Risers and Fallers - Offense

The workouts in Indy for the players at positions on the offense have been completed and we have the opportunity to look at some guys who made an impact to their draft status with their work at the combine.


Stocks on the Rise 

Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State

Although most of the chatter in Indy has been about Heisman Trophy winner, RG3, Kirk Cousins did a very good job helping his stock.  He participated fully in the drills and workouts, and he made it pay off for him.He ran an official 4.93 which is not bad for a QB.  He will never be confused with Cam Newton, but he is not a rock in the pocket either.  Cousins looked very good throwing the ball too which is really where he made his mark.  Coming into the combine, Cousins was rated as the 9th best QB on my board and a solid mid round guy.  Now, he moves up two spots to 7, and has himself in the discussion with names like Foles, and Osweiler as a second/third round signal caller.

Ronnie Hillman, RB, SDSU

Coming into Indy, I had Ronnie Hillman as an afterthought.  I suspected that he would be a late round draft pick for a team looking for depth at back, but more likely help on special teams.  After watching his performance in Indy, I have gone back to look at some Hillman footage again.  After this second look, my opinion on his prospects have improved.  I see him as a 3/4, and he projects better as a pro back than a guy like Chris Rainey.  In addition, Va Tech's David Wilson solidified himself as the number 2 back on my board, and Boise State's Doug Martin, showed he can be an every down back.

Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

As a Yellow Jacket, Stephen Hill had a reputation as a superb athlete, but there always seemed to be something missing from his game.  The combine was the ultimate set to be the ultimate stage for him to showcase himself.  He did not disappoint.  His athletic performance was spectacular, and he catapulted himself into a second round grade with his showing.  Alshon Jefferies from South Carolina also has a lot riding on this weekend, and I was happy to see him show up.  He appeared lean, and looks like he is taking this next step in his career seriously, which will most certainly help his cause.  He has solidified himself a first round grade.  Michael Floyd also had a good weekend and has himslef as the number 2 WR on my board.

Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Matt Kalil arrived in Indy with a top 5 overall grade, so there seemed more a chance he could be a Faller rather than a riser.  He rose.  1 month ago it looked like he had a slight lead over Riley Reiff and Jonathan Martin for top tackle honors.  He widened that gap considerably and I think cemented himself the honor of being one of the first three names called at Radio City.





Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

At the end of the college football regular season, I pegged Glenn as 3rd rounder.  I did not see him playing tackle at the next level, so the move inside I though may cost him.  Just kidding.  After this weekend, Glenn has solidified his position as a 1st round Guard, a rarity in NFL circles.  He has all of the makings of a 12 year starter/cornerstone to an NFL o-line.  David DeCastro from Stanford solidified his position as the top interior lineman on the board.  In fact, he is a borderline top ten overall talent right now on my board.

David Molk, C, Michigan

Before the combine started, Molk was rated as the second best center on my board.  Coming out that position has not changed.  How can he be a riser then?  He has closed the gap significantly on the top center on my board, Peter Konz.  Molk was a beast on the bench press and he seems to have all of the tools you want in a center.  This Wolverine should hear his name called before the end of round 2.  With a strong pro day, he could garner himself some 1st round consideration.




Stocks Falling












Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State

With a limited resume available for scouts to digest, Osweiler came into Indy as one of the guys folks were most anxious to see throw.  Someone however, gave him some very poor, and ultimately costly advice, telling him instead to sit it out.  With a 6'7" frame, he could have gone a long way to answering some of the questions about him with a strong performance.  Instead, he finds himself falling further behind Brandon Weeden, and he saw Kirk Cousins catch him from behind.



Orson Charles, TE, Georgia

Prior to the combine, there were three TEs with low first round grades.  Charles was one of them, and he had what could have been the best upside of them all.  After the combine, there are no TEs with round 1 grades, and Charles took the biggest fall.  It was expected he would shine in the drill, considering he is a converted receiver.  He did not.  He struggled bringing the ball into his frame, and this was noticed.  He did bench well, but he doesn't show a lot of other skills to make one think he will be a good blocker at the next level.

Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

What an awful weekend for Adams.  In my last mock he had a solid 1st round grade, and projected to be in demand at the middle to bottom of round 1 in April.  Then came the bench press and an uber-disappointing 19 reps.  At tackle in the NFL you have to be strong.  19 reps will not cut it.  Then he compound the disappointment by struggling in position drills, and not doing well on interviews either.  Mike Adams, meet the 3rd round.FSU's Zebrie Sanders also hurt his draft stock with a poor performance in Indy.

