D-Unit
10-31-2011, 09:41 PM
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1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck QB Stanford
Their losses are waaaaay too obvious. Suck for Luck is in full force from top management all the way down to the players. They're all in it together. That's why there is no hot seat on Jim Caldwell.
2. Denver Broncos: Matt Barkley QB USC
I just don't think the Broncos can win any more games on the shoulders of Tim Tebow and the Broncos trading Brandon Lloyd showed me that they aren't interested in winning this year at all.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Matt Kalil OT USC
Throwing all that cash at Larry Fitzgerald isn't making that big of a difference in the win column, is it... These birds are grounded because of the inefficiency of their OL. Kalil is an elite LT prospect who can help get the Cardinals in the air again.
4. Miami Dolphins: Landry Jones QB Oklahoma
The Dolphins management want a high pick, so they aren't firing Sparano. Instead, they're banking on him to keep on losing while having a weekly Sunday post game press conference that shows at least outwardly that they are "trying to win". What they're gonna do is find out the hard way that Sparano really does want to win, so the Fins will pull off a few surprising wins and won't finish with a Top 3 pick and will have to settle for Landry Jones who I think is a possible bust.
5. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Martin OT Stanford
Martin showed holes in his pass protection skills against USC, but the big guy is still a top LT prospect and his run blocking skills are top notch. I can realistically see Martin in a Vikings jersey doing damage for the next decade.
6. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Richardson RB Alabama
Pete Carroll has done a good job of upgrading every position on offense except QB and RB. Without a worthy QB prospect here, the next position he'll fix is RB. Trent Richardson can single handedly bring legitimacy back to their offense as he is the type of workhorse RB that can carry them on his back.
7. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State
The Browns are having a hard time kicking it out of 2nd gear. Adding another playmaker like Blackmon will start to make that team more dangerous. Blackmon's YAC skills make him the most attractive WR for thier West Coast offense.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery WR South Carolina
The inability to put points on the board are the cause of Jacksonville's struggles. Watching AJ Green and Andy Dalton make magic could be on the minds of the Jags front office as they try to pair Gabbert with a weapon of his own.
9. St. Louis Rams: Mercilus Whitney DE Illinois
The Rams aren't as bad as their currect record suggests, so I'm not giving them a Top 5 pick. They're not that great either, so I'm keeping them in the Top 10. Nobody is really talking about Mercilus Whitney right now, but I guarantee you they will. Spags will be all over him, if he gets a chance to add this pass rushing beast.
10. Tennessee Titans: Dontari Poe DT Memphis
The Titans can re-establish defensive front line dominance with the drafting of Dontari Poe. There are other needs that can be looked at, but I like the value vs need here with this pick.
11. Carolina Panthers: Morris Claiborne CB LSU
Claiborne went from no hype, to too much hype in a blink of an eye. The Panthers need to address CB, so if they can get a playmaker like Claiborne or Kirkpatrick, I suspect one of the two will be their pick.
12. Kansas City Chiefs: Melvin Ingram DE South Carolina
All Ingram does is create havoc. The Chiefs have tried to improve thier pass rush through the years and have only come away with poor to mixed results. If Ingram can translate his game to the NFL, the Chiefs will be thrilled with this pick.
13. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin QB Baylor
Despite where they are picking, the Redskins really are getting better. Their defense is nasty. Their offense is nasty too, but not in a good way. I can see the Skins adding a dynamic playmaking QB like Griffin to their squad, unfortunately, I can see them ruining him too. They have a lot of issues on offense and they better develop him properly before rushing him in and expecting him to turn their team around in year 1.
14. New York Giants: Vontaze Burfict LB Arizona State
The G-Men will stumble across the next 6 games on their schedule (at least that's what I'm projecting here). But with that, they will find themselves with a pretty glamorous pick. With Burfict available here, I think the Giants will not wait long on the clock. Since Caughlin was able to have success with LaVarr Arrington, Burfict will be a breeze.
15. Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland): Quinton Coples DE North Carolina
Coples might have lost some fans this year, but he's still a very intriguing prospect as 6'6, 285 pound DEs with his graded measurables don't come along very often. The Bengals could use a boost in their pass rush since they've struggled to find a true sack artist.
16. Tampa Bay Bucaneers: Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame
The Bucs are a solid team, but a tough division has left them in the middle of the draft once again. Adding a WR the caliber of Floyd can take them from solid to spectacular. With Mike Williams and Michael Floyd playing wide and Arrelious Benn in the slot, Josh Freeman will have everything he needs to take this team to the next level.
