Let's face it. The season is over. It has been for a while. So it's time to look forward to 2013 and the NFL Draft. 

This mock draft  has West Virginia QB Geno Smith going to Kansas City with the first pick, leaving Jarvis Jones of George to Jacksonville with the second pick. Round 2 has Matt Barkley of USC going to the Jags with the first pick. In the third, it would be Eddie Lacy, RB of Alabama. If the Jaguars could haul those players with the first three picks, on paper, it could be one of the best first three picks in the last 10 years.

Thoughts?

Aside from little talent, the main factor in the Jaguars having a poor, pathetic season is its production from rookies. Look at teams around the league excelling. Look at the Bucs. Doug Martin, Mark Barron and Lavonte David have been stars, carrying the team. Look at the Jags. Justin Blackmon, the top pick, has been decent. Andre Branch only has one sack. Bryan Anger and Brandon Marshall have done nothing. 

Mix together the lose of Maurice Jones-Drew for much of the year, and their is your recipe for disaster. Now, despite Chad Henne being solid, the next draft is going to be crucial for this team to build sustainability. 

For a look at some of the top prospects, check here. 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings

What do you think the team should go after in the draft? What are the biggest needs? Let us know below. 

The Bucs signed first round pick Doug Martin out of Boise State. Here is the official release from the Tampa Bay website:

Late in the evening of April 26, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved swiftly and decisively up into the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft in order to nab Boise State running back Doug Martin. Now, the Buccaneers and Martin have worked just as quickly to get the rookie back under contract, well before the start of the team's 2012 training camp.

On Monday, the Buccaneers announced that they have signed Martin, the 31st overall pick in the draft, to a five-year deal.

The trade on draft night and Monday's signing actually were connected in a way. The Bucs moved up from the top of the second round to ensure that they got their targeted player, but by doing so they also created an option for a longer first contract. Players in the second half of the first round may receive contracts up to five years long, while second-round picks can receive a maximum of four years in their first deals.

Monday's agreement means the Buccaneers have now signed six of the seven players they selected in April's draft. The only remaining player yet to sign is the team's other first-rounder, safety Mark Barron, who was selected seventh overall. Draft picks may work out with their teams during the offseason, as both Barron and Martin have done, but they may not report to training camp without an agreement in place.  The Buccaneers have not had an extended rookie holdout since 1994.

Martin will be in camp on time, and that's good news for the Buccaneers, who intend to utilize him heavily in their 2012 offense. New Head Coach Greg Schiano intends to emphasize the running game, and the addition of Martin to a backfield that already featured LeGarrette Blount could create a very powerful 1-2 punch.

Martin finished his Boise State career with 3,431 yards and 43 touchdowns on 617 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per tote.  As a senior, he was a key figure in the Broncos' juggernaut offense, which scored more than 44.2 points per game.  Martin ran for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2011 and was on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back.  To cap his collegiate career, he was named the MVP of the 2011 Maaco Bowl thanks to his 151 yards and one score on the ground as well as his 100-yard kickoff return TD to open the game.

As expected by many draft analysts, Martin was the second running back off the board after Alabama's Trent Richardson, who went third overall to the Cleveland Browns following a trade up with the Minnesota Vikings. Scouts praise Martin for his decisive running style, his strength and the explosiveness with which he hits the hole when running between the tackles.

The Bucs are in good shape with their picks and should sign Barron here soon. 

With the rookie additions and in free agency, how many games will Tampa win?

Hey guys,

Welcome back. What a fun NFL Draft 2012 eh?

I'm hear to deliver the draft grades for each team, so why wait? Let's get started!

Atlanta Falcons

Best Pick: Peter Konz OC, Wisconsin -- The big man can play any position along the offensive line and was a nice grab by Atlanta in the second round. He should be a solid player for them for the next decade. 

Questionable pick: Trading everything they did last season for Julio Jones. It was way, way too much. 

Steal: Konz

Analysis: They were able to nab a nice player in Konz and Lamar Holmes, who could push for time. Solid, but not spectacular. 

