The 2013 NFL Draft is nearly upon us

Brett Davis

Will Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft?

With the irreplaceable, unpredictable and anything but ordinary collection of three days that is the NFL Draft starting this Thursday at 8 PM ET, teams, draftniks and fans from around the country are all eagerly awaiting that infamous introduction from the league's commissioner:

"The 2013 NFL Draft is now open."

After that, all bets are officially off and if you think you're a "draft expert" or "draft guru" and that you have the most legit draft board (collection of players and where they will be drafted) available, be prepared to feel like a dope.

Sometimes, the draftniks do get it right. It may seem easy to do their job, but if you look at the work and effort that most of these guys put into their craft, you can't help but to appreciate their input.

Last year, while I was covering the 2012 NFL Draft and 2012 NFL Scouting Combine for Stampede Blue, I was lucky enough to be able to get a rare glimpse into the drafting world and just how difficult and tiresome  it can actually be.

Mock drafts - replications of the draft that can be done by virtually anyone - have been around since, well, forever. Finding a mock draft that nails a few picks really isn't all that hard.

When the draft rolls around, there's usually a team or two (or three) that has either leaked or hinted at their draft selection via private workouts and/or blatant flirtation. Last year, the Colts made it known to the world that they were taking then-Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck days before the draft even took place.

This year's talent, however, isn't so concrete. The popular pick to go No. 1 overall is Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, but anything could happen. The Chiefs, who hold the No. 1 pick, could trade down (trade their pick for more picks later in the draft) or might find they like another prospect more. That said, finding a mock draft that correctly predicts most of the first round, let alone the following seven, is truly a rarity.


Why? Well, most teams obviously don't want to reveal their draft plans. Some teams may even talk up a player in hopes that another team will take him so the guy they really want falls to their selection. The draft is where championship teams are built and it requires a certain amount of finesse and cojones, if you will, to secure your future star.

Kevin C. Cox

Russell Wilson was just seconds away from taking the Seahawks
to the NFC Championship game as a rookie.

This year's draft has no surefire home run pick like in 2012. Luke Joeckel is close - he's played against big school competition and he is a perfect specimen for his position - and it seems he'll go numero uno, but those pros don't simply translate into success. In other words, there are no Andrew Luck's or Robert Griffin's available this year, but teams are holding onto hope that they will find the next Russell Wilson.

Due to Wilson's height (5'11"), or lack thereof, he was passed over by many teams who needed a quarterback and needed one badly. When his name was finally called in the third round, no one was surprised, until he actually got a chance to play, that is. After battling his way through training camp to win the starting job, Wilson led the Seahawks to an 11-5 record and a playoff win over the guy who was picked second overall, Robert Griffin III.

Yes, ladies and gents, this is why the draft is so exciting, year after year. Sleeper picks, as they call guys like Wilson, can be hiding anywhere in the later rounds of the draft and if your team can hit on those picks, they may just be fighting for a Lombardi trophy come January.

Good luck, football fans, and thanks for reading!