With the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts will select Andrew Luck. There is really no debate. Anyone that speculates that the Colts will go the other way and take RGIII is simply trying to be unique or draw attention to them. Luck has been the pick for the Colts since they finished the season 2-14 and "earned" the top pick. Luck, according to nearly every NFL scout, is the best pro QB prospect since John Elway. You can't pass on that kind of talent, and Jim Irsay won't. He will draft Luck and hope that he is the second coming of Peyton Manning, if not better.
2. Washington Redskins- RGIII, QB, BAYLOR
Much like the Colts choice of Andrew Luck, this is a no-brainer. The Redskins have long been hurting for a quarterback and they did not trade away three first round picks and a second round pick to draft anything short of a potential superstar QB.
Griffin has shown all the intangibles of a great QB, he is poised, smart, confident, has a great arm, and can run well. If you remember correctly, Baylor's football program was a laughing stock before Griffin came along....in fact so were almost all of their sports. Griffin is so good that he changed the face of an entire school. There is no better place for a son of a military man like Griffin to land than in Washington, and expect him to guide the Redskins away from their years of mediocrity.
Griffin has shown all the intangibles of a great QB, he is poised, smart, confident, has a great arm, and can run well. If you remember correctly, Baylor's football program was a laughing stock before Griffin came along....in fact so were almost all of their sports. Griffin is so good that he changed the face of an entire school. There is no better place for a son of a military man like Griffin to land than in Washington, and expect him to guide the Redskins away from their years of mediocrity.
3. Minnesota Vikings – MATT KALIL, OT, USC
I was really torn between Kalil and Claiborne, as Corner is the Vikings most immediate need after letting Cedric Griffin and Jared Page go. Reaching for a Corner at #3 isn't the smartest thing to do especially when you are in a rebuilding stage as the Vikings are. The safest pick and honestly the smartest pick is Matt Kalil, mainly because of the investment they have in Christian Ponder. The Vikings gave up 49 sacks last year which was the 5th highest in the NFL. Needless to say Offensive Line is a must in a pass heavy league and nothing can turn around a franchise quicker than having a great tackle to pair with a young franchise QB.
I was really torn between Kalil and Claiborne, as Corner is the Vikings most immediate need after letting Cedric Griffin and Jared Page go. Reaching for a Corner at #3 isn't the smartest thing to do especially when you are in a rebuilding stage as the Vikings are. The safest pick and honestly the smartest pick is Matt Kalil, mainly because of the investment they have in Christian Ponder. The Vikings gave up 49 sacks last year which was the 5th highest in the NFL. Needless to say Offensive Line is a must in a pass heavy league and nothing can turn around a franchise quicker than having a great tackle to pair with a young franchise QB.
4. Cleveland Browns- JUSTIN BLACKMON, WR, OKST
What more can I say other than, the Browns receiving corp has stunk ever since, well... EVER! They won't get a QB in the first round this year, and will probably hold out for next year as there will be 3 outstanding QB options in, Tyler Bray, Matt Barkley, and Aaron Murray. They need a playmaker and with 2 first round picks I expect them to make a splash. Blackmon is a monster and the most impressive receiver since Calvin Johnson came out of Georgia Tech. They need a weapon on offense and the only other option here is Trent Richardson. I don't see a RB ever going top 15 ever again in the NFL Draft. Blackmon will pair with a QB drafted next year and they will form one of the most dominant connections in the league. Plain and simple, Blackmon is a freak of nature!
What more can I say other than, the Browns receiving corp has stunk ever since, well... EVER! They won't get a QB in the first round this year, and will probably hold out for next year as there will be 3 outstanding QB options in, Tyler Bray, Matt Barkley, and Aaron Murray. They need a playmaker and with 2 first round picks I expect them to make a splash. Blackmon is a monster and the most impressive receiver since Calvin Johnson came out of Georgia Tech. They need a weapon on offense and the only other option here is Trent Richardson. I don't see a RB ever going top 15 ever again in the NFL Draft. Blackmon will pair with a QB drafted next year and they will form one of the most dominant connections in the league. Plain and simple, Blackmon is a freak of nature!
5. Tampa Bay Bucs- TRENT RICHARDSON, RB, BAMA
He is probably the only running back that will go in the first round, and with good reason. He is a physical specimen -- his coaches capped him at 600 pounds on the squat and at 475 on the bench (see video below). Plus, he runs the 40 in the 4.4 range and has incredible shiftiness while maintaining his top speed, just ask Ole Miss. Richardson is the best overall athlete in the draft (I give him a slight edge over RGIII simply because of the strength component) and the Bucs could use some new life in their backfield. Josh Freeman is solid at QB but needs a better RB than LaGarrette Blount to back him up. They just signed Vincent Jackson to a huge deal and if they manage to snag Richardson in the draft, the Bucs will look more like the 10-6 team of 2010 than the mess of 2011. And while it’s not "trendy" to pick running backs early in the draft any more, don't expect a beast like Trent Richardson to slip out of the top-10. He is too good to pass up.
