2012 NFL Mock Draft: Mohamed Sanu Rounds out the Broncos and Peyton Mannings Receiving Corps
This 2012 NFL Mock draft was actually written out by hand on Monday, but I haven’t been able to get around and re-create it in word-press. This mock draft was made prior to the Texans trading Demeco Ryans and offers the Texans what was then perhaps an interesting pick, but a pick I think should be more commonplace now, and a pick that really fits the mold of what the Texans look for in a player. I also try to make my mock drafts different than most so there are a few unusual picks towards the end of the draft.
All scouting reports for everyone one of these players (and about 180 others) can be found on our scouting report page
1. Indianapolis Colts–Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford Cardinal
Well this is the most boring pick in the history of mock drafts. This pick has been locked in for about four months now. Despite Griffin III surge towards the number one overall pick, and how many pundits come out and say the Colts should draft Griffin III over Luck I think they are wrong. Luck is very safe, Griffin has to overcome some obstacles-stay healthy with all the running around he does, adjust to a pro-style offense-and show he can be consistent year in and year out.
2. Washington Redskins–Robert Griffin III, Qb, Baylor
Even with what I just said that does not mean I’m not a huge fan of Griffin III. NFLmocks has had Griffin III has a first round pick since last August (Writer Chris Ransom led the charge). Sure he was a late first rounder, but we’ve liked him all year. We put him in the top five in September. The point is we’ve liked Griffin III as an elite prospect all year, the problem is he’s now almost over-rated. He is not a perfect prospect, which he’s being made out to be. He’s battled through many nagging injuries in college, which is a concern, and he doesn’t have a consistent release point which could really effect his accuracy in the N.F.L. This is the right pick, and a good pick, but it is not without risk
3. Minnesota Vikings Matt Kalil, T, USC
There is some speculation that the Vikings will take Morris Claiborne with the #3 overall pick. But there’s a reason that very few cornerbacks have ever gone in the top three of the draft and many Offensive tackles have-the LT position is more important. Teams draft a young QB almost always A) protect him with a LT B) get him a shiny new toy on offense. Claiborne does neither of those and I don’t think he’ll be the pick.
4. Cleveland Browns Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama Crimson Tide
This pick comes down to three players. QB Ryan Tannehill (which I don’t think will happen), Morris Claiborne which would make a lot of sense and is really appealing with Joe Haden already on the roster, and Trent Richardson. If the Browns want to give McCoy a weapon it’s going to be Richardson if they want to improve the defense, especially the CB position which is a big need the pick is Richardson.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
I can envision no scenario in which the Buccaneers pass on Morris Claiborne. They need a cornerback even after the Eric Wright addition, they added a terrific WR with Vincent Jackson and Claiborne is the highest player on most boards. I suppose if they fall in love with Coples they could take Coples, but I just don’t see it as plausible.
6. St. Louis Rams–Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
In any other draft class I would say this is a bad pick, but in this draft class. There is no sure fire pass rusher. There is not another definite franchise LT. Why not take a player who is going to rate about the same as the other players left on the board and fills a huge position of need? Blackmon is not a bad player, but I don’t think he makes a QB like Larry Fitzgerald can-he could be Hakeem Nicks with the right QB though.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars- Quentin Coples, DE, UNC
The Jaguars retained Jeremy Mincey had a good price, but even than he’s not a dominating pass rusher on par with the likes of Julius Peppers-the player Coples is most often compared to. Just because the Jaguars have missed on players like Derrick Harvey before doesn’t mean they should not go after DE again.
8. Miami Dolphins Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A and M
This pick makes sense. Tannehill has all the ability of a first round quarterback. He’s a higher ceiling player than Christian Ponder in my opinion. There were a lot of things Tannehill did well in College. He just needs to continue to develop. The Dolphins could draft him in the first round here, play Matt Moore next year and let Tannehill take over the next.
9. Carolina Panthers– Dontari Poe, DL, Memphis
The Panthers were really considering Marcel Dareus last year if Cam Newton had won them over. This year they take the high-upside Poe. But Jesse is Poe more of a Nose Tackle? Yes, but the Panthers coach is Ron Rivera who has run a lot of 34 before. Plus in today’s NFL nearly every team that’s not the New York Giants mixes in at least some 34 looks. Poe has the athletic ability to be a gap-disrupting Defensive tackle. Poe was a first rounder before the combine because of his upside, but now he’s a potential top 15 pick because of just how much upside he has.
10. Buffalo Bills – Riley Reiff, T, Iowa
Prior to free agency the Bills talked about addressing the Offensive line in the draft (in a more subtle way of course), perhaps they knew they would be snagging at least one good DE in free agency (they got one great one in Mario Williams, and one pretty good one in Mark Anderson). The Bills, like every team, talk about their best player available approach and they might be serious they did draft C.J. Spiller with many more needs two years ago, but they fare also a team that wants to compete for a playoff spot now. They need to upgrade LT, and probably RT too so they could take Reiff. He has shorter than ideal arms, but is athletic and has good foot work.
11. Kansas City Chiefs -Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
I think Kuechly is a player that could end up going in the late 20’s when all is said and done because even though it’s not mentioned as much. Interior LB or 43 Will linebacker is a position that is given the same secondary status of running back in the N.F.L. draft. Kuechly doesn’t rush the passer or make a lot of splash plays. He plays more like a Will linebacker from the MLB spot. With that being said, the Chiefs generally like a certain kind of player and Kuechly is it. He’s a leader- he’s as good as can be on and off the field. Productive and he gives them one of the league’s best LB corps.
12. Seattle Seahawks– David DeCastro, G, Stanford Cardinal
I liked this pick before, but with the release of Gallery it makes even more sense to me. The Seahawks will also probably look at pass rushers here, but everything the Seahaws have done on offense since Pete Carroll got to Seattle is show that they want to be a bully run game on offense. That’s DeCastro’s forte.
13. Arizona Cardinals– Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois
I’ve been a proponent Mercilus playing 43 DE, but there seems to be some belief that he can play 34 OLB as well. The Cardinals are looking for someone who is versatile because they run multiple fronts. After they re-signed Levi Brown it seems likely that they will consider a Pass rusher here, their biggest need. I wouldn’t rule out Jonathan Martin, however.
14. Dallas Cowboys– Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi
This pick makes a lot of sense to me. The value for CB will be better in the second round than a disruptive 5 technique DL will be in the 2nd round. The Cowboys need to improve their DE. Jay Ratliff is a stud, but he’s not working with much on either side.
15. Philadelphia Eagles–Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
The Eagles like to draft linemen and this is no exception. Brockers doesn’t offer the most pass rushing ability of a Defensive tackle but the Eagles have consistently relied on their DT to play the run first and take up space for blitzers under Andy Reid. That’s a bit different with the wide 9 they run now, but I still could see them looking long and hard at a DL like Michael Brockers.
16. New York Jets–Michael Floyd, WR, Norte Dame
The Jets still need someone to throw to on the opposite side of Holmes. Holmes is a deep threat, but Floyd could be a monster in the Red-zone. No WR in this class goes up and gets the football like Floyd. Larry Fitzgerald is a much better player than Floyd is, but the way they attack the football is similar to me.
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