There is one thing that is always unpredictable when it comes to trying to forecast the NFL draft. Team needs are easily identified and news leaks of players going to a particular team, but one thing you can rarely see coming is a trade. The when, who and where in the draft almost always blow up mock drafts. Mine was no different. But even with the surprises, my mock got five players to the right teams - Tavon Austin to the Rams, Chance Warmack to the Titans, Kenny Vaccaro to the Saints, Bjoern Werner to the Colts and DeAndre Hopkins to the Texans. I also picked the correct positions, meaning I correctly identified their top needs, for the Chiefs, Eagles, Browns, Bills, Jets, Steelers, Giants and Vikings. Of the 32 players I picked to go in the first round, 24 of them did.

Outside of the six draft-day trades, Thursday night's first round brought with it many other surprises. There was only one quarterback selected, and not who many thought it would be. For the first time since 1963, the first round came and went without a running back getting selected. But we knew that the Raiders would reach for a player, and they did, we knew the Jets would somehow find a way to select two really good players while not addressing their most immediate needs and we knew another team would make a pick that made everybody go, "Huh?" That team this year was Dallas.

Below is listed the biggest surprises of the first round, the teams that did the best, the teams that did the worst and what to expect from tonight's second and third rounds. There will undoubtedly be more trades this evening.

Geno Smith is still on the board
Regarded by many as the top quarterback in the draft, the West Virginia passer was passed over by every NFL team. I thought he'd go eighth overall to Buffalo. When the Bills traded back to 16, the thought then was that Buffalo would select either Smith or Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib, who played for Bills coach Doug Marrone in college. The selection of Florida State's EJ Manuel threw everybody for a loop and there were no other teams from picks 17-32 who needed a quarterback. He should go soon tonight as teams like Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Oakland or Arizona could take him within the first 10 picks. Smith initially said he was not going to return to Radio City Music Hall tonight, but changed his mind. That's kind of an indication that he's been told something by at least one team.

The Packers pass on Lacy
The Green Bay Packers have not had a 100-yard rusher in 43 straight games. Their leading rusher last season, Alex Green, barely surpassed 400 yards for the season. Adrian Peterson nearly had that in his two games against the Packers. So with Alabama running back Eddie Lacy on the board when the Packers picked at 26, Lacy was a slam-dunk, right? Nope. Ted Thompson threw a change-up and went with UCLA defensive end Datone Jones, who is a very good player but did not address the team's most glaring need. There are still good running backs the Packers can get in the second round, like Lacy or Wisconsin's Montee Ball and Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell. If Green Bay gets one of those players with the pick at 55, then Thompson's gamble worked. If the Packers again pass on a running back there, let the head scratching continue.

No Arthur Brown or Manti Te'o in the first round
While it was no surprise that inside linebacker Alec Ogletree went in the first round, it was a tad surprising that the next two best inside backers did not. Brown might be the most underrated prospect at linebacker. He will be a productive NFL starter and should go early tonight. Te'o seemed to be a lock with either the Bears or Ravens in the first round to replace Brian Urlacher or Ray Lewis, respectively, but both teams went in different directions. The Ravens made a good pick of Florida safety Matt Elam with the 32nd pick, but the Bears really reached for Oregon lineman Kyle Long at 20.

Two guards go in the top 10
Since interior offensive linemen rarely go high in the draft, there have been only 12 guards selected in the first round of the draft since 2000 and none of them were selected higher than 15th. The last time a guard went in the top 10 was in 1997 when Colorado's Chris Naeole was selected with the 10th overall pick by New Orleans. Most draftniks expected either Jonathan Cooper of North Carolina or Alabama's Chance Warmack to go within the first 10 picks. Most did not predict they both would, but Cooper went seventh to Arizona while Warmack was the 10th pick by the Tennessee Titans and coach Mike Munchack, who played guard in the NFL for 12 years after being the eighth overall pick by the Houston Oilers in 1982.

Sharrif Floyd falls to 23
Most prognosticators had the Florida defensive tackle in the top 5. So the Minnesota Vikings got a steal when they saw Floyd sitting there when they picked at 23.

Minnesota Vikings 
The Vikings entered the draft with two first-round picks, 23 and 25. They then wheeled and dealed to grab a third pick and wound up with great value with each selection. Getting Sharrif Floyd at 23 was extremely fortuitous and helped them address a need on the defensive line. Then they got a cornerback at 25 in Florida State's Xavier Rhodes, who could have been a top-15 pick, and then the Vikings traded back into the first round to grab wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson of Tennessee with the 29th pick. Patterson was thought to be a top-20 prospect.  

St. Louis Rams 
General manager Les Snead and coach Jeff Fisher continue to maneuver the draft to their benefit. The Rams traded up to grab wide receiver Tavon Austin. But they did so without trading away both of their first-round picks. Then they traded back from 22 to grab defensive playmaker Alec Ogletree at 30, who was thought to be a top-20 prospect and the top inside linebacker in the draft. The Rams addressed two needs, expect Ogletree to play on the outside next to James Laurinaitis in the Rams' 4-3 system, and even acquired more picks. That RGIII trade last year will now yield eight players.

