A while ago, you may remember Mainzey and I posted our mock draft for the NFL, which will go for real on April 26th. A lot has changed since then, and I would like to offer you MY latest mock draft. Mainzey will provide his later this week, and the joy of being the author of this blog gives me the chance to challenge, question and in fact downright mock his selections. He he he.
1 Indianapolis Andrew Luck QB Stanford - Not a chance the Colts won't draft Luck. Not a chance.
2 Washington Robert Griffin III QB Baylor - The Redskins pulled off this years blockbuster trade, and they did specifically to get Griffin.
3 Minnesota Matt Kalill LT USC - Some rumours that this spot may be up for auction, but even if it is the Vikings will draft the best Left tackle in the draft, as they look to protect their QB of the future Christian Ponder
4 Cleveland Trent Richardson RB Alabama - Lot of people linking the Browns with the number three QB in the draft, expected to be Ryan Tannehill, but Browns GM Mike Holmgren does not nor has ever drafted a QB this high. Look for them to get offensive weapons in the first round, they look to maybe pick up Brandon Weedon at the top of the 2nd round.
5 Tampa Bay Morris Claiborne CB LSU - Despite a woefully low score on the Draft Combine Wonderlic Test, this is a need position for the Buccaneers, they won't pass up on Claiborne.
6 St Louis Justin Blackmon WR Ok State - Armed with a QB already in place, and additional first round picks in 2013 and 2014 thanks to the Washington trade, I expect St Louis to add a major target for Sam Bradford in Blackmon.
7 Jacksonville Riley Reiff OT Iowa - The Jags drafted QB Blaine Gabbert in this round last year, and watched him almost weep at the unstoppable pass rush he had to face. Kalill won't drop this far, and Reiff is the next best OT to provide some protection to Gabbert. Could be in the hunt for Blackmon if for some reason he drops this far.
8 Miami - Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M - I have written extensively on how badly the Dolphins have conducted themselves this off season. They have failed to land any blue chip QB, and my thoughts are they will exercise the relationship between Tannehill and Mike Sherman, their offensive coordinator (Texas A&M head coach in 2011). This is an awful reach, as Tannehill is NOT NFL ready.
9 Carolina Melvin Ingram DE South Carolina - The Panthers simply MUST address the defence in this years draft, and will look to improve a woeful pass rush. Many will have them taking Quinton Coples with this pick, but Ingram appears to be a better every down every game personality.
10 Buffalo Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame - The Bills were one of the teams who attacked free agency to improve their roster, allowing them to draft the best player available at this spot in the draft. They locked up the enigmatic WR Steve Johnson, so I would have them taking Floyd to give Ryan Fitzpatrick another weapon.
11 Kansas City Dontari Poe NT Memphis - The Chiefs have no glaring needs, but could stand an improvement in the key spot at nose tackle in their 3-4 defence. Poe is the best fit.
12 Seattle Luke Kuechly ILB Boston College - I disagreed with Mainzey when he suggested Kuechly would be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles at 15. I disagreed because he would have been perfect, but the Eagles have not drafted a Linebacker in the first round since before The Empire Strikes Back was released in cinemas (the first time). Seattle's defence is highly underrated, and the addition of this Boston College tackling machine will substantially help matters.
13 Arizona Cordy Glenn G Georgia - The Cardinals big money signing of Kevin Kolb was slightly underscored by an awful offensive line. Arizona elected to keep Kolb in place, so look for them to add some protection for him here. Maybe look for them to take a receiver, but Blackmon and Floyd won't be here.
14 Dallas Mark Barron S Alabama - This seems to be a consensus pick. The Cowboys secondary has been less than ordinary for far too long, and Barron is the best of an ordinary safety class.
15 Philadelphia Fletcher Cox DT Mississippi State - You can never have enough defensive linemen, and I expect (nay hope) my Eagles will follow the pattern set by the New York Giants in harvesting a cartel of d-line men to terrorise the QBs. Another defensive end is a possibility, but Coples is a space cadet and probably won't interest the Eagles
16 NY Jets - Courtney Upshaw OLB Alabama - The Jets have serious needs in several positions, notably at RT where Wayne Hunter excelled in mediocrity in 2011, but the studs at that position will be long gone by this time. A chance to upgrade their pass rush exists in Upshaw, who is capable of potentially playing outside in a 3-4 or at defensive end in 4-3.
