Rummy's 2012 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 (1st Round)

*Note:This is an early Mock Draft, that doesn't include the potential draft order changes at 8/9 & 11/12, that will be determined at the Combine, via a coin flip. I'll feature subsequent drafts once free agency is under way, and one final draft just prior to the actual draft in April.

 

1.Colts/ AndrewLuck: The love affair in Indianapolis is over, as it should be. After including a hefty 28 million dollar roster bonus in Peyton Manning's contract for the 2012 season, with the knowledge of multiple neck surgeries, Jim Irsay's unedited Twitter feed gave us all a ring side seat. All of the verbal cat fighting aside, Irsay can't afford to pay 23+ million guaranteed to Luck, as well as pick up Manning's option in March. Irsay will be all in for the next great franchise QB in Indy.

 

2. *Dolphins/Robert Griffin III (via trade w/ STL): You need an owner who's willing to part with draft picks and make a knee jerk reaction to bring in a "star" at QB, enter Stephen Ross. While some think Ross will make a play for Matt Flynn, after hiring former Green Bay OC, Joe Philbin as his new HC, but why pay that much guaranteed money for a backup, when you can snare a superstar in RG3?

 

3. Vikings/Matt Kalil: Let's not over sell this one. They need to protect Ponder, and open holes from Peterson. He's the best OT (or OL for that matter) available in the Draft. Easy call.

 

4. Browns/Morris Claiborne: I mulled this one over, and in the end, I couldn't see Heckert/Holmgren trading up for a QB, after they wisely traded down last year with Atlanta, and netted a nice haul of picks to build a team to last in the AFC North. I think pairing Claiborne with Joe Haden is a stronger move, than trading up for a QB that has very few weapons at his disposal. I think CLE will address adding a solid veteran QB either via free agency or later in the draft, and add weapons accordingly.

 

5. Buccaneers/ Courtney Upshaw: This is an interesting situation for newly hired HC, Greg Schiano. Is there a market to trade down for teams kicking the tires on Ryan Tannehill? Probably, but much later in the round. In the end, this young defense needs to fortify it's LB corps to defend against the dynamic offenses of the NFC South. Upshaw is arguably the most NFL ready and versatile defender on the board and can play 4-3 OLB for Schiano.*Note: Pondered Trent Richardson at this point, but couldn't bring myself to pass on an elite defensive player.

 

6. Redskins/Riley Reiff: Call me crazy, but I see Mike Shanahan taking a chance on another QB later in the draft, and fortifying his OL first. In the meantime, protecting Rex Grossman against the the healthy pass rush of the NFC East is key. Mike Mayock actually has Reiff as his number one OT on the board, and bookending him with Trent Williams will set up this OL for years to come.

 

7. Jaguars/Quinton Coples: Have to admit, after watching hours of cut ups on Coples, and most recently in the Senior Bowl, I've changed my opinion. I once had him as a slam dunk pass rushing pick for any team that drafts him. Now? I see a little bit of Vernon Gholston in him, inconsistent motor, who can get eaten up by OL with good technique. That said, I think the Jaguars sorely lack a pass rush, and will take a chance on Coples, in the hopes that he's more Peppers than Gholston.

 

8. Panthers/ Justin Blackmon: Seems crazy that a team that needs to solidify their DL would draft a WR like Blackmon, but the possibility of having Steve Smith & Blackmon as targets for Cam Newton is too tempting to pass up. The Panthers did draft McClain & Fua last year to beef up their DL, and I don't think they've given up on them yet. Blackmon is an elite talent that can help make this offense incredibly difficult to defend.

 

9. *Rams/Dre Kirkpatrick (via trade with the Dolphins): Jeff Fisher isn't afraid to draft a DB with off the field issues ( see Jones, Adam), in the name of talent. Kirkpatrick comes from a pro system in Alabama, and fills a glaring needs for the STL defense, that has a nice foundation in place with Laurainitis, Long and Quinn. Also, you can't coach 6'-3", and Kirkpatrick gives their back end a rangy CB to defend against the likes of Larry Fitzgerald and others.

