Kansas take Fisher with NFL draft first pick

NEW YORK (AFP) –

Eric Fisher of Central Michigan Chippewas holds up a jersey after being picked first overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York, on April 25, 2013.

The Kansas City Chiefs took tackle Eric Fisher with the first pick in the 2013 NFL draft, making him just the fourth offensive lineman to be selected first overall.

Fisher will be called on to protect the blind side of recently acquired quarterback Alex Smith, obtained by the Chiefs from the San Francisco 49ers after the 2012 season.

For the first time in the Super Bowl era, two offensive linemen were taken with the top two picks, as the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel second overall.

Joeckel was the 2012 Outland Trophy winner as the top interior lineman in college football during his junior season, when he was tasked with protecting the blind side of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel.

The Oakland Raiders traded their No. 3 selection to the Miami Dolphins, who traded up nine places to claim defensive end Dion Jordan.

Oakland received Miami’s first-round selection, the No. 12 overall, along with a second-round selection.

Eric Fisher of Central Michigan Chippewas stands on stage with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after Fisher was picked first overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York, on April 25, 2013.

Philadelphia selected athletic left tackle Lane Johnson from Oklahoma, and the Detroit Lions picked Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah of Ghana, who never played American Football until 2010.

Ansah amassed 60 tackles and 4.5 sacks for Brigham Young University in 2012.

But before finding a home on the gridiron, he had tried his hand at both basketball and athletics at BYU.

Ansah has faced questions about his instincts and relative lack of experience, but he caught the attention of pro scouts with a standout performance in the Senior Bowl, with 3.5 tackles for loss of yards, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

The former track and field aspirant also impressed with a 4.63sec 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, where potential recruits are scrutinized.

Ansah is one of several international players who came to American football late but figured to go relatively early in the draft.

Ezekiel Ansah of the BYU Cougars, seen after being picked fifth overall by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York, on April 25, 2013. Ansah amassed 60 tackles and 4.5 sacks for Brigham Young University in 2012.

German Bjoern Werner, a defensive end who played at Florida State University, also went in the first round, taken by the Indianapolis Colts with the 24th selection.

Other internationals reckoned to have a good chance to go as early as the second round on Friday included Estonian Margus Hunt, a defensive end who played for Southern Methodist University, Australian Jesse Williams and British offensive tackle Menelik Watson, who also played at Florida State.

Reigning Super Bowl champions Baltimore had the 32nd and final pick in the first round in a system that tries to promote parity among NFL clubs by giving the most successful the last chances at grabbing new prospects.