LestersLegends.com

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The first round of the 2012 NFL Draft was a two part story. The first two picks were an absolute certainty. After that is was a flurry of moves that kept your head spinning.
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The Quarterbacks
Andrew Luck and RG3 were the locks. There was a little steam that RG3 could be the number one pick, but that never amounted to anything. I think they will both have great NFL careers, but they could have a bumpy first year.
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The Colts are a bad football team, and that was before the exodus of talent. Luck will have Reggie Wayne to throw to, but after that it’s up in the air. The Redskins added former Colt Pierre Garcon, but he really is better suited to be a number two. If I had to choose between the two, I would consider RG3 the better fantasy option in their first year.
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The Dolphins selected Ryan Tannehill. I don’t expect much from him early on. He’s more of a project than you would think for the eighth pick in the draft. Cleveland’s Brandon Weeden is the opposite. He is an “old” rookie that should be NFL ready. His problem is a lack of weapons in the passing game. I wouldn’t concern myself with either option in re-draft leagues.
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The Running Backs
Trent Richardson has the makings of a great running back. He is probably the most explosive back to enter the league since Adrian Peterson. With a rookie quarterback, they will lean on him heavily. I expect big things from Richardson, perhaps even creeping into top ten fantasy running back value in his rookie year.
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The first round concluded with a pair of running backs. The Bucs, who were hot on Richardson, “settled” for Doug Martin. Meanwhile the Giants added David Wilson. Martin will compliment LeGarrette Blount and Wilson will compliment Ahmad Bradshaw. Martin could win the lead back battle for Blount so he’s one to keep an eye on. If not, neither are more than a handcuff.
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The Receivers
Justin Blackmon came into the draft as the top-rated wide receiver. Unfortunately having Blaine Gabbert throwing to him could stunt his growth. There weren’t many worse landing spots for Blackmon. Maybe he can beat the odds, but fantasy owners had to groan when the Jags traded up for Blackmon.
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Michael Floyd landed in a nice spot despite a questionable quarterback situation as well. He gets to learn from and play opposite of Larry Fitzgerald. For a player with some questionable behavior in the past, he could not have found a better mentor. With his size and speed, he should be a solid option.
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Kendall Wright lands in Tennessee. He also has a top receiver to play off of in Kenny Britt. Unlike the first two receivers taken, he has a little more certainty at quarterback. Whether it is Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker, he should be catching passes from a capable QB.
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Finally, A.J. Jenkins was drafted by the 49ers. They are a run-first, smashmouth defensive team. They are looking to become more balanced, and Jenkins is part of that plan. Unfortunately they added Randy Moss and Mario Manningham to go along with Michael Crabtree so he’ll likely see less snaps than his fellow first rounders.
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Also check out:

• 2012 Early Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
• 2012 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Quarterbacks
• 2012 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Running Backs
• 2012 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Wide Receivers
• 2012 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Tight Ends