17. Chicago Bears: Riley Reiff OT Iowa
The Bears needing OL help may sound like a draft day broken record, but here we are again and the same rings true. Landing Reiff here is a sound selection, but the Bears have other needs that could be addressed here as well.
18. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama
The Cowboys will consider OG and C options in Round 1, but if Dre is on the board, then I think it's more realistic to think Jerry will add a playmaker. Especially since Newman will have been cut by now. He was a cap cost of $10M in 2011 and his contract will still be a load in 2012 if they keep him. Don't expect that.
19. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn OG Georgia
Hey, the Bengals do like 'em BIIIIIG! If they put Cordy Glenn next to the much improved Andre Smith, they could pave freeways for their RBs to run freely through. Things are looking up for the Bengals since they were able to trade Carson Palmer for valuable draft picks, but you can be sure they won't have the luxury of an easy schedule in 2012.
20. New York Jets: David DeCastro G Stanford
The Jets have had problems keeping Sanchez clean. Adding a mauler like DeCastro would go a long ways to getting that offense to live up to it's potential in both the passing game and the running game. Not the most sexy pick, but the Jets would be better off going with the sure thing than taking a gamble elsewhere.
21. Cleveland Browns (From Atlanta): Manti Te'o LB Notre Dame
D'Qwell Jackson is an UFA and he may follow Rob Ryan to Dallas where Bradie James and Keith Brooking are on the outs. The Browns will have many LB options to go to at this position in the draft and I think they could go for Manti Te'o who I don't rate as a Top 15 pick like many other mock drafters do.
22. Houston Texans: Alameda Ta'amu NT Washington
The Texans may satisfy Wade Phillips if they can find a true NT to plug the middle of his defense. Phillips attempted to work around Jay Ratliff in Dallas and it ultimately cost him his job. In order for his defense to thrive, he needs to go back to what he had in San Diego with Jammal Williams.
23. San Diego Chargers: Vinny Curry OLB/DE Marshall
The Chargers struck out with Larry English, but that won't stop them from trying to fix their pressure attack. Curry has some attractive ability in that department and draft experts are already way onto him.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechley LB Boston College
The Eagles used their week 8 win against Dallas to turn their season around and I reflect that here with them finishing towards the end of the draft. Adding a tackling machine like Kuechley to their already loaded defense could be the final addition to a dominant defense in 2012 if everyone stays healthy.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams OT Ohio State
The Steelers should be thrilled if Mike Adams falls to them here. He has the ability to step in from Day 1 and improve what they had at the position in 2011. Adams is strong, has long arms, athleticism and a nasty streak to boot.
26. Detroit Lions: Alphonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
The Lions have shown that they will go BPA in the draft and Alphonzo Dennard has slipped too far. I don't see him falling past them here. They could use more help at that position.
27. Buffalo Bills: Brandon Jenkins DE Florida State
The Bills need to take the next step and add pass rushers to the defense that can wreak havoc in opponents backfields. They would do a favor for themselves by taking Brandon Jenkins here as he is part of the cream of the 2013 class of 3-4 OLBs.
28. San Francisco 49ers: Peter Konz C Wisconsin
Jim Harbaugh put the 49ers back on the map in 2011 and that resurgence is just the beginning. Their OL is a strength of the team, but C is a weak spot. Konz could deliver huge rewards for them as the Niners seek to stay on track.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower LB Alabama
Ray Lewis is getting old and his replacement is not on the roster. There's not too many folks who could fill his shoes but at 6'4, 260, Hightower probably isn't that far off! The Ravens could go OL here and I almost gave them Kelechi Osemele.
30. New England Patriots (From New Orleans): Courtney Upshaw LB Alabama
The Patriots should be thrilled to see Upshaw here. Belichick loves SEC linebackers so a trio of Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes and Courtney Upshaw would seem fitting. Ninkovich doesn't start for NFL teams with Super Bowl aspirations.
31. New England Patriots: Mohamed Sanu WR Rutgers
Sad Chad didn't help the Patriots any in 2011. Sanu is the type of WR that Belichick could pride himself on drafting and developing. His upside is high and his ability to have a big impact from the start is high since he has good size and everything he touches sticks to his hands.
32. Green Bay Packers: Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama
Packer fans probably want an OLB to play opposite of Clay Matthews but the reality of the situation is that the Packers are allowing 288 passing yards per game (as of Week 8) and that's good for 31st in the league.
