2012 NFL Mock Draft Final
This is my FINAL Mock draft to be submitted to Huddle Report. After looking over Sayre, Bryan, Mackenzie, and Dan’s mock drafts and how sensible they all were I knew I had to do something a bit crazy.
I’m not predicting any trades officially, but there are a few teams I think are desperately trying to trade down (and will) I’ve picked players for them that could be targets when they move down. The Bills, Seahawks are two that come to mind. And then there are some teams (Eagles, Bears) that I think could be moving up, so I mocked them players that would generally fall out of their range.
I generally have a rule. After the top 10 picks if a pick is a consensus pick, I’m not making it because its rarely right. The one exception is Barron to the Cowboys. Now Barron might not be available when the Cowboys pick (Buffalo could pick him for one), but I can’t imagine them passing on him if he is available.
1. Indianapolis Colts– Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford Cardinal
The easiest pick ever made in mock drafts.
2. Washington Redskins–Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
The second easiest pick ever made in mock drafts.
3. Minnesota Vikings–Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Now I’m just getting crazy. Let me make this clear: Disagree with this completely, but it might happen.
4. Cleveland Browns–Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
One scout said. “He changes your team immediately,” one scout said. “From whatever it is to a tough team. Because he’s a tough guy.”
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers–Matt Kalil, T, USC
Not the biggest need for the Buccaneers, but there are only 5 elite players in this draft.
6. St. Louis Rams–Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Fletcher Cox has become a really popular pick so I’m going back to the Blackmon pick.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars–Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State
The Jaguars are trying to trade down, but if they can’t might be forced to go with Fletcher Cox or a Cornerback.
8. Miami Dolphins-Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A and M
Tannehill changes the feel of the franchise immediately. Matt Moore is fine for one more year.
9. Carolina Panthers–Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
The Panthers added some promising interior defensive players last year, I had them choosing between Coples and Brockers because Coples is scary, and went with Brockers. The Panthers did take a last minute trip down to Carolina which makes me think they are looking at Coples. I’ll be kicking myself tomorrow when they select Coples.
10. Buffalo Bills–Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
This has become a very popular pick. I Originally had Cordy Glenn here with the Bills moving down, but Gilmore is better value. Watch out also for Jon Martin.
11. Kansas City Chiefs–David Decasrto, G, Stanford Cardinal
Debated here between DeCastro and Kuechly went with DeCastro.
12. Seattle Seahawks-Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama
Hightower seems to fit what the ‘Hawks are looking for at linebacker. He is just as versatile, if not more versatile than Upshaw is and is longer, and faster. He Can play 43 MLB or 43 OLB or 43 DE for them. People think that Hightower’s best position might actually be a 34 OLB. Already like a coach on the field, physical. This is contingent on Seahawks moving down some. Melvin Ingram and/Upshaw and/or Kuechly all make sense.
13. Arizona Cardinals–Michael Floyd, WR, Norte Dame
The Cardinals need an offensive linemen but the league is not in love with Reiff or Martin. The league does love Floyd. Floyd could go to Buffalo at 10, and no one would be surprised.Then Cardinals might be forced to take Reiff.
14. Dallas Cowboys- Mark Barron, S, Alabama
The only really popular pick I’m making. Barron to the Cowboys makes a lot whole lot of sense. Like I mentioned with the Bills, Barron could be drafted earlier though. I don’t think he’d make it past the Eagles, or the Cowboys, and it’s possible the Chargers trade up to 10 to get Barron.
15. Philadelphia Eagles-Melvin Ingram, DL, South Carolina
The Eagles could trade up with the Bills and get Ingram. Ingram can play DE or DT in their system. Fletcher Cox makes so much sense it’s assumed if they move up it’s for Cox, but when was the last time the Eagles were so easy to figure out? Ingram fits their mold as well. I don’t see them taking Luke Kuechly, but perhaps they do.
