Mock Draft 3.0

With free agency two weeks old and almost all the major signings made, there will likely only be intermittent changes from here on out. But let’s see what the second week of free agency did to the draft outlook.

1.       Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck – QB – Stanford

Nothing will be changing this signing unless the Colts actually sign a different player before the draft.

Previous Pick: Andrew Luck

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

Basically the same as above. The Redskins will only change this pick if the Colts take RGIII.

Previous Pick: Robert Griffin III

3.       Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil – OT – USC

There have been some rumblings that the Vikings may go elsewhere with this pick, but until it happens, I’m not changing this pick. The Vikings need to get someone to protect Christian Ponder’s blindside and Kalil is the best offensive tackle in the draft.

Previous Pick: Matt Kalil  

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

The Browns still need an explosive playmaker and Blackmon fits the bill for that. Making it even better, he’s the kind of receiver who can catch, break a tackle and take it the distance. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them trade down, but I doubt that’ll happen before the draft.

Previous Pick: Justin Blackmon

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

Re-signing Ronde Barber only makes this pick more likely.

Previous Pick: Trent Richardson

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

I think there’s a reason the Rams haven’t addressed getting another cornerback in free agency and this seems like the most likely reason.

Previous Pick: Morris Claiborne   

7.       Jacksonville Jaguars – Melvin Ingram – DE – South Carolina

The Jaguars still need pass rushing help. Short of Ingram getting hurt, this pick isn’t changing.

Previous Pick: Melvin Ingram

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

The Dolphins’ owner Stephen Ross wants to make a splash, so grabbing Tannehill is something that he would likely do.

Previous Pick: Ryan Tannehill

9.       Carolina Panthers – Quinton Coples – DE – North Carolina 

The Panthers could easily go with Poe here, since they may want to build in the center of their defense, but I think Ron Rivera sticks to getting another pass rusher.

Previous Pick: Quinton Coples  

10.   Buffalo Bills – Riley Reiff – OT – Iowa  

The Bills have addressed their pass rush, so I think this draft will focus on building that offense. Having the second best offensive left tackle in the draft would be a great start.

Previous Pick: Riley Reiff

11.   Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Kuechly – LB – Boston College  

The Chiefs are trying to get Kelly Gregg to return for another season, which suggests to me they’re not high enough on Poe to take him as I thought previously. Kuechly would be an upgrade over Jevon Blecher next to Derrick Johnson.

Previous Pick: Dontari Poe  

12.   Seattle Seahawks – Janoris Jenkins – CB – North Alabama

I’m not backing off this pick. I still think that the Seahawks will want to get the best ball hawk in the draft work on the outside.

Previous Pick: Janoris Jenkins

13.   Arizona Cardinals – Jonathan Martin – OT – Stanford   

The Cardinals like to go with best player available, but they desperately need a left tackle. Martin is a solid, if unexciting prospect who can easily plug that hole on the offensive line.

Previous Pick: Jonathan Martin

14.   Dallas Cowboys – Dontari Poe – DT – Memphis

While they have a great nose tackle in Jay Ratliff, the Cowboys need more help along the defense line. Poe could easily slide into the nose tackle spot and allow Ratliff to play from an end position.

Previous Pick: David DeCastro

15.   Philadelphia Eagles – Fletcher Cox – DT – Mississippi State

The Eagles still need a big body in the middle of their defense and Cox is a stout, athletic defensive tackle who would play well on the interior.

Previous Pick: Michael Brockers

16.   New York Jets – David DeCastro – OG – Stanford  

While Brandon Moore has been one of the great underrated Jets players, he is up there in age and a prospect as well respected as DeCastro doesn’t come along very often. He’d slide into Moore’s place easily when Moore decides to retire.

Previous Pick: Luke Kuechly

17.   Cincinnati Bengals – Cordy Glenn – OT/OG – Georgia

With DeCastro going a pick earlier, I see no reason to change this pick.

Previous Pick: Cordy Glenn

18.   San Diego Chargers – Courtney Upshaw – DE/OLB – Alabama  

The Jarrett Johnson deal doesn’t change my opinion. Upshaw is a much better pass rusher and could fit in a nickel package until Shaun Phillips retires.

Previous Pick: Courtney Upshaw

19.   Chicago Bears – Mark Barron – S – Alabama

Just keep in mind how bad the safety position was for the Bears this year. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say they’ll address that position first and foremost.

Previous Pick: Mark Barron  

20.   Tennessee Titans – Peter Konz – OC – Wisconsin

The signing of Kamerion Wimbley makes this even more likely.

Previous Pick: Peter Konz

21.   Cincinnati Bengals – Michael Floyd – WR – Notre Dame  

After losing Andre Caldwell to the Broncos and potentially losing Jerome Simpson to a suspension, the Bengals may want to get another big body to play opposite A.J. Green. Floyd fits the bill. The re-signing of Adam Jones and the signing of Jason Allen also makes it likely that the Bengals won’t be desperate for another cornerback.

Previous Pick: Dre Kirkpatrick

22.   Cleveland Browns – Mike Adams – OT – Ohio State

I’m becoming more and more convinced that they’re going to trade this pick, just because of the uncertainity of who will be available here. For now, I’ll stick to my previous pick, with Adams being slated to be the right tackle.

Previous Pick: Mike Adams

23.   Detroit Lions – Dre Kirkpatrick – CB – Alabama

With the third best corner in the draft slipping, the Lions snap at the opportunity to improve their secondary.

Previous Pick: Stephen Gilmore

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

I see no reason to change this pick.

Previous Pick: Dont’a Hightower

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

The Broncos have acquired plenty weapons for Peyton Manning through free agency, so it’s most likely that they’ll address their ageing defense in the draft.

Previous Pick: Jerel Worthy  

26.   Houston Texans – Nick Perry – DE/OLB – USC

I think the Texans know enough not to try and reach for a receiver who may or may not help their passing offense.

Previous Pick: Nick Perry  

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

With Cox off the board, I think the Pats finally address their need on the outside with an earlier pick.

Previous Pick: Fletcher Cox  

28.   Green Bay Packers – Andre Branch – DE/OLB – Clemson

I like Branch for this pick, and I think that other teams with similar needs may go in other directions.

Previous Pick: Andre Branch  

29.   Baltimore Ravens – Lavonte David – LB – Nebraska

With Michael Floyd off the board, the Ravens go back to getting an heir apparent to Ray Lewis.

Previous Pick: Michael Floyd   

30.   San Francisco 49ers – Kendall Wright – WR – Baylor

No real reason to change this pick.

Previous Pick: Kendall Wright   

31.   New England Patriots – Michael Brockers – DT/DE – LSU

Since the Pats took Mercilus at an earlier pick, they’ll use this pick to get another big body on their defensive line. Brockers has slipped a long way down, so he’d be a great value here.

Previous Pick: Whitney Mercilus

32.   New York Giants – Devon Still – DT – Penn State

The Giants love their lines and Still would be far less costly than Chris Canty.

Previous Pick: Devon Still