After what was a long season for me and everyone at Optimum Scouting, we've finally arrived at our final 2013 NFL Draft Big Board. We've been to every major All-Star game, spoken with people close to these players and got NFL insight, and we've combined our own scouting insight to form this final Top 300 board.

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Although draft analysts tend to approach them this way when putting together their “big boards”, a prospect’s value is rarely the same to all 32 teams. That’s no more apparent than when looking at defensive backs, where scheme fit may be more important than at any other position group.

Because of that, it’s important not only to know where a corner back or safety is ranked in comparison to the other prospects, but it’s also what sort of player he is, and how he’ll fit on your favorite team’s defense.

One of the best ways to do that is by comparing this class of defensive backs to current NFL players. How does this class stack up?

One of the more difficult exercises when preparing for the NFL Draft is comparing prospects in one class to players that are already in the league. Often times it’s impossible to nail down a current player that possesses all of the traits that a particular prospect does.

Still, it’s not an entirely fruitless process. Making these sorts of comparisons can help to provide a better sense of what sort of schemes each prospect will fit into best – one of the most crucial aspects to scouting.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the running backs and tight ends in this class. Which players already in the league play with a similar style?

"Instinctive and reactionary with his hands, Richardson showcased a repertoire of rush moves to go along with his elite quickness. Moreover, Richardson is able to anchor against the run, squeeze through double teams, or chase down ball carriers to the sideline, as a well-rounded defensive lineman that can be an every down impact player. The outstanding quickness and overall speed with which Richardson gets off the line of scrimmage, may even be best suited outside at a defensive end position along a 4-man front.

Considering his improving body type, physical numbers, developed repertoire of rush moves and instinctually aggressive nature, Richardson’s ability to provide a threat inside or outside will ultimately place him high on many NFL draft boards. Questions regarding Sheldon Richardson’s draft stock will center on academic issues that have dogged him throughout his career at Missouri, College of the Sequoias and maybe further back into his high school days."

As Bruce Feldman wrote earlier this week, the NFL Draft is going to see a uniquely international influence this year. With up to five foreign-born players that are now projected to potentially first round draft picks, the NFL's international growth is about to have a bigger impact on the draft than it ever has before.

One of the more interesting foreign-born prospects is Lawrence Okoye, who recently dominated a NFL regional combine. The British discus thrower turned plenty of heads when he displayed great athleticism, but with no real football experience to speak of it's difficult to imagine him someone teams will look to outside of as a free agent.

There's plenty of other quality talent from overseas though, and the NFL will certainly have to weight the elite potential many of these players possess against the inexperience playing the sport many of these players have. Is being new to the game an issue that would make these players too big of a risk?

For the second year now, myself and fellow Small School evaluator Matthew Elder of BuffaloBillsDraft.com took to twitter to do a “Small School Mock Draft” for the first round. I took the evens, Matt took the odds, and we went through the entire 1^st round of the 2013 NFL Draft using only non-FBS prospects.

While we focused on need and best player available in this draft, we also tried to find prospects who may fit with their drafted teams in later rounds after the 1^st. Also, where each player is “projected” to go on draft day is in parenthesis next to each selection.

Even before Chance Warmack had one of the most dominating performances of any player in this past season's national title game, there was some talk that the Alabama offensive guard could be drafted surprisingly early. After that game, his name frequently comes up in the top ten of mock drafts from experts across the country. Jonathan Cooper's strong combine performance there's been plenty of buzz that both he and Warmack could have the chance to be the highest drafted guard in quite some time.

Is that likely to actually happen though? Would it even be wise for a team to draft an interior lineman in the first round at all, or is it too high a price to pay at the position?

"Jonathan Cyprien is potentially just the 3rd first rounder ever from the Sun Belt conference. The last two were each picked #11 overall in 2005 (Demarcus Ware) and 2008 (Leodis McKelvin), and both were relatively unknown until just a few months before the draft, similar to Cyprien. But the best defensive player in FIU history (holds multiple school records) was both a leader production-wise as vocally. With a chip on his shoulder, versatility scheme-wise, and a high football IQ, Cyprien has the makings of a fantastic professional football player when you consider his elite physical and athletic skill-set.

Overall, Cyprien possesses the elite skill set, size, and mental background to have future NFL success, regardless what scheme he is drafted for.  Despite being fairly unknown and not discussed in the media throughout the season, Cyprien is one of the better safety prospects in recent years, and should be able to ease and develop into most NFL systems quickly."

For a team with that will be making their first selection of the draft in the top half of the first round, war rooms will not only be concerned with finding an elite player, but they’ll likely be equally as focused on trying to avoid picking a player that will eventually be a bust.

This top of this draft in particular seems to be lacking in real elite talent, but there is a wealthy of high risk/high reward players. For some franchises, they’ll be looking to make the safest selection possible instead of making a gamble. In several of these cases that could mean selecting an offensive tackle in the top half of the draft, instead of making an attempt to find their quarterback of the future. But is that really a safer route?

"Ideal for a West Coast-focused offense that is willing to stretch vertically, Patton developed great chemistry with Colby Cameron at Louisiana Tech, and could develop that quickly at the NFL level to become a quarterback's favorite target, especially on timing routes. With a fun, team-spirited personality, he quickly becomes a favorite in the locker room, but leaves that off the field and rarely shows significant (including negative) emotion on the field as an outside receiver.

While his lack of elite size or deep speed may limit how teams view his upside as a potential Top 20 pick, Patton should have a very long NFL career, and could be a higher-upside and more initially polished version of Greg Jennings."