College pro days have finished up and the NFL Combine is long gone, and now it’s time for NFL teams to get to know prospects on a personal level. Pre-draft visits will be in full swing up until the start of the 2013 NFL Draft on April 25, as teams take every opportunity they can to evaluate players for their ever-shifting draft boards.
NFL Draft 2013: Geno Smith visits Eagles, Kenny Vaccaro visits Bengals
Pre-draft visits are in full swing, with the 2013 NFL Draft fast approaching. Here’s a quick roundup of some of Wednesday’s action, including Geno Smith’s visit with the Eagles, Kenny Vaccaro’s visit with the Bengals, and Michael Mauti’s visit with the Steelers.
USA TODAY Sports
On Wednesday, there was plenty of activity around the league, including Geno Smith's visit to the Philadelphia Eagles and Kenny Vaccaro's visit with the Cincinnati Bengals. Here are the highlights from those visits, among others:
- Smith is the near unanimous top quarterback prospect in the 2013 draft class, and could be a potentially strong fit with the Eagles assuming his trip Wednesday means there is serious interest from the organization. His underrated athleticism could make him a candidate to run the read-option. Smith would have to fall to No. 4, however, which is no guarantee. On Tuesday he met with the Kansas City Chiefs, who hold the No. 1 overall pick.
- Vaccaro was on an early flight to Cincinnati on Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport. The former Texas Longhorn's versatility would certainly make him a welcome addition to the Bengals' defensive backfield. Vaccaro may not last all the way until the No. 21 overall pick, however. He is projected to go No. 16 in the draft to the St. Louis Rams in SB Nation's latest mock draft.
- Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti visited with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Because Mauti is a local product, his visit did not count against the 30 that each NFL team is allotted prior to the draft. Mauti has a bad history of knee injuries, but he was incredibly productive for the Nittany Lions when he was able to stay on the field. He could be a potential steal late in the draft, assuming he can somehow remain healthy.
- Ohio State right tackle Reid Fragel has a ton of visits upcoming. He will meet with the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals in coming weeks, according to Tony Pauline at DraftInsider.net. Pauline added that Fragel is quite possibly the most underrated right tackle heading into the draft.
- It's no secret that the Patriots are on the prowl for talented wide receivers. On Wednesday, they hosted Oklahoma's Kenny Stills, who was a prolific target for Landry Jones in college. Last season, Stills caught 82 passes for 959 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has good speed, though some wonder whether he has the frame and strength to be productive at the next level.
- Clemson defensive end Mallicah Goodman isn’t considered one of the top prospects in the draft, but he drew enough interest from the Steelers to earn a visit Wednesday. Goodman was productive as a senior, racking up 9.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks and four forced fumbles. He doesn’t possess great speed, but his long 6’4 frame and strength should be enticing to NFL teams.
More from SB Nation:
See More:
