Ask any NFL general manager or personnel director to describe the 2013 draft in one word, and you will almost certainly get the same answer: Bad.
The first round, especially the top, was horrible. It is loaded with busts and players who certainly haven't come close to living up to expectations.
Leading into the draft, there was a sense that it would be a bad draft. Now looking back on it three years later, a time period that allows one to truly grade a draft, that sense was spot on. The draft wasn't very good.
Sure, it's littered with a handful of stars and talented younger players, but for the most part there were a bunch of misses all the way around.
When I initially graded the 2013 draft the day it concluded, I gave out three "A" grades. They went to the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals. There were no "F" grades given out.
Three years later in my re-grade, I gave out one "A," which goes to the Detroit Lions, with three teams earning Fs -- the Seattle Seahawks (shock), Indianapolis Colts (not so much) and Cleveland Browns (expected). There are also a bunch of "D" grades.
In doing the regrade, I also looked back at what I wrote about some of the players taken in 2013 for each team. Some I hit and some I was just as bad as the teams who had to handle their busts.
For all those who hate immediate draft grades -- I am not one of them -- dig in and get a good chuckle.
The 2013 draft was a laugher.
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| 2013 Grade: A The Skinny: They missed on first-round guard Jonathan Cooper, who is now with New England. He struggled in Arizona for a variety of reasons, including health. The big hit in the draft was third-round corner Tyrann Mathieu. He is a star on their defense. They took a chance on him and it paid off. They also got linebacker Kevin Minter (second round), and he's been a starter. Outside linebacker Alex Okafor started 13 games last season. Running backs Andre Ellington and Stepfan Taylor are all backups, although Ellington has been a starter at times. How I did: Not bad. I liked the pick of Okafor in the fourth round and Ellington in the sixth. They've been good values. I said picking Mathieu was questionable, but loved the idea of playing him as a safety/corner. New Grade: B | |
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| 2013 Grade: B The Skinny: They traded up in the first round to land corner Desmond Trufant, and that is a move that has paid off in a big way. He has been their best defensive player the past two seasons. They got fellow starting corner Robert Alford in the second round. Fourth-round tight end Levine Toilolo started 31 games the past two seasons, but has just 38 catches. Seventh-round safety Kemal Ishmael started 15 games the past two seasons. How I did: Decent. I loved the move up to get Trufant, but I also thought Toilolo would be more of a factor. I did question waiting until the fourth round to pick a defensive end. New Grade: B- | |
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| 2013 Grade: B The Skinny: They took safety Matt Elam in the first round, and he hasn't worked out. He struggled early and then tore his biceps last season. With in as the starting free safety, Elam will have to win a job as a strong safety this season. Second-round pick Arthur Brown, a linebacker from Kansas State, has 17 tackles and no starts. They did hit on third-round nose tackle Brandon Williams, a solid starter, and fifth-round tackle Ricky Wagner, a good starter on the right side of their line. They had 10 picks and three will be starters in 2016: Williams, Wagner and fullback Kyle Juszczyk. How I did: I made Wagner my third-day gem, and that has paid off in a big way for the Ravens. I loved the pick of Brown in the second round. Oops. I did question not taking a receiver until the seventh round, and that has been something of a problem for the Ravens the past few seasons. New Grade: C+ | |
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| 2013 Grade: C+ The Skinny: They used a first-round pick on quarterback EJ Manuel, much to the shock of many. He hasn't panned out, and he's a backup at best. Second-round pick Robert Woods is a starter at receiver, but third-round receiver Marquise Goodwin is trying to make the US Olympic track and field team and has just been OK with the Bills. Fourth-round safety Duke Williams is a backup. How I did: Pretty good. I questioned the move to take Manuel in the first round -- giving it an F -- and that has played true. I liked the pick of Goodwin, but he hasn't panned out. I also thought they were solid the rest of the draft after Manuel -- and they were. I did like kicker Dustin Hopkins in the sixth round, but he is now the kicker for the Redskins after a groin injury early in Buffalo led to him losing his job. New Grade: D+ | |
