SMU defensive end Margus Hunt is one of the more intriguing names in the 2013 NFL Draft for a lot of reasons, but one is that he has been difficult to project in the draft. Looking solely at his measurables, he is arguably a top-10 talent. At the NFL Combine, Hunt measured in at 6'8, 277 pounds, ran a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and put up 38 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. He is still raw, however, having picked up football for the first time in 2009 after SMU's track and field program collapsed.
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah thinks he has a bead on where Hunt where fall in the draft, reporting Wednesday that teams are targeting the defensive end at the top of the second round. Given the his late outburst of production during his senior season and physical potential, the projection looks about right.
There are several teams in need of a pass rusher early in the second round. The Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 33 overall), Philadelphia Eagles (No. 35 overall) and New York Jets (No. 39 overall) all finished 25th or lower in sacks during the 2012 regular season. The Detroit Lions (No. 36 overall) need help at defensive end after losing Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril this offseason. Finally, the San Francisco 49ers (No. 34 overall) have a bounty of draft picks, putting them in good position to take a calculated risk on a high-ceiling prospect.
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