New England Patriots 
The Patriots dealt away their only first-round pick, 29th overall, to the Vikings. But the Vikings paid a steep price to move back into the first round. The Patriots got four picks this year, including one each in the second, third and fourth rounds. Every team wants to get value out of the draft, whether it's by selecting the right player or acquiring picks, the Patriots got a lot of value and then some with this trade.

Oakland Raiders
Al Davis may be dead, but his risky ways live on in Oakland. The Raiders draft based on potential more than any other franchise in the draft and it often backfires. How's that Darrius Heyward-Bey selection working out? Houston cornerback DJ Hayden has the potential to be a very good player. But he's also a huge risk. He nearly died following an on-field collision last year that resulted in a heart injury. A vein was torn from his heart and he was fortunate to survive. He was cleared medically and shot up draft boards because of his raw talent and ability. If it pans out, this could be a solid pick by the Raiders, but 13th is way to high to take a player who could be just one crack-back block away from becoming an on-field fatality.

Buffalo Bills 
The Bills traded back from the No. 8 spot, where selecting a quarterback might not have provided the best value. So at 16, they could get their guy. West Virginia's Geno Smith was rated by most as the best quarterback of this draft class. But Syracuse's Ryan Nassib played for new coach Doug Marrone in college. Either one could be a great choice for Buffalo. So they picked neither. Instead Buffalo surprised almost everybody by taking Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel, who could be a year or two away from developing into an NFL starter. The Bills will probably force Manuel into starting as a rookie, which could slow his development and result in another first-round bust. The last time the Bills took a quarterback in the first round was Tulane's JP Lossman and that didn't exactly work out either.

Dallas Cowboys 
One of Dallas' biggest needs was at safety. When Dallas traded with San Francisco to move back from 18 to 31, the 49ers grabbed LSU safety Eric Reid. No big deal, Dallas could still get either Florida's Matt Elam or FIU's Jonathan Cyprien. Instead the Cowboys, who do need interior line help as well, selected Wisconsin center Travis Frederick. Most people had Frederick graded as a mid-second round pick, at best. He was largely regarded as a third-round prospect, but still one of the top two centers in the draft. Had Dallas waited until the second round to grab a center, the Cowboys could have still gotten Frederick or Alabama's Barrett Jones. Elam was selected with the next pick by Baltimore and it's doubtful that Cyprien will be there when Dallas picks at 47.

NFL draft invitees 
Again, to create drama, the NFL invited players to New York City who were not selected in the first round. While EJ Manuel, who was not necessarily regarded as a first-round pick, did get selected, there were three players who had to sit and wait, and wait, and wait, and suffer public embarrassment on a national stage just so the NFL could fabricate a storyline and get that photo opportunity in Friday's primetime telecast of rounds two and three. The player hurt most was West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, who was thought to be the best quarterback in the draft. I'm not going to fault the NFL for inviting Smith to New York City. He was expected to be drafted within the top 15 picks, but why were Florida State offensive tackle Menelik Watson and Alabama running back Eddie Lacy there? Lacy was projected as a late-first-round pick, but there was a distinct possibility that he could slip into the second round. Watson was not considered a first-round prospect by most draft experts. All three players had the carrot of hope dangled in front of them only to sit and wait for more than four hours and never receive any satisfaction by hearing the commissioner call out their name. Guess it could be worse, they could have scheduled a first-round party in their own honor like the delusional Tyrann Mathieu did.

There was a trade this week in the NFL, but it did not involve a quarterback. The New York Jets dealt disgruntled cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday and acquired the 13th overall pick. It's doubtful the Jets, who now have the ninth and 13th overall selections, would use either pick on a quarterback, but stranger things have happened. The trade doesn't affect the initial CFU mock draft much, as we had the Bucs taking a cornerback and now have the Jets selecting a corner in the same spot.

The Bucs ranked dead last against the pass last year and upgraded their secondary in the trade. That move now leaves the Jets desperate for help at corner. Houston's DJ Hayden, who suffered a near-fatal heart injury during an on-field practice collision last year, has a great combination of size and speed. His upside is phenomenal, but that potential reward does come with risk. Other options with the pick include cornerbacks Desmond Trufant of Washington and Xavier Rhodes of Florida State, but the stock on Hayden has risen exponentially since he's been cleared medically. 

