Tha Cheez's 2012 Mock Draft
1. Indianapolis
Colts – Andrew Luck QB (Stanford) *
This is a Lock! If it was
my choice, I’d roll with Andrew Luck also because although I think Robert
Griffin looks very fluent and relaxed on the field and could be elite, I just think
that the big 12 conference defense’s were horrible last year. I do think the
system that he was in also made him more successful with the spread, and I
think the offensive coordinator at Baylor is hugely underrated! Yes, that means
I wouldn’t be surprised if the QB at Baylor next year doesn’t have a decent
amount of success that is expectable of his talents. I would also rather have Andrew Luck lead a
franchise that’s rebuilding. I think this draft has been over analyzed to the
point where we are getting bored to where we feel like Andrew Luck is the
“Safe’” pick now, where that sometimes could a criticism used against the colts
this time of year, because everyone by this point has talked about the draft
for so freaking long.
2. Washington
Redskins – Robert Griffin QB (Baylor) *
I think he fits in to their
offense nicely. I do feel however that he is going to be facing a lot of
pressure, maybe more so than Andrew Luck because the Shanahans are control
freaks and if they don’t do some damage this year, they could go from the
penthouse to the outhouse. There isn’t a lot of patience left in D.C, and
although Shanahan has built a nice foundation there in talent, they want wins.
If the Vikings didn’t screw themselves over and beat these shitheads last year than
they would have gotten the ransom that St.
Louis got. I like this pick, but I just get the
feeling that Griffin
will either be really good or really bad! I’m not sure I like that scenario.
3. Minnesota
Vikings – Matt Kalil OT (USC)
I think Speilman is just
putting a lot of smoke out there to see if he can get a ransom for his pick,
but I don’t think anyone is biting. There’s talk that he’s seriously
considering Claiborne. I like Claiborne for the fact that we spend 6 games a
year going up against some of the leagues best QB’s and receivers, but in a
Cover 2 scheme, I feel like spending a pick that high is kind of unnecessary,
on top of the value we can still find in a corner in the early 2nd
round. There’s a bigger drop off in the offensive line after Kalil and Reiff as
far as tackles. If we get Kalil, than we can solidify 2 spots, because we can
move Charlie Johnson back to his original position which I hope he is better
at, because he was absolutely pathetic last year! Gotta keep Tarkenton Jr on
his feet or he will be the next T-Jack! There’s a chance somebody could trade
with the Vikes into this position to pick up Trent Richardson before the Browns
do. The jets and Bucs are in love with Richardson, so ideally a Bucs trade
would only move us back 2 spots and we could still get one of our 3 main guys
between Kalil, Claiborne, and Blackmon, and get probably about a 3rd
round pick on top of it.
4. Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson
RB (Alabama)
I really like Richardson here, and I
feel he may be the best talented player at his position in the draft. They
could roll with a receiver here but I expect them to wait until the 2nd
round. Sounds like they are cold on Claiborne here because they had a top pass
defense last year, and I think they would have to give out contracts to
Claiborne and another one of their top CBs around the same time. I think they
give Colt one more year with some weapons, and go from there! Trent Richardson
is the best prospect at running back since Adrian Peterson, and has drawn
favorable comparisons to him. He may be the first non-QB player taken off the
board tonight.
5. Tampa
Bay
Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne CB (LSU)
This pick makes too much
sense. Talib will be in the jailhouse being somebodies bitch. Barber is
retiring, and I guess Tampa
Bay hired an LSU
defensive backs coach with the new Greg Schiano coaching regime. Bucs defense was beyond awful last
year and they were getting torched for about the last 10 weeks. This pick is a
LOCK if he is still available. These guys are in love with Trent Richardson
also so they may trade up a couple spots to snatch him, but I think they may
stay here and still get one of the last top 5 elite players in this year’s
draft.
6. St. Louis
Rams - Justin Blackmon WR (Oklahoma St)
I think if Trent Richardson
is still on the board, than they may take him here, I find it hard that he’d
slip by Cleveland and Tampa though. St. Louis is said to be high on
Richardson and there’s rumors that Jackson is wanting a new contract, so he
might be trade bait during or after the draft. I still think they role with
Justin Blackmon here, considering they lost Lloyd in free agency. Bradford hasn’t had a good receiver from day 1. Brandon
Lloyd was good last year, but he was a rental and probably to old to be
dependable down the road. They want to establish a connection between a still
relatively young QB and a young receiver. Blackmon is the pick! If the Vikings
end up taking Blackmon for some stupid reason, and Kalil drops, he isn’t going
to get past these guys!
7. Jacksonville
Jaguars – Fletcher Cox DT (Miss.
St)
They could go receiver or
somewhere else on the defense, and I’m hearing that they want to try and move
down from this pick. They were recently blowing smoke that the Miami Dolphins were a lock to take Tannehill
at 8, so they could get some trade partners if there was some other teams
interested in Tannehill, but I don’t see anyone trading up. If Blackmon is on
the board they would probably take him here, but I don’t see that scenario
happening. Possibly even Floyd.
8. Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill QB (Texas A&M) *
I think logic says this is
a perfect fit. His former coach Mike Sherman is now the offensive coordinator
in Miami, and I
think their owner needs to sell tickets in the worst way. They picked up
Garrard this year, and Matt Moore was impressive for awhile last season. I
still think they roll with Tannehill here. If Miami doesn’t take him, expect him to slide
like Rodgers and Quinn. If his college coach doesn’t want him, and Miami needs to develop a
young franchise QB, than why the hell would anyone else take a chance on him?
They could roll with Melvin Ingram here, but I think Tannehill makes the most
sense, from what I’ve seen from other mock drafts, on top of new head coach
Philbin being a proven commodity to helping develop QB’s.
9. Carolina Panthers – Mark Barron S (Alabama)
Sounds like Stephen Gilmore
is reported to be rising up the draft boards a bit, and some teams find him a
better prospect than Claiborne. Carolina could go with him here, but I think
they roll with Mark Barron. Best safety in draft, and a lot of teams are in
love with him. He won’t get past the Cowboys at 14.
10.
Buffalo
Bills – Riley Reiff OT (Iowa)
They could go WR here with
Michael Floyd and they need CB help also. If Gilmore is on the board I’m
positive they go with him. Some had Floyd has a better receiver than Blackmon,
but I’m not buying it! They have a 3-4 defense and need a lot of help
defensively. I think they roll with the LB here and maybe go CB or WR in the 2nd
round. The Bills may trade up for Kalil or trade down and try to still snatch
up Reiff or another tackle.
11.
Kansas
City Chiefs – David Decastro G (Stanford)
I think they could go with
a defensive end here and Melvin Ingram is still on the board so this could be
the pick, otherwise I see a lot of mock drafts have David Decastro in this
spot, and it fills a good position of need. It’s said that Decastro is one of
the better prospects at guard to come out in a long time, so I think they go
safe with this pick.
12.
Seattle
Seahawks – Luke Kuechly LB (Boston
College)
Kuechly is another can’t
miss player. I project him to go here to help out the Seahawks linebacking
corps that has worn thin over the last few years with the loss of a lot of
their studs like Tatupu, etc. If he is on the board he goes here.
13.
Arizona
Cardinals – Michael Floyd WR (Notre Dame)
I am positive this will be
the pick. They need depth at the WR position, and they need someone to take
pressure off Fitzgerald. They also need help along the offensive line, but I
think Floyd is the best value left on the board here at a major position of
need! If Riley Reiff is on the board they could go with him here.
14.
Dallas
Cowboys – Stephen Gilmore CB (South
Carolina) *
I don’t expect Gilmore
don’t fall this long, but I think he falls here to start opposite newly
acquired Brandon Carr. The Cowboys secondary has got to play better if they
want to make the deep run into the playoffs. Gilmore is a good value pick here,
and is considered a better prospect than Claiborne by some scouts. Corner and Safety are huge areas of needs,
and I wouldn’t be surprised if they went with Brockers here either.
15.
Philadelphia
Eagles – Michael Brockers DT (LSU)
I think they go somewhere a
long the defensive line here. Sounds like Asante Samuel will get traded here
before the draft, so they may go with a corner here like Kirkpatrick, but I
think they take Brockers
16.
New York
Jets – Melvin Ingram DE (South
Carolina)
I think the Jets could go
WR here, as that is a huge position of need along with an OT. The top 2 WR are
off the board, but I would pay attention to WR Kendall Wright from Baylor going
here. Some view him as the best WR in the draft. They desperately need pressure
on the QB, and they haven’t been successful the last couple years without the
blitz. So that’s why I think they go with Ingram. They need to shore up their
right tackle position also, so if Reiff slides,he may land here also.
17.
Cincinnati
Bengals – Courtney Upshaw DE (Alabama)
Cincy needs a pass rush
also, so Upshaw is the next one on board so I think they roll with him. They
could go Kendall Wright, a WR from Baylor here, to start opposite A.J Green.
They may even take a flyer on Janoris Jenkins. He has some baggage, but the
Bengals have never shied away from that.
18.
San Diego
Chargers – Whitney Mercilus OLB (Illinois)
A lot of mocks have them
taking a DE/LB here with this pick. There’s a few possibilities at this
position but I picked Illinois because they have pretty colors(or just the fact
that I haven’t seen any of these guys or teams play, so I’m not going to
pretend like I know what the hell I’m talking about)
19.
Chicago
Bears – Kendall Wright WR (Baylor)
A lot of mocks have them
trying to patch up the D-Line here, but I think they end up taking Kendall
Wright. He was a counter product of Griffin
III all last year. They picked up Brandon Marshall earlier this year, and I
think Wright only adds to the explosiveness on offense. If Mercilus is still on the board they may
take a flyer on the local kid.
20.