First Ever Trade Mock

2012 Mock Draft T1.0

Every year I get questions about draft day trades and why my mock drafts never account for them.  The answer is that when it comes to trades, everything is too unpredictable.  Having said that, I promised myself that this year I would give a mock draft a try and account for trades.  What I have done here is a whole new mock, and I try and predict some trades.  To do this I assumed that every team would look to try and trade out unless there was someone too good to pass on.  As for the teams trading in, they would do so based on need.  I used the standard trade value chart that NFL GMs use when weighing trades involving draft picks, to see if I could get things to balance.  So, here is Football Futures first ever mock draft with trades.

     1.       Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

With the uncertainty surrounding Manning, the Colts will use the first overall selection to hand their franchise over to a guy that many pundits are calling the best QB prospect since Elway.  Luck has the right attitude, can make all the throws, and is smart enough to take the reins of this franchise from day 1.

     2.       Washington Redskins via St Louis – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Getting right under center will be the top priority for Washington this offseason, and they cannot sit around hoping that the Heisman Trophy winner falls to them at six.  Instead, Washington packages their 6^th overall pick and their 3^rd round pick this year with their 1^st and 3^rd in next year’s draft and send them to St Louis for the rights to grab their franchise QB of the future.  Steep price to pay?  Sure, but Daniel Snyder will spend to win.

     3.       Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC

With St Louis ransoming their pick, Minnesota has lost its leverage to move this pick.  Instead they stay put and select the top left tackle on the board.  After investing last year’s first rounder in their QB of the future, they now need 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. 

     4.       Cincinnati Bengals via Cleveland – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Bengals are the most running back needy team in the NFL right now, and Trent Richardson is head and shoulders above any other back in this year’s class.  It also happens to be that Cincy has an extra first rounder this year due to the Carson palmer trade, and now they can pair those two picks up and send them to Cleveland for the rights to grab Richardson and his championship pedigree.  Although the Browns could also use Richardson, the allure of having three picks in the first will be too much to pass on.

     5.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Bucs most glaring need is at linebacker, but there is not a backer worth taking from this position.  After looking to trade down, and finding no suitors willing/able to give the Bucs enough to pull the trigger, Tampa and new HC Greg Schiano will select the best corner from this class to fill their second biggest need.  Claiborne is no consolation prize.  He is a jackpot all his own, and the Ray Jay faithful will love having him in pewter.

     6.       St Louis Rams via Washington Redskins – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Thanks to an eager Daniel Snyder, and some additional movement in the top five, the Rams land this pick and are still able to grab the top receiving threat on the board in Justin Blackmon.  He has all of the tools you want in a number 1 receiver in this league, and now with the extra firepower gained from the trade, Jeff Fisher can add some other pieces to help his Rams rebuild quickly.

     7.       Jacksonville Jaguars – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Like the Rams, the Jags have a new head coach and a lot of holes to fill.  They would love to move this pick to add some additional picks to their stable.  Unfortunately with the movement in front of them, they have been left in a position that will not be in high demand.  This leaves them to address their biggest need on their defense with the best d-line prospect in this year’s class.  Comparing favorably to other former UNC Des, Coples brings a skill set that should be welcome in Jacksonville.

     8.       Seattle Seahawks via Carolina Panthers – Ryan Tannehill, QB, TAMU

A good selling job by the Panther’s front office leads them to convincing the Seahwks that the Dolphins (who pick next) are poised to select the third best QB in the class.  The QB needy Seahawks get anxious, and pay Carolina a 3^rd round pick in this year’s draft to move up the three spaces needed to secure Tannehill.  Carolina is able to trade down, add some draft assets, and still be in position to address one of their primary needs.

     9.       Miami Dolphins – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Miami had considered selecting Tannehill, until the Seahawks jumped them in the draft.  Now they are left to decide between the OLB Upshaw from Alabama and the RT Reiff from Iowa.  Both would fill positions of need for the Phish, but with owner Steven Ross needing to sell tickets, he pushes GM Ireland to make the “sexier” pick.   

