2012 NFL Mock Draft With Trades Wildcard Weekend Update

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17. Oakland Raiders (8-8) (traded to Cincinnati)-David DeCastro, G, Stanford Cardinal

The Bengals need to improve their run game as well. I’ve mocked Lamar Miller to them so many times it’s become old-hat. Well this draft I go a different route in our team needs matrix from the input of fansided editors G was listed as one of the needs. It’s not the biggest need, but DeCastro represents the best value for a player at a position of need so I go in that direction.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8)-Mark Barron, S, Alabama

I never get a good feel for what the Chargers will do in the draft. So I’m going out on a limb here. The Easy pick (and one I’ve mocked a bunch) is OLB Courtney Upshaw. However, I want to take a different route here. It’s not secret that the Chargers need someone to play next to Eric Weddle. They brought Bob Sanders into do that, but he wasn’t able to stay healthy (surprise). Barron has tremendous instincts and is always around the football. He can play the run and make plays in pass coverage. With all the stupid plays the Chargers make all the time, it’d be great to have a guy who is as fundamentally sound as Barron.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8)-Trade to Philadelphia Eagles. Eagles Select Mike Adams, Ohio State

The Eagles almost always take a linemen in the draft. If they resign DeSean Jackson they won’t look at WR. I don’t think they’ll spend a high pick on a linebacker, it’s just not their style. Clearly Andy Reid doesn’t believe in it. It’s not like RT has been great this year anyway. Adams is a guy who will climb up boards heading up to the draft.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7)-Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The Titans add one more player to their DL to set it up for good. I wasn’t really sure where to go with this pick, I don’t think there is great value for the positions they need. DT is not a huge need, DE is more of a need. I was also considering Zach Brown here.

21. Denver Broncos (8-8)*-Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Hurricanes

If they Broncos want to go forward with Tim Tebow they should give him another game breaker on offefnse. McGahee has had a huge year, but imagine paring him with the dynamic Lamar Miller.

22. New York Giants (9-7)*-Janoris Jenkins, CB, Northern Alabama

Cornerback is an under publicized need for the Giants. Terrel Thomas is coming off his second A.C.L tear. Aaron Ross is a free agent (as is TT) which leaves the Giants with no depth at cornerback. Jenkins is a talented player who I have not watched play a single down this year, but last year he was great with Florida. He has off the field problems, but the Giants have been willing to over look that in the past. I think with the play of Jacquian Williams this year they would bypass a Zach Brown. I won’t rule out a Vontaze Burfict though.

23. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)*-Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

The Browns were hoping Manny Lawson could step up huge for them, but he hasn’t. And despite how well their defense has played the linebacker corps could be updated. Brown is probably the best athlete available

24. Houston Texans (10-6)*-Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor Bears

The Texans need a complement to Andre Johnson and when they are healthy they don’t have a ton of needs so they could afford to take a luxury player here with Wright. I don’t love Wright quite as much as some, but he can really stretch the field and could develop into a terrific slot guy at the N.F.L. level. He’ll have some room to operate because of the presence of Andre Johnson as well.

25. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)*(traded to Cleveland)-Chris Polk, RB, Washington Huskies

And Polk makes his first appearance here. The Browns could go in a million different directions with their two first round picks. In this scenario they grab another weapon for Colt McCoy. Polk lacks ideal speed. but has enough to make big plays, can block a bit, catches the ball out of the backfield well and has really good vision. I like his game, though I’m not sure he’ll crack into the first round-a good combine will surely help.

26. Detroit Lions (10-6)*-Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State

Brewster buzz has died down a bit, but I still think he’s a very good player and is smart and a tough worker. Detroit could use some more of these talented kind of glue guys. Plus they really need an infusion of young talent and depth along their offensive line. Is he a slight reach? Perhaps, but I don’t think Detroit has a ton of picks this year so they might reach a bit more than we’ve grown accustomed to them doing.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)*-Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina

I think the days are coming to an end for Steelers James Harrison. Does Jason Worilds have the talent to succeed him? If not they could look to add a guy who can rush the passer in the first round. Besides the Steelers defense is so complex it usually takes a guy two to three years to figure out fully. I think they could look at Dontari Poe here as well if he’s available.

28. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)*-Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

The Ravens have a pretty good defense, but they don’t have anyone who consistently can rush the passer opposite Terrell Suggs. And Suggs is no spring chicken anyway. It has not cost the Ravens yet, but their team is loaded with veteran defensive stars at some point they have to reboot and upgrade. Lewis and Reed are nearly impossible to replace though.

29. New Orleans Saints (13-3)*(traded to New England)-Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

I think we’ll see how much the absence of a pass rush is going to hurt the Patriots this weekend. Right now the Pats are playing a lot of 43 defense and I think it’ll stay that way because the horses for the 34 might not be available via free agency or the draft this year. Branch is a talented edge rusher and I think come draft day would be good value at this point. Odds are the Patriots trade one of these two picks.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)*-Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

I think ideally the 49ers would love to get a player like Kendall Wright who could stretch the field a little more than what Sanu does, and what Crabtree already provides them, but it might be possible. They were hoping to get that with Braylon Edwards. Sanu is a guy who can do it all, he goes over the middle and he racks up the yards after the catch. Crabtree and Sanu could be the new version of Ochocinco and T.J. Hoshemnzedah (didn’t look up spelling, sorry, T.J.). Guys who are not elite down field threats, but make enough plays downfield to keep defenses honest and guys who can really work the short to intermediate part of the field. Sanu can be what Brad Smith would be if he was a solid #2 WR.

31. New England Patriots (13-3)-Donatri Poe, NT, Memphis

And this is incase they do decide to go to a 34. The Patriots need an edge rusher here and I was thinking Burce Irvin, who could possibly see his stock explode with great pre-draft workouts, but I shied away from that a bit. Poe could also be used in 43 alignments. Whatever that Pats do they need to find another weapon to challenge downfield on the outside on offense and completely upgrade all levels of their defense.

32. Green Bay Packers (15-1)*-Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State University

I know The Packers aren’t known for taking “character concerns”, but Burfict’s concerns come on the field not off. Burfict is supremely talented and the Packers defense is not. If Burfict figures it out in Green Bay with their leadership and understanding of how the game is supposed to be play he could be a major steal for them. They must miss Nick Barnett this year because their defense has just been awful and might cost them the opportunity to repeat as Superbowl champions.

And remember scouting reports for all of these players can be found on our scouting report page (and about 150 others as well).

Full team mock drafts are here.

And many, but not all, of our previous mock drafts are on this page if you’re looking for a more conventional mock.

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