NFL Draft 2013: Players Likely to Go on Day 2

The first day of the 2013 NFL draft played host to some seriously wild developments, and the league landscape has definitely been shaken up even in the first 32 picks.

Having said that, there is still plenty of territory to navigate before the draft is over, and Day 2 at Radio City Music Hall will harbor the second and third rounds. This will prove extremely vital, as valuable gems will be swooped up and far more signal-callers will go off the board.

Let's take a look at some of the most notable players who will have their names called on Friday as the draft action continues in New York City.

Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame

The Minnesota Vikings had a chance to grab Te'o at No. 29 with their third first-rounder on Thursday evening, but decided to take a flier on gifted WR Cordarrelle Patterson instead.

Hope was still around when the Baltimore Ravens had the final pick of Round 1, yet they went with Florida safety Matt Elam.

Now Te'o finds himself dropped from the top 32 despite being the All-American key cog in what was one of college football's most dominant defensive units.

Given the reported interest that could have had him landing in the first round, though, don't expect Te'o to be on the board for long on Friday.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Vikings and Chicago Bears at least had some intention to acquire the Fighting Irish star:

"

The #Vikings and #Bears love Manti Te'o. If Minnesota wants to grab him, they'll need to jump up over Chicago. That's what they plan to do

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2013"

With his nose for the football and knack for snagging interceptions, teams should set aside the poor game tape from the national championship. As long as the infamous hoax isn't a factor, any team near the top of the second round would be rewarded with great value in choosing Te'o.

Geno Smith QB, West Virginia

The Buffalo Bills shocked the world by selecting EJ Manuel at No. 16 overall, and he wound up being the only signal-caller to be taken off the board in Round 1—much to the chagrin of Smith.

Many experts had Smith as the highest-rating quarterback, but it didn't result in first-round status. That should only fuel Smith's fire even more—and he shouldn't remain unemployed by the NFL for much longer.

Given the outstanding senior season Smith had in Morgantown, his work ethic and strong athleticism (4.59 40-yard dash speed), there is plenty of upside for teams to capitalize on.

Smith has the ability to be a game-changer for a struggling franchise, and he will have an even more gigantic chip on his shoulder after Thursday's disappointment of not hearing his name called. ESPN illustrated that point well:

"

Geno Smith is going to play in the NFL with a family size bag of chips on his shoulder.

— ESPN (@espn) April 26, 2013"

This is a down year for quarterbacks in general, which hurt Smith's stock from the start. Don't be surprised if he uses this as motivation to drive him to NFL success.

Keenan Allen, WR, California

A red-flagged drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine must have been enough for teams to pass on Allen in the first round—despite his label as the top receiver prospect by some evaluators.

Allen lacks top-end speed, but his precise route running and ability to create separation on the outside and in the slot makes him an attractive pro prospect.

B/R's resident draft guru Matt Miller nicely summarized the trials and tribulations Allen has endured leading up to the draft:

"

Keenan Allen has slow recovery from PCL injury, runs poor 40-yard time and reportedly is red flagged for drug test. Sinking like the Titanic

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 16, 2013"

That certainly makes things difficult for Allen in convincing pro teams to take a chance on him, but his talent and status as such a finished product will likely be too enticing to pass on beyond the first half of the second round.

Matt Barkley, QB, Southern California

Look for the Jacksonville Jaguars to take a swing at Barkley with the first pick in the second round. 2011 No. 10 overall pick Blaine Gabbert simply hasn't cut it in the pros, and Chad Henne is far too inconsistent to be trusted as a surefire franchise quarterback.

Barkley may not be the most physically gifted quarterback in this class, but he knows how to lead, and has plenty of tangible game experience as a four-year starter at USC.

The Jaguars' supporting cast is actually stellar, consisting of last year's top choice Justin Blackmon on the outside alongside dangerous WR Cecil Shorts III and athletic tight end Marcedes Lewis.

With Luke Joeckel fortifying the offensive line, superstar running back Maurice Jones-Drew returning from injury and a defensive-minded head coach in Gus Bradley to help that side of the ball, the situation in Jacksonville suddenly doesn't seem so bad for Barkley.

