Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Adam Schefter says that the league and the NFL Players Association is close to a deal that will move the NFL Draft from the end of April to May. The changes to the league calendar will also include moving free agency before the NFL Scouting Combine. Here is Schefter’s report:

NFL and NFLPA are on verge of pushing back draft to May and moving up start of league year to before combine, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2013

NFL and NFLPA are close to enacting these calendar changes for the next three years.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2013

This is great news for NFL fans because it means there will be relevant NFL news coming out earlier than before, but it is bad for NFL Draft prospects because they will end up having more time under the microscope and facing criticism.

What do you think of the league’s decision to move up the start of the new league year and push back the draft? Sound off in the comments section and share your thoughts.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Tavon Austin is perhaps the hottest rookie to watch this season, partly because of the immense hype surrounding him heading into the draft this year. But while the St. Louis Rams traded up big to get him, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King says that the affection St. Louis felt for Austin wasn’t mutual around the league and indicates teams were “afraid” of Austin’s past.

King says that the reason teams may have been afraid to draft Austin stemmed from fears that people from his past would re-surface now that the receiver is an NFL star and could cause problems for a young guy still getting his footing in the working world.

There’s a reason more than one team was afraid of him entering draft weekend. Austin, from all accounts, avoided the pitfalls that have befallen lots of inner-city draftees over the years. But some around the league think acquaintances from Austin’s past (he is from one of the toughest neighborhoods in the country, in Baltimore) could follow him into the NFL.

This is a valid concern for NFL teams to have, as Austin wouldn’t be the first player corrupted by hanger ons coming back into his life to make things difficult. It’s a cliché everyone’s heard, as the saying goes a million dollars buys you a million new relatives as money — and large amounts of it — tend to bring out your third uncle twice removed who has a brilliant business model you need to investment in.

As King points out, this isn’t your typical case of this either, as Austin comes from a rough and tough Baltimore neighborhood. So take whatever cliché you have about a guy getting rich and multiply it by a hundred and add drugs and violence.

Austin doesn’t seem like he’s going to fall into the wrong crowd, but it’s a valid concern for teams to have. Hopefully for the Rams, who took a chance and won on drafting Janoris Jenkins, Austin stays on the right path and keeps the right people in his life.

November 25, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount (27) works out prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve had our fair share of trades this draft, but few have involved actual players already in the NFL. Chris Ivory was a running back from NFC South who was shipped to the AFC East, but he wasn’t the only one. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have shipped LeGarrette Blount to the New England Patriots in exchange for U.S. Olympian Jeff Demps.

Patriots trade for LeGarrette Blount.

— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) April 27, 2013

Send Demps and the 278th pick to Tampa

— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) April 27, 2013

Curran later changed the 278th pick (which doesn’t exist) to a general seventh rounder. But the move is essentially the Buccaneers getting a guy they targeted last offseason and missed out on after the Patriots gobbled him up. The Bucs were very high on Demps last season and eyed him as a guy who can return kicks for them and maybe play out of the backfield.

Doug Martin is the featured back, which is one reason Demps won’t be coming out of the backfield a lot and is the primary reason Blount is now in New England. The Blount trade continues a trend between the Buccaneers and Patriots where they swap stars for picks, as Aqib Talib was sent to New England prior to the trade deadline for pick.

One thing that might annoy Buccaneers fans is the fact that the team has been so bad the past few seasons, yet Bill Belichick and the elite Patriots keep sniping players from them. In New England, Blount will be a part of the rotation of running backs and will be a goal line back option for Belichick to turn to.

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While some teams are having good drafts, next to the San Francisco 49ers, the Arizona Cardinals are putting together perhaps the best draft this year. After taking Jonathan Cooper in the first round, Arizona grabbed some big pieces to boost their roster on both sides of the ball to make them better in 2013. Kevin Minter and Tyrann Mathieu will add power and youth to the defense, but Ryan Swope will add speed an danger to the Cardinals offense.

Swope made a name for himself while at Texas A&M last season, being a speedy, Wes Welker like target for Johnny Manziel. Swope has work to do, and don’t forget that he’s a sixth round draft pick, but his got the kind of upside that Cardinals fans can be really excited about.

