2012 NFL Mock Draft: Seahawks the Front-runners for Andrew Luck?
By Editorial Staff
Round 3
1. Seattle Seahawks Cyrus Gray RB Texas AM
Seattle Seahawks still need to replace Shaun Alexander. With Andrew Luck now at QB and Cyrus Gray at RB the offense is no longer impotent.
2. Indianapolis Colts Melvin Ingram DE SC
Colts have some young talent at DT but are lacking players able to replace their aging DE’s. So much of what the Colts do on defense is dependent on their pass rush. Ingram is really catching people’s eyes and appears to be a solid DE capable of moving inside as well as LB in some packages. I think the Colts would have fun with him.
3. Kansas City Chiefs Barrett Jones OG Alabama
Chiefs now have two upgrades to the OL. In round two they got their LT in Nixon and now replace Lilija at RG. Chiefs offense will rebound next season with a new young QB, some weapons, and an emerging OL.
4. Miami Dolphins BJ Cunningham WR MSU
Cunningham is the real deal. He has size, good game speed, strength, determination, and is very coachable. Dolphins would love to add him to Brandon Marshall and give them some targets. Meet your new Clayton and Duper.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars Eddie Whitley FS VT
Whitley is able to play both SS and FS. He is a prospect that I have seen both good and bad tape on. I like his hard hitting approach though he misses a few tackles and takes some bad approaches to the ball. I think proper coaching can cure this.
6. Denver Broncos Marcus Forston DT Miami
Marcus Forston was mostly dominated against Michael Brewster. This was not the start he wanted. I think if he gets this kind of draft grade he will return for his senior season. As is, he would upgrade whatever the Broncos have at DT.
7. Cleveland Browns Jake Bequette DE Arkansas
As stated last week Bequette is a prospect who dominates the run game and provides solid pass rush. I love his work ethic and intelligence. I think the Browns DL could use this Ray Edwards like clone on their team.
8. Chicago Bears Brandon Lindsay DE Pittsburgh
Lindsay was dominated by Riley Reiff and could drop in the draft. I don’t think past here since he has produced…the worrying thing scouts will look at is does he get garbage stats versus bad teams. Bears need youth and speed in the defense though and Lindsay would help out.
9. Minnesota Vikings Cordy Glenn OG Georgia
Hutchinson is aging and the RG spot is void of talent. Glenn has struggled at LT but is a very solid OG prospect. His versatility should help him on draft day. Glenn will start helping the Vikings declining OL.
10. Cincinnati Bengals Shaun Prater CB Iowa
Shaun Prater is another in a long line of talented Iowa Defensive Backs. Prater is cut from the same cloth. Very aggressive, press corner back with solid size. He would do well in Zimmer’s defense. Armstrong and Prater upgrade the Bengals secondary.
11. St. Louis Rams LaMichael James RB Oregon
Jackson cannot stay healthy and Cadillac is an okay backup but does not scare opposing defenses. Along with Floyd, James would start making this McDaniel’s’ offense look very scary.
12. San Francisco 49ers Greg Childs WR Arkansas
Childs has had a quiet beginning but has some time to rebound. 49ers need some production from their WR’s…so I don’t know if Childs would be a good fit if he isn’t producing…but if he does he would bring some speed and quickness that is lacking from their current WR unit.
13. New York Giants William Vlachos C Alabama
Alabama OL will help bring the Giants OL back to prominence. This pick upgrades two spots…moving Baas to LG and improving that position along with center. Vlachos is a very sound run blocker as well as a great field commander.
14. Tennessee Titans Ben Jones C Georgia
I have seen two kinds of Ben Jones. The one who was a 2-3 rd round prospect Ben Jones as well as the one who played Boise State to begin the year with. I am going to write that one game off but if I see a few more games like that one and its off to the 4-5th round you go. If not he finally fills the hole that Mawae left the Titans at center.
15. Oakland Raiders Terrell Pryor QB/WR Ohio State
Supplemental draft pick.
16. Tampa Bay Buccs Keenan Robinson OLB Texas
I think Robinson is an emerging talent that will go in round 2 when the draft approaches. He is a side line to side line missile. He would go along with Mason Foster to start reloading the Buccs LB unit.
17. Washington Redskins Nick Foles QB Arizona
Stats look good, film doesn’t. Far too many check downs inflates his completion percentage but does not engineer enough scoring drives. I think he has some tools and Mike Shanahan would love to groom this prospect.