 

10. Bills/ Melvin Ingram: A 3/4 OLB is a huge need for the Bills, and with Upshaw off the board, Buffalo selects "Swiss Army Backer" Melvin Ingram. The thickly built, athletic Ingram can be a disruptive pass rusher, as well as hold his own in pass coverage & set the edge vs. the run. Ingram is also a playmaker, that can help elevate this opportunistic defense that will hope to get a healthy Kyle Williams back next year and return to the form they were early in 2011.

 

11.Chiefs/Dontari Poe: Romeo Crennel needs a plugger in the middle, ala Vince Wlifork, and Dontari Poe measures up at 6-5/350. It's a smart, no frills pick in the Pioli wheelhouse. Poe could be a day one starter as a rookie.

 

12. Seahawks/Whitney Mercilus: The Seattle surprisingly athletic defense can only get better with the disruptive addition of Mercilus at 4/3 DE. It would be a bit of a surprise to see Schneider & Carroll to reach at QB, with no remaining QBs with a high 1st round grade.

 

13. Cardinals/Mike Adams: If the Cards have any intention of keeping Kevin Kolb at QB, they'll need to protect his arse, & give him time to throw. Adams is a long limbed OT with good hands & feet, in the Nate Solder vein.

 

14. Dallas/ Janoris Jenkins: The Cowboy secondary is a sieve, and if they are ever going to live up to their perennial NFC hype, they'll need this year's version of Deion Sanders. Jenkins had some OTF concerns at Florida leading to his dismissal, and subsequent transfer to Northern Alabama. Don't get it twisted, this kid is a legit press corner and if he fell past 14, the Jets would pounce. He's too talented to fall any further.

 

15. Eagles/ Luke Kuechly: The Eagles finally found their answer to the MLB quandary, Boston College's Kuechly is a plug and play starter, ala James Laurainitis. He'll roam the middle and be a leader on the field from day one. Not a better pick to fall in Andy Reid's ample lap.

 

16. Jets/ David Decastro: Trust me, Rex Ryan wants Trent Richardson in this spot like a pool filled with pretzel M&Ms, but Wayne Hunter sucks and protecting his boy Sanchez is priority #1. Many see DeCastro as the next Alan Faneca, and that's music to Mike Tannenbaum's ears...as well as the regressing run game.

 

17. Bengals/ Trent Richardson: Doh! Rex knew this would happen! Oh well, Mikey Boy Brown gets a gift in the best RB prospect since Adrian Peterson. In the meantime, Ced Benson can feel free to get arrested for as many DUIs as he wants.

 

18. Chargers/ Cordy Glenn: With Marcus McNeil's release, it's a certainty that AJ Smith sees Jared Gaither as the long term answer at LT, but what about Kris Dielman? His seizure related concussions are a cause for concern, &andthe addition of the versatile OG from Georgia (who can play some OT as well), is a smart move.

 

19. Bears/ Marvin Jones: Now that Mike Martz is gone, maybe now the Bears will bring in an actual weapon for Jay Cutler and he won't get himself killed waiting for his receivers to get downfield. Had Alshon Jeffery here up until his fat ass showed up at workouts weighing 249 lbs and clocking a LB-like 4.88 forty (allegedly). Jones may or may not be a bit of a reach, but the tape I've watched of this kid is pretty amazing, with a sub par QB to boot. Think Santonio Holmes, but less of a douchebag. 

20. Titans/Stephon Gilmore: Cortland Finnegan is likely to hit Free Agency, and former DC Jim Schwartz is rumored to be first in line to snatch up the fiery CB to fortify the Lions  young defense. In the meantime, that leaves a gaping hole in the Titans secondary, and Gilmore is everything Finnegan is not: long, lanky, and not likely to be pummeled by Andre Johnson.

 

21. Bengals/ Kendall Wright: Yep. The Bengals are about to get nasty. Add Trent Richardson, and now explosive downfield threat Wright to the tandem of A.J. Green and Andy Dalton? Damn! Jermaine Gresham isn't chopped liver either, and this offense under Jay Gruden is about to graduate to a new level. On a side note, I did consider Michael Floyd here, but on the heels of Rey Maualuga's 2nd alcohol related arrest, Mikey Boy can do without another DUI waiting to happen.

