We have on our hands a very potent 2012 NFL draft this year, especially in the first round. The following 2012 NFL mock draft you are about to read may be bold, some picks may be shocking, while other obvious. This will be one of the most exciting NFL drafts in recent years, so hold on to your seats and get read for a great football season in 2012!
1. Andrew Luck – INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
QB, Stanford – This is the closest to a guarantee that you can get. Unless Irsay pulls a crazy move and goes for RG3, which is highly doubtful considering RG3 declined a workout with the Colts.
2. Robert Griffin III – WASHINGTON REDSKINS
QB, Baylor- Redskins take out a second mortgage and trade up to get RG3… despite what disgruntled ex-employee Donovan McNabb says, RG3 IS a good fit in WAS and will be a BALLER for years to come.
3. Matt Kalil – MINNESOTA VIKINGS
OT, USC- #1 overall pick if Luck and RG3 were never born. Since they were, Kalil goes #3 and the vikes get a Pro Bowl/ HOF talent at OT.
4. Trent Richardson – CLEVELAND BROWNS
RB, Alabama- Debates on whether they should get Blackmon are still going, but the WR class is deep in the early rounds. The RB pool is a little shallow after the 2nd day so the Browns get “the best RB prospect since AP” at #4.
5. Morris Claiborne – TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
CB, LSU- Do the Math… Rhonde Barber + age x Aqib Talib + jail x LSU secondary coach Ron Cooper hired on as TB’s DB coach= MORRIS CLAIBORNE.
6. Justin Blackmon – ST. LOUIS RAMS
WR, Oklahoma State- Finally…… the Bradford… gets…. His #1 WR Target…. (In THE ROCKS voice)
7. Melvin Ingram – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
DE, South Carolina- With more holes then swiss, JAX fills one here. Pass Rush, Pass Rush, Pass Rush.
8. Ryan Tannehill – MIAMI DOLPHINS
QB, Texas A&M- Face it, Garrard is trash and Matt Moore is far from a franchise QB,. Tannehill is raw but has time to develop behind those two QB’s. MIA is feeling pressure to find a QB after the Manning, Flynn, A.Smith fall throughs, so they reach a little with this pick.
9. Dontari Poe – CAROLINA PANTHERS
DT, Memphis- Hype Beast! Potential is through the roof for Poe, who is drawing a lot of interest since his combine performance. CAR needs a lot of positions but DT is the biggest. (25th in the NFL against the run) I like Fletcher Cox or Michael Brockers here too, let’s see if CAR buys into the POE Buzz.
10. Riley Reiff – BUFFALO BILLS
OT, Iowa- Since signing SUPER MARIO and Mark Anderson, the Bills go Offensive. Reiff can start immediately at left tackle. I also like Notre Dame WR M.Floyd here too.
11. David DeCastro – KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
OG, Stanford- Another immediate starter, DeCastro is being compared to a Steve Hutchinson type of player. Solid Pick up.
12. Luke Kuechly – SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
ILB, Boston College- SEA lost starting ILB Hawthorne in the FA period, so ILB is now wide open. Kuechly is the top ILB prospect in this draft and a tackling machine. I wont be surprised if Pete Carrol goes pass rush here and drafts N.Carolina DE Q.Coples.
13. Michael Floyd – ARIZONA CARDINALS
WR, Notre Dame- Fitz gets his Boldin back! Too bad he cant get his Kurt Warner back as well…
14. Mark Barron – DALLAS COWBOYS
S, Alabama- Jerry Jones stars in EXTREME MAKEOVER: DB EDITION. Dallas continues to build up the secondary with this pick. *DemarcusWareJOKERsmile*
15. Fletcher Cox – PHILIDELPHIA EAGLES
DT, Mississippi State- The safest bet at DT in this draft, if Carolina doesn’t buy the POE hype, Cox could be off the board at #9.
16. Courtney Upshaw – NEW YORK JETS
DE, Alabama- Rex needs an OLB/ pass rusher and Upshaw is the best avail at this point. Don’t be surprised if NY trades up for Alabama S M. Barron for 2 reasons= GRONKOWSKI and HERNANDEZ.
17. Dre Kirkpatrick – CINCINATTI BENGALS
CB, Alabama- Leon Hall tore his Achilles and Nate Clements is old and inconsistent. Dre Kirkpatrick makes too much sense here. Big Corner, physical tackler…
18. Whitney Mercilus – SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
DE, Illinois- SD needs to address the need for a pass rusher. Mercilus is the best avail here.
