2012 NFL Mock Draft – 3/5/2012

1.  INDIANAPOLIS COLTS:   ANDREW LUCK, QB, STANFORD

    Worst kept secret in sports.  Peyton won’t be back, second worst kept secret. 

 

   Danny Boy agrees to give the Rams all their remaining draft picks for the rest of the decade and his favorite Napoleon costume.

 

3.  MINNESOTA VIKINGS:   MATT KALIL, OT, USC

Sounds like they are sticking with Ponder (for now).  They have a lot of needs.  Protecting Ponder’s backside is the only way to give him a chance to develop.

Other possibilities: Justin Blackmon or Morris Claiborne

 

4.  CLEVELAND BROWNS:   JUSTIN BLACKMON, WR OK ST

  Poor Colt McCoy hasn’t had a single playmaker since he became the starter.  Blackmon is as talented as Dez Bryant without the baggage.

Other possibilities: Trent Richardson or Morris Claiborne

 

5.  TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS:  MORRIS CLAIBORNE, CB, LSU

    The Greg Schiano era has begun.  The Bucs are still young and in my opinion, still very talented.  They draft smart & take the best player on the board.  Claiborne will be a starter from day 1.

Other possibilities: Trent Richardson or Morris Claiborne

 

6. ST. LOUIS RAMS:   RILEY REIFF, OT, IOWA

  I don’t see the Rams going for Coples here based on their recent draft history.  They would love a playmaker at wideout or Claiborne.  Richardson is a possibility if they decided to part ways with Steven Jackson.  Reiff is a solid pick who will keep Sam Bradford upright and healthy. 

Other possibilities: Trade down further

 

7.  JACKSONVILLE JAUGUARS:   DONTARI POE, DT, MEMPHIS

    The Jags have a lot of holes and could go in a number of directions.  Poe is a beast and after his freakish display at the Combine he’s shooting up draft boards.

Other possibilities: Melvin Ingram or Quinton Coples

 

8.  MIAMI DOLPHINS:   QUINTON COPLES DE, NORTH CAROLINA

    Ideally the Dolphins would like a young QB here.  The Fish may very well be a player in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes or may go after Matt Flynn.  If so, a young, potentially dominant, pass rusher is a good building clock for the defense.

Other possibilities: Melvin Ingram or Luke Kuechly

 

9. CAROLINA PANTHERS:   MELVIN INGRAM, DE, SOUTH CAROLINA

 The Panthers have all the offense they need in Cam Newtown.  He may even pass to himself this year!  Ingram exploded this year for the Gamecocks and will give the Panthers what they missed last year with Julius Peppers departure. 

Other possibilities: Jonathan Martin, Dave DeCastro or Luke Kuechly

 

10.  BUFFALO BILLS:   LUKE KUECHLY ILB, BOSTON COLLEGE

   The Bills desperately need a pass rusher, which I think they’ll get in free agency.  More importantly, the Bills need football players.  Kuechly is a tackling machine & improved his draft stock at the Combine with his athletic ability.

Other possibilities: Courtney Upshaw, Nick Perry or Dave DeCastro

 

11.  KANSAS CITY CHIEFS:  DAVID DECASTRO, OG, STAMFORD

    DeCastro is a Crennel kind of guy.  Andrew Luck may be “the one” but he had help and DeCastro is one of the most highly regarded interior lineman to come out in years.

Other possibilities: Courtney Upshaw or Nick Perry

 

12.  SEATTLE SEAHAWKS:   TRENT RICHARDSON, RB, ALABAMA

      This can be an interesting pick.  They need a QB.   Do they go Tannehill?  We’re not sold on him and think they’ll be delighted that a top 5 talent has slipped this far.  They get Trent Richardson at 12 and high five down to the Space Needle.  Richardson drops since running back has become a less valued position and quality is often found in later rounds.  Plus Marshawn Lynch will likely be back.

Other possibilities: Ryan Tannehill or Nick Perry

 

13.  ARIZONA CARDINALS:  JONATHON MARTIN, OT, STANFORD

 The Cardinals have a lot of pieces, they have the best wideout in the league and a young and nasty D.  They need a QB also; but my guess is they will try free agency first.  Martin is a solid tackle who has played in a pro style offense and will step in from day 1 and become a bookend. 

Other possibilities: Courtney Upshaw or Nick Perry

 

14.  DALLAS COWBOYS:   COURTNEY UPSHAW, OLB, ALABAMA

    The Boys need pass rush and secondary help as well as interior offensive line help.  They will hit at least one if not two of these areas before we get to the Draft.  Jerrah has indicated he is going to copy the Giants and accumulate pass rushers.  He should mimic the Giants ownership & stay out of the football decisions! 

Other possibilities: Dre Kirkpatrick or Cordy Glenn

 

15.  PHILADELPHIA EAGLES:   CORDY GLENN, OT/OG, GEORGIA

  When haven’t the Eagles taken an offensive or defensive lineman in the first 2 rounds?  Glenn had a great combine and showed great abilities for a man of his size.  And we mean man!  Glenn will be charged with keeping Vick upright. 

Other possibilities: Dre Kirkpatrick or Michael Floyd

 

16. NEW YORK JETS:   ZACH BROWN, OLB, NORTH CAROLINA

   The Jets have an anemic pass rush and have told Bart Scott to “see ya”.  Brown is kind of a jack of all players with a non-stop motor.  It remains to be seen whether he will be a major pass rusher on the next level.

Other possibilities: Nick Perry, Mark Barron or Michael Floyd

 

17.  CINCINNATI BENGALS:   DRE KIRKPATRICK, CB, ALABAMA

    Kirkpatick is a steal at this point.  He is taller than most corners and has the speed and strength to challenge the taller wideouts.  The Bengals also pick 21^st so they can address other needs there. 

