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By Brandon Berg
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1. Indianapolis Colts – QB Andrew Luck
The Colts have informed everyone that Luck is going to be their first pick in the draft.
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2. Washington Redskins – QB Robert Griffin III
The Redskins didn’t trade up to draft anyone else.
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3. Minnesota Vikings – T Matt Kalil
The Vikings seem pretty poised to draft Khalil to anchor a line that needs to start protecting Christian Ponder if they want him to develop a pocket presence. That said, they also have a lot of other problem areas and could take corner Morris Claiborne.
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4. Cleveland Browns – RB Trent Richardson
The Browns need to start generating some offense and with Richardson flying up draft boards over the past couple months; he probably will be taken here. The only other player I could see them taking is Claiborne, but their top priority is improving a stagnant offense.
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5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CB Morris Claiborne
We have talked about Claiborne possibly going at three or four, but he falls no later than fifth. If Richardson falls to them, they will take him, but if not, corner is the position of biggest need for the Bucs and one of the best players available is Claiborne.
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6. St. Louis Rams – WR Justin Blackmon
It’s a shame the Rams don’t have a playmaking wide receiver yet for young Sam Bradford. All bets are on them taking Blackmon. Then again, I thought they were going to stop at nothing to grab Julio Jones last year and we all know how that turned out.
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7. Jacksonville Jaguars – DE Melvin Ingram
This is where the draft starts to get tricky. The Jaguars need a pure pass rusher and Ingram appears to be the best in the draft. However, they need another receiver for Gabbert and Michael Floyd could be that guy. They also could shore up the line and go with a guy like Riley Reiff. Actually, they are trying to trade back in the draft, but are having trouble finding any takers.
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8. Miami Dolphins – QB Ryan Tannehill
I’m quite positive on this pick. Tannehill’s former coordinator Mike Sherman is on the staff and should fit into the Dolphins system. Even though Tannehill isn’t a first round talent, let alone top ten talent, I imaging the Dolphins will nab him for the aforementioned reasons and the fact that they need a QB after whiffing on Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn and even Alex Smith. If they pass, they could take Michael Floyd, in need of a new number one wideout.
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9. Carolina Panthers – DT Fletcher Cox
It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Panthers try to keep the offense improving by spending their first pick on Michael Floyd, but their offense is going to get better regardless. The defense last year was awful and Cox could be a big time stopper in the middle. They also could go with Dontari Poe or Stephon Gilmore.
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10. Buffalo Bills – CB Stephon Gilmore
The Bills have said that they need to improve the corner position and likely will take Gilmore. I would’ve said Reiff here, but after reading this a little while ago, I’ve changed my position. If Gilmore is off the board, I could see them going with safety Mark Barron.
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11. Kansas City Chiefs – OG David DeCastro
I would be shocked if Luke Kuechly went in this spot like so many mocks are predicting to happen. I think they will take the guard at the eleven spot since they have absolutely no need for a middle linebacker. They could go with Dontari Poe, but the Chiefs have a tendency to nab immediate impact players over prospects such as Poe.
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12. Seattle Seahawks – ILB Luke Kuechly
This pick is simply going to come down to Kuechly and DE Quinton Coples if they are both available. In my mock, they both are available, so I see them going with a safer Kuechly rather than a guy with
character and motor concerns in Coples.
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13. Arizona Cardinals – OT Riley Rieff
My fellow South Dakota native falls no further. The Cardinals allowed the inexperienced Kevin Kolb to be sacked second most in the league and their running game didn’t impress. Rieff improves both of those aspects of the game. They could also go with Jonathan Martin, Mike Adams or DeCastro. Another guy to keep an eye on is Michael Floyd, as Larry Fitzgerald has been lobbying for the team to take the talented wideout.
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14. Dallas Cowboys – S Mark Barron
Barron seems to be the consensus pick for the Cowboys among mock drafts and with them in dire need of an identity in the secondary, Barron fits the bill. There is a possibility that the Cowboys go with Poe, whom they are in love with, or ‘Dre Kirkpatrick or Stephon Gilmore as they both tremendously improve the secondary as well.
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15. Philadelphia Eagles – DE Quinton Coples
I could see the Eagles trading up to get Fletcher Cox, but if that falls through, they probably will take Coples. Andy Reid loves defensive lineman to stick in his rotation and Coples will likely be that guy, though they could go with Poe or Chandler Jones if available.