2013 NFL Mock Draft First Round
1. Kansas City Chiefs - Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
2. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon 
3. Oakland Raiders - Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida 
4. Philadelphia Eagles - Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
5. Detroit Lions - Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
6. Cleveland Browns - Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
7. Arizona Cardinals - Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
8. Buffalo Bills- Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
9. New York Jets - Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU 
10. Tennessee Titans - Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama 
11. San Diego Chargers - Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
12. Miami Dolphins - Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
13. New York Jets (from Tampa Bay) - DJ Hayden, CB, Houston
14. Carolina Panthers - Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
15. New Orleans Saints - Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
16. St. Louis Rams - Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
17. Pittsburgh Steelers - Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
18. Dallas Cowboys - Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky
19. New York Giants - DJ Fluker, OT, Alabama 
20. Chicago Bears - Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia 
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
22. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) - Jonathan Cyprien, S, FIU
23. Minnesota Vikings - Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
24. Indianapolis Colts -  Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
25. Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle) - Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
26.  Green Bay Packers - Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama 
27. Houston Texans - DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
28. Denver Broncos- Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
29. New England Patriots  - Keenan Allen, WR, California 
30. Atlanta Falcons - Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M
31. San Francisco 49ers - Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame 
32. Baltimore Ravens - Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame

At 6-foot-8, 308 pounds, Taylor Lewan has the build and look of the prototypical offensive tackle and is recognized as being just that.  After attending high school in Scottsdale, Ariz., Lewan was rated as the nation’s 16th best offensive tackle by Rivals.com despite never playing the position until his senior year.  

While starting his Michigan career as a defensive lineman, Lewan come off the bench in 2010 and has since started 35 games for the Wolverines as an offensive tackle. A 2012 Associated Press All-American and the 2012 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, the fifth-year senior returns as one of the biggest names on the team and arguable the best offensive lineman in college football.

While projected by many experts to be a first round selection in the NFL Draft, Lewan has decided to stay another year at Michigan and not take the big pay-day now. Another year at Michigan will test not only Lewan’s physical capabilities, but his leadership skill as well, as the Wolverines transition from a spread offense to a pro-style. Lewan has become known for striving to improve himself and teammates and will again be the anchor of Michigan's offensive line.

Head coach Brady Hoke talked about Lewan’s influence after the recent spring game,

Playing in a pro-style offense may help his projected rankings in next year’s draft, but Lewan’s reasons for staying in Ann Arbor appear to go beyond his own gains—another intangible and crucial trait of a prototypical offensive tackle.

The NFL Draft is a gamble. Teams owning the first pick hope to grab that one player to help turn their franchise around. Some players work out and that top overall pick helps return a team to the playoffs while other players bust and a franchise that’s already struggling continues to spiral downward.

The modern NFL draft began in 1936, when the Chicago Bears made University of Chicago running back Jay Berwanger the first-ever pick. It didn’t work out as Berwanger decided not the play professional football - a move not uncommon in those days among college stars. 

Berwanger was the first “bust” of the NFL draft and later regretted not accepting the Bears’ salary offer of $13,500 per year. He worked at a rubber company and coached part-time at his college alma mater after railing to make the U.S. Olympic team in the decathlon.

Sometimes teams do get it right and find that superstar for which they were hoping. As far as the latest top picks, it’s still too early to tell whether Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck belongs among the best ever after just one really good season. The same goes for Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who has had two dynamic, yet inconsistent, NFL seasons. A list of the league’s worst top overall selections will be posted soon, but below is the cream of the crop among the players selected with the No. 1 overall pick.

Dudley did it all for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a two-time rushing champion, including his rookie season and was the league MVP in 1946. Although he missed three seasons because of his military service in World War II, Dudley was still named to the 1940s all-decade team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1972. In his MVP season of 1946 - his last in Pittsburgh - he led the league in rushing, interceptions and punt returns. He spent the next three seasons in Detroit, where he led the team in scoring all three seasons - including 13 total touchdowns in 1947. He was traded to Washington in 1949, where he spent his final four seasons, which were so good, he graces the Redskins Ring of Fame and Hall of Stars. Dudley was selected to three Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966. He is the only player in NFL history to score touchdowns via rushing, receiving, punt returns, kickoff returns, interceptions, fumble returns, and throw a touchdown pass. He also had a touchdown via lateral and kicked PATs and field goals.

The first pick for the Chicago Cardinals, Trippi helped lead the Cardinals to a league championship in 1947. That’s the last time the Cardinals franchise won a championship. A two-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro selection, Trippi was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. He is the only Hall of Famer with more than 1,000 yards receiving, rushing and passing. He was part of the Cardinals’ famed “Dream Backfield” and scored two touchdowns in their 1947 title game victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Trippi also played two of his nine NFL seasons on defense. 

The last true two-way player in the NFL, Bednarik was one of the league’s most fearful linebackers while also playing center for the Philadelphia Eagles. Bednarik was a two-time NFL champion, went to eight Pro Bowls and was a 10-time All-Pro selection. Fiery and unapologetic for his tenacious and vicious style of play, Bednarik is perhaps best known for his violent tackle of then New York Giants running back Frank Gifford and also for the game-saving tackle against Green Bay in the 1960 NFL championship game, when he laid on top of Packers running back Jim Taylor as time expired. Bednarik was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. Bednarik’s name also graces the annual collegiate award given to the year’s best defensive player.