1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck QB Stanford
Their losses are waaaaay too obvious. Suck for Luck is in full force from top management all the way down to the players. They're all in it together. That's why there is no hot seat on Jim Caldwell.
2. Denver Broncos: Matt Barkley QB USC
I just don't think the Broncos can win any more games on the shoulders of Tim Tebow and the Broncos trading Brandon Lloyd showed me that they aren't interested in winning this year at all.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Matt Kalil OT USC
Throwing all that cash at Larry Fitzgerald isn't making that big of a difference in the win column, is it... These birds are grounded because of the inefficiency of their OL. Kalil is an elite LT prospect who can help get the Cardinals in the air again.
4. Miami Dolphins: Landry Jones QB Oklahoma
The Dolphins management want a high pick, so they aren't firing Sparano. Instead, they're banking on him to keep on losing while having a weekly Sunday post game press conference that shows at least outwardly that they are "trying to win". What they're gonna do is find out the hard way that Sparano really does want to win, so the Fins will pull off a few surprising wins and won't finish with a Top 3 pick and will have to settle for Landry Jones who I think is a possible bust.
5. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Martin OT Stanford
Martin showed holes in his pass protection skills against USC, but the big guy is still a top LT prospect and his run blocking skills are top notch. I can realistically see Martin in a Vikings jersey doing damage for the next decade.
6. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Richardson RB Alabama
Pete Carroll has done a good job of upgrading every position on offense except QB and RB. Without a worthy QB prospect here, the next position he'll fix is RB. Trent Richardson can single handedly bring legitimacy back to their offense as he is the type of workhorse RB that can carry them on his back.
7. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State
The Browns are having a hard time kicking it out of 2nd gear. Adding another playmaker like Blackmon will start to make that team more dangerous. Blackmon's YAC skills make him the most attractive WR for thier West Coast offense.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery WR South Carolina
The inability to put points on the board are the cause of Jacksonville's struggles. Watching AJ Green and Andy Dalton make magic could be on the minds of the Jags front office as they try to pair Gabbert with a weapon of his own.
9. St. Louis Rams: Mercilus Whitney DE Illinois
The Rams aren't as bad as their currect record suggests, so I'm not giving them a Top 5 pick. They're not that great either, so I'm keeping them in the Top 10. Nobody is really talking about Mercilus Whitney right now, but I guarantee you they will. Spags will be all over him, if he gets a chance to add this pass rushing beast.
10. Tennessee Titans: Dontari Poe DT Memphis
The Titans can re-establish defensive front line dominance with the drafting of Dontari Poe. There are other needs that can be looked at, but I like the value vs need here with this pick.
11. Carolina Panthers: Morris Claiborne CB LSU
Claiborne went from no hype, to too much hype in a blink of an eye. The Panthers need to address CB, so if they can get a playmaker like Claiborne or Kirkpatrick, I suspect one of the two will be their pick.
12. Kansas City Chiefs: Melvin Ingram DE South Carolina
All Ingram does is create havoc. The Chiefs have tried to improve thier pass rush through the years and have only come away with poor to mixed results. If Ingram can translate his game to the NFL, the Chiefs will be thrilled with this pick.
13. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin QB Baylor
Despite where they are picking, the Redskins really are getting better. Their defense is nasty. Their offense is nasty too, but not in a good way. I can see the Skins adding a dynamic playmaking QB like Griffin to their squad, unfortunately, I can see them ruining him too. They have a lot of issues on offense and they better develop him properly before rushing him in and expecting him to turn their team around in year 1.
14. New York Giants: Vontaze Burfict LB Arizona State
The G-Men will stumble across the next 6 games on their schedule (at least that's what I'm projecting here). But with that, they will find themselves with a pretty glamorous pick. With Burfict available here, I think the Giants will not wait long on the clock. Since Caughlin was able to have success with LaVarr Arrington, Burfict will be a breeze.
15. Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland): Quinton Coples DE North Carolina
Coples might have lost some fans this year, but he's still a very intriguing prospect as 6'6, 285 pound DEs with his graded measurables don't come along very often. The Bengals could use a boost in their pass rush since they've struggled to find a true sack artist.
16. Tampa Bay Bucaneers: Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame
The Bucs are a solid team, but a tough division has left them in the middle of the draft once again. Adding a WR the caliber of Floyd can take them from solid to spectacular. With Mike Williams and Michael Floyd playing wide and Arrelious Benn in the slot, Josh Freeman will have everything he needs to take this team to the next level.