He is probably the only running back that will go in the first round, and with good reason. He is a physical specimen -- his coaches capped him at 600 pounds on the squat and at 475 on the bench (see video below). Plus, he runs the 40 in the 4.4 range and has incredible shiftiness while maintaining his top speed, just ask Ole Miss. Richardson is the best overall athlete in the draft (I give him a slight edge over RGIII simply because of the strength component) and the Bucs could use some new life in their backfield. Josh Freeman is solid at QB but needs a better RB than LaGarrette Blount to back him up. They just signed Vincent Jackson to a huge deal and if they manage to snag Richardson in the draft, the Bucs will look more like the 10-6 team of 2010 than the mess of 2011. And while it’s not "trendy" to pick running backs early in the draft any more, don't expect a beast like Trent Richardson to slip out of the top-10. He is too good to pass up.
6. St. Louis Rams- MICHAEL FLOYD, WR, ND
The Rams have many needs on this team outside of QB but they desperately need a playmaking WR to pair with QB Sam Bradford, who they need to build around. I am willing to bet that the Rams wanted Justin Blackmon but with him off the board the Rams need to switch to plan B. I also expect the Rams to field calls for a trade down but for the sake of this post they stand pat and take one of the best talents available. Floyd had character issues in his college days but nothing that should warrant falling out of the top 15 picks. Floyd did nothing but make plays while in school and the Rams need all the help they can get. Other possibilities are CB Morris Claiborne or OT Riley Reiff.
7. Jacksonville Jags- MELVIN INGRAM, DE, SC
Coming into this offseason, the Jaguars had to know they needed to make a splash in free agency, via trade, or in the draft. They need to fill seats or the team could end up in Los Angeles. Fortunately, the perfect situation fell into their laps when Denver snagged Peyton Manning, but unfortunately Mr. Tebow chose to head to the Big Apple. The team didn't land any big names in free agency and now, with the seventh pick in the draft, they will settle for Melvin Ingram, a name that won't bring in many new fans but one that will hopefully improve a dreadful pass rush. Ingram has a few weaknesses that worry NFL teams, including his short arms and below average height, but his explosiveness off the ball makes him worthy of a top-ten pick. The Jaguars hope he will shore up a defense that will need to play very well to keep this team in close, low scoring games.
8. Miami Dolphins- RYAN TANNEHILL, QB, A&M
This offseason was a complete disaster for the Miami Dolphins as they exhausted every possibility in a search for a QB, and with each option the failed miserably. Peyton Manning would not give them the time of day, nor would Matt Flynn. They had a little excitement when Alex Smith came for a visit, but he later admitted to just using Miami to push the 49ers to act. What is clear is that Miami is desperate for a QB, and while they could not land a free agent, and are not picking high enough to land Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, they are fortunate enough to come away with Ryan Tannehill in this mock draft. This decision would be a very difficult one as Morris Claiborne is by far the best player on the board and has somehow fallen this far, but the possibility of a franchise quarterback is worth the risk. Tannehill is a fantastic athlete with tremendous upside. He is a converted wide receiver with great speed and agility, but has also demonstrated a presence in the passing game. The word upside is key, as many do not feel that he is ready to play right away, but the upside is great enough that some believe a team will move up the the #3 spot to grab Tannehill. At worst Tannehill pushes Matt Moore this year to become a higher quality QB, at best Tannehill becomes a powerful force at the position in the NFL.
9. Carolina Panthers- MORRIS CLAIBORNE, CB, LSU
This is a dream scenario for the Panthers, who pick up the best defensive back in the 2012 class with the ninth pick. Carolina struggled against the pass last season, allowing 246.8 yards per game, a rate that ranked 24th in the NFL. With a rising offense led by last season's rookie sensation Cam Newton, the Panthers could be back in playoff contention sooner rather than later if they can shore up the defense. Claiborne would be a huge improvement for the Panthers over incumbent cornerbacks Chris Gamble and Darius Butler and would mark another step in the right direction for this rising franchise.
