2012 First Round NFL Mock Draft (12/19)

2012 First Round NFL Mock Draft (12/19)

1. Indianapolis - Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford) - I see a (more likely) scenario where the Colts trade Luck for more picks to bolster the roster immediately & still get Peyton's future successor.  Luck is the consensus #1 overall player. Can't predict trades, so the obvious choice is to leave Luck as the top pick.
2. St. Louis - Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State) - Rams should re-sign Brandon Lloyd, but Bradford needs all the help he can get.  Blackmon is a physical nightmare for corners. Combined w/ Lloyd, it could be a dangerous assignment for defenses in the NFC West.
3. Minnesota - Matt Kalil (OT, USC) - Kalil has decided to enter the NFL Draft.  This was the right choice because he's the highest rated OT, and a sure top five pick.  Minnesota can now protect Ponder's blindside for the next 10 years.  WR or even CB is also an option.
4. Tampa Bay - Morris Claiborne* (CB, LSU) -  Tampa is in need of some serious philosophy changes.  They'll probably look at their roster and see the talent is way better than a team with the fourth overall pick in the draft.  In doing so, they'll likely go best player available (BPA).  Claiborne fits that bill.  Their secondary could use an upgrade anyway, so taking the best DB makes since here. 
5. Cleveland - Trent Richardson* (RB, Alabama) - Man what a beast! Peyton Hillis could be moving on with what looks like to be an ugly ending.  Hey Mike Holmgren, want Browns fans on your side still?  Replace him with Richardson.  He's a beast!  He can do it all.  And he does it with explosion.  Whether it's going through the hole, over a defender, passed a defender, making plays out of the backfield or pass protection
6. Jacksonville - Alshon Jeffery* (WR, South Carolina) - Jaguars need a stud in the passing game to provide a balanced attack on offense and another playmaker to relieve Jones-Drew of some pressure.  Jeffery is a red zone target with great hands.  He's just what they need.
7. Buffalo - Sam Montgomery* (DE/OLB, LSU) - Buffalo went defense with their pick last year (Marcel Dareus), they'll do it again this year.  This time they boost their pass rush.  LSU has the most impressive defensive front in football.  They rotate eight guys but they have one the stands out more than any other.  Sam Montgomery.  He's a nightmare off the edge.  He's strong at the point of attack and relentless in pursuit.
8. Miami - Robert Griffin III* (QB, Baylor) - Smooth, athletic QB with a live arm.  He's taken Baylor to heights it's never been in school history.  He'll fit nicely in Miami with their smash mouth OL and versatile running back, Reggie Bush. Home run pick!
9. Carolina - Dre Kirkpatrick* (CB, Alabama) - Carolina could look at WRs here or they could look at DTs as well.  I think they will go with another standout player in this draft.  Their maybe no equal from an athletic standpoint to Kirkpatrick in this draft.  He's so long (6'3) and fast (sub 4.3).
10. Washington - Mark Barron (SS, Alabama) - The Redskins need a leader. Barron is exactly that.  He leads by example.  His game is aggression and discipline.  He'll provide stability to the back end of the Skins' D.
11. Kansas City - Jonathan Martin* (OT, Stanford) - The Chiefs need to rebuild the left side of their O-line.  Martin would be a great choice with Kalil already off the board.  He loves to run block but also has the length and feet to excel in pass protection.
12. Philadelphia - Vontaze Burflict* (MLB, Arizona State) - This guy is a terror.  He has spurts where he is Patrick Willis-esque.  A true MLB would go miles for the Eagles' D.
13. Tennessee - Quentin Coples (DE, North Carolina) - Tennessee has Derrick Morgan but it won't stop them from adding another quality defensive end.  Coples is huge at 6'6 and weighing almost 280 lbs.  He's a run stopper who can get to the quarterback with speed or power.
14. Chicago - Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame) - Jay Cutler is screaming for an elite receiver from his couch right now.  The Bears are a playoff team, but if they ever want to be a Super Bowl team, their offense has to consist of more than just passes to your running back.  Floyd will give them a legit #1 option in the passing game.
15. San Diego - Luke Kuechly (Boston College) - The Chargers need heart.  The need a leader.  They someone who can come in and change the mentality of the team without stealing any of Rivers' thunder... How about the tackling machine from BC, Luke Kuechly?  He plays with passion and intensity and will fit the defense perfectly.
16. Arizona - Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa) - Arizona needs a Left Tackle.  Reiff needs an NFL team.  He comes with good size, great feat and a nasty streak to match.