Here’s a look at NFL.com’s scouting report on Swope:

After becoming a favorite target of Ryan Tannehill’s at A&M due to his ability to take advantage of broken plays, Swope continued his trend as one of the Aggies’ top receiving options in 2012. The former running back put up great numbers at the combine, including a 4.34 40-yard dash, but he does not consistently play at that speed. In fact, Swope’s quick footwork when breaking off routes is his best asset. A team looking for a slot option in the late second or third day could target the Texas A&M product, since that is where he posted his best work.

He’s being compared right now to Jordan Shipley but if he puts the work in, he can be a real dangerous threat for the Cardinals moving forward.

We don’t know who Robinson’s friend is, but he’s certainly made his mark on unsuspecting NFL fans who weren’t ready to see him pop up and photo bomb Robinson’s big moment.

Is it bad that I like Robinson’s selection more due to his friend?

While Robinson’s friend surprised us all by popping out of nowhere to bomb Robinson’s moment, it’s the former Michigan star that is looking to surprise NFL fans now, as he enters his NFL career with incredibly low expectations. The Jaguars drafted the former Wolverines quarterback as a wide receiver, and Robinson was best remembered for his leg work and speed rather than his arm.

So hopefully it’s a good fit for the Michigan product, but then again if a career in the NFL fails, he can alway get cheered up his his funny and clearly enthusiastic friend.

November 24, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley (7) before being introduced at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

When the NFL Draft kicked off two days ago, one of the questions everyone had on their minds was where three-time USC captain Matt Barkley would be drafted. Some thought he could be a first round talent given the sheer number of teams looking at a quarterback while others thought he would be a second round choice.

Turns out Matt Barkley was neither of these things as after completing three rounds of the NFL Draft, Barkley is still available and it would appears as though the need for a quarterback this year was grossly overestimated. This puts us in a situation where once top prospects are taking massive slides down the draft and in Barkley’s case it’s quickly becoming a case of if, not when someone will draft him.

Chances are that someone is going to pull the trigger and draft the Trojans’ product. His scouting report is pretty beak compared to where he should be at this point in his career, but there’s upside — just not as much as people thought. Plus, despite passing on a quarterback earlier in the draft or even if a team already has, the deeper we get into the late rounds of the draft the more value Barkley gets. After all, this is a three-time USC captain here, it’s not like we’re trying to draft Giovanni Caramazzi.

So who are some potential teams that could end up taking Barkley and what’s their motivation for doing so. Note that at a certain point in the draft, say the late-fifth round/early sixth,  Barkley begins to be a value pick for anyone in the draft and he’s not a guy that will go undrafted. Bill Belichick will make damn sure of that.

Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 98, 135, 169, 208)– The Jaguars again are the most likely team to select Matt Barkley, not only because they pick first on Saturday but because they need a quarterback. But this may be a situation we’re over-exaggerating, as management has been fine with passing on all the quarterback prospects so far including Geno Smith, who was a guy many people believed Jacksonville was in love with. Don’t be surprised at all to see the Jaguars pass on Barkley at the top of the fourth-round. Probability: 45%

Kansas City Chiefs (No. 99, 134, 170, 204, 207) – Here’s another team who has seen it’s quarterback situation grossly over-exaggerated. After trading for Alex Smith this offseason, the Chiefs seems content rolling into the season the way they are in terms of what’s going on at quarterback. Again, if Barkley falls into the fifth round, Kansas City might re-evaluate things, but don’t expect them to move around to try and draft Barkley. Probability: 25%

Buffalo Bills (No. 105, 143, 177, 222)– When the Bill selected E.J. Manuel, they did so thinking he can be a Robert Griffin III type of player for them. But what we might see is Buffalo double-dipping on quarterbacks, much like the Redskins did last season with both RGIII and Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins. However, while this is a good strategy, Doug Marrone will take Ryan Nassib before he takes Barkley so I’d bet on Barkley going to Buffalo only if Nassib is gone and at that point he may not even be worth it to them. Probability: 15%

