2013 NFL Draft Offensive Position Rankings

Well folks, it's that time of year again, and although I've taken some time off from the blog, there's no way I'd miss one of my favorite times of the NFL calendar year. In addition to the excuse to watch more football, draft time puts a smile on my face because the draft represents hope. No matter if your team is drafting in the top five or a perennial playoff contender, the promise of improving the roster, filling holes from free agency, or simply giving you a reason to buy a new jersey gets the blood pumping.

OK, enough of the sappy, "we're all 0-0" crap. Here are the offensive positional rankings for this year's crop of draft prospects:

Quarterbacks
Rank	Name	School	Height	Weight
1	Geno Smith	West Virginia	6023	218
2	E J Manuel	Florida St	6045	237
3	Ryan Nassib	Syracuse	6021	227
4	Mike Glennon	NC State	6071	225
5	Landry Jones	Oklahoma	6041	225

While this quarterback class isn't of the quality of last year (then again, I think we'll find out soon enough that the 2012 group might be the strongest class ever), and it's been hammered by the media, I think there's some potentially good to very good talent at the NFL level. While Smith is the best overall signal caller entering the draft, I'm particularly high on E J Manuel. I think he has all the tools and leadership qualities to be an upper-echelon talent. He has some issues with his technique, but if placed with the right quarterback coach, I think he'll be the best one over the long haul.

Running Backs
Rank	Name	School	Height	Weight
1	Eddie Lacy	Alabama	5110	231
2	Jonathan Franklin	UCLA	5100	205
3	Montee Ball	Wisconsin	5104	214
4	Christine Michael	Texas A&M	5100	220
5	Le'Veon Bell	Michigan St.	6013	230

Contrary to popular belief, this is the weakest position in this year's draft. I feel sorry for any team whose primary need is at running back. Lacy might be the only one that can be a three-down back at the next level, and I'm not really convinced of that. I wouldn't be surprised if every one in this draft ended up as a change of pace back or second team guy. That being said, the one that really intrigues me is Michael. He runs with power, speed, and a nasty attitude. I have him fourth because of possible off the field issues - he was in Kevin Sumlin's doghouse at A&M and he missed some interviews at the Combine because he overslept. Not the best way to make a first impression.

Wide Receivers
Rank	Name	School	Height	Weight
1	Justin Hunter	Tennessee	6040	196
2	Corderelle Patterson	Tennessee	6017	216
3	Tavon Austin	West Virginia	5084	174
4	DeAndre Hopkins	Clemson	6010	214
5	Keenan Allen	California	6020	206

While there isn't a Calvin Johnson or A J Green in this year's crop, there are some Anquan Boldins and Michael Crabtrees. Many of you will be surprised at my number one selection. Hunter is the one out of this group that could be the next great wideout. His measureables are off the chart, but he didn't have the production of some of the other receivers in this class and mental lapses have been known to plague him. And no, I'm not down on Austin, but as explosive a playmaker as he can be at the next level, I'm worried about his size. Lastly, Hopkins hands are special, and while his 40 time won't "wow you", he plays much faster in pads.

Tight Ends
Rank	Name	School	Height	Weight
1	Tyler Eifert	Notre Dame	6054	250
2	Zach Ertz	Stanford	6050	249
3	Vance McDonald	Rice	6041	267
4	Travis Kelce	Cincinnati	6047	255
5	Dion Sims	Michigan St.	6047	262

In my opinion, the tight ends can be summed up as Tyler Eifert and everyone else. He's truly better in just about every aspect of the game than his counterparts. Even though he was double-teamed in every game he played last year, he still caught 50 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns in an offense designed to run and hide the deficiencies of a freshman quarterback. I think he'll go somewhere in the middle of the first round, and I would be surprised if the next tight end doesn't go until the third.

Offensive Tackles
Rank	Name	School	Height	Weight
1	Eric Fisher	Central Michigan	6072	306
2	Luke Joeckel	Texas A&M	6060	306
3	Lane Johnson	Oklahoma	6060	303
4	DJ Fluker	Alabama	6045	339
5	Terron Armstead	Arkansas-Pine Bluff	6046	306

Arguably the best position group in this draft. More than likely, three of them will be taken in the first five picks, and I wouldn't be surprised to see five or six go in the first round. Even though Joeckel might be the better player right now, I graded Fisher over him because I think he'll be the better player in the long run. I like his athleticism and think he can be a perennial Pro Bowl tackle. I know most pundits have Menelik Watson ranked in their top five, but I just don't see it. He looks sloppy in his technique and there doesn't look like there's much overall ability there, either.

Offensive Guards
Rank	Name	School	Height	Weight
1	Jonathan Cooper	North Carolina	6021	311
2	Chance Warmack	Alabama	6020	317
3	Kyle Long	Oregon	6061	313
4	David Quessenberry	San Jose St.	6047	302
5	Larry Warford	Kentucky	6030	332

Another good group, especially at the top, where Cooper and Warmack could go in the top half of the first round. Quessenberry snuck into the top five after I watched him at the Senior Bowl. I went back and watched some of the San Jose State games, and was impressed by his ability to get the upper hand quickly on defenders off the snap. If someone did get the jump on him, he does a solid job re-anchoring and regaining control of the matchup.

Centers
Rank	Name	School	Height	Weight
1	Brian Schwenke	California	6030	314
2	Travis Frederick	Wisconsin	6035	312
3	Barrett Jones	Alabama	6040	306
4	Khaled Holmes	USC	6030	302
5	Braxston Cave	Notre Dame	6032	303

Schwenke also won me over at the Senior Bowl. The drills in Mobile naturally favor the defensive lineman, and it's very easy for the offensive guys to look bad. However, like Quessenberry and Fisher, the Cal center came pretty close to pitching a shutout. He's so quick to set and out of his stance, it didn't matter if he was going up against a power or speed defensive tackle, they simply couldn't get around him.