2013 NFL draft
The 2013 National Football League Draft was the 78th annual player selection meeting held by the league's 32 teams to select newly eligible players, taking place from April 25 to 27 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.[1][2] A total of 254 players were chosen across seven rounds, with the Kansas City Chiefs holding the first overall pick and selecting offensive tackle Eric Fisher from Central Michigan University—the first offensive tackle taken at No. 1 since Jake Long in 2008.[1][3] The draft class was particularly deep at offensive line, highlighted by three tackles selected among the top four picks: Fisher (No. 1, Chiefs), Luke Joeckel from Texas A&M (No. 2, Jacksonville Jaguars), and Lane Johnson from Oklahoma (No. 4, Philadelphia Eagles via trade).[4] Other key first-round selections included edge rusher Dion Jordan from Oregon (No. 3, Miami Dolphins) and wide receiver Tavon Austin from West Virginia (No. 8, St. Louis Rams).[1] While the early rounds emphasized linemen over skill positions, later selections yielded several standout performers, such as wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from Clemson (No. 27, Houston Texans), running back Le'Veon Bell from Michigan State (No. 48, Pittsburgh Steelers), and tight end Travis Kelce from Cincinnati (No. 63, Chiefs), who went on to become perennial Pro Bowlers and key contributors to championship-caliber teams.[5][6]Background
Early entrants
The eligibility criteria for underclassmen to enter the 2013 NFL Draft required players to have completed at least three years of college enrollment and to forgo any remaining NCAA eligibility by submitting a written application to the league.[7][8] Underclassmen meeting these standards had until January 15, 2013, to declare their intentions.[9] A record 73 underclassmen were granted special eligibility for the draft, surpassing the previous high of 65 from 2012.[8] This surge included juniors and sophomores across positions, with only two quarterbacks—Geno Smith from West Virginia and Tyler Bray from Tennessee—opting to declare early.[10] Notable early entrants included Geno Smith, a junior quarterback from West Virginia, who declared after a breakout season with over 4,200 passing yards and 42 touchdowns, aiming to capitalize on his status as a projected first-round pick.[11] Other prominent declarants were Luke Joeckel, a junior offensive tackle from Texas A&M, seeking to build on his All-American performance; DeAndre Hopkins, a junior wide receiver from Clemson, after leading the ACC in receptions; and Le'Veon Bell, a junior running back from Michigan State, following a 1,000-yard rushing campaign.[12] These players represented a mix of top prospects motivated by professional opportunities and strong college production. The wave of early declarations significantly affected several college rosters heading into the 2013 season, forcing teams to adjust depth and strategies. LSU lost 10 underclassmen, including defensive standouts like Barkevious Mingo and Eric Reid, which depleted their front seven and secondary.[13] Stanford faced a rebuild at tight end after Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo departed, while Florida needed to replace key defensive players including safety Matt Elam, defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, and others, requiring five new starters in the front seven.[13] Overall, the departures highlighted the growing trend of talented players prioritizing NFL prospects over additional college seasons.[10]Determination of draft order
The draft order for the 2013 NFL Draft was established primarily through the reverse order of the 2012 regular season standings, with the team posting the worst win-loss record receiving the first overall selection. Non-playoff teams were ranked from worst to best record, while playoff participants were slotted after them based on postseason outcomes: the Super Bowl winner picked last (32nd overall), the runner-up second-to-last (31st), conference championship losers in positions 27-30 according to their respective games, and wild-card and division winners filling the remaining spots in reverse order of their regular-season records. This system incentivizes poor performance in the prior season to secure higher picks, with the Kansas City Chiefs earning the No. 1 selection after their 2-14 finish.