2012 NFL Mock Draft
By Editorial Staff
. Cincinnati Bengals Andrew Luck QB Stanford
If the Bengals are choosing first it would be my guess that a new coaching staff was put in place. Best to start over and get a once-in-a-lifetime franchise QB. Best QB prospect since Matthew Stafford.
2. San Francisco 49ers Matt Kalil OT USC
49ers have recently spent a lot of resources on the OL. Rachel and Iupati look to be dominating OG. Staley because of injuries and Davis because of work ethic have not turned out well. Kalil would give the 49ers a Franchise OT.
3. Carolina Panthers Alshon Jeffrey WR SC
Can you imagine the possibilities the duo of Newton and Jeffrey’s could accomplish? Both are physical freaks that would need some coaching…but this could make the Panthers, dare I say, fun to watch.
4. Seattle Seahawks Matt Barkley QB USC
Carroll finally gets a QB of his choosing. Barkley grew by leaps and bounds in-between his freshmen and sophomore years. I expect a similar growth this season. Seahawks are a QB away from being a solid football team.
5. Denver Broncos Quinton Coples DE NC
Coples combined with Dummerville and Miller would give the Broncos a feared pass rush. It is convenient that Fox would build his defense around another North Carolina DE. He would be very happy if it was a repeat in success.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama
It was a rough decision between Kirkpatrick and Blackmon. I went with Kirkpatrick because I believe the defense to be in more shambles than the offense. A lockdown CB would go a long ways in correcting this.
7. Miami Dolphins Landry Jones QB Oklahoma
Sparano will no longer be coaching this team. He was in a tough position of having to win right away and not groom a young QB. Jones will make Dolphins fans forget Henne. Jones has good size, arm strength, and is extremely accurate.
8. Washington Redskins Vontaze Burfict ILB Arizona State
No quarterback worth taking here puts the Redskins in a dilemma. Burfict would team with Orakapo and Kerrigan to give the Skins a dominate LB core and a solid defense.
9. Oakland Raiders Jonathan Martin OT Stanford
Raiders get an OL that fits their scheme and personality to a T. Martin is a big, physical, athletic LT who will push Jared Veldheer over to RT. The Raiders OL all of a sudden looks menacing.
10. Tennessee Titans Jerel Worthy DT MSU
As a Spartan fan I am well aware of the potential of Jerel Worthy. He needs to become more consistent to earn this kind of grade. If he does he will give the Titans an inside force they have been missing since he who shall not be names was last here.
11. Cleveland Browns Manti Te’o MLB ND
Depending on the football team any of the tree top ILB can go first (te’o, Kuechly, and Burflict). Manti is the best option for this team. He is huge, a great leader, and always around the football. His passion is contagious and reminds many of Junior Seau.
12. Buffalo Bills Donte Paige-Moss OLB NC
Bills need three things: OL, LB, and QB help. Fitzpatrick will get one more year if he can scrape 6-7 wins out this season. So based on the available LB and OL help Moss is the best remaining player. Moss will team with Dareuse and the other young Bills DL and linebackers to give the Bills a dominate young front seven.
13. Minnesota Vikings Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State
Ponder will need all the help he can get. The OL is extremely weak, but Blackmon is too talented to pass up. Teamed with Peterson, Rudolph, Harvin, and Ponder the Vikings will have a solid offense once the OL gets situated.
14. Arizona Cardinals Riley Reiff OT Iowa
Reiff is a solid OT. He is not elite, but very solid in both run and pass blocking. He is mentally sound and consistent. That Reiff lacks elite measurements is all that keeps him from being a top 10 pick. Though not elite he would instantly be the Cardinals best OL talent.
15. Kansas City Chiefs Luke Kuechly ILB BC
Kuechly is a Pioli/Patriot type of player. His work ethic and attitude make him a perfect Chief…ohhh and he is pretty talented as well. Teamed with Johnson and Hali, the Chiefs would now have a very sound LB unit.
16. Indianapolis Colts Stephon Gilmore CB SC
Colts all of a sudden have some holes. The defensive back seven is low on talent. Acquiring Gilmore would help out a ton. He is solid in all phases of the game and could be a shut down CB the Colts have always lacked.
