Scouting Report

  If nothing else give Indy credit for knowing when to be really bad at just the right time. After landing the top overall pick the years John Elway and Peyton Manning were coming out of college, the Colts once again hit the quarterback jackpot with Stanford’s Andrew Luck. There are no sure things in the NFL Draft but Luck is about as close as it gets. In fact, there are many who feel Luck is the best quarterback prospect to come along in decades. Not only does Luck have the size, arm strength, accuracy and athleticism that you look for but his intangibles such as intelligence, leadership ability, work ethic and pedigree are absolutely off the charts. In many ways Luck is the LeBron James of the NFL Draft and he is the type of rare prospect who can completely change the fortunes of an organization. Even if Manning is able to make a full recovery from that career-threatening neck injury, which is far from a given, the future Hall of Famer is still going to be 36-years-old and probably only has two or three more productive seasons left. With Manning’s status very much in doubt the Colts simply cannot afford to pass on Luck, who could be the cornerstone of the franchise for the next ten or fifteen years. Indianapolis will most likely get some extremely enticing trade offers for this pick but at the end of the day nobody understands just how valuable a truly elite signal caller can be better than the Colts.

Scouting Report

  The Rams will be picking in the Top 2 overall for the fourth time in five years and are in a great position this time around. Of course St. Louis can stand pat and select from an impressive group of talented candidates, but there should also be a number of teams interested in trading up for Baylor QB Robert Griffin III. Assuming the Rams use this pick they will probably be looking at a group of options comprised of USC OT Matt Kalil, L.S.U. CB Morris Claiborne or Oklahoma St. WR Justin Blackmon. In the end Kalil makes the most sense from a value and need perspective. Kalil is the reason that his former teammate Tyron Smith, who was the #10 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, was relegated to playing the right side in college. Kalil, whose brother Ryan plays for the Carolina Panthers and is one of the leagues premier centers, isn’t a finished product but he possesses the physical tools and intangibles to develop into an elite blindside protector at the next level. It’s not a stretch to suggest that Kalil is the best left tackle prospect to come along since Joe Thomas, which is high praise indeed. In this scenario Kalil could be plugged in on the left side with Rodger Saffold moving to right tackle and Jason Smith kicking inside to guard, theoretically upgrading three positions in one fell swoop. Some might be wondering why Blackmon isn’t the slam-dunk pick considering the Rams glaring need for playmakers in the passing game but that would be a reach as he isn’t in the same class as guys like Calvin Johnson and A.J. Green were coming out of college.

Scouting Report

  If not for a meaningless late season win the Vikings would have the second overall pick and be in the cat-bird seat as far as player and trade options go. However, instead Minnesota will be at the mercy of the Rams. USC OT Matt Kalil would make the most sense for the Vikings if available, but since he is off the board they opt for some much-needed secondary help. Morris Claiborne of L.S.U. isn't as freakish of a physical specimen as Patrick Peterson but he does possess prototypical size and speed and may be a better pure cover man. At times Claiborne was overshadowed by teammate Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu, who isn’t draft-eligible but looks like a future early round pick as well, but Claiborne is clearly the superior pro prospect. The Vikings could be in the market for as many as four new starters in their secondary this offseason and Claiborne would be the centerpiece of that rebuilding effort. Minnesota could also use a stud wideout like Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma St., although early indications are they won’t use this choice on a pass catcher. The Vikings would probably love to trade down a bit and stockpile some additional picks but any offers would most likely be dependent upon Baylor QB Robert Griffin III still being on the board.

Scouting Report

  The Browns have plenty of needs to address and could go in a number of directions with this pick, but if Baylor QB Robert Griffin III is available it should be a no-brainer. In fact, Browns Head Coach Pat Shurmur is already on the record as being a fan of the Heisman Trophy winner. “RG3” is a dynamic playmaker with the ability to beat teams with either his arm or legs and could have the type of career that Michael Vick was supposed to. Not only is Griffin an outstanding athlete with a rare skill set for the position but he also earns high marks for his intangibles such as intelligence, work ethic and leadership ability. There are some legitimate concerns when evaluating Griffin as a pro prospect, ranging from a lack of ideal height, unorthodox throwing mechanics and the need to adjust to a pro style system at the next level, but the positives clearly outweigh the negatives. Based on the value chart that teams use it would cost the Browns their second round pick to move up a couple of spots and ensure they get Griffin, which is a relatively small price to pay for a potential franchise signal caller. Alabama RB Trent Richardson will also draw serious consideration if Peyton Hillis is allowed to leave as a free agent. Other options may include Oklahoma St. WR Justin Blackmon, who could be the go-to target that they have been searching for, or perhaps L.S.U. CB Morris Claiborne since Sheldon Brown has seen better days. However, in the end the game of football revolves around the quarterback position and the Browns simply cannot pass up a unique talent like "RG3".

