NFL Mock Draft: Version 4
This mock draft will be filled with what other people are saying about the prospects. I promise that Michael Floyd will be in this version of the
mock draft, as well. Feel free to praise my genius or my stupidity. I encourage feedback.
1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck (QB) Stanford: "I've talked with (NFL) guys who say, 'He's it - a guy who
comes around once every 10-15 years.' It's not going to be a quick fix, especially with the (players) they had walk out the door. But (Luck) is the
biggest piece of the puzzle." -StanfordHeadCoachDavidShawintheUSAToday. Previous: Andrew Luck
2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III (QB) Baylor: In case you haven't heard,BobMcGinnwroteintheMilwaukeeJournalSentinal "As much as is written about his athleticism, his
athleticism under duress in the pocket isn't even close to Cam Newton's. This guy, the only way he gets big plays with his feet is if he's got a
wide-open field and the sea opens for him. He's got a little bit of a selfish streak, too. Everybody was laying on Cam, but for some reason this guy
has become gloves off. He doesn't treat anybody good." Another scout also questioned the way Griffin deals with people." This is simply a
smokescreen put up by some anonymous scout for some anonymous team who desperately wants Washington to pass on the Baylor star (even though the Skins
already mortgaged their future to trade to the #2 spot). McGinn quoted another scout who more accurately said that "He's going to need technique
work and fundamentals. But you cannot lose the fact that he's got feet, touch downfield with accuracy, a strong arm. He's charismatic and smart as
(expletive)." Previous: Robert Griffin III
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil (OT) Southern Cal.: "NFL scouts believe he is as close to perfect as they can
expect and one of the most complete offensive tackles to come out of college since USC's Tony Boselli" -CBSSports. Previous: Matt Kalil
4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson (RB) Alabama: "If you're not gonna take a quarterback, I think youhave to take TrentRichardson," -MikeMayock. This is not an indictment
on my previous predictions of Tannehill here, it is a testament to the second tier quarterbacks like Brandon Weedon, Nick Foles, Kirk Cousins, and
Brock Osweiler (not to mention Russell Wilson in the third tier).
Previous: Trent Richardson
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne (CB) LSU: "He's a good kid. He looks good. He looks the part.
Everybody's high on him." -
Rhonde
Barber
on
NFL
.
com
. Previous: Morris Claiborne
6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon (WR) Oklahoma St.: "If you don't like Justin Blackmon, you don't like
football," -JonGruden. Previous: Justin Blackmon
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram (DE) South Carolina: "Ingram, if he can do anything, can rush the
passer. The guy is wonderfully versatile, and even with his short arms he disengages really well and falls back on an arsenal of moves." -MelKiperJr.Previous: Melvin Ingram
8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill (QB) Texas A&M: "Tannehill's potential is enormous, his ceiling as high
as the Sistine Chapel's. I have heard all the negatives, including his 1-4 record vs. ranked opponents last year. Ironically Tannehill's literal hand
in A&M's disappointing 6-6 season is what got head coach Mike Sherman fired and landed him here as Dolphins' offensive coordinator." -GregCoteoftheMiamiHerald. Previous: Ryan Tannehill
9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox (DT) Miss. St.: "The light-footed Cox played both defense end and defensive
tackle and his versatility will be an asset in the NFL, where scouts think he is similar to San Diego's Corey Luiget, an 18th overall pick out of
Illinois last year." -CBSSports. Previous: Fletcher Cox
10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff (OT) Iowa: "Reiff is an impressive tackle prospect. He started every game in his career and
was very durable considering how heavily Iowa relied on its run game." -NFL.com
. Previous: Riley Reiff
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly (ILB) Boston College: "Despite his consistency and the fact that he proved significantly
more athletic during Combine testing that expected, Kuechly's position could lead to a surprise drop on draft day." -CBSSports.
Previous: Luke Kuechly
12. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples (DE) North Carolina: "Coples, at 6-6 and 284 pounds, has drawn physical comparisons to a
former TarHeels defensive end who went on to a stellar pro career:JuliusPeppers, now with theChicagoBears. Quick, strong and freakishly athletic are
a few of the terms that describe both." -BobVelinoftheUSAToday.
Previous: Quinton Coples
13. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd (WR) Notre Dame: "He has great hands, he's fast, he ran a 4.36 in Indy, there are a lot of
great things about that player we like." -JoeyClinkscales, VPofCollegeScoutingfortheNewYorkJets. Previous: David DeCastro
14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron (SS) Alabama: "But I don't see many weaknesses. He does everything pretty well. You can pick on
how much range does he have. Is he your classic Ed Reed center-fielder type? No. But he's instinctive enough, gets in position, and I think can cover
enough ground to easily." -ToddMcShay.