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| 2013 Grade: B- The Skinny: The Panthers had only five picks, but they nailed the first two, landing the inside core of their defense. They took defensive tackle Star Lotulelei in the first round and Kawann Short in the second round. They form one of the best inside duos in the league. Short is the better of the two now. Fifth-round linebacker A.J. Klein has been a quality starter at times. How I did: I really liked the Short pick and gave general manager Dave Gettleman praise for getting two big guys in the first two rounds. I liked fourth-round guard Edmund Kugbila, and he was a bust because of back issues. New Grade: B+. | |
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| 2013 Grade: C The Skinny: They had six picks, and just one -- first-round offensive lineman Kyle Long -- is a starter. That's not good. They missed on second-round linebacker Jon Bostic, who they traded to New England last year. Fifth-round tackle Jordan Mills did start early with the Bears, but he's now in Buffalo. Seventh-round receiver Marquess Wilson has done some good things. How I did: Bad. I questioned taking Long in the first round, and he has proven to be a Pro Bowl player. I thought taking fourth-round linebacker Khaseem Greene was a good move. He is now with Detroit as a backup. New Grade: C- | |
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| 2013 Grade: A The Skinny: They had 10 picks and the only big hit was on first-round tight end Tyler Eifert, who has developed into a pass-catching threat in their offense. They landed backups in running back Giovani Bernard and defensive end Margus Hunt. Third-round safety Shawn Williams is expected to start this season, taking over for Reggie Nelson. Sixth-round pick Rex Burkhead is a running back who transitioned to receiver. How I did: I liked the pick of Bernard in the second round, but questioned the pick of Eifert, mainly because they had at the time. They were right. I liked fourth-round linebacker Sean Porter, but he flopped and is no longer with the team. New Grade: C+ | |
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| 2013 Grade: C The Skinny: They took pass rusher Barkevious Mingo in the first round and so far he has proven to be a bust. He has just seven sacks in three seasons -- none last year. Second-round corner Leon McFadden was a flop and is now with the Giants. The best player to come from the draft was seventh-round outside linebacker Armonty Bryant. How I did: I liked the McFadden pick -- oops - but hated the Mingo pick, which I got right. They also traded for receiver in this draft, which was a bad move. New Grade: F | |
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| 2013 Grade: C The Skinny: The Cowboys shocked a lot of draftniks when they took center Travis Frederick in the first round, but he has developed into one of the league's best and is a major part of a good offensive line. Second-round pick Gavin Escobar is a backup tight end who has 26 catches in three seasons. Third-round receiver Terrance Williams is a starter and a solid player. Third-round safety J.J. Wilcox has also been a starter the past two seasons. How I did: I loved the pick of Williams, who I predicted would push aside. He did. I said the move to pick Frederick would be questioned, but I gave it an A grade when it happened. My third-day gem was running back Joseph Randle, who was productive before a serious of off-field issues. New Grade: B | |
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| 2013 Grade: C+ The Skinny: The Broncos had seven picks and only one -- first-round defensive tackle -- was a starter for the Super Bowl champs last year. That's unreal. Third-round corner Kayvon Webster has developed into a top-tier special teams player. Other than those two, this draft produced little. Second-round runner Montee Ball was a bust. How I did: I liked the pick of Williams and questioned the pick of Ball. So pretty good. My third-day gem was fifth-round pass rusher Quanterus Smith, who was coming off knee surgery and didn't regain his form. New Grade: D | |
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| 2013 Grade: B The Skinny: They landed one of the plums of the first round by taking pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah. He has developed into one of the better, young defensive ends in the league. Second-round corner Darius Slay has become a nice starter for the Lions. They also landed a good guard in third-round pick Larry Warford and depth on the defensive line in sixth-round pick Devon Taylor. Sixth-round running back Theo Riddick has brought them great value as well. How I did: I loved the pick of Ansah, saying he might be a Jason Pierre-Paul-type pass rusher, but I questioned the pick of Slay because I thought there were better options. I liked Taylor as my third-day gem, and that has proved true. New Grade: A | |
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| 2013 Grade: C- The Skinny: The Packers had 11 picks and landed three starters in defensive end/linebacker Datone Jones (first round), running back Eddie Lacy (second round) and left tackle David Bakhtiari in the fourth. Seventh-round linebacker Sam Barrington also is expected to start inside after missing all but one game last season with an injury. Safety-corner Micah Hyde has been a good player on their defense since being taken in the fifth round. Fourth-round offensive lineman J.C. Tretter has started games at center and tackle. How I did: I liked the pick of Jones, and he has been decent. I questioned taking Lacy in the second round, which is TBD after last season. But I liked fourth-round runner Jonathan Franklin, who suffered a serious neck injury as a rookie and was forced to retire. New Grade: B+ | |