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By Vijay Senthilkumar, sportsguy250
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One last mock on NFL Draft Day.
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1. Indianapolis Colts select Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
This is a pretty easy choice for the Colts. There is no way they pass up on this kind of talent.
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2. Washington Redskins select Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor
The Washington Redskins have officially won the RG3 sweepstakes. Is RG3 worth 2 future first round picks? I have no idea. Until RG3 plays 2 seasons in the NFL, there is no way we can determine the winner of the trade. The Redskins get the real deal here with Griffin. He has unbelievable arm strength and also has receiver speed. This is terrible news for me though, since I am an Eagles fan.
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3. Minnesota Vikings select Matt Kalil, LT USC
The Vikings need to use this pick to protect their previous 1st round pick, Christian Ponder. Kalil is by far the most talented lineman in the draft. He was so good, that last year’s 9th overall pick, Tyron Smith, had to move over to Right Tackle so Kalil could play left.
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4. Cleveland Browns select Trent Richardson, RB Alabama
The Browns will most likely go with either Claiborne or Richardson here. I have them choosing the latter because they need help immediately. Peyton Hillis is gone, and the Browns have no playmakers on offense. Richardson can come in and immediately put up results while also taking much of the load off Colt McCoy’s shoulders. Although this seems a little high for a Running Back, Richardson is the best prospect since Adrian Peterson at the position.
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5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Morris Claiborne, CB LSU
Claiborne is by far the best cover corner in the draft. He has great ball skills and shut down almost everyone in college. This is a good pick for the Buccaneers considering Aquib Talib is going to jail and their other corner, Ronde Barber, is probably going to retire. If Cleveland does not take Richardson, he may also be another option for the Buccaneers with this pick.
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6. St. Louis Rams select Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma St.
Justin Blackmon had a wonderful junior season in college. He caught 121 passes for 18 touchdowns and 1522 yards. Even better, he stepped up when the lights were on by having a 3 touchdown, 186 yard performance against Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl. He has the perfect combination of size, power, and speed. What separates Blackmon from the rest however, is his play making ability. He is a real game changer. Expect him to have a great pro day. The only concern with Blackmon however, is his size. Blackmon is only 6 feet which could be a problem in the NFL considering his speed is good, but not great. I expect him to overcome this though, and become Sam Bradford’s go-to guy for years to come.
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7. Jacksonville Jaguars select Melvin Ingram, DE South Carolina
The Jaguars are desperately trying to trade out of this spot. Teams that may trade up here either want to secure Fletcher Cox, Ryan Tannehill or Mark Barron. However if the Jaguars do keep this pick, they are going with Ingram. Ingram is Gene Smith’s type of guy, he has the motor and character that the Jaguars look for.
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8. Miami Dolphins select Ryan Tannehill, QB Texas A&M
Although Tannehill still needs some more time to develop, He is the pick here because of the constant need of quarterbacks in the NFL.
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9. Carolina Panthers select Fletcher Cox, DT LSU
Fletcher Cox is now the consensus #1 DT on the board. Cox is a game changing player and also has shown that he can produce against good teams, considering that he played in the SEC. The Panthers could also take this pick in a different direction by selecting Stephon Gilmore or Luke Kuechly.
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10. Buffalo Bills select Stephen Gilmore, CB South Carolina
Gilmore has shot up draft boards in the last couple of weeks. The Bills need a corner and Gilmore is their guy.
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11. Kansas City Chiefs select David Decastro, OG Stanford
Kansas City could really use some help on their offensive line. Decastro is the next best lineman on the board and the easy choice for the Chiefs.
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12. Seattle Seahawks select Luke Kuechly, LB Boston College
Kuechly is rated by many as the top Linebacker in the draft. At Boston College he was a great tackler and relied on his instincts. Although considered a little slow at first, Kuechly silenced those concerns by running a 4.5 40 yard dash at the combine. Seattle needs a Linebacker and Kuechly is their guy. However, this pick will be a close call between Kuechly and Coples. I don’t think Kuechly is as good as everyone thinks mainly because of the lack of burst in his step, but he does have the best instincts of any Linebacker I have seen.
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13. Arizona Cardinals select Riley Reiff, OT Iowa
This pick is between Michael Floyd and Riley Reiff. I think the Cardinals will go with Reiff, so Kevin Kolb will have more time to stay in the pocket.
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14. Dallas Cowboys select Mark Barron, S Alabama
The Cowboys would be thrilled if the draft played out like this. They would get their guy without even having to trade up. Barron is by far the best safety in the draft and would improve the Cowboys weak secondary. Barron has the skills to be a future All-Pro safety.
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15. Philadelphia Eagles select Quinton Coples, DE UNC
The Eagles are not going to win a Super Bowl with a defense like last year’s. The Eagles traditionally do not draft linebackers in the first round, and after trading for Demeco Ryans, it is obvious that they won’t take one here either. That means they take Coples, the best pass rusher on the board. Coples is a huge boom or bust prospect. In his junior season at UNC he was a beast, but he was average at best during his senior season. The Eagles may also try to trade up for Fletcher Cox or Mark Barron
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16. New York Jets select Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame
The Jets could use another receiver after the loss of Plaxico Burress. Floyd would provide Mark Sanchez with a huge target to throw to. Floyd has great hands and good speed and could be a pro-bowl receiver in the NFL.
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17. Cincinnati Bengals select Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Alabama
Kirkpatrick is a hard hitting corner with good ball skills. Although he is not great in man to man coverage, he is awesome in zone. Considering the Bengals have no one at corner, it looks like Kirkpatrick will be the choice.
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18. San Diego Chargers select Chandler Jones, DE Syracuse
Jones is considered by many as the best pass-rusher in the draft. If that is the case, the Chargers are getting a steal here.
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19. Chicago Bears select Michael Brockers , DT LSU
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After trading for Brandon Marshall, the Bears will most likely not take a receiver unless Michael Floyd is available. This means that they will take the best defensive lineman available, which in this case is Brockers.
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20. Tennessee Titans select Dontari Poe, DT Memphis.
Dontari Poe is the biggest boom or bust prospect in this draft. He has a freakish combination of size and speed, and also has a great motor and work ethic that many teams love. However, his play on the field isn’t very impressive. A team will still take a chance on him though because of the possibility of him being a great player in the NFL.
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21. Cincinnati Bengals select Courtney Upshaw, DE/LB Alabama
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22. Cleveland Browns select Kendall Wright, WR Baylor
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23. Detroit Lions select Cordy Glenn, OG Georgia
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24. Pittsburgh Steelers select Dont’a Hightower, LB Alabama
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25. Denver Broncos select Kendall Reyes, DT Uconn
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26. Houston Texans select Whitney Mercilus, DE Illinois
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27. New England Patriots select Nick Perry, DE USC
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28. Green Bay Packers select Shea McClellin, DE/OLB Boise State
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29. Baltimore Ravens select Peter Konz, C Wisconsin
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30. San Francisco 49ers select Stephen Hill, WR Georgia Tech
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31. New England Patriots select Brandon Weeden, QB Oklahoma State (Expecting a trade)
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32. New York Giants select Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford
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Also check out the Fantasy Feast 2012 NFL Mock Draft.
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2012 NFL Mock Draft Database

