2013 NFL Draft

National Football Post: The Jaguars get great value with Cyprien. An aggressive defender who flies upfield in run support to make tackles, Cyprien can chase down plays from sideline to sideline. Productive against the run and excellent in coverage, he gives the Jaguars a potentially high-end starting safety.

National Football Post: In dire need of a big-play receiver with Kenny Britt still working his way back from injury and Kendall Wright still developing, the Titans grab Hunter, who looked like a potential Top 10 pick in 2011 before a knee injury. He displayed rare explosiveness and speed before his injury and has the ability to go up and catch high passes along the sideline. He looked like Randy Moss in 2011, so the Titans are banking on him returning to form.

National Football Post: Philadelphia makes a bold move and drafts a tight end to pair with another quality one. By pairing Ertz with Brent Celek, the Eagles have two athletic tight ends who can line up in a variety of spots. They also each have the hands and receiving skills to make plays running after the catch.

National Football Post: The Lions needed help in the secondary, so they grab the 6-foot Slay. A smooth and fluid athlete with explosive closing burst, Slay possesses the ball skills to break up and intercept passes. He will be a welcome addition to a Lions secondary that has struggled in recent seasons.

National Football Post: Even with BenJarvus Green-Ellis on the team, the Bengals grab Bernard to add a game-breaking dimension to the offense. Bernard isn't huge, but he is a deceptively good runner between the tackles with the rare ability to make tacklers miss within the hole. Dangerous when he gets the ball on the edge, Bernard is a legit touchdown threat anytime he gets the ball.

National Football Post: With ILB Donald Butler on the verge of stardom, the Chargers grab Te'o to provide solid all-around play next to him. Te'o is never going to be a star, but he has the smarts, instincts and leadership to be a solid, long-term starter in San Diego's 3-4 scheme.

National Football Post: The Jets make their team perhaps the biggest circus in the NFL by drafting Smith. With Smith, Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow, they now have three quarterbacks who will command media attention. Smith will need to improve his footwork and release in order to become an accurate passer, which is vital if he is ever going to be a quality starting quarterback in the NFL.

National Football Post: The 49ers continue adding great talent to an already deep and talented roster. A strong and physical defensive end who can dominate blockers at the point of attack, Carradine is one of the few very good college pass rushers who is excellent against the run. Do not be surprised if he ends up becoming the starting outside linebacker opposite Aldon Smith by the middle of the 2013 season.

National Football Post: When it comes to good, solid selections, the Bills choice of Woods fits perfectly. He has good size at 6-feet, deceptive quickness and runs sharp, precise routes. He gains separation easily and has excellent hands. He is as pro-ready as a receiver can be and should step in and start as a rookie, catching 60-plus passes from new quarterback E.J. Manuel.

National Football Post: With Jared Veldheer manning the left tackle spot, the Raiders make a smart move by selecting Watson. He's only played football for two years, but Watson's amazing athletic ability and dominating strength could enable him to become a premier offensive tackle in a few seasons.

National Football Post: With Ronde Barber still deciding if he is going to return next season, the Bucs realize they need to find his replacement. Banks is a tall (6'2) cornerback with long arms, good ball skills and good all-around athleticism. Despite his lack of premier speed, he has what it takes to be a fine starting cornerback. In addition to his talent, Banks is an outstanding young man with character, smarts and intangibles.

National Football Post: After grabbing Star Lotulelei in the first round, the Panthers follow it up with Short. The two picks turn their interior defensive line, which was a major weakness in 2012, into a strength. It also gives their defense a chance to take a huge step forward in 2013. New GM Dave Gettleman's first two draft picks are excellent.

National Football Post: Wanting to add a tough, physical inside linebacker to their 3-4 defense, the Cardinals could not have found a better man for the job. While Minter lacks the foot quickness and speed that many teams prefer in an inside linebacker in a 3-4, he is more than athletic enough and does an outstanding job against blockers.

National Football Post: The Bills continue a strong draft with Alonso, who has a size and speed combination that is hard to find. After battling through some off-field issues early in his college career, Alonso turned things around to become an impact defender for the Ducks. Few linebackers possess Alonso's speed to track down plays all over the field.

National Football Post: Even with longtime star tight end Jason Witten on the roster, the Cowboys make a wise move drafting Escobar. The pick now gives the Cowboys two playmaking tight ends, and eventually Escobar could be the replacement for Witten. A very tall tight end at 6-6 with deceptive speed and route-running ability, he has the hands and ball skills to be an impact receiving tight end.

National Football Post: With Rashard Mendenhall a thing of the past in Pittsburgh, the Steelers grab a big, powerful running back in Bell. While he lacks the explosive burst that most teams want, Bell has the size, strength and balance to consistently run through hits and tackles to gain yards after contact.