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| 2013 Grade: B- The Skinny: They had nine picks in the draft and one is still on the roster. That one is first-round pick DeAndre Hopkins, who has developed into a Pro Bowl receiver. But that's it. They missed up and down the board. Second-round safety D.J. Swearinger is now with Arizona. How I did: Bad. Just like the Texans. I liked third-round tackle Brennan Williams, who was coming off neck surgery, but he never regained his form. I did question taking Sam Montgomery in the third round because of character concerns, and that played out in a big way. New Grade: D | |
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| 2013 Grade: C+ The Skinny: They had seven picks and only one -- third-round guard -- is with the team. He has started, but might not this year. That's bad. They whiffed on first-round pass rusher Bjorn Werner, who they let go this spring before the Jags recently picked him up. The rest of the draft was a big-time whiff. How I did: I questioned the move to take Werner, and liked the move to draft Montori Hughes in the fifth round. He had one start for the Colts before being let go. New Grade: F | |
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| 2013 Grade: A- The Skinny: They took left tackle Luke Joeckel with the second overall pick, and while he isn't a Pro Bowl-caliber player, he has been a starter his entire career. He will be pushed for his job this year, but could move inside to guard. They took safety Jonathan Cyprien in the second round and he has been an inconsistent starter who faces a big year in 2016. Third-round corner Dwayne Gratz will face a test to make the roster this year after being a sometimes starter. Fifth-round running back Denard Robinson has been used as running back and sixth-round safety Josh Evans has started at times. How I did: I questioned them for not taking a pass rusher in the first five rounds, and that has been a problem for a while. They should have taken Ziggy Ansah in the first. I did like the pick of Cyprien in the second and liked Robinson as my third-day gem. New Grade: C- | |
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| 2013 Grade: B- The Skinny: The Chiefs had the first overall pick in the draft and took tackle Eric Fisher. He isn't a great player, but he's a decent starter. Not worth the top pick, but he isn't awful. In the third round, they hit it big with tight end Travis Kelce. Backup running back Knile Davis came in the third round. There wasn't much after that. How I did: I loved the pick of Kelce in the third, saying he might be the most talented tight end in the draft. I questioned taking Davis in the third and my third-day gem was corner Sanders Commings, who is no longer with the team. New Grade: C+ | |
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| 2013 Grade: B+ The Skinny: They had two first-round picks and they took receiver Tavon Austin eighth overall and linebacker Alec Ogletree with the 30th pick. Austin hasn't come close to living up to the hype and Ogletree has started 36 games, but only four last season because of a broken leg. Third-round safety T.J. McDonald is the only other starter from the draft. How I did: I liked the pick of receiver Stedman Bailey in the third round, but he has just 59 catches in three seasons and is trying to come back after being shot in the head last year. I questioned the pick of McDonald, which the Rams got right. My third-day gem was offensive lineman Barrett Jones, who was released last year. New Grade: C- | |
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| 2013 Grade: B The Skinny: The Dolphins made the move to the third spot in a trade with Oakland and took Dion Jordan. That has been a disaster. Those are the types of moves that take down franchises. They blew two of their next three picks as well on corners Jamar Taylor and Will Davis, neither of whom is still on the roster. Guard Dallas Thomas, a sometimes starter, was their other third-round pick. The best picks were fourth-round linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who has 27 starts the past two seasons, and fifth-round tight end Dion Sims, who is also a starter. How I did: I liked the pick of Taylor in the second round, but questioned the move to get Jordan. That's 1-1. My third-day gem was Sims, so I hit that one. New Grade: D | |
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| 2013 Grade: A The Skinny: The Vikings had three first-round picks and landed two quality starters in corner Xavier Rhodes and defensive tackle Shariff Floyd. But they missed on receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who is basically just a return man. Punter Jeff Locke came in the fifth round. How I did: I liked the pick of Floyd the most, and he's been a good player. I questioned trading back into the first round to get Patterson, and that has played out. Oh, but that talent. If he could only figure it out. My third-day gem was seventh-round defensive tackle Everett Dawkins, who washed out. New Grade: B | |
