The NFL Draft is almost here. I don’t like the new draft format personally. I enjoyed the all day Saturday and Sunday. Here’s my question: How will kids get drawn to the draft like I did? I’ve been watching the draft since I was 8-years old. How is my son going to watch the draft when he gets a little older? It doesn’t get over until after midnight. I never understand stuff like that. Is the NFL really making that much more money? In a few years I would like to sit down and watch the draft with my son. I guess I don’t understand how society works. Anyway, here is my third attempt at a mock draft. I’ll have my final mock of record up next Wednesday.
Also, for those of you interested I will be running a live draft blog Thursday, Friday and Saturday where I give a rapid reaction to every single pick. Check it out and feel free to give me your feedback in the comments section. After the draft I will have a bunch of team and fantasy breakdowns as well.
1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
This is a no-brainer. The Colts have been settled on Luck for months now and he’s done nothing to scare them off.
2. Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin, QB Baylor
I’m guessing the Redskins didn’t trade up to take an OT. Griffin is headed to Washington where he’ll do his best to make Mike Shanahan more than just an average coach. Griffin is my top rated player in this draft. I think he’s going to be a star.
3. Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT USC
I don’t like that Adam Schefter keeps suggesting the Vikings won’t select Kalil because that means it came from someone in Minnesota. I think the Vikings want to trade down but if they stay at No. 3 I’m still going with Kalil. He’s by far the most technically sound offensive tackle in this draft.
4. Cleveland Browns – Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State
I think the Browns will try and trade a few times in this draft, so they likely won’t be picking here. However, if they stay and are committed to Colt McCoy, they have to help him out. The Browns have the worst receivers in the NFL, so Blackmon would be an obvious upgrade. I’ve had the Browns taking Blackmon over Trent Richardson the entire time and SI’s Peter King agrees, so that’s a good sign. Like Schefter, if King says something about the draft he got it from a person high up in the organization.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Trent Richardson, RB Alabama
I know Greg Schiano and I’m betting that he’s drooling over Richardson. You want to see a team run the ball? Wait until you see the Bucs offense this season. I think Richardson will be a stud from the moment he walks onto the field in the NFL. I don’t see any way Richardson makes it past the Bucs.
6. St. Louis Rams – Morris Claiborne, CB LSU
This is an easy pick in my eyes if the draft shakes out this way early. Let me put it this way; I can name more defensive backs on TCU than I can the Rams. That’s a problem. Claiborne is the top rated CB in the draft and he’ll help the Rams struggling secondary right away. The Rams are said to love Richardson as well, so if he slips to No. 6, the Rams could go in that direction as well.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Stephon Gilmore, CB South Carolina
Peter King “suggested” that Gilmore could go in the Top 7 picks. That means someone in Jacksonville told him the Jags really like Gilmore. I agree. Gilmore’s tape was very impressive and I don’t mind him going this high. He has the skills to become an elite NFL corner. Either way, it’s doubtful Gilmore gets out of the Top 10 on draft day. Or is it draft night now?
8. Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill, QB Texas A&M
This would be a perfect landing spot for Tannehill. I think he has upside but I don’t believe Tannehill ready to come in and start right away. Miami can ride Matt Moore for a year while Tannehill develops and prepares to take over in 2013.
9. Carolina Panthers – Luke Kuechly. LB Boston College
Gut call here. Most people have a DT going to Carolina and that may be the case but the Panthers linebackers were such bad tacklers last year at times I thought they were fixing games. Kuechly would come in and immediately help solve that problem. I’m probably wrong with this pick but I just see Kuechly being a perfect fit in Carolina.
10. Buffalo Bills – Riley Reiff, OT Iowa
I’ve had Michael Floyd going here in my previous two mocks and I still think that’s a possibility. However, if Reiff is still on the board the Bills will be hard pressed to pass on him considering their weakness at the offensive tackle position.
11. Kansas City Chiefs – Fletcher Cox, DT Mississippi State
Scott Pioli and Romeo Crennel love to build around big, interior defensive linemen and Cox is one of the best in this draft class. The problem is every time KC drafts a defensive lineman in Round 1, you never hear from them again. Hopefully Cox will end that trend for the Chiefs. He’s really moving up draft boards though and I won’t be surprised if Cox ends up going as high as No. 7 to Jacksonville.
