NFL Draft: QB Manuel drafted 16th
Offensive tackles Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel were the first two picks in the 2013 NFL Draft, marking the first time since 1968 that the top two picks were offensive linemen.
Fisher became only the fourth offensive lineman to be selected with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. The Central Michigan left tackle was chosen No. 1 Thursday by the Kansas City Chiefs, who held the top pick for the first time in modern draft history (since 1967).
"I can't even process what's happening right now, this is a dream come true," Fisher said Thursday. "I'm pumped to be a Chief."
Fisher has 32 career starts, including four at right tackle, leaving open the possibility that he could play the right side if the Chiefs cannot find a taker for franchise-tagged tackle Branden Albert. He was the first selection of the new Chiefs' regime comprised of head coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey. The Chiefs were 32nd in offense and passing -- and first in turnovers -- in 2012.
Joeckel, a junior from Texas A&M, solidifies the Jaguars' offensive line, even if first-year coach Gus Bradley still isn't certain of the identity of his starting quarterback.
The Raiders traded the third overall pick to the Miami Dolphins, who used the pick to draft defensive end Dion Jordan from Oregon. Miami dealt its 12th pick and a second-rounder (42nd overall) to the Raiders. Jordan became the first Oregon player drafted in the top 10 and the highest overall pick since Haloti Ngata (12th, 2006).
The Eagles, in their first draft without Reid since 1998, continued the offensive tackle theme, drafting Oklahoma's Lane Johnson, a unique athlete who played quarterback in high school and made only 13 career starts. Johnson is viewed as an ideal fit for coach Chip Kelly's fast-breaking, no-huddle offense.
Two more pass rushers with unique speed and agility followed before the Arizona Cardinals snagged another offensive lineman with the seventh pick. The Detroit Lions grabbed BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, born in Ghana and a football neophyte compared by scouts to Giants' All-Pro Jason Pierre-Paul, and the Browns drafted LSU outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo.
Guard Jonathan Cooper (North Carolina), who has 47 career starts and the ability to play center, can help solidify the Cardinals' wobbly offensive line. He was the first guard drafted with a top-10 pick since 1997 (Chris Naeole, Saints); Alabama's Chance Warmack came off the board three picks later to the Tennessee Titans and head coach Mike Munchak.
One of three teams who entered Thursday with multiple picks, the St. Louis Rams shook up the draft by trading for the No. 8 selection and drafting West Virginia sparkplug wide receiver and kick returner Tavon Austin (5-8, 172). He was the only skill-position player drafted until the Bills used the 16th pick acquired from St. Louis to take quarterback EJ Manuel. Not since 2000, when Chad Pennington was selected 18th by the New York Jets, has the draft reached this point before a quarterback was chosen.
The Jets added a second first-round pick (13th overall) Monday, when a trade for cornerback Darrelle Revis was completed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They used the ninth pick on his potential replacement, Alabama junior Dee Milliner, the FBS leader in passes defensed in 2012 and drafted Missouri defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson with the pick acquired for Revis.
A third consecutive Alabama prospect, right tackle D.J. Fluker, went 11th to the San Diego Chargers.
Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden was Oakland's first Round One pick not drafted by Al Davis since the combined draft (1967) began. Davis died Oct. 8, 2011; the Raiders didn't have a first-round selection in 2012. Hayden overcame a life-threatening heart injury when he was kneed in the chest in November 2012 to fly up draft boards after workouts in March and April.
