| 2012 Mock Draft - 1st Round |
| Last Updated: January 29, 2012 |
Mock Draft: Picks 1-16 - Picks 17-32 - Round 2 - Round 3 - Rounds 4-7 |
| 1. Indianapolis Colts |
Stanford University
Now that the regular season is over, Andrew Luck can start apartment searching in Indianapolis. There's been no doubt all season he'd be the first overall selection come April, the only question has been which team will be picking there. Following the Colts loss of Peyton Manning for the 2011 season, they won just two games with Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky under center and have now earned the right to select perhaps the best quarterback prospect since Manning. Peyton is due a $28 million roster bonus on March 8 and the break-up between player and organization appears inevitable and if he's healthy for next season there is little to no doubt he'll be wearing a different uniform for the first time in his NFL career. Luck is the real deal and should start from day one for the Colts, and the two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up should have Indianapolis contending again in the AFC South within the near future.
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Also Considered: none
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| 2. Washington Redskins (projected trade w/ St. Louis) |
Baylor University
St. Louis trades #2 to Washington for #6, #39, #133 and a 2013 4th. -- There hasn't been a single player who has made greater strides this year than RG3. There is no doubt in my mind that Griffin will be the second player drafted, and St. Louis should receive trade offers from Cleveland, Washington and Miami. Washington's quarterback play this season was atrocious, whether it be Rex Grossman or John Beck under center. The fact that Mike Shanahan thought he could win anything with either of them is nothing short of laughable. Griffin will have to get comfortable under center, as he works mostly from the shotgun, but is a smart kid and hard worker, so this shouldn't be a long-term issue. Griffin has a high ceiling and Shanahan is known to take a player based on perceived potential.
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Also Considered: none
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| 3. Minnesota Vikings |
University of Southern Cal
The Vikings reached for Christian Ponder at #12 in the 2011 NFL Draft and he needs to be better protected to have any chance of developing into a franchise quarterback. Minnesota allowed 49 sacks last season, more than all but four teams in the NFL. Right tackle Phil Loadholt has a bad knee, is very inconsistent and should be much better than he sometimes plays and Charlie Johnson is an average left tackle at best and is expected to move to guard in 2012. Matt Kalil is the most NFL ready tackle prospect in this draft and can start from day one. If the Rams don't find a trade partner for Griffin at #2 and use the pick to take Kalil for themselves, the Vikings would do well trading back a little for Riley Reiff or Jonathan Martin.
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Also Considered: Justin Blackmon (WR-Oklahoma State), Morris Claiborne (CB-LSU)
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| 4. Cleveland Browns |
Oklahoma State University
This is one of the tougher picks in the first round to project and what the Browns decide will have a domino effect on the rest of the top ten picks. The Browns are going to have to decide whether or not they want to trade up for RG3 or to stick with Colt McCoy under center, but either way they need some big-time talent on offense. Blackmon put up bigger numbers in college than former Oklahoma State wideout Dez Bryant and will give Cleveland a legitimate #1 receiving target for the first time in quite a while. Between RG3, Blackmon and Trent Richardson the Browns can't really mess this up and at this point the pick could go either way.
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Also Considered: Trent Richardson (RB-Alabama)
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| 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Louisiana State University
Tampa has focused on building their defensive line over the past two years and filling out the secondary should be next on the to-do list. Ronde Barber has to retire soon, and the Bucs do not have a player capable of stepping in to start for him when that does happen. This is especially a priority if Aqib Talib misses time, pending the results of his March court case for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. With Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cameron Newton in their division, the Bucs need personnel to stop the pass. Claiborne is the best cover corner in this year's class and can develop into a true shut down corner. The Bucs will also consider Trent Richardson but LeGarrette Blount is a solid feature back when the team isn't playing from behind all the time.
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Also Considered: Trent Richardson (RB-Alabama), Riley Reiff (OT-Iowa)
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| 6. St. Louis Rams (projected trade w/ Washington) |
University of Iowa
Washington trades #6, #39, #133 and a 2013 4th to St. Louis for #2. -- Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon is off the board to Cleveland and this is too early for any other wide receiver but franchise quarterback Sam Bradford needs to be better protected regardless. St. Louis allowed more sacks than any other team last season; Bradford alone was sacked 36 times in just ten games and Reiff is the Rams' best bet to keep him upright for the next ten years. Rodger Saffold looked very solid in 2010 but regressed quite a bit in 2011 and looks more like a guard or right tackle moving forward. Jason Smith has not lived up to his draft selection and suffered a third concussion in Week 7 which could threaten his career. Blackmon has been mocked to the Rams quite a bit by other media outlets but even if he were still avaliable following the trade with Washington Reiff would be the better selection.