     10.   Buffalo Bills – Reily Reiff, OT, Iowa

Buffalo is another team with a multitude of needs, but they are also on the rise.  GM Buddy Nix has placed his faith in Fitzpatrick and rewarded his efforts with a contract extension.  RB Fed Jackson came out of nowhere last year to emerge as a top flight back.  Now they have the chance to add one of the premiere o-tackles in the draft.  No draft day deals for them.

     11.   New York Jets via Carolina via Seattle – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

After trading down into this slot with Seattle, the Carolina front office continues to channel Bill Belichick and trade down again.  This time they add yet another third round selection by trading with the New York Jets.  From the day he traded up to get Sanchez, HC Rex Ryan has had his wagon hitched securely to him.  If Sanchez is to bounce back from his regression, and save Ryan’s job in the process, he will have to have more time to throw. The right side of the Jets line was atrocious last year.  Adding the uber-talented Jonathan Martin, who specialized in keeping first overall pick Andrew Luck upright in college, will be a huge addition for the Jets.

     12.   Detroit Lions via Kansas City – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Lions made huge strides last year making the post season for the first time since Roosevelt was President.  Their passing game was exceptional, however the pass defense… not so much.  Sitting at 23, the Lions know they will not be in position to land either of the difference makers still on the board at corner.  Instead, they ship their 23^rd overall and a second rounder in next year’s draft to the Cheifs for the right to select Janoris Jenkins.  Jenkins is an incredible talent who, if he can stay out of trouble, will be a very valuable piece to this Detroit team.

     13.   Arizona Cardinals – David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

With movement all around them, the Cardinals buck the trend and stay put to select David DeCastro.  The Cards 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.

     14.   Dallas Cowboys – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Dallas is one of the more enigmatic teams in the NFL.  They have lots of talent, but can’t seem to put it all together.  They still need to improve in the secondary however, so they will not pass on the opportunity to select the last of the top tier corners in Dre Kirkpatrick.  There are some character questions surrounding Kirkpatrick, however that won’t dissuade Jerry Jones.  Dre was the best corner on the best team in the best conference in the nation, so he knows how to play against elite competition which is a requirement in the NFC East. 

     15.   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 inexplicably floundered a year ago.  With the vast personalities in this locker room, Luke’s no frills style would be a welcome change.

     16.   Carolina Panthers via New York Jets – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

After trading down twice, Carolina added firepower in the form of additional pick in the third round of this draft which will help them fill more of their holes.  With this pick, they choose to address their paltry run defense from a year ago.  Too many opponents ran right up the middle against this panther’s front, and the addition of a big, strong body like Brockers will make that more difficult for opponents to do in 2012.

     17.   Cleveland Browns via Cincinnati via Oakland – Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Mike Holmgren, Cleveland’s football Czar, knows that multiple picks early on can help a team immensely, and this pick will be the first of three in the first round thanks to the Cincinnati trade.  The Browns have a bunch of holes to fill, but none bigger than at safety.  Mark Barron is the best safety in this draft class, and he would immediately add a presence to this secondary that was sorely missing last year.

     18.   Green Bay Packers via San Diego Chargers – Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Packers are one of the craftiest teams on draft day, always seeming to get their guy.  Watching the draft transpire this way, the Packers decide now is the time to move, and they sacrifice their third round pick in this draft along with their 28^th overall to move up to grab the falling Ingram.  The Pack have to do a better job at getting pressure off the edge, and Ingram is a borderline top ten talent.  Landing him at 18 is well worth the third rounder it will cost them.

     19.   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.  The Bears will benefit by staying put, and selecting the Notre Dame product with oodles of expierence in playing in the blustery cold of a Midwest winter.

     20.   Tennessee Titans – Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

Last year, the Titans grabbed their QB of the future in Jake Locker.  Now they need to place the focus back on the other side of the ball.  For Tennessee to be successful long term, they have to get pressure on opposing signal callers.  Andre Branch represents the team’s best chance at doing that in from this draft position.  They will entertain phone calls about sliding down, but in the end, the risk of losing Branch will outweigh any benefit garnered in a deal.

