TURFSHARKS.COM 2012 NFL MOCK DRAFT ROUND 1
April 23, 2012
April 23, 2012
1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
This offseason has been a mess for the Colts franchise largely because Jim Irsay couldn’t control himself on Twitter. Luck may not live up to “the next John Elway” billing but if the Colts can surround him with some weapons and rebuild their defense they’ll be a playoff team in 3 or 4 years.
2. Washington Redskins (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
***TRADE WITH RAMS*** Mike Shanahan saved his job and may have salvaged his legacy going all in for RG3. Ten years down the road this is going to be remembered as one of the best draft trades ever. RG3 is the most talented quarterback in this year’s draft; he will return the Redskins to greatness.
3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
The Vikings need a franchise left tackle but they’ve also got the worst secondary in professional football. The Vikings need to find two starting cornerbacks in this year’s draft so they’ll pass on a slightly overrated Matt Kalil.
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
The Browns haven’t been relevant in decades and that’s not going to change anytime soon. The best the Browns can hope for this year is to add an offensive weapon or two in the first round and hope Brandon Weeden is available in the early second round.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Matt Kalil, OT, USC
The Vikings royally screwed the Buccs taking Morris Claiborne 3rd overall and then the Browns added insult to injury taking Trent Richardson 4th overall but the Buccs get a nice consolation prize in Matt Kalil. The addition of Kalil solidifies the Buccs offensive line and takes a little pressure off Josh Freeman.
6. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Fletcher Cox, DE/DT, Mississippi State
***TRADE WITH REDSKINS*** The Rams are going to make the first major mistake of the draft by taking Fletcher Cox instead of Justin Blackmon and Sam Bradford is going to suffer because of it. The Rams should still be able to get a quality wide receiver early in the second round but he won’t be a game changer like Blackmon.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
The Jags let it be known they’d love to trade out of this spot but that was before they knew Justin Blackmon would still be available. Blaine Gabbert looked like a deer in headlights last year because his wide receivers sucked and the front office didn’t do him any favors overspending on Laurent Robinson in free agency.
8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
Ryan Tannehill is not a first round talent but after a disastrous offseason the Dolphins have no choice other than to pick him here. Dolphins’ fans should start praying now for some other team to trade up with the Jags for Tannehill because that’s the only way they’re going to dodge this bullet.
9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina
With Fletcher Cox off the board the Panthers will take the best pass rusher available and that is Melvin Ingram. The Panthers vastly improved their offense by taking Cam Newton with their first pick last year and this year it’s the defenses turn.
10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
The Bills need to find some weapons for Ryan Fitzpatrick if they’re ever going to make a serious run at a Super Bowl. Michael Floyd has some character concerns but his talent is undeniable.
11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
The Chiefs are an excellent team missing one key component; a good quarterback. Unfortunately, all the first rounders in this year’s draft are already off the board so the Chiefs will upgrade the inside linebacker position with one of the best tacklers to come out of college football in decades.
12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
The Seahawks need to find someone who can get after opposing quarterbacks and that someone is Quinton Coples. It’s true that some people question Coples’ motivation and work ethic but Pete Carroll is a master at getting everything out of his football players.
13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
The Cardinals missed out on the top 2 wide receivers in this year’s draft but luckily one of the best offensive tackles slipped out of the top 10 right into their laps. Kevin Kolb will have no excuses if the Cardinals get a solid offensive lineman like Reiff in the first round and a quality wide receiver to compliment Larry Fitzgerald in the third round.
14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
The Cowboys need to bolster their defensive front seven but they’ve also got to address a major hole at strong safety. Mark Barron is hands down the best safety in this year’s class reminding people of a young Brian Dawkins and there is no way the Cowboys will let him slip to a division opponent like the Eagles.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
The Eagles have made it known they want to upgrade their pass rush and with Quinton Coples off the board Michael Brockers is the next best option for their defensive scheme. If Michael Vick can stay healthy and the defense plays better the Eagles could be a Super Bowl team.