17. New York Giants Marcus Forston DT Miami
Poor Giants can’t seem to catch a break. Marvin Austin, Prince Amukamara, and Terrell Thomas are gone in a blink of an eye. Luckily the Giants have depth, and they have depth because they take the BPA. Forston fits this and gives the Giants a terror in the middle.
18. Chicago Bears Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
Two straight years now the Bears have stolen talent. Carimi was a steal and now Dennard is a steal as well. Bears are retooling on the fly and gaining a franchise LT and a shut down CB in back to back drafts is the way to do it.
19. Tampa Bay Buccs Mike Brewster C Ohio State
The only real weakness on this team is the OL. Faine is aging and there are holes on RT and LG. Brewster would give the Buccs a dominate Center to help retool the OL the same way Clayborn and McCoy retooled the DL.
20. Dallas Cowboys Jared Crick DL Nebraska
Jared Crick has done just fine without Suh. He is a versatile threat and can play in both 4-3 and 3-4 systems…which only enhances his stock. Cowboys would love to have this kid. Show me the beef!!!!!
21. Baltimore Ravens Brandon Jenkins DE/OLB FSU
Back to back years the Ravens get complete steals from players who should have been top 10-12 picks. Jimmy Smith and Brandon Jenkins will be the new faces of the Ravens defense.
22. St. Louis Rams Trent Richardson RB Alabama
Stephen Jackson still has some tread on the tires but he is not an all season vehicle…okay car talk aside Richardson is a stud and will lengthen Jackson’s career. Drafting more weapons to put around Bradford is always a good idea.
23. Houston Texans Jeff Fuller WR Texas AM
Defensively the Texans have a ton of young talent. Its time the offense loads. Fuller is a big time steal. He has size, great hands, and phenomenal body control. Finally, the Texans have a third person to team with Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels in the passing game.
24. Philadelphia Eagles Zack Brown OLB NC
Ohhhhhh my Gosh!!!!! An OLB in the first round for Reid!!!!! Zack Brown has phenomenal passion and athletic ability. Eagles could use some more front seven talent to go with their elite secondary.
25. New York Jets Courtney Upshaw OLB Alabama
Upshaw fits Rex Ryan’s defense like Rick James’ hand fits Charlie Murphy’s face. He is versatile and aggressive. He will give the Jets a pass rush that has been missing, and in time replace Bart Scott as the emotional leader of the defense.
26. Detroit Lions Jayron Hosley CB VT
Lions are lacking three things: Shut Down CB, dominate LB, and a physical OL. Hosley gives them the shut down CB. He is a big play CB and gives the Lions more young talented building blocks.
27. New England Pats (T) David DeCasto OG Stanford
Another building block for the offensive line. Tom Brady’s health is of the upmost most importance. DeCasto’s skill and attitude fit the Patriots mantra.
28. San Diego Chargers Devin Taylor DE/OLB SC
Devin Taylor gives the Chargers a young pass rusher that they are currently lacking. The Chargers LB core is slowly eroding due to age and the ineptness of the scouting department. I am hoping Taylor has the lateral agility as well as the athleticism to drop back occasionally in coverage in the Chargers 34 system.
29. Pittsburg Steelers Kelechi Osemele OG Iowa State
How are defensive lines going to stop Pouncey and Osemele firing out with Mendenhall running behind them? Osemele is versatile and is a physical force in the run game, who is more than capable of pass blocking.
30. Cleveland Browns (T) Cliff Harris CB Oregon
Cliff Harris and Joe Haden will give the Browns a fearsome starting CB duo. Harris is electric on ST’s and make tons of big plays on defense. Harris only needs to stay out of legal trouble.
31. Green Bay Packers LaMichael James RB Oregon
James Starks is a solid RB, but Ryan Grant is wearing down. What the Packers backfield lacks is big play potential. James would boost their third down offense. Packers have tons of talent and have the luxury of taking whatever position they want in the first round.
32. New England Patriots Robert Lester FS Alabama
Teamed with Patrick Chung the Patriots will have a very good young safety duo. Lester is a big play safety who is sound versus the run as well. Belichick and Saban have similar styles of play.
To read round two click go to page 2.