     21.   Cleveland Browns via Cincinnati –Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

With their second pick from the Bengals deal, Cleveland will address their offense.  The jury is still out on Colt McCoy as the team’s QB, but regardless of who is behind center, they will need weapons to throw to.  Last year the team added UNC product Greg Little, who is turning out to be a nice add.  Outside of him however, there are only questions.  Kendall Wright was on the receiving end of RG3s Heisman campaign, but he was more than just a beneficiary.  He can do all of the things necessary to make a QB look good and help his team win.

     22.   Cleveland Browns via Atlanta – Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

With the their third and final pick in the round, Cleveland will look at a few options.  Both QB and RB will be discussed in depth, but in the end, Holmgren will feel more comfortable addressing either one of those with his pick early in the second round.  OLB is a need are for Cleveland too, and adding Brown gives them a tremendous athlete with exceptional speed and a never ending motor.  He is a little on the raw side, but with some time and coaching, he could be an explosive component to a defense.

     23.   Kansas City Chiefs via Detroit Lions – Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The Chiefs find themselves picking here as a result of trading down with the Lions.  Had they stayed at 12, they would have looked a possibly selecting David DeCastro to fill a hole on their o-line.  Now 11 picks later, DeCastro is gone, but Cordy Glenn is not.  Like DeCastro, Glenn is a flexible interior lineman, with the ability to fill many positions up front.  This flexibility, along with his strong skill set will make the Bulldog an attractive option for new HC Romeo Crennel.

 

     24.   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.

     25.   Denver Broncos – Devon Still, DT, Penn 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.  No one player has more variations in his rankings amongst the experts as Still.  Some see him as a top ten talent.  Others don’t even give him a first round grade.  I think he is a boom-or-bust type player, but a reasonable risk for Denver.  They also may look at tight end as a possibility here, making Stanford’s Colby Fleener, Clemson’s Dwayne Allen, and Georgia’s Orson Charles other possibilities.

     26.   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.

     27.   New England Patriots via New Orleans – Alfonso Denard, CB, Nebraska

New England is one of the most active teams on draft day, and although they are going to start the day with two picks in the first round, I doubt they will keep them both.  When they come on the clock with this pick that originally belonged to the Saints, they will be looking at help in both the secondary and at DT.  In the end the decision will come down to Michigan State’s Jerel Worthy at DT or the Cornhusker’s Alfonso Denard at corner.  Despite a weak senior campaign for Denard, I think he is the better overall talent, and I suspect he will be the selection here.

     28.   San Diego Chargers via Green Bay – Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

After trading down with the Pack, the Chargers will be in position to select from a few raw guys with good upside to help them get pressure on the opposing QB.  USCs Nick Perry, and Syracuse’s Chandler Jones will be considerations here too, but right now I believe that Whitney Mercillus has the edge.  He plans on being a full participant at this week’s combine, so it is possible his stock either rises or falls based on his performance.

     29.   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 and would be a wonderful heir to Matt Birk.  He is smart, sturdy, and can play with a mean streak.  Sound just like the kind of player Baltimore would love.

     30.   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.

     31.   Miami Dolphins via New England Patriots – Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

As I mentioned earlier, the Pats are unlikely to stay put with both of their selections.  With this pick, Bill Belichick does the majic that only he can do, and swings a deal with QB thirsty, division rival Miami.  With the Browns on the clock ahead of them in round 2, Miami moves that pick, along with a third rounder to the Pats for the right to select between Weeden, Nick Foles, and Brock Osweiler.  In the end, the OK State product’s prolific output will wow the Miami Brass into selecting him ahead of the other two options.

     32.   New York Giants – Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

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.  The jury is still out on Burfict, with some experts singing his praises, and other calling him “highly overrated”.  The bottom line with Burfict is that he is crazy.  He plays hard on every play, and he clearly has an inferno burning inside him.  Guys like him can be complete busts, or they can turn into hall-of-famers like Ray Lewis.  At 32, that is a risk the Giants should take.

2012 Mock Draft 2.0

The All-Star games are all done, and now the players are off preparing for the combine in late February.  Mock 2.0 shows no movement at the top, but a few changes in the middle and late parts of the round.  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

Has Manning been cleared to play, or not?  This is the latest question in this offseason's most watched saga.  Either way, it seems as if Manning has taken his last snap as the QB for the Colts.  This means the time is now for Andrew Luck.   Rated by many as the best QB to come out of college since Stanford's last great QB, John Elway, Luck has everything you want in a franchise QB.  The colts lucked out (pun intended) on being able to turn their franchise over from Manning to Luck.

