Mock Drafts

[Big Mick]

I've been asked to post a mock draft for an NFL site and wanted to see what you guys thought of it first.

I'll put explanations in as I go through each one, but here is how it stands at the moment.

Round 1

1. Indianapolis (2-14) – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2. TRADE – Cleveland via St. Louis (2-14) – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
3. Minnesota (3-13) – Matt Kalil, OT, USC
4. St. Louis from Cleveland (4-12) – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
5. Tampa Bay (4-12) – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
6. Washington (5-11) – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
7. Jacksonville (5-11) – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
8. Miami (6-10) – Quinton Coples, DE, UNC
9. Carolina (6-10) – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
10. TRADE – Cincinnati from Buffalo (6-10) – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
11. Kansas City (7-9) – David DeCastro, OG/OT, Stanford
12. Seattle (7-9) – Devin Still, DE/DT, Penn State
13. Arizona (8-8) – Jonothan Martin, OT, Stanford
14. Dallas (8-8) – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
15. Philadelphia (8-8) – Luke Kuechly, LB, Arizona State
16. New York Jets (8-8) – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
17. Buffalo from Cincinnati, from Oakland (8-8) – Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
18. San Diego (8-8) – Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
19. Chicago (8-8) – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
20. Tennessee (9-7) – Cordy Glenn, OG/OT, Georgia
21. Cincinnati (9-7) – Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
22. St. Louis From Cleveland, from Atlanta (10-6) – Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
23. Detroit (10-6) – Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
24. Pittsburgh (12-4) – Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
25. Denver (8-8) – Alphonso Dennard, CB, Nebraska
26. Houston (10-6) – Nick Perry, DE, USC
27. New England - from New Orleans (13-3) - Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois
28. Green Bay (15-1) – Fletcher Cox, DE/DT, Miss State
29. Baltimore (12-4) – Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
30. San Francisco (13-3) – Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
31. New England (13-3) – Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
32. New York Giants (9-7) – Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

Round 2

1. St. Louis (2-14) – Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State
2. Indianapolis (2-14) – Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
3. Minnesota (3-13) – Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia
4. Tampa Bay (4-12) – Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
5. Cleveland (4-12) – Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State
6. Jacksonville (5-11) – Andre Branch, DE, Clemson
7. Washington (5-11) – Ryan Tanehill, QB, Texas A&M
8. Carolina (6-10) – Zach Brown, OLB, UNC
9. Buffalo (6-10) – Ronnell Lewis, OLB, OKC
10. Miami (6-10) – Brandon Weeden, QB, Ok State
11. Seattle (7-9) – Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall
12. Kansas City (7-9) - Jerel Worthy, DT, Mich State
13. Dallas (8-8) – Kelechi Osemele, OG/OT, Iowa State
14. Philadelphia (8-8) – Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson
15. New York Jets (8-8) - Mohammed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
16. New England - from Oakland (8-8) – Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia
17. San Diego (8-8) – Lavonte David, ILB, Nebraska
18. Chicago (8-8) – Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin
19. Philadelphia - from Arizona (8-8) – Juron Criner, WR, Arizona
20. Tennessee (9-7) – Cam Johnson, DE, Virginia
21. Buffalo - from Cincinnati (9-7) – Orsen Charles, TE, Georgia
22. Detroit (10-6) – Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa State
23. Atlanta (10-6) – Brandon Washington, OG, Miami
24. Pittsburgh (12-4) – Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame
25. Denver (8-8) – David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech
26. Houston (10-6) – Brian Quick, WR, App State
27. New Orleans (13-3) – Sean Spence, OLB, Miami
28. Green Bay (15-1) – Bruce Irvin, DE/OLB, West Virginia
29. Baltimore (12-4) – Ben Jones, OC, Georgia
30. San Francisco (13-3) – Joe Adams, WR/KR, Arkansas
31. New England (13-3) – Kendall Reyes, DE/DT, UConn
32. New York Giants (9-7) – Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina

 

[DC_fan]

I have seen a few mock drafts already. Yours is as good as any I have seen.

For the Cowboys I think they will pick a CB in the first round as you have selected. I think they could live with your selection Jenkins, but would prefer Kirkpatrick. To get him though they may have to trade up.

The Cowboys second round pick will depend a lot on who they sign in free agency.

