Best pick: TE Tyler Eifert (No. 21 overall) — Most draft steals in recent years didn’t come from positions of need. And while the Bengals might not have needed a tight end because they have Jermaine Gresham, taking Eifert at No. 21 was a great move. He was one of the top 15 players in this draft class, and he fell into their lap. This gives offensive coordinator Jay Gruden another weapon to exploit mismatches, especially with QB Andy Dalton, who doesn’t have a big-time arm. Eifert immediately adds firepower to the Bengals’ offense.

Jan 26, 2013; Mobile, AL, USA; Senior Bowl south squad defensive back Shawn Williams of Georgia (26) against the Senior Bowl north squad during the first half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Kiper wasn’t so high on the third-round selection of Georgia safety Shawn Williams:

Questionable pick: S Shawn Williams (No. 84 overall) — Scouts have wide-ranging opinions on Williams. He has speed, plays hard and under control, and is a solid square-up tackler. But I don’t see the explosiveness in his game that some do, or that the measurables indicate. He has limitations in coverage and his ball skills are average. He had only four interceptions in 51 games — including 28 starts — in four seasons.

What makes this assessment even more concerning is that it would appear Williams is likely to be the opening say starter at strong safety, with his only real competition being Taylor Mays.

If that doesn’t scare you…well…you’re certainly braver than I am, because that scares the holy bejesus out of me.

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Apr 26, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals first round draft pick Tyler Eifert addresses the media at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

When the Cincinnati Bengals selected tight end Tyler Eifert with their first selection of the 2013 NFL Draft, it didn’t fill any obvious needs on the team, but it did give an offense that struggled to find the endzone last year another dynamic redzone target. It also gave the Bengals options regarding the future at TE, as noted by Sports Illustrated’s grade on the Eifert pick:

In Cincinnati, he’ll pair with current starting TE Jermaine Gresham to give the Bengals arguably the best 1-2 punch at that position this side of Rob Gronkowski-Aaron Hernandez. That tandem ought to make Andy Dalton’s job easier at QB, while also relieving some pressure off A.J. Green, even if not in the same way that an elite receiver would.

Another factor to consider: Gresham’s contract is up after 2014, and Cincinnati will have to deal with locking up a lot of its young talent around that time. Eifert’s arrival might allow them to let Gresham walk.

Grade: B-plus. This was the type of pick a team that believes it can reach the Super Bowl makes. And the Bengals might be right about that level after back-to-back playoff berths. Eifert does not fill an obvious need for them, but this is a savvy pick and one that makes the team better.

When speaking tot the Cincinnati media today, Eifert reminded everyone after a year at Notre Dame and a national championship run, he’s be ready for the NFL:

At the combine I got asked a lot are you ready for the spotlight to be on you. It was on us every single week, it was on us year round. They are always looking for something around South Bend. Playing on national television every game, I think every game we played in this year was sold out. I definitely think that has prepared me for the next level.

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Apr 26, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Darius Slay (Mississippi State) holds his son Duron Slay as he is introduced as the number thirty-sixth overall pick to the Detroit Lions during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft has come and gone, and 254 players have had their dreams of playing in the NFL realized as their names were called in Radio City Music Hall as their new new teams drafted them.

Here is how the first-round of the 2013 NFL Draft played out:

1. Kansas City Chiefs — Eric Fisher, offensive tackle, Central Michigan
2.  Jacksonville Jaguars — Luke Joeckel, offensive tackle, Texas A&M
3. Miami Dolphins (via Oakland Raiders) — Dion Jordan, Outside Linebacker, Oregon
4. Philadelphia Eagles —  Lane Johnson, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
5. Detroit Lions — Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end, BYU
6.  Cleveland Browns — Barkevious Mingo, outside linebacker, LSU
7. Arizona Cardinals — Jonathan Cooper, guard, North Carolina
8. St. Louis Rams (from Buffalo Bills) —  Tavon Austin, wide receiver, West Virginia
9. New York Jets —  Dee Milliner, cornerback, Alabama
10. Tennessee Titans —  Chance Warmack, guard, Alabama
11. San Diego Chargers — DJ Fluker, offensive tackle, Alabama
12. Oakland Raiders (from Miami Dolphins) — DJ Hayden, cornerback, Houston
13. New York Jets (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers) — Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle, Missouri
14. Carolina Panthers —  Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Utah
15. New Orleans Saints — Kenny Vaccaro, safety, Texas
16. Buffalo Bills (from St. Louis Rams) —  EJ Manuel, quarterback, Florida State
17. Pittsburgh Steelers — Jarvis Jones, linebacker, Georgia
18. San Francisco 49ers (from Dallas Cowboys) — Eric Reid, safety, LSU
19. New York Giants — Justin Pugh, offensive tackle, Syracuse
20. Chicago Bears —  Kyle Long, guard, Oregon
21. Cincinnati Bengals — Tyler Eifert, tight end, Notre Dame
22. Atlanta Falcons (from St. Louis Rams) — Desmond Trufant, cornerback, Washington
23. Minnesota Vikings — Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle, Florida
24. Indianapolis Colts —  Bjoern Werner, defensive end, Florida State
25. Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle Seahawks) — Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State
26. Green Bay Packers — Datone Jones, defensive end, UCLA
27. Houston Texans — DeAndre Hopkins, wide receiver, Clemson
28. Denver Broncos —  Sylvester Williams, defensive tackle, North Carolina
29. Minnesota Vikings (from New England Patriots) — Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver, Tennessee
30. St. Louis Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) —  Alec Ogletree, linebacker, Georgia
31. Dallas Cowboys (from San Francisco 49ers) – Travis Frederick, offensive line, Wisconsin
32. Baltimore Ravens — Matt Elam, safety, Florida