Dan Wernery Three Round 2012 Mock Draft - Pre-Combine Mock Draft
02-21-2012
Last Mock Draft before the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine. Expect to see a dramatic shakeup in rankings and future mock drafts after the combine
Round 1
| Pick | Team | Pos | Player | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indianapolis Colts | QB | Andrew Luck # | Stanford |
| The Peyton Manning is continuing to spiral out of control. At some point in the near future expect the Colts to part ways with Manning and move on with the best QB Prospect since Manning himself in 1998. A locker room with both Manning and Luck would create a laundry list of problems for the Colts as they begin to rebuild. | ||||
| 2 | St. Louis Rams | WR | Justin Blackmon # | Oklahoma State |
| The Rams will try desperately to trade this pick to a team interested in "RG3". Wide Receiver is need number 1 with Offensive tackle a close second. If the Rams don't sign a free agent wide receiver expect them go with Blackmon here. Sam Bradford desperately needs weapons in order for the organization to give a fair evaluation. | ||||
| 3 | Minnesota Vikings | OT | Matt Kalil # | USC |
| Matt Kalil is the first,second, and third player on the Vikings draft board. Vikings quarterbacks were running for their lives last season. Kalil is the type of franchise tackle that is needed to advance the progression of Christian Ponder. | ||||
| 4 | Cleveland Browns | QB | Robert Griffin # | Baylor |
| "RG3" is the type of player that can re-energize this once pround franchise. The Colt McCoy experiment has been a failure and without a true #1 receiver, the Browns need a quarterback who can create offense with his legs. The Browns may have to use its 22nd overall pick to move up two spots in order to draft "RG3" | ||||
| 5 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB | Trent Richardson # | Alabama |
| New head coach Greg Schiano is known as coach who embraces the ground game. The Bucs are in ideal position to draft Richardson with a young and talented offensive line. Richardson should continue to develop as a receiver. | ||||
| 6 | Washington Redskins | CB | Morris Claiborne # | LSU |
| Like the Browns, the Redskins will be on the phone with St Louis and Minnesota to move up to draft "RG3". The Skins would probably have to surrender a 1st round pick in 2013 to make this happen. If their stuck with this pick they go for the best corner on the board. Cornerback play was inconsistent after losing Carlos Rogers to the 49ers. | ||||
| 7 | Jacksonville Jaguars | DE | Quinton Coples | North Carolina |
| Don't be surprised if the Jags attempted to trade up for Justin Blackmon. If not Quinton Coples is the best pass rusher on the board. Jacksonville puts too much pressure on its secondary without a productive pass rush. | ||||
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | DT | Michael Brockers # | LSU |
| (determined By Coin Flip) I expect Brockers to test off the charts in Indianapolis. Brockers is a typical LSU defensive tackle who is quick off the ball and plays sideline to sideline. If the Panthers can become respectable on the defensive line, the rest of their defensive is in pretty good shape. | ||||
| 9 | Miami Dolphins | OT | Riley Reiff # | Iowa |
| With the Heat and Marlins stealing the spotlight in South Florida, the Dolphins could make themselves players in the "RG3" sweepstakes. With the hiring of former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbun as head coach, its likely they make a run at free agent Matt Flynn and upgrade the right side of the offensive line. The combination of Joe Thomas and Riley Reiff, the Dolphins would be set with bookend tackles for many years. | ||||
| 10 | Buffalo Bills | DE/34LB/OLB | Courtney Upshaw | Alabama |
| Last year the Buffalo pass rush yielded only 29 sacks. Courtney Upshaw is the best pure 3-4 pass rushing linebacker in this year's class. The Bills front seven could use a major influx of talent. Marcell Dareus is a nice start, but more is needed. | ||||
| 11 | Kansas City Chiefs | DT | Dontari Poe # | Memphis |
| The Chiefs front seven was highly productive in 2011. The only missing ingredient is a true 3-4 nose tackle. Poe is massive and extremely quick off the ball. Most mock drafts have Poe as a late first/early second round pick, but with the potential to work out well at the combine and position scarcity, expect Poe to go early | ||||
| 12 | Seattle Seahawks | CB | Dre Kirkpatrick # | Alabama |
| Corner is not a dire need of the Seahawks but the talent of a player like Kirkpatrick is hard to pass on. With a talented pair of safeties in Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, a talented corner prospect like Kirkpatrick can elevate this secondary to another level. | ||||
| 13 | Arizona Cardinals | OT | Jonathan Martin # | Stanford |
| Kevin Kolb and John Skelton had subpar years at quarterback but they could use help up front. Kurt Warner's quick release covered up a weak offensive line and the Cardinals must address this weakness in round one. Keep in mind the Cardinals do not have a second round pick due to the Kolb trade | ||||
| 14 | Dallas Cowboys | S | Mark Barron | Alabama |
| Mark Barron is the best safety in this class its not close. Dallas could go corner or safety with this pick however finding a quality corner will be much easier in round two. Since Roy Williams was in his prime 5 years ago, the Cowboys have struggled mightily at this position. | ||||
| 15 | Philadelphia Eagles | ILB | Luke Kuechly # | Boston College |
| For as talented as the Eagles are at defensive end and cornerback, they have just as many question marks at every other position. Defensive tackle is the top need however a sure-tackling linebacker is just as important. Kuechly is a tackling machine with a high football IQ that can make an impact quickly. | ||||