National Football Post: The Giants continue their long history of drafting the best player on their board who fits their defensive scheme. Hankins is a massive defensive tackle with the strength to anchor at the point of attack and the athleticism to defeat blocks when he plays with leverage and uses his hands aggressively. An excellent value pick, Hankins has as much physical talent as any defensive tackle in the draft and could end up being a star if the Giants can get him to play with passion and intensity on every snap.

National Football Post: The Bears fill their need at MLB with Bostic, who was a highly productive player at Florida. Not a great athlete, Bostic is definitely a reach -- the second reach for Chicago in this draft. Bostic is a strong and physical player who attacks and makes big hits, but he is not a top athlete.

National Football Post: After amassing 12 interceptions as a sophomore, Amerson struggled to match that production in 2012 and fell from possibly being a first-round pick. He's a big, smooth athlete with outstanding ball skills, but was repeatedly beaten deep last season and did not look like the player he once was. Some scouts believe he could transition to safety, and considering Washington has needs at corner and safety, Amerson makes sense.

National Football Post: Once again the Patriots draft a highly productive college player who brings versatility to the table. An excellent pass rusher who also excels in pursuit, Collins should eventually develop into a productive starter opposite Chandler Jones. Not only will Collins be a good defensive player in time, but he will be a stud on special teams from the get go.

National Football Post: The Bengals continue their strong draft by getting value in Hunt. A huge man with great natural athleticism, Hunt as the potential to become a longtime Pro Bowl player -- if he develops. At the Senior Bowl he flashed the ability to be a special player but generally struggled, so he is no doubt a player who will need technique work before being ready to start.

National Football Post: After speculation that the Dolphins would trade this pick to Kansas City for LT Brandon Alberts, Miami instead decided to hold on to their selection and take the best corner left. Although Taylor lacks prototypical size for the position, he is an explosive and physical athlete who showed outstanding coverage ability at Boise State. He will likely start immediately for the Dolphins.

National Football Post: The 49ers stay aggressive, trading up with the Packers to secure their guy. McDonald is a smooth athlete for such a big man, and he is capable of getting consistent separation out of his breaks. While showing inconsistent hands at Rice, he had an oustanding week of Senior Bowl practices, demonstrating that he is clearly capable of competing with top-level talent.

National Football Post: In an effort to replace Ray Lewis, the Ravens select the player who reminds many of Lewis more than any linebacker in the draft. After playing at Kansas State under coach Bill Snyder, you can be sure that Brown is a tough, hard-nosed player who will do whatever it takes to make plays. Do not be surprised if Brown is among the league's leading tacklers in 2013.

National Football Post: After losing Glover Quin, the Texans had a hole at safety, so they make a smart move with Swearinger, who also started at cornerback during his college career. A physical hitter, Swearinger makes a lot of tackles behind the line of scrimmage. His athleticism allows him to match up with tight ends in man coverage and gives him sideline range in deep coverage. The one area of concern is that he does not deal well with blockers, but he has all the physical tools to be a quality starter.

National Football Post: After losing Glover Quin, the Texans had a hole at safety, so they make a smart move with Swearinger, who also started at cornerback during his college career. A physical hitter, Swearinger makes a lot of tackles behind the line of scrimmage. His athleticism allows him to match up with tight ends in man coverage and gives him sideline range in deep coverage. The one area of concern is that he does not deal well with blockers, but he has all the physical tools to be a quality starter.

National Football Post: The missing piece to the Broncos' offense was a true feature back, so it's not surprising to see Denver take Ball. He possesses an excellent combination of quickness, burst and power, and shows outstanding vision and aggressiveness running between the tackles. Although his high mileage and injury history from Wisconsin is a concern, his complete skill set makes him well worth the risk.

National Football Post: The Patriots make a sly move selecting Dobson, who is vastly underrated. A tall receiver with a long stride that hides his playing speed, Dobson has consistently showed the ability to get separation on deep routes. Blessed with soft, natural hands, Dobson catches everything thrown his way and showed that he can play with the big boys when he excelled in every practice at the Senior Bowl. Dobson should become a solid starting receiver for the Patriots by his second season.

National Football Post: Although Alford lacks the ideal bulk necessary for the position at the NFL level, he is an athletic and instinctive corner who clearly possesses the physical nature to start at the next level. He is a strong player at the line of scrimmage who works hard to redirect and cut off routes in front of him. Despite being a small-school prospect, Alford could quickly move up the ranks and into a starting role with Atlanta.

National Football Post: It's not surprising to see several runners drafted in front of Lacy, but he is a solid fit and even better value for Green Bay at this stage of Round Two. While lacking top-end burst and vision, he is a bear to bring down in the open field and will get plenty of room to operate in Green Bay's wide-open offense.

National Football Post: While clearly a physical talent when healthy, Michael is a surprise pick in the second round because of his wildly inconsistent play in 2012 and average ability between the tackles. Once in space he has the speed to break huge plays, and he goes to a great situation in Seattle, where he will not be asked to be the lead runner as a rookie.