Official 2013 NFL Draft - Rounds 2 & 3 Thread

[Keith]

Clemson, South Carolina, North Carolina, and a LSU (also from South Carolina)... apparently the Texans college scouts only visit the southeast. Pour some out for Dale Strahm.

Hopkins, Swearinger, and Montgomery seem like smart, talented players... good picks for where the Texans took them, but they are straight-up need position players. On one hand, tough to complain since each of these three (as well as Williams maybe) are going to have an opportunity to contribute early. On the other though... can't help but wonder if the Texans push up need positions over just taking the most talented guy on the board.

And maybe it'll be a happy coincidence that these guys were the BPA... I wonder that in particular about Hopkins and Montgomery, but I want the team to pick a player that is going to be someone we want to re-sign long-term four years from now. Hopefully we still need these four kids as badly then too.

[popanot]

I hope Montgomery works out. He's definitely a talent and probably worth the risk there. However, when a guy on the same team who failed 10+ drug tests is less of a risk than a guy who's somewhat lazy and gives a bad interviews, there's a probably more to it than what we're hearing. Hopefully whatever it is he straightens up and we end up with one of the steals of the draft.

[popanot]

Quick thoughts on some other teams...

I hate the jags, but if they come away with Franklin or Ellington to open the 4th or 5th and a decent WR prospect, it will be shaping up as a pretty good draft for them.

Rams have added playmakers, but they're going really small with Austin/Bailey/Givins/Pead/Richardson. I guess speed kills, but I'm not sure I'd totally go that route in that division. Takes me back to the old Run-n-shoot Oilers days were they'd get crushed by physical D's.

SF is going to be good for a long time.

GB is moving all over the place but still has done a good job plugging in some glaring holes with only a couple picks so far. They have 10 picks today from all their moves!

Surprised at how the RB draft is shaking out. The order of who is going when and where seems odd. At least it is to me looking at it from a fantasy football perspective.

[HPF Bob]

This was a draft that had few dead-lock cinch guys but was deep in "3/4" guys - guys who are 3/4ths of an NFL stud but you just don't know about the other 1/4th. We got four guys who are generally thought of as solid but perhaps lack some speed or lack some size or lack some maturity, etc. How well the Texans can coach up the 1/4th will determine whether these were great picks or not.

Since I am among those throwing out the ACC card, it should be noted that, in the Rick Smith years (Okoye and forward), the #1 picks have been more evenly distributed:

Okoye - Big East
D. Brown - ACC
Cushing - Pac 12
Jackson - SEC
Watt - Big 10
Mercilus - Big 10
Hopkins - ACC

[popanot]

Per Rob Rang:

27. Houston Texans: I really like what the Texans did on Day Two. Safety D.J. Swearinger is a versatile, highly physical safety who'll add to the toughness of the Houston secondary. In a similar way, Sam Montgomery could surprise (if he remains focused on football) as an edge rusher. People tend to gloss over the fact that he was a much more consistent and productive defender at LSU than Barkevious Mingo, who the Browns took at No. 6 overall. Finally, offensive tackle Brennan Williams earned first round grades from a number of scouts and only last until the third because of the fact that he is coming off a torn labrum. Massive and highly athletic, he's a perfect fit at right tackle. Grade: A