2013 NFL Draft: Winners and Losers from the first round

The 2013 NFL draft is underway and NFL fans everywhere will wake up on this Friday morning either elated that their favorite team came out smelling like roses with their first round pick or  they will wake up grumpy and angry as their team botched another first round pick.

With the first round over, it’s time to take a look back and evaluate who did well and who did poorly.

Oct 27, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jarvis Jones (29) during the game against the Florida Gators at EverBank Field. The Bulldogs won 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

With that being said, here’s a look at the winners and losers from day one of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s hard not to envision the Steelers as a big first day winner. They got the guy they wanted in Jarvis Jones and got him at great value with the No. 17 pick. They really need another pass-rusher, and when the guy who led the country in sacks and tackles for loss (against SEC competition) is sitting there at No. 17, you take him. Jones was No. 1 on a lot of boards in terms of defensive players for most of the year and the Steelers land a playmaker that can make an impact in the black-and-gold for a long time.

Loser: Buffalo Bills

Buffalo played this smart for a while. They traded down and added a pick instead of reaching for a quarterback at No. 8. But then they shocked  the world by taking E.J. Manuel No. 16. Manuel has the chance to be good, but it’s going to take some time. If he was the guy the Bills were targeting all along and obviously he was, the Bills could have grabbed him in the second round or later. Not a great value pick here.

Winner: St. Louis Rams

The Rams moved up to No. 8 and got the weapon they needed in Tavon Austin and added a playmaking linebacker in Alec Ogletree at No. 30. Austin gives Sam Bradford a weapon and Ogletree will make a lot of plays behind a good defensive line. Great value in both picks for the Rams.

Loser: Miami Dolphins

It wasn’t necessarily moving up to take Dion Jordan at No. 3, but the Dolphins had other needs instead of taking a player that they don’t know can be on the field for 70 snaps a game. They could still come out of this draft nicely and didn’t overpay to move up nine spots, but Lane Johnson was sitting there for them and would have filled a position of need.

Nov. 17, 2012; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Tyler Eifert (80) catches a pass as Wake Forest Demon Deacons linebacker Mike Olson (41) defends in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Eifert set a record for most catches by a Notre Dame tight end on the play. Notre Dame won 38-0. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals got a gift when Tyler Eifert fell to them at No. 21. Cincinnati is a team without a lot of needs and got great value with Eifert, a guy that will  be a major weapon for Andy Dalton. With Eifert, A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham,  the Bengals can now cause major matchup problems for opposing defenses as Eifert provides another target who can work the middle of the field.

Loser: New York Jets

I love the Dee Milliner pick at No. 9, but just when it looks like the Jets are about to have a huge first round, they reach for Sheldon Richardson at No. 13. Richardson is a good defensive tackle and could even end up playing defensive end in the NFL, but he wasn’t good value at 13. The Jets had plenty of other needs and could have taken the best player on the board with the pick. Unfortunately that wasn’t Richardson at the time.

Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags needed help badly on the offensive line and made out like bandits by getting Luke Joeckel at No. 2. It was simply a solid pick by Jacksonville as Joeckel will anchor their offensive line for years. It was a position of need and the Jags filled it in a big way.