12. Seattle Seahawks – Melvin Ingram, DE South Carolina
The Seahawks have a very good young secondary, now they need to help them out by putting more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Ingram has been my top rated DE since the draft process started and he’s done nothing to make me move him out of the top spot. This would be an excellent selection for Seattle.
13. Arizona Cardinals – Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame
Floyd is my top rated receiver in this draft and I’ve compared his skills in the red zone to that of Larry Fitzgerald. If the draft shakes out this way the two will be playing together, making life miserable for opposing corners. I think Fitzgerald and Floyd will instantly become one of the top receiver tandems in the NFL. One thing’s for sure, Kevin Kolb will like this pick. Some people have Floyd going later but in my opinion a guy as talented as him won’t get out of the Top 13 picks. There are too many teams that need a playmaker at receiver in this draft.
14. Dallas Cowboys – Mark Barron, S Alabama
God only knows what Jerry Jones is going to do but Barron makes sense on so many levels for Dallas. He’s by far the best safety prospect in the draft and Dallas hasn’t had a good player at that position since Darren Woodson was in his prime. The Cowboys would look hard at G David DeCastro if he’s still on the board but I think their secondary was in such shambles last year that Barron is the best option.
15. Philadelphia Eagles – Dontari Poe, DT Memphis
Jason Peters was lost for the season and even though the Eagles signed Demetress Bell, they could still go OT with this pick. I’ve had Devon Still going here in my first two mocks but Poe’s athleticism could intrigue the Eagles. I’ve said Poe is the second coming of Mike Mamula, so why not have him go to Philly? I don’t project trades but I think there is a good possibility that Philadelphia trades up in the draft with a team like the Rams to select Fletcher Cox.
16. New York Jets – Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB Alabama
The Jets desperately need a pass rusher. Upshaw can play both with his hand down or OLB rushing off the edge. I think the Jets have to go pass rusher if one is available at this spot. Whitney Mercilus would be another option here if he’s still on the board.
17. Cincinnati Bengals – David DeCastro, G Stanford
This would be the dream scenario for the the Bengals. Cincinnati badly needs an upgrade at guard and DeCastro is one of the highest rated players at that position to come out in a long time. Seems like an easy one to project. DeCastro may be the safest pick in the draft at any position. The guy is an absolute mauler.
18. San Diego Chargers – Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB Illinois
The Chargers really need to bolster their pass rush and selecting the versatile Mercilus would be a step in the right direction. San Diego could go in a lot of different ways here but Mercilus would be tough for the Chargers to pass up.
19. Chicago Bears – Michael Brockers, DT LSU
It looks like the Bears are targeting either a receiver or defensive lineman with this pick. I like Kendall Wright as a possibility here but considering this is a deep receiver draft, Brockers would offer better value. Brockers dominated at times at LSU and while he was a bit inconsistent, when he’s on Brockers is as good as any DT in this draft. I think getting a guy with his overall physical ability at 19 would be a heck of a pick for Chicago.
20. Tennessee Titans – Quinton Coples, DE North Carolina
The Titans will likely go defense with this pick and while some teams are down on Coples, getting him at 20 represents some good value for the Titans. I was never a fan of Derrick Morgan. I always thought he would be a bust in the NFL, so I still think Tennessee needs an upgrade at defensive end. If the Titans are one of the teams that like Coples, they won’t let him slide any further.
Source: bleacherreport.com
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Alabama
The Bengals need a CB and Kirkpatrick was arrested for smoking weed. Sounds like a perfect fit to me. On the field, Kirkpatrick is impressive and it’s doubtful a player with his talent at a position NFL teams covet will fall much further than 21.
22. Cleveland Browns – Cordy Glenn, OT Georgia
I had Brandon Weeden going here and I still believe that’s a strong possibility if Cleveland trades down. However, if they pick at 22 and Glenn is available, this is a perfect match. The Browns need to badly upgrade their offensive line and Glenn has the versatility to play both tackle and guard. After watching his tape, Glenn is my second rated OT behind Kalil.
