2012 NFL Mock Draft Week 1
By Editorial Staff
. Seattle Seahawks Andrew Luck QB Stanford
Seattle is the initial front runner for Luck. Andrew Luck is an elite QB and will make Seattle a perennial contender. Pete Carroll has seen firsthand how talented Luck is. Now he will get to coach Luck, not play against him.
2. Indianapolis Colts Landry Jones QB Oklahoma
Even if Manning comes back healthy he is now aging and one bad hit away from seriously considering shutting it down for good Jones would get a year or two to learn and take over. His skill set is a good fit for this spread offense. I think Jones and Barkley are about even and it will depend on the team.
3. Kansas City Chiefs Matt Barkley QB USC
Weis leaving was a blow…Cassell is only average and if Pioli wants year in and year out winners, he needs to pull the Cassell life support.
4. Carolina Panthers Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State
Currently, I have Blackmon over Jeffrey due to his route running and blocking ability being more developed. Blackmon and Newton will sell some tickets.
5. San Francisco 49ers Quinton Coples DL NC
Coples, Justin Smith, and Aldon Smith give this once vanilla defense something to fear. Hide the children and quarterbacks opposing coaches…49ers defense is on the prowl. Scheme versatility also gives Coples a boost.
6. Tennessee Titans Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama
Dre Kirkpatrick is a shut down CB who is a physical force in the run game as well. Titans have holes on defense and Kirkpatrick is the best defensive player available.
7. Cincinnati Bengals Matt Kalil OT USC
Bengals have some solid pieces in place on offense. If the Bengals drafted Kalil they could move Andre Smith inside and have a dominate OL to achieve a balanced offense with good young play makers and a solid QB the Bengals could be on the way up.
8. Miami Dolphins Trent Richardson RB Alabama
No quarterback worth taking here puts the Dolphins in a tough position. Offense has been struggling and needs a QB and more play makers. Reggie Bush is not an every down RB and Daniel Thomas is decent but Richardson is elite. He is all around great. He can pass block, catch footballs, and be a workhorse with elite speed.
9. Minnesota Vikings Jonathan Martin OT Stanford
Vikings have a young QB, a solid defense, some talent at skill positions…though the OL is holding them back. Martin is a physical beast who is capable of dominating in pass protection as well as run blocking. His run blocking is vital in this offense.
10. Denver Broncos 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 Worthy can play up to his potential, he becomes a pocket collapsing force that will keep Miller and company clean.
11. Cleveland Browns Vontaze Burfict MLB Arizona State
Browns have been a punching bag since they reinstated themselves. This team has talent but no personality. Burfict gives the Browns their version of Ray Lewis. His passion will be contagious.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars Alshon Jeffrey WR SC
Jeffrey has elite physical skills, but he needs to sharpen his route running abilities. At this point I put Blackman above him. Jeffrey would give Gabbert a clear number one target.
13. New York Giants Stephon Gilmore CB SC
Terrell Thomas is a FA who just had season ending surgery. Corey Webster is okay, and Amukamara, last season’s first round pick, is injured. I do believe Amukamara will be a solid starting CB. Gilmore would give the Giants a shut down CB.
14. Washington Redskins Luke Kuechly ILB BC
Redskins defense will need to replace their leader London Fletcher sometime soon. Kuechly has the talent and the passion to be that guy. Sandwiched between Orakapo and Kerrigan will give the Redskins LB a fearsome unit for the foreseeable future.
15. 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. The fact that he is lacking 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.
16. Oakland Raiders Cliff Harris CB Oregon
Popular pick. Speed and skill set lead Harris to be a good fit on this team. Clearly the fastest CB in this draft and brings big play ability to ST as well. Raiders need to upgrade the secondary.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jayron Hosley CB VT
Buccaneers only real weakness is in the secondary. Talib might be in jail, Barber is near the end, and no other young CB have stepped up. Hosley is a big play maker and with increased mass is definitely worth this pick.
18. Buffalo Bills Brandon Jenkins DE/OLB FSU
Brandon Jenkins will give the Bills another pass rusher to pair with Merriman. This rising team needs to protect their QB better as well as improve their pass rush….Jenkins improves the latter.
19. Cleveland Browns (T) Donte Paige Moss DE NC
Paige Moss will team with Jabaal Sheard and Marcus Bernard to give the Browns a feared pass rush. Burfict and Moss will give the Browns a much improved front seven.
20. Chicago Bears Manti Te’o MLB ND
Bears always have an elite MLB. It is law. Urlacher has a year or two left playing at his current level of play. Manti can play SLB and than slide inside when Urlacher retires.
21. Detroit Lions Michael Brewster C Ohio State
The center position has been gaining importance lately. Mack and the Pouncey brothers have made it three straight drafts with a center in the first round. Brewster is just as able as the above mentioned players. It is perfect timing since the Lions need to replace an aging Raiola. Stafford needs to stay healthy and I fully trust Brewster to help in that department.
22. St. Louis Rams Jared Crick DT Nebraska
Rams are lacking young talent in the middle of the field on defense. Crick has versatility to play at DT and DE. Playing for Spagnuolu he will be used in all kinds of different packages.
23. Houston Texans Michael Floyd WR ND
Defense has a ton of young talent. Its time the offensi reloads. Floyd is a steal here if he stays clean. Heck he might even go up if he keeps playing like his life depended on it…well his financial life certainly does.
24. San Diego Chargers Courtney Upshaw OLB Alabama
Chargers need some attitude and talent in the LB unit. Phillips is elite but is on the decline. Upshaw would be a perfect fit on their defense. He is an all around talent.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers Robert Lester FS Alabama
Steelers secondary has needed upgrades for years. I think this is the season it happens. Lester is the best of an elite secondary for the Crimson Tide. He is a year 1 starter.
26. Dallas Cowboys Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
Cowboys only defensive weakness is the secondary. Three new starters are needed. Dennard will take one of those spots.
27. New York Jets Matt Reynolds OT BYU
This unit has a huge hole at RT. I think Reynolds is the most under rated OL talent in the upcoming draft. Reynolds is a physical force that fits the mantra of this run first team.
28. New England Pats (T) David DeCasto OG Stanford
DeCasto will bring some much needed nastiness to this OL. Patriots need to build around Brady and other future Patriots QB’s.
29. Philadelphia Eagles Marcus Forston DT Miami
Eagles continue to improve the DL. Forston has elite talent and only needs to find consistency. Forston can begin his career by rotating in with Jenkins and Dixon…soon he will be hard to take off the field.
30. New England Patriots Ryan Broyles WR Oklahoma
Great talent and a perfect fit. Patriots need to improve their ability to go down the field. Broyles would help them in that regard as well as play ST occasionally.
31. Baltimore Ravens TJ McDonald SS/FS USC
Ed Reed is aging. Ravens were wise last season to draft Jimmy Smith to help an aging secondary. McDonald augments the secondary help. He will play SS and could move over to replace Reed when he is ready to leave.
32. Green Bay Packers Janoris Jenkins CB Northern Alabama
Jenkins would be the number one taken CB if he could get out of the way of himself. Jenkins is what every team wants…a shut down CB. His ability to cover both big, physical WR’s as well as quick jittery WR’s is uncommon. His foot work and hip movement are elite as well as his football anticipation. Packers steal talent again.
round two is on the next page.