Scouting Report

  Few would have predicted that the Bucs would be selecting this early, but despite coming off a very disappointing season there is still a lot of young talent in Tampa. That doesn’t mean they don’t have their fair share of holes to plug though. After an impressive rookie season LeGarrette Blount regressed in year two and the Buccaneers finished third from last in the league in rushing. In the long run Blount may be best suited for a situational role, a la Brandon Jacobs. Alabama RB Trent Richardson is a well-rounded player with a terrific blend of power and speed and possesses all of the tools to be a dominant workhorse at the next level. Richardson is a much better pro prospect than former teammate Mark Ingram and just might be the best runner the NFL Draft has seen since Adrian Peterson or Darren McFadden. The Bucs could also use an infusion of youth in their secondary and L.S.U. CB Morris Claiborne will likely receive serious consideration as a potential successor to 36-year-old Ronde Barber as well. Even though Tampa Bay already has a couple of pretty talented young pass catchers in Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn there are some who feel that Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma St. could be a legitimate possibility too so watch out for that.

Scouting Report

  The Redskins might be stuck between a rock and a hard place. Washington desperately needs a stud quarterback to build around, but it seems unlikely that Baylor’s Robert Griffin III will fall this far and since Matt Barkley of USC opted to return for his senior year there just aren’t enough good signal callers to go around. Don’t be surprised if the Skins ultimately move up or down if this is the situation they are faced with on Draft Day, but if they have to make the pick why not go for the best player available. Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma St. is a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner and would more than likely have been the third wide receiver selected in the 2011 NFL Draft after A.J. Green and Julio Jones. A big, physical, super competitive wideout with reliable hands, Blackmon may lack elite timed speed but he is more than fast enough with the pads on. While not quite as talented as Dez Bryant, Blackmon has what it takes to be a go-to weapon at the next level and compares favorably to Anquan Boldin. Granted the Redskins have a number of solid veterans and a couple of youngsters that they like at wideout, but Blackmon would undoubtedly represent a significant upgrade. Cornerback could also be a possibility, although Morris Claiborne of L.S.U. will probably be off the board and this would be too early for Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick. Keep an eye on Iowa OT Riley Reiff too because Jammal Brown has battled injuries for three years now and might not be in Washington’s long-term plans.

Scouting Report

  There is no denying that wide receiver is the Jags most pressing need, but unless Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma St. slides this far there just isn’t another pass catcher worthy of such a lofty pick. However, the Jaguars are also in dire straits at defensive end. Just how bad is it? Aaron Kampman is their only pass rusher of any consequence and he will turn 33-years-old next season and has played just twenty games combined the last three years due to multiple knee injuries. North Carolina DE Quinton Coples battled a case of senioritis but despite not always performing up to expectations still managed to rack up a very respectable 13.0 TFL and 7.0 Sacks. A terrific athlete with outstanding size, Coples is a bit of an underachiever but has all of the physical tools to be an impact player at the next level. If L.S.U. CB Morris Claiborne somehow fell this far that would be a possibility as well, especially if free agent Rashean Mathis bolts. Jags GM Gene Smith has developed a reputation for marching to the beat of his own drummer too so it may be wise to expect the unexpected from Jacksonville on Draft Day.

