NFL Draft 2013: Teams That Have to Be Careful with Picks

With the first round of the 2013 NFL draft swiftly approaching on April 25, teams are continuing to develop their draft board. The pressure is on.

For some teams, the need to get it right with their first pick is critical. Perhaps they are trying to launch a new coaching regime, like the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, or they simply are at a crossroads in franchise history like the Oakland Raiders. 

The reasons they need to nail their choices in Radio City may be different, but the thing these teams have in common is they have to be extra careful at the draft this year. 

The Kansas City Chiefs hold the No. 1 pick in April’s draft. With new coach Andy Reid in town—he also holds control over football operations—who the Chiefs take first could define the new regime in Kansas City. 

The Chiefs might be better served by bringing in a proven veteran quarterback rather than drafting someone like West Virginia’s Geno Smith. They can then use the pick to fulfill another need. 

Instead of drafting a quarterback, why not draft Texas A & M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel? The 6’6” lineman is a massive 310 pounds and would immediately benefit the Kansas City offense. 

Just ask Texas A & M Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel what Joeckel can do. The Chiefs add a double-whammy to the offense by bringing in Joeckel and a veteran quarterback. 

The Oakland Raiders enter their second season under head coach Dennis Allen and pick third after finished 2012 at 4-12. The Raiders have a lot of needs, so identifying which is most important will be critical in the draft process.

If the Raiders are smart, they will select Texas A & M defensive end Damontre Moore to add some speed to their defense. Moore stands 6’4” and contributed 12.5 sacks last season to the Aggies defense.

Moore is the perfect piece to add to the Raiders and could step in immediately and keep opposing quarterbacks—who averaged 235.5 yards per game against Oakland last season—honest.

The Buffalo Bills enter 2013 with a new coach in Doug Marrone, who comes in from Syracuse. The Bills have the eighth pick in April’s draft and should be looking to take a quarterback with that pick. 

Buffalo would be wise to select Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib, who stands at 6’2” and 229 pounds. The team ranked 25th in the league last year with 204.3 passing yards per game, and needs to upgrade at the position. 

Not only is Marrone familiar with Nassib, but the quarterback threw for 26 touchdowns and 3,749 yards his senior year.

Regardless of where Buffalo would take Nassib—at the eighth pick or later on—the Bills need a quarterback, and the former Syracuse signal-caller should be their man.

All statistics are compiled from ESPN.