St. Louis Rams – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Jeff Fisher has been inked to be the next head coach in St Louis, and he and his Rams could go one of two ways with this pick.  I gave serious consideration to slotting Matt Kalil here as there current LT, Jason Smith has been a bust thus far.  But Smith is young, and having invested a 2nd overall pick on him just a few years ago, I think they add the most dangerous receiving weapon in the class to QB Sam Bradford's arsenal. Blackmon 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 part of what should be the best defense in football in another 3 years.

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 doesn't 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 give away the house to get a QB like Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn this offseason.  That would address their biggest need.  Next comes an OLB who can cover ground or a RT for their line.  Owner Stephen Ross needs to put fans back in the seats, and drafting an o-lineman with their top pick again will go over like a led balloon.  Upshaw has tremendous upside, and considering how bad the Phins were at getting pressure this past year, he would make the most sense.   

           


      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.

 

S    Seattle Seahawks – Ryan Tannehill, QB, TAMU

The strong armed Aggie product is flying up draft boards right now.  On draft day teams will reach for help at this most important of positions, and I think Tannehill is an immediate upgrade over anything the Hawks currently have as signal caller options right now.  They will watch his injury carefully over the time leading up to the draft, but if his recovery is on schedule, I think he will be their QB of the future.

   
      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.

      Arizona Cardinals – David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Cardinals need help in a few spots, including their o-line.  David DeCastro will be 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 – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Janoris Jenkins was one of the guys who helped themselves out the most with their post season performance thus far.  He showed during the senior bowl that he still has all of the talent that made him a SEC standout at the University of Florida before getting kicked off the team.   If he can prove during his interviews that his behavioral issues are behind him, I can see him landing with the Cowboys.  Jerry Jones has never been afraid to take a chance on a guy with such great upside.

 
      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 Jets could really use someone with a winning pedigree in their locker room.

Cincinnati Bengals via Oakland – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, 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.  Once upon a time, Kirkpatrick was considered a top 10 pick, but a recent arrest and Jenkins stellar play in the post season has left the former Tide corner falling down draft boards.  The Bengals aren't afraid of questionable character guys though, so Dre's fall ends here.





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

The Bengals are in good position for the future.  They have a young QB and WR with some good pieces on the defense to build around.  It looks however as if they will lose Cedric Benson this offseason, leaving them in the market for a new RB.  Lamar Miller is rated by many as the second best back on the board.  His shoulder surgery makes me nervous however, and it is difficult to argue with James' production at Oregon.  He does have a second round grade in my book, making this a reach pick, but it is a gamble that could pay dividends if it pays out.





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 – Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The early selection of Von Miller during last season's draft looks to be pure genius.  He was the best rookie defensive player, easily.  Now if the Broncos can find a big boy in the middle of this defense that can help keep the offensive line from getting out on Miller, then boy will this unit be tough.  Still looks like he can do that, plus get some pressure on the QB on passing downs too.  People are all over the board on this guy though, and his stock has slipped a little recently.  We will have to see how he performs at the combine before we will have a better gauge on his projection.






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.  The next group of DTs are all very closely rated and include Michigan State's Jerel Worthy, MSU's Fletcher Cox, and LSU's Michael Brockers, but Poe is on par with them, 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 – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

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, Brockers would be a good choice. Although he had a bit of an off year, he is very talented, and I think he will do well in New England.






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.

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 – Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

In my first mock, I had the Niners going for a Wide Out to pair with Michael Crabtree and keep San Fran among the elite of the NFC.  Alshton Jeffery was the choice and I still love his upside, however, I have pushed him down to the number 4 slot amongst eligible wide receivers.  I had overlooked Kendall Wright as simply the product of RG3's great season.  After watching some more video of the Bears recently, I have chnaged my mind on Wright.  He is a legit receiver in his own right, and he was as much a part of the Heisman winner's season as anyone.  The more I see of this kid, the more I like.






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.

New England Patriots – Nick Perry, DE, USC

Despite how good New England is, their defense took a step backwards in 2011.  Master Bill loves versatile defenders with good skills, and although raw, Nick Perry is exactly that. My guess is that he will play end in the pros, but he could also line up from the outside linebacker position depending upon the alignment.  He is a special athlete, and he will add some to a front 7 that lacks that athletic edge.