Friday, November 18, 2011

2012 NFL Mock Draft

*based on current NFL standings.


1. Indianapolis Colts- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Andrew Luck is going to be the first overall pick whether the Colts take him or not. They could trade this pick and get a king's ransom if they decide not to go with Luck as the future of their franchise. I personally would take Luck and have him sit for a year and then trade Peyton Manning. Yeah as a Colts fan that would stink to see Manning go somewhere else, but ask Packer fans how trading Favre has worked out for them.

2. St. Louis Rams- Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Rams have taken Offensive Tackles high in the first round a lot lately and they haven't worked out great. I've been mocking Justin Blackmon here to give Bradford that legit number one WR, but I think the Rams are going to go with the player higher on the board. Kalil comes from a family with NFL bloodlines and his brother Ryan is a dominant offensive lineman in the NFL right now. This will also allow the Rams to move Saffold to RT and Jason Smith to Guard where he belongs with his short arms.

3. Miami Dolphins- Matt Barkley, QB, USC

The Dolphins are definitely taking a QB in next year's draft. They screwed up and won some games this year that are meaningless and have basically taken themselves out of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. That being said, in other years Barkley could very well have been a number one overall pick himself and I think can still be a very good NFL QB. He's definitely an upgrade over what they currently have at Miami right now.

4. Carolina Panthers- Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Panthers have their franchise QB in Cam Newton. Now they are going to do everything they can to make sure he has a shot to succeed and that starts with getting him some weapons other than Steve Smith. Smith has wanted a legit threat opposite him for years to help take some of the pressure and coverage off of him.

5. Minnesota Vikings- Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Jared Allen has been an absolute beast this year leading the NFL in sacks. Other than Allen, no on else is getting any pressure on the QB at all. The Vikings are in a division with Green Bay and to beat the Packers you have to get to Rodgers. It's going to take more than just Allen to do that.

6. Cleveland Browns- Alshon Jeffrey, WR, South Carolina

Cleveland passed on Julio Jones in this year's draft and they still don't have any weapons on the outside. Some think McCoy is not the man for the job and Cleveland should take a QB, but I think they should at least try to get him some weapons and see what he can do. Jeffrey would give them a legit number one WR, something they've been missing since they came back into the league.

7. Washington Redskins- Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

There is no way that Washington doesn't take a QB if one of the top three QB's are on the board when they pick in the first round. Mike Shanahan doesn't wanna watch another season of Rex Grossman or John Beck playing QB.

8. Seattle Seahawks- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Seattle has the best young Safety duo in the NFL and if they land Claiborne may be on the way to having the best secondary in the NFL. Claiborne is right up there talent wise with Patrick Peterson who was a top five pick in last year's draft and is the best CB of this loaded class of CB's. I'm sure the fans in Seattle will hope for a QB to fall to them but at this point the top 3 are gone and there isn't another worth the pick this high.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars- Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin

This would be a shock and a huge reach in a lot of people's eyes, but the Jags have pulled some shockers on draft day. They miss out on the DE they need with Coples gone and both elite WR's are gone. Toon isn't too far behind though, he has good size, speed, hands, and can stretch the field vertically. The Jags current options at WR aren't very good and they have Gabbert their future QB they need to get him some weapons.

10. Arizona Cardinals- Jonathon Martin, OT, Stanford

If the Cards are picking 10th and Martin is still there they will be ecstatic. Martin is a top 5 talent and it's a huge position of need with two players at Tackle that are over paid and under performing. This will allow them to cut at least one of them and get rid of that salary.

11. Philadelphia Eagles- Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Who would have thought that the "Dream Team" would be picking this high. A big reason is the defense, especially the LB's. It's a mix of poor run and pass defense and that usually points to bad LB play. Burfict will give them someone in the middle that goes sideline to sideline and makes plays.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Talib may be heading to prison and Ronde Barber has to be close to retirement right? Behind those two there isn't much there and CB depth is a must in the NFC South where you have Brees, Ryan, and now Newton who all throw the ball a ton.

13. Kansas City Chiefs- Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

This will allow KC to move Albert to Guard where he's better suited. The Chiefs also need another pass rusher in their 3-4 defense, but Pioli is of the Patriots belief that you get those tweener DE/OLB players in later rounds. They value the OT much more. That and Haley is an offensive minded coach and that will win out come draft day.

14. Denver Broncos- Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Broncos are going to be a team that runs a ton as long as John Fox is there, and Tim Tebow. Fox doesn't currently like the backs on that roster and tried to over pay to bring in DeAngelo Williams. As a Bengals fan I'd kind of like to see Richardson in orange and black, but I'm not a big believer in taking a RB in the first round.

15. San Diego Chargers- Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The Chargers have had a need for a pass rusher since they made Shawn Merriman stop taking steroids. Larry English is officially a bust. Upshaw is the best of the 3-4 edge pass rushers in this class.

16. Dallas Cowboys- Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Cowboys are super thin at CB. At the beginning of the season undrafted rookies were starting. Newman is getting old and Mike Jenkins is afraid to tackle. Janoris Jenkins started at Florida as a true freshman and would likely be a top ten pick if not for the weed arrest. I don't think that'll bother Jerry Jones. He passed on Moss years ago and regretted it and then hit on Dez Bryant, both with "character concerns".

17. Tennessee Titans- Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame

The Titans current group of LB's is way below average. Their defensive line and Cortland Finnegan have carried their defense so far this year. They have lacked a quality LB really since Keith Bullock. Te'o will give them a leader and a playmaker in the middle of that defense.