17 Cincinnati Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama - Like Seattle, the Bengals have a very good and under the radar defence, but could use help at corner. Kirkpatrick appears to be the second best corner in this draft after Claiborne, and should see one of the Bengals two first round picks used on him.
18 San Diego Dave Decastro G Stanford - The Chargers need to win now to ensure further years with Norv at the helm, and the most important way to go about this would be to improve the protection around Phil Rivers, who had the crap kicked out of him in 2011. A receiver wouldn't hurt, but value can be found in lower rounds.
19 Chicago Stephen Gilmore CB South Carolina - The Bears suffered from rather awful contributions from their corners in 2011, and though they have an aging offensive line, I expect them to go for an upgrade in the secondary with Gilmore.
20 Tennesse Quinton Coples DE UNC - The Titans have upgraded their pass rush already by signing Kamerion Wimberley, but a good threat off the edge has eluded them since they let Jason Babin walk prior to 2011. Coples has some motivational issues, and has been accused of drifting in his senior year, but he is the best defensive around now than Ingram is way off the board.
21 Cincinnati Kendall Wright WR Baylor - The Bengals hit paydirt last year by drafting AJ Green, and its not beyond the realms of possibility that they will look to give him some competition by taking Wright, particularly as near rivals Cleveland may be looking to take him themselves.
22 Cleveland - Rueben Randle WR LSU - The Browns will probably be gutted that Wright will go the pick before them, however this is a deep and talented WR class. Randle is a good player, without the numbers to necessarily back him up.
23 Detroit Lions Jonathan Martin OT Stanford - Detroit from seemingly nowhere in 2011 became a high flying offence, a key part of which was keeping QB Matt Stafford healthy. Some O-Line help would certainly keep this ticking, and Martin is the best OT left at this stage.
24 Pittsburgh Dont'a Hightower ILB Alabama - The Steelers lost long time stalwart James Farriorthis offseason, and Hightower would fit the bill perfectly. Some would expect the Steelers to use this pick to draft a WR in case Mike Wallace does not return to the Black and Gold, but its safe to assume that he will.
25 Denver Michael Brockers DT LSU - Broderick Bunkley, the Broncos best run stuffing DT, jumped ship for New Orleans this off season, and the Broncos will likely snaffle up Brockers should he fall this far.
26 Houston Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech - The Texans need to give the returning Matt Schaub some new toys to play with, and a wideout to complement the awesome Andre Johnson will certainly be high on the wish list. Hill flew up draft boards everywhere by an awesome showing at the combine.
27 New England Andre Branch OLB Clemson - The Patriots, despite a playoff appearance, were awful on defence in 2011, with a nonexistent pass rush. Branch is equally comfortable playing as an OLB in a 3-4 (NE's base defence) but can also play with his hand on the ground as a DE.
28 Green Bay Nick Perry OLB USC - The Packers, like the Patriots, did not get where they are today by playing great defence, however with the dynamic Clay Matthews at LB the temptation must be to give him a partner in crime. Perry is as good as they come at this stage in proceedings.
29 Baltimore Peter Konz C Wisconsin - The Ravens have Matt Birk returning, but the thought must be that he is near to the end. Konz is the outstanding center in this draft, and should be the longterm replacement for one of the best players going round at that position.
30 San Francisco Coby Fleener TE Stanford - Vernon Davis came to the party in a big way during the playoffs, and the 49ers would probably love to give him a complimentary partner. Fleener is probably the top TE in this draft, and is familiar with Coach Harbaugh who coached him at Stanford.
31 New England Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois - I expect, despite taking Branch with their earlier pick in THIS draft, Bellichek will look to further enhance his defences pass rush. Mercilus, besides a great name for his position, is as good as you are likely to get. But don't be surprised by anything the Patriots do with this pick.
32 NY Giants Mike Adams OT Ohio State - The Champions have lost a bit of presence on the offensive line, particularly RT Kareem McKenzie who was past his best in 2011 anyway. Adams is a good solid prospect who could easily play at RT or LT.
Phew...so there you are. The ultimate mock draft. Now just wait and see how wrong I'll be.
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