Johnthan Banks. (Getty Images)

43. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State -- Interesting player. The fact that Banks has played some free safety at a fairly high level makes him an interesting positional chip at the next level, especially with teams that like to play heavy nickel and dime coverages, and move their guys around. Late in his career, Charles Woodson showed the amazing value of such players, and while Banks isn't at that level yet (he may never be, but Woodson's a deadlock Hall-of-Famer), he does possess some striking attributes that transition well to today's NFL. He's got the kind of open-field ranginess teams prefer when facing an abundance of three- and four-receiver sets, he plays well in the slot, and he can move up high in different packages.

44. Carolina Panthers: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue -- Big man who can plug up the middle and disrupt to a point, but effort is an issue at times. Streaky player who will need to be motivated to give his absolute best at all times.

45. Arizona Cardinals: Kevin Minter, LB, LSU -- With all the talk about speed linebackers and half-field defenders in today's NFL, there are still teams that feature three or four spots in their defense for linebackers on a very high percentage of their plays. Minter fits that role, and should be able to establish himself very quickly. There's no question that he needs to stay close to his assignment due to speed and lateral agility limitations, but he's by far the best pure downhill pursuer and hitter among all the linebackers in this class.

46. Buffalo Bills: Kiko Alonso, OLB, Oregon -- Big, athletic linebacker who shows excellent range in multiple spots. One of the difference-makers in Oregon's fast-paced defense. Can cover in the intermediate areas more than he can come up and hit. Off-field baggage is pretty serious -- DUI, burglary, criminal mischief and criminal trespass. Maybe he can stay out of trouble in upstate New York.

47. Dallas Cowboys: -- Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State -- Huge tight end (6-foot-6 254) with impressive athleticism and speed in space. Plays in the slot and flex. Less a traditional tight end int he Jason Witten mold; more a hybrid guy.

Heard of this guy? (Getty Images)

38. San Diego Chargers: Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame -- Even before the scandal broke, the narrative on Te'o changed from "sure high first-round pick" to "high-character guy with some ugly game tape." With nothing but the tape and a host of personal questions left to answer, NFL teams have to wonder what they're getting if they select Manti Te'o -- especially after a slow 40 at the scouting combine. That performance in Indianapolis also left people wondering how Te'o, who had reduced about 15 pounds from his formerly 6-foot-2, 255-pound frame, could effectively match up with the speed of the modern NFL. Now, we'll see.

39. New York Jets: Geno Smith, QB, West Vriginia -- Well, it's not like this pick will get any media hype. Seriously, he is now the Jets' best quarterback, and this tells you precisely what the new regime thinks of Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. Smith is not a fully developed quarterback yet, but he presents the most intriguing skill set of any signal-caller in this (admittedly mediocre) draft class at his position. Just as the first half of his 2012 season overinflated expectations to an impossible degree, I believe that he's being castigated too much for the Mountaineers' late-season collapse. He's a big, mobile quarterback who has excelled with his mobility in New York's  run-based system, Smith has what it takes to make it in the NFL sooner than later.

40. San Francisco 49ers: Cornellius "Tank" Carradine, DE, Florida State -- The best pass-rusher in this class. Had he not suffered a knee injury last season, may have been a top-15 pick. Great fit for the 49ers' defensive line rotation. Carradine comes off the ball consistently with great burst, and a good low bend most of the time. If the edge rush isn't happening, he's got estimable upper-body strength and an effective, if raw, rip move to set tackles and tight ends straight. Has a pretty ferocious inside stunt move that could be developed even more -- this is where he shows impressive straight-line speed to the quarterback, especially for his size. Has no problem with mixing it up in a physical style with larger, more aggressive offensive linemen. Excellent sideline-to-sideline speed and agility to help with crashing through run plays -- he will also use this to flush quarterbacks out of the pocket.

41. Buffalo Bills: Robert Woods, WR, USC -- With E.J. Manuel and Woods, the Bills have added a great deal to their offense. When I was watching Woods' tape, the two words that came to mind over and over were "vision" and "awareness." This is a player who understands where he is in the passing game at all times, and isn't just running around freelancing -- something, by the way, that Marqise Lee has to solve before the NFL gets hold of him. Woods is a sneaky-fast player who will surprise enemy defenses at every level by using angles and spaces to get open and make plays. Great pick.