Notre Dame’s “Golden Boy” was the first pick by the Green Bay Packers and became an integral part of four of Green Bay’s five NFL championships in the 1960s. Not only did Hornung comprise one of the league’s best running back tandems with Jim Taylor, he also spent time at safety and was the team’s placekicker. The 1956 Heisman Trophy winner was the NFL MVP in 1961. He led the league in scoring three straight seasons and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986. Although his combined rushing and receiving yards doesn’t quite reach 5,200, Hornung scored a remarkable 72 touchdowns in his nine-year career. 

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001, Yary was a stalwart for the Minnesota Vikings and helped lead the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s. He spent 14 of his 15 NFL seasons in Minnesota before finishing his career with the Los Angeles Rams. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and elected to six All-Pro teams. He was named the NFLPA’s Offensive Lineman of the Year three times while paving the way for the Vikings to win 11 division titles. 

During his playing days, O.J. Simpson was one of the best players in the league while starring for the Buffalo Bills. The 1968 Heisman Trophy winner was the NFL MVP in 1973 and was a six-time Pro Bowler and led the league in rushing four times. He was the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, doing so in a 14-game schedule in 1973. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 and still holds the record for most 200-yard rushing games with six in his career. 

The Louisiana funny man was a four-time Super Bowl champion for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bradshaw spent all 14 of his NFL seasons in the Steel City and twice was the Super Bowl MVP. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and was named to two All-Pro teams. He was named league MVP in 1978. Despite a rocky start to his career, Bradshaw helped lead the Steelers to 10 playoff appearances and his 14-5 postseason record is among the best all-time. 

The 6-foot-9 Jones was one of the most dominant defensive players of his era and never missed a game in his career. Nicknamed “Too Tall” because of his lanky build and long arms, Jones spent 15 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection. He helped lead Dallas to victory in Super Bowl XII. Quarterback sacks weren’t an official NFL stat until 1982 and Jones finished his career with 57.5 official stats, but he is unofficially credited with 106 and is fifth on the list of Dallas’ all-time leading tacklers. 

Selmon was the first player drafted by the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he became the franchise first truly great player. After not winning a single game for nearly two seasons, Selmon helped lead the Bucs to the 1979 NFC championship game and was the league’s defensive player of the year that season. In just nine seasons, Selmon was a six-time Pro Bowler and voted to three All-Pro teams. He was the first player on Tampa Bay’s Ring of Honor and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995 after a career that included 78.5 official sacks and 28.5 forced fumbles.

The "Tyler Rose" and 1977 Heisman Trophy winner was taken by the Houston Oilers in 1978 and became one of the most powerful running backs the NFL has ever seen. Never one to step out of bounds or avoid contact, Campbell had the rare ability to either run over or away from a would-be tackler. He was the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1978 after rushing for 1,450 yards and 13 scores. He led the league in rushing that year and the next two seasons, including 1,934 yards in 1980. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and was named to the All-Pro team three times. He was the NFL MVP in 1979 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.  

Smith was a key cog for the Buffalo Bills teams that went to four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s. An 11-time Pro Bowl selection and nine-time All-Pro selection, Smith finished his 19-year career with an NFL-record 200 sacks. All 11 of his Pro Bowl seasons were during his 15-year stint with the Bills before playing out his career in Washington. Smith had 13 seasons with double-digit sack totals and was named the league’s defensive player of the year twice. Smith was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. 

Aikman’s first season in Dallas saw the Cowboys win just one game and Aikman went 0-11 as a starter with twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. But as the team started to gather more talent around him, Aikman eventually became one of the league’s most accurate passers and led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl championships by 1995. He was the first Dallas quarterback in franchise history with three straight 3,000-yard passing seasons and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

A seven-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion with the St. Louis Rams, things did not start out great for the former Ohio State star. The Rams were a team that had defined dysfunction for years before leaving Los Angeles and arriving in the Gateway City. After holding out, Pace played in 13 games and won the starting job at left tackle by late September. He started every game in 1998 and helped get the Rams to the Super Bowl a year later. Even on a team that had Pro Bowlers and future Hall of Famers at the skill positions, even those “Greatest Show on Turf” stars point to Pace as the foundation for their success.

When the Indianapolis Colts picked the University of Tennessee star with the first pick of the 1998 draft, they were coming off a 3-13 season following a pair of playoff seasons. While Manning set several rookie passing records, the Colts again won just three games. But they eventually turned things around as Manning led the Colts to two Super Bowls, including a championship victory, while going to 11 Pro Bowls in 14 seasons with the Colts, winning four MVP awards, and starting 227 straight games, including 11 years worth of playoff appearances.

For the second consecutive year, the National Football League invited a multitude of highly rated players to New York City for the NFL Draft.

