Thursday, April 26, 2012

Mock Draft, 5.0



 1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck – QB – Stanford 

This is a done deal, Ryan Grigson said so. 

Previous Pick: Andrew Luck 

2. Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III – QB  - Baylor

If reports are to be believed, the Redskins are already teaching him the playbook. I think that, whether true or not, should say enough about this pick. Granted, it’s been a while since any actually questioned whether or not he would be the pick. 

Previous Pick: Robert Griffin III 


3. Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil – OT – USC 

The Vikings need someone to protect Christian Ponder going forward and Kalil could be the best left tackle in Minnesota since Ron Yary. 

Previous Pick: Matt Kalil  

4. Cleveland Browns – Justin Blackmon – WR – Oklahoma State 

The belief that the Browns are going to take running back Trent Richardson is growing, but I’m still of the elief that they’re going to address the biggest issue on their team by getting the best receiver in the draft and addressing the running back position later on. 

Previous Pick: Justin Blackmon 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Trent Richardson – RB – Alabama  

With Richardson slipping to them, the Buccaneers need to decide between him and the best defensive player in the draft. While they had problems defensively, Richardson would take a lot of pressure off of Josh Freeman and let him develop more freely. 

Previous Pick: Trent Richardson

6. St. Louis Rams – Morris Claiborne – CB – LSU  

Claiborne could pair with Cortland Finnegan to make one of the better cornerback tandems in the NFL. 

Previous Pick: Morris Claiborne   

7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Michael Floyd – WR – Notre Dame 

The first major change in my mock drafts in a while, and I think this move makes a ton of sense. The additions of Lee Evans and Laurent Robinson will help the Jaguars receiving corp. somewhat, but Floyd could give Blaine Gabbert a go to guy for the next ten years. With no definitive top defensive end, I think the Jags go for the next big thing at receiver. 

Previous Pick: Melvin Ingram 

8. Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill – QB – Texas A&M  

I heard something interesting in one of the many draft related podcasts. I heard that if another team wants to trade up above them to get Tannehill, the Dolphins won’t give up the farm to get him. I just find that interesting, and frankly smart. The Dolphins do need more than a quarterback, but they should covet Tannehill if he slips to them as I have him doing. Keep an eye on Michael Floyd going here if he slips past the Jaguars and Tannehill is gone. 

Previous Pick: Ryan Tannehill 

9. Carolina Panthers – Fletcher Cox – DT – Mississippi State  

While I’ve had Coples at this pick for a while, his stock has been slipping recently and Cox’s stock has been rising. Cox can play on the outside as well as the inside, but his value would be highest on the inside in the Panthers 4-3. 

Previous Pick: Quinton Coples  

10. Buffalo Bills – Riley Reiff – OT – Iowa  

Regardless of who else is here, I think if the second best tackle in the draft is here, they go with him. Protecting Ryan Fitzpatrick and opening holes for Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller should be the Bills top priority in this draft. 

Previous Pick: Riley Reiff  

11. Kansas City Chiefs – Dontari Poe – DT – Memphis  

I think last year showed that the Chiefs aren’t afraid to roll the dice on a boom or bust prospect. Poe’s got the tools to be a dominating force in the idle of the Chiefs defense with a little maturing and some technical refinements. 

Previous Pick: Dontari Poe 

12. Seattle Seahawks – Quinton Couples – DE – North Carolina 

With Coples slipping, The Seahawks may jump at the chance to get a young pass rusher to replace Chris Clemons in the near future. Coples has his issues (not unlike former Seattle first rounder Lawerence Jackson) but I think the temptation will be too great for the Seahawks to pass up. 

Previous Pick: Luke Kuechly  

13. Arizona Cardinals – Melvin Ingram– DE/OLB – South Carolina   

Martin’s stock has been plummeting recently, for no real reason other than just over analysis. But with that and the slide of Melvin Ingram, the Cardinals grab themselves another pass rusher to help the defense take another step. 

Previous Pick: Jonathan Martin 

14. Dallas Cowboys – Mark Barron – S – Alabama

The Cowboys really haven’t had an impact player at the safety position since they let Roy Williams go. Barron would give them a quality playmaker at the safety position. 

Previous Pick: Michael Brockers  

15. Philadelphia Eagles – Michael Brockers – DT – LSU

The Eagles helped the interior of their defense immensely with the pickup of Demeco Ryans. This pick would continue building their run defense and help keep Ryans free of blockers to roam from sideline to sideline. 

Previous Pick: Fletcher Cox 

16. New York Jets – Courtney Upshaw – DE/OLB – Alabama  

The Jets need an impactful pass rusher, something that Upshaw showed he could be at Alabama. He’s experienced in the 3-4 defense and should transition easily. 

Previous Pick: Courtney Upshaw 

17. Cincinnati Bengals – Luke Kuechly – LB – Boston College  

While the Bengals are comfortable with their linebackers, I think they’ll jump at the chance to get the best linebacker in the draft. The addition of Kuechly would allow the Bengals to move Rey Malualuga back to the strongside and should help improve the overall run defense. 