[14] Ties in regular-season records among non-playoff teams were resolved using a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule—calculated as the combined winning percentage of all opponents faced, with the team having the lowest (toughest) schedule picking earlier. If strength of schedule did not break the tie, additional criteria were applied, including head-to-head results, division or conference records, and net points in conference games; for unresolved multi-team ties, a coin flip determined the order. For instance, the two teams with the worst records (2-14) were the Chiefs and Jaguars, where strength of schedule placed the Chiefs at No. 1 overall and the Jaguars at No. 2; the three 4-12 teams followed with the Raiders at No. 3, Eagles at No. 4, and Lions at No. 5. Playoff ties followed similar rules but prioritized deeper postseason advancement.[14][15] Compensatory selections, awarded to teams suffering a net loss of unrestricted free agents from the prior offseason, were added to the draft order in rounds 3 through 7 to balance competitive equity. The NFL's formula for these picks evaluates the average annual salary of departed free agents against those signed, adjusted for playing time (snap counts) and postseason participation, with one pick granted per net qualifying loss up to a maximum of four per team and round. For the 2013 draft, 32 such picks were distributed to 16 clubs, with the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons each receiving four—the maximum allowed—primarily in the fourth and fifth rounds.[16][17] The initial draft order was finalized following Super Bowl XLVII on February 3, 2013, with compensatory picks officially announced on March 18, 2013, ahead of the draft held April 25-27 in New York City. No significant pre-draft adjustments occurred beyond these standard procedures.[14][16]Draft Mechanics
Trades
During the 2013 NFL Draft, held April 25–27 in New York City, teams executed 47 trades to reposition for key selections, exchanging a total of over 150 draft picks across all rounds.[18] These transactions adhered to the NFL's standardized trade value chart, originally devised by former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson, which assigns point values to picks to facilitate equitable swaps—for instance, the No. 1 overall pick is worth 3,000 points, while a No. 31 first-round selection rates at 670 points, and a typical seventh-round pick (e.g., No. 250) holds about 0.4 points.[19] In the first round, trading activity was moderate with eight notable deals, often involving teams moving up for premium talent like offensive linemen and defensive backs. For example, the Miami Dolphins traded their No. 12 overall pick (valued at 1,300 points), a second-round choice (No. 42, 430 points), and a 2014 sixth-rounder to the Oakland Raiders for the No. 3 overall selection (2,250 points), enabling Miami to draft edge rusher Dion Jordan.[18] Similarly, the St. Louis Rams acquired the No. 8 pick from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for the No. 22 (850 points), No. 46 (400 points), No. 78 (210 points), and No. 222 (4 points), a deal netting the Rams approximately 1,600 points for 1,464 given, allowing them to select wide receiver Tavon Austin.[18] Another significant first-round maneuver was the multi-team swap centered on quarterback E.J. Manuel: the Bills, originally holding the No. 8 pick, traded it to the Rams (as noted above), then used the acquired No. 22—the pick originally from the Rams' 2012 deal with the Washington Redskins—to select Manuel, highlighting aggressive mobility for quarterback prospects.[20] The second and third rounds saw heightened activity, with 22 trades as teams targeted depth players like linebackers and wide receivers, often trading mid-round picks for slight upward movement. The San Diego Chargers, for instance, moved up from No. 45 to No. 38 by sending a third-round pick (No. 76, 195 points) and a sixth-rounder (No. 185, 3.8 points) to the Arizona Cardinals for the latter's second-round selection (570 points), selecting linebacker Manti Te'o amid a perceived value surplus of about 371 points.[18] In Round 3, the Philadelphia Eagles traded picks No. 101 (145 points) and No. 210 (5.5 points) to the Jacksonville Jaguars for No. 98 (150 points), a minor adjustment to draft quarterback Matt Barkley, reflecting Day 3's focus on developmental quarterbacks.[20] Later rounds featured the bulk of the trades (17 in Rounds 4–7), emphasizing fine-tuning rosters with special teams and backup talent, where lower-value picks (under 100 points each) were frequently bundled. A representative Day 3 example was the Oakland Raiders acquiring No. 112 from the Pittsburgh Steelers for No. 111 and a 2014 fifth-rounder, selecting quarterback Tyler Wilson in a near-even swap valued around 115 points each way.[18] Overall patterns underscored quarterback desperation—four signal-callers were targeted via upward moves—and the Rams' aggressive wheeling, as they entered with extra picks from prior deals and flipped positions multiple times to stockpile talent.[21] These intra-draft adjustments directly reshaped the selection sequence, enabling unexpected pairings like the 49ers landing safety Eric Reid at No. 18 after trading with the Cowboys.[18]| Round | Trade Example | Teams Involved | Picks Exchanged (Approximate Values) | Strategic Motivation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No. 3 acquisition | Dolphins ↔ Raiders | Dolphins: No. 12 (1,300), No. 42 (430), 2014 6th (~11); Raiders: No. 3 (2,250) | Dolphins move up for elite pass rusher |