16. New York Jets–Riley Reiff, T, Iowa
The Jets are sending out so much information they want a pass rusher is that a smoke screen…I think they are going OL because their OL is even worse than their pass rushing. Reiff improves RT or G. Dontari Poe is also very possible here, as is Courtney Upshaw. Upshaw is hard to get a read on.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland)-Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama
Upshaw fits what the Bengals are looking for in their OLB. And he’s a mean SOB on the field.
18. San Diego Chargers–Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB Illinois
Mercilus is the hot 34 OLB pass rusher right now. This pick makes sense, which means A.J. Smith won’t make it. Also look at OL.The other definite possible option is the Chargers making a move up for Mark Barron.
19. Chicago Bears–Quinton Coples, DE, UNC
The Bears seem desperate for a pass rusher and it wouldn’t surprise me if Coples gets down to the 10 range they make a move up (perhaps with the Seahawks, Chiefs, or Bills) to get him, but if not maybe they just take someone else here at 19. Cordy Glenn, Kuechly if available. Who knows.
20. Tennessee Titans- Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
Debated here between Kirkpatrick, and Jones. Went with Jones. Kirkpatrick could go to Bengals at 17. Jones Will remind the Titans of the “Freak”. Really hot name now.
21. Cincinnati Bengals-Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Bengals come away with two terrific Crimson Tide defenders.
22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta)-Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
Kendall Wright seems like an ideal slot WR to me at the N.F.L. Level (and to many others). Rueben Randle has much more upside.
23. Detroit Lions-Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
Best player available. I keep wanting to push Kuechly up, but I keep having him slip in the draft. Oh well, Lions aren’t complaining. OL is also probable. Maybe I should mock Glenn here because Kuechly will probably be gone.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers–Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis
The closer it gets to draft the more teams are backing off of Dontari Poe. Steelers’ll make him into a player.
25. Denver Broncos–Jerel Worthy, DT, Broncos
Toss up here between Jerel Worthy and Kendall Wright, went with Wright originally switched it to Worthy.
26. Houston Texans-Jon Martin, OT, Stanford
I’m not buying the Texans take Stephen Hill or a WR, though it’s possible. I’ll have them going offensive linemen. Debated here between Martin or Bobby Massie after talking with a guy who knows a lot more about the Texans than I do.
27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans)-Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State
I’m not sure who takes McClellin, but he’s a coaches favorite which is why he’s risen up boards so much during this process.
28. Green Bay Packers-Nick Perry, OLB, USC
There is some uncertainty at the safety position for the Packers. So I thought heavily about Harrison Smith, Kendall Wright, Peter Konz, and Amini Silatou, are all possibilities. Bruce Irvin is a potential target. I also considered Doug Martin.
29. Baltimore Ravens–Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
Zeitler over Peter Konz because Konz has some medical concerns. Zeitler is a pretty safe prospect who can play center into the future.
30. San Francisco 49ers-Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia
They also seem to have a heavy interest in Amini Silatou, who I think could definitely be the pick.
31. New England Patriots– Trade Indianapolis Colts Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford Cardinal
The only trade I’m going to actually predict. This makes too much sense to give the Colts a guy who Andrew Luck will be comfortable with at a low cost. They are only moving up four spots here, but in front of the Giants who would surprise no one buy drafting Fleener. Patriots have no picks after the 4th round and they pick up a 6th or 7th here–whatever compensation they work out.
32. New York Giants-Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
With the wealth of talent at the defensive line position and the uncertainty of the future of a few Giants defensive linemen (Osi and Kiwianuka free agents after this year-Marvin Austin not playing in more than two years). The Giants seem poised to go DL early if one is available, but at this point one is not. I’ll take the big boom product here.
This turned out to be a little more crazy of a mock than I’d ideally like, but Sayre, Dan, and Mackenzie all have really sensible mocks so I have to counter-act that with some inventiveness.
amini Silatou, Kevin Zeitler, Kendall Wright, Doug Martin are the other four major players I considered having in the first round.
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