As we embark on draft season and the underclassmen have declared. Although the final draft order has not been finalized, this should be a valiant first attempt at this year’s draft. And for those who are new to the EZ Football Futures mocks, this is a view on what I think the teams SHOULD do, not what they will do.
1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
So if the Colts are going to keep Peyton Manning, I think the team should offer the first pick up for a nice ransom. An owner like Daniel Snyder would sell his soul (whatever is left of it) to get Luck, and the Colts could be in great shape for years to come with the haul. Barring a deal, they have to pick the guy many are calling the best QB prospect since the last great Cardinal product, John Elway.
St. Louis Rams – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
With Sam Bradford under center, the Rams need to get him some weapons to throw to. Blackmon is easily the best receiver in this years draft. He has a great size/speed blend, and excellent hands. He could be a Dez Bryant type weapon, and immediately will give the Rams someone who opposing defenses have to plan for.
Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC
After investing last year’s first rounder in their QB of the future, they now need to invest in a guy who can help him stay upright. Matt Kalil is one of three top tier tackles in this class, and he has the potential to be outstanding. Although I am still not sold on Ponder as a long term answer at QB, the Vikes have tied their wagon to him, and Kalil is the best chance for him to succeed.
Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Many of the pundits have Cleveland taking the Heisman Trophy winner with this pick. Whereas I agree, he should go off the board here, I think it should only happen via trade. If the Browns keep this pick, they should take Richardson. I think Hillis has played his last snap in Cleveland, and Colt McCoy should be given one more year before judgment is passed. Richardson is better than former teammate Ingram, and the Browns cannot let him pass as they did with Adrian Peterson a few years back.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Ronde Barber is at the end of an excellent career and Aquib Talib could wind up in jail any day now with the way he conducts himself. The Bucs have to become better against the pass. They have a young defense, but adding the top cover corner in this class will be a help. Developing alongside other youngsters such as Bowers, McCoy, Foster, and Adrian Clayborne, this Claiborne will be a great addition.
Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
This would be the best case scenario for the Skins. Having a talent like RG3 fall to them here at six would mean someone will be sprinting up to the podium with the card. Griffin has all of the tools to be a successful pro, and his athleticism will give opposing defensive coordinators fits as they plan for Washington. Clearly needing an upgrade under center, the Skins will need to hope the Browns pass, and Miami does leapfrog them.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
New Head Coach, Mike Mularkey will have his work cut out for him in Jacksonville, but he has a nice piece at QB in Blaine Gabbert to build around. Now he needs to look to improve a defense that struggled getting after the QB last year. Coples is an excellent athlete off the edge, and will bring a presence that could cornerstone the defense for years to come.
Carolina Panthers – Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina
Cam Newton is looking like he will be a star, but the Panthers need help around him. Ultimately, they would love for a talent like Justin Blackmon to still be around, but that is highly unlikely, so they will wait till later in the draft to add an additional target. Instead they will focus on the defense. Dre Kirkpatrick would be a great pick at a position of need, but his recent legal troubles will cause him to fall on draft day. Instead, they will look to Ingram to help them bring down opposing ball carriers, and get pressure on opposing signal callers.
Miami Dolphins – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
I expect the dolphins to try and orchestrate either a trade up or to overpay for a QB like Matt Flynn this offseason. That would address their biggest need. Next comes an OLB who can cover ground. The Dolphins have not done a good job at getting pressure this past year, and Upshaw has tremendous upside.
Buffalo Bills – Reily Reiff, OT, Iowa
The Bills played better this year than I had expected, but there is still work to do. With Fitzpatrick’s extension the team could use some help up front to help him Freddy Jackson, and CJ Spiller shine. Reiff is an exceptional talent who could easily go higher in the draft than 10
th. He can be the long term anchor protecting Fitzpatrick’s blind side for years, and will make this team better immediately.
Kansas City Chiefs – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
The Chiefs are a team could go in many directions with this pick, but adding a guy like Martin would be a great get for them. He is the third of the top tier tackles in this draft and like the two before him, he can be a long term star at the position. Martin is the type of player that could afford Romeo Crennell the opportunity to move Braden Albert to the right side and give the Chiefs an excellent pair of bookends.
