Though the Green Bay Packers selected Datone Jones with the 26th pick in yesterday's first round, their divisional rivals were all active as well. One team even made a ridiculous three selections in round one. Here are the selections with initial reactions to each.
Detroit Lions (5th overall): Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
Pride of Detroit has the coverage, but I'm actually a little bit surprised that they aren't more thoroughly pleased with the pick. I think he'll be a great fit for that defense and will be a really good player in the years to come.
Chicago Bears (20th overall): Kyle Long, G, Oregon
Here's the post from Windy City Gridiron, and opinions are all over the map on Long. It certainly came as a bit of a shock to us, and I don't know that I would be too happy with the pick if I were a Bears fan.
Minnesota Vikings (23rd overall): Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
This was a pretty remarkable pick, considering that Floyd was often mocked in the top five. It's certainly a good job by GM Rick Spielman of identifying value when it falls and fits the team. Daily Norseman's initial reaction is here, but I caught up with Ted Glover of DN to get his initial thoughts on the pick:
As whacky as the mock drafts were this year, I don't think anyone saw Floyd being around at 23. He's a top 10 talent at a huge position of need for the Vikings, and I was ecstatic that he was there. He's going to provide a big push inside, and really help shore up a run defense that had started to slip in the last couple seasons. When you're thinking Kawaan Short or Jonathan Hankins and end up with Floyd, that's great value and a huge steal at 23.
Minnesota Vikings (25th overall): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Shortly after selecting Floyd, the Vikings continued to bolster their defense with a highly-ranked corner. Here's the DN post, and Ted had this to say:
He was a guy I was hoping the Vikings would be able to pick. Once again, a big need filled by a guy that really seems to fit the Vikings 4-3 cover 2 scheme. With Antoine Winfield gone, the Vikings had Chris Cook and a bunch of meh. Rhodes will be a big upgrade there.
Minnesota Vikings (29th overall): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Finally, the Vikings traded most of the rest of their 2013 draft picks to move up into the first round yet again, taking New England's pick. See what DN says about Patterson here, and Ted's reaction is below:
When I heard the Vikings were looking to get back into the first round, I thought for sure it was for Manti Te'o. I'm glad it wasn't, but they gave up 4 picks to do it. Patterson was the best WR on the board not named Tavon Austin, another huge need, and when you look at the trade from another perspective, it's like giving up a dime, two nickels, and a penny to get a quarter. Or...subtract Harvin and add Jennings and Patterson. I can live with it. My only issue is that they are desperate for a MLB, and it will be interesting to see how they answer that problem.
At least it won't be Manti Te'o.
On day two of the draft, here are the following draft picks held by the Green Bay Packers' divisional rivals:
Detroit: Round 2, pick 4 (#36 overall); round 3 pick 3 (#65 overall)
Chicago: round 2, pick 18 (#50 overall)
Minnesota: no picks in rounds 2 or 3
Check out all of Acme Packing Company's draft coverage: 2013 NFL Draft Central | Green Bay Selects Datone Jones in First Round | Packers' Team Needs | Prospect Film Study Profiles | Packers' Complete Draft Order
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