But, just as last year, don’t expect all 23 of the players invited to hear their name called during the first round. In the latest CFU mock draft, 21 players invited to Radio City Music Hall are projected to go in the first round. One player who isn’t on the CFU mock draft, but is projected on other mock drafts to hear his name called among the first 32 picks is Florida State offensive tackle Menelik Watson. Some draftniks are high on Watson, who CFU has rated 76th overall. If that projection holds, Watson wouldn’t go until the third round, but his stock appears to be climbing and he could go in the second.

Watson is one of four Florida State players invited to New York, along with defensive end Bjoern Werner, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and quarterback E.J. Manuel. Werner and Rhodes should be locks to go in the first round, but Manuel will likely have to spend the night before he hears his name called. He might be the fourth quarterback selected after West Virginia’s Geno Smith, USC’s Matt Barkley and Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib, but he is the second quarterback on the CFU Big Board.

Several NFL teams needing quarterbacks have already made moves to acquire a veteran. The Oakland Raiders got Matt Flynn, the Arizona Cardinals traded for Carson Palmer, the Buffalo Bills signed Kevin Kolb and the Kansas City Chiefs acquired Alex Smith from San Francisco. Each team could draft a quarterback, but only Buffalo appears to be in a position to take one in the first round after signing Kolb to a backup contract. 

The Philadelphia Eagles could make a move on a quarterback, but they already have five on the roster and it’s doubtful they’d add a sixth with a first-round pick when they have other more pressing needs. After restructuring his contract with an incentive-laden one-year deal, Michael Vick appears ready to compete with Nick Foles for the starting job. Philadelphia might look at spending a high draft pick on a quarterback next year, but it won’t be this year. 

The Cleveland Browns, and new general manager Michael Lombardi, are another team rumored to be interested in a quarterback. Lombardi may not be enamored with Brandon Weeden, but it seems rather shortsighted to give up on a first-round pick after just one season. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who own the second overall pick, could be another team interested in a quarterback. But the Jags used the 10th overall pick in 2011 on quarterback Blaine Gabbert and will likely give him a third season to turn things around after two disappointing years before they go looking to take another quarterback in the first round. 

The New York Jets own the ninth pick and are undecided on the futures of starter Mark Sanchez and backups Tim Tebow and Greg McElroy. They signed veteran David Garrard this offseason to push Sanchez for the starting job. It seems the Jets are content with what they have and will use that first-round pick to upgrade another area.

After the ninth pick, there are no other teams in need of a quarterback. Should no quarterback go in the first nine picks, and there are definitely reasons to think that might happen, we might not see a single quarterback selected in the first round. 

If Buffalo passes on a quarterback in the first round, look for new coach Doug Marrone to grab his former quarterback at Syracuse, Nassib, in the second round. 

The NFL invited a record 26 players to the draft last year for its Thursday “primetime” event, but several had to wait another day to hear their name called. Stanford tight end Coby Fleener, Georgia offensive lineman Cordy Glenn, Georgia Tech receiver Stephen Hill, LSU receiver Rueben Randle, Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still and Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw were all selected in the second round. A year earlier, Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams, UCLA safety Rahim Moore and UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers sat through the first night of the draft before hearing their names called in the second round.

The NFL wants to have the drama for its second night of primetime draft coverage, but it is really unfair to give these players the expectation of getting selected in the first round only to have them sit there, tormented by hearing other names called before their own. 

This is the same dilemma that will likely face Manuel, and possibly Watson, this year. But, if Manuel and Watson are the two invited players not selected, at least the former teammates have a shoulder to lean on as they wait until Friday.

In a draft class short on premier quarterbacks and running backs, the 2013 NFL draft should see linemen on both sides of the ball come off the board early and often.

Many teams either traded for or signed free agent veteran quarterbacks, meaning this could be the first year since 1996 that no quarterback gets selected in the first round of the draft. 

In February, teams like Arizona, Oakland, Buffalo and Kansas City were searching for a quarterback. All but Buffalo seem to have found an opening day starter and the Philadelphia Eagles have five quarterbacks on the roster, but it’s uncertain which of them - if any - will start the 2013 season.

We had a trade this week that did not involve a quarterback, but addressed a big need for Tampa Bay at cornerback. The Bucs acquired Darrelle Revis from the New York Jets for the 13th overall pick, meaning the Jets now have the ninth and 13th selections. It's doubtful New York would use either pick for a quarterback, but stranger things have happened.

The running backs are a productive group, but none have received a high first-round grade. A couple may go late in the first round, but it is possible that running backs get shut out of the first round.

Where the draft is deep in on the offensive and defensive lines, where eight of CFU’s top 10 players line up. Linemen could comprise the first seven picks of the draft, and the top overall pick is almost certain to be an offensive lineman.

***Update April 22, 2013***
The New York Jets dealt disgruntled cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday and acquired the 13th overall pick. The trade doesn't affect the initial CFU mock draft much, as we had the Bucs taking a cornerback and now have the Jets selecting a corner in the same spot. Check out the updated Mock Draft here.