17. Chicago Bears: Riley Reiff OT Iowa
The Bears needing OL help may sound like a draft day broken record, but here we are again and the same rings true. Landing Reiff here is a sound selection, but the Bears have other needs that could be addressed here as well.
18. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama
The Cowboys will consider OG and C options in Round 1, but if Dre is on the board, then I think it's more realistic to think Jerry will add a playmaker. Especially since Newman will have been cut by now. He was a cap cost of $10M in 2011 and his contract will still be a load in 2012 if they keep him. Don't expect that.
19. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn OG Georgia
Hey, the Bengals do like 'em BIIIIIG! If they put Cordy Glenn next to the much improved Andre Smith, they could pave freeways for their RBs to run freely through. Things are looking up for the Bengals since they were able to trade Carson Palmer for valuable draft picks, but you can be sure they won't have the luxury of an easy schedule in 2012.
20. New York Jets: David DeCastro G Stanford
The Jets have had problems keeping Sanchez clean. Adding a mauler like DeCastro would go a long ways to getting that offense to live up to it's potential in both the passing game and the running game. Not the most sexy pick, but the Jets would be better off going with the sure thing than taking a gamble elsewhere.
21. Cleveland Browns (From Atlanta): Manti Te'o LB Notre Dame
D'Qwell Jackson is an UFA and he may follow Rob Ryan to Dallas where Bradie James and Keith Brooking are on the outs. The Browns will have many LB options to go to at this position in the draft and I think they could go for Manti Te'o who I don't rate as a Top 15 pick like many other mock drafters do.
22. Houston Texans: Alameda Ta'amu NT Washington
The Texans may satisfy Wade Phillips if they can find a true NT to plug the middle of his defense. Phillips attempted to work around Jay Ratliff in Dallas and it ultimately cost him his job. In order for his defense to thrive, he needs to go back to what he had in San Diego with Jammal Williams.
23. San Diego Chargers: Vinny Curry OLB/DE Marshall
The Chargers struck out with Larry English, but that won't stop them from trying to fix their pressure attack. Curry has some attractive ability in that department and draft experts are already way onto him.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechley LB Boston College
The Eagles used their week 8 win against Dallas to turn their season around and I reflect that here with them finishing towards the end of the draft. Adding a tackling machine like Kuechley to their already loaded defense could be the final addition to a dominant defense in 2012 if everyone stays healthy.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams OT Ohio State
The Steelers should be thrilled if Mike Adams falls to them here. He has the ability to step in from Day 1 and improve what they had at the position in 2011. Adams is strong, has long arms, athleticism and a nasty streak to boot.
26. Detroit Lions: Alphonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
The Lions have shown that they will go BPA in the draft and Alphonzo Dennard has slipped too far. I don't see him falling past them here. They could use more help at that position.
27. Buffalo Bills: Brandon Jenkins DE Florida State
The Bills need to take the next step and add pass rushers to the defense that can wreak havoc in opponents backfields. They would do a favor for themselves by taking Brandon Jenkins here as he is part of the cream of the 2013 class of 3-4 OLBs.
28. San Francisco 49ers: Peter Konz C Wisconsin
Jim Harbaugh put the 49ers back on the map in 2011 and that resurgence is just the beginning. Their OL is a strength of the team, but C is a weak spot. Konz could deliver huge rewards for them as the Niners seek to stay on track.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower LB Alabama
Ray Lewis is getting old and his replacement is not on the roster. There's not too many folks who could fill his shoes but at 6'4, 260, Hightower probably isn't that far off! The Ravens could go OL here and I almost gave them Kelechi Osemele.
30. New England Patriots (From New Orleans): Courtney Upshaw LB Alabama
The Patriots should be thrilled to see Upshaw here. Belichick loves SEC linebackers so a trio of Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes and Courtney Upshaw would seem fitting. Ninkovich doesn't start for NFL teams with Super Bowl aspirations.
31. New England Patriots: Mohamed Sanu WR Rutgers
Sad Chad didn't help the Patriots any in 2011. Sanu is the type of WR that Belichick could pride himself on drafting and developing. His upside is high and his ability to have a big impact from the start is high since he has good size and everything he touches sticks to his hands.
32. Green Bay Packers: Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama
Packer fans probably want an OLB to play opposite of Clay Matthews but the reality of the situation is that the Packers are allowing 288 passing yards per game (as of Week 8) and that's good for 31st in the league.