| 16 | New York Jets | WR | Michael Floyd # | Notre Dame |
| With the lack of production from an aging group of wide receivers, the Jets need to address this position early on draft day. Floyd was one of the most difficult receivers to cover in college football last season and is a value pick due to his off the field problems. | ||||
| Pick | Team | Pos | Player | School |
| 17 | Cincinnati Bengals | G | David DeCastro # | Stanford |
| (from Raiders) Despite making the playoffs last season the Bengals have a major lack of talent at guard, corner and safety. The Bengals like to run the football and DeCastro is the best run blocking guard since Steve Hutchinson. | ||||
| 18 | San Diego Chargers | DE/34LB | Melvin Ingram | South Carolina |
| Ingram is a superior athlete who might be slide in the draft due the perception he can only play in a 3-4. Larry English has not been productive since being drafted and Shaun Phillips is a shadow of his former self. | ||||
| 19 | Chicago Bears | G | Cordy Glenn | Georgia |
| The Bears offensive line showed some signs of improvement last season, but more talent is needed. Glenn will help prevent pressure up the middle and improve a running game that struggles to get yards up the middle. Wide Receiver is also a need, but the Bears needs really need a receiver over 6-2 and the value isn't here. | ||||
| 20 | Tennessee Titans | DT/DE | Fletcher Cox # | Mississippi State |
| The Titans need help generated a pass rush and its not just on the outside. Cox is the type of explosive interior pass rusher that can create opportunities for the edge rushers in this scheme. | ||||
| 21 | Cincinnati Bengals | CB | Janoris Jenkins | North Ala. |
| The loss of Johnathan Joseph to free agency and Leon Hall to injury, crippled the Bengals pass defense in 2011. When Nate Clements and Adam Jones are your starters in the playoffs, its time for a major talent upgrade. | ||||
| 22 | Cleveland Browns | WR | Kendall Wright | Baylor |
| (from Falcons) If the Browns are going to draft "RG3" then they might as well go for his top target at Baylor. Wright is an ideal slot receiver who has speed to stretch the field. | ||||
| 23 | Detroit Lions | OT | Mike Adams | Ohio State |
| The Lions are on the verge of becoming a top five offense and lack only two missing ingredients: Left and Right Tackle. Mathew Stafford missed too many games his first two years in the league and was hit a lot last season. Adams is an excellent pass protector who needs a little work on his run blocking. | ||||
| 24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | CB | Alfonzo Dennard | Nebraska |
| The Steelers defense started to show its age against Denver in the playoffs. The Steelers have relied on outstanding play from their safeties to cover up for sub par corners. | ||||
| 25 | Denver Broncos | RB | David Wilson # | Virginia Tech |
| "Tebow-mania" became phenomenon in 2011. For this to continue Tebow needs playmakers on offense. Willis McGahee had a career year, but its clear they need an explosive option at running back. Wilson has the speed and power to run inside and out and is a perfect scheme fit in this funky Denver offense. | ||||
| 26 | Houston Texans | WR | Alshon Jeffery # | South Carolina |
| When you look at the Houston Texan rosters, its clear they have the fewest weaknesses of any team in the league. If Matt Schaub were healty, I feel it would have been a Texans-Giants Super Bowl. The Texans could use depth at wide receiver due to the durability of Andre Johnson. Alshon Jeffrey is athletically gifted but is still raw. Jeffrey would be given adequate time to develop as a receiver. | ||||
| 27 | New England Patriots | DE/34LB/OLB | Whitney Mercilus # | Illinois |
| (from Saints) The Patriots are in desperate need of a pass rush. The Patriots also need to complete their transition to a 4-3 defense. Whitney Mercilus is a dynamic pass rusher who could immediately contribute on third down passing situations. | ||||
| 28 | Green Bay Packers | DT | Devon Still | Penn State |
| Besides BJ Raji, the Packers received very little contribution from their defensive line in 2011. Pressure on the edge was not a major problem, but up the middle was a different story. Still has the ideal body type and skill set to play in a 3-4 | ||||
| 29 | Baltimore Ravens | OLB/ILB | Vontaze Burfict # | Arizona State |
| Its clear Ray Lewis has lost a step and will likely retire after next season. Burfict is a highly skilled linebacker who tends to let his emotions get the best of him. With a mentor like Ray Lewis, Burfict could be an elite linebacker by 2014. | ||||
| 30 | San Francisco 49ers | WR | Rueben Randle # | LSU |
| The lack of a talented wide receiver is the key factor preventing this Niner team from taking the next step. Vernon Davis is an elite tight end and can't do it by himself. Randle has elite talent at wide receiver but played in an offense lacking creativity in college. | ||||
| 31 | New England Patriots | S | Harrison Smith | Notre Dame |
| Harrison Smith is a complete safety. He is solid in run support and can handle himself well in coverage. Smith has great instincts and would thrive on Bill Belichick defense. | ||||
| 32 | New York Giants | OT | Zebrie Sanders | Florida State |
| The Giants offensive line is aging quickly and lets face with better offensive line play would this team have lost seven games in the regular season. Sanders might be a bit of reach here, but there is clearly upside. Sanders is an above average pass protector who can handle speed rushers. | ||||
# Denotes Underclassman