2012 NFL Mock Draft: Week 12 Update: Panthers Add Blackmon, 49ers add Dwight Jones

2 of 2

17. Buffalo Bills (5-5)-Brandon Jenkins, LB, Florida State University

Brandon Jenkins hasn’t been as productive this year as he was last year, but that has a lot more to do with what the Seminoles are asking Jenkins to do this year. Jenkins varying uses this year will ease his transition to outside linebacker next year. He still has to work on his coverage, but the Bills have used Chris Kelsay and even some of their DL as OLB this year, so they are up for the challenge. If they really want to compete for the playoffs they MUST find someone one to better rush the passer.

Fitzpatrick has shown a lot of warts lately and I think the team really needs a (good) wide receiver who can stretch the field, but the value is not here.

I don’t have Landry Jones going here either because if you follow the Bills you realize that all of the QB they have been linked to since Gailey became head coach are very mobile (Tebow, Cam newton, Michael Vick). I think they will be more interested in Ryan Tannehilll than Landry Jones.

18. Denver Broncos (5-5)-Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still has been so good this year that he’s over-taken, to me, the position of best DT in this class (though if a team wants to move Coples to DT, I wouldn’t be against that). The Broncos have been better than I thought they would be, but the still could use more talent along their defensive line especially in the middle.

19 Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta) (6-4)-Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma Sooners

Mike Holmgren hasn’t drafted quarterbacks in the early rounds before, but that doesn’t mean he won’t now. Colt McCoy has been adequate, but I don’t think he’s shown enough to be considered the franchise quarterback of the future. Adding Trent Richardson and Landry Jones would instantly overhaul the Browns offense and give them some real playmakers. I don’t love Landry Jones because of his lack of pocket presence, but he does have ability and could be very successful in this league in the right situation.

20. Detroit Lions (7-3)-David DeCastro, G, Stanford Cardinal

DeCastro is the best offensive linemen available here which is why he is mocked to the Lions. The Lions need help all along the line. The Lions also need to continue to add depth all over the roster. Hopefully the Lions will be able to run the ball better next year with the return of LeShoure and Best because Stafford plays like Brett Favre when the running game isn’t working (and that’s not in a great way. Stafford has forced WAY too many passes this year, especially since Best got hurt.

21. Houston Texans (7-3)-Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina

I admittedly don’t love this pick here for the Texans, but I just wanted to bring up Ingram as a possible option for a 34 team. Ingram has a ton of ability, but he has the second worse label behind “Character concern” in the N.F.L. draft. “Tweener”. Most teams want a guy they can project pretty accurately what he can do. Ingram is more of a novelty. He’s talented, but probably isn’t big enough to play DT (where he plays the majority of his snaps now). He’s athletic enough to play OLB, so he might fit there. Not sure where he’ll play, but he is very talented and will come off the board in the first two rounds. I wouldn’t rule him out as a OLB

22. Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)-Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Dennard is starting to play much better after missing the first half of the season. Dennard was considered by some the best cornerback prospect on the Cornhuskers last year even though he was playing with Prince Amukmara. The 19th overall selection in the 2011 N.F.L. draft. Dennard can play in any kind of defensive scheme. The Bengals have lost Leon Hall for the season and lost Jonathan Joseph to free agency int he off-season. Dennard is good value here and fills a need. Solid pick.

23. Chicago* (7-3) Bears-Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

If the Bears could find a guy who could consistently pressure the QB opposite of Julius Peppers their defense could even be scarier. Mercilus would fit right in with the Bears, first the Bears are right in his backyard now that he’s playing for the fighting Illini. But also, and more importantly, because he has a non-stop motor. Mercilus has been extremely productive this year and if he played with Peppers he could have big production throughout his career.

24. Dallas Cowboys (6-4)-Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Cowboys really have a youth movement going along their offensive line. Centers have been valued much more in recent drafts (look to the Pouncey Brothers for evidence) which means that the very talented Peter Konz could be drafted even higher than this. The Cowboys don’t have this reputation, but they are a team that likes to draft best player available…especially early in the draft, which is why they go with Konz here.

25. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland) (6-4)-Lamar Miller, RB, University of Miami

The Bengals need a running back to put the finishing touches on their surprisingly effect offense. The Bengals have their franchise QB, good wide receivers, a very nice young tight end and Cedric Benson (Meh). Lamar Miller has an N.F.L. ready body right now that comes along with good speed and power. Miller can make a lot of big plays but also run in between the tackles. In the last game I scouted him in (Florida State) he fumbled too much, but from what I’ve seen it’s not a trend.

26. New York Giants* (7-3)-Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State University

The Giants look for a few things in defenders in their front seven. Athletic ability, players who play tough against the run (except for Osi Umeinyora) and length. The Giants love to draft players with upside and rely and trust their coaches to turn raw players into good N.F.L. pros.

Burfict has really good potential, despite his down year, good measurables and a lot of length. The Giants don’t draft linebackers early in the draft, but I really feel that Burfict is a player they won’t be able to resist if he’s available when they pick (especially if they are picking this late).

27. Baltimore* Ravens (7-3)-Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

A tackling machine and often considered a top 20 player Kuechly represents value here. The Ravens will eventually have to replace Lewis. With the big talented players the Ravens have up front Kuechly is a great fit. Ngata and company will make sure that OL stay off of Kuechly and that means Kuechly will just continue to rack up tackles in bunches.

28. New England Patriots (from New Orleans)* (7-3)-Alameda Ta’amu, DL, Washington

I really like Ta’amu and I think his versatility will be coveted by the Patriots. The Patriots are using a 43 base defense this year as well as 34 looks and Ta’amu can fit in both. The Patriots even turned to Haynesworth to try and fix their DL woes. I imagine soon they will make a play for a DL early in the draft.

29. San Francisco 49ers* (9-1)-Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina

This WR class is fairly deep, and Jones is the last of the wide receivers who could be projected as a #1 type wide receiver in the league. Right now the 49ers have Michael Crabtree and Braylon Edwards as their top two Wide receivers, but Edwards is a free agent after this season. The 49ers aren’t going to pick high enough to get a franchise QB so they will just have to continue to let Kaepernick develop into the quarterback of their future.

Jones has the ability to make plays down the field and could help the 49ers stretch out their offense a bit.

30. New England* Patriots(7-3)-Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Patriots grabbed Ta’amu with their first pick in the 1st round to improve the defensive line and then they grab Gilmore here to add another piece to the secondary. Gilmore was considered almost a lock for the top 20 before this season, but his shine has worn off a bit, but he’s still a really good versatile cornerback who can play the run as well as the pass and also help out in the return game. With Gilmore the Patriots will be four cornerbacks deep: McCourty, Ras I Dowling, Kyle Arrington, and Gilmore.

Maybe then they will be able to stop the oppositions passing game.

31. Pittsburgh* Steelers (7-3)-Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

Minnifield is overlooked because this is a pretty good cornerback class, but his name should be thrown in there with the best of them after the first two cornerbacks come off the board (Claiborne and Kirkpatrick). The Steelers don’t have anyone who can consistently shut down the oppositions top WR, which is where Minnifield comes in.

32. Green Bay Packers (10-0)-Manti Te’o, LB, Norte Dame

Vontaze Burfict has more upside and Luke Kuechly is considered safer, but Te’o is perhaps the most versatile linebacker in this class. Te’o can play sideline to sideline has good size and can fight off blockers. A real nice player that the Packers can plugin any number of spots. He has size, speed, strength. Just a good football player, the best player available on my board here, and that’s what the Packers do, take the best player available.

Home/NFL Draft