AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens wasted no time in replenishing their depleted defense. With the luxury of an adequately stocked offense, this team used their selections expertly to maximize their draft and take players who can help immediately. Matt Elam, with the possible exception of Kenny Vaccaro, was the best safety in the draft, and Arthur Brown, grabbed in Round 2, will start immediately at linebacker. Brandon Williams, who has gone from cleaning Port-O-Lets to nose tackle in the NFL, can be considered a steal at Pick #94 in the third round and, with Brown, can help ease the pain of losing Kruger. Even tackles Ricky Wagner and Ryan Jensen could be impact assets.
Ozzie Newsome knows talent and it's difficult to question someone with his track record. I liked this draft, with some caveats. Is second-year man and brother of QB Bruce, Gino Gradkowski, the answer at center, after the retirement of Matt Birk? Apparently the Ravens think so, choosing to avoid the position in the draft. Certainly one of the tackles they took would better have been an interior lineman or center? Also, Aaron Mellette is the only WR they selected. He is a Boldin-type player, without deep speed but with good hands and ability to separate with his body, and it is very possible the best GM in football has unearthed another small-school gem. However, given the departure of Anquin Boldin this puts a ton of faith on Jacoby Jones and Tandon Doss. I also think the Ravens could have traded out of Round 1 completely, and that Elam, while he should be a star, could have been had more towards the middle of Round 2, and the team might have gained a pick in the process. Grade: B
Fantasy Implications: The Ravens D should be different, but just as good, if not better, than they were in 2012. They still merit a top-10 defense/special teams pick, top 5 if Jacoby Jones continues to return kicks, not a given considering their WR situation. In my opinion, and looking at the roster, the Ravens will play quite a bit of two-TE sets in 2013, utilizing Pitta and sometimes Dickson as receivers. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk (4th Round compensatory pick) could see the field in an H-back type role, and in passing situations, but is no fantasy factor and might not do anything other than work special teams. I have a strange feeling Baltimore drafted Mellette to replace Boldin, keep him on the radar. He has all the ability to beat out underachieving Tandon Doss for the #3 WR role, and could in fact be a better every down complement to Torrey Smith; Jacoby Jones is more suited as WR #3 and kick returner.
Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals are on the rise, and things have been looking up mostly due to this team's strategy of taking the "best available player," usually regardless of position or need. Their 2013 draft was no different, but this time I think they should probably have deviated from their recent strategy. Don't get me wrong, most of their selections were good ones. Giovani Bernard was one of the best backs (#5) on my board, and addresses a need. With a little coaching up by the best, Margus Hunt (6'8", 280) is a monster of a man that will pay JJ Watt-like dividends in short order. Shawn Williams can, and should earn at least a nickel role in the Bengals' secondary. Sean Porter is under-rated and will start immediately, he needs to play with more of an edge, but is a textbook LB; even Reid Fragel, drafted in Round 7, will stick and see playing time.
