A week from Thursday rumors start to become reality at the 2013 NFL Draft. Until then, we’ve still got news, rumors and visits aplenty leading up to the main event of the NFL offseason. This is the latest look around the league as of Tuesday evening.
2013 NFL Draft buzz: Margus Hunt meeting with Colts; Dion Jordan visits Lions
A pair of pass rushers met with Indianapolis and Detroit, respectively, plus other news buzzing across the NFL Draft landscape.
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The former SMU Mustangs defensive end, the ninth-rated prospect at this deep position by SB Nation's Matthew Fairburn, could be sought by Indianapolis as a potential replacement for Dwight Freeney. The mammoth Hunt, at 6'8 and 277 pounds, is a fringe first-rounder in many mock drafts and the Colts, who have the 24th overall pick in the draft, will have their pick of more than a few defensive ends should they decide to go that route.
Stampede Blue’s Matt Grecco analyzed Hunt as Indianapolis’s possible first-round pick:
The Colts haven’t addressed their need for pass rushers in free agency, which means they’ll undoubtedly take somebody, preferably high in the draft. I’ve seen Hunt go as high as 15th overall, and some have him going in the 2nd round. It won’t be a reach to see Hunt drafted at pick #24, but if we are to believe Colts GM Ryan Grigson, the Colts will take the best player available, and I can’t make an argument that Hunt will be the best player available at pick #24. If the Colts were to trade back into the 30s I think an argument can be made, but not at #24.
Even with the fifth overall pick in the draft, the Lions may not get a shot at Jordan, the second-rated hybrid outside linebacker-defensive end prospect by SB Nation's Dan Kadar, but they still wanted a look at the former Oregon Duck on Tuesday. Jordan is projected to be drafted second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in Matthew Fairburn's latest mock draft for SB Nation, but Pride Of Detroit's Sean Yuille says, if he's available, Jordan could fill the pass-rushing void along the Lions' defensive line.
The Florida State Seminoles offensive tackle from England played one season in Tallahassee but is Matthew Fairburn's fifth-rated tackle prospect, and is projected to go at No. 27 to the Houston Texans in Fairburn's mock. With some of the draft's best overall players in Watson's position group, and therefore likely to be gone earlier on draft night, Watson could benefit from teams at the back end of the first round who are seeking help up front.
Look down between the Nos. 7-13 range of Dan Kadar's wide receiver prospect rankings and you'll find Louisiana Tech's Quinton Patton, Ryan Swope, out of Texas A&M, and Markus Wheaton, from Oregon State. While the first round could see a handful of receivers taken off the board, these guys will likely be waiting a little longer. They're all generating their fair share of interest, however, as Patton -- the No. 7 wideout in Kadar's ratings -- has visited teams such as the Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams.
Swope, No. 13 on SB Nation's list, has made recent trips to see the Chicago Bears (Here's a draft profile of Swope from Windy City Gridiron), San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills. Wheaton, a spot above Swope at No. 12 on Kadar's rankings, met with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers not long ago, and all three could potentially get scooped up in round two.
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