2012 NFL Mock Draft
By Editorial Staff
Round 2
. Cincinnati Bengals Chase Minnifield CB Virginia
In Round 1, Andrew Luck gave them a franchise QB, now in round two Minnifield will team with Hall to give the Bengals a solid starting duo at CB.
2. San Francisco 49ers Alemeda Ta’Amu NT Washington
Losing Aubeyro Franklin has to have Willis up in arms. Amu will make Willis forgive the 49ers organization. Teamed with Kalil both line of scrimmages will be vastly improved.
3. Carolina Panthers Janoris Jenkins CB N. Alabama
Janoris Jenkins will help the secondary out immensely. I thought Jenkins was the second best CB prospect if he would have came out last season. Bad decision making has led Jenkins stock to slip to here. Panthers are gathering some sound young talent.
4. Seattle Seahawks Morris Claiborne CB LSU
QB and secondary are holding this team down. With Barkley fixing the former, Claiborne will team with Thomas to give the Seahawks ½ of a good secondary. More help is needed.
5. Denver Broncos Nick Foles QB Arizona
This seems to be the most popular pick by everyone. I guess for the time being I will ride with this pick…but popular picks never seem to go the way we all think it will.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars Michael Floyd WR ND
Gene Smith doesn’t take many risks with head case players. He can afford to with Floyd. If Floyd gets his head screwed on straight, this is a huge steal and would give Gabbert a true #1 WR. Kirkpatrick and Floyd have this Jaguar team rising from the sewers.
7. Miami Dolphins Michael Egnew TE Missouri
Landry Jones will need a few more weapons. Egnew will team with Brandon Marshall, Davon Bess, and Reggie Bush to make the Dolphins passing game something DC will finally have to pay attention to.
8. Washington Redskins Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin
No quarterback is worth taking here, which again puts the Redskins in a tough position. Redskins will need to trade up, if not, then Zeitler will provide the interior OL with some much needed talent.
9. New England Patriots (T) Juron Criner WR Arizona
Patriots have a solid young offense all around except for WR. They have some talented veterans but need an infusion of size, speed, and youth. Criner gives them all three.
10. Tennessee Titans Mark Barron SS Alabama
Mike Munchak wants a physical team. Barron and Worthy make this defense one to be feared by all offensive positions. I love Barron and, while his limitations in the passing game might hurt from time to time…he dominates the run game.
11. Cleveland Browns Travis Lewis OLB Oklahoma
DQ Jackson, Manti te’o, and Travis Lewis will form an elite LB core. This defense will make the Dog Pound a harsh environment once again.
12. Buffalo Bills Mike Adams OT Ohio State
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 available LB and OL help Adams is the best available player. Now the Bills are only a few pieces from a deep playoff run. I know cut and paste, but still, same message in both rounds for the team.
13. Minnesota Vikings Bobbie Massie OT Ole Miss
Bobbie Massie is a very underrated Blind Side Protector….uhh yea I guess Ole Miss LT shall be dubbed Blind Side Protectors. Anyways, Vikings need to surround Ponder with talent and this draft has done so.
14. Philadelphia Eagles Kawann Short DT Purdue
Eagles need more DT talent and depth. Trevor Laws will be a FA and Patterson is aging. Short gives them a solid, penetrating DT. Brown and Short improve the front seven talenagles need for a long Super Bowl run.
15. Kansas City Chiefs Tanner Hawkinson OT Kansas
No way can the Chiefs keep putting Brandon Albert at LT. If moved inside he could be a dominate RG when Lilija starts slowing down. Albert could even take the RT spot…wait we are talking about Hawkinson. Hawkinson has elite athletic ability and simply needs to carb up and hit the weights hard.
16. Indianapolis Colts Keenan Robinson OLB Texas
Colts all of a sudden have some holes. On the defensive side the back seven is a bit low on talent and teaming Robinson with Gillmore is one hell of a way to get this defense back on track. Robinson is very underrated at this point. His speed and aggression will be welcome.
17. New York Giants Nate Potter OT Boise State
Will Beatty is not the answer in New York…at least not a very good answer. Potter is a great pass blocking LT who needs to add some strength and size…sounds like Beatty but trust me Giant fans…he is better.