16. New York Jets (8-8): Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis
Rex Ryan’s defense didn’t play up to expectations last year because they didn’t have a nose tackle that could occupy blockers and collapse the pocket in passing situations. Dontari Poe didn’t play in a big name conference and his production was less than stellar but he has the potential to be a dynamic playmaker at the next level akin to Haloti Ngata.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): David DeCastro, G, Stanford
David DeCastro slips a little bit in this mock because he’s a “safe” prospect and plays a lower value position. The Bengals hit it out of the park with A.J. Green and Andy Dalton last year; David DeCastro would be another tremendous addition.
18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
The Chargers need to upgrade their defense; more specifically their secondary. Dre Kirkpatrick is the best defender on the board and is an excellent value at this point in the first round.
19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
The Bears made an extremely smart move getting Brandon Marshall from the Dolphins even though he should be wearing a straight jacket in a padded room somewhere but that won’t stop the Bears from getting Jay Cutler another weapon. With Marshall and Kendall Wright the Bears have a legitimate chance of competing with the Packers and Lions.
20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
The Titans have a lot of holes to fill but the highest rated prospect available who makes sense for them is Stephon Gilmore. After losing Cortland Finnegan in free agency the Titans were left with a major hole at cornerback.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
The Bengals continue to upgrade their defense with this pick so they can be more competitive in one of the toughest divisions in football. The Steelers and Ravens are officially on notice because the Bengals are going to be a serious contender this year.
22. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
The Browns still need a quarterback and a wide receiver but at this point Jonathan Martin is too good of a prospect to pass up. The Browns will plug in Martin at right tackle and solidify their offensive line.
23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
The Lions really wanted Janoris Jenkins or Mike Adams but neither of them could stop smoking marijuana long enough to cash a NFL first round draft pick lottery ticket so the Lions are forced to fill another need at center. Peter Konz is an excellent prospect with some minor injury concerns.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Amini Silatolu, G/T, Midwestern State
Anybody who thinks the Steelers should use this pick on a defensive player like Dont’a Hightower should go to YouTube and watch Big Ben’s ankle bend 90 degrees in the wrong direction. Sure the Steelers’ defense is getting older, but the biggest priority has to be keeping Big Ben healthy.
25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC
Most mocks will have Jerel Worthy or Devon Still slotted here but neither of them could make the impact Nick Perry will. The Broncos do need to address the defensive tackle position but they can wait until the second round to do so; they’ll use this pick to replace an underwhelming Robert Ayers.
26. Houston Texans (10-6): Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
The Texans were oh so close in 2011 until Matt Schaub went down. If the Texans want another shot at the big dance this year they’ll add another wide receiver to compliment Andre Johnson. How many defenses have secondaries that can cover two tall possession wide receivers?
27. New England Patriots (13-3): Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois
The Patriots had one of the worst defenses in recent memory last year and they need to use the plethora of picks they have in this year’s draft to upgrade almost every position. Whitney Mercilus was arguably the best pass rusher in college football this year and would be a massive upgrade to the Patriots front seven.
28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Shea McClellin, DE/OLB, Boise State
The Packers are a lot like the Patriots in that they need to upgrade several positions on defense. With opposing offenses focused on stopping Clay Matthews the Packers couldn’t establish a pass rush in 2011. Adding Shea McClellin would take some blockers off Mathews and help them get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
The Ravens have to get younger on defense but unlike the Steelers who had more pressing needs the Ravens can afford to draft the best guy available who fits their scheme. Ray Lewis isn’t getting any younger and Dont’a Hightower would be a perfect eventual replacement.
30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Cordy Glenn, G/T, Georgia
The 49ers are extremely fortunate that a prospect like Cordy Glenn is still on the board. Glenn is a perfect fit for the 49ers that need an interior offensive lineman with the versatility to play either tackle position if someone goes down with an injury.
31. New England Patriots (13-3): Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse
Some people might call this a crazy pick after the Patriots already took Whitney Mercilus with their first pick in the first round but the pass rush is everything in the NFL right now. After getting lit up by Eli Manning in the Super Bowl the Patriots will be more than willing to spend two premium picks on guys who live to hunt quarterbacks.
32. New York Giants (9-7): Bobby Massie, OT, Ole Miss
Most mocks will have Doug Martin, RB, Boise State here but good running backs can be found in every round of the draft so the Giants will instead chose to get Eli Manning some life insurance in the form of Bobby Massie. Mike Adams is another option here but after testing positive for marijuana at the Combine his stock is going to drop.