 

22. (Trade with Cleveland) Redskins/Ryan Tannehill- After passing on the impulse of mortgaging multiple future picks for RG3, Dan Snyder wants him a QB. This is too early for the 29 year old Brandon Weeden, but a good value for a young QB with some upside like Tannehill. The Browns in turn get the Redskins 2nd and 3rd round picks this year.

 

23. Lions/ Jonathan Martin: Martin slipped down some draft boards based on his finesse game and what some call a lack of nastiness. However, a team like the Lions lead the league in "nasty," and Martin's size and feet are reminiscent of Nate Solder, who worked out pretty well for the New England Patriots. The future is now in protecting Matt Stafford, who is poised to build on a breakout 2011.

 

24. Steelers/ Vontaze Burfict: James Farrior is old enough to play for the Celtics, and the Steelers always go a year early to build depth, before a player tails off. Burfict is certainly a loose cannon, but a talented one at ILB. If he can fall in line with a strong locker room, he's a steal at #24.

 

25. Broncos/ Fletcher Cox: It would be easy to give Tim Tebow more weapons like Michael Floyd, but the Denver defense has it's holes despite improving greatly over the last year under John Fox. Fox's defenses in Carolina always featured versatile DTs up front, and the scheme versatile Cox out of Mississippi State can help solidify a talented front four.

 

26. Texans/ Michael Floyd: Scary right? An offense with an already potent run game and All-World WR Andre Johnson gets another big weapon in Floyd. Well, he comes with some baggage, as in three alcohol related arrests in the last few years, so he's not without some acquired risk. If he falls in line? Easily the steal of the draft.

 

27. (via N.O./2011) Patriots/ Mohamed Sanu: Surprised? You shouldn't be. Belichick is a haunt at Rutgers, where his daughter is a Lacrosse coach, and where he found Devin McCourty a few years ago...in the same draft spot! Sanu is a solid route runner, with good size & soft hands. He's the perfect #2 WR of the future for New England.

 

28. Packers/ Nick Perry: The Pack need an OLB opposite Clay Matthews Jr., so why not go to the same talent pool? Nick Perry played some DE in college, and is the perfect bookend on a team that really has few needs. A great value pick at #28.

 

29. Ravens/Mark Barron: Ed Reed is 175 years old...and his beard just turned 300. Sure, he's still a baller, but his recent neck injuries make him one big hit away from calling it an illustrious HOF career. Barron is coming off double hernia surgery himself, but he's hands down the best safety in the Draft and fills a need for Ozzie Newsome in the near future.

 

30. Niners/ Chase Minnefield: Carlos Rogers wants a long term deal, and I don't think the front office will be hard pressed to appease the inconsistent Rogers. While he's had his moments, he was exposed against the Giants in the NFC Championship Game.  Drafting the Virginia corner would be a nice insurance policy for this talented young defense.

 

31. Patriots/Andre Branch: Belichick will likely trade out of this pick, & enjoy a 2nd round Draft Bonanza, but for now we'll keep this pretty standard. Branch fits the profile of the "Elephant LB" that NE has swung and missed on since Willie Mac left Foxboro. Branch had 11.5 sacks for Clemson in 2011, & at 6-5', 260, he can set the edge as a former college DE.

 

32. Giants/ Peter Konz: Hmmm. Maybe another DL? Nah! Just fucking with ya'! The Giants know how to acquire value & address need in one fell swoop. Konz is the only blue chip center in the whole Draft, & has the size & versatility to play guard. Sounds like a Coughlin guy to me.

 

 

*Note: Once Free Agency kicks off in March, this will look like an entirely different board, especially with names like Matt Flynn finding new homes. My next mock will come just after the Combine & at the start of Free Agency, when the final Draft order is set and teams fill needs on their roster. Until then, hit me up on Twitter @RumfordJohnny, and give me hell for my picks...I can take it. Cheers!