18. Chicago Bears Donta Hightower MLB Alabama
Brian Urlacher cannot play forever. It would be wise to get his replacement this offseason. Hightower will now be two years removed from a knee surgery and will gain back some of his athleticism. Hightower can play SLB for a season before sliding over to MLB. Da’ Bears.
19. Tampa Bay Buccs Ray Ray Armstrong SS Miami
Buccaneers get a steal at SS who fits the defensive scheme perfectly. I think Armstrong is good vs. the run and the pass. Bucs can move Armstrong all over the field. Improving the secondary is a good idea since Talib and Jackson cannot be counted on to follow the rules.
20. Dallas Cowboys Janzen Jackson FS Tennessee
I know Jackson was dismissed and lost some of the momentum he was getting as an elite safety prospect but this kid is legit. Physically,he does not have many peers. Cowboys need some talent in the secondary and Jerry Jones is one to overlook troubled kids…and Jackson is no Dez Bryant.
21. Baltimore Ravens Levy Adcock OT Oklahoma State
I know the Ravens have Michael Oher and Jah Reid as a young OT duo, however, they are not getting it done in pass protection and need to be pushed or replaced. I think Adcock can be a steal and a solid LT. That would allow Oher to move back to RT and Reid can be a depth player.
22. St. Louis Rams Lavonte David OLB Nebraska
If David can gain 10-20 more pounds and retain his speed he could go higher than mid to late second round. David is a tackling machine at OLB for Nebraska but is way too small. I think 10 pounds of muscle addition is possible and that can get him at around 230. The Rams LB core needs talent and gets some with this selection..
23. Houston Texans Jake Bequette DL Arkansas
This kid reminds me a lot of LaMarr Houston of the Raiders, Capable of being good in both 3-4 and 4-3 systems. Very powerful and might move up as the season progresses as well as in off season workouts. If he is teamed with Watt, it could give the Texans a powerful and relentless DL.
24. Philadelphia Eagles Andrew Datko OT FSU
Vick is a leftie so it is vital the RT position on the Eagles mimics usual LT tendencies. Datko would give the Eagles a sound pass protector on the right side. If Datko can play well at his new weight around 330 he might even slip to the first round. Funny how we say this about hundreds of kids a year. There should be like 150 1st round picks.
25. New York Jets Brandon Lindsay OLB Pittsburg
Finally, some pass rushers for the Jets. Like last season when they decided to upgrade the youth on the DL…the LB get a new infusion. Upshaw and Lindsay will form a potent duo.
26. Detroit Lions Sean Spence OLB Miami
Can you imagine this guy behind the Lions DL? He will be the next Jon Beason. Hosley and Spence erase any problems the Lions have with their back seven.
27. New Orleans Saints Ryan Broyles WR Oklahoma
Broyles is a perfect fit for this team. Saints are acquiring a steal and a big time play maker to go with other young weapons: Graham and Ingram. Saints could use another WR to keep this offensive elite.
28. San Diego Chargers Nico Johnson ILB Alabama
Unlike Taylor, Johnson plays in a 3-4 system already. He is very physical and athletic. I think he will team up with Taylor to give the Chargers a young LB unit that will be the future.
29. Pittsburg Steelers Dwayne Allen TE Clemson
I do not know if this is the right route to pass up defense for offense, but this is how the draft worked out. Miller is aging and the Steelers love to have reliable TE in their offense. Allen could spend a year learning from Heath Miller.
30. Atlanta Falcons Greg Childs WR Arkansas
BPA and would give the Falcons three WR to fear. There is no TE worth this pick and no DE are near Childs in talent. Build around Matt Ryan and create a vertical offense.
31. Green Bay Packers Vinny Curry OLB Marshall
Curry, Matthews, and Curry will give the Packers multiple pass rushing threats. Packer always seem to get steals and this draft is no different.
32. New England Patriots Tydreke Powell DT NC
DL is the only unit on this team not filled with young talent. Powell has scheme versatility and will be welcomed by the Patriots grey beards.
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