10. Buffalo Bills- RILEY REIFF, OT, IOWA
This is a difficult pick for the Bills to make as many talent evaluators are split on Reiff's abilities. A few, including ESPN's Todd McShay believe that Reiff is not an elite option at the tackle position. Others believe that he is a top ten pick. While this pick may be a risk, it seems to be a better option than others at this spot. David DeCastro could only be used as a G while Reiff could be used at either G or T. Quinton Coples would be the best player available at the spot, and while the thought of lining him up across from Mario Williams is nice, it is probably not the most logical choice. The Bills need a WR opposite of Stevie Johnson but the top caliber WR options (Blackmon, Floyd) are already off of the board. The only other logical option would be a CB, but no corner truly stands out as a top ten pick, and it is a deep cornerback class anyway. So ultimately Riley Reiff is the best option here for the Bills. He can help them in their quest to protect Ryan Fitzpatrick and could potentially develop into a top tier OT or OG for the Bills.
11. Kansas City Chiefs- LUKE KUECHLY, LB, BC
In Kuechly the Chiefs bolster their stout defense with a tackling machine, the best linebacker in this draft, and the best player available. The Chiefs only have one quality inside linebacker on their roster and that is pro bowler Derrick Johnson. Kuechly can take over Jovan Belcher's "mike" position and not only load up on tackles but improve the pass defense as well. The Chiefs could have gone with a nose tackle here like Dontari Poe, but his stock has been falling as of late. The only other truly glaring need for the Chiefs is quarterback and no remaining quarterbacks are worthy of this high of a selection. Kuechly is a classic "Pioli" type player and will make an already good defense even better.
12. Seattle Seahawks- DRE KIRKPATRICK, CB, BAMA
The Seahawks recently let go of longtime corner Marcus Trufant and need to stabilize the position with the 2nd best corner in the draft. Kirkpatrick had three very good years at Alabama and was a top prospect coming out of high school. Pete Carroll loves tall corners and Kirkpatrick checks in at 6'2". He has the potential to shut down his side of the field at the next level and that will only help the rest of Seattle's defense.
The Seahawks recently let go of longtime corner Marcus Trufant and need to stabilize the position with the 2nd best corner in the draft. Kirkpatrick had three very good years at Alabama and was a top prospect coming out of high school. Pete Carroll loves tall corners and Kirkpatrick checks in at 6'2". He has the potential to shut down his side of the field at the next level and that will only help the rest of Seattle's defense.
13. Arizona Cardinals- JONATHAN MARTIN, OT, STANFORD
With this pick the Cardinals protect their 60 million dollar quarterback Kevin Kolb. Martin will come in andinstantly make the entire offense better for Arizona. The Cardinals must upgrade their offensive line or they will not be able to keep pace with the division favorite San Francisco 49ers. Other positions of need for the Cardinals are the linebacking corps and the wide receiving corps.
14. Dallas Cowboys- FLETCHER COX, DE/DT, MISS ST
The Cowboys had several nice options to pursue here, but they decide to go with ESPN's 7th overall ranked player. Not only is he a top ten player in this draft, but he fits a need at the 5-technique spot for the Cowboys. He slides nicely into a defense that includes DeMarcus Ware and the newly signed cornerback Brandon Carr. Cox will have the ability to stuff the run game and create lanes for his linebackers better than anybody else in this entire draft. They also get a chance to steal him off of the board just before the division rival Philadelphia Eagles can.
15. Philadelphia Eagles- MARK BARRON, S, BAMA
The Eagles have not really recovered at the safety position since losing Brian Dawkins. Barron should finally stabilize the other half of the secondary and help solidify the Eagles secondary as one of, if not the best, secondaries in the league. Barron does come with a little injury baggage including one injury in his past that was the result of a questionable one car accident. Hopefully Barron can stay healthy and out of trouble. If he does then the Eagles are fortunate enough to have landed by the far the best Safety in this draft.
16. New York Jets- QUINTON COPLES, DE, UNC
Coples is a difficult prospect as some are very high on him and others are not. He is at a difficult size since he is around the 280 pound mark which makes people wonder if he is too big and slow to be a 4-3 pass rusher, or if he is too small to play the 5-technique. The best hope here for the Jets is that they grabbed the best available athlete on the board and can unleash Rex Ryan on him to hopefully turn him into a great defensive football player in the NFL.
17. Cincinnati Bengals- DAVID DECASTRO, OG, STANDFORD
The Bengals need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball. Due to this and the loss of their top CB Jonathan Joseph last year, Corner Back is the obvious choice. There are 2 very solid corners available still, Janoris Jenkins and Stephan Gilmore and because of that I think the Bengals will wait. They have 2 picks in the first round, #17 and #21. None of the teams at # 18, 19, or 20 looks set to take a corner so If I'm the Bengals I sure up my other glaring need which is interior offensive line. DeCastro has somehow dropped to #17 and the Bengals are chomping at the bit because of their good fortune. Lest we forget, they will then get their top flight Corner 3 picks later. Good Day for the Cincinnati Bengals.
