The anticipation for the 2014 NFL Draft is palpable for every fan base in the league less than a week before the commissioner strolls to the stage to announce the first overall pick.
While most draft boards are just about set, rumors are swirling about various teams moving up (or down) in the draft to select a certain player. There's so much information flying around that you basically have to keep your head on a swivel just to keep up.
Though some of the reports do have some truth to them, there's a lot of misinformation out there about various players' draft stock. That is one reason why some NFL Media analysts have been saying that you should be cautious about what you believe this time of year.
So as you start to hear more about Tom Savage, Cody Lattimer or any other fast-rising draft hopeful over the next few days, just remember what happened last year and let that serve as a lesson not to get too caught up in the hype.
Here's a look back at some of the hot rumors for each team that picked up steam two weeks prior to the 2013 NFL draft and what ultimately happened. Consider yourself warned.
The Bills would draft Ryan Nassib
The rumor: No prospect was considered an elite quarterback in the 2013 class, so the hot rumor was that Doug Marrone would look to draft his former Syracuse quarterback with the Bills' first-round pick. Nassib rose quickly through the pre-draft process to assume the top spot among quarterbacks for some analysts, and with the Bills' need at the position, it made all the sense in the world.
Matt Barkley would be first-rounder
The rumor: Considered a top-10 pick had he come out as a junior, Barkley was one of the more debated quarterback prospects in 2013 after a subpar senior season. While his numbers and film took a hit during the run up to the draft, the USC star was still considered good enough in an average year for signal-callers to go on the first day of the draft.
The reality: Oh how the mighty fell come draft day. In perhaps the most unexpected move of the draft, Chip Kelly and the Eagles traded with the Jaguars to grab Barkley with the first pick of the fourth round. While the team had worked out Barkley privately prior to the draft, the marriage between the two was considered unlikely as the pocket passer didn't "fit" the offense Kelly ran at Oregon. As the 2013 season proved for the team, however, the former college coach always enjoys proving people wrong about his decisions.
The Browns would draft a quarterback
The rumor: It had become increasingly clear that the team would eventually be moving on from former first-round pick Brandon Weeden at quarterback, and some speculated that could mean the club would look to grab a quarterback with the sixth overall pick. Some thought the target could be Geno Smith, most analysts' top-ranked quarterback and a player considered a likely top-10 pick.
The reality: The team might have been rebuilding, but didn't enter the 2013 NFL Draft with a ton of picks with which to do so. They bypassed Smith in the first round to select linebacker Barkevious Mingo and failed to select a quarterback with any of their five picks. In fact, the organization only added a single offensive player through the draft last year with the addition of guard Garrett Gilkey in the seventh round.
Eddie Lacy would be the first RB taken
The rumor: The former Alabama workhorse was widely expected to be a mid-first-round pick and saw his name linked to the Bengals with the 21st overall pick quite a bit in the run up to the draft. Although there were questions regarding his game, he was the lone running back invited to New York City for the draft and figured to be off the board before the first night wrapped up.
The reality: Lacy had an Aaron Rodgers-like slide and didn't come close to being taken in the first round. He saw the Bengals go with Giovani Bernard over him in the second round and watched as two other tailbacks were selected ahead of him. The Green Bay Packers were the beneficiaries, however, as they swapped picks with San Francisco to grab Lacy with the second-to-last pick in the second round. The Packers had the last laugh, as Lacy wound up becoming Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Manti Te'o wouldn't get past the Vikings at No. 25
The rumor: There was absolutely no more interesting prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft than Te'o. He was considered one of the best defensive players in the country in 2012 but saw his stock drop like a rock when the calendar turned to 2013. Te'o had a disastrous performance against Alabama in the BCS championship game and then, of course, we all were stunned to read the Deadspin report on his imaginary girlfriend. He made it through the pre-draft process as a prospect that had fallen from a top-10 pick down to the bottom of the first round, but most believed the Vikings wouldn't pass on him if he was there at No. 25.
The reality: Opinions of Te'o varied wildly by team, but it was still a mild shock that he fell out of the first round. The Chargers traded up in the second round to grab him with the 38th overall pick, while their trade partners the Cardinals moved back and picked linebacker Kevin Minter.
*Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter **@BryanDFischer.*
