The Professor - 2012 NFL Draft Mock 2.0- Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Now, I know everyone is starting
freak-out over RG3’s arm strength, but the Combine be damned, in
the end Irsay is a white guy who will pick a white guy to be the face
of the franchise. Privately, the merchandize excuse will be given. So
relax Johnny U., the only thing black will be your high-tops and the
night they snuck out of Baltimore. Pollan would have chosen RG3.
- Browns: Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor
Good fortune shines on Coach Fisher.
First Cam explodes, the Colts pass on RG3, and the next big thing
(aka the “Evolution”) is there for the taking! Sam Bradford has
so much promise that the Rams find a partner with deep pockets. Make
it rain! TRADE!
- Ravens: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Ozzie purchases a ticket to the Super
Bowl for the Ravens! Harbaugh can manage aging superstars and Peyton
will extend the shelf life of the roster. Evans will not be invited
back. Vikings are more than one player away. Ravens shoot for the
moon. The Gods return a/the Colts to Baltimore. The Vikings need a
little of everything. TRADE!
- Rams (from Browns): Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Fisher gets real, not flashy. Kalil
will provide time for Bradford to get the ball down field, and Fisher
knows his brilliance is tied to Bradford’s health.
- Buccaneers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
Teams must be effective attacking the
passer with 4. Top QB’s check away from schemes. Coples is a
freak, and Butch Davis is joining the Bucs coaching staff as an
advisor.
- Cowboys: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Redskins sign Flaco so RG3 is not in
the plan. There is a lot to like at 6, but Jerry does Dallas. He is
hungry for big moves, and to upgrade a weak secondary after dropping
Kirkpatrick down their board. Cowboys reach for the best CB prospect
in this year’s draft. TRADE!
- Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
Everyone is down on Blaine Gabbert,
except Jacksonville. Improved protection is a must. The expectation
is improved play from their young QB, unless he starts dating a
Kardashian!
- Dolphins: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
After missing out on Manning, I expect
the Dolphins to sign Matt Flynn. Duh, there is an early run at OT.
They are tempted to draft Kendall Wright. Wright’s speed would help
clear the mid-range zones for Marshall. Caveat Emptor, Flynn could be
the second coming of Kolb. Poor little fishes, there are very few
quick fixes in the NFL.
- Panthers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford
Cam now DeCastro. This is too easy.
- Bills: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
Brockers is a man-child. He will be
ready when the Bills are. Perfect timing and not too soon. Bills are
close.
- Chiefs: Devon Still, DE/DT, Penn State
Defenses must attack. Add Still to a
good group of LB’s.
- Seahawks: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
Pete Carroll feels lucky and everyone
loves speed on the edge. Upshaw falls to the Trojans, I mean the
Seahawks.
- Cardinals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Best player on their board. They add to
last year’s standout Patrick Peterson.
- Redskins: (from Cowboys) Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
Redskins add insurance for newly
acquired Joe Flaco. Shanahan knows Flaco will fit with his run first
offense. Redskins will sign a top free agent WR, and draft one in the
later rounds. Shanahan has visions of Elway. “A man’s greatest
strength is his greatest weakness”.
- Eagles: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
If the Eagles don’t over think the
pick, it will be Kuechly. Andy loves to look smarter than the rest of
the room. That understated stuff is a front.
- Jets: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Pound and ground. LT retires. They
stick with Sanchez for another year, so they must effectively run the
ball. Sanchez may develop like Eli, or become David Carr. Play action
may be the key.
- Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
Jenkins has too much talent to pass
because of past personal issues. He checks out.
- Chargers: Kendall Wright, WR/KR, Baylor
Need an injection of speed. Never
replaced Sproles.
- Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
Cutler is all piss and vinegar.
Privately he is pleased with the new direction. In with Floyd and out
with Martz. They will find a TE later in the draft.
- Titans, Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
Big, strong, possession receiver. Great
value at 20.
- Bengals: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
I know! The Bengals double dip. They
miss Jonathan Joseph that much.
- Rams: (from Browns) Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC
Prototypical edge rusher. High risk,
high reward.
- Lions: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois
Lions want to attack on defense.
Mercilus fits the program.
- Steelers: Don’t’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
No longer the best LB group in the
league. Steelers are acting strange. This pick quiets the critics.
- Broncos: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Teams play nickel and dime 25% of the
time. Personal must reflect the new dynamic.
- Texans: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis
The early run on
WR leads Texans to plan B. Must look to free agency and for value
later in the draft to add a WR. Bigger nose added to an excellent 3 –
4.
- Pats: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
Must stretch the field. Giants, as
expected, crowded the box. Brady must do more than run the football
through the air. Sanu offers an option to 3 yards and a cloud of
dust.
- Packers: Jerel Worthy, DE/DT, Michigan State
Raji plays too many downs. Need a
viable rotation. Wore down.
- Vikings: (from Ravens), Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
Lawrence Taylor or Taylor Lawrence?
Worth the risk at 29.
- 49ers: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
They resign Smith, but they press for
the next step. WR is an option, but must wait to the 2nd round. 1st
tier wide outs already off the board.
- Pats: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
The 6th player from Alabama taken in
the first round. Roll tide. Barron’s a steal at 31.
- 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. If Barron falls, he could be an option. TE is
needed. Reese will take the player that falls to him, with Brown
being the first choice.
