2012 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins take lead for Luck and Robert Griffin’s meteoric rise!!
By Editorial Staff
1. Miami Dolphins Andrew Luck QB Stanford
Miami Dolphins have a coach who is on the way out and the team has lost faith in itself very early. I see the Dolphins as the current front runners for Luck. Finally, a replacement for Jay Fiedler….I mean Dan Marino.
2. St. Louis Rams Matt Kalil OT USC
What is going on with this team? They look horrible. Josh McDaniels was supposed to improve this offense, not ground it. Bradford needs weapons too, but he is getting horribly beaten. Jason Smith is not living up to expectations and Roger Saffold is struggling this season. Kalil is a Franchise LT and would give Bradford some breathing room. If the Rams do get the first pick I expect them to trade it away for a hefty ransom.
3. Kansas City Chiefs Robert Griffin QB Baylor
Weiss leaving was a blow…Cassel is only average and if Pioli wants a year in and year out winner, he needs to pull the Cassel life support. The Chiefs have been boring since I have been alive. Griffin needs some polishing, but brings Michael Vick like potential.
4. Denver Broncos Trent Richardson RB Alabama
No DT is worth taking here….Coples is not playing up to his potential as of this moment. I think this pick is used on offense. I would think QB and OL are worth more but Fox seems to be a fan of drafting RB’s. Richardson is worth this pick. He is an Adrian Peterson like presence in the backfield.
5. Indianapolis Colts Landry Jones QB Oklahoma
Peyton might not be able to play again…even if he does, for how long? It is about time the Colts start thinking about life after Peyton. I think Landry Jones is a great fit for this offense. He is experienced with the spread offense and is more than capable of playing in a hurry up offense. Good talent, great fit.
6. Carolina Panthers Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma St
Cam Newton is a franchise QB. I was wrong. Steve Smith is blowing up but needs a running mate. Blackmon is a shade above Jeffrey to me. I love his run after the catch ability as well as his physical playing style. He has been very consistent over the past two years and would give Cam Newton enough weapons to reach his potential.
7. Minnesota Vikings Jonathan Martin OT Stanford
Part of me believes the Vikings keep playing Donovan McNabb because of the OL play. Better to serve up a veteran than the future of your franchise. This OL might be the worst in the NFL. Martin would give a young QB a franchise LT to protect him. More upgrades are needed but it’s a start.
8. Seattle Seahawks Matt Barkley QB USC
I do think Barkley has some faults…but he has been improving year in and year out. He has played in a Pro Style offense and would be a great fit in Pete Carroll’s offense. Remember he has played in his system. I think he would be a huge upgrade.
9. Arizona Cardinals DJ Fluker OT Alabama
Cardinals need to protect their investments. The O-Line and defense are keeping this team down. Cardinals spent a ridiculous sum of money to get Kolb and retain Fitzgerald so why not block for them. Fluker is a RS Soph who might stay…but if he is given a top 10-15 grade you have to leave. He is a dominate RT who has LT potential. Either way he would improve this OL.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars Alshon Jeffrey WR SC
The Jaguars’ future is in the hands of Blaine Gabbert. It is not fair to have him throw the ball to this group of receivers. Jeffrey would give the Jaguars a Calvin Johnson like presence. The only thing I do not like about Jeffrey is his attitude. He seems to only want to play when he wants to…Megatron is all work and gives it his all every play. Jeffrey should learn from Megatron
11. Cleveland Browns Lamar Miller RB Miami
Browns need play makers on both sides of the ball. Since there is no QB worth taking here I think the Browns need to get Lamar Miller. He could team with Peyton Hillis to give the Browns a dynamic running game. He has size and speed and is only going to get better.
12. Cincinnati Bengals Nick Perry DE NC
There is no RB worth taking here. I think the Bengals would love to take Perry. For on, they love USC players and at the moment I have Coples returning to NC if he cannot step up his play. I know he is getting doubled team but all the great ones do….step up. As for Perry, I think he is this year’s Aldon Smith. His speed is unreal and being tutored by Monte Kiffin doesn’t hurt.
13. Oakland Raiders Stephon Gilmore CB SC
The Raiders’ secondary is playing poorly. I think Gilmore is the second most technically sound CB next to Janoris Jenkins. Now Jenkins is going to fall due to his own personal choices, but Gilmore will not. He has size and plays very physical. His speed is not elite, but he makes the most of it by having great agility and smooth hip movement.
14. Philadelphia Eagles Vontaze Burfict MLB Arizona State
Eagles, what is happening? Is Reid going to make it if the Eagles fail to make the playoffs??? I do not know, but what I do know is that their LB core is horrible. Burfict would give them a Ray Lewis type talent and persona. He is scary to watch on television. He would give the Eagles an intimidating presence they have not had since Brian Dawkins.
15. Chicago Bears Michael Brewster C Ohio State
The Bears OL is just plain bad. Gabe Carimi is a solid talent but he is all they have. Webb is having a disappointing second year at LT and both OG are just plain ineffective. Garza is an OG being forced to play center. Brewster would improve two spots. Center and moving Garza back to RG. Bears cannot go one more year with this kind of OL.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers Morris Claiborne CB LSU
Wow this guy is flying up the radar. I love his big play ability, size, and potential. I think the Steelers need to abandon their approach of avoiding the secondary with early picks. It is not working….when was the last time they spent a 1st round pick on the secondary? Troy Polamalu…..I think that worked out well.