Scouting Report

  Less than a year ago the Panthers invested two premium draft picks on Terrell McClain and Sione Fua and they were supposed to solve Carolina’s issues at defensive tackle. Unfortunately the Panthers finished near the bottom of the league in rushing defense again last season and the duo of McClain / Fua combined for just a single sack. Not exactly the return they were expecting on that significant investment. It’s too early to give up on those two youngsters, but it’s also clear that Carolina needs to add another disruptive presence to the middle of their defensive line. Penn St. DT Devon Still was considered to be an underachiever throughout much of his college career but he finally began to consistently play up to his talent level as a senior. As a result Still shot up draft boards and is now battling to be the first player selected at his position. A good athlete with terrific speed and quickness, Still is capable of penetrating and wreaking havoc in the backfield but has also developed into a decent run defender. L.S.U. DT Michael Brockers should receive serious consideration as well. The Panthers could also use an upgrade at cornerback but Morris Claiborne of L.S.U. will likely be long gone by this point and Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick would be a reach in the top ten. Don’t completely rule out a stud wide receiver either.

Scouting Report

  In a perfect world the Dolphins would use this choice on a young quarterback to build around, but there just aren’t enough top signal callers to go around so Miami is forced to look elsewhere. Despite investing major resources on the offensive line over the years the Phins still have some issues up front, most notably on the right side where both Vernon Carey and Marc Colombo are free agents. Iowa’s Riley Reiff is the next in a recent string of outstanding offensive line prospects produced by the Hawkeye program. A versatile player with experience at left and right tackle as well as guard, Reiff is a well-rounded blocker who is effective in both the pass and run games. Reiff isn’t the elite prospect that Robert Gallery was coming out of college but he could ultimately carry a grade very similar to that of Bryan Bulaga. Miami might consider a pass rushing outside linebacker such as Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw as well. The Dolphins could also explore trading up for Baylor’s Robert Griffin III but the cost of moving all the way up into the Top 3 overall will probably be too prohibitive.

Scouting Report

  Only two teams had fewer sacks than the Bills this past season and the organization is committed to upgrading their pass rush after just missing out on Von Miller in last year’s draft. Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw may not have the ideal length or speed that you look for but that hasn’t stopped the Crimson Tide star from racking up 31.5 tackles for a loss and 15.5 sacks the past two years against elite SEC competition. Upshaw isn’t going to test particularly well in workouts but the guy is simply a great football player with a knack for being in the right place at the right time and will elicit favorable comparisons to LaMarr Woodley. In short, Upshaw is exactly the type of dynamic presence who can play standing up or with his hand on the ground that the Bills front seven is currently lacking. Buffalo also has some serious issues at offensive tackle and either Riley Reiff of Iowa or Jonathan Martin of Stanford would represent a significant upgrade. If by some chance Stevie Johnson was allowed to leave as a free agent then wide receiver would have to be a possibility as well.

Scouting Report

  The Chiefs have a pretty nice core of young talent in place but the rebuilding job is far from complete. One spot that must still be upgraded is nose tackle, where 35-year-old Kelly Gregg was merely a stop-gap solution. Dontari Poe of Memphis isn’t a household name just yet but that will start to change in the coming months. In fact, Poe should ultimately compete to be the first defensive tackle off the board. A 6-5 and 350 pound monster in the middle, Poe is not just big but also freakishly athletic, quick and agile. Poe is capable of playing defensive end in an odd front as well and that versatility will only add to his value. Chiefs GM Scott Pioli drafted Vince Wilfork during his tenure with the Patriots and Poe could play a similar role and have the same type of impact in Kansas City. Another major concern is right tackle and Riley Reiff of Iowa would be the most logical option of all if available, although they could also grab Jonathan Martin of Stanford and move Branden Albert to the right side. The inside linebacker spot alongside Derrick Johnson could stand to be upgraded as well and Vontaze Burfict of Arizona St. would be an absolutely perfect fit in their scheme, although character issues will likely make it difficult to pull the trigger this early.

Scouting Report

  The Seahawks are yet another team in need of a stud quarterback but they too will have to look elsewhere in the first round. After addressing the offensive line with their top two picks last year, perhaps it’s time for Seattle to turn their attention to the trenches on the other side of the ball. L.S.U. DT Michael Brockers is still an unknown commodity to many and it was a surprise to see the redshirt sophomore enter the 2012 NFL Draft. With that said, Brockers is very highly thought of in league circles and could very easily come off the board in the top half of round one. An impressive physical specimen who checks in at 6-6 and 306 pounds, Brockers is still very raw but is oozing potential and with proper development could eventually be one of the best players to come out of this draft. Brockers is already an excellent run defender and while he is still a work in progress as a pass rusher all of the tools are there. As an added bonus Brockers also offers some versatility and could be used as either a three-technique in an even front or a five technique in an odd front. Brockers, who some might compare to a guy like Kevin Williams, is exactly the type of jumbo, versatile defensive lineman that the Seahawks covet and while he is not a finished product their patience could pay major dividends down the road. Linebacker could be a possibility too if either Leroy Hill or David Hawthorne were to leave via free agency.