18. Cleveland Browns- Micheal Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

That's right, if I'm Mike Holmgren I'm taking two first round WR's and solidifying the position for the next decade with two playmakers that will make opposing defenses play honest and not be able to just roll coverage over to Jeffrey. This gives Colt McCoy no excuses if he can't succeed with these two it's time to find a new QB.

19. Buffalo Bills- Brandon Jenkins, DE/OLB, Florida State

The Bills really need a legit pass rusher coming off the edge in the worst way. They drafted Aaron Maybin before Chan Gailey got there and put in the 3-4 defense and Maybin doesn't fit the system.

20. New York Jets- Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington

Quality Nose Tackles are almost impossible to find. Kris Jenkins has basically been on IR the last three seasons. Because of this the Jets run defense hasn't been as dominant as it was. If you run a 3-4 defense things are ten times easier when you have that quality Nose Tackle that takes up blockers.

21. Cincinnati Bengals- David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The two biggest needs heading into next year's draft will likely be CB and OG. This draft class is loaded at CB. With this pick from Oakland I would take DeCastro if he's still available. He's the best interior offensive lineman in this class. DeCastro is a mauler in the run game and can more than hold his own against the pass.

Livings has struggled this year and basically has been unimpressive since he began starting for the Bengals. Bobbie Williams is good but running out of time as an NFL player. They took Boling in last year's draft which I believe will turn out to be a very good pick. This pick though could give them a line that is as dominant as the 2005 offensive line with Jones, Steinbach, Braham, Williams, and Anderson. With the weapons they have in the passing game and a good young QB the sky is the limit for this offense if they can get a line like this: Whitworth, DeCastro, Cook, Williams/Boling, Smith.

22. Detroit Lions- Barrett Jones, OT, Alabama

Jones' stock has been on the rise all year and he's now a legitimate first round prospect. The Lions have needed an upgrade over Backus at LT for years. They seem to like Backus and I don't know why. Jones could likely play either Guard or Tackle position and that versatility will make him that much more valuable and the Lions could use help all over that line.

23. Cincinnati Bengals- Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Since Janoris Jenkins is already gone Dennard is the pick here. I really hope the Raiders lose enough games for the Bengals to get Jenkins. I think he's the best CB in this draft and would be a top 5 pick if not for the arrest. That said Dennard is a good player as well. I think he's a perfect compliment from Hall who is more a technician. Dennard is quick with good hips and shifty and can cover both outside and slot WR's while Hall covers the bigger stronger WR's, Dennard can cover the quicker smaller WR's that make more cuts.

Jenkins, Dennard, or Minnifield would be acceptable picks for me in the first round. Either way they need to add depth to the CB position. Leon Hall is out for the year and if Adam Jones can't stay healthy that could be costly if Kelly Jennings doesn't start showing some improvement fast. The Bengals are set up to make a run at a Super Bowl in the next few years and they need as many good CB's as they can get in a pass happy NFL.

24. Chicago Bears- Mike Brewster, OC, Ohio State

The Bears need a Center to replace Olin Kruetz who left for the Saints and then retired. Their offensive line has been less than mediocre for years and they haven't really had the picks to improve it losing two first rounders in the Cutler trade.

25. Baltimore Ravens- Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Ozzie Newsome doesn't draft for need he takes the best player on the board that fits their scheme. Kuechly is it here and could be the heir apparent to Ray Lewis in the middle of that defense.

26. New York Giants- Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

Like the Ravens the Giants don't really draft for need and their GM loves taking defensive lineman in the first round. Especially when it's a steal like Thompson is this late. Why not having a defensive line loaded with depth and talent won them a Super Bowl.

27. New England Patriots- Ronnell Lewis, DE/OLB, Oklahoma

This has to be the year the Patriots use both of their first round picks and get themselves a pass rusher early. I know they won Super Bowls by taking those tweener types later in the draft, but the rest of the NFL has caught on and they are going much earlier now. The Pats simply can not ignore their pass rush another year the defense has been below average in New England, if it was middle of the pack they would probably be the favorites to win the Super Bowl.

28. New England Patriots- Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M

Don't get me wrong the Patriots have a good offense, but teams are starting to realize they can just sit on their short routes. They don't really have a big WR threat on the outside that can challenge them deep. Fuller would give them a different type of WR with a big body that will make teams play them honest.

29. Houston Texans- Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

Most have a mid to late second round grade on Broyles, no way he should go that late. Broyles is a great player I don't care what his size is, he goes up over bigger defenders and comes down with the ball. He has great hands, is shifty, quick, fast, and gets seperation quickly and easily. He would be a perfect compliment to Andre Johnson in Houston. On a side note I feel bad for Texans fans, they finally look like they will make the playoffs and lose Schaub for the year giving them no chance to make a deep run.

30. San Francisco 49ers- Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

The Niners took Taylor Mays in the 2nd a couple years ago and that didn't work out at all for them. Now they still have a hole at SS and Barron is the best Safety in this draft. If it doesn't work out they can always trade him to the Bengals for a 7th rounder.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers- Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

I hate seeing Buckeyes go to the Steelers, it makes it harder to root for them. They do need some major help on the offensive line in Pittsburgh though. For the last few years Ben has been getting killed and their starters always seem to be injured. Really i'm suprised they've won as much as they have lately. That just proves defense wins championships.

32. Green Bay Packers- Levy Adcock, OT, Oklahoma State

When you are in a position like Green Bay where you don't have many, if any, holes then you should add first round talent/depth to the offensive line to protect what may be the best QB in football right now. Rodgers is definitely the favorite to win the MVP this year. Every chance they get they should be adding someone to that O line as early as they can in drafts to keep him as protected as possible. If I'm GM in Green Bay I want all my backup offensive lineman to be top notch and keep Rodgers protected.

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