| new mock, didn't change the whole thing from last week's, but updated draft order and changed some picks/write ups around:
1. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Whether it’s the Colts or whoever trades their entire draft to the Colts, Andrew Luck’s going no. 1. I’m personally hoping Luck does not go to Indy. As much as I dislike Peyton Manning as a Pats fan, I don’t want to see that situation turn ugly.
2. Minnesota Vikings
Matt Kalil, OT, USC
The Vikings have two of the worst tackles in the league right now in Charlie Johnson and Phil Loadholt. Drafting Kalil will go a long way in keeping Christian Ponder upright and in keeping Adrian Peterson’s legs moving forward.
3. St. Louis Rams
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.
Trading for Brandon Lloyd was a great pickup for the Rams, but he’s going to be a free agent in 2012, he’s already 30 and well, he’s nuts. Behind Lloyd, the Rams have very little as far as targets for Sam Bradford are concerned. Blackmon is the most talented WR coming out for the 2012 draft.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
I’ll start this off by saying I don’t love Jeffery, but if he can slim down a little bit and regain some of the speed he seems to have lost, he could be a steal for the Jaguars. Blaine Gabbert needs at least one talented player to throw to that’s not named Maurice Jones-Drew.
5. Washington Redskins
Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Even if the Redskins were drafting 2nd I’d have Griffin going here. It’s not often you see an accurate QB with good mechanics and world class speed. Oh wait, you never see that. Griffin will be a special player in the NFL, I suspect a team might trade up to take him earlier than this.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
Luke Kuechly, MLB, BC
The Dream Team made all the free agent signings in the world and forgot they needed linebackers. Luke Kuechly is a very good linebacker that should fill in immediately at MLB. It might seem a little crazy to be taking an MLB this early, but I think Kuechly is worth it. If the Eagles stay this high, they might be a team that could benefit from trading back. Who am I kidding though, the Eagles will probably draft a running back or rush DE with this pick.
7. Carolina Panthers
Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
The Panthers defense has been brutal this year and Captain Munnerlyn simply hasn’t been getting the job done at RCB. Cornerback has become one of the cornerstone positions on NFL defenses with the NFL being such a passing league and Claiborne is the best of the bunch.
8. Miami Dolphins
Matt Barkley, QB, USC
I don’t think Barkley will be drafted this low, but the Dolphins are the next team that needs a QB, so that’s where he’s going. If Barkley isn’t draft by the sixth pick, the Eagles would have teams knocking down their door to take Barkley.
9. Cleveland Browns
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
I’m usually not a tremendous fan of drafting running backs in the first round, but a talent like Trent Richardson is the exception to the rule. Peyton Hillis is grumbling, plodding, fumbling, injury prone back who will not be back in Cleveland next season. Richardson could give the Browns a Peterson/McFadden type lead back who will really help the offense.
10. Tampa Bay Bucs
Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina
Brown is too good of an athlete to fall much further than here and he’s a natural WLB for Tampa.
11. Arizona Cardinals
Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Levi Brown has been atrocious this season allowing 10 sacks and 33 QB pressures, Martin could probably do better than that in his sleep. An improvement at LT should help Kevin Kolb. The second tackle off the board would be a steal at no. 11.
12. Kansas City Chiefs
Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
I’m sure all the Chiefs fans will be furious at me not taking a QB here, but Barry Richardson has been too poor to ignore at RT. Riley Reiff will help out Cassel and the Chiefs can still take a QB later in the draft. Or, if all goes right for James, Reiff will be blocking for Ricky Stanzi for years to come, and then I’ll be writing for KCChiefsDraft.com
13. Seattle Seahawks
Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
If any team needs to trade up to the top three to grab a franchise QB, it’s the Seahawks. They have a tremendous run defense, a good young pass defense and some legit talent along the offensive line and skill positions. They need one of Luck, Griffin or Barkley to take them to the next level. That being said, they keep doing too well and will continue to miss out on the top tier rookie QBs. If they stay at 12, Jones is the pick, but if I’m Pete Carroll, I’ll trade whatever it takes to get into the top three.
