The first two selections of the 2013 NFL draft played out how many projected, with offensive tackles going first and second. Once Kansas City selected Eric Fisher and Jacksonville grabbed Luke Joeckel second overall, the NFL draft took the unexpected development that's been projected for months. Call it the first whoa, moment of the evening. The Miami Dolphins traded their No. 12 and No. 42 (second round) picks for Oakland's No. 3 overall selection. With the entire NFL community expecting offensive tackle Lane Johnson, the Dolphins grabbed Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan; a selection that shocked the ESPN and NFL Network panels.
And while the reaction wore off from the Jordan selection, the Philadelphia Eagles selected offensive tackle Lane Johnson.
Three offensive tackles within the first four selections is a glorious sight to the old school football traditionalists. Quarterbacks. Skill players. Nope. Big uglies, baby. We'll completely ignore the point that offensive tackles were highly graded among the top prospects. The Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns went defensive ends with BYU's Ziggy Ansah and LSU's Barkevious Mingo, while the Arizona Cardinals addressed the interior offensive line with North Carolina's Jonathan Cooper.
That's seven straight linemen on offense and defense.
Eventually the Buffalo Bills traded their first-round selection with the St. Louis Rams, breaking the impressive streak of linemen dominating the early selections of the 2013 NFL draft. St. Louis, who had become obsessed with Tavon Austin, selected the West Virginia wide receiver No. 8 overall. The trade:
Bills Received | Rams Received | ||
Overall | Round | Overall | Round |
No. 16 | First | No. 8 (Tavon Austin) | First |
No. 46 | Second | No. 71 | Third |
No. 78 | Third | ||
No. 222 | Seventh |
Trading Darrelle Revis, the New York Jets needed cornerback help, selecting Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner. The Tennessee Titans naturally concluded the top-ten with Alabama guard Chance Warmarck.
THANK GOD
— Chris Johnson (@ChrisJohnson28) April 26, 2013
Top-Ten: Three offensive linemen, two offensive guards, three defensive ends, wide receiver and cornerback.