2012 Mock Draft

If you're a longtime reader of the blog, you know that I love me some ESPN fantasy games.  Being a dork, I also am a big fan of draft forecasting. Hence my borderline obsession with the ESPN Draft Forecaster. Hop on and play with me for your chance to win 2 grand at Best Buy-- just make sure not to beat me, because I want a new laptop.

Alright, here's the latest version of my mock draft, which I will be submitting via the Draft Forecaster Competition:



1. Andrew Luck, QB (Indianapolis)
2. Robert Griffin III, QB (Washington)
3. Morris Claiborne, CB (Minnesota)

Alright, so the third overall pick is pretty highly contested. But the way I see it, they're in a league with Stafford, Cutler, and that Rodgers guy that nobody has heard of. I can understand grabbing the SoCal kid, and I can understand trading down for a shot at getting multiple guys. But at the end of the day, I think the Vikes management stays home and takes a Corner to stay competitive in their own league. And besides, it's not like that secondary is any good.

4. Trent Richardson, RB (Cleveland)

I don't know what all the fuss is about on this pick. It seems pretty clear to me.

5. Luke Kuechly, ILB (Tampa Bay)

This kid out of Boston College is a beast and I'm really high on him. The two positions Tampa could have used were corner (Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees...) and another runningback. Well, tough sledding, because the premiere guys at those slots just got taken. They can still grab a quality backer though, one who I think will be big in the league even ten years from now. Kuechly is about as highly decorated as they come and is a great pick, even though the two players the Bucs want here are already gone.

6. Justin Blackmon, WR (St Louis)
7. Melvin Ingram, DE (Jacksonville)

It's entirely possible that someone will trade up for the Jax spot to grab Tannehill before the Dolphins can. It's entirely possible, but I don't think it's going to happen.

8. Ryan Tannehill, QB (Miami)
9. Fletcher Cox, DT (Carolina)
10. Matt Kalil, OT (Buffalo)

At this point, Buffalo management loses their lunch from sheer excitement, realizing that Kalil has fallen to them all the way down at ten. I've been harping on Buffalo to fill their holes on the line for a couple years now. Guess the joke is on me.

11. Stephen Gilmore, CB (Kansas City)

This is admittedly a weird pick, but KC has been drafting with purpose of late. They want to build a sick young defense, and this gets them one step closer. The Chiefs' pass coverage was rather average last year, and now that they play Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning twice a year, they will need to take steps to be proactive against those players.

12. Quinton Coples, DE (Seattle)
13. Michael Floyd, WR (Arizona)

Now that the Arizona coach and management has denied that they will take Michael Floyd as per the request of Larry Fitzgerald, they can get on with taking Michael Floyd as per the request of Larry Fitzgerald.

14. Mark Barron, S (Dallas)

Mark Barron is one of my favorite picks in this draft, and Dallas' secondary is what needs the most help. They've already started patching the holes, and this (or fellow Alabama teammate and other possible Cowboy Dre Kirkpatrick) gets the Boys closer to winning the NFC East.

15. Brandon Thompson, DT (Philly)
16. Courtney Upshaw, DE (New York Jets)
17. David DeCastro, OG (Cincinatti via Oakland)

Cincinatti needs two things really badly- a Guard and a receiver to play opposite of AJ Green.  I guess it's a good thing they have two first round picks then, huh?

18. Dontari Poe, NT (San Diego)

This is another weird pick, but the Chargers draft like dumbasses. It's not even close to their biggest need, but I just have a feeling they are one of the few teams that could potentially be in the market for this big, risky guy from Memphis who could just as easily be a bust as he could be a stud.

19. Riley Reiff, OT (Chicago)

Chicago is trying to have the best run game of the three NFC North teams that could actually compete for the division championship. They will probably be thrilled that Riley fell this far and snatch him up before anyone else can get him.

20. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Tennessee)
21. Kendall Wright, WR (Cincinatti)
22. Joe Adams, WR (Cleveland via Atlanta)

Pop Quiz: name a wide receiver from the Cleveland Browns that is actually worth naming in an online blog's hypothetically demonstrative pop quiz.

23. Janoris Jenkins, CB (Detroit)

The Lions grab Jenkins for the same reason Minnesota grabs Claiborne.

24. Cordy Glenn, OT (Pittsburgh)

The Steelers will be ecstatic to grab Glenn. He's a utility guy that can play multiple positions, and that's useful for a banged up line like the one in Pittsburgh.

25. Michael Brockers, DT (Denver)
26. Jonathan Martin, OT (Houston)

The Texans could easily opt to grab some quality guys to replenish their front 7, which has taken a couple hits over the last few months-- there's certainly enough d-linemen and backer prospects in the late first round. But that's just it- there's so many that they'll stick around into the early second round, where they'll have another pick. So I think the Houston's address a less critical need (O-line) here, if not for lack of quality prospects later on, then at the very least as a sign of good faith that they are willing to do what it takes to protect their stud Arian Foster and the running game.

27. Dont'A Hightower, ILB (New England via New Orleans)

New England will be looking to upgrade a rather paltry pass rush after last years' Superbowl appearance, and Hightower could be a monster rushing through the inside. OLB is a bigger need, but big boy Beli has to like the intangibles about Dont'a. He seems like a Patriot kind of guy.

28. Jared Crick, DE (Green Bay)

Similarly... I don't know what it is about Crick and the Packers, but he just seems like their type of guy.

29. Whitney Mercilus, DE (Baltimore)

If Ray Lewis doesn't want to be friends with an End whose last name is literally "merciless," then I'm not sure who he does want to be friends with.

30. Brian Quick, WR (San Francisco)

A bit of a bold pick by me, but I think San Francisco's defense will hold through the first round without a front 7 pick, which are most of what remains when you look at the prospects left on the board. I think the Niners elect to upgrade their West Coast stuff and go with a bit of a sleeper pick that could quickly evolve into a nice pass-catching threat. App State might have that guy in Brian Quick.

31. Kevin Zeitler, OG (New England)

Collegiate flag football players from Circle K International could have rushed through the holes in New England's offensive line by the end of last year. Going with a pass rush guy is fine for the first pick, but New England is just being irreponsible if they don't take an offensive guy here.

32. Coby Fleener, TE (New York Giants)

Frankly, I'd be shocked if the Giants didn't address the gaping need at tight end here.


That's all I've got for you today, come back next week (when school is done with) for a lot more content on the AL East and the hockey/basketball playoffs.