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| 2013 Grade: B- The Skinny: The Patriots traded their first-round pick to the Vikings in exchange for four picks. They ended up with seven in the draft, and two -- second-round linebacker Jamie Collins and third-round corner Logan Ryan -- start for them. Third-round defensive back Duron Harmon has started at times. They missed on second-round receiver Aaron Dobson so far. Injuries have slowed him the past two seasons. How I did:I loved Collins, and in my evaluation said he could be special. He is now. I didn't like the pick of Dobson in the second round, so got that right. My third-day gem was receiver Josh Boyce, who didn't pan out. New Grade: B | |
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| 2013 Grade: B+ The Skinny: The Saints had just five picks and three of them are projected starters in 2016. First-round pick Kenny Vaccaro has been inconsistent at safety so far -- he had a sophomore slump -- but he has talent and played well last season. Second-round left tackle Terron Armstead has proven to be a good player who just received a new deal. Third-round nose tackle John Jenkins starts. They also took receiver Kenny Stills in the fifth round, and he did some good things before being traded to Miami. How I did: I liked the Vaccaro pick because he had range, and his best football might be in front of him. I questioned the decision to draft Jenkins because he had weight concerns, but did say he'd be a good player if he could control it. My third-day gem was Stills. New Grade: B+ | |
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| 2013 Grade: B- The Skinny: The Giants had seven picks in the draft and two are starters -- first-round pick Justin Pugh (left guard) and second-round defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins. Both are solid players and Hankins is borderline Pro Bowl good. Fifth-round safety Cooper Taylor is a backup. They missed on third-round pass rusher Damontre Moore. How I did: I said Hankins was their best pick, and that has played out. I questioned the pick of Pugh, mostly because I thought he would struggle at tackle. My third-day gem was quarterback Ryan Nassib, who is their backup. New Grade: B | |
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| 2013 Grade: C The Skinny: The Jets traded Darrelle Revis to the Bucs in exchange for a first-round pick that they used on defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, who has become a good player on their defense. Their other first-round pick was on corner Dee Milliner. He hasn't come close to playing to the expectations and has been mostly a backup. Second-round quarterback Geno Smith has started, but he's a backup now. Third-round guard Brian Winters has started 28 games in three seasons. Seventh-round pick Tommy Bohanon is the starting fullback. How I did: Good. I loved Richardson, and that has worked, and I questioned the Milliner pick. My third-day gem was guard Oday Aboushi, who started 10 games with the Jets in 2014 and five with the Texans last year. New Grade: B | |
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| 2013 Grade: B- The Skinny: The Raiders had 10 picks. Of those 10, only running back Latavius Murray, taken in the sixth round, is a sure starter in 2016. First-round corner D.J. Hayden has started, but he will need to win a job this summer. Second-round tackle Menelik Watson will compete for the right tackle job, but he is coming off an injury. They did get backup tight end Mychal Rivera in the sixth round. How I did: Not good. I liked the pick of Hayden. I even questioned moving down out of the third spot in a trade with Miami, but that was the right thing. I liked fourth-round quarterback Tyler Wilson as my third-day gem. Bad miss. New Grade: C- | |
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| 2013 Grade: B The Skinny: The Eagles had eight picks and their first three have all been good starters. They took tackle Lane Johnson in the first round, and they recently gave him a contract extension. Second-round tight end Zach Ertz has been a productive player and third-round nose tackle Bennie Logan has been a big part of their defense. But that's it. The other five picks aren't on the roster anymore. How I did: I liked the pick of Logan in the third round, which is a hit. I questioned taking Ertz, but mainly because the Eagles had two tight ends. Chip Kelly was right. My third-day gem was quarterback Matt Barkley, and he's now in Arizona New Grade: B+ | |
