2012 NFL Mock Draft 2.0
2012 NFL Mock Draft Version 2.0
1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford – There were stories recently that the Colts liked what they saw from RG3‘s pro day at Baylor but I don’t think what he did would be enough to change their pick, especially since Luck had an equally impressive pro day.
2. Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor – After a fantastic pro day in Texas, this pick is locked in.
3. Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC – These three picks won’t change unless someone gets arrested for manslaughter or something crazy like that.
4. Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama – The Browns can go a number of different directions with this pick. Its too high to take Ryan Tannehill, Mike Holmgren never takes receivers in the first round, and if they take Morris Claiborne they’ll have to shell out a lot of money to keep Joe Haden and then Claiborne not too far after that. That leaves Richardson as the pick.
Previous pick – Morris Claiborne
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU – Unless the Bucs trade up to take Trent Richardson, the pick is Claiborne. It only makes sense. They’re in desperate need of a defensive back. Aqib Talib may go to jail, Ronde Barber is old and Eric Wright is terrible.
Previous pick – Trent Richardson
6. St. Louis Rams – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St – The Rams are in dire need of a wide receiver. Blackmon is the best one on the board.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina – Rumor has it the Jags could trade down if they can’t get Blackmon. If they don’t trade down, they’ll take a strong look at Ingram.
Previous pick – Riley Reiff
8. Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M – Maybe the Dolphins are cursed. They haven’t had a legitimate starting quarterback in a long time, they had three chances to get one and missed out on all three. I think a smarter choice would be to trade down, take a wide receiver and take a guy like Kirk Cousins in the second round.
Michael Floyd
9. Carolina Panthers – Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis – Its looking more and more like the Panthers will definitely take a defensive tackle with this pick. Whether or not its Poe is the real question.
10. Buffalo Bills – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa – Word from Bills camp is that they’re finished with the defense and want to upgrade their offense.
Quinton Coples
11. Kansas City Chiefs – David DeCastro, OG, Stanford – DeCastro is the best lineman available and the best guard in the draft. Jamaal Charles will be very happy with this revamped offensive line.
12. Seattle Seahawks – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College – The Seahawks really need a linebacker and Kuechly is the best one available.
Previous pick – Melvin Ingram
13. Arizona Cardinals – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford – This offensive line is terrible and if they let Martin slip past them (which they could) it’ll be a huge mistake.
14. Dallas Cowboys – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina – There are questions about Coples’ work ethic but he’s a terrific pass rusher and the Cowboys do need some help on that side of the ball.
Previous pick – Dre Kirkpatrick
15. Philadelphia Eagles – Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St – The Eagles could go a number of directions here (especially cornerback since Asante Samuel could be gone) but with Luke Kuechly off the board, they’ll go defensive tackle and take Cox.
Previous pick – Luke Kuechly
16. New York Jets – Courtney Upshaw, DE/LB, Alabama – Even though Upshaw has no position, the Jets need a pass rusher. Some people are saying the Jets are looking at Mark Barron but they just signed LaRon Landry and even though he has health concerns, I don’t think they’ll use a first round pick on a safety.
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama – In my last mock draft, I had them taking a cornerback. I still have them taking a cornerback but I think Kirkpatrick will be available for them.
Previous pick – Janoris Jenkins
18. San Diego Chargers – Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Illinois – The Chargers only had one pass rusher to get more than four sacks last season. Mercilus is a great pass rusher and will be an immediate upgrade to their defense.
Previous pick – Nick Perry
19. Chicago Bears – Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia – It seems the Bears are more likely to take an interior lineman if there isn’t someone at defensive end that they like. Nick Perry might be a reach here but Glenn isn’t.
Previous pick – Michael Brockers
20. Tennessee Titans – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU – If they don’t move up, this could be the pick. Brockers is the best player available here and fits their needs on the defensive line.
Cordy Glenn
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Lamar Miller, RB, Miami(U) – The Bengals got their cornerback at 17 so it would be smart to take a running back here.
22. Cleveland Browns – Michael Floyd – Even though Mike Holmgren has a thing against taking wide receivers in the first round, I can’t see them passing up on guy like Floyd.
Previous pick – Stephen Hill
23. Detroit Lions – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama – According to scouts, he’s been remorseful of his past mistakes. He’d be a great fit in Detroit.
Previous pick – Whitney Mercilus
24. Pittsburgh Steelers – Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama – I had the Steelers taking him in my first mock draft and I think its pretty locked in.
25. Denver Broncos – Devon Still, DT, Penn St – The Broncos signed Peyton Manning. They have their man for the foreseeable future. Now they need to upgrade their offensive and defensive lines. Devon Still is a better prospect at this point than any other offensive lineman so he’s the logical pick.
26. Houston Texans – Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech – Its no secret the Texans are desperate for a wide receiver here and Hill is the best one on the board. Georgia Tech has had a string of successful wideouts in the league (Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas) and he won’t be any different.
Previous pick – Kendall Wright
27. New England Patriots – Nick Perry, DE/LB, USC – The Patriots really need a pass rusher.
Previous pick – Jared Crick
28. Green Bay Packers – Stephen Gilmore, CB, South Carolina – Word is, the Packers love Gilmore and his style fits the defensive system. Plus, Charles Woodson is 35 and won’t play forever.
Previous pick – Jerel Worthy
29. Baltimore Ravens – Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin – As I said in my last mock draft the Ravens always take the best available player and in this case, he’s not just that. He’s also a player of need. He can replace Ben Grubbs in the meantime and later on, replace Matt Birk.
30. San Francisco 49ers – Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford – His impressive Pro Day at Stanford only solidifies what we already know. This guy is the pick.
31. New England Patriots – Mark Barron, SS, Alabama – The Patriots pass defense was atrocious last season and Barron is actually a steal here.
32. New York Giants – Doug Martin, Boise St – With Brandon Jacobs officially signing in San Francisco, the Giants will have to find a replacement. Martin is rising up the draft boards because of his ability to stay on the field for all three downs. He’s a great blocker and an every down back.