They say the NFL draft is a real lottery. Putting together a mock draft is even more so.

 

[Tom155]

no chris polk? dont think kirkpatrick will go top 10 & dennard wont go in the 1st imo

 

[legend]

Agreed on Dennard. I think broncos go DT in the first. Cox I think goes to Denver. Would love Still but he will go earlier.

Still a good mOck though Mick. Well done.

 

[abpanther]

Some general points:

- Richardson won't slide that far
- Reuben Randle won't slide out of the first round
- When it's all said and done, Tannehill will be a 1st round pick
- Too high for Adams and Quick IMO

Good effort

 

[Raider_69]

Like DC ive read a lot of mocks and nothing there shocks me. Nothing outlandish id say could never happen

i tend to agree with ab that richardson wont slide that far, but i do like the move from Cinci to trade up to get him.
and agree that Dennard wont be a 1st rounder when its all said and done. I think Devon Still is going a tad high
and i think you've got Konz around the right mark, i just dont think it will be Detroit, if they go offense (which is think is unlikely) i think they will go for a T replacement for Backus.
whilst i like the spot for Tannehill, makes sense, its about where he SHOULD be taken, i think ultimately he's a 2nd round prospect but do agree with ab that like last year, with Ponder, Locker he is a guy who is likely to go higher than projected and will wind up in round 1.

 

[abpanther]

Seems like Kuechly to the Eagles is a lock in every draft I've seen, therefore I expect someone to leapfrog them and take him

 

[Raider_69]

i expect him to be there, and the AR to do something crazy like draft a CB, or Oliner

Like 2 years ago, when everyone had us trading up to get Earl Thomas, and then we traded up and Earl Thomas was there, and we had him, and i was losing my shit... and then he selected Brandon Graham

wish we could have that pick again.

 

[abpanther]

What's happened with Graham anyway? I liked him coming out of college, injuries?

 

[Raider_69]

pretty rotten luck with injuries, he came off a pretty bad one at the end of 2010-2011 season and with no real off season he never really got a chance to get going this year. Im hopeful that now that he's finally injury free, with the OTAs and Mini Camps under the guidance of Washburn that he'll come on strong this year, Cole and Babin arent getting any younger and itd be nice to have him develop into a replacement for one of them

on the few occasions he played significant minutes and was healthy, he flashed real play making ability. Never consistantly though

 

[Dogs Of War]

Cincy won't trade up to grab Richardson. If he falls to them, so be it. And I suspect we will pick up a #2 WR in free agency, a CB is the biggest need on this team and one will be taken in the first round.

 

[Raider_69]

Whilst i agree its unlikely, I think it would be awesome if Cinci traded up. Dalton, Green and Richardson, thats something to build around for a decade. You can pick up a #2 WR in FA as you said, and then spend a 2nd on a CB like Dennard, or even look to someone like Finnegan or Grimes (if he hits F/A)

unlikely but id love the move if they did it

 

[kurt faulk]

.

i think the bucs may take Richardson. don't rule out the rams taking claiborne, people rate him that highly.

word is the raiders will not tag m bush. bengals would be the obvious suitor for him.

.

 

[Big Mick]

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i think the bucs may take Richardson. don't rule out the rams taking claiborne, people rate him that highly.

word is the raiders will not tag m bush. bengals would be the obvious suitor for him.

.

Why the thumbs down??

 

[Big Mick]

no chris polk? dont think kirkpatrick will go top 10 & dennard wont go in the 1st imo

Good point.

I had Polk going at the end of the 2nd round initially.

But he has had a terrible off-season so far. He had a shocking senior bowl. Issah Pead & Doug Martin both outplayed him massively.

He looked about 10-20lbs overweight from what I saw and he was slow...his cuts were pathetic.

Unless he has a great combine I think he falls to the beginning of the 3rd.

Dennard I was conflicted. I don't rate him as a 1st either. But there is a fair bit of buzz about him at the moment on what I'm reading. So wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Big Mick]

Agreed on Dennard. I think broncos go DT in the first. Cox I think goes to Denver. Would love Still but he will go earlier.

Still a good mOck though Mick. Well done.

