After the Jaguars took two cornerbacks at the top of the 7th round, the Vikings had consecutive picks shortly thereafter. For the first time in the 2013 NFL Draft, a team selected with back-to-back picks and the Vikings spent just about all their alotted time with both the No. 213 and No. 214 selections.
2013 NFL Draft results: Vikings add size with consecutive picks
The No. 213 and 214 picks represented the first time in the 2013 NFL Draft that a team had consecutive picks.
Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Jets, Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns selected in the three picks that followed. The five selections went as follows:
213. Minnesota Vikings: Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State
Had it not been for three ACL tears during his time at Penn State, there’s plenty of reason to believe that Mauti wouldn’t have been a 7th-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. At 6-2, 243 pounds, he has the build of a starting middle linebacker and has the instincts to match.
The question will absolutely be whether or not he can manage to be healthy and avoid the devastating knee injuries that defined his collegiate career. If healthy, there's reason to believe that Mauti could edge Gerald Hodges for the starting spot for the Vikings, making it a tremendous value for a playoff-level team.
214: Minnesota Vikings: Travis Bond, G, North Carolina
One round after adding UCLA guard Jeff Baca, the Vikings added further depth along the interior with Bond. While Baca was just 6-4, 300-pounds and had versatility at a few positions, Bond is a much bigger lineman at 6-6, 329 pounds with 35.5-inch arms.
While he isn't fast and he doesn't have the first step that allowed him to use that size at tackle, Bond has a natural size that can't be taught. The other guard on the UNC line, opposite Jonathan Cooper will have the chance to compete with Baca and other VIkings lineman for a spot on the roster.
215. New York Jets: Tommy Bohanon, FB, Wake Forest
Bohanon was a relatively unknown fullback at the 2013 NFL Combine until his 36 reps on the bench press caught eyes. At 6-1, 246 pounds, he has the stout size of a prototypical fullback and clearly has the strength as evidenced by his combine performance, but is limited as a ball-carrier with 4.81 speed.
The Jets didn't have much at the fullback position in 2012 and, all jokes aside, Tim Tebow was ineffective in the role. Bohanon can offer competition for the Jets and a potential upgrade from Lex Hilliard in 2013, while also offering everything that Tebow did as a receiver.
216. Green Bay Packers: Charles Johnson, WR, Grand Valley State
One of the biggest stories of the offseason for the Packers was the loss of Pro Bowl receiver Greg Jennings and the retirement of Donald Driver. The team isn't exactly doomed at receiver, though, with James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Regardless, the departures of two long-time fixtures leaves holes on the roster.
Johnson, a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, will have a chance to compete for one of those spots and has the size/speed combination to make a run at the job. At 6-2, 215 pounds, Johnson has 4.39 speed and a 39.5-inch vertical jump that makes him one of the better athletes in the entire draft class for the Packers.
217. Cleveland Browns: Armonty Bryant, OLB, E. Central Oklahoma
Any time a team begins a transition into a new defensive scheme, they need to add a multitude of players that fit as pass rushers in the new system. The Browns added Barkevious Mingo with their first pick and a few players in free agency, but continued to add to the linebacker corps with Bryant in the 7th round.
Bryant is a small school prospect that will have to make the jump to a much higher level of competition. At 6-4, 263 pounds with huge 35.75-inch arms, Bryant will likely fit in as an outside linebacker for the Browns, but did get looks at defensive end during the pre-draft process as well.
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