17. Buffalo Bills Brandon Jenkins DE/OLB FSU
Jenkins had a quiet game versus the Sooners. Sometimes it is hard to get to a QB in the spread offense. I will stay high on Jenkins for the moment. He would give the Bills a young pass rusher that would go with Marcell Dareus. I like the direction the Bills are going.
18. Cleveland Browns (T) Manti Te’o ILB ND
Manti would give the Browns the QB of the defense that they are missing. He is very intelligent on the field and has elite physical skill. Also going his way, is the ability to be effective in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes. Love their first round of Miller and Te’o.
19. Dallas Cowboys Dre Kirkpatrick DB Alabama
Kirkpatrick has some unkind film. He is a bit stiff and is capable of being beaten by double moves and by quick smaller WR’s. Some think he is a FS. I think he has talent and even if he has to move to the FS spot that is no different than Malcolm Jenkins who went around here a few drafts ago (14th to the Saints). Cowboys will love his physicality and smarts.
20. Washington Redskins Michael Floyd WR ND
Popular pick, but since there are no QB’s worth this pick I think it fits. Santana Moss has one more season left and besides him…the pickings are slim. Floyd, if he stays out of trouble, is a true #1 target who can stretch the field for the run game.
21. Tennessee Titans Jerel Worthy DT MSU
Worthy had a dominate game versus the Buckeyes. This is the kind of game that raises one’s draft status. His initial quickness is impressive and he has the strength to anchor versus the run…what he needs to work on is his stamina to become more consistent. I think with a couple more games like the last one…. he might creep up a little more.
22. New York Jets Courtney Upshaw OLB Alabama
Upshaw oozes physicality and versatility. What a match made in heaven. Upshaw would give youth to this aging LB unit. He can play both ILB and OLB in the 3-4 scheme. He is like Bart Scott with more athleticism…..scary.
23. San Francisco 49ers Jayron Hosley CB VT
49ers defense is beginning to shape up. All it needs is a playmaker in the secondary. Hosley and Aldon Smith are reshaping the unit. I think the offense needs more, but I think Hosley is the best player available.
24. New York Giants Riley Reiff OT Iowa
Giants OL is not very good. With the exception of Chris Snee I think all other 4 players could be replaced. Riley Reiff would start the healing process of Eli’s battered body. He can play RT or LT effectively. His blue collar work ethic would welcomed on this hard working team. Coughlin would love this kid.
25. Tampa Bay Buccs Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
Buccaneers love taking prospects from the Midwest. Credit Walter football for recognizing this. Aquib, Clayborn, McCoy, and now Dennard. Buccaneers need more secondary talent. It was hard going this way since the Buccs would love OL and skill players for Freeman but I think Morris loves having a dominate defense.
26. Detroit Lions David DeCasto OG Stanford
Lions are almost a complete team. All they are lacking is a consistent run game that keeps the chains moving that can burn clock. I feel this is more on the OL than on the RB talent. DeCasto would bring some nastiness to this OL. I would prefer a C or LT but none of the available players are near DeCasto’s talent level. I love this pick.
27. San Diego Chargers Luke Kuechly ILB BC
Chargers have lots of holes in the LB unit. Shaun Phillips can only play so much longer…same goes for Spikes. Kuechly would team well with Donald Butler to give the Chargers a sound ILB duo. More Linebackers are needed, but this will get them started.
28. Houston Texans Alemeda Ta’Amu NT Washington
Shaun Cody is okay, but this 3-4 team is lacking a dominate NT. I think Amu with Watt and Smith alongside him would give the Texans one of the better 3-4 Defensive Lines in the league. Now, this defense can keep up with the offense.
29. Baltimore Ravens Janoris Jenkins CB N Alabama
Two straight years stealing CB talent. Just like with Jimmy Smith the Ravens will ignore character flaws because of their immense talent. I think the Ravens locker room is able to handle one more. The combination of Jimmy Smith and Janoris Jenkins gives the Ravens two shutdown CB’s. Now its time to hit the safety position.
30. New England Pats (T) Mohammed Sanu WR Rutgers
I love this kid. He can do it all: WR, RB, and Returner. I think Belichick would love to get him at this point. He would team well with Welker. Patriots need size and speed on their receiving corps. Sanu would give them both.
31. New England Patriots TJ McDonald SS USC
Patriots love to select secondary talent early. Dowling, McCourtney, and Chung have been hits. What is missing is a physical SS who can play like Rodney Harrison. Patriots get punked far too often. McDonald would give the Patriots some street cred.
32. Green Bay Packers Jared Crick DL Nebraska
Crick had a hard time versus Wisconsin OL. What is my answer to that? So does everyone else. The whole Wisconsin OL is going to the NFL. Crick has had a good career and one game should not erase this. Crick would give the Packers a 5 technique capable of getting to the QB on a consistent basis.
Second round continued on next page