Only reason I had Denver going for a CB was because I saw huge issues in the secondary late. Aside from Champ Bailey I don't see much there. Dawkins is fading and with persistent neck injuries, Rahem Moore not looking great, along with Perrish Cox likely going to prison...they need cornerback help.

I think they make a push for a couple of DT's in FA which is why I think they go for a CB.

 

[Big Mick]

Some general points:

- Richardson won't slide that far
- Reuben Randle won't slide out of the first round
- When it's all said and done, Tannehill will be a 1st round pick
- Too high for Adams and Quick IMO

Good effort

Richardson is a candidate to slide. A lot will depend on Tampa. Whoever they go for will determine remainder of the order.

Reuben Randle I agree may not slide but I couldn't decide whether him or the choice I made for New England.

Tannehil I agree will be a first rounder but a lot will depend on his surgically repaired foot. If he cannot throw properly he is screwed. So I'm factoring in a 2nd round grade until I see him throw better. I was tempted to give him to Washington.

Adam's and Quick will blow up at the combine. Adam's was a class above at the senior bowl. He showed great flashes and was a real playmaker.

Quick was outstanding in the senior bowl practices I watched. Caught everything. He was a victim of shit QB play in the Senior Bowl but watch him light up the combine.

IMO Adams will end up a late 2nd round pick. Quick..may go 2nd pending his combine and Pro-Day but he will be a good player in this league, whether it is late second or early third.

 

[Big Mick]

Like DC ive read a lot of mocks and nothing there shocks me. Nothing outlandish id say could never happen

i tend to agree with ab that richardson wont slide that far, but i do like the move from Cinci to trade up to get him.
and agree that Dennard wont be a 1st rounder when its all said and done. I think Devon Still is going a tad high
and i think you've got Konz around the right mark, i just dont think it will be Detroit, if they go offense (which is think is unlikely) i think they will go for a T replacement for Backus.
whilst i like the spot for Tannehill, makes sense, its about where he SHOULD be taken, i think ultimately he's a 2nd round prospect but do agree with ab that like last year, with Ponder, Locker he is a guy who is likely to go higher than projected and will wind up in round 1.

Devon Still will be needed by Seattle imo. With Brockers gone he is the next best DT. Seattle needs to boost their D-Line. Still is going to be really good fit for them.

With Konz I agree I was trying to find a replacement for Backus, but no other OT was good enough at that stage. Raiola is old and crap...and Konz would be a great fit for the Lions.

If he didn't go to Lions I was giving him to the Ravens.

 

[Big Mick]

Cincy won't trade up to grab Richardson. If he falls to them, so be it. And I suspect we will pick up a #2 WR in free agency, a CB is the biggest need on this team and one will be taken in the first round.

If Richardson falls to 10. Shit yeah they'd consider it. A guy that talented at RB with only Bernard Scott on the roster...he is twice as good as Lamar Miller and wont cost you that much and you still have a late first round pick that you could trade out of as well to get that 2nd round pick back.

The Bengals are apparently going to be after Stanford Routt & Tramon Williams. If they get one of them, it'll be fine at the back end for the Bengals.

Jerome Simpson is likely not going to be around and they need a legit #2 that wont cost $6-7m a year that someone like a Manningham etc will. Drafting a #2 is easier than paying a bundle for one.

 

[Raider_69]

I think the packers are a good fit for Konz, they are under some cap pressure, especially if they franchise Finley, so Wells might not be coming back
other than that, i agree, the ravens are a good fit given they need to find a replacement for Birk. Those are my two spots for him.

You do make a very good point on Detroit's C position. If i did a mock today id probably have Mike Adams going to them, but i see in your mock he's been taken some time ago by SD who also have a need for an LT prospect so its entirely likely he's not there, and i agree beyond him, i dont think there is a first round tackle prospect.

Ive got Poe ahead of Still, but i dont there is much between them it will be a bit of a who best fits your system type of call.

I love that draft for the eagles though, given i think Asante gets sent for a 2nd or 3rd, if we keep jackson, coming out of the first 2 rounds with Kuechly and Thompson would be awesome. And would pretty much instantly make us a good run stuffing team. Particularly if Broderick Bunkley comes back to Philli as ive seen rumoured. Graham, Bunkley, Thompson and Cole on running downs. Babin, Dixon/Patterson, Jenkins and Cole on passing downs.