NFL Draft 2013: Preview, Predictions, Start Time, Live Stream and More

The 2013 NFL Draft is set to kick off in a few hours and our FanSided team has come together to give you a preview of what to expect over the next few days. Before we get started with the FanSided Draft Q&A that featured yours truly, along with fellow FanSided editor Josh Hill, Patrick Allen of Arrowhead Addict and Mike Dyce of NFL Spin Zone.

First, here is the critical information you will need to catch all of the selections over the next three days.

Date: Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, April 27
Location: New York City
Venue:  Radio City Music Hall
Live Stream: NFL.com

TV Schedule:

• Thursday, April 25 (Round 1) – 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and NFL Network
• Friday, April 26 (Rounds 2-3) – 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and NFL Network
• Saturday, April 27 (Rounds 4-7) – 12 p.m. ET on ESPN and NFL Network

Now, for the preview:

QUESTION: Who should the Chiefs take with the first overall pick?

Patrick Allen, Arrowhead Addict: I get slammed for this but I think they should take Geno Smith. I think he is the best QB in the draft and could seriously benefit from sitting behind Alex Smith for a couple of years while learning Andy Reid’s system. Branden Alert is a fine tackle and the Chiefs could cut other dead weight (in the form of Tyson Jackson) in order to find the money to pay him. Would they be giving up their top two picks in this draft for QB’s?  Sure. Sure, Luke Joeckel might be great and all but the Chiefs once had Willie Roaf and Will Shields on the same offensive line. That didn’t get them to a single Super Bowl. In the NFL, you either have a franchise QB or you don’t. It is time the Chiefs drafted and developed their own guy. What is the worst that could happen? More losing?

Mike Dyce, NFL Spin Zone: I think the Chiefs should take Luke Joeckel with the first pick. I like big SEC lineman and he fits the mold. Not to mention having Albert for possibly only 1 more year and already having lost Eric Winston, the Chiefs need a tackle. They’ve already addressed many of their other needs so address this one.

Josh Hill, FanSided: They should trade down and get a second round pick back, but no matter if they stay put or trade down they’re taking an offensive tackle. Honestly, I could care less how high they are on Eric Fisher, the SEC is a nasty conference and Luke Joeckel held his own in an NFL-style conference. No disrespect to Fisher, as he’ll be a top 5 pick, but Joeckel should and will be the pick.

Josh Sanchez, FanSided: Personally, I would do everything that I could to trade back, but since that isn’t likely you have to go with the best offensive tackle. Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel grade out basically the same, so I would go with the player that is more athletic and with more upside. If the Chiefs follow that thought process, this pick is a no-brainer and Fisher will be the man.

QUESTION: Who will be the first QB off the board and how far could Geno Smith fall?

Allen: Geno will be the first QB taken and despite all the bad reports out there about him, I don’t see him falling out of the top ten. The guy has way too much talent and there are way too many teams that need help at QB. If teams reached for Blaine Gabbert, teams will reach for Geno Smith. I see no chance of him getting past Arizona but I think the Jets at 13 will be as far as he will fall.

Dyce: I think Geno Smith will be the first quarterback off the board. I’m not really sold on any of the quarterbacks being elite in the future, but he fits the popular ‘mobile’ or ‘zone read’ mold that is making an impact in the NFL. A team will look to jump on that bandwagon and select Geno like everyone jumped on the bandwagon with the Wild Cat. Especially after seeing the Seahawks and Redskins turn around so surprisingly after transitioning to this offense.

Hill: Geno Smith is the best quarterback in the draft, but that’s like being the skinniest kid at fat camp. He’s the guy who deserves to be taken first due to his skills, but he’s going to fall hard because of E.J. Manuel. Both guys are similar players, and teams like the Jets can justify passing on Smith because Manuel will be there in the second round if Smith’s gone. I’d say Smith falls to at least the Bills but if he slips past the Jets, he could see an epic Aaron Rodgers-like fall.

Sanchez: All signs point to Ryan Nassib. All of this talk about the Bills being seriously interested in Matt Barkley comes off as a smokescreen to me. The Jets and Bills are both interested in selecting the Syracuse product, but Buffalo has the upperhand. It may seem like a reach to some, but no one is more familiar with Nassib than Bills head coach Doug Marrone. If he really believes in Nassib, you have to take him at No. 8. As for Geno, there is a really good chance he slides out of the top twenty.

QUESTION: Name your favorite player in this year’s draft class and explain why. 

Allen: Ezekiel Ansah, OLB, BYU. AKA, “Ziggy.” How can you not want a guy named Ziggy on your team. Also, I just think he is going to be a force in the NFL and could be the best player in this draft once the dust has settled.

Dyce:  Barrett Jones. I think this man is incredibly versatile. He has played all 5 positions along the offensive line at Alabama. Plus he isn’t afraid to shove his quarterback mid championship game. Bruce Matthews, NFL HOFer, also played all 5 positions on the line.

Hill: Marcus Lattimore is by far my favorite. Not that I think he’s the best prospect, but his story is one everyone can get behind. Even two years ago, if Lattimore suffers that injury he falls out of the draft. But thanks to medical advances, he’s going to be a third round pick and can very well be one of the best players taken in the draft. If Willis McGahee was able to make a career after his injury, Lattimore’s ceiling is just beyond insane.

Sanchez: Arthur Brown. There is little doubt in my mind that the Kansas State linebacker can end up being the best of his class. Brown may be a bit undersized and come with off-field baggage, but I truly believe that his football IQ and instincts set him up to be a star linebacker either on the inside or outside depending on scheme. I think he deserves to be a top 20 selection.

