With the NFL Combine coming to Indianapolis near the end of the upcoming week ahead, it is best to release our first NFL Mock Draft. Before April’s NFL Draft, I will be providing four mock drafts. Mock Draft 1.0 assumes that each NFL roster will remain the same, and it does not include the probability of future free agent destinations. Each of the four Mock Drafts will also deal with the assumption that there will be no trades in the first round of this year’s draft.
Here is our first NFL Mock Draft, enjoy!
1. Indianapolis Colts-QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
The Colts have already announced they will select Luck with the 1st pick, but the bigger story is if Luck will sit or start his first NFL game in September
2. St. Louis Rams-WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
Blackmon would be a tremendous upgrade at wide receiver for the Rams
The Rams need a lot of help offensively, and Blackmon would be a great weapon for quarterback Sam Bradford
3. Minnesota Vikings-CB Morris Claiborne, LSU
Antoine Winfield is aging, Chris Cook may not return to Minnesota, and the Vikes blew four 4th quarter leads in 2011…time to shore up the defensive secondary
4. Cleveland Browns-QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor
The Browns desperately need an offensive playmaker, so why not select the 2011 Heisman Trophy winning Baylor QB?
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-OG David DeCastro, Stanford
The Bucs have talent, but the offensive line needs a makeover
6. Washington Redskins-RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
If the Redskins keep this pick, they should pick the best player available to help kick-start an inconsistent offense
7. Jacksonville Jaguars-OT Matt Kalil, USC
The Jaguars could use some help defensively, but adding offensive weapons or protection for quarterback Blaine Gabbert is a must
(Coin flip between CAR and MIA will determine draft position)
8/9. Carolina Panthers-DE Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
The Panthers have many holes defensively, and drafting Mercilus gives the Panthers a gifted pass rusher opposite of defensive end Charles Johnson
8/9. Miami Dolphins-CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
A quarterback would be helpful, but no quarterback is good enough to draft here, therefore the Dolphins add Kirkpatrick to help fortify the Dolphins’ defensive secondary
10. Buffalo Bills-OT Riley Reiff, Iowa
The Bills could use defense, but offensive tackle has been a glaring weakness for a long time in Buffalo
(Coin flip between KC and SEA will determine draft position)
11/12. Kansas City Chiefs-ILB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
With Romeo Crennel in charge, the Chiefs look to add some help at inside-linebacker and add Kuechly, who is a tackling machine
11/12. Seattle Seahawks-DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina
Seattle needs a pass-rusher, and Coples’ value is a tremendous choice for the ‘hawks outside of the top ten
13. Arizona Cardinals-OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
The Cardinals’ 3-4 scheme lacks a pass-rushing outside-linebacker, as Upshaw would be a perfect fit in Arizona
14. Dallas Cowboys-CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
Dallas has many cornerbacks to take a serious look at here, as Gilmore is the best cornerback available at this point of the draft
15. Philadelphia Eagles-DT Michael Brockers, LSU
The Eagles could use help elsewhere, but adding Brockers arguably gives the Eagles the NFL’s best defensive line in 2012
16. New York Jets-DE/OLB Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan should take advantage of a golden opportunity to draft an outside-linebacker to fit his 3-4 scheme if Ingram falls here
17. Oakland Raiders (Rights to CIN)-WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
Floyd (3) would give Bengal's quarterback Andy Dalton an opportunity to operate a potentially scary offense in Cincy
Thanks to the Raiders, the Bengals fill a void at wide receiver alongside Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Green
18. San Diego Chargers-OG Cordy Glenn, Georgia
All-Pro offensive guard Kris Dielman’s health is in question, and the Chargers find Dielman’s predecessor
19. Chicago Bears-OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford
Injuries deteriorated the Bears in 2011, and Chicago drafts an offensive tackle for the second consecutive draft
20. Tennessee Titans-DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
The Titans need some help at defensive tackle, and Worthy is a beast who could help improve the Titans’ defense immediately
Branch (40) has the versatility to play on the defensive line or at linebacker
21. Cincinnati Bengals-DE Andre Branch, Clemson
Drafting Branch would give the Bengals quality depth along the defensive line
22. Detroit Lions-SS Mark Barron, Alabama
The Lions’ defensive secondary was horrible, and Barron’s style would add a greater punch to the Lions’ defense
23. Atlanta Falcons (Rights to CLE)-TE Dwayne Allen, Clemson
Cleveland needs offense, and the Browns draft the best tight end in the draft to potentially become RG3′s top target
24. Pittsburgh Steelers-OT Mike Adams, Ohio State
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is the most important player on the Steelers…he must be protected
25. Denver Broncos-CB Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt
With cornerback Andre Goodman and Champ Bailey not getting any younger, the Broncos select the Commodores’ cover-cornerback specialist
26. Houston Texans-WR Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
Houston is one of the most complete NFL teams…but the wide receiver position needs a boost
27. New Orleans Saints (Rights to NE)-WR Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina
Gisele would be very happy if the Patriots chose the Gamecocks “freak” wide receiver
28. Green Bay Packers-DE/OLB Vinny Curry, Marshall
Clay Matthews can’t solidify a pass rush all alone, as drafting Curry would help the Packers address their outside-linebacker issues opposite of Clay
29. Baltimore Ravens-ILB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State
A “Burfict” fit, the Sun Devils’ linebacker learns behind quality veteran Jameel McClain and future Hall-of-Famer Ray Lewis
30. San Francisco 49ers-WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
Tight end Vernon Davis can’t do it alone…the 49ers desperately needs a playmaker at wide receiver, and Wright would be a great selection here
31. New England Patriots-DL Jared Crick, Nebraska
Besides Vince Wilfork, the Patriots lack talent along the defensive line, and Crick would fit the Patriots’ defensive scheme perfectly
32. New York Giants-C Peter Konz, Wisconsin
The Super Bowl Champions are in great shape, but the Giants could use Konz’s versatility along their offensive line
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