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16. New York Jets – DE Chandler Jones
Pass rushers are at a premium these days and Jones joins the party. The Jets days of brick wall defense are over, but they could take a step in the right direction taking Jones. They also could take Michael Floyd with a Burress return uncertain and Santonio Holmes, you know, has Holmes problems.
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17. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Courtney Upshaw
Marvin Lewis loves Upshaw and Zimmer will be thanking him. Zimmer has been mixing and matching spare parts to create a somewhat effective outside rush, but he wants a pure DE. With Upshaw, he gets an NFL ready starter. They could also go after Kirkpatrick, but more on that in a second.
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18. San Diego Chargers – WR Michael Floyd
After talking about teams possible taking Floyd about ten picks ago, I feel he finally goes here. Vincent Jackson is gone and Robert Meachem isn’t quite that good. Floyd gives them the playmaker they need. If Upshaw is available, though, I see them probably taking him.
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19. Chicago Bears – DT Michael Brockers
The Bears love Brockers, that has become clear. But they could nab Floyd if still available or even Kendall Wright, a receiver to go opposite of Brandon Marshall.
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20. Tennessee Titans – DT Dontari Poe
Poe might not fall this far, but this will be the farthest he falls. His stock has dropped due to poor game film, but teams aren’t ignoring his tremendous upside. If he doesn’t fall this far, the Titans could go with a guy like Kirkpatrick or Whitney Mercilus.
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21. Cincinnati Bengals – CB Dre Kirkpatrick
It would be painful to see the Bengals draft Janoris Jenkins. They are going to make sure they get Kirkpatrick, even though he has legal issues of his own. They could go offensive line with one of their picks too, but they surely will get a corner with one of their picks.
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22. Cleveland Browns – WR Kendall Wright
The Browns likely will keep loading on the offensive weapons, with Wright next in line. McCoy needs a number one receiver to throw to. However, they could also shore up the offensive line by going with Mike Adams or Cordy Glenn.
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23. Detroit Lions – T Mike Adams
The Lions need to keep the fragile Stafford upright. Adams is probably the best pass blocker available, so he fits the bill. They also have a tendency to take the best player available, so they could also go with Janoris Jenkins.
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24. Pittsburgh Steelers – T/G Cordy Glenn
Many people are telling me they are going to go with Dont’a Hightower, since the Steelers go for the best player available, but Glenn could be that guy too. He is versatile and could play the guard spot,
which they’ll most likely need him to.
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25. Denver Broncos – DT Jerel Worthy
The Broncos need some serious help at defensive tackle, so going with Worthy seems logical. However, they do need more weapons for the passing attack, so if Wright is still available, they could go that direction as well as Peter Konz.
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26. Houston Texans – ILB Dont’a Hightower
Although I would love to see them take a wideout like Rueben Randle or Stephen Hill to run alongside Andre Johnson, it doesn’t look like that is going to happen. They are more likely to take a pass rushing linebacker or even an offensive tackle such as Whitney Mercilus or any available OT.
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27. New England Patriots – DE Shea McClellin
I’m going to be honest with you. After the past couple year, I have no clue what the Patriots are going to do, but they seem to like defensive ends and it’s a need, so I’ll say McClellin here, but don’t be surprised with whichever way it goes.
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28. Green Bay Packers – S Harrison Smith
Smith is a smart and productive player. The Packer’s secondary got ripped to shreds last year. They clearly need help. However, if McClellin falls this low, he could go here as the Packers love him.
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29. Baltimore Ravens – WR Stephen Hill
I’m not sure which direction the Ravens will go. They could really use Peter Konz, but reports are that they aren’t in love with him. Hill is very talented and could compliment Boldin and Smith, so this is my best guess. Don’t be surprised if they take Konz, though.
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30. San Francisco 49ers – WR Rueben Randle
I’m going out on a limb here, but they need playmakers in the passing game. They could also go after Kendall Wright or Coby Fleener, even with Vernon Davis the man in San Fran.
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31. New England Patriots – DT Devon Still
The Pats are reportedly trading this pick, but if that doesn’t happen, they could take Still, with the Pats still needing a lot of work on the front seven.
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32. New York Giants – T Jonathan Martin
Martin was once a top ten talent. He is the most likely candidate to fall in the draft, but if the Giants can nab him at 32, he is a steal.
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2012 NFL Mock Draft Database
