2012 NFL Mock Draft: Week 13 Update, Seahawks Land Stud Trent Richardson
17. New York Jets (6-5)-Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama
The Jets need to upgrade their pass rush if they ever want to be the dominant defense they sometimes they think they are. The best pass rusher in this class is Jarvis Jones, but everything is pointing to him returning to the Georgia Bulldogs for the 2012 College Football season. Upshaw is a bit of a tweener at the N.F.L. level, but he can rush the passer and that’s what will attract him to the Jets.
18. New York Giants (6-5)-Janoris Jenkins, CB, Northern Alabama
Terrell Thomas and Aaron Ross are potential free agents, and did you see the way the Giants “covered” the Saints Wide receivers on Monday night? Yikes. The Giants love to add the best player available. And they dont’ have enough depth at cornerback. TT is coming off a second A.C.L. injury and might be unhappy with what kind of offer the Giants give him. Until I know for sure TT is coming back I’m not ruling out cornerback for the Giants in the first round.
I also think, despite Burfict’s down season they will be very interested in Burfict. I also hope they consider Te’o and Peter Konz.
19. Denver Broncos (6-5)-Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
There are three running backs who I consider to be first round worthy in this draft. Trent Richardson, David Wilson, and Lamar Miller. If the Broncos are moving forward with Tim Tebow at the QB position they have to have guys who can run the football. Miller could be the best back on the team next year even with Mcgahee on the team. Miller reminds a lot of people of Clinton Portis. He’s very talented.
20. Detroit Lions (7-4)-David Decastro, G, Stanford
DeCastro is above average to good in all phases of the game and is a value pick here. Guards don’t go in the first round too often (especially in recent history), but DeCastro could be the exception to the rule.
21. Cleveland Browns from Atlanta* (7-4)-Dwight Jones, WR< UNC
Is Colt McCoy the quarterback of the future? Maybe. Will Mike Holmgreen draft a Quarterback early in the draft? Not sure. What I do know is that their offense isn’t good enough yet. They need linebackers, but linebackers are less important in a 43 than other positions that need to be filled out first. Kuechly or Te’o make sense here, but I think adding real serious weapons to the offense is more important.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)-Vontaze Burfict, LB, ASU
Somebody is taking Burfict in the first round despite his over-aggressive and bone-headed plays because if he figures it out. He could be the next Ray Lewis. So, so talented. The Bengals have two first round picks this year and possibly two first round picks next year, they are the perfect team to take a chance on Burifct. It’s not like their Linebacker corps is setting the world on fire either.
23. Chicago Bears (7-4)-Devon Still, DL, Penn State
Devon Still has been one of the few bright spots along the defensive line this year in college football. He is a legitimate top 20 pick so this is good value for the Chicago Bears and that’s really my reasoning here. Offensive tackle and Wide receiver seem to be a need every single year. I think at some point they will consider adding a linebacker too, and Manti Te’o could go to the Bears and play strong side next to Urlacher and Briggs to make the Bears extremely talented at the linebacker position and I wouldn’t argue with that pick.
24. Houston Texans (8-3)-Josh Chapman, NT, Alabama
The Texans could continue to add defensive talent. I think they also need a weapon opposite Andre Johnson so Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Mcnutt or whomever else the league has ranked as the fifth best wide receiver makes some sense here, right now Shaun Cody is playing the Nose tackle spot, but I think he can be upgraded.
25. Cincinnati Bengals- (via Oakland) (7-4) Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina
The Bengals have lost Leon Hall for the year to injury and lost Jonathan Joseph to injury last year. I think ideally they would love to add a really good running back to give their offense even more weapons, but with Richardson and Miller already drafted in this mock they look elsewhere. Gilmore is good at everything, but not great at anything. He’s a good tackler, a good cover guy, a good return man and good value here. Gilmore will help replace Jonathan Joseph. You can never have too many cornerbacks in this league.
26. Dallas Cowboys (7-4)-Billy Winn, DL, Boise State
Last year the Cowboys were interested in two players at #9 Tyron Smith and J.J. Watt. They didn’t end up drafting the DL position in the draft so expect them to do so this year. Sean Lissmore and Kenyon Coleman are playing ok, but they don’t have the talent Billy Winn does.
27. Baltimore Ravens (8-3)-Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
The Ravens need to upgrade their LT position so they moved Oher to RT and then signed Bryant McKinnie. Mckinnie is 33 years old next year and not a long term fix. Mike Adamas has been playing well since his return from the suspension and has a unique size/length/athleticism that not many offensive linemen have and he could be drafted about 10 slots higher than this come draft day so this is good player and positional value for the Ravens
28. San Francisco 49ers (9-2)-Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma Sooners
I suppose the biggest surprise (so therefore worse) pick in this mock. I struggled to find somewhere to place Landry Jones so settled on here. I know the 49ers drafted Kaepernick last year,but if this kind of value presented itself to the 49ers would they pass on it? I don’t love Landry Jones, but Harbaugh is one coach I think can maximize Jones’ talents and turn him into a franchise Quarterback.
29. New England Patriots (via New Orleans Saints) (8-3*)-Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
The Patriots are playing a lot more 43 this year so Kuehcly would be a good pick. Brandon Spike sis ok, but he’s not the kind of player Belichick gets the most out of. Kuechly would also be the best player available on many boards
30. New England Patriots (8-3)-T.J. McDonald, S, USC
Safeties, other than Earl Thomas and Eric Berry have been knocked in the past few drafts. I think McDonald is not special, but very solid and could develop into a Pro Bowl caliber player. The Patriots really don’thave anything good at the safety position and could use McDonald.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)-Manti Te’o Norte Dame
I love Manti Te’o. The Steelers need to find someone to play next to Lawrence Timmons the next seven years or so. Te’o is strong, smart, fast, versatile and good in coverage. A really nice prospect who just happened to fall this far. Good pick by the Steelers.
32. Green Bay Packers (11-0)-Donta Hightower, LB, Alabama
Hightower is playing so much better this year than he was last year that it’s astonishing. Highertowre is back into the fringe first round range. He’s find value here and plays defense so the Packers should be interested because the Packers defense has been pretty bad this year.
Scouting report for all of these players (and many more) can be found on our scouting report page
Be sure to let me know how much you disagree with me in the comments!
Have a nice day, everyone!
You can check out Sayre’s mock from this week here
And Reggie’s three round mock here