42. Oakland Raiders: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State -- Ridiculously athletic blocker with some spatial awareness issues. Tends to flame out against complex stunts and blitzes, and isn't always where he's supposed to be, but his athleticism and relative football inexperience make him a tantalizing prospect over time.

Jonathan Cyprien. (Getty Images)

33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International -- Perhaps the steal of the draft. Should have been a first-rounder. At 6-foot-0 and 217 pounds, Cyprien has the valuable ability to play front-half and back-half coverage with relatively equal aplomb, which makes him an interesting chip in today's more advanced defenses. In addition, his experience in the slot makes him a potential every-down defender. You want versatility? In 2012, he led his team in tackles (93) and interceptions (four). You want durability and dependability? How about 45 collegiate starts in four seasons? Some NFL teams will devalue any player who doesn't light it up for one of the big schools, but he's certainly transcended that stigma.

34. Tennessee Titans: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee -- Greg Cosell of NFL Films, ESPN's NFL Matchup, and Shutdown Corner regards Hunter very highly, referring to Cordarrelle Patterson as Tennessee's "other" receiver. 6-foot-4, 196-pound target with great speed, range, and catch radius. Has the potential to become Jake Locker's primary downfield target in a big hurry.

35. Philadelphia Eagles: Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford -- Ertz is not one of the new wave of "big receiver" tight ends who stretch defenses from multiple positions. His relatively slow foot speed and limited agility will push him closer to the line in the NFL, where he can use his size and skill in open spaces. He's not quite physical enough to excel as an inline blocker and pure attribute to the run game, and he will never have the pure seam speed you'd see from Aaron Hernandez or Jimmy Graham. He's not going to hog any highlight films, but Ertz is the kind of player who, with more development in certain areas, will put up 80-100 catches per season -- and make it look easier than it actually is.

36. Detroit Lions: Darius Slay, CB, Mississippi State -- One of the fastest defensive player in this draft class. Ran a 4.31 40 at the scouting combine. Not a very experienced player (one-year starter at the BCS level) but has tons of field agility and overall upside. Should push for major time right away in Detroit's secondary, and can certainly run up the seam and through the boundary with just about anyone.

37. Cincinnati Bengals: Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina -- 5-foot-9, 202-pound back with excellent power and burst. Gets his pads low and runs with attitude. Doesn't have elite downfield speed, but an excellent drive-extending back in Cincinnati's power offense.

Apparently, Honey Badger just don't care. (Getty Images)LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu doesn't have any margin for error when it comes to his draft stock. The substance abuse issues that caused him to get booted off the Tigers' roster before the 2012 season, and caused him to fail more drug tests than he could remember, have a lot of people wondering if the former Heisman Trophy finalist is draftable at all, despite his estimable talent.

And as he goes through the last vestiges of the pre-draft process, it appears that Mathieu is still kicking up some dirt. According to FOX Sports' Jay Glazer, Mathieu had recent visits scheduled with the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks, but cancelled them due to illness.

"Honey Badger got sick last wk & had to blow off 2 team visits," Glazer wrote on his Twitter account. "Any other player, no prob. Him? Everything he does is put under a microscope. Still think he gets picked Day 2."

Per Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune, the Seahawks have confirmed that the visit was cancelled.

Mathieu certainly seemed to be feeling better at a gathering held in New York during the first round of the NFL draft, and USA Today's Robert Klemko was along for the ride. Mathieu reportedly believed that he could be selected with the 18th overall pick once the San Francisco 49ers traded up with the Dallas Cowboys, but it was Eric Reid, Mathieu's LSU teammate, who went to the Bay Area instead. And at the end of the first round, the Baltimore Ravens selected Florida safety Matt Elam, believed to be the best pure slot defender in the draft that people are taking seriously because he isn't full of red flags,

But as Glazer intimated, Mathieu have enough on-field potential to have NFL teams interested in him as a second-day prospect -- most likely in the third round, if this latest bit of news doesn't drop his stock even further.

At the scouting combine, Mathieu sounded legitimately repentant ... but there's what you say when you're supposed to, and there's the day-to-day reality.

The Vikings managed quite the first-round haul. (Getty Images)

It was a draft that few found easy to figure out, and after one round of the 2013 edition of the National Football League's player selection process, there were quite a few shockers that had most observers shaking their heads.