Now that the Chiefs have what they hope will be their franchise quarterback after trading for Alex Smith, the priority is upgrading a porous offensive line that allowed 40 sacks last season. Joeckel is a fluid athlete and excellent pass blocker with impeccable footwork and good hands.

Jordan is a freakish athlete whose length and athleticism make him a natural pass rusher and a must-have for a team that registered a league-worst 20 sacks last season. 

The Raiders filled a need at quarterback when they traded for Seattle’s Matt Flynn and then sent Carson Palmer to Arizona. Oakland had just 25 sacks last season while allowing the fifth-most points in the league. Floyd is a strong, powerful player capable of eating double teams to free up linebackers, stuff running lanes and even generate a middle pass rush.

The Eagles have plenty of questions at quarterback, but gambling on another project player with the fourth overall pick is too risky when the team has several other needs. Fisher might be the most complete tackle in the draft and should help an offense that had the league’s fourth-worst scoring output.

In a division that includes several top-tier receivers like Greg Jennings, Brandon Marshall, Jordy Nelson and James Jones, the Lions need to grab the best corner in the draft. Milliner is a superb athlete with excellent cover skills and would fill one of Detroit’s most glaring needs.

The Browns would love to have Milliner and could trade down if he’s off the board. If they stand pat, Jones would be an excellent addition. While the Browns were 11th in sacks last season, they could still use another pass rusher.

One of the best athletes in the draft, Johnson is an instinctive player who moves well and uses his hands and long arms to keep pass rushers at bay. He can improve has a run blocker, but his pass blocking is a necessity with the aging Carson Palmer now at quarterback.

The Bills cut ties with Ryan Fitzpatrick and really do not have a starting caliber quarterback on the roster. Smith is the consensus top quarterback in the draft. Although Smith is not considered a top-10 player, the Bills don’t have much of a choice but to reach for a guy they hope will be their franchise quarterback. Should the Bills pass on a quarterback here, look for new coach Doug Marrone to reunite with his quarterback from Syracuse, Ryan Nassib, in the second round.

The Jets still have a mess at quarterback, but reaching for somebody here would be a mistake. The Jets were near the bottom of the league in sacks and Mingo can rush the quarterback.

Tennessee coach Mike Munchak was a high first-round pick - eighth overall - as a guard. He spoke highly of Warmack at the Combine and the big Alabama guard will fill a big hole on the Titans offensive line.

The Chargers need help on the offensive line, but their biggest need is for interior defensive linemen. Missouri’s Sheldon Richardson might be a better option here, but the Chargers really like Lotulelei despite his health risks.

Ryan Tannehill had a promising rookie season at quarterback. The Dolphins added some weapons for him via free agency this offseason and now must upgrade its offensive line after losing tackle Jake Long to St. Louis. Alabama’s DJ Fluker is an option here, but Cooper is a higher-rated player and still fills a need inside.

We originally had Xavier Rhodes from Florida State here going to Tampa, but the Bucs now have Darrelle Revis and Hayden's stock is rising fast.

If Richardson slides this far, it’d be a steal for Carolina, which needs help inside. Richardson is a top-10 talent who could slip because of other teams’ needs. Richardson is a freakish athlete with a high-motor and the ability to consistently generate an inside pass rush.

Pick a defensive position and that’s where the Saints need help. Vaccaro is a tough competitor who has gained steam since his pro day. He can definitely help improve a defense that ranked last in total yards and second-to-last in passing yards allowed.

Austin is the top-rated receiver in the class. Although a bit undersized, his speed is matched only by his fluidity as a runner and natural pass catcher. The Rams haven’t had a player with that skill set in years and he should be welcomed with open arms by quarterback Sam Bradford.

The Steelers could use another receiver outside to replace the loss of Mike Wallace, now with the Dolphins. But they can’t pass on Ansah slipping to them. The Steelers were uncharacteristically a middle-of-the-pack pass rushing team last year and then they released James Harrison. Ansah is a freakish athlete with a ton of upside, but he’s also still fairly new to football, so there is also a lot of risk.

The Cowboys re-upped Tony Romo with a nice fat contract, now they must ensure they keep their franchise quarterback protected. Warford impressed at both the Senior Bowl and Combine and stood out on a poor Wildcats team last year. The Cowboys desperately need interior line help and Warford could be an opening day starter.

The Giants need a pair of tackles and Fluker is a big, fierce competitor who should help upgrade the position. A strong run blocker and good athleticism for his size, Fluker should be a road grader in the Giants running game.

With Nick Roach and Brian Urlacher both now gone from the Windy City, the Bears continue to revamp their linebacking corps with the athletic Ogletree. Just as Urlacher was, Ogletree is a former safety with a nose for the ball.

At 6-2, 216, Patterson has good size and would be an excellent complement to AJ Green. Patterson is a smooth runner with speed and would be a reliable target for quarterback Andy Dalton.

A tackling machine for the Panthers, Cyprien really shined at the Senior Bowl. FIU’s all-time leading tackler covers well, loves to blitz and is a hard hitter. The Rams have a big need at safety and Cyprien might be the best safety in this draft class.

While Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o is an option here, Brown is a better athlete and a move versatile player. The Vikings need to seriously upgrade the position. Brown has great range and is an instinctive sure tackler with a nose for the ball.

The Colts addressed needs at defensive tackle and safety in free agency and still could use a pass rusher as well as running back and interior lineman. Werner is the best player available and fits a need, especially after the team cut ties with franchise sack leader Dwight Freeney.

Letroy Guion was not very good last year and the Vikings need another productive big body next to Kevin Williams. At 6-3, 313, Sylvester Williams is just that. The former Tar Heel is quick off the snap, a violent tackler and surprisingly nimble for his size.

Lacy is just a natural fit in the Packers offense. He’s a big, powerful back with quickness and great hands out of the backfield. The Packers haven’t had a runner like and, after losing out on Steven Jackson, Lacy is cut from the same cloth and should make a dynamic offense even more potent.

The Texans have a good group of tight ends, but do not have a solid No. 2 receiver to complement Andre Johnson. Hopkins has the potential to eventually succeed Johnson as the Texans’ top wideout. With good size, decent speed and excellent route running, Hopkins does an excellent job of creating separation downfield.

Following their playoff loss to Baltimore, it was painfully obvious that the Broncos need to upgrade their secondary. Trufant comes from NFL bloodlines and has good size and speed to be a solid NFL starter, and he isn’t afraid to play a little bump-and-run press coverage.

The Patriots could use a pass rusher, but after losing Wes Welker and cutting Brandon Lloyd, the Pats need a receiver. Allen is 6-2, 206, isn’t a burner but runs precise routes, has a long stride and reliable hands. If New England does go defensive end, Texas A&M’s Damontre Moore and SMU’s Margus Hunt would be excellent choices. 

While grabbing Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert as an eventual replacement for Tony Gonzalez will be tempting, Atlanta’s need for another pass rusher is more pressing. The team could still bring back John Abraham, but Moore would still be an excellent choice. Moore is 6-4 with long arms and can line up at either end.

The 49ers could use another receiver like Tennessee’s Justin Hunter, or a safety like Florida’s Matt Elam. But once Delanie Walker bolted to the Titans, another tight end opposite Vernon Davis became the top priority for Jim Harbaugh’s team. Eifert has all the skills to be a successful tight end in the NFL. At 6-6, 251, his size and strength are ideal and he’s got very good hands - especially when going over the middle.

The Irish complete the first round as the Ravens grab the heir apparent to the now-retired Ray Lewis. Te’o, despite the fake girlfriend hoax, is an aggressive, instinctive player with a nose for the ball. He blitzes well and is excellent in coverage and could actually be an upgrade over Lewis’ on-field production the last two years in Baltimore.

Luke Joeckel is the top rated offensive tackle among most draft experts' rankings, but Mel Kiper has him ranked as the No. 2 OT under Eric Fisher and No. 4 overall. Joeckel is ranked No. 1 and Fisher as the No. 2 OT below. 

There is a slight change in the top five ILBs with the inclusion of Arthur Brown, but he is actually more of a tweener that can play multiple linebacker positions based on the defensive set. 

The mock draft of the first round will be released on April 10. All major positions are listed below with the top five rated players. 

1. Jonathan Cyprien, 6-0, 217, FIU
2. Kenny Vaccaro, 6-0, 214, Texas
3. Matt Elam, 5-10, 208, Florida
4. Duke Williams, 6-0, 190, Nevada
5. Eric Reid, 6-1, 213, LSU

1. Jonathan Cooper, OG, 6-2 311, North Carolina
2. Jonathan Cyprien, S, 6-0 217, FIU
3. Johnthan Banks, CB, 6-2 185, Mississippi State
4. Johnathan Hankins, DT, 6-3 320, Ohio State
5. John Jenkins, DT, 6-4 346, Georgia
6. Johnathan Franklin, RB, 5-10, 205, UCLA 
7. John Simon, DE, 6-1, 257, Ohio State 
8. Jon Bostic, ILB, 6-1, 245, Florida 
9. John Wetzel, OT, 6-8, 302, Boston College  
10. John Lotulelei, LB, 5-11, 233, UNLV 

After the USC pro day, Matt Barkley's NFL Draft stock is still idle. Barkley endured a sprained AC joint in his shoulder against UCLA last November when he was sacked by Anthony Barr and did not throw publicly since then until today. He did little to sway opinions either way during his workout. 

Barkley ran a 4.95 seconds 40-yard dash which was expected. He also fell during one of the agility drills, but scouts were primarily there to see him throw. 

His short and redzone passes had plenty of zip with accuracy. He showed some minor footwork issues in the pocket, but nothing horrendous. His deep ball was the area that he had a chance to show improvement; however, he did nothing to show that he has a rocket of an arm. He had some lofty and inaccurate deep throws, but he also had some crisp bombs on occasion once he had some rhythm. The scripted pro day was an attempt to show that he had a big time arm, but really just verified what many already thought. 