Cleveland Browns (No. 111, 164, 175, 217, 227) – The Cleveland Browns apparently aren’t sold on Brandon Weeden leading the team into the future and Mike Lombardi wants a quarterback he feels comfortable with. Barkley is a guy that the Browns have passed on, but mainly because they don’t have many picks until the later rounds. Armed with five picks in the last four rounds, the Browns could very well take Barkley to be a quarterback project with Rob Chudzinski. Probability: 50%

Oakland Raiders (No. 100, 172, 176, 205, 209) – Oakland passed on Geno Smith, they didn’t take Barkley on the second day and they still could look at adding depth at quarterback. After trading Carson Palmer and acquiring Matt Flynn, the Raiders remain candidates to take the local kid Barkley. Flynn might not be too cool with having another new team of his draft a quarterback right after acquiring him, but Oakland needs depth and Barkley provides that. Plus, Oakland is crazy. Probability: 15%

Minnesota Vikings (No. 120, 155, 189, 213, 214) – You can see the trend here that teams looking to draft Barkley don’t need him in a pressing way. The Vikings are in the same boat as the Jaguars are in that they have a young quarterback they took in the first round of the draft a few years ago and may not be looking to add another one this year. But patience is wearing thin with Christian Ponder, and if Barkley slips to that 189th pick, the Vikings will consider him. That’s the perfect scenario all teams will be in as  once the fifth, and especially the sixth and seventh rounds roll around, Barkley becomes an instant value selection.

Sept 29, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Mike Glennon (8) throws a pass against the Miami Hurricanes at Sun Life Stadium. Miami won 44-37. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers raised some eyebrows with an interesting selection with their third round pick. After trading for Darrelle Revis and then drafting Johnthan Banks in the second round, the Buccaneers drafted North Carolina State quarterback Mike Glennon to come in and play behind Josh Freeman in Tampa.

Right away, Bucs writers and fans tried to defend the pick as one that isn’t going to challenge Josh Freeman as the starter in Tampa, rather it’s a move to challenge the backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky. But while that’s cute reasoning, you rarely draft a quarterback in the third round of the draft if you don’t have a slight intention of seeing if he can compete with the starter.

Russell Wilson was taken in the third round of last year’s draft by the Seattle Seahawks and ended up almost winning the Rookie of the Year award despite the fact that the Seahawks raised eyebrows by taking him as they had Matt Flynn under center at the time.

Obviously, Glennon is no Russell Wilson, but the comparison in this case is that just because a guy is penciled as the starter doesn’t mean things will stay that way.

At the end of the day, this is a power move by the Buccaneers to light a fire under Josh Freeman who struggled in each of the last two seasons. Greg Schiano isn’t sold on Freeman as the starter of the future, and to add to things Freeman is in a contract season with the Bucs. There have been no indication by the Buccaneers that they will engage in contract negotiations with Freeman.

Still, don’t read too far into the pick and draw the conclusion that this is the end of Freeman in Tampa. This isn’t the Jets taking Geno Smith, this is a head coach not sold on his quarterback drafting a guy to be the backup and potential successor. Remember that the Bucs tried to trade for Carson Palmer and tried to sign Matt Cassel this offseason, so while Glennon is an interesting pick, it’s not a sin against the franchise.

Jan 04, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas A

The New York Giants needed some defensive help and they got that very thing when they called out Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore with the 81st pick in the NFL Draft. Defensive end is a spot the Giants have been able to pride themselves on lately, but the guys they have are aging and fragile and in the case of Osi Umenyiora — gone.

But Moore is a guy that can come in and learn the ropes from those there, and while some think it’s the wrong city for Moore, it may end up being the right fit for both parties involved.

Moore took an epic tumble in the draft this season thanks to a very poor performance at the NFL Combine back in late February, early March. Before the combine, Moore was projected by those like Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay as being a first-round talent and even a top 5 talent by others. However he ended up running a slow 40-yard dash time at the combine in Indianapolis and didn’t bench nearly as many reps as teams would have liked.

That raised the question of whether he was just a weak defensive end or an unmotivated defensive end.

New York apparently think he’s neither and rather that Moore is motivated enough to be a third round pick and this may end up being a really great pick if Moore can get past the bad combine he had and grow into a role on the Giants defensive line.

