2012 NFL Mock Draft 3 Rounds: Colts Really Suck (For Luck)
By Editorial Staff
This is my newest 2012 NFL mock draft. It’s three round deep. Leave your thoughts in the comments. And be sure to follow us on twitter @NFLmocks
1. Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck QB Stanford
There is no way that Bill Polian and Colts can pass this type of player. I love Peyton Manning and I think he can be productive for 1-2 more years. Perfect grooming time for Andrew Luck and allow him to prosper without the amount of pressure he would face in his rookie season as a starter.
2. Miami Dolphins Matt Barkley QB USC
I know Barkley is no Andrew Luck but he is an elite talent. He is much better than Gabbert, Ponder, and Locker from last year. He runs a pro style offense and has raised his completion percentage and lowered his interception totals…that is a key indicator on success for NFL QB’s. He also has very good pocket awareness.
3. Arizona Cardinals Matt Kalil OT USC
Wow, I think the Cardinals would love to have their trade for Kolb back and be able to draft Andy Dalton over Ryan Williams. That being said you have to give him a chance to succeed. The OL is bad, maybe the worst in the NFL. Kalil gives you a Joe Thomas like franchise LT.
4. St. Louis Rams Jonathan Martin OT Stanford
Spags wants a dominate OL. He has drafted high picks as well as high FA expenditures. With his high picks Jason Smith needs to move to guard and Saffold would be a better RT. Martin would complete the OL and give the Rams a franchise LT capable of impacting both run blocking and pass blocking. Reminds many of Jonathon Ogden.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars Quinton Coples DE NC
The more I think about it the more I believe Gene Smith would pass on the WR in Round 1. It is not his MO. A dominate DE would be ideal for him. Combining Coples and Alualu would form a solid DL. Gene Smith loves improving the line of scrimmage.
6. Carolina Panthers Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State
Panthers are getting a ton out of Steve Smith at the moment. Best case scenario he can do it for one more season. This is the perfect time to find an elite young WR to grow with Cam Newton.
7. Minnesota Vikings Alshon Jeffrey WR SC
There is no OL talent worth this pick. I will have Jeffrey here until his off season workouts. I do not like his lack of production or the fact that he gets excuses for it. Tons of WR’s have produced with shotty QB play. Vikings need to surround Ponder with OL and skill positions. That is how teams in the NFL win. Harvin, Jeffrey, Rudolph, and Peterson are pretty good weapons to have.
8. Seattle Seahawks Landry Jones QB Oklahoma
This pick would be Robert Griffin but it appears that he will return for his senior season. Landry Jones is a good QB prospect but is not as good as Barkley or Luck. Jones has good size, arm strength, and accuracy. He lacks great pocket awareness and because of that turns the ball over more than he should. That aside the Seahawks need a QB and Jones is much better than what they have.
9. Denver Broncos Trent Richardson RB Alabama
Broncos need three things: QB, RB, and a better Defense. There are no QB’s worth taking here. The better of the other two is Trent Richardson. He is an Adrian Peterson type talent combining size and speed. Broncos now only need two things.
10. Washington Redskins Morris Claiborne CB LSU
Wow, Redskins need a few things. Claiborne would start the secondary reshuffle. It seems the Redskins spend a ton of resources on the secondary but still need more Claiborne is a big time play maker. He has great size and speed. Redskins are a true threat to trade up for a QB this season.
11. Dallas Cowboys Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama
Not in love with this prospect. Reminds me of Malcolm Jenkins and might need to move to FS. Good thing the Cowboys need 3 new starters in the secondary so his versatility is welcome. He also plays very aggressive and would endear himself to Rob Ryan.
12. Philadelphia Eagles Vontaze Burfict ILB Arizona State
Burfict would bring some intimidation to the Eagles defense. Intimidation has been lacking since the days of Dawkins and Trotter. Burfict is able to play OLB as well if Casey Matthews ever wants to play better.
13. Cleveland Browns Riley Reiff OT Iowa
Browns OL is made up of two studs and everyone else. Mack and Thomas are elite LT and Center combination. Probably the best in the NFL. Reiff would fill the RT hole and make the Browns OL a strong unit.
14. Tennessee Titans Peter Konz C Wisconsin
I know Wisconsin players typically don’t leave early. Konz is not the typical talent in Wisconsin. Konz has no reason to go back because he cannot help his stock anymore. He is dominating the big ten and is one of the best run blocking center prospects in recent years. CJ2K it is on you now.
15. Cincinnati Bengals (T) Stephon Gilmore CB SC
Bengals prefer big, physical CB’s in their system. Leon Hall and Jonathon Joseph were both this way. Gilmore will finally replace the hole that Joseph left behind. Shut down CB’s will help their DL get more sacks…Win-Win the best of possible interactions.