Nothing was drastically bad or great about the workout. It was good to see him throw a football for the first time since last November. NFL scouts will need to closely evaluate his decision making and leadership ability. He is definitely not the type of quarterback for teams that like to call bombs often, but there are examples of other successful NFL QBs that lack superior arm strength such as Cincinnati's Andy Dalton.

Barkley passed for 36 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last season after passing for 39 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions in 2011. Some pundits thought before the 2012 season that he would be one of the top picks for the 2013 NFL Draft. Despite the disappointing year, Barkley said, "I never had one regret about coming back and playing my senior year."

*Credit to USC for providing photo of Matt Barkley.

Many draft experts are projecting Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o as a mid to late first round pick. Most had Te'o in the top 15 before the BCS National Championship game, but his stock dropped some after his performance in the title game, a weak outing at the NFL combine, and of course, the drama involving the fake girlfriend hoax.

With the recent downfalls, Te'o did not need to suffer any more setbacks during his pro day held today. He did run a better 40 time with his top time being 4.69 (Notre Dame's unofficial time) and tallied 21 reps on the 225-pound bench press. At the NFL combine, Te'o only clocked a 4.82 40-yard dash and chose not to bench press. Today's work out may have helped him slightly, but his stock looks to remain close to the same as before. 

"I felt good. I'm at home now," Te'o said. "I was very pleased with how I performed." (Chicago Tribune)  

While he does have good on-field reaction and was a solid tackler until he faced Alabama, his athleticism and lack of dynamic ability may hinder him in the NFL. Te'o hauled in seven interceptions last season, but he was not able to penetrate the backfield much at all.

Right now, he may be drafted in the first round due to teams' needs, but he appears to be borderline first round talent. Of the top five rated inside linebackers, Te'o is ranked second both on the CFU ratings by Ron Clements and according to the NFL Network's Mike Mayock.

Sources: NFL.com and Chicago Tribune

Notre Dame personnel 4.69
Todd McShay 4.71
Mike Mayock 4.75

Year, Player, 40 Time
2011 Von Miller 4.49
2010 Sean Weatherspoon 4.52 
2012 Luke Kuechly 4.58
2012 Dont'a Hightower 4.65
2010 Rolando McClain 4.69

Source: ESPN Stats & Information

Now that Manti Te’o’s pro day is over at Notre Dame, the question is how much did Te’o improve his stock. The answer is not much.

That’s not to say that Te’o’s improved 40-yard dash time or his 21 reps in the bench press weren’t good. His 4.7 time in the 40 was a tenth of a second better than what he ran at the NFL Combine last month. Te’o did help himself, but the reason his stock won’t rise that much is because the infamous girlfriend hoax didn’t hurt his stock as much as some would like to think.

Te’o was projected as a mid-first-round pick before the hoax and is projected as a mid-first-round pick after his pro day. There are a handful of teams who need help at inside linebacker and could take Te’o, or Georgia’s Alec Ogletree. Teams like Minnesota, Chicago, and Baltimore definitely have some holes to fill - especially the Bears and Ravens, who have to replace legends in Brian Urlacher and the now-retired Ray Lewis. 

The list of CFU’s top five inside backers doesn’t include Kansas State’s Arthur Brown, who has questions about his shoulder, Missouri’s Zaviar Gooden and Rutgers’ Khaseem Greene - all of whom are projected more as an outside linebacker, but could probably play inside in a 3-4 scheme.

Ogletree is the consensus top inside linebacker. A fluid athlete with natural football movement, Ogletree is a versatile, three-down player who could stand to add some beef to a lanky frame. But he’s got good coverage skills and is a solid tackler. 

Te’o’s football instincts are top-notch. He was a disruptive force for the Irish and a tackling machine - national championship game aside. He handled questions about the fake girlfriend as well as anybody could have and teams will look past that because he is a good football player with excellent coverage skills and hands. He’s not the best athlete, but was a vocal leader at Notre Dame and would be an ideal fit in the middle of a 4-3 system.

Minter has great instincts, is strong and stout against the run - especially at the point of attack. He shakes off blocks well, helping him rack up 111 tackles with 13.5 for loss last season. He has mediocre coverage skills, but could be an opening-day starter for a team running a 4-3 defense.

After Minter, there is a big drop-off for pure inside backers. Reddick is projected as a fourth-round pick, but could develop into a solid NFL starter. His 4.72 40-yard dash time is excellent for his size and he was a team leader for the Tar Heels. Reddick is a good blitzer who tackles downhill. His great football instincts make up for a lack of fluid movement.

Alonso is an impressive athlete. He ran a 4.7 40-yard dash, had a vertical leap of 30 1/2 inches with a broad jump of 9-feet-9. He would be rated higher if not for some off-field concerns and some injuries. He’s versatile enough to play in either a 4-3 or 3-4 and is a sideline-to-sideline player.