October 27, 2012; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; California Golden Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (21) catches a touchdown pass during the second half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah defeated California 49-27. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Chargers are having one of the best drafts of all teams selecting this season, and they continued to stack themselves with talent by selecting massive wide receiver Keenan Allen from California. Allen was once projected to be a first round pick but fell into the third round after a PCL injury and a slow recovery caused some teams to drop him on their draft boards.

But even though he’s a third round pick, many believe Allen possesses first-round talent and the Chargers could very well be getting a real steal by getting him where they did.

Mike McCoy has made it his business to improve the offense in his first season, and that shows in the selections of D.J. Fluker in the first round to protect Philip Rivers and the selection of Allen in the third round for Rivers to throw to. Allen will be a deep threat who can give Rivers a Vincent Jackson type of target that he’s been missing since Jackson left before last season.

Allen has injury issues and those will need to be cleared up before he can move forward with his NFL career. But if those knees heal and Allen returns to full-health for the Chargers, this could end up being one of the stronger drafts put together by San Diego in some time.

Dec 3, 2011; Atlanta, GA, USA; LSU Tigers cornerback Tyrann Mathieu (7) prior to kickoff of a game against the Georgia Bulldogs during the 2011 SEC championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most watched story-lines in the NFL Draft was what would happen to Tyrann Mathieu and where would he eventually go? We all knew he’d get picked eventually, but his draft party erupted when the Arizona Cardinals announced that they were selecting him 69th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft on Friday night.

It’s honestly a perfect fit for Mathieu, a guy who has been one of the most talked about prospects in the draft. But while most guys are talked about due to their skills, Mathieu’s been talked about thanks to his off-field issues. Mathieu was kicked off of the LSU Tigers back in August after failing numerous drug tests and many thought that he may never be able to rebound.

But Mathieu managed to redeem himself and while most teams took him off their draft boards, he ended up being the third round pick he was projected as being.

Arizona is an ideal landing spot for the troubled Mathieu, as he’ll be surrounded by stand-up role models and a slew of friends. Mathieu dated the step-daugther of Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and will be rejoining former LSU teammate Patrick Peterson who will be able to provide Mathieu with a much needed straight-edge friend in Arizona.

There is also the matter of Bruce Arians and Larry Fitzgerald, who are now the leaders of this new Cardinals era and are the perfect people to keep Mathieu in line.

Now that he has an NFL team, and finds himself in a position to defend against Percy Harvin and Tavon Austin twice a season, the question is will this support system in Arizona be able to keep Mathieu on the right path?

Jan 01, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Johnthan Banks (13) warms up before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats in the Gator Bowl at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded their first round pick to acquire Darrelle Revis but that didn’t stop them from getting the guy that they were targeting in the draft. After months of seeing Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks mocked to them i the first round the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pulled the trigger on drafting Banks in the second round.

Banks is a big, physical cornerback that can step in and start right away. He’ll line up along side Revis in the Buccaneers secondary and will attempt to drag the Bucs out of the bottom of the league when it comes to pass defense.

In selecting Banks, the Buccaneers continued to have what is becoming the best draft this year, which is interesting to say considering they were absent a first-round choice. Essentially, the Buccaneers took Revis with the 13th overall pick since that’s what they swapped to get him. Eric Wright is still on roster but he’s expected to take a backseat to what the Bucs have going on right now.

Still, the Buccaneers could realistically go from having the worst secondary in the NFL to one of the best in a matter of an offseason. But what really has to be admired here is the fact that the Buccaneers yet again had a target fall to them under the Mark Dominik era. Back in 2010, the Buccaneers watched as defensive end Da’Quan Bowers dropped to them in the second round and now Banks has fallen to them as well in 2013.

It will be interesting to see if Banks develops the way the Bucs want him to, but if you’re in Tampa tonight you have to be stoked about what’s going on with your football team.

Instead, he watched, and watched, and watched as pick after pick was made with Smith still sitting in the green room. By the end of the

Dec 29, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Geno Smith (12) prepares to pass the ball during the second quarter against the Syracuse Orange at the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Syracuse defeated West Virginia 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

night, his name hadn’t been called, and he left Radio City Music Hall in New York without a team to call his own. The realization that he wasn’t a first round draft pick hit as he left to go home and be with his family for the rest of the draft, refusing to do any on-camera interviews before leaving.

