and leaping ability to be a major factor with Tyler Bray at the helm.  Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers should team up with Bray to form one of the most lethal passing trios in the country.  That’s if Rogers stays at UT.

5. Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas

Height: 6-3  Weight: 209

Arkansas lost a trio of receivers to the NFL but the cupboards aren’t bare for Heisman candidate Tyler Wilson.  Wilson will have a 6-3 target in senior Cobi Hamilton.  Hamilton went relatively unnoticed through three seasons despite hauling in 13 TD’s and over 1,500 yards in that time. It should be a breakout year for Hamilton as he assumes the No. 1 duties.

6. Da’Rick Rogers, Tennessee*

Height: 6-3  Weight: 208

This one is a wait and see because of Rogers has been rumored to be leaving the program.  Rogers has had his share of run-ins with the UT coaching staff, the latest costing him practice time.  Rumor of Rogers transfer to Georgia St. could affect his draft stock.  He would be wise to get in the coaches good graces, feed off Tyler Bray’s right arm, and enter next April’s draft.  We’ll see on this one.

7. Aaron Mellette, Elon

Height: 6-4  Weight: 212

Aaron Mellette had to be smiling when Appalachian State’s Brian Quick went with the 33rd pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.  Mellette has similar physical gifts to Quick and outproduced him as a junior at Elon.  Mellette has a chance to soar up draft boards with his combination of size, leaping ability, and athleticism.

8. Terrance Williams, Baylor

Height: 6-3  Weight: 205

It’s a make or break year for Williams.  He was RGIII’s “other” target in 2011.  Kendall Wright overshadowed Williams, who was no slouch on his way to 11 TD’s and just under 1,000 yards.  Williams has a major opportunity to prove he was more than a by-product of the Robert Griffin hype train.

9. Kenny Stills, Oklahoma*

Height: 6-1  Weight: 189

Stills has blazing speed but will need to work on his overall game to include crisper routes if he wants to make the early jump to the NFL.  Stills should be Landry Jones top target as both look to prove themselves worthy of first round selections in the 2013 NFL Draft.

10. Denard Robinson, Michigan

Height: 5-11 Weight: 195

Projecting Robinson as the tenth best receiver prospect in this class is nuts because he’s never played the position.  That said, he’s an elite athlete that could be a dangerous option out of the slot in the NFL.  Robinson will move to receiver once his days in Ann Arbor are done.

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The 2012 NFL Draft is behind us and we begin to look forward.  Instead of boring you with pointless 2012 NFL Draft grades we will turn our focus to the 2013 NFL Draft.  If you were wondering, my grades for every team are as follows, wait and see.  For all we know Jacksonville’s 3rd round punter will be an immediate Pro Bowler and the Browns 3rd round reach on John Hughes will turn out to be a stud.  We break down the rearview mirror today and look forward at the offensive skill positions.  Today we’ll hit on the QB’s and RB’s and tomorrow we’ll look at WR’s and TE’s.

Running Backs

1. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina*

Height: 6-0  Weight: 218

Lattimore ended his sophomore season on a sour note with a knee injury but should be full go in 2012.  He’s as skilled as any running back in the country and surefire first round pick if he enters the 2013 NFL Draft.

2. Knile Davis, Arkansas

Height: 6-0  Weight: 226

Davis tore up his knee before the 2011 season which was expected to be his final as a collegiate.  Instead he will be back for a new look Arkansas team.  Davis has the size, strength, and speed to warrant a first round selection next April.

3. Giovani Bernard, North Carolina**

Height: 5-10  Weight: 205

Bernard burst onto the national scene in 2011 as a redshirt freshman.  This season he will be draft eligible and has the goods to to enter as a (RS) Sophomore.

4. Michael Dyer, Arkansas St.*

Height: 5-9  Weight: 210

The former Auburn star followed Gus Malzahn to Arkansas St. after running into some trouble.  He was dynamic as a freshman and will look to get back on track during his junior campaign.

5. Montee Ball, Wisconsin

Height: 5-11  Weight: 212

Ball dominated the Big 10 last season and many expected him to turn pro following his record breaking junior season in Madison.  Ball opted to return to Wisconsin for his senior season to prove he was worthy of a higher grade than the NFL Advisory Committee gave him in 2012.

6. Eddie Lacy, Alabama*

Height: 6-0  Weight: 220

It is becoming an annual right of passage for Nick Saban to put a back into the first round of the NFL Draft.  Eddie Lacy was dominant in rare chances to spell the 3rd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Trent Richardson.  I would fully expect Lacy to carry the load for Saban and churn out a dominant junior season.

7. Andre Ellington, Clemson

Height: 5-10  Weight: 190

Ellington is a flat out burner that doesn’t appear to like contact.  He needs to add weight and proved the wares to run between the tackles this season.  He’s dynamic enough to be considered among the top backs in this class if he can do so.

8. Joseph Randle, Oklahoma St.*

Height: 6-1  Weight: 194

Randle burst onto the scene as OSU’s Robin to Blackmon’s Batman.  Randle catches the ball and has a special burst that should push him into the upper echelons of collegiate ball carriers.  OSU will be without Blackmon and Weeden which may make Randle the feature of this pass happy offense.

9. Ray Graham, Pittsburgh

Height: 5-9  Weight: 195

Ray Graham was enjoying a terrific junior season until the dreaded knee injury put him down.  If he’s fully recovered in 2012 he could be the next in line of NFL ready Pitt backs.

10.  Cierre Wood, Notre Dame

Height: 6-0  Weight: 215

Wood is the workhorse of the ND backfield and should shoulder the load in 2012.  The senior has split carries since stepping foot on campus as a top recruit.  If he can follow up on an 1100 yard junior season he could be a interesting back in the 2013 NFL Draft.

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