Scouting Report

  The Cardinals have somehow gotten by with an extremely tenuous situation at offensive tackle for a couple of years now, but they can only tempt fate for so long. Of particular concern is the all-important left tackle position, where Levi Brown is a liability. Andrew Luck gets most of the ink at Stanford but the guy responsible for protecting the top pick’s blindside will likely hear his name called very early as well. Jonathan Martin isn’t a finished product just yet and must develop more of a nasty streak but he is an extremely athletic blocker with nimble feet, a large frame and considerable upside. The addition of Martin would allow the Cards to move Brown back to right tackle, thus fortifying two positions and giving Kevin Kolb some peace of mind in the pocket. Arizona could also use an infusion of talent at outside linebacker, where both Joey Porter and Clark Haggans are well past their prime and neither O’Brien Schofield nor Sam Acho have established themselves as dynamic edge rushers. Even though the Cardinals just used a premium pick on Patrick Peterson the cornerback position is still a problem area as well. As a darkhorse don’t rule out a wide receiver to compliment Larry Fitzgerald, particularly if Early Doucet leaves as a free agent.

Scouting Report

  It was another disappointing season for the Cowboys and the organization will have to go back to the drawing board to try and figure out why the team continues to underachieve. One area where an upgrade is called for is cornerback since Terence Newman is overpaid and past his prime. Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick is a tall, rangy cover guy who isn’t afraid to hit and also played in what is essentially a pro style system under Nick Saban in college. With that said, Kirkpatrick isn’t the elite, shutdown corner that some have made him out to be and is probably more of a mid first round value than a top ten pick. Kirkpatrick also has some off-the-field concerns following an arrest in mid-January, but that isn’t the type of thing that will scare off Jerry Jones. Dallas could also use a safety like Mark Barron of Alabama or perhaps even an outside linebacker such as Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw or South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram since Anthony Spencer is going to be a free agent. After using a first round pick on an offensive lineman for the first time in two decades last year, don’t be shocked if Jones tries it once again with Stanford OG David DeCastro.

Scouting Report

  The Eagles have had significant issues at linebacker for a number of years now but for one reason or another they have failed to adequately address the problem. Perhaps all of the struggles they encountered at the position this past season will finally help them see the light. Luke Kuechly of Boston College doesn’t have the ideal size, speed or athleticism that you look for but compensates with outstanding instincts and intangibles. One of the most productive linebackers the college game has ever seen, Kuechly is a tackling machine with a nose for the ball in the mold of James Laurinaitis. Throughout the years this regime in Philadelphia has shown an inclination toward selecting offensive and defensive lineman in round one so even though those positions aren’t necessarily considered to be pressing needs it is certainly something to watch out for. If Philly decides that free agent DeSean Jackson isn’t in their long-term plans they could also be in the market for a top wide receiver.

Scouting Report

  The Jets have a star-studded secondary with Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Jim Leonhard but there is a weak link and his name is Eric Smith. After a disappointing year in which his flaws were exposed, don’t be surprised if Rex Ryan opts to replace Smith in the offseason. Alabama’s Mark Barron is this year’s top safety prospect by a considerable margin and while he wouldn’t necessarily be a perfect fit alongside Leonard the two could certainly coexist. Not only does Barron possess an excellent blend of size and speed but his football intangibles also stand out. Barron is at his best in the box but he is also very instinctive and has flashed some playmaking ability in coverage, a la LaRon Landry. The right side of the offensive line is a problem area as well so if they aren’t confident that Vladimir Ducasse will finally emerge that could be an option. The Jets could also be in the market for a pass rushing outside linebacker, although the surprising resurrection of Aaron Maybin’s career may mitigate that need. Don’t rule out a wide receiver either since Plaxico Burress is past his prime and Santonio Holmes’ future with the franchise is now in question.