14. Buffalo Bills
Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall
Curry is the best pass rush prospect in this year’s draft, an area that has been a season long concern for the Bills. Curry could fill in well in the Bills 3-4/4-3 hybrid defense.
15. San Diego Chargers
Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
With the quality tackles off the board, I think the Chargers will look to help shore up their defensive line with the best player available.
16. New York Giants
David Decastro, OG, Stanford
The Giants are a team that could use an infusion of youth along their offensive line. David Diehl has played very poorly this year. It’s amazing that Eli Manning has had as good of a season as he has with his current offensive line.
17. Dallas Cowboys
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
The Cowboys need someone to take over for Terence Newman, and Kirkpatrick might be their guy.
18. Atlanta Falcons (7-5)(traded to Cleveland)
Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
I have Floyd dropping a little bit in my mock, but a lot of that is due to the fact that I have a hard time drafting wide receivers early in the first round unless they’re sure things. The Browns need a ton of work on offense and Floyd could make a great duo with Greg Little (if Little can ever learn how to catch).
19. Tennessee Titans
Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
A massive body up the middle, he could make an imposing combo with Jurrell Casey. The Titans need help up the middle of the defense.
17. New York Jets
Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
This just in: Bryan Thomas and Calvin Pace are still old and the Jets still need a lot of help in the pass rush. Courtney Upshaw could be a scary sight for Tom Brady and the rest of the AFC East QBs.
21. Oakland Raiders (traded to Cincinnati)
Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
A troubled, but talented player, he seems like a perfect fit for the nuthouse that usually is Cincinnati. Nate Clements is getting up there in years and who knows how long Leon Hall’s torn Achilles could keep him out.
22. Cincinnati Bengals
Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
The Bengals could be drafting two picks in a row and would be able to shore up a couple of holes on their defense. The Bengals pass rush could be even better if they could get some better defenders in the middle of the defensive line.
23. Denver Broncos
Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
The Broncos secondary is definitely getting up there in years and an infusion of youth could certainly help them. This is a passing league and cornerbacks are as valuable as ever. I liked Dennard last year even more than Amukamara.
24. Chicago Bears
Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa State
Gabe Carimi was the pick last year, this year the Bears will need to help their interior line. It’s laughable how bad the Bears offensive line has been lately.
25. Detroit Lions
Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State
Burfict seems like he’d be a perfect player in the Lions no nonsense, attitude filled defense. MLB is a hole for them as well. If Jim Schwartz can control Burfict, they’d be getting a steal at 25.
26. New Orleans Saints (traded to New England)
Mark Barron, S, Alabama
I don’t even know who the next best safety on the Patriots roster is after Patrick Chung. It might be Sterling Moore as scary as that is, the Patriots need help in their secondary, badly.
27. Baltimore Ravens
Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame
It might be time for the Ravens to start grooming a replacement for Ray Lewis, and Te’o would be a nice fit. I could also see the Ravens taking a tackle, Bryant McKinnie is not getting the job done this year.
28. Houston Texans
Alameda Ta’amu, DT, Washington
The Texans don’t have a natural NT on their roster and Ta’amu is a top tier gap filler who can get some push. Ta’amu could further improve their already stout 3-4 defense.
29. San Francisco 49ers
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
With a quality target for Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick to throw to, the 49ers could be dangerous for years to come. Sanu has elite size and speed for the position and is having an elite season this year with 109 receptions and 1144 yards.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
It’s no mystery that the Steelers need help at the tackle position, currently starting Max Starks and Marcus Gilbert. After drafting Gilbert in the second round last season, the Steelers need to use a first round pick on another tackle this year.
31. Green Bay Packers
Ronnell Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma
Lewis is the next best available pass rusher, and the Packers are lacking any pressure across from Clay Matthews. It’s tough to find flaws in an undefeated team, but the Packers defense could use some help.
32. New England Patriots
Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama
It depends how Dane Fletcher looks if he ever actually comes back, but the Patriots need some depth at linebacker and Hightower could play a lot of roles on this team. He could be the MLB on passing downs and he could play some SLB. Basically, I’d like to ensure that the Patriots never have to play Gary Guyton, Tracy White or Niko Koutouvides ever again. |
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