April 26, 2012

2012 NFL Mock Draft


1. Colts - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford:  This is a no brainer. Luck is in a far better position to succeed in the NFL compared to Robert Griffin III.

2. Redskins - Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor:  Washington has bet the farm on the Heisman trophy winner. He has all the tools and intangibles. Nitpicking, I worry about his pocket presence and taking snaps under center, which no one seems to be talking about.

3. Vikings - Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU: I'm sure the Vikings are asking for a king's ransom to trade out of this spot and I don't think they get it. I'll give Claiborne the slight edge because he fills a need and I believe the rumblings about the Vikings not being sold on Kalil.

4. Browns - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: If I were the Browns I would strongly consider giving up one of their 4th round picks to trade up one spot and secure this pick. They probably won’t need to, but Trent Richardson is that good an fills a huge need for Cleveland.

5. Bills (TRADE w  Bucs) - Matt Kalil, OT, USC: The Bills have a huge need at LT and WR. I think this draft class is pretty deep at WR, so I have the Bills making a move to go get what is clearly the best LT in this draft.

6. Rams - Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College: With Trent Richardson and Matt Kalil off the board I think the Rams are going to be desperately trying to trade down. Justin Blackmon is a great receiver, but he doesn't translate to be worthy of the 6th pick in the draft like a Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, or Andre Johnson type would. The Rams have the 33rd and 39th overall pick and I could see them making a move to get a receiver at those spots, whether it is trading up into the late first round or standing pat. Taking Kuechly here will make them a better overall football team.

7. Jaguars - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State: I think the Jaguars pass on a wide receiver here. In the past year Jacksonville has invested $52 million into the wide receiver position by signing Mike Thomas and Laurent Robinson to long term deals. They also acquired Lee Evans who projects as their third WR option. If they stay in this spot, I think Fletcher Cox is the best fit.

8. Dolphins - Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M: I get why scouts love Tannehill, but he needs some time to develop. Last season he had one of the best running games in the country to help keep defenses honest and still struggled making reads down-field. Luckily, the Dolphins have a serviceable starter in Matt Moore which will allow Tannehill to continue learning under his old coach Mike Sherman.

9. Panthers - Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina: I think this pick comes down to Gilmore and Chandler Jones. Both have been flying up draft boards this past week and both are needs for the Panthers. I went with Gilmore because I think there are a better crop of pass rushers in this draft than non-troubled CBs.

10. Buccaneers (TRADE w Bills) - Mark Barron, S, Alabama: The Buccaneers need secondary help anyway they can get it. With Claiborne and Gilmore off the board, I think Tampa Bay will feel plenty comfortable taking the best safety in the class. Huge upgrade right here.

11. Jets (TRADE w Chiefs) - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State: I think the Chiefs will be targeting offensive line or Dontari Poe in this spot and with the board playing out in this manner are comfortable moving down. The Jets need more weapons around Mark Sanchez and Justin Blackmon is worth the cost of an extra pick to move up five spots.

12. Seahawks - Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse: Jones has been flying up draft boards and his considered a high motor guy. He fills a huge need for Seattle.

13. Cardinals - Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa: Arizona needs to improve their offensive line in a big way. By drafting Reiff, who projects as a day one starter, they can shift Levi Brown over to right tackle and secure Kevin Kolb's blindside. They look for a playmaker across from Larry Fitzgerald in round two.

14. Cowboys - David DeCastro, G, Stanford: I think in this situation Dallas would like to trade down, but will be unable to find a partner where they feel comfortable picking. With Cox and Barron off the board, I think the Cowboys will look to take the best player available that fills a need. In their own ways, Brockers, Ingram, and Poe present too much risk for Dallas to pass up on a sure thing like DeCastro.

15. Titans (TRADE w Eagles) - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama: The Titans need a premium CB and the Eagles are pretty open when considering need vs.value in this spot.

16. Chiefs (TRADE w Jets) - Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis: Like Tannehill, I understand the potential scouts see in this kid. While, he fills a huge need for the Chiefs, I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole.

17. Bengals - Quenton Coples, DE, North Carolina: Coples is one of those guys lazy freakishly talented guys that should go in the top ten but will fall because of character concerns. The Bengals love these guys and don't shy away from them.

18. Texans (TRADE w Chargers) - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame: With Floyd somehow slipping down the draft board the Texans should be salivating to go get him. With some many teams between them and the Chargers who need WRs they couldn't risk letting trying to let him slide.

19. Bears - Michael Brockers, DT, LSU: Huge grade on the interior line for the Bears. Great value pick with upside.

20. Eagles (TRADE w Titans) -Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama: Either he or DeMeco Ryans will slide to OLB, which is a huge position of need for the Eagles.

21. Bengals - Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia: Versatile lineman who fills a huge need on the interior line for the Bengals.

22. Browns - Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford: Ben Watson will be a free agent in 2013 and does not pose much of a threat as a receiver. Whether they keep Colt McCoy or look for a replacement in this draft, a tight end is always a quarterback’s most reliable friend.

23. Lions - Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama: The Lions secondary is so bad I can see them overlooking Jenkin's off the field issues in lieu of his talents.

24. Steelers - Doug Martin, RB, Boise State: Rashard Mendenhall is coming off a torn ACL and might not be 100 percent by the time the season opens. Mendenhall will be a free agent in 2013 and Redman will be a RFA. The Steelers should look to draft an insurance policy for the short and long term.

25. Broncos - Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor: With the departure of Eddie Royal the Broncos need to add an explosive big play guy for Peyton Manning.

26. Chargers (TRADE w Texans) - Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama:  There is a good chance that the Chargers would've taken Upshaw at 18 if they couldn't trade out. He fills a huge need and is probably the best defensive player in the draft at this point.

27. Patriots - Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State: Fits a need for the Patriots on defense, which is just about every position imaginable for them.

28. Vikings (TRADE w Packers) - Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford: They passed on Kalil to take Claiborne and now see a top flight left tackle sliding here. The Packers could find a RB early in round two.

29.Ravens - Rueben Randle, WR, LSU: Luxury pick that adds a lot of talent to the WR position and also gives them a safety net if they choose not to resign Boldin after the 2013 season when he will be 33.

30. 49ers - Nick Perry, DE, USC: Projects as a 3-4 OLB with the 49ers.

31. Patriots - Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame: The Patriots need secondary help in any way they can get it.

32. Giants - Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois: With Osi Umenyiora likely out the door sooner rather than later, the Giants can reload their pass rushing core with this pick.