It seems every beat writer, every NFL analyst and every blog writer has their own version of the NFL mock draft, so I figured "Why not?" So, here is the "Come On Man" 2012 mock draft:
| NFL Mock Draft - 04/22/2012 | |
| Round 1 | |
| 1. Indianapolis Colts | |
 | Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford: This is the most obvious pick in the draft.Jim Irsay toyed around with taking RGIII, but I don't think anybody bought that. I didn't. Best NFL ready quarterback since John Elway. |
| 2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis) | |
 | Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor: If Mike Shanahan and son will lose their gigantic egos and build the Redskins offense around RGIII's skill set this will be a marriage that lasts a long time. RGIII could redefine the position of QB if everything goes right between he and a very controlling coaching staff. |
| 3. Minnesota Vikings | |
 | Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California: There is lots of talk the Vikings are looking to move down, but they would foolish to pass on the best tackle in the draft. Especially with the need being so great, losing Hutchinson and having Adrian Peterson. Young QB [Christian Ponder] needs safety to his blindside, also. |
| 4. Cleveland Browns | |
 | Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: There is a debate in Cleveland about taking running back Trent Richardson or even a QB at this spot [Tannehill]. QB Colt McCoy has been unfairly criticized, and deserves weapons. Richardson will touch the ball 20-22 times a game.Next need: wide receiver. |
| 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
 | Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU: Unless Tampa manages to pull off a trade with Minnesota acquiring their 3 spot, they will miss out on Richardson. The Bucs will think seriously about Claiborne at this spot, pairing him with Eric Wright gives them a great dynamic duo at the corner position. |
| 6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) | |
 | Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State: Sam Bradford desperately needs help at the wide-out position. The Rams moved from No. 2 to No. 6 to get more draft picks. Blackmon will give their young QB a chance to redeem himself from a sub-par sophomore year in St. Louis. Next need: DE |
| 7. Jacksonville Jaguars | |
 | Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: Coples will likely be available at the 7th selection, and the Jags should snatch him up quickly. Coples has had motor problems in the past, taking off plays, but good NFL coaching should be able to motivate the six-foot six-inch, sack phenom from North Carolina.He is a risk and can be lazy at times. He's got a very high ceiling of potential, though. High risk high reward player. |
| 8. Miami Dolphins (Based on Coin Flip) | |
 | Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M: The Dolphins can't seem to do anything right in the draft over the last several years. They have started 19 quarterbacks since Dan Marino retired. They let Matt Flynn go to Seattle and the front office is such a mess even Peyton Manning wouldn't work out for the Fins, even though he has a condominium in Miami. Something's wrong in South Beach. They couldn't get the coach they wanted [John Fox], they could get Manning or Flynn and season-ticket sales have plummeted. They must do something at the quarterback position or else… |
| 9. Carolina Panthers | |
 | Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina: He is big, bright and very athletic.Stephon Gilmore has rocketed up the draft board after a good combine, a good pro day and zero of field character issues. Something rare among corners this year. Many teams have him above Morris Claiborne, believe it or not. |
| 10. Buffalo Bills | |
 | Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa: Like Tackle Buddy Nix said to the media, There are a very few tackles in this draft that can start right away. Reiff is well-coached and NFL-ready for either the right or left side. Not a flashy pick, but a solid one. He will go against Mario Williams every day in practice. That should get him ready for the season. |
| 11. Kansas City Chiefs (Based on Coin Flip) | |
 | Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State: Many NFL scouts have put Cox at the top of the best of the best QB Rushers in the draft. He's very athletic and has long arms and is a beast at the edge.. |
| 12. Seattle Seahawks (Based on Coin Flip) | |
 | Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College: Seattle could go in just about any direction they want with the 12th pick. QB was their priority, but the free-agent signing of Matt Flynn answers that question for now. Next biggest need might be a speedy edge rusher, but Coples and Cox will likely be gone. Linebacker is an area of need after David Hawthorne was let go in free agency, signing with the troubled Saints. Pete Carroll wanted to get faster. He likes versatile, young and athletic players. Kuechly is all of those things, he's a tackling machine and has fantastic instincts . He's a natural fit in Seattle and will a high octane motor, will thrive on the energy at CenturyLink Field. The 12 man will fall in love with the Boston College standout. |
| 13. Arizona Cardinals | |
 | Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina: The Cardinals could use offensive line help but like so many other teams, they also need outside linebackers that can rush the passer. They may discuss Nick Perry in this spot. A move down might also be in the plans to get back in the second round. |
| 14. Dallas Cowboys | |
 | Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama: The Cowboys will consider the raw talent of Michael Brockers, the DT from LSU, but he is a bit of a project. Upshaw gives them a player that is NFL ready. He had a sub-par combine, but if he can keep his weight down, could be an impact player immediately. |
| 15. Philadelphia Eagles | |
 | Mark Barron, SS, Alabama: The signing of offensive tackle Webb from the Buffalo Bills put the Eagles back on course with their draft board and needs. They need a safety and Mark Barron is perhaps the best in the draft. Taking him at this position will disappoint the Jets, Bengals and Lions, I think. |
| 16. New York Jets | |
 | Nick Perry, DE, Southern California: Versatile and with the revved up motor, Nick Perry has the versatility to play as a down lineman, or outside linebacker. Rex Ryan likes the versatility and high impact players like Perry and New York should suit him well. |
| 17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland) | |
 | Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama: The rise of popularity garnered by Stephon Gilmore could make Kirkpatrick available for the Bengals at 17. Originally, the Alabama corner was considered one of the best in the draft. He has a great tackler, but struggles sometimes in man coverage. Kirkpatrick did not have a particularly strong combine or pro day. Gilmore offers the maturity and size that many NFL teams covet and has the speed and man coverage. Still, Kirkpatrick is a good pick at this selection. |
| 18. San Diego Chargers | |
 | David DeCastro, OG, Stanford: The Stanford left guard has a nasty streak in him and reminds me a lot of Steve Hutchinson of Seattle/Minnesota. Stanford Cardinal teammate QB Andrew Luck said; "David plays angry and always seems like he's in a bad mood in the huddle. He takes his anger out on opposing defensive lineman." One very important statistic; He has been injury free his entire football career. That's a huge factor these days with so many offense lineman missing significant playing time with leg and ankle injuries. |
| 19. Chicago Bears | |
 | Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford: Because the Eagles could pass on a tackle, Martin could fall right to the Bears. He can play left or right tackle and has done both at Stanford. He is well coached in pass blocking and has excellent run blocking skills. |
| 20. Tennessee Titans | |
 | Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois: The Titans will think long and hard about choosing WR Michael Floyd at this spot but a pass rusher with the kind of 2011 season Mercilus had could trump the wide receiver. Mercilus has the kind of aggressive play that the Titans defense could use now after losing Jason Jones and Cortland Finnegan in free agency. Their defense needs some meanness back on the field. |
| 21. Cincinnati Bengals | |
| Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame: Andy Dalton could be a lot better with Michael Floyd opposite A.J. Green. Last year the Bengals failed to compete with conference rivals and lacked big-play ability to score points quickly. Floyd had a terrific combine, showing his great hands and deceptive speed. He showed great route running skills and gets behind defenders with his physicality. |
| 22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta) | |
| Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia: The Browns will get a QB in the second round, perhaps Kirk Cousins or Brock Osweiler, but at this point they can pick up a starting right tackle in Glenn to protect Colt McCoy. This is really a necessity, not a luxury pick. |
| 23. Detroit Lions | |
 | Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State: It may be a little high for Adams but the best players left in the first round are at positions of strength for the Lions. If they pass on Adams here they will not see a quality tackle when they go at pick No. 54. A move down could be a good idea at this spot. |
| 24. Pittsburgh Steelers | |
 | Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama: James Farrior is gone, Larry Foote is getting old and there is a void at inside linebacker. Hightower is a natural selection for the Steelers. He's tough, athletic and has the size to stuff up the middle. The Steelers simply must get younger on the defensive side of the ball. |
| 25. Denver Broncos | |
 | Michael Brockers, DT, LSU: Brockers is young and raw but also big and athletic. He can frustrate you with his lack of production but he may also blossom into a dominating defensive tackle. The Broncos need big people inside and Von Miller could use someone to stand up runners so he can plow into the line and take down ball carriers. |
| 26. Houston Texans | |
 | Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor: It would be a very good thing if Wright is available at the 26th selection. Andre Johnson needs another physical and athletic wide receiver on the other end to take away the double-team, freeing him up to do what he does, catch touchdowns. |
| 27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans) | |
 | Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut: As usual the Patriots have a lot of early picks. This is the first of four in the top 62. Reyes had a very good senior bowl and followed that up with impressive measurables. The Patriots need play-makers in the defensive line and Reyes is that kind of player. His quickness next to the bulky run stuffing of Vince Wilfork will be a super one-two-punch combination for the Pats . |
| 28. Green Bay Packers | |
 | Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State: The Packers would have really liked to have placed LB/DE Nick Perry on the other end of fellow USC alum Clay Matthews, but he might not be available at the 28. Jerel Worthy is a superb athlete for his size and is very explosive. Ryan Pickett isn't getting any younger and he will need to be replaced sooner or later. Worthy is a great pick for the Packers, I think and might be the most underrated defensive tackle in the draft. |
| 29. Baltimore Ravens | |
 | Andre Branch, DE, Clemson: Branch is a versatile/hybrid player in the style of Terrel Suggs. In 47 games Branch recorded 48 plays behind the line of scrimmage with 15 quarterback hurries and 10 defended passes. With Jarrett Johnson gone and Ray Lewis on the verge of retirement, he fills a desperate Raven's need for an aggressive threat on the edge. |
| 30. San Francisco 49ers | |
 | Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford: Coby Fleener is a legitimate touchdown threat at tight end. He is very much in the mold of Rob Gronkowski in New England. Fleener has soft hands, decent speed and he's a big target. Fleener needs to improve his pass and run blocking, but he likely will. He is a very nice complement to Vernon Davis and the already potent receiving corps in San Fran. Alex Smith will surely welcome the big tight end from Stanford. |
| 31. New England Patriots | |
| Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State: This will likely be a surprise pick to most, but not me. McClellin is a Belichick type player, for sure. Maybe Bill moves down for him or maybe he takes him right here. McClellin totally reminds me of Patriots Mike Vrabel, a few years back. Big, physical, nasty and a journeyman type working-class hustler. |
| 32. New York Giants | |
 | Devon Still, DT, Penn State: The Giants are loaded with DE types but need depth inside. The Giants don't pass on players that can play with their hand on the ground and they don't reach for players. With Coby Fleener already gone likely, a running back would be a smart move here also. Lamar Miller or Doug Martin might be possible, Chris Polk would be a good pick but his stock has dropped because of durability questions and can be probably had in the second or third round even. |
No comments:
Post a Comment