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Also Considered: Michael Floyd (WR-Notre Dame)
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| 7. Jacksonville Jaguars |
University of North Carolina
If this is how the board falls for the Jaguars, they definitely won't be running to the podium to make their selection. They have needs at WR, CB, DE and OT but none of Michael Floyd, Dre Kirkpatrick or Jonathan Martin are really slam dunk picks at #7. Coples isn't either, but his stock is rising this off-season despite not looking like a first rounder on film in 2011. Aaron Kampman is solid but missed time in each of the last two seasons with his second torn ACL and his durability and future are a concern. Matt Roth and Jeremy Mincey are both free agents and Coples is just scratching the surface of his potential. Given how many options the Jaguars have at this point, it wouldn't be a surprise if they entertain trade offers to move down a few spots and choose between who is still available a little lower in the first round.
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Also Considered: Michael Floyd (WR-Notre Dame), Dre Kirkpatrick (CB-Alabama), Jonathan Martin (OT-Stanford)
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| 8. Carolina Panthers |
Penn State University
The Panthers drafted Terrell McClain and Sione Fua in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft hoping to improve off the NFL's 23rd ranked rush defense. Unfortunately for Carolina, their rush defense was still a huge liability last season, ranking 25th and giving up on average 130.8 yards per game on the ground. Still is inconsistent in just about every facet of the game but his physical skill set is impressive and he has a lot of promise so it wouldn't be a surprise if he came off the board in the first half of round one. In Cameron Newton's first season, the Panthers scored on average 25.4 points per game, good for fourth in the league. Carolina is on the right track and should continue to improve if they invest some early picks into their defense. However, until their defense is even league average they have no shot at ever competing in the NFC South.
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Also Considered: Dre Kirkpatrick (CB-Alabama)
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| 9. Miami Dolphins |
University of Alabama
Whether the Dolphins are picking eighth or ninth is pending a coin flip with the Panthers at the Scouting Combine. Vontae Davis was the only Dolphins' cornerback that received a positive grade this past season from Pro Football Focus and he was hampered all season by a bad hamstring. Sean Smith had a very poor season and Will Allen is regressing fast; the Dolphins ranked 25th in the league in pass defense, giving up an average of 249.5 yards per game. It's unclear how Kirkpatrick's stock will be affected due to a recent arrest on marijuana charges but he's a physical specimen at 6'3" with terrific speed and is a good fit in Miami's secondary. The Dolphins are one of the teams that should consider trading up with St. Louis to draft Robert Griffin but they may decide the asking price is too high and stand pat at #9.
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Also Considered: Jonathan Martin (OT-Stanford), Trent Richardson (RB-Alabama)
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| 10. Buffalo Bills |
University of South Carolina
Von Miller was a popular projected pick to the Bills last year but the Broncos snatched him up at #2 and Buffalo selected Marcel Dareus with the third overall pick. New defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt will likely play a 4-3 defense with a lot of 3-4 looks at Melvin Ingram is a perfect fit. He has proven to be extremely versatile and is the type of player that can move around and could fit in any scheme, with experience lining up at defensive end and shifting inside to tackle in a four-man front, as well as rushing the passer standing up. Given that Ingram can wear a lot of different hats for a defense this is a perfect landing spot for the pass-rushing specialist.
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Also Considered: Courtney Upshaw (DE/OLB-Alabama), Jonathan Martin (OT-Stanford), Michael Floyd (WR-Notre Dame)
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| 11. Kansas City Chiefs |
Stanford University
The Chiefs have shown in recent years that they like to build in the trenches with their early picks, and this year is no different. Current right tackle Barry Richardson was abysmal this past season, rating 75th out of 76 eligible offensive tackles in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. Martin is a terrific run blocker already and can start right away at right tackle with the potential to switch to left tackle in the future. With running back Jamaal Charles set to return after tearing his ACL in Week 2 this season the Chiefs would have the physicality needed up front to push for a playoff berth in the weak AFC West. New head coach Romeo Crennel may want a new QB to groom himself but Luck and RG3 will obviously be off the board and there's no one else worthy being selected in the top half of the first round.