Seattle Seahawks – Devon Still, DT, Penn State
This club is still in search of their arm of the future, but they are not in a position to land one from this spot in round 1. Instead, I think the Hawks could benefit from being able to stop the run better. Enter Still. He is strong, and will make running up the middle a much more difficult task for opponents in 2012.
Arizona Cardinals – David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
The Cardinals need help in a few spots, but none greater than their o-line. DeCastro is a valuable add as he is flexible enough to play inside or out. I think long term he projects best at Guard, but with all the holes up front for Zona, DeCastro will be an immediate upgrade for this team.
Dallas Cowboys – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
An awesome talent, Kirkpatrick really hurt his draft stock after a drug bust a week ago. The Cowboys however have never shied away from a player just because of character questions, and considering their need in the secondary, I don’t expect them to pass on Kirkpatrick. He corner on the best team in the best conference in the nation, so he knows how to play against elite competition which will be a requirement in the NFC East.
Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
Easily the most disappointing team in 2011, Philadelphia needs to find some answers. A blue collar tackling machine like Kuechly will bring an attitude to this defense which inexplicable floundered a year ago. With the vast personalities in this locker room, Luke’s no frills style would be a welcome change.
New York Jets – Mark Barron, S, Alabama
The Jets are a talented team, but their lack of chemistry really hurt them last season. Revis is still one of the best corners in the game, but the Jets safeties hurt this team. Mark Barron was the leader of the National Champion Tide’s outstand defensive unit, and he could provide a needed character infusion to this team too.
Cincinnati Bengals via Oakland – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
Thanks to the Carson Palmer deal, the Bengals have two first rounders to continue to build their franchise. Losing Jonathan Joseph last season hurt, so adding his replacement should be their priority. The former Florida Gator would be an excellent fit for the position. During his interviews he will need to show he has matured, and the issues that resulted in him leaving Gainesville are behind him. If he can do that, the Bengals could be a great fit.
San Diego Chargers – Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia
Like DeCastro before him, Glenn is a flexible lineman who can fit either inside or out at the next level. The Chargers need help upfront. Their lack of consistent line play led to Phillip Rivers having his worst season as the Bolts starting QB last year, and for him, and ultimately them to rebound, they will need to handle pressure better. Glenn gives them a whole lot of options to do just that.
Chicago Bears – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
The Bears have speed but they still lack a true, reliable, number one receiver. Floyd has good speed, and great hands. He uses his body well, and knows how to go up and get the ball. He has experience in playing in cold weather, so Chicago could be the perfect fit for this Notre Dame product.
Tennessee Titans – Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina
Some may think that 20
th overall may bit a little early for Brown, I expect him to fly up boards after the combine in Indy. He is a freakish athlete, and he can cover a whole lot of field in a hurry. The Titans need a playmaker on the outside of their defense, and I think Bown could be just what they need.
Cincinnati Bengals – LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
After Richardson, many have Lamar Miller from Miami as the next best back on the board. At this point, I disagree. I love what LaMichael James brought to the Ducks offense, and I think his knack for big plays will be an asset at the next level. After addressing their defence with their earlier selection, I think the Bengals need to add another offensive weapon to their team. Considering the uncertain status surrounding starting RB Cedric Benson, I like James to the Bengals at this pick.
Cleveland Browns via Atlanta – Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State
The Brown get this pick as part of the Julio Jones trade from last year. Having already added Trent Richardson earlier in the round, the Browns can now focus on their D. Burfict is an animal in the middle. He is flat out scary, and I think he will be a star at the next level. The Browns need some attitude on their defense, and Burfict would be an immediate upgrade in the middle for them. With him plus Richardson, the Cleveland fans should go crazy.
