Sports Illustrated releases its first 2013 NFL Draft big board

Gamedayr | January 23, 2013 at 6:10 pm | 1 Comment

Texas A&M Aggies tackle Luke Joeckel (76) blocks Oklahoma Sooners defensive end Geneo Grissom (85) during the Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium. Texas A&M beat Oklahoma 41-13. (Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)

Sports Illustrated has not released a mock draft, but rather a listing of whom they believe to be the top 40 players available for the upcoming 2013 NFL Draft. The players are ranked specifically by talent, ability and the eye test.

[Check out where each of these guys are going to be selected in our 2013 NFL Mock Draft]

Team needs are not taken into account, and nor is the draft order in any way. Quarterbacks are obviously the cornerstones of any franchise, but the 2013 crop of players boasts several linemen that promise to anchor an offensive or defensive line for a decade. Thus, the top of the heap is crowded with big men, whereas the top quarterbacks are ranked far lower than in years past — especially last season, when Andrew Luck and RGIII topped every ranking out there.

The SEC, and Alabama in particular, dominates a lot of this list. That will either make you sick to your stomach or have you pumped for the glory of your conference.

Who would you love to see land with your favorite team?

40. Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

39. Khaseem Green, LB, Rutgers Scarlet Knights

38. Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma Sooners

37. Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

36. Margus Hunt, DE, Southern Methodist Mustangs

35. John Jenkins, DT, Georgia Bulldogs

34. Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama Crimson Tide

33. Matt Barkley, QB, USC Trojans

32. Kawaan Short, DE, Purdue Boilermakers

31. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson Tigers

30. Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama Crimson Tide

29. Matt Elam, S, Florida Gators

28. Kevin Minter, LB, LSU Tigers

27. Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State Seminoles

26. Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford Cardinal

25. Tavon Austin, WR/RB, West Virginia Mountaineers

24. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida Gators

23. Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

22. DJ Fluker, OT, Alabama Crimson Tide

21. Jonathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State Buckeyes

20. Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU Tigers

19. Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas Longhorns

18. Ezekial Ansah, DE, BYU Cougars

17. Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina Tar Heels

16. Alex Okafor, DE, Texas Longhorns

15. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia Mountaineers

14. Sheldon Richardson, DT, Mizzou Tigers

13. Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia Bulldogs

12. Dion Jordan, LB, Oregon Ducks

11. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee Volunteers

10. Barkevious Mingo, LB/DE, LSU Tigers

9. Keenan Allen, WR, Cal Golden Bears

8. Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah Utes

7. Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia Bulldogs

6. Bjoern Werner, DT, Florida State Seminoles

5. Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama Crimson Tide.

4. Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan Chippewas

3. Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M Aggies

2. Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama Crimson Tide

1. Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M Aggies

Every team in the NFL needs superstar linemen, and this draft is absolutely chock-full of them. Also, with Ray Lewis and possibly Brian Urlacher playing their last games for the Ravens and Bears, respectively, this is a fantastic year to re-stock at linebacker.

However, it is lucky several teams chose their franchise quarterbacks last year, because this year’s class is weak, to say the least. Two projected first-round picks, Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson and NC State’s Mike Glennon, did not even cracked the top 40 in terms of raw talent and ability.