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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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Make sure to check out the Sport City Chefs radio right here.
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2012 NFL Mock Draft Database

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By Vijay Senthilkumar, sportsguy250
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Interested in how some of the recent signings and trades affect the draft? Well, here you go, if you would like to know how some of the other moves that I have not mentioned affect the draft, let me know!
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Eagles trade for Demeco Ryans
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This was a huge pickup for the Eagles. The Eagles now finally have an above average Linebacker on their roster. However, the Eagles will still need some more upgrades at Linebacker throughout the draft. Previously it seemed that the Eagles were going to draft either Luke Kuechly or Dont’a Hightower, but now they can wait until the second round to draft a Linebacker. With their first round selection, the Eagles will most likely take a DT, such as Fletcher Cox, Dontari Poe, or Michael Brockers.
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49ers sign WR Randy Moss and WR Mario Manningham
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As long as Randy Moss is even 75% this is a steal for the 49ers. These two additions now give Alex Smith a complete set of weapons to throw to. This also gives the 49ers lots of flexibility in the draft. They are now free to select the best player available in the first round. They can either upgrade their already solid defense, or give Alex Smith even more weapons.
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Bears trade for WR Brandon Marshall
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This affects the draft in a major way. Previously, It seemed that the Bears would draft a receiver to help out Jay Cutler. However, now they have Marshall. While this move isn’t enough, it is still enough to make receiver a second or third round priority. It seems now that the Bears will select an elite pass rusher such as Whitney Mercilus of Illinois.
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Bills sign DE Mario Williams
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Buffalo did a wonderful job in upgrading their terrible pass rush in free agency. They signed pro-bowler Mario Williams and also added another good player in Mark Anderson. These moves now allow Buffalo to worry about other needs in the draft. The most pressing need for this team is now Offensive Tackle. The Bills are now expected to take Riley Reiff from Iowa.