17. Cincinnati (f/ Oakland) - David DeCastro (OG, Stanford) - This guy is a terror in the run game. He reminds me Steve Hutchinson when I watch him play.  His feet are so good, you almost want to play him at tackle.  That is until you see the aggressiveness and nasty streak he plays with.  He has guard writtin all over him.  That's a good thing too.  The Bengals love balance in their offense.
18. NY Giants - Zach Brown (OLB, North Carolina) - They need linebackers in the worst way.  They have a solid defense but no real sideline to sideline tacklers.  Once they get that issue solved, I expect the G-Men to have a Top 5 defense yearly.
19. Seattle - Melvin Ingram (DE, South Carolina) - Pete Carroll knows you have to dominate the trenches before you can have the success you want.  He'll grab an elite pass rusher to help his back seven.
20. Cincinnati - David Wilson* (RB, Virginia Tech) - Trent Richardson has already shaken Roger Goodell's hand, received his number and playbook.  The Bengals will "settle" for David Wilson.  This guy is a burner.  He has vision and balance.  He will excel behind the mauling offensive line of Cincinnati.
21. Denver - Alonzo Dennard (CB, Nebraska ) - Dennard is a solid corner that excels in man and zone coverages.  The Broncos have an aging secondary.  Denver realizes they won't have Champ Bailey forever so they take a player that can be groomed to be the #1 corner in a couple years.
22. Dallas - Janoris Jenkins (CB, North Alabama) - Cowboys need secondary help badly.  A shutdown corner would go a long way in improving that defense.  Jerry Jones will draft Jenkins hoping he becomes Rob Ryan's version of Darrelle Revis.
23. NY Jets - Courtney Upshaw* (DE/LB, Alabama) - Calvin Pace is nothing special and Aaron Maybin plays well in spurts.  Rex Ryan hasn't had a consistent pass rusher since arriving in New York.  They'll draft the premier pass rusher in the SEC and hope it gives them the boost they're looking for. 
24. Cleveland (f/ Atlanta) - Brandon Thompson (DT, Clemson) - As they transition back to a 4-3 defense, they need to add the personnel along the front seven. Thompson is a monster who could play one-tech or 3-tech in a 4-3.  He'll be welcomed by the LB corps.
25. Detroit - Mike Adams (OT, Ohio State) - If Detroit can find secondary help with this pick, they could very well go defensive back.  Right now, Adams is their best bet because they need help at tackle and it's not a reach pick at all.  They'll look for secondary player in round two in this scenario.
26. Houston - Alameda Ta'amu (NT, Washington) - Wade Phillips is doing quite well as coordinator for the Texans.  Cushing and Ryans are two stud LBs who will benefit greatly from a true NT lined up to demand double teams.  No brainer for Houston.
27. Pittsburgh - Cordy Glenn (OG, Georgia) - A massive guard.  Pittsburgh has lost some of the old ground-n-pound run game it used to be known for.  By selecting Glenn, they'd place him next to Pouncey and help the runshing attack.
28. Baltimore - Dont'a Hightower (LB, Alabama) - The Ravens know Ray Lewis isn't going to around much longer.  They select Hightower to be Lewis' eventual replacement.  Hightower will bide his time playing inside and out (maybe rushing opposite of Suggs on third downs) until Ray Lewis retires.
29. San Francisco - Ray Ray Armstrong* (SS, Miami) - Armstrong is a freakish athlete who will only get better with time.  He can play free or strong safety.  He covers deep and can come into the box to be another linebacker.  He will fit perfectly with the hard hitting defensive unit of the Niners.
30. New England - Stephon Gilmore* (CB, South Carolina) - Even with some young players starting to produce, New England still needs help at cornerback.  Look no further than Stephon Gilmore.  He's a natural athlete with both man and zone coverage abilities.  He has a knack for making plays, which is something all coaches covet. 
31. New England (f/ New Orleans) - Reuben Randle* (WR, LSU) - As long as New England has Tom Brady so their passing game won't need any major help, but they could use help with the vertical game.  Brady's main targets are a 5'9 possession slot receiver and two tight ends.  Randle will come in with the size on the outside along with the speed to make a difference. 
32. Green Bay - Jarvis Jones* (OLB, Georgia) - Green Bay doesn't need much but a true pass rusher that is familiar with the 3-4 could boost their sometimes sketchy defense.  Jones is athletic and relentless in pursuit of the QB and would excel in the Dom Capers 'Cover 7' 3-4.