Dean Michaels
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
1 Kansas City Eric Fisher OT
2 Jacksonville Luke Joeckel OT
3 Miami Dion Jordan OLB
4 Philadelphia Lane Johnson OT
5 Detroit Ezekiel Ansah DE
6 Cleveland Barkevious Mingo DE
7 Arizona Jonathan Cooper OG
8 St Louis Tavon Austin WR
9 NY Jets Dee Milliner CB
10 Tennessee Chance Warmack OG
11 San Diego D.J Fluker OT
12 Oakland DJ Hayden CB
13 NY Jets Sheldon Richardson DT
14 Carolina Star Lotulelei DT
15 New Orleans Kenny Vaccaro SS
Pick | Team | Player | Position |
---|---|---|---|
Source: NFL | |||
1 | Kansas City | Eric Fisher | OT |
2 | Jacksonville | Luke Joeckel | OT |
3 | Miami | Dion Jordan | OLB |
4 | Philadelphia | Lane Johnson | OT |
5 | Detroit | Ezekiel Ansah | DE |
6 | Cleveland | Barkevious Mingo | DE |
7 | Arizona | Jonathan Cooper | OG |
8 | St | Louis Tavon Austin | WR |
9 | NY Jets | Dee Milliner | CB |
10 | Tennessee | Chance Warmack | OG |
11 | San Diego | D.J Fluker | OT |
12 | Oakland | DJ Hayden | CB |
13 | NY Jets | Sheldon Richardson | DT |
14 | Carolina | Star Lotulelei | DT |
15 | New Orleans | Kenny Vaccaro | SS |
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.
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Chiefs Pick Offensive Tackle Eric Fisher as Top Pick - 2013 NFL Draft