18. Dallas Cowboys Ryan Tannenhill QB Texas AM
Romo is a solid QB, there is no debate. I just don’t feel he will lead the Cowboys to the Super Bowl, he is far too inconsistent. Jon Kitna is too old to take over and Stephen McGee is way too inconsistent. Tannenhill would give Garrett some clay to mold. Tannenhill has some skills but is very raw. Would go to a great situation with time to learn.
19. Buffalo Bills Devin Taylor DE/OLB SC
The LB core could use what the Bills did to the DL….infusion of young talent. Jenkins got them starting and Taylor could keep it going. He has not had a great senior season so far but has talent and should be worthy this pick.
20. Chicago Bears Jerry Franklin LB Arkansas
Bears LB unit is old and lacks depth. I know in the last mock I had them take Manti and David in the first two rounds….this mock went a new way but it still doesn’t alleviate the fact that the Bears need LB talent. Franklin can play all three positions as well as being an elite pass rusher.
21. Arizona Cardinals Bobbie Massie OT Ole Miss
Massie will team with Riley to give the Cardinals upgrades at both OT spots. Massie is an inconsistent prospect but he shows near elite athletic ability and good run blocking ability.
22. Houston Texans Billy Winn DL Boise State
Texans DL gets another talented played in Winn. Winn is strong at the point of attack and can be disruptive with his quick first step. Teamed with Ta”Amu and Watt this Texans DL is an up and coming one.
23. San Diego Chargers Baker Steinkhuler DL Nebraska
Louis Castillo cannot stay healthy and even if he could an upgrade is needed. Liuget and Garay are very dominate but they lack a third musketeer. Steinkhuler can be that guy. Chargers Defense is reloading finally.
24. Philadelphia Eagles Ricky Wagner OT Wisconsin
I know the Eagles drafted Potter in round 2 but the Eagles need a ton of help on the OL. Potter will probably go to LT once Peters slows down and that leaves Wagner to claim the RT spot. Wagner is another physically dominate Offensive Lineman from Wisconsin who will do well with the Eagles.
25. Baltimore Ravens Tydreke Powell DT NC
Tydreke Powell is an apt run stuffing DT who has surprising athletic ability. He gets lost in all the talented prospects from NC but he is remarkably consistent and would help with the DL depth for the Ravens.
26. Atlanta Falcons Shea McClellin DE Boise State
McClellin is quickly moving up the draft boards…well not this one but I do like him. I need to see more of him before this. I think with the Falcons he will keep the DL depth strong and will soften the eventual blow of losing John Abraham.
27. Detroit Lions Casey Hayward CB Vanderbilt
Lions do not have many holes on its roster besides Center and there are none of them at this point. I think Hayward should go a lot higher than this but there are so many CB’s in this draft. Lions get a steal and if they are unable to resign Eric Wright (which they should), they get his eventual replacement.
28. Pittsburg Steelers Coryell Judie CB Texas AM
Eventually a 3rd round CB will stick with the Steelers. Judie is a sound, aggressive CB from the conference less Texas AM. I think he could do well with the Steelers and eventually I think Curtis Brown will as well.
29. New York Jets Bruce Irvin DE/OLB WV
Brad Clark from NFLs Future.com tells me this is a special kind of talent, by the way please visit his web site as he has phenomenal information on scouts and is a pleasant read, anyways I just do not see it with this kid. I know he posts elite numbers but I think his competition is not the best as well as his skill set is all based on athletic ability. I see horrible inconsistent technique and reads. One of us is wrong, only time will tell.
30. New Orleans Saints Tank Carder LB TCU
Saints continue improving the LB units. Youth is already full on the DL and secondary so it makes sense to strike the LB unit while Vilma is still playing at a Pro Bowl level. Carder has the ability to play all three LB positions.
31. Green Bay Packers Vinny Curry OLB Marshall
I want to put him higher but will need to see him versus elite competition as well as combine numbers. I know I always say the combine is for losers 95 percent of the time…Curry makes up that 5 percent. Convenient huh?
32. New England Patriots Nigel Bradham LB FSU
Nigel Bradham really impressed me against Oklahoma. I have liked him but always felt he could do more…maybe now he has decided to. Be on the watch out for him come draft day.