23. Detroit Lions – Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford
Teams have mixed feelings on Martin but the Lions are said to be one that loves him. With all the top corners are off the board and offensive tackle being one Detroit’s biggest need areas, this pick makes a lot of sense. I think DeCastro was by far the most dominant lineman on Stanford’s team the past two seasons but I’m higher on Martin than some people.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers – Dont’a Hightower, ILB Alabama
This is one of those perfect matches. The Steelers need to add a young inside linebacker and Hightower has the combination of size, speed, production and nastiness that Pittsburgh looks for in its defensive players. Hightower can step right in and start for the Steelers as a rookie. The best player/team fit in the draft.
25. Denver Broncos – Coby Fleener, TE Stanford
The Broncos could go with a DT here if there’s a player at that position still on the board they like. However, don’t rule out Fleener. The Broncos signed Jacob Tamme but tight end is a position where they lack depth. Also, the two tight end set is all the rage in the NFL and don’t think that’s lost on Peyton Manning. He’s seen what his good friend Tom Brady has done with two quality tight ends. Tamme and Fleener would present a lot of matchup problems for opposing defenses.
26. Houston Texans – Kendall Wright, WR Baylor
If Wright is still on the board at 26, it should take Houston about four seconds to hand in its card. In my opinion, Wright is the fastest football player in this draft at any position. I don’t care about 40 times, I’m talking running with football pads on. This guy can flat-out fly and he would be the perfect complement to Andre Johnson.
27. New England Patriots – Shea McClellin, OLB/DE Boise State
A lot of people have the versatile McClellin going to the Patriots now, which means it likely won’t happen. However, I put him here just so we can hear how much he reminds every announcer of Mike Vrabel for the next 10 years. If the Pats take McClellin I say Mike Mayock compares him to Vrabel in the first 30 seconds. Place your bets.
28. Green Bay Packers – Chandler Jones, OLB/DE Syracuse
Statistically the Packers had the worst pass defense in NFL history last season. While a lot of factors went into that dubious honor, the lack of a pass rush was tops on the list. Jones is a great athlete who has been moving up draft boards. Also, he’s the brother of the baddest man on then planet - UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones - so that’s good enough to get the former Syracuse star drafted this high in my book.
29. Baltimore Ravens – Rueben Randle, WR LSU
I had C Peter Konz going here in my previous mock but Peter King said the Ravens weren’t going to draft him, so we can likely cross Konz off the list. I’m sure the draft won’t go like this but if it did one strong possibility here would be Randle. It’s funny because the guy I see when I watch Randle on tape is Anquan Boldin. With the real Boldin getting older, why not draft his replacement? The trio of Randle, Torrey Smith and Ed Dickson would give Joe Flacco talented pass catchers for the foreseeable future.
30. San Francisco 49ers – Devin Still, DT Penn State
The 49ers are a tough team to project but when in doubt Jim Harbaugh can never have enough big, physical defensive linemen. I actually have Still rated as the best DT in the draft and it won’t surprise me if he goes in the Top 15 picks. If he’s still on the board at 30, he would be a steal for a team that already has one of the top defenses in the NFL.
Source: Yahoo.com
31. New England Patriots – Jerel Worthy, DT Michigan State
A little birdie told me the Pats love Worthy. With Vince Wilfork getting a little long in the tooth, I can see Bill Belichick taking a interior defensive lineman with one of his two first round picks. Notre Dame S Harrison Smith could also be a possibility here considering the Patriots starting safeties wouldn’t be on the first-team defense at Alabama.
32. New York Giants – Mike Adams, OT Ohio State
I don’t think Adams will fall this far but I couldn’t find another good landing spot for him. If he does drop to 32, the Giants will take a long look at him. New York takes the top guy on its draft board and with offensive tackle being a need position for the Giants as well, Adams would be a logical pick at the end of Round 1.
You have been consistent with Decastro and Kirkpatrick going to the Bengals. If they can only get one of those two which one do you think they will go with?
Probably Kirkpatrick because he plays a more coveted position. But you can’t go wrong with DeCastro. He’s as solid a prospect as there is in this draft.
Like the mock. Pretty sensible projections. Do not like Wright as much as you though. I see Randle being the better receiver.
I like Randle as well. I just prefer Wright if I had to choose between the two. It’s a close call for me though.