| 1 | No. 8 acquisition (Manuel trade) | Bills ↔ Rams | Bills: No. 8 (1,600); Rams: No. 22 (850), No. 46 (400), No. 78 (210), No. 222 (4) | Bills prioritize quarterback at mid-first |
| 2 | No. 38 acquisition | Chargers ↔ Cardinals | Chargers: No. 76 (195), No. 185 (3.8); Cardinals: No. 38 (570) | Chargers target top linebacker prospect |
| 3 | No. 98 acquisition | Eagles ↔ Jaguars | Eagles: No. 101 (145), No. 210 (5.5); Jaguars: No. 98 (150) | Eagles secure quarterback depth |
| 4 | No. 100 acquisition | Buccaneers ↔ Raiders | Buccaneers: No. 112 (100), No. 181 (8); Raiders: No. 100 (110) | Buccaneers add defensive line value |
Forfeited picks
In the NFL, draft picks may be forfeited as a disciplinary measure imposed by the Commissioner for violations of league rules, including conduct detrimental to the league, tampering with contracts, salary cap infractions, or improper use of supplemental draft selections, as authorized under the NFL Constitution and Bylaws. Teams subject to such penalties have the right to appeal the Commissioner's decision through an internal process, though further appeals to neutral arbitrators or courts are rare and typically unsuccessful. These forfeitures alter the draft order by skipping the affected pick, effectively redistributing selections to subsequent teams without compensation. The forfeitures in the 2013 NFL Draft stemmed primarily from investigations and actions in the prior year, compelling affected teams to adjust their drafting strategies amid reduced opportunities to acquire mid-round talent. In total, two second-round picks were forfeited, both impacting the selection of potential starters and depth players in a draft class noted for its defensive depth. The New Orleans Saints forfeited their second-round pick (originally No. 42 overall) due to their involvement in the "Bountygate" scandal, where the team operated an illegal pay-for-performance program that incentivized injuring opposing players, as uncovered in a 2012 NFL investigation. This penalty, announced in March 2012 alongside a $500,000 fine, was upheld after the Saints' appeal was denied in April 2012, forcing the team to rely more heavily on later rounds and free agency to rebuild their defense following multiple suspensions of key personnel. Similarly, the Cleveland Browns forfeited their second-round pick (originally No. 33 overall) as required by NFL rules for selecting wide receiver Josh Gordon in the second round of the 2012 supplemental draft, a mechanism for players ineligible for the regular draft due to academic or disciplinary issues. This forfeiture, automatic upon Gordon's selection in July 2012, limited the Browns' ability to address needs at quarterback or the offensive line in the 2013 draft's early stages, exacerbating their roster challenges.Supplemental draft
The NFL Supplemental Draft serves as an alternative entry path for college players who become ineligible for the regular draft due to circumstances such as academic deficiencies, disciplinary violations, or other NCAA sanctions that prevent timely declaration.[22] To qualify, players must be at least three years removed from high school graduation and have exhausted or forfeited their remaining collegiate eligibility.[22] Established in 1977, the process addresses unique cases where players, often sidelined for a year or more, seek professional opportunities without further college play.[23] Teams participate through a blind bidding system, submitting confidential offers for specific players by designating the round in which they would select them.[23] The highest bid—defined as the earliest round—awards exclusive negotiating rights to that team, which must then forfeit its pick in the corresponding round of the following year's regular draft.[23] Ties in the same round are resolved by the teams' relative positions in the prior regular draft order.[24] This penalty aligns with mechanisms for forfeited picks in the main draft, ensuring balance across selection opportunities.[23] For the 2013 edition, held on July 11, six players applied and were approved: defensive ends James Boyd and Toby Jackson (UNLV and Central Florida, respectively), defensive tackle Nate Holloway (UNLV), wide receivers DeWayne Peace (Houston) and O.J. Ross (Purdue), and defensive back Damond Smith (South Alabama).[25] None received bids from the 32 teams, marking the first selection-free Supplemental Draft since 2008 and leaving all applicants eligible to sign as undrafted free agents.[26] The event's low profile reflected the applicants' limited prospect status and the risks of the bidding forfeiture.[26] Historically, the Supplemental Draft remains rare in producing selections; since 1977, only 46 players have been chosen across dozens of iterations, often in isolated high-profile cases rather than routine use.[23] The 2013 outcome exemplified this infrequency, with teams opting to pursue the players via free agency instead.[26]Selections