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By Vijay Senthilkumar, sportsguy250
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1. Indianapolis Colts select Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
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This is a pretty easy choice for the Colts. There is no way they pass up on this kind of talent.
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2. Washington Redskins select Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor
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The Washington Redskins have officially won the RG3 sweepstakes. Is RG3 worth two future first round picks? I have no idea. Until RG3 plays two seasons in the NFL, there is no way we can determine the winner of the trade. The Redskins get the real deal here with Griffin. He has unbelievable arm strength and also has receiver speed. This is terrible news for me though, since I am an Eagles fan.
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3. Minnesota Vikings select Matt Kalil, LT USC
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The Vikings need to use this pick to protect their previous first round pick, Christian Ponder. Kalil is by far the most talented lineman in the draft. He was so good, that last year’s ninth overall pick, Tyron Smith, had to move over to Right Tackle so Kalil could play left.
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4. Cleveland Browns select Trent Richardson, RB Alabama
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The Browns will most likely go with either Claiborne or Richardson here. I have them choosing the latter because they need help immediately. Peyton Hillis is going to be a free agent, and the Browns have no playmakers on offense. Richardson can come in and immediately put up results while also taking much of the load off Colt McCoy’s shoulders. Although this seems a little high for a Running Back, Richardson is the best prospect since Adrian Peterson at the position.
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5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Morris Claiborne, CB LSU
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Claiborne is by far the best cover corner in the draft. He has great ball skills and shut down almost everyone in college. This is a good pick for the Buccaneers considering Aquib Talib is going to jail and their other corner, Ronde Barber, is probably going to retire.
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If Cleveland does not take Richardson, he may also be another option for the Buccaneers with this pick.
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6. St. Louis Rams select Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma St.
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Justin Blackmon had a wonderful junior season in college. He caught 121 passes for 18 touchdowns and 1522 yards. Even better, he stepped up when the lights were on by having a three touchdown, 186 yard performance against Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl. He has the perfect combination of size, power, and speed. What separates Blackmon from the rest however, is his play making ability. He is a real game changer. Expect him to have a great pro day.
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The only concern with Blackmon however, is his size. Blackmon is only six feet which could be a problem in the NFL considering his speed is good, but not great. I expect him to overcome this though, and become Sam Bradford’s go-to guy for years to come.
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7. Jacksonville Jaguars select Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame
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Blaine Gabbert seriously needs someone to throw to. When Mike Thomas is your best receiver, you got a problem. Gene Smith’s job is riding on Gabbert’s performance this year and that probably means he is going to help Gabbert out in the draft.
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Michael Floyd is the next best receiver on the board. He has great hands and gives the quarterback a huge target to throw to.  The only concern with Floyd was his speed but he silenced those concerns after running at 4.45, 40-yard dash at the combine.
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8. Miami Dolphins select Quinton Coples, DE UNC
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Quinton Coples is going to be a bust. Coples is too inconsistent, and most of his sacks were against terrible teams. A team is still going to take a chance on him in the top ten though, and I believe that team is the Dolphins. The Dolphins are switching to a 4-3 defense, so they will need pass rushers like Coples to add to their team. Coples is currently ranked by many as the top defensive end on the board so he is the pick here.
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*This is assuming the Dolphins get either Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn
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9. Carolina Panthers select Michael Brockers, DT LSU
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Carolina’s defense was terrible last year. Despite a poor showing at the combine, Brockers still has huge upside and would fit a big need for Carolina.
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Right now, I have Brockers rated a bit higher than Poe due to his better production on the field. However, closer to the draft we will get a better idea on which guy Carolina likes more. Either way, they are definitely going defensive tackle here.
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10. Buffalo Bills select Melvin Ingram, DE South Carolina
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Buffalo’s pass rush was easily one of the worst in the league last year. They really need some defensive playmakers, and Ingram is one of them.
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11. Kansas City Chiefs select Riley Reiff, OT Iowa
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Kansas City could really use some help on their offensive line. Reiff is the next best lineman on the board and the easy choice for the Chiefs.
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12. Seattle Seahawks select Luke Kuechly, LB Boston College
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Kuechly is rated by many as the top Linebacker in the draft. At Boston College he was a great tackler and relied on his instincts. Although considered a little slow at first, Kuechly silenced those concerns by running a 4.5 40 yard dash at the combine. Seattle needs a Linebacker and Kuechly is their guy.
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After watching some tape, I personally think Dont’a Hightower from Alabama is actually better than Kuechly. I say this because I don’t see Kuechly have any burst in his step, and also is a little late getting to the ball carrier sometimes.
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The Seahawks could also use this pick to draft Ryan Tannehill.
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13. Arizona Cardinals select Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford
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The Cardinals O-line really needs to improve, especially at the Tackle position. Martin is a huge upgrade over Levi Brown.
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14. Dallas Cowboys select Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Alabama
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The Cowboys need upgrades all throughout their secondary. Dre Kirkpatrick gets the nod over Janoris Jenkins at this spot. Although Jenkins may be a better player, he also brings tons of baggage with him. Jenkins has been arrested multiple times and was dismissed from the University of Florida. Jerry Jones can’t afford to take chances anymore if he wants to go back to the playoffs, which is why he takes Kirkpatrick with this pick.
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15. Philadelphia Eagles select Dont’a Hightower, LB Alabama
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The Eagles are not going to win a Super Bowl with a defense like last year’s. The worst part of their defense was the Linebackers. That is exactly why they take Hightower with this pick. After playing at Alabama for four years, Hightower is the most NFL-ready Linebacker in his class. He will make an immediate impact, and could be the guy that puts the Eagles over the hump.
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Also check out:

• Sportsguy 250′s Wide Receiver Rankings Post-Combine Edition
• Sportsguy250′s Look at Luke Kuechly
• Sportsguy250′s 2012 NFL Mock Draft Top Ten
• LestersLegends’ 2012 NFL Mock Draft

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Here’s an updated look at the LestersLegends 2012 NFL Draft Round One Mock Draft.
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1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
RG3 has narrowed the gap, but I would be stunned if Luck wasn’t the pick for the Colts.
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2. St. Louis Rams: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
The Rams aren’t going to be the ones taking RG3 here, but he is going number two in the draft. Most likely to Cleveland.
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3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC
If the Rams’ asking price is too high for RG3, the Vikings could be the one striking a deal. My guess is that won’t be the case and the Purple gets Kalil to protect Christian Ponder’s blind side.
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4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Cleveland moves up to get RG3. The Rams get Blackmon (plus additional picks) to give Sam Bradford his first NFL wide receiver weapon.
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5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
The Bucs have gone defense with their first round picks the past two seasons, but their offense was dreadful. LeGarrette Blount isn’t the answer. Richardson is a complete back that should help the Bucs bounce back.
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6. Washington Redskins: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
In this pass-happy league you have to find a way to slow down the opposition. In a division that features Eli Manning, Michael Vick, and Tony Romo, the Skins would do well to add Claiborne to their secondary. The Skins very well could trade up to land RG3. Cornerback isn’t a great need for the Redskins, but he could be too good to pass up.
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7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina 
Where to start for Jacksonville? The Jags are perpetually in need of a better pass rush. Coples could be part of the answer.
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8. Miami Dolphins:  Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
The Dolphins were cruising toward Andrew Luck or Matt Barkley. Unfortunately they started winning behind Matt Moore and Reggie Bush, and Barkley (along with Landry Jones) returned to school. The Dolphins allowed the third most sacks (52). Getting Jake Long back healthy and pairing him with Reiff would go a long way in fixing that issue.
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9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU  
The Panthers were dreadful at stopping the run ranking 25th with 130.8 ypg allowed and 29th with 18 rushing scores allowed. They also struggled to put pressure on the quarterback, tying the Jags at 25th with 31 sacks. Brockers should be able to help both areas.
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10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE South Carolina
If the Bills want to knock off New England they will have to put pressure on Tom Brady. The Bills ranked 27th with 29 sacks so clearly improving their pass rush is a need.
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11. Kansas City Chiefs:  Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
The Chiefs have a major need at right tackle and Martin allows them to fill a need without reaching.
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12.  Seattle Seahawks:  Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A & M
Tarvaris Jackson is not the answer. Plain and simple. Tannehill is the third best QB option in the draft and Pete Carroll will add his QB of the future.
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13.  Arizona Cardinals:  Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
Upshaw, a 3-4 rush linebacker, fills a need. He’ll pair with Sam Acho to give the Cardinals capable pass rushers on both sides.
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14.  Dallas Cowboys:  Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama 
The Cowboys have a major need at cornerback and Kirkpatrick is one of the best available.
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15.  Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
The Eagles need to be better defensively, particularly their tackling. Kuechly will make them tougher.
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16.  New York Jets:  Michael Floyd, WR, New York Jets
Santonio Holmes needs to be pushed. He needs to know if he carries on the way he did, he can be replaced. Sanchez needs another weapon. Floyd gives him a big, talented target.
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17.  Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
The talent is there. The Bengals have been known to overlook character issues.
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18.  San Diego Chargers:  Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
Pairing Barron with Eric Weddle would solidfy the back end of the Chargers pass defense.
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19.  Chicago Bears:  Kendall Wright, Baylor
The Bears need help in the passing game.  Jay Cutler simply needs better weapons. Matt Forte can’t do it all.
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20. Tennessee Titans: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
Poe is massive (6’5″, 350) but very athletic. The Titans ranked 24th against the run last year. Poe will help that.
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21.  Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
The Bengals can’t count on  Cedric Benson forever. Miller will inject life in their 3.9 ypc (27th) rushing attack.
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22.  St. Louis Rams:  Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
The Rams enter the draft needing to give Bradford additional weapons and better protection. Blackmon took care of need one. This pick allows them to accomplish the second need.
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23.  Detroit Lions:  Nick Perry, DE, USC
The Giants won the Super Bowl, in part because of their ridiculous defensive line. That’s a good formula to copy.
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24.  Pittsburgh Steelers: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
The Steelers have gotten old on their defensive line. Worthy will infuse some youth and energy into the group.
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25.  Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State
The Broncos are built to win with their defense. Strengthening their front line should help Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller to continue to make plays.
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26.  Houston Texans: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
The Texans need a weapon to complement Andre Johnson and provide insurance should he go down again.
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27.  New England Patriots: Fletcher Cox, DE/DT, Mississippi State
The Patriots have to get better defensively. That starts up front.
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28.  Green Bay Packers:  Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
Some home cooking. The Packers seem unlikely to re-sign Scott Wells so they will need a new plan.
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29.  Baltimore Ravens: Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
They would have like Konz to slip one more slot. Instead of finding Matt Birk’s heir apparent, they will try to find Ray Lewis’.
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30.  San Francisco 49ers:  Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
The biggest need the Niners have is giving Alex Smith weapons to work with. Vernon Davis is great. Michael Crabtree is solid. Adding Randle to the mix will help them compete offensively.
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31.  New England Patriots:  Whitney Mercilus, LB, Illinois
The Patriots could do a number of things with their picks. They could package them in move up or they could trade one or both down. Defense is the way to go. Mercilus will help their pass rush.
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32.  New York Giants:  Dwayne Allen, TE, New York Giants
With Ballard tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl the Giants have an obvious need.
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Also check out:

