2012 NFL mock Draft: Andrew Luck to the Bengals?

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17. New York Giants-Riley Reiff, T, Iowa

Blue collar offensive linemen and a good fit for the Giants. I didn’t believe the Giants would draft an offensive linemen early in 2011, but was convinced by the beat writes they might which is why I mocked them Anthony Castanzo in my final mock draft, but I think it’s more than possible they will grab an offensive linemen early next year. Kareem Mackenzie is one of the best RT in the league, but he’s long in the tooth. The Giants drafted James Brewer to replace Mackenzie eventually, but he’s looked bad in preseason. If Will Beatty struggles at all this year (I don’t believe he will) it will only enhance the Giants need at that position. Plus at this point Reiff is not a reach which is important when considering what players the Giants will consider.

18. Chicago Bears- Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

I think Worthy can be picked this high, but from hat I’ve seen of him up to his point wouldn’t inspire me to pick him this high. he could be poised for a breakout season and his talent is undeniable. The Bears just drafted Stephen Paea in the second round this past year, but how do you pass on a perceived value like Worhty at this point in the draft if you’re a team that relies pressure with just the front four. The other good options for positions here are: WR, CB, and linebacker because of the disgruntled Lance Briggs.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Janoris Jenkins, CB, Northern Alabama

I’ve gone cornerback crazy, but the fact is that cornerbacks are in in vogue. Cornerbacks are a need position in the PFL (Passing Football League). The Buccaneers need an infusion of young talent at the position. They have the supremely gifted Aqib Talib, but on the other side Ronde Barber has to get old at some point. They’ve drafted a lot of defensive linemen here too so they are set at talent at that position. They could look WR here, but all of the top WR are gone. Linebacker and safety are the other two options I see likely here. Vontaze Burifict, Manti Te’o could be the pick. The Buccaneers like Mason Foster, but I have to believe they are lukewarm on Gerald Hayes and Quincy Black. And even if they are not, I am.

20. Baltimore Ravens-Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Burfict is talented, but there are questions abound about his maturity and temper. The Ravens don’t go out looking for character concern players, but they do believe they have the organization that is able to handle those types of players. They also draft best player available almost without exception so this pick is probably not very hard for the Ravens. Burfict can hit like a truck, but also drop back into coverage. If he can interview well at the combine and show that he’s getting his temper under control, he’ll be selected higher than 20th overall.

21. Houston Texans-Matt Reynolds, OT, BYU

Reynold battled a shoulder injury last year, but gets this year to prove that he’s over that. When he’s on he’s one of the best offensive linemen in the entire country. For all of the talent the Texans have on offense one position that is lacking talent is the offensive line. Offensive linemen are almost always overvalued too. I’m not saying that Reynolds isn’t worthy of a mid first round grade. Im saying when I make mock drafts I’m always mindful that more offensive linemen will be drafted earlier than I think.

22. Detroit Lions-Robert Lester, S, Alabama

How’d I make this pick. I went right to our very early preseaeson Big Board Rankings (written by Sayre, I believe). and grabbed our best player available. True, the Lions have two young promising safeties on their team, but there is a core organization philosophy on the Lions. If a top player is still available, and Lester is in our preliminary top 10, and the margin isn’t that close. Grab that player. Our early board Lester is 9 and the next two available players: Travis Lewis (injured) and Ray Ray Armstrong (suspended) have issues. The Lions could use offensive line help for sure, but generally if a team is in the playoffs, when their selection comes up a top offensive linemen won’t be available.

23. New York Jets-Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Viringia

The Jets still do not have a top pass rusher. They have improved the talent along their defensive line, but the lack of a top pass rusher is a hindrance on them and could be fixed with the selection of the explosive Irvin. Irvin had 14.5 sacks last year and already notched one this season. The best draft elegible player in the Big East will be a first round pick this year.

24. New England Patriots (via New Orleans Saints)-Kenny Tate, S/LB, Maryland

The Patriots are a very talented team and can grab any player they want. They could easily grab a player like Donte Paige Moss as a pass rusher. They could grab another talented running back like Knile Davis or LaMichael James. In this mock though I have them grabbing a player who can replace Brandon Merriweather and a player that might remind the Patriots of former S Rodney Harrison. Tate is physical in the run game, but at the same time makes plays on the ball. Belichick will love Tate’s versatility and will maximize his talents.