Tennessee
Titans – Donari Poe DT (Memphis)
Tennessee could go with a
CB here to replace Finnegan, but they had one of the worst rush defenses last
year, so I think they get somebody big inside. Poe had a tremendous combine
with a lot of upside, but not a lot of scouts were impressed with his game
tape. I see him landing here. Dre
Kirpatrick from Alabama
may end up here to help replace Finnegan.
21.
Cincinatti Bengals – Cordy Glenn G (Georgia)
Cincy is thin at the guard
position after replacing Bobbie Williams. Glenn makes the most sense here. They
could go WR here (Stephen Hill or Kendall Wright?) or if one that I’ve
mentioned already falls to pair with A.J Green. There are rumors they could
trade with Seattle
at #12 and trade Mauluga in the process. Just a little info I read on the
internet. I’m going to throw Shea Mcclellin in this convo also.
22.
Cleveland
Browns – Mike Adams T (Ohio
State)
Browns need a RT badly, and
they also could go for WR here depending on whose around, but I think they go
with a guard in Mike Adams. He failed a drug test at the combine so his stock
slipped a little bit, but he may be more physically gifted than some of the
other prospects at his position. I think Browns wait and pick up a WR in early
2nd round. They could surprise and go with Brandon Weeden here or in
the 2nd round. He is considered more pro-ready than Tannehill, but
they may be better waiting out until next year. They could go RB here if they
end up with Blackmon on the 4th overall pick. David Wilson from
Virginia Tech and Doug Martin from Boise
St are the next best RB prospects behind Richardson. (Adams did fail a drug test at the combine this year)
23.
Detroit
Lions – Dre Kirkpatrick CB (Alabama)
They could go offensive
line or CB with this pick, but I think they roll with the corner. Janoris
Jenkins may be a better corner here, and they usually take flyers on guys like
him, but with the arrests of 3 of their draftees last year because of Mary
Jane, I don’t see it from a good P.R. standpoint to go out and recruit another
hoodlum. They got torched by the the Packers and Saints last year, and they
need to get this position taken care of.
24.
Pittsburgh
Steelers – Donta’ Hightower ILB (Alabama)
They could go offensive
line here, but I think they go with a LB. They need to replace James Farrior,
and I would say Hightower is a pretty good value pick here. I’m already sick of
talking about the Steelers.
25.
Denver
Broncos – Devon Still DT (Penn. St)
Broncos are very thin at
the DT position so it’s almost a guarantee they shore that up with this first
pick. I think they go with Still here, There’s another couple guys they could
go with here, but I’m definitely thinking they fix up the DT position. They
lost Broderick Bunkley and Ty Warren is injury prone.
26.
Houston
Texans – Jonathan Martin OT (Stanford)
They have major holes a
long the offensive line and I would almost guarantee you they patch up a hole
there with someone I’ve already mentioned who falls. However, they did lose
Joel Dreesen to the Broncos, and Coby Fleener is the top TE in the draft, so they
may gamble a bit here, and work on the
offensive line in the second round. I would look for Jonathan Martin, Cordy
Glenn, or Mike Adams to land here if they fall. Possibly even a DE/LB to
replace Super Mario.
27.
New England
Patriots – Shea McClellin DE/LB
Boise St
Sounds like they have been interested in
this guy, and he is suppose to get drafted in about this area. If a character
like Janoris Jenkins falls, than I can see them taking a chance on him.
Harrison Smith could be in play here also at safety.
28.
Green
Bay Packers – Nick Perry DE (USC)
It sounds like the Packers
really like Shea McClellin also, so he might also fall here. They could get
Upshaw if he’s still on the board or a guy like Janoris Jenkins. They need a
guy that can create a good pass rush and I think Nick Perry is a wild card
here. They could also take the safety from Notre Dame here in Harrison Smith.
29.
Baltimore
Ravens – Peter Konz C (Wisconsin)
Matt Birk is getting up
there in age, and they need to find a replacement for him. They could possibly
trade out of this spot, or they may go after a big target like WR Stephen Hill.
If one of the Alabama
guys falls, look for them to swipe them up.
30.
San Francisco
49ers – Amini Silitolu – G/OT (Midwestern
State)
They could go with Fleener
at this spot who is a tight end for Harbaugh’s former team, Stanford. They are
said to be in love with Stephen Hill but after their free agent pickups I don’t
see that happening. I think they shore up their offensive line.
31.
New England
Patriots – Harrison Smith S (Notre Dame)
It is reported that the
Patriots WILL trade out of this pick.They need help at Safety and I see
Harrison Smith being an option here. However, it is likely somebody may try to
sneak into this spot to either draft a RB, WR.
32.
New
York Giants – Doug Martin RB (Boise St)
They could go with a TE
here in Fleener but I think they try to get some depth at the RB position considering
they got rid of Jacobs, and Bradshaw is injury prone. Doug Martin has caught a
lot of scouts attention and could be the second RB off the board. He is
probably in a close race with David Wilson from Virginia Tech, but I think the
Giants take him here. Another possibility could be Quinton Coples a DE from
Clemson.