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Also Considered: David DeCastro (OG-Stanford)
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| 12. Seattle Seahawks |
University of Alabama
Upshaw played outside linebacker for Nick Saban's 3-4 defense at Alabama but he might be best suited playing with his hand in the dirt at the DE position. Upshaw shows more explosion and a quicker first step from a three-point stance. The Seahawks really don't have anything special at the defensive end position after Chris Clemons, who reached double digit sacks for the second straight season. However, Red Bryant is a good run stopper but not much of a pass rusher and is a free agency anyway and Raheem Brock regressed in 2011. The Seahawks could consider trading down a little bit to pick up a few extra draft picks and then go with Nick Perry, who fits the Seahawks pass-rushing prototype slightly better than Upshaw. If the Seahawks don't use the franchise tag or re-sign Marshawn Lynch they'll consider Trent Richardson, who would be a slam dunk pick and a steal already at this point in the first round.
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Also Considered: Trent Richardson (RB-Alabama), Nick Perry (DE-USC)
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| 13. Arizona Cardinals |
University of Notre Dame
Michael Floyd is everything that you look for in a wide receiver and he has the potential to be a star in the NFL. Right now though, he will serve as an incredibly complimentary piece in Arizona's offense. He'll be a great second option across from Larry Fitzgerald, and I dare say that they will make each other better. At 6'3", 224 pounds he's got great size, and he couples that with ideal speed and exceptional hands. He's a touchdown scoring machine, with a total of 37 in his career at Notre Dame. Floyd recorded 100 catches for 1,147 yards as a senior and should be the second wide receiver off the board. He's going to make the Cardinals offense very dangerous, and will be a huge help to Kevin Kolb.
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Also Considered: David DeCastro (OG-Stanford), Luke Kuechly (ILB-Boston College)
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| 14. Dallas Cowboys |
Stanford University
The Cowboys lost guard Bill Nagy for the year and he was marginal at best to begin with. Dallas lost the reputation for having a strong interior line a long time ago and DeCastro hopes to bring that reputation back. There have been four interior offensive linemen drafted in the Top 21 in the last three years (Mack, Iupati and the Pouncey twins) but it wouldn't be a surprise if DeCastro goes higher than any of them. He's the top interior lineman in this draft and should be able to help keep Tony Romo healthy as well as open up holes for the dynamic duo of DeMarco Murray and Felix Jones.
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Also Considered: Janoris Jenkins (CB-North Alabama), Nick Perry (OLB-USC)
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| 15. Philadelphia Eagles |
Boston College
The Dream Team has been anything but and if they want to redeem themselves they'll have to figure out how to stop the run. Drafting Kuechly, this year's Butkus Award winner as the top linebacker in the nation, would be a step in the right direction. In three years at Boston College, Kuechly made 532 total tackles, declaring for the draft a year early yet just 13 tackles short of the FBS record. He is a cerebral linebacker who diagnoses plays very quickly and displays incredible instincts. There was a little hesitation on this pick given that the last time the Eagles drafted a linebacker in the first round was when they took Jerry Robinson in 1979. Kuechly is a relatively safe selection but if the Eagles decide to go in another direction they could also consider a wide receiver such as Alshon Jeffery or Kendall Wright.
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Also Considered: Alshon Jeffery (WR-South Carolina), Kendall Wright (WR-Baylor)
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| 16. New York Jets |
University of South Carolina
Finally the rest of the league is starting to catch up with our view of Mark Sanchez and even Rex Ryan is dropping clues that he may not be the Jets long term solution at quarterback going forward. Unfortunately there isn't a quarterback on the board worth taking here and if the team remains stuck with Sanchez, the Jets would be wise to surround him with more weapons. Santonio Holmes was benched in the Jets regular season finale and his teammates felt he quit on them based on his body language. Plaxico Burress has been effective but is also a shell of his former self and is 34-years-old. Jeffery can give the Jets another solid target who can eventually develop into a number one option in the future. If the Jets decide to use this selection on defense they might consider Southern California's Nick Perry as a 3-4 linebacker or Alabama safety Mark Barron.
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Also Considered: Nick Perry (OLB-USC), Mark Barron (S-Alabama), Ryan Tannehill (QB-Texas A&M)
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