The Professor's 2012 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

OK, let’s get the party started.

Mock 1.0

Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

• Luck or trade the pick. They won’t trade the pick. Witness the drama as they transition the fans to life without Peyton.  How many stages of grieving? A 2-14 record, new front office, new coach, and a new quarterback complete the precession. Everyone moves on.

2. Browns: Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor

• Sam Bradford will have a great year. Jeff Fisher couldn’t fathom Vince Young’s faux swag. He dangles the future to the highest bidder. Rams take advantage of inflation. TRADE!

3. Ravens: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

• Lee Evans will be let go, and Peyton will join Ray Lewis to make the Ravens the preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl. Ozzie strikes while Tanny is sleeping. Vikings get a boatload, and the Ravens shoot for the moon. TRADE!

4. Rams (from Browns): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

• Kalil is no Joe Thomas, but he is the number 1 OT in the 2012 draft. Fisher knows his brilliance is tied to Bradford’s health.

5. Buccaneers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

• Teams must be effective attacking the passer with 4. Top QB’s check away from schemes.  Coples Senior Bowl performance convinced me of his value.

6. Cowboys: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

• Redskins don’t find what they are looking for at 6. They sign Flacco so RG3 is not in the plan. They like Richardson, but not at 6. Jerry is hungry to upgrade a weak secondary after dropping Kirkpatrick off their board. Don’t get crazy about this “within the division” stuff. Cowboys reach for the best CB prospect in this year’s draft. TRADE!

7. Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

• In Jacksonville, Blaine Gabbert is considered a work in progress. Some protection helps the process.

8. Dolphins: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

• Every draft triggers an early run on OT’s. End of the top tier. If the Fish sign Flynn, they will need to protect him. They would trade down to draft Kendall Wright, but can’t find a partner.

9. Panthers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

• Last year the Panthers score with the riskiest pick in the draft. Now they make the safest pick in the draft. Smart and steady keeps Carolina on path to the playoffs.

10. Bills: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

• Buffalo has drafted early and often. Lately they have invested in high upside. Brockers has almost no ceiling.

11. Chiefs: Devon Still, DE/DT, Penn State

• Defenses must attack. Add Still to a good group of LB’s.

12. Seahawks: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

• Pete Carroll has always been lucky. Upshaw falls to Seahawks.

13. Cardinals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

• They continue building on last year’s standout Patrick Peterson.

14. Redskins: (from Cowboys) Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

• Redskins add protection for Joe Flacco. Will sign a top free agent WR, and draft one in the later rounds.

15. Eagles: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

16. Jets: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

• Pound and ground. LT retires.  Value and need.

17. Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

18. Chargers: Kendall Wright, WR/KR, Baylor

• Need an injection of speed. Never replaced Sproles.

19. Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

• Cutler is smiling. In with Floyd and out with Martz. They will find a TE later in the draft.

20. Titans:  Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

21. Bengals: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

• I know! The Bengals double dip. They miss Jonathan Joseph that much.

22. Rams: (from Browns) Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

• Best player available when factored into their needs.

23. Lions: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

• Best player available when factored into their needs.

24. Steelers: Don’t’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

• No longer the best LB group in the league. Showing some grey.

25. Broncos: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

26. Texans: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

• The early run on WR surprises Texans. Must look to free agency and later in the draft.

27. Pats: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

• Must find a way to stretch the field. Ocho is gono. Watch the Giants crowd the box.

28. Packers: Jerel Worthy, DE/DT, Michigan State

• Raji needs a wakeup call.

29. Vikings: (from Ravens):  Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

30. 49ers: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

31. Pats: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

• The 6th player from Alabama taken in the first round. Roll tide. Barron’s a steal at 31. If the Giants lose the S.B. they may take Barron. Phillips is too slow.

32. Giants: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

• Zach Brown already has Pro Bowl coverage skills. Needs to improve at the point of attack. If the Giants don’t resign Deon Grant, then either Jones or Sash must step up. The other option is to play less 3 safety. Kiwanuka, Boley, Williams, and Brown would make for the fastest LB group in the league and mitigate the loss of Grant.  Rolle can step out of the box and into Grant’s slot.