• Joe Flacco is Out of His Mind
• Why Peyton Manning Isn’t Right for the Jets
• Why the Colts Should Move on Peyton Manning

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2012 NFL Mock Draft Database

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Here’s my first look at the top ten picks of the 2012 NFL Draft.
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1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Whether or not it’s the Colts taking Andrew Luck, he will be the number one pick in the draft. He’s been compared to Peyton Manning, but at the time even Peyton Manning wasn’t as much of a lock for the number one pick as Luck.
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2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
The Rams took Rodger Saffold with the 33rd pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and Jason Smith with the second pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. While Matt Kalil makes sense, the Rams desperately need to get Sam Bradford some playmakers.
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3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings moved down in the draft to acquire additional picks. They have needs all over the place. RG3 would likely be the pick here if someone wanted to move up. If the Vikings keep the pick (and he’s available) I think they go with Matt Kalil. Christian Ponder took way too much of a beating last year.
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4. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Somebody, possibly the Browns, could move up to get RG3. If he’s available at the four spot, the Browns will give up on Colt McCoy and start over with RG3.
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5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
The Bucs have gone defense with their first round picks the past two seasons, but their offense was dreadful. LeGarrette Blount isn’t the answer. Richardson is a complete back that should help the Bucs bounce back.
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6. Washington Redskins: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
In this pass-happy league you have to find a way to slow down the opposition. In a division that features Eli Manning, Michael Vick, and Tony Romo, the Skins would do well to add Claiborne to their secondary. The Skins very well could trade up with Minnesota to land RG3. If Kalil was unavailable, CB is definitely a need for the Vikings so Claiborne would still make sense here.
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7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
The Jags need to add a pass rusher, but Kirkpatrick is too good to pass up in this spot. It’s a passing league so a stud CB makes sense.
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8. Carolina Panthers: Devon Still, DE/DT, Penn State
The Panthers were dreadful at stopping the run ranking 25th with 130.8 ypg allowed and 29th with 18 rushing scores allowed. They also struggled to put pressure on the quarterback, tying the Jags at 25th with 31 sacks. Still should be able to help both areas.
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9. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
The Dolphins were cruising toward Andrew Luck or Matt Barkley. Unfortunately they started winning behind Matt Moore and Reggie Bush, and Barkley (along with Landry Jones) returned to school. The Dolphins allowed the third most sacks (52). Getting Jake Long back healthy and pairing him with Reiff would go a long way in fixing that issue.
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10. Buffalo Bills: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
If the Bills want to knock off New England they will have to put pressure on Tom Brady. The Bills ranked 27th with 29 sacks so clearly improving their pass rush is a need.
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