2012 NFL Mock Draft Round 3: Cleveland Browns Get Brandon Weeden

3 18 80 Arizona Cardinals-Donald Stephenson, OT, Oklahoma

previous picks: Michael Floyd WR

The Cardinals add a player who is going to be drafted much higher than everyone expects. Stephenson is pretty high on our board and it would be good value here. The Cardinals still need to add a pass rusher, but they couldn’t resist the temptation of Michael Floyd in the first round and Tackle is as big of a need as pass rusher is, so it’s  a toss up here.

3 19 81 Dallas Cowboys-Ben Jones, C, Georgia

Previous picks: Fletcher Cox DL; Trumaine Johnson CB/S

I have not been impressed with the Cowboys interior OL play over the past two years. Ben Jones is a player that could be drafted as early as the late 2nd round. Jones is the second best center in this class (third if you count Kevin Zeitler as a center) and fills a position that really needs depth.

3 20 82 Tennessee Titans-Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin

Previous picks: Chandler Jones DE, Bobby Massie OT

The Titans are having a draft their fans probably wouldn’t see coming, but they are getting pretty good value with their picks, and definitely filling in positions that have a high positional value. DE, T, and WR are positions that win football games in the N.F.L.
3 21 83 Cincinnati Bengals-Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A & M

previous picks: Stephon Gilmore, Courtney Upshaw, A.J. Jenkins,

The Bengals get one of my favorite running backs in the class. Gray is not a huge play-maker, but he’s a reliable three down running back who is a bit more of a bell-cow and should help improve the Bengals run game.
3 22 84 Atlanta Falcons-Cam Johnson, DE, Virginia

previous pick: Josh Robinson, CB, Florida

I think the Falcons would luck out if they were able to get the talented Josh Robinson in the second round and then have Cam Johnson fall into their laps in the third round. The Falcons will be looking at OT and DE with their 2nd and 3rd round pick, but I don’t think they would pass up a good value player in either round for a position of need. They have to make the picks count without a first or fourth rounder.

3 23 85 Detroit Lions-Dwight Bentley, CB, Louisiana Lafyette

previous picks: Jon Martin OL; RB Lamar Miller

Bentley is not a name a casual draft follower would know, but the league is well aware of. How high Bentley goes could really shock people. Bentley has good size, great speed, and a lot of experience. He fits the Lions well because he’s an extremely aggressive cornerback who has good hips and is a  willing tackler. He also fills a need for the Lions who need more talent in the secondary.

3 24 86 Pittsburgh Steelers-Brandon Mosley, OT, Auburn

Dont’a Hightower LB; LaMichael James, RB

The Steelers finally add an offensive linemen when they take Brandon Mosley the tackle out of Auburn.
3 25 87 Denver Broncos-Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

Previous picks: Kendall Wright WR; DL Kendall Reyes

The Broncos released Andre Goodman and will look for cornerback depth at some point in the draft. Minnifield again is a guy I like a lot more than PFW draft value chart. Minnifield has good bloodlines, good size, and a pretty good N.F.L. skill set.
3 26 88 Philadelphia Eagles (from Houston)-George Illoka, S, Boise State

Previous picks: Michael Brockers, Mike Adams, Brock Osweiler

The first pick I think Eagles fans will like since the first round pick of Brockers. Illoka has good speed and good size. I think after the Senior Bowl he was over-valued by the casual fan, but now he’s kind of forgotten. At the end of the third round is the perfect time to take the athletic safety who could play a S/LB hybrid role as well.
3 27 89 New Orleans Saints-Josh Chapman, DT, Alabama

No previous pick:

The Saints have to make their first pick count. I think people get too wrapped up in times about where a defensive tackle fits. There are so many different fronts run by teams now a days that a good DT can find something to do on every-team. The Saints need help on the defense and target the best defensive linemen available here at this point to improve their run defense. Chapman’s not much of a pass rusher, but he’s an absolute load in the run game.
3 28 90 Green Bay Packers-Robert Turbin, RB, Utah State

Previous pick: LB Luke Kuechly; DL Brandon Thompson

The Packers, to me, don’t have great running backs and are sure to go offense at some point in the draft. The Packers could also take a look at a number of offensive linemen here, but I’m not in love with any of the offensive linemen available here, except maybe Zebrie Sanders.
3 29 91 Baltimore Ravens-Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State

Previous picks: Cordy Glenn OL; Bernard Pierce RB

The Baltimore Ravens are great at finding terrific value. Quick is a guy who is generally projected to go in the late 2nd round so he has a full round of value in this mock draft. Quick will have to make a huge jump in competition, but his size and overall physical skill set is intriguing.
3 30 92 San Francisco 49ers-Zebrie Sanders, T, Florida State

previous picks: Kevin Zeitler OL; Jamel Fleming CB

Sanders had an awful senior bowl and saw his stock plummet. The PFW value chart has him as a 5th round pick, but I”m not buying that. The 49ers have a loaded roster, but need depth all over. Sanders is the best player on our board here so he goes to the 49ers.
3 31 93 New England Patriots-Jared Crick, DL, Nebraska

previous picks: Andre Branch OLB/DE; Lavonte David LB; Alfrono Dennard CB; Chris Givens WR

When thinking about the type of player the Patriots target on defense I always think about smart defenders who are versatile. Crick has a terrific motor and good athleticism, he was a first round talent to a lot of draftniks prior to the 2011 college football season but he missed most of the season with a pectoral injury. He’s good value here and can play in 34 or 43 fronts.

3 32 94 New York Giants-Tyrone Crawford, DE, Boise State

previous picks: Stephen Hill WR; Kelechi Osmele OL;

I had a difficult time with this pick. Kiwanuka and Umeinyora are free agents after the season and the Giants like to stockpile defensive ends so they could look to draft one early. I think they strongly consider a DE in round one depending on who’s available. Crawford has good size, athleticism and long arms, which are traits the Giants covet at defensive end.

3 33 95 Oakland (Compensatory Selection)-Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

With a new General Manger it’s tough to predict what kind of direction the Raiders might go in the draft, but if they are anything like the Green Bay Packers they will go with best player available, which on my board is Ryan Broyles. Broyles is not the type of WR that Al Davis would covet, but could be one that the Raiders could now be very interested in–a reliable option with terrific hands.

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