If the Trojans' all-time passing leader doesn't go to the Jags, don't expect him to fall much further.

Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA

An incredible journey has seen Franklin rise from No. 7 on the Bruins' running back depth chart as a freshman to possibly the second running back taken in this year's draft.

Franklin ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.5 seconds, and produced a phenomenal senior campaign in which he ran for over 1,700 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also displayed an unprecedented ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, nabbing 33 receptions for 323 yards and two more scores.

The knack that Franklin has to square his shoulders, stay low to the ground at 5'10" and make decisive cuts should allow him to thrive immediately.

B/R's NFL draft expert Matt Miller is high on Franklin, naming him the top prospect in the class over Alabama's Eddie Lacy:

"

Two rankings where I think I differ: Tank Carradine as top DE and Johnathan Franklin as top RB.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 22, 2013"

Running back is an increasingly risky position to spend a valuable pick on, but there is a strong chance that Franklin could be a breakout running back—and possibly the best from this class.

John Cyprien, S, Florida International

Cyprien hails from a small school, but he is a big hitter. His 93 tackles as a senior show his willingness to lay down a lick, and he also broke up five passes and had four interceptions (h/t NFL.com).

Coming from a lesser known FIU program also didn't prevent Cyprien from developing into a physical specimen. At 6'0" and 217 pounds, the sure-tackling safety is sure to wreak havoc in the box at the next level.

It may take a while in the second round for Cyprien to come off the board, but if he lands in the proper situation and gets coached up adequately, he has a chance to be a perennial Pro Bowler.

The key for him is to be more decisive in committing to receivers in coverage. His aggressive style lends to making big plays—but also yielding them, unfortunately.

A better understanding of schematics should come thanks to his strong work ethic, which will help Cyprien approach his immense potential sooner rather than later.

Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse

The Buffalo Bills sit at No. 41 overall, and it would be a logical fit if Nassib could be reunited with his college head coach Doug Marrone.

Nassib is a polarizing prospect who is considered the best signal-caller in the class by some, and by others as nowhere near a franchise savior under center.

Whatever the situation, if Buffalo could provide at least some formidable competition for Kevin Kolb with a rookie playing in a familiar offense, it could only help the team's chances of being a factor in the AFC East this season.

Other teams should also be interested in Nassib, though, particularly the New York Jets, who are reportedly interested in acquiring the ex-Orange standout.

That would create an interesting stir in the Big Apple, with perennial incumbent Mark Sanchez having to battle him, David Garrard, Greg McElroy and possibly still Tim Tebow.

Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

It's simply incredible that Lattimore has been able to recover at the rate he has from a torn ACL, LCL and PCL—especially after suffering a devastating knee injury just a season ago.

When he was on the field for the Gamecocks, though, there was no questioning how special Lattimore was. A powerful back with great speed and a nose for the end zone, Lattimore likely would have been the top back chosen if not for the unfortunate injuries.

Robert Klemko of USA Today reports that Lattimore is projected to go anywhere between the second and fifth rounds, and Lattimore is even preparing for the possibility of going undrafted.

Don't count on that, though. Dr. James Andrews and Lattimore both agree that the running back will be ready to hit the gridiron once again by the time Week 1 rolls around.

It seems like a bad idea to doubt Lattimore, and if he's sitting there on Day 2 for a running back-strapped franchise, it should make the investment.

Margus Hunt, DE, SMU

It's hard to imagine Hunt falling out of the second day, and he should go extremely early given his upside.

Hunt put up 38 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press and ran a 4.6 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. What makes him so special is the fact that he's 6'8" and 277 pounds, which should allow him to be effective immediately as a bull-rusher alone.

When he can add some polish to his game, there is little doubt that Hunt could emerge as one of the league's most dominant defenders. It just depends on whether he becomes an interior anchor, a five-technique defensive end or a standup 3-4 linebacker as an edge-rusher.

With the uncanny ability to block kicks, Hunt will be a factor on special teams at the very least in his maiden NFL campaign.