18. San Diego Chargers- COURTNEY UPSHAW, DE/OLB, BAMA
Put simply, the Chargers need a pass rush. They haven't been the same since Shawn Merriman was cut. Upshaw is the best possible option here at pick 18 for the Chargers. Upshaw brings experience, leadership, and immense amounts of ability. He can play as a run stopping linebacker or come down on the ends and bring the rush. A lot of versatility here at this pick and a proven winner to try and rejuvenate this inept defense. Another need here is Offensive Tackle, so don't be surprised if the Chargers move up in the draft so they can snag their cornerstone tackle, picks 3 and 4 are intriguing of the chargers. Although, I think they need to much help to give up that much for a higher pick. Norv Turner will be screaming Roll Tide on draft day.
19. Chicago Bears- DONTARI POE, DT, MEMPHIS
This guy is a monster. Combine Warrior. Cant Miss type guy. Dontari shot up the boards following the combine and this makes you wonder. Is he a small school standout or a Combine All Star bust. His potential is HUGE and the Bears will trust him with that potential. The bears have cleaned up a lot of their glaring needs at CB and WR. There isn't really a drastic need here but DL needs some help. The Bears have options here with many DTs and DE but here is why Poe is the man. The bears run a multiple defense, they will go 4-3, 3-4, and sometimes even a 5-2. They need versatility, a guy who can play Nose Guard and Defensive Tackle. This is your guy. You just signed Lance Briggs to an extension and you need to convince Urlacher to stay after this year. Get a guy to protect Briggs and Urlacher. You lost Tommie Harris and Amobi Okoye over the last 2 years. Poe is your guy plain and simple.
20. Tennessee Titans- STEPHON GILMORE, CB, SC
Gilmore is a player that has been shooting up draft boards since the draft process officially began a few months ago. He has a good blend of size (6-1, 193) and speed (4.40 in the 40, the second fastest time at the NFL combine). He has been a starter from the time he stepped on campus at South Carolina and started earning recognition early when he was named to several Freshman All-America teams. His best collegiate season came in 2010, when he recorded 79 tackles, three interceptions and six tackles for loss. Gilmore was a little more inconsistent as a junior in 2011 but he made enough great plays to warrant a first round selection. With the loss of Cortland Finnegan in free agency, the Titans need cornerback help and Gilmore is the perfect fit. He has unlimited upside and, with proper coaching, has a chance to be a great cornerback for several years in the NFL.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- JANORIS JENKINS, CB, N. ALA
Many think Jenkins will fall into the second round because of his off the field issues. Well, enter the Bengals who are notorious for taking players with issues and solely base there decision on skill and potential. Janoris has unquestionable talent. He was slated to be a 1st round pick last year until he decided to stay at Florida and then got kicked off. The Bengals need Corner Back help and he is the best available at this time in this draft. Great draft building up for the Bengals.
22. Cleveland Browns- KENDAL WRIGHT, WR, BAYLOR
This may surprise some people and this may be thought of as stupid due to the Browns taking Justin Blackmon at #4. Here is my thought, the Browns have NEVER had an elite WR. They literally need help at every position and in a year where they have 2 first rounders, they must make an impact. They have a lot of viable options here, Cordy Glenn, Brockers, Hightower, Mike Adams, and Kendall Wright. The Browns will be taking a QB in the first round next year regardless of what Colt does this year. Therefore, why not get 2 elite weapons to season for a year before you get your QB of the future. Wright and Blackmon combination could be an unstoppable force for years to come, especially being thrown to by a Matt Barkley....
23. Detroit Lions- MIKE ADAMS, OT, OSU
The Lions were in need of an offensive tackle before they sign Jeff Backus, but even he isn't the answer. They have had a hole at LT for quite a while and it is vital at this point to fill that hole. With the success of the Lions offense and the fragile Matt Stafford, it is a must in this draft. The Lions need a lot of help in the Defensive Backfield to help Louis Delmas, but there are not legitimate options here at 23. Adams will be a great addition and could fit right in being the starting LT. Adams is kind of a under the radar guy because he was one of the five OSU players suspended for the first five games last season. Don't over look this guy, he could very easily and secretly be the second best OT in this draft.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers- CORDY GLENN, OG/OT, UGA
Cordy is an under the radar guy because of the deep class of Offensive Linemen in this years draft. Most think the Steelers will take Donta Hightower with this pick because they are always very defensive minded. Well, they need to upgrade at offensive line badly. Cordy Glenn is a guy that could come in right away and start at either Guard or Tackle. He had prototypical OT size at 6'6" 345lbs but has impressive versatility as he started at both guard and tackle for the dawgs throughout his college career. The Steeler's LT Max Starks tore is ACL in the Playoff game at Denver last year and may not be ready and they have had very inconsistent play by LG Chris Kemoeatu. Glenn could very well start every game this year for Pittsburgh at 2 different positions.
