2012 NFL Mock Draft

Tonight, New York's Radio City hosts the NFL draft, the marquee event of the offseason.

I'll not bore anyone with an explaination of the draft - those reading this post will already know. So, without further hesitation, the Indianapolis Colts select.....





1 - INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts pick up the best QB prospect since the player he replaces. This pick has already been confirmed, so we'll move on.

2 - WASHINGTON REDSKINS - Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

This pick has already been all but confirmed. RG3 will fit into Mike Shanahan's movement-based scheme, and his huge arm will help the team put up the numbers to compete with the rest of the NFC East.

3 - MINNESOTA VIKINGS - Morris Clayborn, CB, LSU

Matt Kalil might be a good option to help keep Ponder upright, but playing in a division against Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford and Jay Cutler 6 times per year, Clayborn has to be the pick.

4 - CLEVELAND BROWNS - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Trent Richardson would be enticing, but with the Steelers and Ravens being two of the consistently run-stuffing teams in the league, Blackmon makes more sense. He and Greg Little could prove a physical nightmare for opposing cornerbacks.

5 - TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

 The Bucs will snap up a workhorse running back who can help take the pressure off Josh Freeman. As a result, his interceptions should be down, and Mike Williams could get back the playmaker he was in his rookie year. And above that, Richardson will be a star.

6 - ST. LOUIS RAMS - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Can play inside and outside, fitting the Jeff Fisher mould. While the Rams would like offensive help, getting the top ranked D-Lineman is a nice consolation

7 - JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Jacksonville needs help everywhere. Ingram can help with that with his ability to line up all over the front seven. Has even been compared to Dwight Freeney

8 - MIAMI DOLPHINS - Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

The Dolphins seem to have fallen in love with Tannehill, and frankly anyone else as the pick would be a huge surprise at this point. However, this feels like it could be a Blaine Gabbert-type result.

9 - CAROLINA PANTHERS - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Cam Newton is one of the most exciting players in the NFL. The addition of a big, dynamic receiver could help elevate this offense into the elite

10 - BUFFALO BILLS - Matt Kalil - LT, USC

Buffalo will be ecstatic to see the top ranked tackle fall to them at this spot. Kalil will help keep Buffalo's $60mil man safe, and could man the LT spot for the next 10 years.

11 - KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - David DeCastro, G, Stanford

KC loves to run the ball. DeCastro is the best guard in the draft, and will help them do that. Simple.

12 - SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

Much like last year, the Seahawks take a player from the left field. Glenn offers a huge presence on the line, and his versatility make him a valuable commodity for Pete Carroll

13 - ARIZONA CARDINALS - Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Arizona has two QBs whose movement skills are not........elite, to be pleasant about it. Reiff will provide at least some help to a line boasting Levi Brown as its star tackle.

14 - DALLAS COWBOYS - Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Cowboys need help all over the secondary. Gilmore is, according to Greg Cosell, "athletic, physical and competitive" - exactly what the Cowboys need.

15- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The Eagles land the player who can become the quarterback of their defence. Smart linebacking play should help a defensive unit which improved towards the end of last season

16 - NEW YORK JETS - Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron falling to New York here is a dream come true now that they are without Jim Leonhard. Barron is smart, instinctive, and strong in run support

17 - CINCINNATI BENGALS - Quinton Couples, DE, Syracuse

Couples has the size, strength and speed to be a disruptive force in the NFL, but he will have to work to fulfil his potential. However, at this point, the Bengals will not be able to pass up on that potential

18 - SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - Nick Perry, DE, USC

Perry will provide San Diego with some much needed speed and athleticism at DE, and is even has the ability to play some linebacker. Will help in an area of great need for San Diego

19 - CHICAGO BEARS - Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

The Bears are a team of the belief that you can never have too many players who can get at the quarterback. Mercilus had 16 sacks last season. Should feel right at home.

20 - TENNESSEE TITANS - Dre Kirkpartick, CB, Alabama

After losing Cortland Finnegan, this pick makes too much sense not to happen. The Titans get the last top tier (and not mental) CB

21 - CINCINNATI BENGALS - Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Cincy has a screaming need at CB, so they have to take a chance on the talented, but troubled Jenkins. They have had no problem taking on difficult players in the past, however

22 - CLEVELAND BROWNS - Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

Finally, the Browns are able to shore up an anaemic offense, with a stud WR and RB. Martin has been compared to Ray Rice, and, like Rice, will help on three downs

23 - DETROIT LIONS - Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

The Lions need pass rush to get at Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler. Upshaw has drawn comparisons with LaMarr Woodley

24 - PITTSBURGH STEELERS - Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

The Steelers get their heir to Casey Hampton. Poe has many question marks, hence falling this far, but like (nearly) all Steelers defensive linemen, he will sit for a year to learn "the Steeler way". Has the athleticism to be a Haloti Ngata type player

25 - DENVER BRONCOS - Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

I think Hightower is a really interesting pick here, can do a lot of things in the Denver defense, and with him and Von Miller, opposing teams would need to gameplan very carefully

26 - HOUSTON TEXANS - Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Hill would provide a viable threat to stop defenses blanketing Andre Johnson on the other side, providing size and incredible speed. With those two and Arian Foster, the Texans could be very hard to stop

27 - NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Shea McClellin, LB, Boise State

Able to play the run as well as the pass, McClellin is exactly the type of intelligent player BB likes to have in his teams

28 - GREEN BAY PACKERS - Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Wisconsin O-linemen are renowned for the level of polish in their game. Green Bay here takes the player who will take over from Jeff Saturday and (they hope) stay there for a long time

29 - BALTIMORE RAVENS - Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin

The Ravens need to replace Ben Grubbs. Some believe Zeitler is more athletic than DeCastro

30 - SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - Amini Silatolu, G, Midwestern State

Silatolu has been gaining traction as a first round pick, and seems to fit the 49ers' physical style perfectly, at one of their few areas of need

31 - NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

The Pats (providing they don't trade out of the pick) should take a chance on the freakishly athletic Jones this late in the first. He is being called this year's Jason Pierre-Paul.

32 - NEW YORK GIANTS - Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

As a result of losing Mario Manningham, the Giants should take a WR. RB is also a concern, but runners can be found later in the draft.


And there we have it. If I get 6 picks right I'll be delighted.

Thanks for reading folks, and enjoy the draft!