2012 NFL Mock Draft 3 Rounds: Colts Really Suck (For Luck)
By Editorial Staff
Round 2
1. Indianapolis Colts Chase Minnifield CB Virginia
Now that the Colts have acquired Luck they need to go to the strategy that talent and not need is paramount. This team is bad and talent is needed mostly everywhere. Minnifield would give the Colts a good young CB who is very physical and a big time steal at this point.
2. Miami Dolphins Frank Alexander DE/OLB Oklahoma
Dolphins have not sacked the QB nearly enough this season. Problem is besides Wake they lack another pass rusher. Alexander has played some standing up this season and done well with it. It is imperative the Dolphins get a second pass rusher so they can maximize Cameron Wake’s production.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (T) Brandon Thompson DT Clemson
Brandon Thompson might be the best run defender in the draft. Placing Thompson and Burfict in the middle of the defense and the Eagles run defense will be much improved next season.
4. St. Louis Rams Jayron Hosley CB VT
Rams CB could use some upgrading but people forget the Rams starting CB duo is out for the season. Bartell could be upgraded but Bradley Fletcher was showing potential before injury. Fletcher and Hosley could be a very sound duo.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars Ryan Broyles WR Oklahoma
Broyles is the type of talent and character that Gene Smith looks for. His production at Oklahoma has been amazing and has been by all accounts a true leader in the locker room. He will give Gabbert a solid target he needs to get on track.
6. Carolina Panthers Janoris Jenkins CB N Alabama
I have stated numerous times Jenkins is the best CB in this draft, his off the field issues land him out of Round 1. That being said he is well worth the risk here. Jenkins is a shut down CB and the Panthers are in dire need of secondary help.
7. Minnesota Vikings Kelechi Osemele OG Iowa State
Vikings are unable to obtain a LT but OG is a huge problem as well. Herrera should not be starting and Hutchinson is almost done. Osemele would replace either one in year 1.
8. Seattle Seahawks Micah Hyde CB Iowa
Hyde is probably the best of a long line of Iowa DB’s that have come out recently. He has the best combination of height and athleticism. Seahawks have a promising young duo of safeties but nothing at CB. Hyde will start the rebuild mode.
9. Denver Broncos Devon Still DT Penn State
I admittedly have a prejudice towards Penn State prospects. They rarely ever turn out. DL prospects from Penn State especially fail at a high rate. That being said Still is a stud that could go in Round 1. He is a play maker every week and Broncos truly need Defensive help. I am not in love with QB’s in Round 2….that being said the next pick
10. Washington Redskins Ryan Tannehill QB Texas AM
I want to say a few things with this pick. One I would not do it, two after a game like Tannehill had versus Baylor his stock is going up. I think his style of play would fit in well with Shanahan. His ability to throw on the run would allow Shanahan to run the bootleg more often. I will be viewing Tannehill more closely but I think he will go down over time.
11. Dallas Cowboys Mark Barron SS Alabama
Another big, smart, physical player whom Rob Ryan would love in his secondary…also another Alabama player. Don’t laugh their scheme and the Cowboys mirror one another. Barron and Kirkpatrick will have fixed up the huge hole that was the Cowboys secondary.
12. Philadelphia Eagles Mike Adams OT Ohio State
Now that the run defense has improved it is about time the Eagles start on the OL. Adams is a monster of a man that would fill the hole at RT. Herremans has played well but is a better OG than OT. Adams and Peters give the Eagles a solid OT tandem.
13. Cleveland Browns Casey Hayward CB Vanderbilt
Perhaps the most under rated of the CB’s prospects. He is a big play machine who has shut down some very sound WR’s in the SEC. Playing for Vanderbilt does not help your stock but Cleveland doesn’t mind. They now have Haden and Hayward playing CB.
14. Tennessee Titans Mohammed Sanu WR Rutgers
Locker now has a good chance to become a good QB. Konz has fixed the interior OL and Sanu gives the Titans two elite WR talents. Sanu is a good WR/RB/Ret man all rolled into one. He has a good chance of going higher than this if he has good offseason workouts.
15. New England Patriots Cordy Glenn OG Georgia
Now that the Patriots Defensive has some more bite its time to hit up the OL. Glenn would fill the hole at RG that is glaring. Connolly had to move to center and has done solid which created the hole at RG. Glenn is also versatile which the Patriots require from their OL men.
16. San Diego Chargers Dwayne Allen TE Clemson
Gates is aging and becoming injury prone. Combine that with a lack of a second receiver and an up coming FA in Vincent Jackson and Phillip Rivers does not have a whole lot to work with. It is imperative Rivers stays with a loaded weapons closet. Otherwise the Chargers are done. Allen is a very good TE who can block and be a weapon on third down and in the red zone.