The Minnesota Vikings became the first team since the 2001 St. Louis Rams to manage three picks in the first round -- there was their 23rd pick, the 25th pick they received from the Seattle Seahawks in the Percy Harvin trade, and the 29th pick they received in a draft-day trade with the New England Patriots. The 2001 haul for the Rams ended in a Super Bowl appearance, and the Vikings are hoping that the additions of Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes, and Tennessee receiver Cordarrelle Patterson will increase their chances to advance in the postseason. The last time the Vikings had three picks in the first round was 1967, and they grabbed defensive tackle Alan Page -- perhaps the greatest player in franchise history.

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman was actually in the middle of a press conference discussing the Floyd and Rhodes picks when he had to excuse himself to execute the trade with the Patriots. Spielman later said that Patterson's skill set made the extra work worth it.

"We had talked about potentially moving up to try to go get [Patterson on Friday] but when something came to fruition tonight while I was talking to you guys, we wanted to jump on that," Spielman later told the media. "We were very, very aggressive to go do that just because I know what he can do as a receiver. But especially what he can do as a potential punt and kickoff returner because he is magic in that area as well."

By the time the Vikings took their picks, another bit of history had been made, when the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars took Central Michigan's Eric Fisher and Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel with the first two selections -- the first time offensive tackles were taken back-to-back with the first two picks.

"You build your foundation with players like Eric," new Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said.

It was also the first draft since 1963 in which no running back was selected, which leaves some interesting prospects for NFL teams in the second round and beyond. Alabama's Eddie Lacy, UCLA's Jonathan Franklin, and Wisconsin's Monte Ball are three names to watch.

One of the primary names to watch in the first round was that of the New York Jets, who grabbed an extra high first-round pick by way of their trade of cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Those who were thinking Rex Ryan was a lame-duck head coach and new general manager John Idzik might make a play for more playmakers to benefir quarterback Mark Sanchez were left to think again. With the ninth overall pick, the Jets took Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, and they used Tampa Bay's former 13th overall pick to take Missouri's Sheldon Richardson, one of the most dynamic penetrating defensive tackles in this draft class.

"We love what they bring to the defense -- the kind of mentality that both these young men play are the same traits we look for in all our players," Ryan said.

For their parts, Milliner and Richardson appeared supremely confident - -even claiming that they couldn't wait to get a closer look at Tom Brady.

(Getty Images)

The Baltimore Ravens have selected Florida S Matt Elam with the 32th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft.

Pros: Short player, but Elam has an outstanding combination of musculature and quickness and he put up a 35.5-inch vertical leap at the scouting combine. Has the range and game speed to play wide in quarters and thirds coverage, though projects best as a slot defender and quick box player. Shows tremendous closing speed when coming down from coverage to tackle and provide run support. Has good recovery quickness on close cuts and doesn't get embarrassed too often on slants, in-cuts, and comebacks. Has the deep speed to provide boundary support on long sideline passes -- boxes his receiver into position well. Covers well up and down the seam -- this may be his best role in the NFL.

Excellent slot defender who turns and runs with faster receivers, transitions from his first to second responsibilities in mixed coverage, and sticks with his man on routes with cuts and angles. Tackles powerfully and with authority when he wraps up and uses proper technique -- surprising strength prevents further yards after contact. Can play the back half well, but he isn't a single-high center fielder. Reads keys in the backfield and follows the action -- probably a better man than zone player. Has the quickness, aggressiveness, and strength to blitz from the line or from linebacker depth. Impressive ball-hawking abilities for his height. Special teams demon who will make an NFL impact there right away.

Cons: Lack of height shows up when facing high-pointing receivers, and he could struggle against flex tight ends in close quarters. Will need to be taught how hits in the NFL work -- it's nice that he comes down to give shots with authority, but he's going to rack up a pretty impressive NFL fine schedule the way the game is played today. Tends to go for the kill shot too often and loses the ability to tackle consistently as a result. Will occasionally get caught peeking in the backfield and can be subsequently late on crossing routes.

What he brings to the team: Speed, power, and versatility in an unconventional package. Could be the next Bob Sanders and eases the loss of Ed Reed to a point.

"I play very hard," Elam said at the scouting combine, when asked what he brings to the NFL. "I love to strike people. I feel that's what helped me stand out the most, and I’m very versatile. I can cover the slot receivers, I can go down and cover, I can go in the box and tackle. I can play in the post. I feel like that what make me stand out the most.”

Asking where Matt Elam fits best in a professional secondary may be the typical question, but it won't provide the right answer. In truth, his versatility will be the key to his ultimate NFL success, especially in a league where nickel and dime sets are more common than ever.

Was it the right pick?