Detroit Lions – Alfonso Denard, CB, Nebraska
The Lions made some excellent strides last year, becoming a playoff team for the first time since the Roosevelt Administration. They have a very high powered offense, and a strong, young group at the front of their defense. Now they need to shore up that secondary. Denard is an excellent athlete with great speed who breaks on the ball very well. He has the talent to go even earlier in the round, but with him still on the board, the Lions will have to pounce.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
The Steelers are typically a team who I have a hard time pegging because the rarely have any holes to fill. This year could be different. Pittsburgh could be losing three defensive stalwarts in Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, and James Farrior, but as of now they are all still employed. The o-line also may see some flux as the 2011 pieces were often injured, and didn’t produce as well as the team would have liked. Mike Adams is a mauler up front and could be a good addition for Pittsburgh. Of course should it come to pass that one of the aforementioned defensive studs leaves the Steel City, future mocks may have them going in a different direction.
Denver Broncos – Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
Despite what the press would have you believe, it was Tim Tebow who led Denver to the 2011 AFC West crown. It was the defense, led by rookie extraordinaire, Von Miller. Despite his excellent play, he cannot do it alone, and that is why I expect for the team to add a big guy up front. If Cox can come in and help keep opposing linemen off Miller, this defense can go from playoff caliber to championship caliber. Denver also may look at tight end as a possibility here, making Stanford’s Colby Fleener another possibility.
Houston Texans – Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
The Texans have a very bright future ahead of them when Matt Schaub returns healthy. That being said, this draft will give them the opportunity to shore up some lose ends, as the team gears up to take that next step in 2012. I have Michigan State’s, Jerel Worthy as my next highest rated DT on the board, but Poe is not that far behind him, and is a better fit for the Texans defense. He is a space eater, and I expect that his presence will make running against Houston next year an even more difficult proposition. Seriously… watch out for the Texans next year.
New England Patriots via New Orleans – Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
Every year the Pats field an excellent ball club, and I think it is because of a combination of having this generation’s best coach on the side line, and all of the draft day gymnastics this team always seem to execute. Two more first round picks for the Pats could keep this team in position to replace any parts they need, if they don’t trade the selections away. If they keep this pick, Worthy makes the most sense. The Pats need a stable of big guys up front that fit their system, and Worthy fits that bill well. Strong and penetrating, Worthy will quickly become a Foxboro favorite.
Green Bay Packers – Andre Branch, DE, Clemson
The Packers really have very few weaknesses, so they can really go in any direction with this pick. Despite being eliminated from the playoffs already, I still feel Green Bay is the best team in the league. Adding a guy like Branch could make the best even better. Branch come off the end with a strong first step, and he can be difficult to handle for o-linemen. He seals the edge very well, and I expect that skill to come in handy in the black and blue division of the NFL.
New York Giants – Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
New York’s strength is in their defense, and despite that, I still see adding a stud in the middle as the G-men’s top priority. Last year I projected them landing Rolondo McClain, until the Raiders surprised me and snatched him. This year, I think they should try and land his replacement at Alabama in Hightower. He showed during the national championship game that he could make all the reads, and QB the best defense in the country. Adding him to this nasty New York front would make life hellish for the rest of the NFC next season.
Baltimore Ravens – Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
Like Kuechly to the Eagles, and Floyd to Chicago, Konz to Baltimore just fits. The Ravens are a smash mouth football team, and adding a blue colar guy like Konz to snap the ball for the next decade make perfect sense. Konz has the make-up of a great center. He is smart, sturdy, and can play with a mean streak. Sound just like the kind of player Baltimore would love.
San Francisco 49ers – Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
What Jim Harbaugh pulled off with Alex Smith this year has been nothing short of a miracle. Now, if they can get him a few more weapons, this team will be good for a long time. Jeffery is a freakish athlete. He is big and fast, and he fights for the ball when it is in the air. With weapons like Davis and Gore already in the fold, and that young line up front, adding Jeffery may be the final piece to a Championship puzzle in the Bay.
New England Patriots – Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia
Despite how good New England is, their defense took a step backwards in 2011. Having already added Worthy with their earlier selection, I think the Pats stay on that side of the ball and add another weapon to the secondary. Minnifield is quick, shows good instincts, and could be a force on the other side of Devin McCourty.
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