But Smith’s, albeit small, loss could very well be a major gain for the team that holds the first pick on day two of the draft.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have the first pick of the second round on Friday night. In round one, the Jaguars drafted Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel to sure up their offensive line.  Now, they could get a new tool to put behind the man who many viewed as the top offensive lineman in this year’s class.

New Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley has said on more than one occasion that there is an open competition for the team’s starting quarterback position. He is not sold on Blaine Gabbert or Chad Henne based on their past play before Bradley arrived.  With new ownership, a new front office, and a new coaching staff, the Jaguars may want to add their own guy to the competition. And with Smith still available, this is the perfect opportunity to add a guy that could lead them to victories on Sundays.

Smith would give Jacksonville a QB who could  benefit from sitting for a year behind a veteran like Henne, but could also be put right into the starting spot on day one and succeed. Especially with the weapons he would have around him.

Smith had Tavon Austin as his primary threat at West Virginia. In Jacksonville, Smith would have Cecil Shorts III, Marcedes Lewis, 2012 first round pick Justin Blackmon, and, of course, Maurice Jones-Drew around him. Talk about a good situation to fall in to.

The combination of Smith to Blackmon would have the potential to become a top QB/WR pairing in the AFC and, possibly, the NFL in a few seasons. It’s a big-play fan’s dream to have dynamic weapons like that on offense, and a QB like Smith could be the final puzzle piece that pulls it all together for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2007.

Smith may not be a first round pick like many, including himself, expected, but him falling the way he has could make him even more dangerous once he steps on the field. He will be looking to prove something to every team, including the team that picks him, that passed over him the first time around. It could result in him being an even better player in the NFL.

Hang in there Geno, “good things come to those who wait” -Paul Tagliabue

— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) April 26, 2013

Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduces wide receiver Tavon Austin (West Virginia) as the eighth overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Tavon Austin was a guy that everyone knew would shake up the NFL Draft. The St. Louis Rams were the team that ultimately traded up and selected him and as a result they sent waves through the draft the caused numerous players to fall. But right now, Tavon Austin is only concerned with one group of players, his new teammates.

When asked what it meant to have a team trade up to select him, Austin admitted that he was touched that the Rams wanted him so bad.

“It means a lot,” Austin said. “It means they wanted me. It paid off for me going all the way to them and doing my visit and put me on the board and met all the staff. And they came back to watch me work. So I kind of had a feeling they really ha a lot of interest in me.”

Austin was the prize of the Rams draft and they traded up from the 16th overall spot to grab him at 8th overall. The Buffalo Bills ended up trading back and taking the Rams 16th pick and took a quarterback. But the quarterback they took wasn’t Austin’s teammate from West Virginia, rather the Bills took Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel over Geno Smith.

“It’s really strange,” Austin said when he was asked about being the only skill player picked mid-way through the draft. “Hopefully, more skill positions come — Geno– and if they don’t, I hope the spirits stay high and wherever they end up at, they keep pushing.”

But Austin’s focus is not os much on Geno Smith as it is on Sam Bradford and the Rams offense. Austin said that he hopes Bradford is in St. Louis when he flies out to his new hometown on Friday. Austin also mentioned that he spent a fair share of his time watching Barry Sanders and Marshall Faulk in his childhood and hopes he can bring that dynamic to this Rams team.

“We’re not the same weight but we’re almost the same height,” Austin said of Marshall Faulk, who played a Hall of Fame career on the very turf Austin will play his games on. “If he was able to get it done, I’ll be able to get it done.”

Bold words for the Rams newest offensive weapon, but Tavon Austin looks to be a game changer and the Rams are in a good position to benefit greatly from what he has to offer.

Dec 27, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Travis Frederick at press conference for the 2013 Rose Bowl at the L.A. Hotel Downtown. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

There were some names names that were expected to fall and other were expected to rise. One unexpected name that was called in the first round was Wisconsin offensive tackle Travis Frederick, a guy almost no one had mocked in the first round of the draft. But Jerry Jones lives to surprise — or frustrate based on who you are– and taking Frederick will no doubt get the Cowboys talked about.

