2012 NFL Mock Draft: Gamble Pays off for St. Louis

1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck seems to be the clear-cut pick. He’s going to be a good one.

Trade Washington Redskins– Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The ‘Skins need some help here bad, when your QB controversy circles around Grossman and Beck you know your season is headed down the toilet. RGIII is a dual threat quarterback who reminds a lot of Cam Newton but maybe a better overall passer.

3. Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Most believe that Kalil will be a perennial pro-bowler. I like the pick whether this is the biggest need or not, Kalil is a sure deal and in the draft, sure deals are the best bet.

4. Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Hillis is more than likely going to test free agency, Hardesty might be a big injury liability. With RGIII gone here, Richardson offers the Browns a chance to get one of the best running back prospects in a few years… since a guy named Adrian Peterson to be exact… remember him?

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborn, CB, LSU

Widely considered the best CB in college football and could possibly beat all the other FA options. Claiborne is an incredible playmaker which, when teamed with Talib, will help form a very tough, dominant tandem.

6. Washington Redskins –

Traded to St. Louis- Justin Blackmon, WR, OkSt
The Rams get really lucky here, a player that they could have chosen 2^nd overall falls based solely on teams have other needs. Blackmon offers Sam Bradford a dominant receiving option who will light up defenses from the onset. He’s A.J. Green like and that’s pretty damn good.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

This may be a slight reach for Jeffery, but the SEC receiver has size, speed, and great athleticism. He will provide Blaine Gabbert an instant upgrade at the WR position.

8. Carolina Panthers – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff will add to what the identity of the Carolina Panthers is… a strong running game. At 6-6, 300 pounds Reiff is a nasty guy who can provide the Panthers a great linemen.

9. Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Reggie Bush showed up this year, and I think he will continue to be dangerous. If he’s going to be considered in the Top 15 RB, he’s going to need someone to replace Marc Columbo. This is a great pick for the Dolphins who are going to become a very dangerous team under Philbin.

10. Buffalo Bills – Quinton Coples, DL, North Carolina

Coples is a DL with very good potential, whether he reaches it or not, is up to him. He definitely warrants a pick this high, and buffalo could form a very formidable front with Coples, Dareus, and Kyle Williams. The question here is if they’ll stick with either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.

11. Kansas City Chiefs – David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The most versatile lineman in the draft in my opinion; DeCastro is a physical player who is extremely intelligent and would likely become a star. The Chiefs line isn’t horrid but DeCastro offers some great value here, and a player who doesn’t seem to struggle in either types of protection.

12. Seattle Seahawks – Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

No one ever seems to know what the Seahawks will do exactly. RGIII and Luck are both gone obviously, and Landry Jones and Barkley are staying in school. The Seahawks NEED a QB, Jackson just doesn’t cut it, it will be a reach here but they’ll have to reach unfortunately and take the young QB who displays great arm strength, intelligence, and mobility. Tannehill could be a very good pro.

13. Arizona Cardinals – Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Question: When Larry Fitzgerald commits his whole career to the Cardinals, what should they do for him?

Answer: Get the best deep threat playmaker in the draft.

Kendall Wright, is a good character DeSean Jackson. He has exceptional speed, strength, and ability to separate. He will definitely take some work as far as becoming an NFL #1 but make no mistake about it… he’ll get there.

14. Dallas Cowboys – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Upshaw saw his stock skyrocket with a very solid season in Alabama. This guy is a fierce defender who has no problems getting after the passer and stopping the run. Anthony Spencer will be hitting the road and Upshaw, Lee, and Ware are going to make one tough LB corp.

15. Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Keuchly, ILB, Boston College

Keuchly is the best ILB in the draft without question. An absolute tackling machine, Keuchly would help fix a run defense that started the year very poorly. This is a huge upgrade over Casey Matthews.

16. New York Jets – Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The Jets are known for 2 things in my opinion: good defense and nasty offensive line play. They draft Glenn here who will provide them a young dynamic lineman who will help them re-cement the ground and pound offense.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland) – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick is a top-10 pick, and I already see the hate comments coming. However, marijuana is starting to take over a lot of players’ careers and is becoming a very big deal with the league offices. This guy has the talent and if he can get his head straight he’ll be great, however, based on needs/risk its too hard to take him in the top 15 when you have sure things on the board in this draft. The Bengals have two picks here and get great value to go along side Leon Hall.

18. San Diego Chargers – Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

I expect Branch to have very good workouts during the combine and pro days. He is a solid pass rusher who can really cause havoc against opposing offenses. The Chargers need to start focusing on getting their young guys to produce on the line and this is a good start.

19. Chicago Bears – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd has been a very productive wide receiver for the Irish. Many had him as the number 2 ranked WR coming out this year but Kendall Wright and RGIII changed all of that. Floyd is that elite potential receiver who does everything pretty well. Could revitalize a pass offense that housed Roy Williams last year. Knox, Bennett, and Floyd suddenly become a tough WR group to defend.

20. Tennessee Titans – Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Titans need to produce more sacks; Ingram is a natural pass rusher who will be a player to reckon with immediately. He lacks some of the ideal tangibles but more than makes up for it with ability and drive.

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Sanu is a home-run hitter, he isn’t great at everything, but Sanu has great speed and ability in space. Jerome Simpson is on his way out after contract expiration and legal troubles and Sanu would team with Jordan Shipley to get some of the pressure off of A.J. Green.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta) – Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

The Browns could go anywhere here; they need a lot of help. Mercilus had a great season and will be too tempting for the Browns to pass up.

23. Detroit Lions – Alphonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Dennard has the ability to go higher than this but his size might cause teams to hesitate. He is very physical and could develop into a shut down corner. Something the Lions need to avoid all these shoot-outs.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers – Devon Still, DL, Penn State

25. Denver Broncos – Lamar Miller, DL, Miami (Fla.)

The Penn Stater had a helluva season and is a great pro prospect. If I were a DL with a nasty streak you know where’d I want to play? You guessed it, perennial pro-bowler here.

26. Houston Texans – Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe provides the Texans a dominant nose guard to contribute to a dominant defense. Stopping the run wont be an issue for the Texans as they continue to sure up the holes on their defense with talented youngsters.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans) – Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

A project player here but Bill Bilichick doesn’t shy away from projects; Cox has great potential and is revered for his strength and versatility. This is a good pick for a team who needs to add to its DL.

28. Green Bay Packers – Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

The Pack could use another OLB pretty bad and Brown is a stud. He gets from sideline to sideline with extreme speed. He could stand to put on some size but he tackles soundly and possesses play-making ability.

29. New York Giants – Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State University

The G-Men sure up an already stout defense with a great LB prospect. His intensity is unrivaled in the college football world and he will bring the Giants the nastiness they have developed a reputation for.

30. Baltimore Ravens – Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Ray Lewis is going to be ending a Hall of Fame career here soon, he has held this defense together, and is the reason that Baltimore has a reputation for great defense. They’ll need a successor in the middle, Sizzle will dominate and keep the reputation going and Hightower will learn to be a great defender from the best who’s ever done it.

31. San Francisco 49ers – Ronnell Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma

A lot of hype about Lewis whose stock could really vary over this off-season; He is a complete football player and would be fit in nicely in one of the best emerging defenses in the league.

31. New England Patriots– Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Another possible project here for Bill if he keeps this pick. The pats have decent starting cornerbacks but Jenkins is on of the CB in this draft who could become truly elite. He’s been great since his transfer and I expect that Bill makes him a Pro-Bowler.

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