Other possibilities: Nick Perry or Mark Barron

 

18.  SAN DIEGO CHARGERS:   NICK PERRY, DE, USC

    The Chargers are jettisoning their older defensive lineman faster than Norv blows timeouts.  Perry had a good combine and will step in on day one for the Bolts.

Other possibilities: Devon Still or Michael Floyd

 

19.  CHICAGO BEARS:   MICHAEL FLOYD, WR, NOTRE DAME

    Before Cutler got hurt last year he was playing his best football as a Bear and the team looked like they could challenge the Pack in the North.  With Floyd, Cutler finally has a #1 target and is an instant upgrade.

Other possibilities: Janoris Jenkins, Stephen Hill 

 

20.  TENNESSEE TITANS:   DEVON STILL, DT , PENN STATE

    The Titans like Jenkins and with the imminent departure of Cortland Finnegan that makes sense.  But Titans will choose to play it safe and avoid corner backs with troubled pasts ala Pac Man Jones.  Still has a non-stop motor and should be a future leader on the defense.

Other possibilities: Whitney Mercilus, Stephen Hill 

 

21.  CINCINNATI BENGALS:   JANORIS JENKINS, CB, No. ALABAMA

    To get 2 players with top 10 talent in the latter half of the first round is too tempting for the Bengals who have never shied away from players with off the field problems.  In the pass-happy NFL you can never have enough quality corners.  Jenkins may be the most talented corner in the draft and could pair with Kirkpatrick for the next decade. or they could become the next Cheech & Chong.  

Other possibilities: Whitney Mercilus or Mark Barron

22.  CLEVELAND BROWNS:   MIKE ADAMS, OT OHIO ST

  After giving Colt McCoy a stud wideout to throw to, they get him some help upfront in pass protection with local product Mike Adams.  Adams had a great Senior Bowl but didn’t perform well at the Combine.  We think he’ll improve his draft stock and solidify his first round position. 

Other possibilities: Whitney Mercilus or Mark Barron

 

23.  DETROIT LIONS:   LAMAR MILLER, RB, MIAMI

    The Lions have a potentially dynamic passing game and a young defense, and if they can mature, have beast potential.  There are questions around the health and future of their running backs.  Miller is not a big back and will have to prove he can take the pounding at the next level but he has speed that you can’t coach. 

Other possibilities: Stephen Hill or Coby Fleener

 

24.  PITTSBURGH STEELERS:   WHITNEY MERCILUS, DE, ILLINOIS

   The Steelers have been shedding their older front 7 players this offseason.  Mercilus could either play end in the 4-3 or turn into a standup outside pass rusher.  Mercilus was a late bloomer but was a beast for the Fighting Illini last season

Other possibilities: Michael Brockers or Stephen Hill

 

25.  DENVER BRONCOS:    STEPHEN HILL, WR, GEORGIA TECH

   Is Tebow the answer or not the answer?  Time will tell.  What is clear is that Broncos need some help at wideout.  Hill was the darling of the combine moving up from mid round pick to the first round after posting blazing speed at the Combine to go along with his massive frame.

Other possibilities: Coby Fleener or Peter Konz

 

26. HOUSTON TEXANS:    COBY FLEENER, TE, STANFORD

 The Titans have every reason to feel good about last season and optimistic about the next.  Assuming Matt Schaub returns to form or they go with TJ Yates, the Texans need some help for Andre Johnson.  Fleener is a massive target in the Gronk mold who will make either quarterback smile.

Other possibilities: Kendall Wright or Peter Konz

 

27.  NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS:  MICHAEL BROCKERS, DT, LSU

   Bill Belichick loves big players and Brockers fits that mold.  Brockers had a disappointing Combine but was a very productive player at LSU and will learn form the man-mountain Vince Wilfork how to clog up the middle.

Other possibilities: Kendall Wright or Peter Konz

 

28. GREEN BAY PACKERS:  PETER KONZ, C, WISCONSIN

    The Pack don’t have any glaring holes but their line isn’t getting any younger.  Konz is a very good player but has had a history of injuries and didn’t help himself at the Combine.  A year learning from a veteran team like the Packers will make him into a quality starter before long.

Other possibilities: Mark Barron or Alfonzo Dennard

 

29.  BALTIMORE RAVENS:  MARK BARRON, S, ALABAMA

    Last year the Ravens drafted Jimmy Smith at corner and this year they tab Ed Reed’s replacement in Mark Barron.  Barron has top 15 talent but double hernia surgery will drop his stock.  A year with Reed and Ray Lewis and he will be a beast.

Other possibilities: Dwayne Allen or Fletcher Cox

 

30.  SAN FRANCISCO 49ER’S:   MOHAMED SANU, WR, RUTGERS

    Alex Smith almost looked like a quarterback in the playoffs.  In the loss to the Giants he didn’t get much help from his wideouts when he wasn’t throwing the ball in the dirt.  Despite a poor 40 time at the draft, his size and productivity are good value at this point.

Other possibilities: Stephon Gilmore or Alfonzo Dennard

 

31.  NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS:  ALFONZO DENNARD, CB, NEBRASKA

   After grabbing his big man in Brockers earlier in round 1, Belichick adds a productive college corner in Dennard who earlier in the year was projected in the top 10. 

Other possibilities: Kendall Wright or Donta Hightower

 

32.  NEW YORK GIANTS:   DONTA HIGHTOWER, ILB, ALABAMA

    The Giants continue to rebuild their linebacking corps with the addition of Hightower.  Injuries have dropped his status a bit but he is a quality player from an NFL-ready program who should become a solid pro. 

Other possibilities: Kendall Wright or Stephen Gilmore