Dean Michaels

Chiefs Pick Offensive Tackle Eric Fisher as Top Pick in 2013 NFL Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs backed up their declaration that Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher was the best player available, taking him as first overall pick in Thursday's NFL Draft.

"I still can't believe it," said Fisher, who became the highest NFL draft pick ever from Central Michigan and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). He was also the first offensive lineman taken No. 1 overall since Jake Long in 2008.

Fisher was the anchor at left tackle for the CMU team that averaged nearly 400 yards per game in 2012, including 6.2 yards per play.

During his junior season, he started in each of the season's first 10 games and was later honored as co-recipient of the school's Upfront Player of the Year award, helping an offensive line that produced more than 560 yards in two different games.

Fisher's strong play in 2012, including all 13 starts at left tackle, earned him first-team All-MAC honors as he helped running back Zurlon Tipton rush for 1,492 yards and 19 TDs, the second-highest total ever by a Chippewa.

He also helped protect QB Ryan Radcliff, who threw for 3,000-plus yards for the third-consecutive season (3,158) and posted the best touchdown-to-interception ratio of his career (23-9).

Before the Chiefs took Fisher, they engaged in a trade talk with the Miami Dolphins regarding offensive tackle Branden Albert but it failed to materialize.

The Jacksonville Jaguars also took an offensive tackle, Texas A &M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel as second overall. Joeckel was Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel's blindside protector.

Joeckel is seen as security as offensive tackle Eugene Monroe is set to become a free agent in 2014. The Jaguars has no intention of extending Monroe's contract until after head coach Gus Bradley and his staff sees him in action this season.

Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins traded their No. 12 and No. 42 overall picks to the Oakland Raiders for the No. 3 pick, which they used to take Oregon defensive end/linebacker Dion Jordan.

2013 NFL Draft Top 15 Picks
Pick Team Player Position
Source: NFL
1Kansas CityEric FisherOT
2JacksonvilleLuke JoeckelOT
3MiamiDion JordanOLB
4PhiladelphiaLane JohnsonOT
5DetroitEzekiel AnsahDE
6ClevelandBarkevious MingoDE
7ArizonaJonathan CooperOG
8StLouis Tavon AustinWR
9NY JetsDee MillinerCB
10TennesseeChance WarmackOG
11San DiegoD.J FlukerOT
12OaklandDJ HaydenCB
13NY JetsSheldon RichardsonDT
14CarolinaStar LotuleleiDT
15New OrleansKenny VaccaroSS

 

Dan Rubenstein and Matt Ufford are joined by Pride of Detroit's Jerry Mallory and the unparalleled Nick Stevens to go through their bests and worsts of the night, and then a rundown/evaluation of each pick of the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

 

Chiefs Pick Offensive Tackle Eric Fisher as Top Pick - 2013 NFL Draft