Grade: C+ 

Carolina Panthers

Best Pick: Luke Kuechly LB, Boston College -- An amazing player, he can do it all as a defender and should help right away in Carolina. 

Questionable pick: None

Steal: Amini Silatolu, OG Midwestern State -- A powerful presence, the lineman has quick feet and just so much strength. Solid pick. 

Analysis: Landed some really good players to continue adding to an already nice pool of talent. 

Grade: B

 New Orleans Saints

Best Pick: Nick Toon WR, Wisconsin -- A fast receiver, he is just another weapon for Drew Brees. He should have a nice rookie campaign. 

Questionable pick: Bounty Scandal, of course. 

Steal: None. 

Analysis: The scandal cost big, losing a second-round pick. 

Grade: D- 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Best Pick: Lavonte David LB, Nebraska -- This kid will be a star. He is so versatile and will start from Day 1 at outside linebacker. Another great Buc linebacker. The next Derrick Brooks. 

Questionable pick: None, addressed needs. 

Steal: Doug Martin RB, Boise State -- Martin, the Muscle Hamster, can do it all. He is the most complete back in the draft and will start. 

Analysis: Starting off with Mark Barron at safety, the Bucs struck gold in this one, picking up potentially four starters. 

Grade: A

Have a source in the NFL who works for a franchise that made the playoffs last season. Spoke to him a bit on the phone today to hear about any rumors going on leading up to the draft, and picked up on a couple golden ones on the NFC South.

The source told me that it appears that the Panthers are looking at linebacker at the 9th pick and would be pleased to see Melvin Ingram there, but it looks like they surely like Luke Kuechly out of Boston College. In the event that both are gone, which isn't likely, I was told not to be surprised if they end up going with a wideout, most likely Malcolm Floyd of Notre Dame, with the goal being to get more weapons for Cam Newton.

As for Tampa, there is no doubt that their top two targets are RB Trent Richardson out of Alabama and CB Morris Claiborne of LSU. But, it looks as if the Bucs fear that both could be gone when they pick at five, with Richardson likely going to the Browns and four, with Minnesota aiming for Claiborne at three. It would surely make things interesting, but where Tampa would go from there is tough. My source tells me that they may end up looking to trade down, which makes sense, but if they can't find a trade partner, Kuechly or Ryan Kalil would likely be the pick.

 

We are just a day away from the beginning of the NFL Draft. For many, it's like a holiday, one where you get to open presents and just get excited about what is to come.

For some, it is anything but. The recent story going on with the Saints is a big one and may prove just as costly as the Bountygate scandal. But as we wait for that to play out, which commish Roger Goodell said would could expect in the coming days, today's big story goes to the Atlanta Falcons. 

Here is the official release by NFL.com:

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to trade cornerback Asante Samuel to the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

As part of the trade, Samuel and the Falcons have agreed to terms on a three-year, $18.5 million deal.

It's not yet known what the Falcons will send the Eagles in return for the nine-year veteran.

Samuel had to rework the final two years of his existing contract -- which were not guaranteed in the first place -- before the deal could be agreed upon. Samuel was set to make $21.5 million over the next two seasons, and he would count for more than $8 million against the salary cap.

The Falcons emerged as one of the team's interested in Samuel on Tuesday, a league source told NFL Network's Michael Lombardi, and quarterback Matt Ryan spoke glowingly of the cornerback.

"As far as Asante Samuel, I can only speak for having played against him a number of times and I know that's he's been extremely difficult to play against and has done a great job against us when we've played him in the past," Ryan said.

Samuel, 31, had three interceptions for the Eagles last season. He has made four Pro Bowls in his nine-year career, and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2007.

 

Now, this is a deal that I like for Atlanta, though Samuel hasn't been the same as of late. There was no need for him in the NFC East after the Eagles made a bunch of moves to bring in some CBs, he was worth getting rid of. My guess is a fifth round pick for the former Patriots star. 

 

Do you like the move?