19. Quinton Coples – CHICAGO BEARS
DE, North Carolina- I previously had WR Floyd going here to add weapons to Cutty’s arsenal but Floyd has shot up draft boards after having a beastly pro day. Coples on the other hand has fallen due to his inconsistent tape. Peppers has been playing at a high level but still needs some rush from the other side, so look for CHI to add another North Carolina DE to get the job done.
20. Stephon Gilmore – TENNESSEE TITANS
CB, South Carolina- With the loss of Cortland –Innegan (no typo, the “F” is still gone from when Andre Johnson beat it out of him) TENN fills a big void with Gilmore. He has the size and ability to start immediately against top WR’s in the NFL. Again, no surprise to see a team take Gilmore higher on draft day.
21. Cordy Glenn – CINCINATTI BENGALS
OT, Georgia- Cinci fills a need on the O-line here to keep young Dalton upright.
22. Jonathan Martin – CLEVELAND BROWNS
OT, Stanford- The Browns add a big body to help their new RB T.Richardson find room. Martin is also a prospect that could be off the board a lot earlier then #22 so he is a steal here.
23. Mike Adams – DETROIT LIONS
OT, Ohio State- The Lions could use some help at corner but I’m not sure if they reach for a character concern guy like N. Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins. Keeping Stafford healthy and upright is another need and Mike Adams fits the bill.
24. Dont’a Hightower – PITTSBURGH STEELERS
ILB, Alabama- With old man James Farrior gone, that ILB spot is a def need. Hightower could be the long term fit next to Timmons in Tomlin’s defense. It pains me to say this, but Hightower was built to be a Steeler LB… or a RAVEN.
25. Michael Brockers – DENVER BRONCOS
DT, LSU- If Manning is making the picks, look for a WR like Kendall Wright or Stephen Hill. Denver needs to stop the run and if Brockers is still on the board he is a steal. Brockers is a big physical run defender that would definitely help their cause.
26. Kendall Wright – HOUSTON TEXANS
WR, Baylor- Andre Johnson needs another WR threat to get some the attention off of him. Wright has the HOMERUN ability to do just that.
27. Peter Konz – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
C, Wisconsin- Help the “Golden Boy”. Konz is NFL ready right now.
28. Chandler Jones – GREEN BAY PACKERS
DE, Syracuse- Jones provides that pass rush opposite Clay Matthews that GB has been missing. Also Look for Boise State OLB Shea Mcclelin as a possibility here.
29. Shea Mcclellin – BALTIMORE RAVENS
OLB, Boise State- Yes, it’s time for my RAVENS again, or not? I see a first day trade out here. Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome was never one for reaching on players in the first round, and at #29 there really isn’t a player worth the pick that fills a need for the Ravens. Look for a trade out for an early second rd pick where the Ravens could go a few ways with 2 2nd Rd picks-
OLB Boise State- Shea Mcclellin- Ravens need a rusher opposite defensive MVP Terrell Suggs
FS Notre Dame- Harrison Smith- With previous backup safety and fellow “Golden Domer” Tom Zbikowski now with the Colts and Ed Reeds career winding down, Smith provides a big, smart, physical player that could fit the Ravens defense for years to come.
Look for the Ravens to address Guard in the 2nd rd as well.
Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin *if avail*
Kelechi Osemele OG Iowa State
Amini Silatolu OG Midwestern State
Brandon Washington OG Miami
Yes the RAVENS are my team so they get the longest write up!
30. Kevin Zeitler – SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
OG, Wisconsin- San Fran looks to add another grinder on the O-line to pave holes for Gore. Zeitler is a hard nosed kid that’s fits the 49ers run first mentality. I also like Stanford TE Coby Fleener here. No not because Vernon Davis isn’t a BALLER, so calm down. But it is because Fleener is Har-boy from Stanford and Delanie Walker is not a true pass catching TE. Before you dismiss a TE to SF… Think Gronkowski-Hernandez style. #BEASTLY
31. Nick Perry – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
DE, USC- After losing Mark Anderson and Andre Carter, NE needs to address that spot for a pass rusher. Nick Perry is a big physical rusher that would be hard to pass if he is still avail here. I wouldn’t be shocked if Belichick traded one of these 1st rd picks to a desperate team for more picks in later rounds.
32. Jerel Worthy – NEW YORK GIANTS
DT, Michigan State- NY needs a presence in the middle of that already good defensive line, and Worthy is a huge one. NY could also choose to fill another need at RB since Jacobs is now in SF and Bradshaw has durability issues. Look for Boise State RB Doug Martin as another possibility.