25. Denver Broncos- MICHAEL BROCKERS, DT, LSU
The Broncos most glaring needs is finally filled. Last year they passed on Marcel Darius to get Von Miller and nowthis year they get the second best DT in the draft. Brockers is raw, coming out early as a redshirt sophomore, he hasa lot of room to grow and will be a project player. With the likes of Denver’s pass rushers, Dumervil, Ayers, and Von Miller, Brockers should have a hard time at all playing alongside veteran Ty Warren. Jon Chavis, LSU’s DCoordinator is quoted as saying Brockers is the best he has ever coached. Chavis has coached Glen Dorsey and Albert Haynesworth… Enough Said, Brock is a steal at 25.
26. Houston Texans- STEPHEN HILL, WR, GT
There are 4 top tier receivers in this class and Hill is the last one. The Texans have always lacked a solid #2 behind Andre Johnson. The obvious pick here is Hightower to replace recently traded Demeco Ryans. I just think it is a lot harder to find a top receiver than a consistent MLB. Matt Schaub is nearing his end and he wants to win, he will have a lot of push for an offensive weapon especially with offensive minded Gary Kubiak.
27. New England Patriots- CHANDLER JONES, DE/OLB, SU
Chandler Jones is Bill Belichick’s type of player, endless motor with great athleticism. Versatility is key to thePatriots and that is the definition of Jones. The Pats need a pass rush bad and they have two chances here at theback end of the first round to grab two very good pass rushers, the first being Jones. He is very raw and doesn’t havea lot of experience, but there is no better person in the NFL at developing raw talent than Bill.
28. Green Bay Packers- NICK PERRY, DE/OLB, USC
Outside of Clay Mathews, the Pack’s pass rush is nonexistent. Nick Perry is an under the radar guy that I think can be very productive next to Matthews. At 6-3, 250, Perry is a monster, he ran a 4.64 and had a 38.5 vertical, these numbers are impressive for a guy his size. He’s quick, strong and explosive, why wouldn’t he be appealing to a team that has no pass rush.
29. Baltimore Ravens- DONTA HIGHTOWER, ILB, BAMA
(Pan Right and see Ray Lewis Dancing) Steal is the only word to describe this pick. Hightower is very talented and did nothing but produce against the best competition in college football for 3 years. Hightower is a monster and belongs in the top 15 pick. The Ravens bring youth to the line backing corps and line up Ray Lewis’ predecessor.
30. San Francisco 49ers- COBY FLEENER, TE, STANFORD
The 49ers needs include WR,OT,OG, and at this point in the draft there isn’t any available worth taking in the first round. It’s best available for Jim Harbaugh in this year’s first round. A great fit for the 49ers as Harbaugh gets his old player to go opposite of Vernon Davis. Fleener shocked a lot of people at the Stanford Pro Day because of how athletic he was. Fleener ran a 4.46 40 time and stands at 6-6 247. He is very similar to Vernon Davis and no one knows his better than Jim Harbaugh. Alex Smith is a happy man and the offense doesn’t even really need a receiver.
31. New England Patriots- ANDRE BRANCH, DE/OLB, CLEMSON
With this pick the Pats will again address their pass rush. Branch is another versatile guy that is able to line up at OLB or DE and when paired with Chandler Jones this could be a deadly duo for opponents. It wouldn’t surprise anyone for Bill to trade out of this spot and get more picks, but I think it is time the Pats address the pass rush and make sure they get a multitude of it.
32. New York Giants- KENDALL REYES, DT/DE, UCONN
The Giants need help on the offensive side of the ball, particularly at G and TE but neither are available here. Look for the Giants to trade up with San Francisco and take Colby Fleener. If they stay put I think they will add depth to their greatest strength. They are set at DE with a lot of depth but lack depth at DT. Reyes is a guy not much is known about but he is a big, fast, very versatile defensive lineman. Good add a great compliment to Chris Canty and last year’s first round pick Marvin Austin.