25. St.Louis Rams-Manti Te’o, LB, Norte Dame

Spags loves to collect pass rushers and the Rams could use a number one WR (like Michael Floyd who is still available), but I’ll go with upgrading their linebacker corps. Even though Spags hails from two places (the Giants and Eagles) that don’t covet linebackers, Manti Te’o could make Spags change his mind. The Rams don’t have much in the way of linebackers on their team currently outside of James Laurinaits. The problem with drafting Te’o is that the Rams might have to move Te’o or Laurinaitis to the outside, but that’s not a huge problem to have.

26. Indianapolis Colts-Michael Floyd, WR, Norte Dame

I know Colts avoid “character concern” players like the plague, but maybe Floyd will make them change their mind. If Peyton Manning misses any time the team will be overcome with the realization that the immortal Peyton Manning’s career is winding down too fast. They could look quarterback here, or they could grab a talented wide receiver to pair with Reggie Wayne. The Colts have a decent WR corps right now, but have players who are having trouble staying healthy (Gonzalez, Garcon) or consistent (Pierre Garcon). It’s not like drafting an offensive weapon for Peyton Manning is a stretch for the Colts either. They do that almost every year. (Wayne, Brown, Clark, Addai, Wayne, James, Castanzo). In fact since Peyton was drafted in 1998, the only defensive first round picks for the Cotls are Rob Morris, Dwight Freeney, Marlin Jackson, and Jerry Hughes.

27.Cleveland Browns (via Atlanta Falcons)-Donte Paige Moss, DE, North Carolina

The Browns used two early picks on defensive linemen this past year: Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard, but Moss is clearly the best player available here. A player I actually wanted to mock much earlier, it just didn’t happen. Browns fans, I imagine, would be estatic with this mock draft. A big time target at wide reciever and a good pass rusher. I’ve liked a lot of what the Browns have done lately and they seem on their way up. A 1st round like this will only expedite their goal of making the playoffs.

28. San Diego Chargers-Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

There is enough talent at the WR position, they have young pass rushes they like, they have a plus defensive line, so I wasn’t really sure where to go with this pick so I just grabbed one of the best players available at a position where a team can never have enough depth at. Minnifield is very talented and will bolster the Chargers defense. A pass rusher like Courtney Upshaw here.

29. Pittsburgh Steelers-Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Upshaw could be the eventual replacement for James Harrison or very quality depth behind Woodley. The Steelers aren’t afraid to take a player and bury him on the depth chart for awhile until he is ready to emerge. This is what would happen with Upshaw, but in two or three years when he started to make an impact, the Steelers would again look like a genius.

30. Philadelphia Eagles, Nate Potter, OT, Boise State

The Eagles draft linemen in the first round. That’s just what they do. This is also a position of need. The Eagles don’t have a great offensive line, but they have a lot of talent elsewhere. A quality linebacker makes a ton of sense here as well (Luke Kuechly is one player I like, but he doesn’t seem to fit what the Eagles value at linebacker). I wrote previously in this mock I’m always mindful of taking offensive linemen more than I think I should, and I didn’t do that in this mock. It’s highly unlikely Potter makes it out of the first round.

New England Patriots–OLB Devin Taylor, South Carolina

A big first round for South Carolina here. The Patriots need someone who can rush the passer, they have a lot of the other elements that are required for successful teams. They could also use more young wide receiver talent, but no player sticks out for me here. Maybe Ryan Broyles.

32. Green Bay Packers-Jared Crick, DL, Nebraska

Somehow Crick slipped through the cracks here. That won’t happen next mock draft. People were worried that Crick couldn’t play as well without Suh next to him, but he was impressive last year. The Packers have lost a lot of good defensive linemen over the last few years and could use more talent at that position.

Not bad for a very early mock draft, I don’t think. Try not to get too worked up over the order, but let me know what you think about the player selected and the fit for your favorite team. What players are going to sky rocket into the first round that I didn’t put there yet (like Robert Griffin III, Marcus Thorston, Travis Lewis, Knile Davis). Leave your thoughts and thanks in advance for the feedback.

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