2012 NFL Mock Draft Week 10: Robert Griffin III Finds a Home in Top Five (Seahawks)

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15. Dallas Cowboys-Devon Still, DL, Penn State

cornerback makes a ton of sense here also, but last year the people I talked to who follow and cover the Cowboys were certain that if Tyron Smith was picked the Cowboys would select DE J.J. Watt the DE out of Wisconsin. Still has the requisite size to play. It seems a touch high for Still, but I think this is a guy that is going to be highly thought of in scouting circles.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers-Alamaeda Ta’amu Washington Huskies

The Steelers get their nose tackle of the future here with this pick. Josh Chapman has more buzz about him right now, but Ta’amu, to me, is the better player.

13. Chicago Bears-Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Dennard is considered by some (Rob Rang for one has reported this) to be the better prospect between him and Prince Amukamara. The Bears defense played well vs the Eagles, but they don’t have great cornerbacks. Dennard is a good fit for their system. I know that Bears fans probably want Michael Floy dhere or a talented offensive linemen like David DeCastro or Peter Konz. How does a team that drafts OL High routinely still have a subpar offensive line?

12. Detroit Lions-David DeCastro G, Stanford Cardinal

DeCastro doesn’t offer the greatest positional value because he plays guard. But he’s going to be a top 15 prospect on many big boards. he is a prospect with few flaws for his position. One of the best guard prospects in awhile.

11. New York Jets-Brandon Jenkins, OLB, FSU

I don’t like to make the easy pick often, but I will here. The Jets really need outside pass rush help and Jenkins can be that guy. The astute fans will realize that part of the dip in production for Jenkins is because he is playing a hybrid role for the FSU defense this year, and rushing the passer less. He’s still playing at a first round level.

10. Cincinnati Bengals-Janoris Jenkins, CB, Northern Alabama

Jenkins is a very talented cornerback prospect, who has happens to have character problems. Someone is drafting him at some point in the first round. I think Stephon Gilmore makes a lot of sense here because he offers return ability as well and doesn’t have any character concerns. I just want to put Jenkins back on the conciousness of others, and mine as well as I often leave him out of the first round.

9. Cleveland Browns (via Atlanta Falcons)-Manti Te’o, LB, Norte Dame

After grabbing value with Trent Richardson with their first pick, the Browns address need here. Te’o is well built and a good athlete. He is a machine for the Fighting Irish and I think he gets drafted ahead of Kuechly. Te’o can play the 43 mike or Sam position.

8. San Diego Chargers-Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Did you see Plaxico Burress abuse the Chargers cornerbacks a few weeks ago? Did you see the Packers wide receivers abuse the Chargers secondary last week? I thought last year they should consider Jimmy Smith in the first round, but they went with Corey Liuget. At this point Gilmore is not only really good value he’s also going to fill a big need for the chargers secondary.

7. New York Giants-Michael Floyd, WR, Norte Dame

Do they dare? This would really challenge the Giants philosophy of best player available. Could the Giants resist drafting Michael Floyd. Fantasy players love Mario Manningham because he’s a great flex player. Fans love Manningham because he’s exciting and make plays, but watch Eli Manning and the coaches. No player on the team frustrates the Giants more than Manningham. Case in point in week four Mario Manningham had one catch for 10 yards and coach Gilbride lauded Manningham for having a great game (because he was consistent with his routes).

6. New England Patriots (via New Orleans Saints-Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Patriots safeties aren’t very good. Mark Barron is starting to get his stock back up in the first round range with stellar play this season. The Patriots need to add talent on all levels of their defense. Whether they target DL, LB, or Safeties doesn’t matter. Just add some more talent. The Patriots are playing a lot more 43 now so adding a pass rushing 34 OLB might be less of an option than it generally seems it is.

5 Houston Texans-Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

I love me some Sanu. I think he’d be a terrific complement to Andre Johnson. The Texans pass offense is clearly not the same with Johnson hurt. The Texans defense has played really well this year for most of the season so given that their talent is young and could even use more time to develop might mean they go offense early.

4. New England Patriots-Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina

The Patriots can not get the ball deep down the field with their current wide receivers. It has turned them into a dink and dunk offense a 100 percent of the time and allowed teams to force Brady into more mistakes. The Patriots should really considering adding a guy who can make plays down the field and Jones fits the bill.

3. San Francisco 49ers-T.J. McDonald, S, USC

I think the safety class this year is underrated. McDonald is a very solid safety prospect, and the best dual safety prospect from USC since Troy Polamalu (no he’s not as good as Troy Polamalu). The 49ers drafted Taylor Mays but released him because he was a disappointment and even though the 49ers defense is playing well they could continue to add more talent to the secondary.

2. Baltimore Ravens-Tanner Hawkinson, T, Kansas

Probably not a first round prospect, but a prospect that doesn’t get enough “air time” so I’m going to highlight him here at the end of my first round. Hawkinson is 6-6 293 pounds and is a smart good player. Again not a first rounder, but someone to watch out for if you’re team’s looking for OL help on the second day of the draft.

You could easily insert Peter Konz here, or Luke Kuechly.

Offensive tackles you could easily consider Mike Adams, or Nate Potter, Ricky Wagner etc.

1. Green Bay Packers-Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly would be the best player available on many big boards. He also plays defense which the Packers are struggling with this year.

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