2012 NFL Mock Draft Week 15 Update
17. Tennessee Titans – 7-6 (.497)-Devon Still, DL, Penn State
The Titans add one final piece to their young defensive line. They have talent at the defensive tackle spot so this might not be the greatest pick and I’ll adjust it next mock draft, but I wasn’t sure where else to go. Cornerback is a possibility, and actually I probably should have gone Alshon Jeffrey here. Buyer’s remorse.
18. New York Giants – 7-6 (.515)-Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
The Giants have a reputation for taking the best player on the board and in this scenario it’s clearly Jeffrey. Mario Manningham is a free agent. Can you imagine if the Giants could trot out on the field next year Hakeem Nicks, Jeffery, Victor Cruz, and Jerrel Jernigan? Whew doggie. And they need to continue to score points because their defense is garbage.
19/20. Chicago Bears – 7-6 (.521)-Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Bears defense has been good, but I’m not in love with their cornerbacks. Dennard is having an up and down year filled with injuries and a couple less than 1st round performances. But he’s still a first round talent and fits the Bears system well, I think.
19/20. Cincinnati Bengals – 7-6 (.521)-Luke Kuechly, LB, Boson College
Kuechly is probably the anti-Bengals pick. A solid citizen, a dependable player who does everything right on the field, but lacks “wow potential”. He’s the exact kind of player this team needs, and based on this mock he’d be the best player on many people’s big boards.
* 21. Cincinnati Bengals from (Oakland Raiders) – 7-6 (.533)-Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Hurricanes
IF this Bengals offense could add Lamar Miller into the fold with Green, Gresham, Dalton, and their other young wide receivers it could be the start of something special on offense. They really get two good values in this mock draft with Kuechly (the Anti-Bengals pick) and Miller.
** 22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons)- 8-5 (.473)-Mike Adams, T, Ohio State
Mike Adams is a name to watch. He’s tall, long, and pretty athletic. N.F>L. teams drool over long arms. The Browns need linebackers too, but Adams positional value is too good to pass up here.
23. New York Jets – 8-5 (.503)-Alameda Ta’amu, NT, Washington Huskies
The Jets don’t have a good nose tackle on their team. Ta’amu is downright dominant some weeks and missing in other weeks. But Rex Ryan could convince Mr. T that he’ll get Ta’amu to show up every week and if so it will really help the middle of the Jets defense.
24/25. Denver Broncos – 8-5 (.515)-Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
I could be way off-base with this pick. I just wanted Konz to go somewhere different for a change (other than the Lions where I put him every mock). Have J.D. Walton and Zane Beadles shown enough to be long term Broncos. If you don’t like this pick Broncos fan grab Brandon Thompson here who is a really nice run stuffer.
24/25. Detroit Lions – 8-5 (.515)- Barrett Jones, T, Alabama
I’m not sure Jones is great value here, but he’s a potential late first round pick. Jones is more athletic than he gets credit for and the Lions need to find a replacement for Jeff Backus. The Lions hope that with some offensive line improvements and the return of LeShoure and Best next year they can be more balanced on offense which will only help their defense. Jones could be a key step in this process.
26/27. New England Patriots – 10-3 (.450)-Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
The Patriots need to find a safety. Their secondary is awful. Mark Barron is the anti-Brandon Merriweather. A smart, dedicated football player. Barron had a really nice season this year and would instantly upgrade the Crimson tide secondary.
26/27. San Francisco 49ers – 10-3 (.450)-Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina
I wasn’t sure where to go here. The 49ers could go secondary. The 49ers could maybe consider an interior offensive linemen, they also could definitely consider Ryan Tannehilll, but Tannehill is the same kind of a prospect as Kaepernick who they took last year (a young, athletic, talented, project) so I don’t think they would grab Tannehill. With Sanu returning to school and Marvin McNutt having a bit of the dropsies I think Jones is the last of the first level of wide receivers.
*** 28. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints) – 10-3 (.462)-Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma Sooners
I think Lewis has a lot of natural ability and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he developed into the best pass rusher in this class (not that I’m saying that much).
29. Houston Texans – 10-3 (.467)-Donatri Poe, DL, Memphis Tigers
The Texans defense has really been good, but do they have a cornerstone nose tackle? I’m not so sure. Now, I haven’t seen Poe play enough to project him here with confidence, but you hear nothing but good things.
30. Baltimore Ravens – 10-3 (.497)-Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State University
How far has Burfict’s stock dropped this year. Before the season he was drawing comparisons to Patrick Willis with all of his ability. Last week I read at mocking the draft that Burfict had been dropped to the second team on Arizona State. His talent is immense though and if he ends up in the right situation, he will be a steal.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers – 10-3 (.509)-Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
I was looking at our big board and noticed that Gilmore is lower than I think he should be. He’s a really good all around player. Gilmore has the kind of ability that could even project to safety. The Steelers can definitely use more weapons in their secondary. I know everyone says offensive line offensive line, but the value might not be there.
32. Green Bay Packers – 13-0 (.444)-Brandon Jenkins, LB, FSU
Jenkins is a bit of a projection to the 34, but I think he can make it. He’s a good pass rusher and a good leader. The Packers could use someone across from Clay Matthews. Whatever happens in the draft it’s clear the Packers needs to address the defense (because they aren’t going to do that in free agency)
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