The only question is will anyone have anything good to say about it.

You have to sort of credit Jones for being ambitious, as he knows the only way he can save face on giving that massive contract extension to Tony Romo is to draft him some protection. Romo and Cowboys fans would have liked a bigger name, but Frederick was on an offensive line that went to the Rose Bowl and he did block for Russell Wilson when he played for the Badgers.

Romo needs a center and Frederick is a guy that could end up being a great pick. But Cowboys fans want answers and want to feel good about their team and not only did Jerry Jones draft an offensive lineman, he drafted one that no one was looking at.

The NFL Draft is just getting started, so be sure to stay tuned to FanSided all weekend long to get the most up to date info on everything that happens at Radio City Music Hall.

Nov 10, 2012; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) scores a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings had two first round picks to play with, but that apparently wasn’t enough for them to be satisfied. In a late trade, the Vikings moved back into the first round by way of the New England Patriots who had a desire to trade out of the first round and continue to compile picks in the draft.

Minnesota traded four picks to get back into the first round, and they used the move to select

Now that the Vikings have selected Cordarrelle, they have pulled off the trifecta in the first round. They were able to grab Sharrif Floyd who fell to them at 23rd overall and they stole Xavier Rhodes who was gifted to them at 25th overall. Seeing that this was clearly an unforeseen scenario, the Vikings decided to go big and get back into the first round to stack themselves with first round talent in an effort to return themselves to glory.

Minnesota wasn’t supposed to go anywhere last season, and their season ended in the Wild Card round of the NFC playoffs. Seeing that the team clearly has the ability to win now, general manager Rick Spielman decided to fix the wide receiver problem and grabbed Patterson to replace Percy Harvin and to learn from Greg Jennings how to be a No. 1 target in the future.

The only question is if Cordarrelle Patterson will be ready to start week one and if he’ll be able to provide the relief Vikings fans have been so desperate for at wide receiver.

The NFL Draft is just getting started, so be sure to stay tuned to FanSided all weekend long to get the most up to date info on everything that happens at Radio City Music Hall.

Oct 6, 2012; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (6) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

In 2012, the Houston Texans suffered a devastating fall from grace and despite starting the season off with an absolute bang, they dropped the ball and fell hard in the playoffs. After posting another unimpressive early exit from the playoffs, the Texans recognize that they need to make some changes on both sides of the ball to fill holes and needs.

The reason the Texans have been so good is they’ve drafted very well in recent years, so the track history to draft well this season is there. THe only question is what hole would they plug with the 27th overall pick?

Turns out they decided that Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was the answer to the question: what can fix this Texans offense?

Hopkins is regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the draft, but no one thought he’d be the second receiver off the board. Hopkins drew some unwanted criticism when his name was floated as one of the players who trashed a hotel room at the combine. But Hopkins denied the story and it clearly did little to hurt his draft stock.

For the first time in his career, Andre Johnson now has a tall, dangerous deep threat to compliment him which could make him more effective than ever. The pick is also a direct call to Matt Schaub to step up, as the quarterback now has few excuses as to why he’s not producing on a high level.

The NFL Draft is just getting started, so be sure to stay tuned to FanSided all weekend long to get the most up to date info on everything that happens at Radio City Music Hall.

Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings were rumored to be interested in Manti Te’o, but that interest never developed into a draft pick. With Te’o on the board as they made their second selection of the first round, the Vikings opted for another guy that took a slide in the draft, cornerback Xavier Rhodes from Florida State.

One of the areas the Vikings needed to upgrade was in their secondary, and by grabbing Rhodes they grab one of the best cornerbacks in the draft. Minnesota lost Antoine Winfield in the offseason and have no cornerback relief after that. Rhodes was a guy who was originally projected to go in the top 15 of the draft but much like the selection of Floyd, Rhodes tumbled thanks to a flurry of activity in the top half of the draft.

Rhodes is a guy the Vikings used as a model when looking at cornerbacks in the draft, and now they get the very man they were seeking. The Vikings were expected to take a wide receiver with one of their picks but they opted to shore up some major holes on defense and they’re going to be better off for it. By doubling up on defense the Vikings are showing a commitment to the aging veterans keeping the unit afloat.

