2012 NFL Mock Draft 3.0

2012 NFL Mock Draft Version 3.0

1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford – Locked.

2. Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor – Locked.

3. Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC – I don’t care what Todd McShay and Adam Schefter say. Kalil is the pick. He’s the better prospect and the Vikings don’t need a corner as much as they need a tackle. Things may get interesting if they decide to trade down to get more picks, which is a huge possibility. If the Jets trade up to this spot, it will shake things up because Trent Richardson will be the third overall pick.

4. Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama – This is another spot where a trade could happen although I doubt it. Trent is the most likely pick here unless the Jets trade up to take him at three. At that point, the Browns would take a strong look at Ryan Tannehill and Justin Blackmon. In that situation, if I’m the Browns, I’m trading down to take either one of them.
Previous pick – Morris Claiborne

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU – Like I said in my last mock draft, Aqib Talib may go to jail, Ronde Barber is old and Eric Wright sucks. The Bucs should trade up for Trent but Claiborne is actually a bigger need.
Previous pick – Trent Richardson

6. St. Louis Rams – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St – This guy is a playmaker in the endzone. There’s talk of the Rams trading down. I wouldn’t do it.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St – Cox has risen up the draft boards and as much as Gene Smith likes Melvin Ingram, Cox fits their system better. Don’t be surprised if they trade down to take a wide receiver or Ingram. Rumor has it the Eagles have strong interest in Cox.
Previous pick – Melvin Ingram

8. Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M – A lot of reports say that the Dolphins owner is pushing the team to draft Tannehill for PR purposes and it makes sense. They need a face to attach to this franchise. I don’t think Tannehill is a franchise quarterback but he’s their only option.
Previous Pick: Michael Floyd

9. Carolina Panthers – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina – It seems that Dontari Poe has slipped in some drafts and the Panthers won’t be able to get Fletcher Cox so the best option is Coples. He can play inside and outside and he’ll help bolster the defensive line right away. Don’t forget that Coples played in Carolina so the Panthers know him well.
Previous Pick: Dontari Poe

10. Buffalo Bills – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College – Word is the Bills are still thinking defense and are looking at players at safety and linebacker. I think Kuechly would be a solid choice for them. He’s a tackle machine.
Riley Reiff

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 – Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse – After his older brother Jon Bones Jones got a big win, the Jones family has something new to celebrate.
Previous pick – Luke Kuechly

13. Arizona Cardinals – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame – This move makes more and more sense. Floyd’s mentor is Larry Fitzgerald and they do need a good second option.
Previous Pick:Jonathan Martin

14. Dallas Cowboys – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU – A lot of people expect the Cowboys to either trade up or down and many reports has them taking Mark Barron but I’m not sold on that. I think they still might go defensive line here. They need a pass rusher. They need someone to attack the quarterbacks in the NFC East.
Previous pick – Quinton Coples

15. Philadelphia Eagles – Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina – Asante Samuel is gone and I have no clue how Gilmore rose up the boards so quickly but people like him. The pick makes sense.
Previous pick – Fletcher Cox

16. New York Jets – Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina – Back to back Gamecocks go here as the Jets have a definite need for pass rushers. Remember, they might trade up to get Trent Ricardson or Michael Floyd.
Courtney Upshaw

17. Cincinnati Bengals – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama – There’s rumors that the Giants could be interested in Kirkpatrick but they rarely trade up and I don’t see Kirkpatrick slipping.

18. San Diego Chargers – Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Illinois – He’s the best defensive lineman available. I’d say Courtney Upshaw here but he’s a bit of a tweener.

19. Chicago Bears – Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis – I’m surprised he’s fallen this far considered his Combine workouts but he’s an excellent talent and in my opinion, he’s a steal here.
Previous pick: Cordy Glenn

20. Tennessee Titans – Courtney Upshaw, DE/LB, Alabama – Best player available. Enough said.
Previous Pick: Michael Brockers

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia – I feel like they can take a running back here but they can also get someone of value later in the draft.
Previous Pick: Lamar Miller

22. Cleveland Browns – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford – I keep saying it. Holmgren won’t take a wide receiver in the first round. I think this year’s class of wideouts is exceptional but I still don’t think they’ll do it. Plus they have a gap at right tackle.
Previous pick – Michael Floyd

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.

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 – Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn – They need a defensive tackle. Reyes is up and down on a lot of boards but he’s a solid pick here.
Devon Still

26. Houston Texans – Nick Perry, DE, USC – Supposedly the Texans flew out West Virginia defensive end Bruce Irvin and told him they’d take him in the first round. I was impressed by his Combine but I’m not convinced. Its all smoke and mirrors. I do think they’ll take a pass rusher here though.
Previous pick – Stephen Hill

27. New England Patriots – Mark Barron, SS, Alabama – I know what you’re thinking and you’re probably right. Barron probably will go higher. I’m probably wrong about this but I’m stubborn. Sue me. Harrison Smith makes a lot more sense here but whatever.
Previous pick – Nick Perry

28. Green Bay Packers – Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame – The Packers will take a defensive back no matter what. Gilmore will not be available.
Previous pick – Stephon Gilmore

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 – Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech – He’s an absolute steal at this spot.
Coby Fleener

31. New England Patriots – Shea McClellin, DE/LB, Boise St – Rumor has it the Pats are going to trade this pick but if they don’t McClellin might be the pick…if he’s available. People seem to be in love with this guy.
Mark Barron

32. New York Giants – Doug Martin, Boise St – The Giants could go a number of directions with this pick. I still feel like Martin will be the pick but they could also go offensive line or if the rumors are true, trade up to get Dre Kirkpatrick.