QUESTION: Who is the most overrated prospect?

Allen: I’d go with Lane Johnson. He seemed to shoot up boards after his combine workout. I still think he is a quality prospect but much linke Dontaro Poe last year, I think he will go much higher than he should.

Dyce: Tavon Austin I think is overrated. I know Wes Welker has everyone thinking that every 5’9″ receiver who is quick can be effective in the NFL but I’m not sold. His stats in 2012 (114 receptions and 1,289 yards with 12 touchdowns) certainly seems attractive. But he struggled against Big 12 competition with the exception of that crazy shoot out with Baylor. Against Kansas State he caught 6 passes for 34 yards. His ‘big’ games in conference came from the lower-tier teams like Kansas and Iowa State. Plus you have to wonder about his durability in the NFL.

Hill: This is a tie between Tavon Austin and Ryan Nassib for me. Both of these guys are overrated thanks to over-analysis and being overhyped. In Austin’s case, he possess all the skills to be elite, but nothing promises that will happen at the pro level. As for Nassib, I believe he’ll be a solid quarterback, but he’s a third round pick at best and people projecting him any higher than that aren’t doing his expectations any favors.

Sanchez: Cordarrelle Patterson. He has some talent, but I worry that he is a one-year wonder. Patterson’s breakout game came against David Amerson in the season-opener, and multiple people have told me Amerson was slowed by a hamstring injury. Patterson bombed the interview process with teams and he scored an 11 on the Wonderlic. I really doubt his ability to grasp an NFL offense and playbook.

QUESTION: Underrated?

Allen: Chance Warmack. It isn’t so much that he is underrated but that he will go later than he should because he plays guard. I think this is a misstep on the part of talent evaluators. This kid is going to be really, really good and will be able to step in and play at a high level from day one. He should probably be a top three pick.

Dyce: I’m sticking with Barrett Jones here. I’ve seen him graded out as a mid round pick, how is baffling to me. He has won 3 National Championships with Alabama, playing 3 different positions. Twice he was first team All-SEC, and twice he was a Unanimous All-American. Not to mention he won the Outland Trophy in 2011, which Luke Joeckel won this year. He doesn’t necessarily have the height to play tackle, but he can play anywhere along the interior of the line. Not to mention in the SEC Championship game he played the entire  game with a foot injury, and played so well his teammates didn’t know he was injured. He is also smart, graduating in December 2012 with a masters and a 4.0 GPA.

Hill: Again, a tie between E.J. Manuel and Darius Slay. Everyone is high on Geno Smith, but E.J. Manuel is the same guy can has less expectations surrounding him. The low pressure with Manuel means he’s got more room to succeed and will have more time to develop before people start asking questions. As for Slay, he’s one of the best cornerbacks in the draft and has the potential to be a real shutdown corner with the right defense.

Sanchez: Justin Pugh. Lane Johnson skyrocketed up draft board because of his athleticism, but Pugh brings the same special skill sets to his game. Pugh is also believed to be one of the most intelligent players in this year’s draft class. He a player that plays well on the outside and he has the versatility to bump in and play guard. With the early run on tackles expected, I would be comfortable taking this guy in the middle of round one before DJ Fluker. He’s going to be a stud.

QUESTION: What top ten player could slide out of the top ten that could surprise people?

Allen: Dee Milliner. I know he has some shoulder injuries and I think sometimes teams panic about that kind of thing.

Dyce: Dee Milliner is projected to go in the top 10, but I don’t see him going in the top 10 with the depth along the line both offensively and defensively. I think lineman and perhaps Geno Smith will dominate the top 10.

Hill: I don’t really see anyone falling out of the top 10 outside of Geno Smith. But depending on who you ask, he’s already out of the top 10 anyways so it’s a real tough thing to project. The draft is top heavy in that if someone slides, a team may trade into the top 10 to draft them, thus keeping them within the top ten. But in terms of epic falls, I can easily see Geno Smith taking an Aaron Rogers-esque fall this year.

Sanchez: There are two names that I believe could fall out of the top ten depending on how the top of the round goes — Dion Jordan and Chance Warmack. If Jordan doesn’t go to the Jaguars to play their LEO position at No. 2 overall, there is a real shot he can slide out of the top ten and make a team very happy. For Warmack, he doesn’t have the elite footwork and he doesn’t excel in pass protection. Don’t be shocked if Warmack falls out of the top 15.

QUESTION: Will the Jets/Giants fans boo or cheer their picks?

Allen: I’ve been to the draft twice. Those guys boo everything.

Dyce: You know they will boo. If the Jets manage to land Geno Smith, maybe they’ll cheer.

Hill: Jets fans have a one track mind, and if they draft anyone not named Geno Smith or Tavon Austin in the first round, it will get booed. Giants fans might be more mellow, but those fan bases are classic reasons as to why fans aren’t general managers as the popular pick isn’t always the right pick.

Sanchez: I think if the Jets go with an offensive playmaker like Tavon Austin or Tyler Eifert, then the crowd will applaud. If they decide on taking a guard or quarterback, the boo birds will come out. For the Giants, I think they will go with a player like Justin Pugh who the general public doesn’t respect as much as other prospects, so they will boo.

The draft is always a treat for NFL fans, so be sure that you tune in and see who the newest players to rock your favorite teams uniforms will be, and stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the draft for the latest news, rumors and analysis of every pick.