Previous Pick: David DeCastro 

18. San Diego Chargers – Chandler Jones – DE/OLB – Syracuse  

The Chargers main defensive problems in recent years have been based around their inability to rush the passer consistently. While Shaun Phillips is a solid pass rusher in his own right, but he needs help. Jones can provide that help. 

Previous Pick: Cordy Glenn

19. Chicago Bears – David DeCastro – OG – Stanford 

With Mark Barron gone, the Bears address the offensive line problems they’ve been having for the last couple of years. They address this issue with the second best offensive linemen in the draft. DeCastro should help open huge holes for Matt Forte and help protect Jay Cutler. 

Previous Pick: Mark Barron  

20. Tennessee Titans – Stephen Gilmore – CB – South Carolina 

While I still think Peter Knoz would be the better pick here, the value of Stephen Gilmore has been skyrocketing and the Titans need a starting corner to replace Cortland Finnegan. 

Previous Pick: Peter Konz 

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Dre Kirkpatrick – CB – Alabama 

The Bengals still need to add a long-term starter next to Leon Hall, which Dre Kirkpatrick could be. You could easily see them go in a number of other directions, but I think they’ll covet adding to their defense in the first round. 

Previous Pick: Janoris Jenkins

22. Cleveland Browns – Doug Martin – RB – Boise State 

I must thank the Cleveland Plain-Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot for this one.  Martin is possibley the best balanced back in the second tier of running backs and the Browns could use a solid runner in the backfield. With the selection of the best playmaker in the Draft at the 4th, they fill their running back need here. 

Previous Pick: Mike Adams

23. Detroit Lions – Janoris Jenkins – CB – North Alabama  

I know that Jenkins value has been slipping because of his off the field problems, but he is the best ballhawk in the draft and with the problems the Lions secondary had last year, they really could use the help. 

Previous Pick: Dre Kirkpatrick  

24. Pittsburgh Steelers – Dont’a Hightower – LB – Alabama 

I still like this pick and I think Hightower can fit in very well next to Lawrence Timmons and be a solid replacement for the released James Farrior. They could go with Dontari Poe here if he slips, but I’m not of the opinion he will so, Hightower is the pick. 

Previous Pick: Dont’a Hightower 

25. Denver Broncos – Jerel Worthy – DT – Michigan State 

The Broncos need help along the interior of their defensive line and Worthy remains a solid player. He’s been slipping in some peoples mind because of the potential that another player may slide and because he hasn’t wowed in workouts, but I think he’s still a solid value at this point. 

Previous Pick: Jerel Worthy  

26. Houston Texans – Kendall Wright – WR – Baylor 

The Texans would be thrilled to have a playmaker like Wright slip to them at this spot. He’d be a good complement to Andre Johnson. 

Previous Pick: Michael Floyd  

27. New England Patriots – Whitney Mercilus – DE/OLB – Illinois

Mercilus has good pass rushing potential, which the Patriots are in desperate need of. The Pats are very likely to simply trade this or their next pick away in exchange for more draft picks, but I think they’ll finally address the edge rush they’ve needed to address for a while. 

Previous Pick: Whitney Mercilus   

28. Green Bay Packers – Jonathan Martin – OT – Stanford  

With Chad Clifton’s release, the Packers may need to spend a third straight first round pick on the offensive line. With Bryan Bulaga entrenched at right tackle while last year’s top pick Derrek Sherrod, may be moved inside. Martin would give the Packers some options in allowing Sherrod to move inside if need be or moving Bulaga to left and having Martin play right. Also look at them taking Peter Konz with this pick. 

Previous Pick: Andre Branch  

29. Baltimore Ravens – Peter Konz – OC – Wisconsin 

I’ve never argued that the Ravens would pass on Konz if he was available, I just never had him available. Now he slips down to them and they’ll be happy to snatch up an heir-apparent to Matt Birk. 

Previous Pick: Lavonte David    

30. San Francisco 49ers – Stephen Hill – WR – Georgia Tech  

While I’m not a big fan of Hill by any stretch of the imagination, the Niner’s can take a chance on the physical wonder and let him develop over his rookie season with Randy Moss, Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn Jr.  ahead of him. 

Previous Pick: Kendall Wright   

31. New England Patriots – Harrison Smith – S – Notre Dame

The Patriots would be reaching to take another cornerback here, but Harrison Smith’s rising up draft boards and could easily sneak into the first round. I think the Pats will see him as the perfect complement to the hard hitting Patrick Chung at the safety spots. 

Previous Pick: Stephen Gilmore 

32. New York Giants – Cordy Glenn – OT/OG – Georgia  

While Fleener is available, the Giants need some offensive line help and Glenn can play at either the guard or tackle positions which would definitely be a help. 

Previous Pick: Coby Fleener


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