The NFL Draft is just getting started, so be sure to stay tuned to FanSided all weekend long to get the most up to date info on everything that happens at Radio City Music Hall.

Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Kenny Vaccaro (Texas) is introduced as the number fifteen overall pick to the New Orleans Saints during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints drafted Texas Safety Kenny Vaccaro with the fifteenth pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The Saints needed help on the defensive side of the ball, especially at safety.

Coming from the University of Texas that is known for producing NFL safeties, Vaccaro is the best safety in this year’s draft.

Vaccaro fits well in the Saints’ new system and covers the deep ball well. He will be a great fit playing next to Malcolm Jenkins.

Draft Grade: B+

November 17, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd (73) gets ready to rush against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 23-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings got rid of Percy Harvin to acquire a second first round pick, but what that does is allow the Vikings to strategize what they do. Everyone knows the Vikings need to go defense and get help there but the most glaring need was at wide receiver and it was largely believed that the Minnesota would go with a wide receiver with one of their picks, but it was a mystery as to which pick they’d use to improve the position.

But while Manti Te’o was an option at this pick, the Vikings were gifted with a steal when Sharrif Floyd slid all the way out of the top 10 into the 20s. Floyd was at one point projected to be a top 5 pick, with some mocking him as the third overall pick in the draft. But thanks to the whirlwind of trades and activity in the top half of the draft, Floyd fell victim to the draft slide and took a tumble.

But the Vikings need a defensive tackle and Floyd was an absolute gift at 23rd overall. Minnesota could have gone a lot of ways with the pick but they ultimately went with Floyd which was the right move.

Now the Vikings can focus on shoring up either their linebacking corps or take a wide receiver like Cordarrelle Patterson who has also taken a tumble in the draft.

November 24, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Tyler Eifert (80) runs the ball against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

After two straight seasons of wild card berths, the Cincinnati Bengals are poised to make a run at the AFC North divisional title. That run began on Thursday night with the Bengals pick of tight end Tyler Eifert out of Notre Dame with the 21st overall selection.

Eifert is the all-time leader in receptions for a tight end with 140 career catches. He is sixth in school history in catches.

The pick gives the Bengals yet another offensive weapon for Andy Dalton. They will now be able to run a two tight end set with Eifert and Jermaine Gresham which should give Dalton a lot of short-to-medium targets which suits his skill set.

Of course the biggest beneficiary of this pick will be star receiver A.J. Green. Having Eifert is the fold will keep Green single covered which is a blessing for him and the Bengals. One-on-one, there are very few, if any, cornerbacks that can cover Green. The Bengals just got a lot better on the offensive side of the ball without having to trade up to do so.

A player they coveted fell into their laps, and Bengals fans should be ecstatic for what the future holds for this team on the field.

GRADE: A+

Feb 22, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off of another playoff season, and that’s nothing short of incredible. But there are still holes to fill on the team and they think they filled one by selecting Tyler Eifert with the 21st overall pick.

This might comes as a surprise for those who know the Bengals have Jermaine Grisham at tight end, but the Bengals know that the NFL is a changing league and tight ends aren’t what they used to be. Andy Dalton now has an offense where he can throw to either A.J. Green, Jermaine Grisham or now Tyler Eifert in addition to whatever running game the Bengals throw out there.

Cincinnati is a really good team and people are starting to notice that. But they have holes to fill and Eifert may be a head scratcher on the surface but it shows the tea is ready to move in a more aggressive fashion on offense and Andy Dalton is primed to have a breakthrough season in 2013 witht he weapons he now has to chose from.

The NFL Draft is just getting started, so be sure to stay tuned to FanSided all weekend long to get the most up to date info on everything that happens at Radio City Music Hall.

Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Syracuse offensive lineman Justin Pugh speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The draft started with the potential to see a run on offensive lineman and that’s exactly what’s happened. After six of the top 11 picks were spent on offensive lineman, the New York Giants decided to get in on the fun and draft Justin Pugh 19th overall to help protect Eli Manning and shore up an offensive line that needs help.

