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Mock Draft 2012
Colts, Rams have little choice
By Elliot Harrison | NFL.com
Analyst
Published: Jan. 17, 2012 at 11:12 a.m.
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The Colts have no choice but to take the best player available in the draft. Peyton Manning's neck is a huge uncertainty and even with full health, we're looking at a player who came into the league in 1998. Creed wasn't even popular yet. The time is now. Andrew Luck is the player.
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The Rams can't go with a bunch of stiffs at wideout again. Pro football 2012 is played in the secondary, with most good teams having three viable wideouts. The Rams will have cap space, but no one who can play in space. They must take Blackmon.
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Bucky Brooks, and many other analysts, have rated Kalil the second-best player on the board. So in the three-hole, he is appropriate value and conveniently fills a need for the Vikings, who have a young investment (Christian Ponder) to protect.
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Is it too early to junk the Colt McCoy project? Definitely. Is there enough confidence in McCoy to pass on RG3? No. If McCoy had been a first-round pick, then the Browns would have a difficult time justifying this pick. But with only a third-rounder (85th overall) invested in McCoy, moving on is more palatable.
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The Buccaneers picked defensive end Adrian Clayborn first last year, so they won't go in that direction. Trent Richardson is tempting, but LeGarrette Blount was not the main problem with this team in 2011. With Ronde Barber on the downslide (and a free agent), Claiborne fits nicely.
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Ask yourself this question: What team doesn't need a quality corner? If the Redskins can't get the quarterback they want, then the focus is on stopping other teams' offenses. With Roy Helu and even Evan Royster showing flashes, one can argue there is no need for Trent Richardson here.
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With an anemic pass rush in the Gene Smith era, the Jags look to fortify one of the edges. Of course, missing out on both Claiborne and Kirkpatrick at corner forces Jacksonville's hand.
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Carolina avoids the DT temptation as they already spent two third-rounders on that position in 2011 (Terrell McClain and Sione Fua). Instead, GM Marty Hurney opts for the best available offensive lineman on the board.
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The Dolphins take the next-best offensive lineman on the board, and in the process, keep a division rival (Buffalo) from getting the premier tackle it could really use.
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The surprise fall of Trent Richardson continues. The Bills jump on DeCastro a little earlier than draftniks expected college football's best available guard to go.
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With Thomas Jones soon to turn 55 and Jamaal Charles coming off major knee surgery, Scott Pioli yells loud enough and makes everyone feel uncomfortable enough to take Richardson. Romeo Crennel will be rolling with a two-headed monster in the backfield with a healthy Charles and Richardson.
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Pete Carroll was once a pretty well-known defensive coordinator in the NFL. He knows that controlling the middle is something, as he once coached Bryant Young and Dana Stubblefield on the '95 49ers, the league's top-ranked defense that season. Still combines with Brandon Mebane to change the tenor of the defense up in Seattle.
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The Cardinals need someone besides Andre Roberts and Early Doucet to complement Larry Fitzgerald. Notre Dame's Michael Floyd is too similar to Fitz, so the club goes with the explosive Wright from Baylor.
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The Cowboys could have really used DeCastro. And although safety is a HUGE area of need, Jerry Jones just re-signed Gerald Sensabaugh and doesn't want to take Mark Barron this high. Therefore, the Cowboys select Luke Kuechly to replace Bradie James and form a sick inside linebacker tandem with Sean Lee.
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The Eagles were eyeing Kuechly because they need a linebacker like a math major needs "Star Trek." But with Jerry Jones not exactly being a wingman, Andy Reid has to take Burfict instead.
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The sooner Jets fans don't have to see Eric Smith running five yards behind a receiver, the happier they'll be. Rex Ryan, too.
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Cincy takes Dennard over Janoris Jenkins because of some character concerns regarding the latter. Someone in the Bengals organization decides that a 38th character concern this decade is one too many.
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Yet another Alabama player off the board. The Chargers get a young stud who can edge rush. Upshaw gets a team with less talent defensively than his college squad.
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The Bears get a big target who can actually play. Just like Roy Williams. Except not at all.
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Although considered an ideal 3-4 linebacker, he could fit in nicely as a 4-3 end in the Music City. Besides, the Titans can't pass on the best player left on the board. Not with their front-seven concerns.
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The Bengals surprise some folks and take this exciting running back from Virginia Tech. Cedric Benson is a free agent, and might not have too much left anyway (he turns 30 in December and hangs out on boats a lot). Bernard Scott? Not the answer. More of a question, really.
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The Browns want WR help and don't explore the free-agent pool to get it. Jeffery might not blaze ... But what he'll do is something called "Red Zone." Cleveland just can't afford to pass up getting a wideout, although DE and RB are also areas of need. Jeffery will be a big target for McCoy or RG3 (see: pick No. 4).
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Surprising pick here. Cliff Avril is a free agent. Kyle Vanden Bosch is not the same guy he was a few years ago. Jim Schwartz is a defensive-minded coach who leads a team that's been trying to outscore everyone. Meanwhile, the Lions avoid taking a corner because they must see what they have in youngsters Aaron Berry and Alphonso Smith.
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Anyone in 2012 but Chris Kemoeatu. Please.
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The Broncos have the edge rushers, but no playmakers on the interior of the defensive front. Problem solved.
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Yes, Andre Johnson needs a playmate. But with the four best WRs off the board, the Texans give Wade Phillips a Texas-sized gift in Poe. He'll rotate with Shaun Cody to make the Houston front seven both fresh and that much more formidable.
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For those of you who were alive in 1982 … You have a better shot with a Rubik's Cube than you do prognosticating what Bill Belichick does in 2012's draft. I'll defer to many of my brethren in the industry, acknowledging that Belichick might see tremendous value in Cox's versatility in playing on a three- or four-man front.
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Erik Walden, it was real and it was fun. Can't say it was REAL fun. Meet the new boss.
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The Giants struggle to run the ball effectively, making running back Lamar Miller a possibility. Here's a prediction: Big Blue opts for pass protection on the edge.
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This pick just feels right. Konz can play on the interior or potentially start at center over Matt Birk, who is even older than Thomas Jones.
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I'd like to type: "In a bit of a surprise, the Niners take Frank Gore's immediate sidekick and eventual replacement in fellow Hurricane Lamar Miller." But with Kendall Hunter in the backfield already, and Michael Crabtree the only wideout of note signed past this season, getting Sanu is an investment in now.
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It was shocking that Tim Tebow didn't throw for 300 yards on the Patriots. Everybody else does. This is a need pick.
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