Grate Debate

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 2^nd 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 3^rd 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 2^nd round. They could surprise and go with Brandon Weeden here or in the 2^nd 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 4^th 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.

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