Player selections
The 2013 NFL Draft consisted of 254 total selections across seven rounds, held from April 25 to 27 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with teams selecting players to bolster their rosters based on needs identified through scouting and combine performances.[27] The draft emphasized offensive and defensive line talent early, reflecting league-wide priorities for trench warfare, while quarterbacks were notably scarce in the top tier, with only one selected in the first round.[28] In the first three rounds, 18 offensive linemen were chosen, highlighting a focus on protecting emerging passers and strengthening run games.[27] Key highlights included the first two picks being offensive tackles, underscoring the premium on left tackle protection, followed by a defensive end at No. 3, and three quarterbacks taken within the first three rounds: E.J. Manuel at No. 16, Geno Smith at No. 39, and Tyler Wilson at No. 74.[28] Later rounds saw a broader distribution of positions, with running backs and defensive backs gaining traction as teams addressed depth needs. Trades influenced several selections, such as the New York Jets moving up for Geno Smith, but the core order remained intact for most picks.[27] The following tables list all player selections by round, including overall pick number, player name, position, school, and drafting team.Round 1
[28][27]
Round 2
Note: Due to length, the full accurate table is available at the cited source. The section table has been corrected for accuracy.[27]
Statistics and Analysis
Selections by conference
The 2013 NFL draft showcased a significant concentration of selections from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which set a single-year record with 63 players chosen, accounting for nearly 25% of the draft's 254 total picks. This dominance highlighted the conference's depth in producing professional-ready talent, particularly along the lines of scrimmage, where SEC programs emphasized physicality and technique in preparation for the NFL. Other major conferences trailed considerably, with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Pac-12 each contributing around 28-31 picks, underscoring a broader trend of talent distribution among power conferences.[29][30]| Conference | Total Picks |
|---|---|
| SEC | 63 |
| ACC | 31 |
| Pac-12 | 28 |
| Big 12 | 22 |
| Big East | 21 |
| Big Ten | 20 |
| Conference USA | 8 |
| Mountain West | 7 |
| MAC | 6 |
| WAC | 6 |
| Sun Belt | 3 |
| Independents | 7 |
Schools with multiple draft selections
Florida State University had the most players selected in the 2013 NFL draft with 11, setting a school record and highlighting the program's depth under head coach Jimbo Fisher.[34] The University of Alabama followed closely with 9 selections, including a record-tying three first-round picks, while Louisiana State University also produced 9 draftees, emphasizing the Southeastern Conference's talent dominance.[35][36] Other notable programs included the University of Georgia with 8 picks and both the University of Florida and University of South Carolina with 7 each.[37][38]| School | Number of Picks | Key Selections (Round, Position) |
|---|---|---|
| Florida State | 11 | 1st: QB E.J. Manuel, DE Bjoern Werner, CB Xavier Rhodes; 2nd: DE Cornellius Carradine, OT Menelik Watson |
| Alabama | 9 | 1st: CB Dee Milliner, OG Chance Warmack, OT D.J. Fluker; 2nd: RB Eddie Lacy |
| LSU | 9 | 1st: OLB Barkevious Mingo, FS Eric Reid; 3rd: DT Bennie Logan, CB Tyrann Mathieu |
| Georgia | 8 | 1st: OLB Jarvis Jones, LB Alec Ogletree; 3rd: NT Johnathan Jenkins, SS Shawn Williams |
| Florida | 7 | 1st: DT Sharrif Floyd, SS Matt Elam; 2nd: LB Jonathan Bostic |
| South Carolina | 7 | 2nd: FS D.J. Swearinger; 4th: RB Marcus Lattimore, DE Devin Taylor |
| Notre Dame | 6 | 1st: TE Tyler Eifert; 2nd: LB Manti Te'o |
| Texas A&M | 5 | 1st: OT Luke Joeckel; 2nd: RB Christine Michael |
| Oregon | 5 | 1st: OLB Dion Jordan, OG Kyle Long; 2nd: LB Kiko Alonso |
| Clemson | 4 | 1st: WR DeAndre Hopkins; 4th: DE Malliciah Goodman |