Former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o waited for his name to be called during the First Round of the 2013 NFL Draft Thursday night.
Watching the draft from his home state of Hawaii with family and loved ones as opposed to attending the draft ceremonies at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Te'o watched 32 teams select their newest playmakers -- he wasn't one of them.
Following a senior season at the University of Notre Dame where he led the Fightin' Irish to the National Championship game, Te'o was projected as a mid-to-late first round draft pick, perhaps even falling to the early part of the Second Round.
It shouldn't come as a shock that the 22-year-old Laie, Hawaii native wasn't taken at any point during the first round given the fact that his NFL Combine numbers weren't great and because he struggled mightily in the National Championship loss to Alabama back in January.
If Te'o continues to drop in Round 2, teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and Chicago Bears could be potential suitors since they were among the teams interested in drafting the linebacker during Round 1.
Potential Landing Spots Moving Forward In Draft
Heading into the second day of the NFL Draft that includes Rounds 2 and 3, Manti Te'o should come off the board rather quickly.
The Cincinnati Bengals with the fifth pick in Round 2 (No. 37 overall) could very well be the team to select Te'o. With linebackers Rey Maualuga and Vontaze Burfict on the roster already, the addition of Te'o would certainly boost the second level of Cincinnati's defense.
With a strong defensive line led by Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson, adding a tackling machine like Manti Te'o would certainly provide an added lift.
Having addressed the cornerback position with the selection of former Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner and their defensive line by selecting former Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, the New York Jets may also be a fit for Manti Te'o.
The Jets recently parted ways with linebacker Bart Scott, who seemed to do more with his mouth then he did with his game. The selection of Te'o in a 3-4 defense -- a similar scheme to the one he played at Notre Dame - the Jets would certainly have their linebacker of the future if they elect to take the former Irish star with pick No. 39.
Bottom Line
Manti Te'o may not have gone in the First Round like he originally hoped, but wherever he goes in Round 2 on Friday, the team that selects him will get a phenomenal football player with tremendous football instincts.
In four seasons as a starter in South Bend, Te'o recorded a total of 437 tackles, 8 ½ sacks and 7 interceptions. In 2012 while guiding Notre Dame to a National Title appearance, Te'o finished second to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel in Heisman Trophy voting.
Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2013 NFL Draft take place Friday while the event ends on Saturday with Rounds 4 through 7.
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