2012 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins Fix the Matt Ryan Snafu

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18. Cleveland Browns (via Atlanta Falcons)-D.J. Fluker, T, Alabama

Overlooked him for a minute. He could easily go higher than 18th to the Browns but this happens all the time in the draft. Players fall and smart teams scoop them up and great get values with their pick. This is the case with the Browns who grab the most talented player left in the draft. It’s not like the Browns have the best offensive line in the league anyway. I know they still need linebackers, but passing on a top ten talent to grab a player for need rarely ever pans out well.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

What was that game on Sunday? Terrible terrible game by the Buccaneers. Their defense got abused. One of the problems in the Buccaneers defense is cornerback depth. Claiborne is arguably the best player available here and fills a need-easy pick.

20. Oakland Raiders-?

Well I’ll actually make a pick, I just wanted a segway to mention that mocking for the Oakland Raiders without Al Davis is A) less fun, and B) confusing. There is no history to base the Raiders pick off of now. Who knows what the Raiders will do? Alfonzo Dennard will be my mock pick for the Raiders. DenHe’s one of the best players available here and he also fills a position of need as the Raiders pass defense has really struggled this year.

21. Tennessee Titans-Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Sanu is really playing well and his stock is soaring. The Titans could also grab DT Jerel Worthy here to bolster the interior of their defensive line. WR is a big need for the Titans now with Kenny Britt losing the season to an ACL/MCL tear. Williams has played well in his place, but the depth at WR wasn’t good before Britt’s injury. Sanu provides another receiving option for the Titans and Jake Locker whenever it is he takes over for Hasselbeck.

22. The Buffalo Bills-Courney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Buffalo Bills really spent a lot of time in the past draft filling needs on defense and beefing up their front seven but that’s because they had confidence in their offense. Through fives games that’s really paid off as the offense is humming and the defense looks much improved, still the Defense has a ways to go. They don’t have a pass rusher from the linebacker spot and that’s a huge need for them, if they want to seriously compete with the Patriots. If they are picking this late in the draft, my guess is that they will resign Fitzpatrick long term so Quarterback’s not a need either. Upshaw is the best player available that fills a need.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers- Luke Kuechle, LB, Boston College

The Steelers can add offensive linemen, which seems to be a perpetual need, or they can start to retool their aging defense. Lawrence Timmons is a stud, but James Farrior and James Harrison have some serious age to them and aren’t going to be franchise players much longer. Here the Steelers grab a tackling machine to pair with Lawrence Timmons to get back to the dominating run defense they had in years past. Kuechly’s not the greatest athlete in the world, but he’s a good quality player and would really contribute to the Steelers.

24. Washington Redskins- Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore’s a really nice cornerback prospect, but he has struggled with inconsistency. Gilmore will bring return ability to the Redskins and add some much needed youth to their group of cornerbacks. They have a good defense, but on offense they need interior OL (maybe a RT), and a wide receiver. I don’t think the value exists for those positions so they grab a cornerback. No team has enough cornerbacks in the modern N.F.L., the Redskins are no exception.

25. Houston Texans-Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

I’m not sure Worthy is a nose tackle in all systems, but Wade Phillips 34 Nose tackle plays a little different. The Texans have enough of offense to get by without reaching for a wr here so they grab the player with the most upside in the inconsistent, but very talented, DT out of Michigan State. Because of his lack of top production Worthy has seen his stock slip in most places from a potential top 10 pick all the way to the end of round one. The Texans grab him here because they know they can find somewhere to play him along the defensive line.

26. New England Patriots (via New Orleans Saints)-David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Patriots interior offensive line has not looked good this year. Decastro is a legitimate first round guard prospect…a better prospect than Danny Watkins was last year and he should be able to step right in and make an impact for the Patriots. What is likely though, is the Patriots move this pick for future draft picks like they do ever year without fail. I’m really looking for a place to mock Lamarr Miller the talented running back out of Miami, but I’m not finding a home for him.

27.Detroit Lions-Jayron Hosley, CB, Va Tech

yay! I’ve been trying to fit Hosley into the first round the last three mock drafts and finally accomplish that with this mock here. Hosley has also struggled a little bit with consistency dominating one week and struggling the next, but there is no denying his talent. Hosley is a smaller corner at 5’10 about 175 pounds, but his lightning quick who makes a lot of plays on the football (9 interceptions last year). The Lions would be a very nice fit with Hosley because their pass rush forces quick throws and Hosley has the ability to take advantage of that and could be among the league leader in interceptions year after year.

28. 49ers-Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Hurricanes

I’m not convinced Alex Smith is the franchise quarterback yet, but I am convinced the 49ers will win the N.F.C. West. When they do win the division they will pick no lower than 22nd which puts them out of the running for any of the top quarterback prospects. Miller is very talented. He’s big, strong, fast and can catch the ball out of the backfield a bit as well. He’s been very productive this year shredding defenses. If he declares I think he has a good chance of being a first round pick.

29. San Diego Chargers-Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana

This won’t be a routine mock draft pick, but it’s an opportunity for you out there to learn his name. Johnson is getting a lot of buzz as a raw, but very talented cornerback prospect (think a less fast Dominque Rodgers Cromartie) who is dominating FCS competition. Johnson is big at about 6’2, fast, and has good kick return ability. I never agree with what the Chargers do. The Chargers need more cornerback talent and depth. This is considered a bit of a down cornerback class, but I liken it to last year’s offensive tackle class. Few superstars lots of quality. Johnson is Janoris Jenkins top competition for first player to be drafted from an FCS school.

30. Baltimore Ravens-Manti Te’o

Did the Ravens just nab the next Ray Lewis? Te’o is a tackling machine, and he’s big and physical. Te’o is also considered an excellent leader and he’s by far and away the best player available on my big board at this moment. Te’o falls because of the downgrading of interior linebackers in the modern N.F.L.

31. New England Patriots-Chase Minnifield, CB, Viringia

I know they just grabbed Ras-I Dowling from Virigina last year at the top of round two and Devin McCourty two years ago, but their pass defense is still bad. There isn’t a great pass rusher here and besides usually the patriots like to sign veteran linebackers who are big leaders and have made big plays in their careers. Eventually that will change and the Patriots will grab a very talented 34 OLB, but I just don’t see it in this class. Ronnell Lewis here? I don’t like the options here for the Patriots.

32 Green Bay Packers-Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Zach Brown is my best player available which is why I’m mocking him here to the Packers. More so than the player fit it’s about the philosophy. I’m not sure who will be the highest rated player on the Packers board, but I do know the player they grab is going to be atop the Packers board. It’s a very sound philosophy and even though it took time (and the emergence of Aaron Rodgers) it’s put the Packers at the top of the N.F.L. and a good chance to win back to back superbowl titles.

Emerging: Devon Still, DL, Penn State

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