2012 NFL Mock draft: Free Agency Right Around the Corner (2 rounds)
This will be my last mock draft before Free Agency and I can’t wait. After free agency is when we’ll finally get a feel for what the rosters of teams might look heading into the draft which will more readily highlight the needs of each team. This mock is a continuation of a mock I did last week where I included many rumors circling around the combine. I have made a few different selections in this mock too though the bulk of the mock stays the same.
This draft seemed to be heavy on DL and subsequently CB did not come flying off the board, but DL seem to have more positional value than cornerbacks now so it’s not out of the realm of possibility only two CB go in the first round.
Scouting reports for all of these players on our scouting report page
1. Indianapolis Colts-Andrew Luck, QB, Colts
An undisclosed source as told me the Colts WILL Draft Andrew Luck. Whew I’m in the big leagues know with sources…(the source is my wife! I believe her though)
2. Trade**** Cleveland Browns- Robert Griffin III
The Browns trade their two first round picks and next year’s second to the St. Louis Rams to draft Robert Griffin III
I’ve been on the Redskins trading up for Robert Griffin III For a long, long time now but the more you hear the more interested the Cleveland Browns are in Robert Griffing. And quite simply if they want Robert Griffin III they’ll get him. They have more to offer and are the only potential trading partner who can guarantee the Rams that they end up with Matt Kalil, Justin Blackmon, or Morris Claiborne. They also play in a different conference. It’s risky, but a smart move. With this trade they still basically have a draft as well. They keep next year’s first rounder, and they get to continue with a regular draft this year.
#3 Minnesota Vikings-Matt Kalil, T, USC
This pick as close to a 100 percent as a pick it could ever be. The Rams will trade the #2 overall pick and probably prior to the draft, and the Vikings will then draft Matt Kalil unless they have discovered something wrong with him medically.
#4 St. Louis Rams-Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
****Trade with Cleveland Browns****
Maybe not the most popular pick here, but it’s not like the Rams have terrific players on defense and the WR value is just not available here. Blackmon was an inch shorter than his listed college weight at the combine and he didn’t run to ease any concerns about his speed. Blackmon is a good player who is going to be like an Anquan Boldin type. He’s not T.O. and he’s not worth a top five pick, or a top 10 pick on MOST classes, but I’ll continue to say this class is not average worse in the top 15 especially after the two quarterbacks and Kalil.
#5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
The Buccaneers hate that the Rams have taken Morris Claiborne, but the offense value just isn’t there for the #4 pick. It’s not really there here at #5 either. No one wants to draft a running back in the top five, but there are questions abound about the offensive linemen, about Blackmon, about the Defensive linemen.
#6 Washington Redskins-Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
I think the Redskins will eventually address the QB position in free agency and if not they will just be left behind with the Browns having more to offer the Rams, that puts the Redskins in an unenviable position. Every team wants to trade down when they can, the hard part is finding the people who want to move up. They could use another receiving option.
#7 Jacksonville Jaguars-Quinton Coples, DE, UNC
Coples flashed the kind of athletic brilliance that doesn’t always show up on tape. I don’t hate Coples as a prospect and think his ceiling is Justin Smith because he has that kind of power and versatility, but I also don’t love him as a prospect either. He can be as good as he wants to be though and just because the Jaguars have struck out on DE before early doesn’t mean they can stop trying.
#8 Miami Dolphins-Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolna
This is just from following Omar Kelly, who cover the Dolphins professionally. He has tweeted a lot about Ingram and the possible interest he could or should see from the Dolphins. They do need a pass rusher and I think they are not in love with Tannehill.
#9 Carolina Panthers-Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi
Brockers didn’t test as well as people had hoped coupled with how raw an inexperience he is I think he could his draft stock dip a bit. Fletcher Cox on the other hand did test very well and was very productive with Mississippi in the S.E.C. I think its’ likely the Panthers go DT here, they still could really consider Brockers, a player they have met with a lot.
#10 Buffalo Bills-Whitney Merciuls, DE, Illinois
This pick seems like a big mistake to me which is why the Bills could easily make it. This is one of the “combine rumors that don’t mean much” I started the mock draft off with. I think based on this board they could also easily take Jon Martin the very athletic OT out of Stanford, especially if they lose Demetrius Bell. I’ll assume they bring Bell back for now though. The Bills are reportedly very interested in Whitney Mercilus. Mercilus also looked more athletic than I thought he played. I think he is a 43 DE only though which is good here. Don’t rule out Nick Perry either who was impressive.
#11 Kansas City Chiefs-Dontari Poe, DL, Memphis
Poe flashed brilliance at the combine and immediately people started talking to him about him as a top 15 pick. NFL teams would know more than I. Poe is one of the players I have not watched enough live, but was certainly aware of a lot of raw physical upside.
#12 Seattle Seahawks-Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A & M
Here’s another combine rumor and one that makes a lot of sense actually. The Seahaws according to Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback are interested in Tannehill and Brock Osweiler which fits the mold of every-thing they’ve done at the QB position since the arrival of Pete Carroll. Tannehill seems likely to go top 16 in this draft.
#13 Arizona Cardinals-Jon Martin, T, Stanford Cardinal
The Cardinals will go Pass rusher or pass protector here, it just depends which. There are questions about Martin’s ability to play a consistent LT, but not about his skill set in order to do so if that makes sense. He’s very athletic and has terrific upside as a pass blocker.
#14 Dallas Cowboys-Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
DeCastro only plays guard which could push him down the board. Konz on the other hand is a center which holds more value. You say, but Jesse where is the cornerback? Well one of the combine rumors is that the Cowboys will be signing Brandon Carr the Kansas City Chiefs cornerback as soon as free agency opens and that they are looking at OL. Tyron Smith is moving to LT also in case you missed that. Center though remains a problem. Konz, to me, is better than Mike Pouncy last year.
#15 Philadelphia Eagles-Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
Maybe Eagles fans wants Kuechly, but I’m still not buying it. The Eagles draft Linemen. That’s what they do. Like the Patriots trade first round pick, Eagles draft linemen. It’s a core organizational philosophy.
#16 New York Jets-Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
The Jets need to rush the passer. A combine rumor out there is that the Jets will move forward with Vladimir Ducasse at RT, which is a big mistake to me, but if that’s what they want to do? Another likely pick here to me is Michael Floyd.
More continued on second page