NFL Draft Day 2 storylines: Big names set to come off the board

Geno Smith, Manti Te’o, Matt Barkley and even Tyrann Mathieu could hear their name called tonight.

Apr 26, 2013, 5:30 PM UTC

Al Bello

Although the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft has come and gone, arguably the biggest “names” are still available. For the casual fan, they’ll recognize more players picked today than they did in the first round. Here are the major storylines to follow today:

Geno Smith Watch 2013

Much like the great Brady Quinn Watch of 2007 and Aaron Rodgers Watch 2005, Geno Smith will be the overarching theme of the second round until he’s picked. But which of those two will Smith become? Will he be the angry, chipped-shoulder Rodgers or the despondent Quinn? Wherever Smith gets drafted, his attitude will be directly related to his success. Oh, and please don’t equate Smith returning to Radio City Music Hall tonight as a display of mental strength. That’s no different than thinking the exact opposite had he gone home.

Quarterback bonanza

Smith isn't the only quarterback who will hear his named called tonight. With Matt Barkley, Mike Glennon, Ryan Nassib, Landry Jones, Zac Dysert and Tyler Wilson, NFL teams will be able to find a good quarterback today. It won't be a surprise to see a team with a good quarterback already pick a signal caller to develop and trade him. That could be a team like Tampa Bay, where Josh Freeman is in the final year of his contract, or the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans.

Intrigue at 33rd

With the draft now split into three days, the first pick of the second round is always viewed by the media as a hot commodity. As you'd expect, the Jaguars are reportedly shopping the pick. If they keep it, a quarterback could be in play, despite most thinking otherwise. The Jags could also go for a safety like Jonathan Cyprien or one of the top cornerbacks if they keep it. But with the first pick in the second round, the Jaguars could trade the pick and still land a great player.

Manti Te'o overload

When the Minnesota Vikings traded back into the first round, many thought our ongoing football nightmare was ending. Manti Te’o would get drafted by a team known to love Notre Dame players, and finally the linebacker with a fake dead girlfriend would sink out of our conscience. Nope. We get another full day involving Te’o. It would be fine to devise a drinking game about Te’o mentions (how original!), but you’d like end up dead.

How do the Bills follow it up?

Unquestionably, the Bills made the biggest gamble in the first round by taking quarterback EJ Manuel. But in trading down from pick No. 8 to 16, it got them a second-round pick. Now it's up to general manager Buddy Nix to use it properly. There will likely be a good wide receiver with the 41st pick. It would be smart for the Bills to pick someone like Keenan Allen or Robert Woods.

Run on running backs

For the first time since 1963, a running back wasn't taken in the first round of the draft. Today we'll see players like Eddie Lacy of Alabama, Johnathan Franklin of UCLA and possibly Montee Ball of Wisconsin and Andre Ellington of Clemson come off the board. The real intrigue is Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina. Healthy and he's a top-15 overall pick. If a team gets him in the third round and he works out, it could be the steal of the draft.

Third round after party

Remember that time Tyrann Mathieu was going to have a first round after party and canceled it? Maybe he can have one tonight following the third round. That is, if he actually gets picked today. It's no guarantee, especially following the news that he skipped out on meeting with the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks due to illness.

Patriots making moves

After dropping out of the first round, as expected, the Patriots are loaded up with draft picks. The team has four picks today: 52, 59, 83 and 91. The Patriots could use all four picks. Maybe more likely one of those third rounders gets flipped for a second next year. Bill Belichick is smarter than all of us. He’ll show it today.