2013 NFL Draft: Day 2 Draft Grades
By Blake Meek
NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys — 47. Gavin Escobar TE, San Diego State — 74. Terrance Williams WR, Baylor — 80. J.J. Wilcox S, Georgia Southern
B+ — Escobar is Wittens eventual replacement. He is a talented pass catcher, but not as good a blocker as Witten. Williams is a good WR prospect who could be Miles Austin replacement. The Cowboys need safety help and Wilcox has great potential. He has only been playing safety for 1 year after being a RB.
New York Giants — 49. Johnathan Hankins DT, Ohio State — 81. Damontre Moore DE, Texas A&M
A — The Giants got 2 great bargains in the 2nd and 3rd round. Hankins could have been a late 1st round player and has a lot of talent. Damontre Moore was once being talked about as a top 5 pick who they got in the 3rd round. He will bolster their pass rush off the edge that they lost with Osi.
Philadelphia Eagles — 35. Zach Ertz TE, Stanford — 67. Benny Logan DT, LSU
B — I didn’t have Ertz as highly rated as some, but his pass catching abilities are undeniable. He brings more firepower to this offense. If they switch to a 3-4 like has been reported I’m not sure where Benny Logan fits in. He is talented, but I question the fit.
Washington Redskins — 51. David Amerson CB, NC. State — 85. Jordan Reed TE, Florida
A- — I love what the Redskins did on day 2. Amerson is a high potential player who is the best ball hawking CB in the draft. He has a rough year this year, but he has elite talent. Jordan Reed IMO is comparable to Aaron Hernandez. He will be a fantastic weapon for RGIII.
NFC South:
Atlanta Falcons — 60. Robert Alford CB, SE Louisiana
C+ — The Falcons needed CB help, but they took Trufant in the 1st round. They had other positions they needed to upgrade as well. This is about where I though Alford should go, but I think they should have went pass rush or OL here.
Carolina Panthers — 44. Kawann Short DT, Purdue
A- — The DT position was one of the biggest weakness on the Panthers last year, it is now one of their strengths with Lotulelei and Kawann Short. They compliment each other very well as Star is more of a run stuffer and Short gets great penetration.
New Orleans Saints — 75. Terron Armstead OT, Arkansas Pine-Bluff — 82. Jonathan Jenkins NT, Georgia
A — The Saints really helped themselves by picking 2 positions of real need and getting 2 great value picks. Armstead is an extremely athletic OT who can take Bushrods place. Jenkins gives them a huge NT in the middle to stuff the run and keep lineman off of the LB.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 43. Johnathan Banks CB, Mississippi State — 73. Mike Glennon QB, NC State
B+ — Banks was once thought of as a mid-late 1st round pick until he ran a slow time at the combine. He can start immediately opposite Revis. Glennon gives them a high potential QB to push Freeman and eventually take over if Freeman doesn’t really improve this year.
NFC North:
Chicago Bears — 50. Jon Bostic LB, Florida
C- — Bostic is a reach at this point IMO. He has some talent, but probably could have been had in the 3rd round
Detroit Lions — 36. Darius Slay CB, Mississippi State — 65. Larry Warford OG, Kentucky
B+ — Slay has a meniscus injury so you worry about that, but there is no doubt the talent is there. Warford is possibly the steal of the draft. This kid is going to be able to start from day 1 and be dominant.
Green Bay Packers — 61. Eddie Lacy RB, Alabama
B — Eddie Lacy is a good fit for the Packers and they didn’t have to trade up. Lacy has some injury concerns however and that makes you worry.
Minnesota Vikings —
NA
NFC West:
Arizona Cardinals — 45. Kevin Minter LB, LSU — 69. Tyrann Mathieu CB/S, LSU
A — Minter could have been picked as high as 25 by Minnesota. He will step in right away and play well beside Daryl Washington. Most people might not like the Mathieu pick, but I really like it. He is a playmaker and will bolster that defense. With Peterson mentoring him, he should be able to stay out of trouble.
San Fransisco 49ers — 40. Cornellius Carradine DE, FSU — 55. VanceMcDonald TE, Rice — 88. Corey Lemonier OLB, Auburn
B+ — If Carradine can come back from his injury this grade could jump to an A. McDonald will give them the ability to be able to still run those 2 TE sets they like to run. Lemonier has potential, but it seems he will be buried on the depth chart in SF.
Seattle Seahawks — 62. Christine Michael RB, Texas A&M — 87. Jordan Hill DT, Penn State
B- — I’m not sure I understand taking a RB this early when you have Marshawn Lynch and Turbin. However I’ve stopped questioning Pete Carrol. Michael might be the most talented RB in this draft. Hill is a great rotational DL for Seattle.
St. Louis Rams — 71. T.J. McDonald S, USC — 92. Stedman Bailey WR, WVU
B — I thought it was about a round early for McDonald. He is a big safety who is stiff in coverage, but is very good in the box and safety is a real need for St. Louis. Bailey is a great pick however. He had insane production as WVU, even with Austin in the offense with him. He knows how to get open and catches everything.