16. San Diego Chargers Courtney Upshaw OLB Alabama
Hesitant to put Upshaw here because it would make too much sense for AJ Smith. No one wants to admit it but AJ Smith is Matt Millen with Phillip Rivers making him look better. His drafts are a joke and I believe Marty Shottenheimer was the reason he had a few decent drafts a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
17. New York Jets Michael Floyd WR ND
Tough decision here, Jets need WR, OL, NT, S, and LB help. I guess they go with BPA available and get Michael Floyd. He is a true #1 WR who will help the Jets Red Zone offense. Holmes, Floyd, and Keller give Sanchez a host of targets to miss-throw to.
18. Tampa Bay Buccs Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
How can every mock draft be wrong? Talent and scheme fits the pick. I wish the Buccs would allow their scouting team gas money to get out of the Midwest or Cable TV to watch non-regional games.
19. Chicago Bears Michael Brewster C Ohio State
Carimi and Brewster are solid pieces to fixing the OL. It will take 1-2 upgrades but at least RT and center are covered by elite talent.
20. Cincinnati Bengals Zack Brown OLB NC
Bengals gain another elite defensive talent. Maulugua and Rivers are solid players but neither obtains many sacks or int’s. Brown is very sound at both. He would complete the LB unit and make the Bengals one of the better young teams in the NFL.
21. Kansas City Chiefs Alemeda Ta’Amu NT Washington
Chiefs dropped the ball last season by bypassing Phil Taylor. They will not do so again. OL can wait for Round 2. They aren’t horrible. The DL has been a problem area since Pioli came over. Kelly Gregg is a solid veteran player but is aging quickly.
22. Houston Texans TJ McDonald SS USC
Texans are mad that Alemeda went one pick before them, though, the secondary and WR still need to be improved as well. TJ McDonald is not a finished product but has a high ceiling and could become a force at safety.
23. New York Giants Manti Te’o MLB ND
Greg Jones is a decent talent but I think he is a better OLB in the NFL. Manti would give the Giants a true monster in the middle that they have been missing for far too long. With Jones, Te’o, and Kiwanuka the Giants would be loaded with LB talent.
24. New England Pats (T) Jerel Worthy DT MSU
Patriots have not reloaded the DL in quite some time. They play both 3-4 and 4-3 defensive schemes. Worthy was an over rated and now is an under rated prospect. He is the emotional leader of a good Spartan defense. He constantly affects the game outside of the score box. He is that inside disruptive talent every defense wants. Short term he rotates in with a solid veteran DT tandem. Long term he replaces them.
25. Cleveland Browns (T) Luke Kuechly LB BC
Browns love this type of kid. Gritty, versatile, and blue collar. That is not to mean he lacks talent or athleticism; he is capable of playing any of the three LB spots and is a safety net if Jackson leaves or gets injured again. Kuechly and Riley are solid 1st round pickups.
26. Buffalo Bills Brandon Jenkins DE/OLB FSU
Jenkins is a maddening talent. He has great size and athleticism but has not produced a ton this year. He has had moments but this pick is about upside. He gets a ton of attention and that frees up everyone else. I think he is a better 3-4 OLB than a 4-3 DE. Bills need pass rushers.
27. Pittsburgh Steelers David DeCasto OG Stanford
Steelers are lacking an elite OG and a capable LT. In Round 1 they get an elite OG. DeCasto is a great deal this late in Round 1 and will team with Pouncey and Kemo to give the Steelers an elite interior OL.
28. San Francisco 49ers Dwight Jones WR NC
49ers have two big bodied WR in Crabtree and Edwards. Neither is producing that much. Jones will be what Jeffrey claims to be: a big bodied WR who can overcome a bad QB. Should fit in well with the 49ers.
29. Baltimore Ravens Barrett Jones OT Alabama
Ravens love big bodied, blue collar, nasty OL talent. Jones will play LT but is able to play 4 positions equally well. That kind of versatility is hard to come by.
30. Detroit Lions Melvin Ingram DE SC
I hate mocking Ingram here. This is why I did: Lions love BPA and they have holes on OL, defensive end, OLB, and CB. Their unfortunately is no OL talent here. They will need to go into round 2 and 3 looking for it. OLB and CB talent available are not near the pick that Ingram is. Lions would love this versatile DE to provide depth and be able to replace KVB in a year. Now the DL is set for many years.
31. New England Patriots Ronnell Lewis DE/OLB Oklahoma
Aggression, versatility, and fills a huge hole on the Patriots Defense. Sounds like a great pick. Worthy and Lewis are going a long way to making the Patriots defense feared again.
32. Green Bay Packers Vinny Curry DE/OLB Marshall
Curry is hugely under rated at this point. His ability to get up to 260 and still play at a high level is key for him being a first round pick. Curry and Mathews on the edge…man the NFC North and the rest of the NFL are in for a long few years.
(round two on next page)