2012 NFL Mock Draft
Mock Draft Updated April 16th, 2012
NYJD Staff
1. Indianapolis Colts
QB Andrew Luck, Stanford* (Scouting Report)
Andrew Luck is the number one player in this class and he’s going number one overall. This pick is locked in.
2. Washington Redskins (f. St. Louis)
QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor* (Scouting Report)
The Redskins traded a whole boat load of picks to get the right to draft RGIII here, there is no way they pass on him for another option. Much like the Indy pick above this one is locked in.
3. Minnesota Vikings
OT Matt Kalil, USC* (Scouting Report)
Some recent speculation has Minnesota passing on the LT from USC, but we don’t see that. Kalil is the blindside protection Ponder needs, and the insurance policy that the Vikings need. The rumors about Kalil falling may be nothing more than a smokescreen.
4. Cleveland Browns
RB Trent Richardson, Alabama* (Scouting Report)
The pick here may end up being BPA even if that’s not the intent, with Alabama RB Trent Richardson still on the board the Browns make the easy selection and grab him. Richardson’s style should work well in the AFC North and we already know he can more than taking the pounding of being a 20+ carry a game player.
5. Tampa Bay Bucs
CB Morris Claiborne, LSU* (Scouting Report)
With Richardson gone the Bucs take the best player left in CB Morris Claiborne. Claiborne gives them a lock down CB and some insurance in case Aqib Talib continues to have off the field issues. Tampa may be in one of the most fortunate draft positions as they only need to sit back and wait for the draft to come to them.
6. St. Louis Rams (f. Washington)
DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State* (Scouting Report)
Rumor has it the Rams wouldn’t mind moving down some at this point to get even more picks. New GM Les Snead knows how to draft in terms of value and if he can’t maximize that here he may look to take the player with the highest ceiling. Cox adds a force in the middle that should make a good set of pass rushers even better.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State (Scouting Report)
For all the questions about who the #1 WR in this class is the Jags stick to the script and take Justin Blackmon here. The Jags add another weapon for Blaine Gabbert who will very much be in a put up or shut up situation this season.
8. Miami Dolphins
QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M (Scouting Report)
I’m not quite sure how the Dolphins off season could have been much worse to date but let’s just say it’s been a nightmare. They miss out on a shot at RGIII, they miss out on Peyton Manning, and they have done very little in terms of free agency to improve their ball club. They also traded away their best WR for basically what amounts to peanuts. Tannehill can come in and be the star of a franchise that is now looking up to the rest of the division.
9. Carolina Panthers
WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame (Scouting Report)
The Panthers take the WR who may consider to be the #1 guy over Justin Blackmon. Floyd who is a big physical WR who liked to get down the field could be the perfect weapon for Cam Newton over the next few years. Carolina is a team to watch next season after this pick.
10. Buffalo Bills
DE Quinton Coples, UNC (Scouting Report)
So what they signed Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, the Bills were so poor last year at getting after the passer they take another guy in Round 1. The Bills allows Coples to move back to his RE position and he should even see some time inside at DT in passing downs.
11. Kansas City Chiefs
OT Reilly Reiff, Iowa* (Scouting Report)
Kansas City adds a LT prospect to the mix in Reiff who has taken some heat from people who consider him a RT only prospect. If Reiff can prove he can man the left side the Chiefs will have given Matt Cassel every opportunity to succeed as they can.
12. Seattle Seahawks
ILB Luke Kuechly, Boston College* (Scouting Report)
The Seahawks lack LB depth in the middle and with Kuechly’s versatility the pick makes sense from a value stand point.
13. Arizona Cardinals
OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford* (Scouting Report)
Martin potentially adds some more protection to an OL that has struggled to protect almost any QB in recent years.
14. Dallas Cowboys
DT Michael Brockers, LSU* (Scouting Report)
Brockers high upside has him going this early. The Cowboys hope that the ability he flashed at LSU is able to come to full fruition in Jerry World.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
OG David DeCastro, Stanford* (Scouting Report)
The Eagles take the OG early and many may call it a reach but make no mistake about it, the Eagles get a dominant offensive lineman.
16. New York Jets
OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama (Scouting Report)
Upshaw falling him is a gift in itself, with many of teams ahead of us fixing their pass rush issues the Jets get a gift that should just keep on giving.