17. New York Jets Josh Chapman NT Alabama
Jets are being gashed in the run game. In order for Rex Ryan’s defense to work they have to be dominant versus the run to make opposing offenses one dimensional. Chapman gets over looked in a loaded Alabama defense. He should not be though…he keeps everyone clean by occupying a ton of offensive lineman.
18. Tampa Bay Buccs Lavonte David OLB Nebraska
After spending multiple drafts improving the DL the Buccs now are focused on the back seven. David is a perfect fit in this offense due to his speed and ability to flow to the ball in both the run and the passing games. The Tampa Bay Midwest All Star Team is about complete.
19. Chicago Bears Juron Criner WR Arizona
Bears, along with OL talent, also need a big body WR to complement all the quick small WR talent. Roy Williams was not the answer…he is too lazy and is what he is at this point in his career. Criner would flourish under a Martz offense and give Cutler an explosive WR finally.
20. Cincinnati Bengals Chris Polk RB Washington
Do the Bengals even have any holes after this draft? Polk now gives them the RB they need to be a balanced offense. With Gresham, Shipley, Caldwell, Simpson, Green, and Polk Dalton cannot possible fail can he?
21. Kansas City Chiefs Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin
Now that NT has been resolved its time to hit the OL. Currently the Chiefs have three solid players. RG, LG, and LT; though RG will soon be a hole and center will soon be resolved. That means RT and soon RG will be problems. At this point Zeitler would be the best option and he would get a year to learn from Lilija before starting. Chiefs have a young exciting team…if only they had an elite QB they would be a Super Bowl contender.
22. Houston Texans Marvin McNutt WR Iowa
Texans are getting a steal here. 6”4 215 pounds make him a big target that gets down the field quickly. He is also a fierce run blocker which helps on this team.
23. New York Giants Matt Reynolds OT BYU
Giants need some youth pronto on the OL. Most immediately at RT, C, and LG. Reynolds would fill in the RT spot right away. His pass blocking is elite for a RT and he is a nasty, lunch pail OL talent that would fit right in.
24. New Orleans Saints Travis Lewis OLB Oklahoma
Saints get a humungous steal. Lewis will slip because of his attitude but for those who watch him play…we know he is going to be good. Saints get a much needed talent boost on their LB core.
25. Atlanta Falcons Andre Branch DE Clemson
Falcons’ young DE talents have not stepped up. They are decent depth players but nothing more. Branch represents the athletic high ceiling DE prospect that is needed now that Abraham is starting to slow down. How long have we been hearing that statement?
26. Buffalo Bills Don’t’a Hightower ILB Alabama
LB unit is the only real weakness on this team. Brandon Jenkins from Round 1 and Don’t’a Hightower now will remedy that. Hightower is a very intelligent, big, force to put in the middle of a mediocre run defense. With a healthy Williams and now Hightower it will be much harder to run on the Bills.
27. Pittsburgh Steelers Markelle Martin SS/FS Oklahoma State
Secondary cannot be ignored any longer. Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu are good talents but are aging and injury prone. Besides them there is nothing. Martin can replace Robert Clark and give the Steelers some youth in a unit that needs it.
28. San Francisco 49ers Cliff Harris CB Oregon
49ers pass defense could use some more talent. Carlos Rogers is having a career year and could use a running mate. Cliff Harris would give the 49ers a very opportunistic CB.
29. Detroit Lions Nate Potter OT Boise State
Okay I have constantly said Joe Staley is coming home to replace Backus at LT. Until that actually happens I have to think the Lions need a LT. If Nate Potter played someplace else he would be a late first round pick. He has great footwork and is a force against the pass. His run blocking is okay but needs to get better. Going to a pass oriented team is a great fit for him. Now C and RT need to be replaced.
30. Baltimore Ravens Robert Lester FS Alabama
Ravens need to replace Ed Reed eventually. Lester is not the talent Reed is but that is unfair to say that. Lester is an intelligent; play maker at FS for the Crimson Tide who the Ravens employ a similar system. Ryan’s are gobbling up all the Alabama defenders.
31. New England Patriots Billy Winn DL Boise State
As stated with Worthy, the Patriots need DL talent capable of playing both in a 4-3 and 3-4. Billy Winn can do that and do that well. With Worthy and Winn the DL is not a talentless unit anymore.
32. Green Bay Packers Ryan Miller OG Colorado
Packers OL can be upgraded at OG. Sitton is elite but LG is a hole of rotational players. Ryan Miller would fit well on this team due to his advanced pass blocking skills as well as his ability to play RT as well.
(Round 3 on next page)