If he can learn quickly enough, he should be a nightmare to handle for opposing offensive lines—especially if he is initially brought in as a third-down specialist.

Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech

The first-team All-WAC selection won't woo many with his physical attributes. After all, he only put up eight reps of 225 on the bench at the combine—a far cry from Margus Hunt territory.

Patton simply gets it done, though, and has a great ability to accelerate to top speed, run crisp routes and catch the ball with his hands first.

He was the top receiver in the Bulldogs' high-octane offense, which led the nation with 51.5 points per contest. Here are the numbers from Patton's senior season: 104 receptions, 1,392 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Level of competition may be a concern, but anyone who produces that much shouldn't be overlooked on Day 2. NFL Network's Mike Mayock compared Patton to Indianapolis Colts superstar Reggie Wayne.

Highlight-reel catches are the norm for Patton, and his soft hands, deceptive quickness in the open field and the requisite awareness to hold his own as a pro.

John Jenkins, DT, Georgia

Concerns about weight pushed Jenkins outside of the first round, but as long as Jenkins can maintain his weight around 340 lbs, he could easily dominate at the next level as a nose tackle.

Jenkins has shocking mobility and light feet for someone his size, and given the top-flight defensive tackles taken in Round 1, the depth of this class also contributed to him sliding outside the top 32.

The Bulldogs' defense was filled with playmakers heading to the NFL, but Jenkins proved to be as formidable as any of his star teammates when he put forth consistent effort. His pass-rushing ability is exceptional for being so massive.

Those flashes of brilliance should land Jenkins in the second round, and he should contribute immediately to a solid defensive line rotation in certain situations—possibly on third downs to disrupt the pocket from the inside.

Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State

Thomas is one of the most unheralded prospects in this class, and he is also a victim of depth at the position. However, his knack for making plays and attacking the ball in the air make him a player who shouldn't drop out of Round 2.

The former Fresno State standout led the nation in 2012 with eight interceptions, and he ran back a whopping three of them for touchdowns.

But this safety's skill set doesn't end in the defensive backfield—he can also lay the lumber. As a senior, Thomas had 84 tackles. Twelve of them were from behind the line of scrimmage, and included four sacks (h/t Sports-Reference.com). That is indicative of strong instincts and effectiveness as a blitzer.

It remains to be seen which safety position Thomas will translate best to in the NFL, but don't be surprised if he emerges as one of the top defensive rookies in this class despite his modest athleticism.

Barrett Jones, G/C, Alabama

Despite wonderful football smarts and showcasing his versatility in playing all over the Crimson Tide offensive line, Jones' ex-teammates Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker got nods over him as Day 1 picks.

Whatever Jones lacks in athleticism he makes up for with understanding of protections and ability to be in the right place at the right time. He was a four-year starter at Alabama and a three-time All-American at three different positions.

It's not as though Jones has any character red flags either. Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban couldn't praise Jones enough in Kevin Van Valkenburg's ESPN the Magazine article:

"

[Jones] has great thoughts, habits, priorities. He's compassionate...For a guy his age, he's always shown tremendous foresight for what he wants to accomplish, and what he wants his team to accomplish...He's well-spoken, he really respects and appreciates other people. He's very positive. He's responsible. He's a very hard worker. It's so rare to find a combination of all those things in one person.

"

Home-cooking bias aside, it sounds as though Jones is an extraordinary individual, capable of handling the instant fame that comes with NFL status—and mature enough to manage himself properly.

Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU

Montgomery's ex-teammate Barkevious Mingo found great news come his way on Thursday evening when he was selected by the Cleveland Browns.

The same can't be said for Montgomery, but that doesn't mean he won't enjoy a successful NFL career. Similar to Mingo, there is plenty of room for Montgomery to grow into his frame more, and he has intimidating length and an explosive burst off the snap to succeed as a rookie.

Something that definitely didn't help Montgomery's stock was his admission that he didn't always go full speed for the Tigers, which is something talent evaluators definitely don't want to hear.

But now that Montgomery is entering football as his job occupation, his effort should be a little more concentrated on the field. There is too much potential here for teams to let Montgomery slide past the second day of the draft.