Matt Miller's 2013 NFL Draft Big Board

The fullback position may be a lost art, but the evolution of NFL offenses to include more zone-read and more versatile formations has been good for big, blocking backs who can also run the ball.

Only five players carry a draftable grade at the position this year, but those five are all talented enough to be dual threats at the next level.

The tight end position has been undergoing a change over the past few seasons. Teams now want athletes who are more dangerous as receivers than blockers—but that doesn't mean blocking isn't necessary. 

Teams using two tight ends want a blocker and a receiver, putting more pressure on college prospects to learn both. This year's crop brings size and strength to the NFL, as guys like Tyler Eifert, Zach Ertz and Travis Kelce offer size, strength and hands down the field.

The best offensive tackle of my 11 years scouting will make his way to the NFL courtesy of the 2013 NFL draft. Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel is as elite of a prospect as you'll find at the position, and his athleticism comes just in time for the spread offense's takeover of the NFL.

Outside of Joeckel this is still a strong class, even with Taylor Lewan and Jake Matthews headed back to school for their senior seasons. Eric Fisher is a top-level athlete who can finish blocks and hold his own on the edge. Justin Pugh and Lane Johnson are intriguing options in their own right as future blindside protectors.

Chance Warmack of Alabama is one of the best guards you'll find coming out of college football in the last decade, and he highlights a strong class of interior offensive linemen in the 2013 class.

Warmack isn't the only guard to come with high praise. Jonathan Cooper and Larry Warford both project as starters in their first season.

A weak class of centers gets bolstered by Alabama's Barrett Jones moving from his All-American spot at guard to the middle of the offensive line, as well as an underclassman entry from Travis Frederick. Now there are two centers worthy of the top two rounds and a group behind them fighting for recognition.

The 2013 defensive end class features a staggering amount of talent—two of our top three players—and a who's who list from college football's marquee defensive position.

Bjoern Werner and Damontre Moore figure to hear their names called very early in Round 1, but this group is more than just top-heavy. In every round there's an athlete or prospect worth banking on for a bright future, be it in year one or later on as a developmental find.

A defensive end in a 3-4 scheme must be big enough to handle blockers one-on-one with the strength to stop the run while coming off blocks. That's not an easy combination to find, but the 2013 class has a loaded roster of college players ready to contribute as 5-technique ends in the NFL.

The deepest position in the 2013 draft class is defensive tackle. With as many as six players carrying Round 1 grades, look for the interior defensive linemen to go early and often once the picks start flying.

A defensive tackle in today's game must be more than a pass-rusher, but that requirement is still first and foremost on the mind of every scout. Where is the next Geno Atkins? He might be here.

Finding a nose tackle isn't as easy as picking the biggest kid and slamming a helmet on him. A great nose tackle must not only be able to push the center back into the quarterback, but he has to be quick enough to generate burst and penetrate the offensive line while keeping his wits about him to stop any inside run plays.

The 2013 class has a good group of players with size, speed and vision. Teams running a 3-4 defense will be happy.

The most impressive, most talented position in the 2013 NFL draft class is at 3-4 outside linebacker. Combine the athletic freaks playing defensive end in college with those linebackers already being asked to rush the quarterback, and you have a class that's ready to take the NFL by storm.

While Manti Te'o will steal the spotlight, Arthur Brown, Alec Ogletree and Kevin Minter are all first-round-quality linebackers with the talent to play early on Sundays. Brown and Ogletree are both athletic enough to slide outside if needed, while Minter has the size and strength to be a lockdown defender in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.

The cornerback position continues to see its value rise thanks to new rules that are making the passing game a bigger part of the NFL. Now the pressure is on general managers to find shutdown cornerbacks to combat today's spread offenses.

The 2013 class is good, but not great. While Dee Milliner has top-10 potential, the middle of the first round will either be empty of cornerbacks or featuring teams reaching to fill a position that has major boom-or-bust potential.

Free safeties come in all shapes and sizes, and the 2013 class offers versatility for the different needs of individual schemes.

Kenny Vaccaro comes in as our top-ranked safety due to his ability to play either free or strong safety, but also because of his experience playing slot cornerback. Vaccaro's versatility, and his high level of play at all three positions, makes him the top player available at the position.

While no strong safety prospect ranks as a first-round prospect in 2013, there is plenty of quality here in the form of hard-hitting, rangy players who can make early impacts.

Johnathan Cyprien left his mark all over the Senior Bowl, especially those receivers and tight ends who dared enter his space on the field. Cyprien is our top strong safety and a potential top-20 pick.

KICKERS

There is no Greg Zuerlein in this year's class, but Florida State kicker Dustin Hopkins is worthy of a draft pick. After seeing a strong rookie class kicking in 2012, this year's crop of draftable kickers should see a boost in their stock.

PUNTERS

LSU's Brad Wing enters the offseason with high stock for a punter, but off-field concerns could push one of the more exciting punting prospects in a long time down the board.