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| 2013 Grade: B- The Skinny: The Steelers had nine picks, and the best of them was second-round running back Le'Veon Bell. First-round pick Jarvis Jones has started, but he hasn't lived up to the expectations. 2016 is a big year for him. Third-round receiver Markus Wheaton has proven to be a nice third receiver. Fourth-round safety Shamarko Thomas has started as well. They got a backup linebacker in Vince Williams in the fifth and backup quarterback Landry Jones came in the fourth. How I did: I liked the pick of Wheaton in the third round, which was a hit. I questioned the pick of Bell in the second round, which was a huge miss. Yecch. I liked fifth-round corner Terry Hawthorne as my third-day gem, and that was a miss. New Grade: B+ | |
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| 2013 Grade: C- The Skinny: They had six picks in the draft and the top three are all projected as 2016 starters. First-round pick D.J. Fluker was drafted as a tackle, but now plays guard. Second-round linebacker Manti Te'o has developed into a quality starter. Third-round receiver Keenan Allen got hurt last year, but he's been a productive pro. Corner Steve Williams, taken in the fourth, has also flashed at times. How I did: I liked the pick of Fluker, but I thought he'd be the right tackle. I questioned the move to take Te'o, but that has worked out. My third-day gem was sixth-round defensive end Tourek Williams, who the Chargers moved to linebacker. He is still on the roster as a backup. New Grade: B | |
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| 2013 Grade: B The Skinny: They had 11 picks in that draft, and all but the last four picks are still with the team. The last pick, corner Marcus Cooper, started for the Kansas City Chiefs after being let go by the 49ers. They took safety Eric Reid in the first round, and he has been a good starter. They landed tight end Vance McDonald in the second round, and he has been a nice part of their offense. They added some other quality backups in this draft as well. How I did: I liked the third-round pick of outside linebacker Corey Lemonier, and he has been a rotation player. I questioned using two picks on players coming off ACL injuries (Cornellius Carradine and Marcus Lattimore). Lattimore is no longer in the NFL after retiring. Fourth-round pick Quinton Patton was my third-day gem and he started to flash potential last season. New Grade: B+ | |
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| 2013 Grade: B The Skinny: The Seahawks traded their first-round pick to the Vikings for Percy Harvin. That sure didn't work out. They then had 11 picks the rest of the draft. Of those 11, the only two who might start in 2016 are defensive tackle Jordan Hill and fifth-round tight end Luke Willson (as a second tight end). That's it. For a good general manager like John Schneider, this was a terrible draft capped by the bad trade for Harvin. How I did: I liked the pick of Hill, so I got that one. I questioned the move to get Harvin, who I always thought was overrated. Got that one. My third-day gem was fourth-round receiver Chris Harper. That didn't work out. New Grade: F | |
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| 2013 Grade: B+ The Skinny: Tampa Bay gave up its first-round pick to get corner Darrelle Revis. Essentially that was a one-year rental. It didn't work. The Bucs then had six picks and of those six, two (fourth-round picks Akeem Spence and William Gholston) are projected starters this season -- and they are no locks. Second-round corner Johnthan Banks and third-round quarterback Mike Glennon are backups. How I did: I gave the Bucs props for taking Spence in the fourth round, and he has paid off for that draft spot. I questioned the trade to get Revis, and that was right. I also liked Gholston as my third-day gem. So I did a lot better than the Bucs did that year. New Grade: C- | |
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| 2013 Grade: C+ The Skinny: They had eight picks in the draft and only first-round guard Chance Warmack is a projected starter in 2016. That's not good enough. The Titans do have three other players on the roster from that draft who have started in receiver Justin Hunter, center Brian Schwenke and corner Blidi Wreh-Wilson. Hunter was a second-round pick, while Wreh-Wilson came in the third. Schwenke got injured last season and will be the backup to Ben Jones this year. How I did: I liked the pick of Hunter, but that hasn't worked out. I questioned taking Warmack in the first round, and he has been decent. My third-day gem was Schwenke and he has been a starter. Not bad. New Grade: C- | |
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| 2013 Grade: B- The Skinny: The Redskins didn't have a first-round pick, trading it to the Rams as part of the Robert Griffin III trade the year before. In the second round, they took corner David Amerson, and he didn't work out. He's now with Oakland. They did hit big on third-round tight end Jordan Reed, who just signed a big contract extension. Of the other five picks, only fifth-round pick Chris Thompson, a backup running back, is with the team. How I did: Not good. I liked the pick of Amerson as a corner, and that flopped. My third-day gem was fifth-round pass rusher Brandon Jenkins, but his knee concerns were too much to overcome. New Grade: D | |