Pugh was a Doug Marrone product at Syracuse and comes from a system some think might translate to an NFL stage pretty well. Eli Manning needs protection and the Giants recognized that.

By drafting Pugh, the Giants not only give Manning some protection, but they’re drafting a home-state kid to help lead an offensive line that needs t step up it’s run blocking as well. But there are concerns about Pugh, as he has shorter arms than you’d like for an offensive lineman but it’s yet to be seen if that will be an issue.

Still, Ryan Nassib is getting a lot of hype in draft circles thanks in large part to Pugh’s protection. Can that translate to help for Eli Manning? We will definitely see.

The NFL Draft is just getting started, so be sure to stay tuned to FanSided all weekend long to get the most up to date info on everything that happens at Radio City Music Hall.

Jan 1, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback EJ Manuel (3) passes in the second quarter of the game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at the 2013 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix stated on more than one occasion that he wanted to trade out of the top ten. As the picks rolled in, the Bills were able to find a partner in the form of the St. Louis Rams.

Buffalo sent it’s 8th and 71st overall picks to the Rams for 16, 46, 78, and 222. The Rams used the 8th pick to draft WR Tayvon Austin of West Virginia while the Bills got more time to figure out their draft plans.

When the time came, Buffalo found itself with a chance to take any of the top quarterbacks available. And being the position that many expected the team to address with its first round pick, it seemed to be a forgone conclusion that that would in fact be the pick. And that’s exactly what happened.

With the 16th overall pick, Buffalo wasted no time selecting E.J. Manuel out of Florida St. With every QB still on the board, it comes as a surprise that Manuel became the first QB off the board.

The Bills were able to trade back in the first, add more picks, and get their, hopeful, QB of the future. Bills fans, while not ecstatic about the selection, have to be happy that they didn’t draft Manuel at 8. He gives the Bills a solid QB that should lineup under center on opening day against New England.

Now begins his acclimation to cold weather in Buffalo.

GRADE: B+

Feb 23, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jarvis Jones speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the least talked about teams in NFL Draft rumors because they really don’t need any flashy players. They weren’t looking to move and they weren’t looking to make a pick to sell tickets. Rather the Steelers make draft picks to win games and that’s exactly why they drafted jarvis Jones with the 17th overall pick in the draft.

Pittsburgh needs to get younger on defense and needs to start drafting for the future. The defense of old is getting exactly that — old. James Harrison is gone, guys like Troy Polomalu are aging and Mike Tomlin needs young guys to come in, step up and learn the ropes from the veterans currently leading the team. Jones comes out of Georgia so he’s an SEC product that can transition nicely to the NFL style of play.

There were some concerns about Jones’ health but those red flags have been cleared and the Steelers seem content with drafting him.

Jones will likely come right in and start out of the gate, which was expected when the Steelers were rumored to be interested in him. This is another pick that makes loads of sense, and while it’s not a flashy pick its one that will help the Steelers win in the long term and nothing sells tickets like that.

The NFL Draft is just getting started, so be sure to stay tuned to FanSided all weekend long to get the most up to date info on everything that happens at Radio City Music Hall. 

November 3, 2012; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Tavon Austin (1) runs after a pass reception to score a fourth three yard touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs during the second quarter at Milan Puskar Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Rams moved up to the eight spot in the draft to get their prized possession, Tavon Austin. The Buffalo Bills traded out of the eighth spot after being rumored to select Doug Marrone’s quarterback at Syracuse, Ryan Nassib. Nassib is viewed as a second-round pick at best by most NFL teams so this move makes sense for both teams. Buffalo may be able to get Doug Marrone’s guy later on while picking up some additional picks.

Austin has been dubbed by many the best prospect in the draft. With a 4.34 second 40-yard dash, the wide-out from West Virginia is extremely explosive. His size isn’t prototypical for a wide-receiver at just 5’8″, but he is the perfect replacement for Danny Amendola in the slot.

There aren’t may flaws to Austin’s game. His size may draw some concern, but in a league where receivers are protected to the fullest extent, it may not have any effect. Austin will add a big-time target for Sam Bradford.

Draft Grade: A+