The draft, on the whole, was awesome, enviable for many teams. My one problem is with choosing Tyler Eifert with Pick #21. Unless you envision surely you have the next Rob Gronkowski (hopefully, with better durability...) at TE available to you, you should NEVER draft a TE, in the NFL, in Round 1. The justification is this: since 1990, 23 TEs have been chosen in either Round 1 or Round 2 of the NFL draft; of these, Reggie Johnson, Derek Brown, Irv Smith, Lonnie Johnson, Cameron Cleeland, Rickey Dudley, Bubba Franks, and Reggie Kelly certainly did not live up to their draft positions. For Dustin Keller, Brandon Pettigrew, Kyle Rudolph, Jermaine Gresham, and Greg Olsen, the jury is still out. In 23 years, then, less than half of the TEs selected in Rounds 1 and 2 of an NFL draft could be said to have had any success worthy of their draft position. Vernon Davis, Heath Miller, Kellen Winslow Jr., Dallas Clark, and Tony Gonzalez were the only real hits. You could argue for the likes of the remaining guys - perhaps Eric Green, Kyle Brady, Jeremy Shockey, or Todd Heap - being successful, but remember they came at the expense of high draft picks, where you want a high success rate. Also note there is no mention of Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, Aaron Hernandez, or Gronkowski, all of whom were later round selections. With all the hype, Eifert was destined to be a Round 1 pick. I just wouldn't have been the team to do it. Grade: B+
Fantasy Implications: Bernard has the talent to win a starting job away from Green-Ellis, but the law firm should still retain his short yardage and goal line duties in 2013, even given this best-case scenario for Giovani. Eifert will probably see the field in double TE sets and is worth a flier as a TE2, but no better, as long as Gresham is still around. It is possible he wrests the job away from Gresham, but not likely. An injury to Gresham, however, could open the door to Eifert's potential. He will be on the field in any case, how much is the question.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The black and gold always draft well, and this year was no exception, it is the key reason why Pittsburgh only rarely finds themselves out of contention come December. With more needs than usual, due not in the least to the losses of Mike Wallace and James Harrison, as well as declining play from Troy Polamalu, the Steelers had their work cut out for them, and came through with a very nice draft.
With the selection of LeVeon Bell in Round 2 they grabbed the co-best RB on my board (with Monte Ball), and one with more breakaway ability. Jarvis Jones is an NFL-ready linebacker that fits into the types of things Pittsburgh has its LBs do. Markus Wheaton will attempt to replace Mike Wallace, and has the speed to do so. Shamarko Thomas is short but stout and a gamer that will start sooner than later. Even Landry Jones was a great pickup at QB, given their situation with Big Ben. Overall a nice draft, I would have liked to see some more pizazz in the later rounds, and maybe some more trading of picks. Still, the top four picks are instant starters and fulfill needs. Jones could stick as Big Ben's successor. Terry Hawthorne has what it takes if he can refine his coverage skills. Grade: B+
Fantasy Implications: Markus Wheaton and LeVeon Bell will be well-known fantasy names by the end of this season. Bell only has to beat out the likes of Isaac Redman, and possibly Jonathan Dwyer, to win the starting Steelers RB job, historically and actually a lucrative fantasy goldmine. Helping his cause is the fact that head coach Mike Tomlin is no fan of the "backfield by committee" approach to running the football. Still, tread with a bit of caution, but be advised if you wait too long in your fantasy draft Bell will be gone, some time shortly after Chris Johnson goes. He bears watching very closely this preseason. Wheaton has just as large an opportunity. It's no secret that this young man was drafted to fill Wallace's shoes, and he will need to be successful soon. Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown do not scare anyone by themselves, they need that vertical threat and, barring any trade for a WR, Wheaton is now it.
Cleveland Browns: With only five picks in the 2013 draft the Browns had to make them count. Heading in the right direction, the Browns' only real question mark, on paper, was at the QB position (Rams and Dolphins being in a similar state), but like Miami QB was not addressed through this draft at all. I actually prefer Weeden to Campbell, and to Tannehill, for that matter, and while the team declares the position open, the draft indicates it will be Weeden taking the snaps in Cleveland.
Barkevious Mingo is expected to be the next Jason Pierre-Paul, so say the pundits, but his college track record is nothing special. To me, he is too risky to take with the 6th overall selection, especially in a draft that was rich with big defensive linemen. Regardless, he will get time on the edge, especially on passing downs. Leon McFadden is Round 3 was excellent value, and he should earn a starting job and succeed in the NFL. In fact, I predict his presence will help make Cleveland's one of the better defenses in 2013. Don't be surprised if it is late-rounder Armonty Bryant who provides the real power off the edge, he's not as fast as Mingo, but is heavier and is an excellent value grab late. All in all an average draft. Grade: C
Fantasy Implications: I like the defense in 2013, and they will be a top-15 squad if the offense helps out more than it did last year. Other than that, no fantasy possibilities came through this draft.
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