2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Go Trent Richardson, Luke Kuechly
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland)-Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
The Bengals luck out here as Stephon Gilmore unexpectedly falls. I enjoyed it more when I was the only one who had Gilmore in the top 20, but everyone is on board withe me now. Gilmore is inconsistent in his technique, but pays hard is very athletic and versatile. Gilmore has a lot of buzz as a top 15 guy and potentially a top 10 guy but right here at 17 is perfect value for him.
18. San Diego Chargers–Mark Barron, S, Alabama
Will A.J. Smith make this pick? I Don’t know. But he should strongly consider it. Pairing Weddle with Barron is a smart move. The Chargers secondary has been statistically better than they actually are. Barron is best suited at strong safety, but has good ball skills as well.
19. Chicago Bears–Nick Perry, DE, USC
The Bears are looking to augment their pass rush. They were very interested in Mario Williams before the Bills kidnapped him. Perry has a lot of upside as a pass rusher, and playing with Julius Peppers will ensure that he doesn’t get a lot of constant double teams. The Bears could go a number of directions here: CB, OL, WR, and maybe Coby Fleener as well.
20. Tennessee Titans–Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
The Titans take the high upside Kirkpatrick here after losing Cortland Finnegan and with no defensive end worth drafting here. Value meets need usually makes an easy pick. Kirkpatrick is still a top 20 player to me easily, I know there are some issues with him, but he’s got maybe the most upside of any cornerback in the draft with his combination of size, speed, fluid hips, and feel in zone coverage.
21. Cincinnati Bengals–Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama
A peculiar pick perhaps, but Upshaw could play as a SAM linebacker if he just moves forward or be a pass rush specialist. I don’t necessarily love this pick either, but just because a team should or shouldn’t do something doesn’t mean that’s what they will do. If the Bengals think Upshaw can play they could add him to their defense. He’s the highest rated player available by the league value chart other than Kuechly.
22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta)-Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
The Browns take Kuechly to solidfy the middle of their defense for the next 10 years. Kuechly might never make a lot of splash plays, but he’s just solid. A leader. And will be a tackling machine. If he’s London Fletcher for the next 10 years for the Browns they won’t be upset.
23. Detroit Lions–Harrison Smith, S, Norte Dame
This probably wouldn’t be the Lions pick because it might be considered a reach, but it’s the best positional value pick available. There are two safeties the league apparently likes early and Harrison Smith is the last of them. Smith has terrific size, and better than anticipated athleticism.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers–Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama
Hightower seems like a Steelers kind of player. He’s not needed this year either, which is what the Steelers like to do with their players–let them learn their complicated defense for a year or two and then unleash them.
25. Denver Broncos–Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
The best defensive tackle remaining according to that Profootballweekly value chart. The Broncos need help at defensive tackle especially after losing Bunkley. Worthy was inconsistent in college, but there is some belief that is because he played too many snaps on the field and that it was not necessarily an effort or conditioning issue. When Worthy was at his best, he was un-blockable.
26. Houston Texans–Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
Stephen Hill is mocked to the Texans in pretty much every mock draft on the web, except this one. Randle is another vertical deep threat who projects well as an X WR. Randle is well-thought of around the league and the Texans also need another WR as well.
27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans)-Andre Branch, DE, Clemson
Branch has the versatility that the Patriots covet. He can put his hand on the ground and rush the passer as a 43 DE or stand up and play some 43 DE.
28. Green Bay Packers- Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford Cardinal
I don’t know what I was thinking here really. I pigeond myself with the 32 player rule from PFW’s list and he seemed the most likely between Fleener, Massie, Zeitler, Wilson, Jones. Zeitler makes some sense, but that seems like a big reach to me. Fleener is almost always mocked into the first round Zeitler is once in awhile. The Packers had a weird contract with Jermichael Finley where they don’t have to keep him for the long haul so perhaps they think Fleener could be a weapon for them too.
29. Baltimore Ravens-Bobby Massie, OL, Mississippi
The Ravens address the OL here. There are some who think Bobby Massie can develop into a LT, which the Ravens might need for their future.
30. San Francisco 49ers– Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin
Zeitler is a powerful run blocker who needs work as a pass blocker, but that won’t bother the 49ers who are a powerful running team.
31. New England Patriots-David Wilson, RB, Va Tech
This came down to two picks: David Wilson or Chandler Jones. Considering I mocked them the DE before I figured that I’d go running back here. The Patriots have shown some interest in running backs during the pre-draft process, but it seems likely that they won’t draft one early. They like Steven Ridlay if he can hold onto the football and I was a big fan of the Shane Vareen drafting last year.
32. New York Giants- Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
Osi Umeinyora is still unhappy with his contract situation and doesn’t want to be a back-up. He’s a free agent after this year anyway as is Mathias Kiwanuka. If you wrote a book on whatthe Giants look for in defensive ends. Long arms would be the first and last chapter. Jones has longer arms than Jason Pierre Paul, and actually had better combine numbers than Paul too. He seems like the Giants type player and while this is early to me, the Giants could grab Jones and continue to re-load their defensive line.
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