2012 NFL Draft: First Round Nuggets and Reactions
By Bo Martin
The first round of the 2012 NFL draft has completed and man was it crazy! There have been trades and turns and twists like none of us thought. I don’t think that anyone could honestly say that they nailed this with their mock draft. I thought I’d give you guys a little round up with some of the nuggets I have to offer on some of the surprise picks.
– Browns made a smart move by trading to the 3rd and selecting Trent Richardson. This is a good pick that fills a very big void. Also allows the Browns to have an impact player to build around.
– Justin Blackmon to the Jags is the best fit in the first 5 picks. No offense to Luck and RGIII but Blackmon is a player that instantly makes the Jags incredible dangerous. This isn’t last years Jaguars anymore and any price is worth it.
– I’m a Cowboys fan and this next move made me a little unsure. The move the Cowboys made didn’t make much sense. Then I started thinking, with so few elite prospects and the 50% bust rate in the second round this pick is awesome. The Cowboys have turned a huge hole to one of it’s biggest strengths. With receivers that are in the NFC East this offers them a tandem that could be among the best in the NFL.
– Mark Barron went a little earlier than I thought to the Bucs but it’s a smart pick. Barron is an elite safety prospect with great athleticism and versatility. Barron will instantly update an aging secondary.
– Carolina picks Luke Kuechly with Poe and Cox on the board. This was a surprise to me but Kuechly grades out so well that in a BPA format, the Carolina panthers got a great value and possible steal. They are really building something special in Carolina
– Buffalo selects Stephon Gillmore with some great prospects still on the board. Gilmore has been climbing up boards as of late and grades out as a great prospect. I don’t know that this fills the biggest need but the player they’re getting could end up being the best corner to come out of this draft class.
– Arizona’s selection of Michael Floyd is my second best fit I think in this draft. They give Larry Fitzgerald the receiver he’s been asking for and have provided Kolb or Skelton some pretty extraordinary weapons for the future. In an improving division this is a pick that needed to be made and has made Arizona very dangerous.
– Seattle’s selection of Bruce Irvin is ridiculous in my opinion. He is a LB prospect who has a 2nd or 3rd round grade. He is only going to be on the field on passing downs and doesn’t provide them the impact that they needed here. They could have got him in the second and have now really missed out on some good prospects.
– Coples is a great potential player but I don’t like his fit in New York. The Jets have a dysfunctional locker room and Coples needs discipline. It’ll be up to the leaders of the defense to keep his head straight and this is a tough place to keep your head straight.
– Kendall Wright is a player who has been all over the place in terms of rankings. I think the Titans are lucky to have him. A speedy receiver with good hands is great to supplement an injury riddled Kenny Britt. Smart choice for the future here.
– Brandon Weeden went too early, period. The Browns could have picked a slew of players who were still available, too include David DeCastro. I’m just not sure this was the smartest selection. Weeden is a good quarterback but is 28 years old and I don’t think he warranted the 22nd overall pick.
– David DeCastro is a great pick for the Steelers. He is exactly what they like in an lineman and is going to be a blue collar player on that line for years to come. Pittsburgh somehow continues to remain the class of the NFL.
– I love what the Patriots are doing here in this draft. Instead of stockpiling mediocre picks they move up and grab board climber Chandler Jones and Don’t’a Hightower. Jones is a pass rushing lineman with exceptional talent and Hightower might be the best linebacker in the class when all is said and done because of his versatility. The Patriots are lucky for the pick.
– Minnesota moves up to grab Harrison Smith from Notre Dame. I like Harrison Smith a lot he is rangy and strong. His worth ethic is amazing and Minnesota seems to like these blue-collar guys who work hard and have great ability. Should prove to be a great pick to stabilize the back end of Minnesota’s defense for a long time.
– A.J. Jenkins was selected by San Francisco with Stephen Hill and Alshon Jeffrey on the board. I know its just rankings but I think that his speed may be overrated. In terms of selections I don’t think that this one was worth the value that was available. Probably could have gotten a comparable receiver in the second. I’m no GM though but I don’t see what they’re seeing with this pick.
– Doug Martin to Tampa Bay is a tremendous pick. Martin is a running back I highlighted back during the Senior Bowl and I said he would really end up being a great prospect. A lot of people compared him to Ray Rice but I love the way he keeps his legs moving and his vision. I loathe LeGarrette Blount and Doug Martin is a sure upgrade. Love the pick.
– Giants draft David Wilson over Cordy Glenn, Coby Fleener, and Stephen Hill on the board. Not too bad of a pick though, David Wilson is a good feature back. He won’t replace Bradshaw but he’ll help plug the RB hole Jacobs left. I think that this will work out but there was better value for sure. The Giants are impressive on offense and it’s getting better it seems.
Overall an exciting first round that has set up for a great 2nd and third round. Talent is falling and people will get steals. Getting excited about what’s ahead!