2012 NFL Mock Draft. Superbowl? How about Senior Bowl

This week the Main-Street Media will focus on the Superbowl Matchup between the New England Patriots and New York Giants. And with good reason, I hear that’s a popular game. At NFLmocks though our concern this week (even though I am personally a Giants fan) will be on the Senior Bowl. The Senior Bowl game itself is, meh who cares for the most part. What is important though is the week of practice leading up to the game. And the interviews that are conducted by each team which might give an insight into what teams are thinking.

So here we go.

As daily readers know for me personally the Mock draft is a place to explore the myriad opportunites the draft presents us. I will make some picks I think are unlikely, but I hope you’ll still consider them.

Scouting reports for all of these players (and many more) can be found on our scouting report page

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
. “Quarterback of the future for the Colts. Luck bridges the gap perfectly between Peyton Manning and the future of this organization. He will have growing pains, but I think he has star potential, like many others.”

I’m just going to quote my co-editor Sayre there and leave it at that.

2. St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil, T, USC

.The Rams will try to trade this pick and they very likely could succeed. If they don’t have that tough of a decision. I know that some people are saying the Rams should take Justin Blackmon, but that’s a big mistake to me. Kalil is almost as good as Jake Long and Joe Thomas, not quite, but pretty close. Take Kalil move Saffold to RT move Smith to Guard and improve three spots along the line. Then at the top of round two you can grab the WR who falls out of the first round whether that is Mohamed Sanu, Dwight Jones, or Kendall Wright. One of those players will be there for the taking and a huge upgrade over the T who might be there.

3. Minnesota Vikings:  Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

I’m not the biggest fan of Justin Blackmon. Not that I don’t think he’s talented, and I think the odds are that the Vikings will take him here though they are hoping for Kalil. But with that being said Claiborne is also a possible option.  He’s a better coverage cornerback than Patrick Peterson was and Peterson was considered the best player in last year’s draft, a draft that was stronger on top talent than this draft.  It’s rare for a CB to go top three, but not impossible.

4. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
.If Holmgren has an opportunity to take Griffin here and does not he’ll show off the biggest pair in the world. Riding with Colt McCoy for the future is very risky. McCoy hasn’t proven to have the ability to be a franchise quarterback. I think Blackmon in this scenario is tempting too because he’s a real good player.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Not the most popular pick, but did you see how unproductdive their WR corps and by extension quarterback was this year? I did. If Josh Freeman is going to progress next year instead of regress again the Buccaneers need to give him a real playmaker at the WR position where right now they have a bevy of #2 type wide receivers.

6. Washington Redskins:  Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor Bears

I think this pick would be ridiculous, but reportedly there are teams out there who have Wright as their number one wide receiver prospect in the draft. There is no denying that the Redskins don’t have enough playmakers at the WR position and I think this is a possibility. Clearly on my board this pick should be Alshon Jeffery.  I also really consider mocking Brock Osweiler or Ryan Tannehill here, but I’m not ready to get that crazy!

.7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jefferey, WR, South Carolina

Now I’m getting too WR crazy, but I’ve mocked the Jaguars DL or cornerback a ton of times. I’d like Kirkpatrick here if he didn’t have the recent pot-bust now I can’t fathom the Jagaurs taking  him here. And in my opinion what seperates Blackmon and Jefferey is not much at all and in fact for some teams I’d prefer Blackmon.

8. Carolina Panthers:  Riley Reiff, T, Iowa

This is a pick I’ve made a couple of times. Their LT Jordan Gross is getting towards the twilight of his career and their RT can’t stay healthy. Tackle is a distinct possibility. I think ideally they hope they love a defensive player here maybe a Devon Still, Michael Brockers, Quinton Coples.

9. Miami Dolphins: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
. This is the pick Sayre made and I like it for the Dolphins. Cameron Wake is a good player, but he could really use someone to play opposite of him. If the Dolphins are able to acquire  Peyton Manning and can find more pass rush this could be a good team. They have young talent at the OL position, they have a fairly talented secondary and pretty good line play up front in the 34.

10. Buffalo Bills: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
. Profootball weekly recently quoted Buddy Nix as saying (paraphrasing here) “we’ll try to draft an offensive tackle if we can”. If you’ve followed the Bills you will know that they don’t try to hide their draft philosophy. Two years ago they said they thought they needed someone to catch passes out of the backfield and speed no one paid attention they grabbed Spiller. Last year it was improving their run defense Dareus was drafted (and Kelvin Sheppard and Da’Norris Searcy). This year it’s going to be an OT, A LB, or maybe a QB if they fall in love with one.  I think WR has an outside shot as well.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
. Last year I mocked Mark Ingram to the Chiefs a few times and caught some flack from Chiefs fans. This year it makes even more sense. Thomas Jones has had a really good career, but he’s near his end. The Cheifs can really have a nice offense next year with Richardson, Charles, McCluster, Bowe, Baldwin, and Moeaki. The QB position is still a bit of a problem, but maybe they snag Peyton Manning! Cheifs fans can only hope.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

. Brockers is very physically gifted and could easily be the “workout warrior” this year. Brockers is young and needs to improve his pass rushing, but he’s very talented.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

The pre-draft process is going to save Coples who looks every bit the part and could be impressive leading up to the draft. He’s long and strong. He’s an ideal 34 DE. The Cardinals have the talented Calias Campbell, but he could leave via free agency leaving a void that Coples could fill.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkparick, CB, Alabama Crimson Tide

. Two things here: One it amazes me every year that around this time of year , what might be the most important time of a football players life, people are caught with Marijuana in their systems (on in some cases in possession of). Being selected in the top 10 and in the first round could be a difference of millions of dollars in some cases.

2) The Cowboys won’t pass on Kirkpatrick because of a little pot.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mike Adams, T, Ohio State

Through the first two days of the Senior Bowl as I write this on Tuesday. Ohio State tackle Mike Adams is the early winner. He is huge, long, and fairly athletic. The Eagles draft linemen more often than the Giants do in the first round on both sides of the ball. And while Jason Peters is terrific their RT position could be upgraded. If the Eagles don’t trade down I feel confident with this pick.