Revisiting the 2013 NFL Draft 10 years later ft. DeAndre Hopkins and Travis Kelce
The 2023 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and GMs across the league are gearing up for what promises to be another chaotic drafting process.
Many of the players drafted into the pros from college this year will be a success, while others will be complete busts. This is the same as almost every draft class in history – some absolute home runs, and some absolute failures.
As crazy as it seems, the 2013 NFL Draft took place 10 years ago, when some of the best players of the last decade were first drafted – some high up and some not so much.
Here is a look back at the 2013 draft to see which household names entered the league that year, as well as reminiscing about some of the players who didn’t make the grade after being selected.
1st overall pick
The Kansas City Chiefs held the first selection of the 2013 NFL Draft after having the worst record in 2012, and have since become one of the best teams in the tournament.
With that selection, they drafted offensive tackle Eric Fisher out of Central Michigan. Fisher took a while to blossom but has since proven to be a solid NFL starter, making two Pro Bowls in 2018 and 2020.
Fisher won a Super Bowl ring in 2019 while with the Chiefs, and has since spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins.
Some offensive linemen drafted this year who would arguably have been more worthy of the first pick included Terron Armstead, Lane Johnson and Travis Frederick.
Quarterbacks
Arguably the worst quarterback draft in recent memory, the 2013 NFL Draft saw just one QB taken in round one. EJ Manuel was selected 16th overall by Buffalo Bills, but he was a total bust.
Manuel only passed for 20 career touchdowns against 16 interceptions in 18 starts, and he was out of the league by 2017.
Geno Smith props up this class on his own, but he was labeled a bust before the breakout 2022 season with the Seattle Seahawks.
Smith was selected with the 39th overall pick in the second round by the Jets in the 2013 NFL Draft.
He was named the starting QB in his rookie season, but saw some ups and downs throughout the year. https://t.co/xbAEbzcecg
Skill positions
Just three Pro Bowl-level backs were selected in 2013, as well as C.J. Anderson, who went undrafted. Le’Veon Bell, Eddie Lacy and Latavius Murray highlight this class, with Bell being the clear standout, despite not suiting up in the NFL since 2021 and having since turned to boxing.
The lack of RB talent was made up for by the quality of receivers who entered the league back in 2013.
DeAndre Hopkins has been amongst the very best for a decade for both the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals.
Keenan Allen has been an excellent safety blanket wideout for Justin Herbert, and All-Pro returnman Cordarelle Patterson has had a late-career resurgence as an RB/WR for the Atlanta Falcons.
Some of the very best tight ends in the NFL were also drafted back in 2013, with Tyler Eifert, Zach Ertz and Travis Kelce highlighting an excellent class.
Kelce has been one of the finest receivers in football when paired up with Patrick Mahomes, and many already believe him to be the best tight end of all-time. He will look to pick up his second Super Bowl ring this weekend when Kansas City faces off against the Philadelphia Eagles.
(via @NFLFilms).@tkelce celebrating his first Super Bowl win with his dad is everything 🥹 ❤️ (via @NFLFilms) https://t.co/bErnuD6ATw
Defense
Along with offensive studs like Kelce and Hopkins, there were also plenty of elite defensive players taken in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Darius Slay and Xavier Rhodes were selected in the early rounds, with both making multiple Pro Bowls throughout their careers.
Tyrann Mathieu somehow fell to the Arizona Cardinals in the third round and went on to be one of the best safeties of his generation. So much so that he was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2010s.
Undrafted
Many household names slipped through the net of all 32 teams in the 2013 draft, not being given a chance to thrive until after the NFL draft was over.
Adam Thielen, Jason Myers, C.J. Anderson and A.J. Bouye all made Pro Bowls from this class after failing to be picked in the 254 selections.
Busts
It wouldn't be a draft piece without a mention of the massive busts selected in the 2013 NFL Draft.
The Jaguars took Luke Joeckel second-overall, but he was out of the league by 2017, and the aforementioned EJ Manuel also definitely falls into the bust category.
Dee Milliner was drafted ninth-overall by the Jets, but the cornerback couldn't stay healthy, playing just 21 games in his three-year career - but it would be harsh to label him a bust.