Previous: Dontari Poe
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe (DT) Memphis: "Some scouts have said they're not impressed with Poe's motor or his
production in college, but it's impossible to overlook his talent." -MichaelDavidSmithofProFootballTalk.
Previous: Michael Brockers
16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw (DE/OLB) Alabama: "a talented, smart pass-rusher who could be scheme-versatile on the edge.
And he can get to the quarterback" -MelKiperJr. .
Previous: Chandler Jones
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore (CB) South Carolina: "Gilmore excelled in South Carolina's zone defense, and he's
considered a great leader with a tireless work ethic on the field and in the film room, which gives him the awareness to know his teammates' defensive
assignments. Gilmore has good speed and ball skills, and he plays hard in run support and tackles well." -JeffHoweofNESN.
Previous: Mark Barron
18. San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro (OG) Stanford: "When you get him, you're going to plug him in Day 1 and he's going to be
your starting guard" -MikeMayock.
Previous: Cordy Glenn
19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn (OG/T) Georgia: "Glenn looks like a Cowboys guard from the 1990s glory days: Look closely and you
see Nate Newton." -
Mike
Tanier
of
Yahoo
!
Sports
.
Previous: Jonathan Martin
20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick (CB) Alabama: "From Alabama, like most Alabama kids, he's got a strong football IQ. He's
physical and he tackles and he can play zone. He's instinctive and he's tough." -MikeMayock.
Previous: Stephon Gilmore
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright (WR) Baylor: "Wright adjusts well to the ball and tracks vertical passes at a high level.
He ran by many college cornerbacks who gave him a cushion, without the aid of trickery." -MattWaldmanoftheNewYorkTimes.
Previous: Dre Kirkpatrick
22. Cleveland Browns: Stephen Hill (WR) Georgia Tech: "Wow does he have upside, but you're betting a lot on athletic ability and
not a lot of college production." -MikeMayock
. Previous: Kendall Wright
23. Detroit Lions: Chandler Jones (DE) Syracuse: "I think the most underrated player maybe in the entire draft and certainly
among defensive linemen is Chandler Jones" -
Todd
McShay
.
Previous: Janoris Jenkins
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower (ILB) Alabama: "Hightower is "high-floor" player. With his size, athleticism, and
Saban training, he is all but guaranteed to be a productive starter who can contribute right away." -MikeTanierofYahoo! Sports.
Previous: Dont'a Hightower
25. Denver Broncos: Coby Fleener (TE) Stanford: "Between Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck, Fleener was a major target for the best
college quarterback in recent memory, in an offense designed (and used after the coach's departure to San Francisco) to be as mistake-proof as
possible." -MikeTanierofYahoo! Sports.
Previous: Jerel Worthy
26. Houston Texans: Jonathan Martin (OT) Stanford: "You look at (Martin's) skill set, he strikes me as a strong left tackle
prospect given his ability to move. … He's not the most aggressive player or the nastiest player, but you have to be tough and physical at
Stanford." -NFLNetworkAnalystBuckyBrooks.
Previous: Stepehen Hill
27. New England Patriots: Michael Brockers (DT) LSU: "While he played defensive tackle at LSU, he is viewed as being versatile
enough to play at end in a 4-3 defense and provide a big-time boost to a team's pass rush, which happens to be one of the biggest needs for New
England." -PaulKenyonoftheProvidenceJournal
. Previous: Courtney Upshaw
28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry (DE/OLB) Southern Cal.: "As a sophomore and junior at USC he developed into an elite
pass-rushing prospect, and has the size and athletic ability to be successful working against NFL tackles." -NFL.com.
Previous: Nick Perry
29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz ( C ) Baltimore: "His anticipation and alertness compensate for average quickness, so he still
gets in position in time to take on defenders. Konz is more of a persistent, wall-off type of blocker than a physical mauler." -CBSSports.
Previous: Peter Konz
30. San Francisco 49ers: Jerel Worthy (DT) Michigan State: "Worthy's lackluster workout results underline just how enigmatic he
is as a prospect. His greatest attribute, besides brute strength, is something that cannot be easily showcased in a drill." -MikeTanierofYahoo! Sports.
Previous: Coby Fleener
31. New England Patriots: Kendall Reyes (DT) Connecticut: "At 6-foot-4 and 299 pounds, Reyes is the prototypical
5-technique in a base three-man front. In addition to his frame he has the arm length (33.3-inches) and upper-body strength (benched 225 pounds 36
times) to lock out and control blockers making him an effective two-gap run defender at end." -SteveMuenchofScoutsInc.
Previous: Kendall Reyes
32. New York Giants: Mike Adams (OT): "Nebraska outside linebacker Lavonte David looks like one of the best pure football
players in the 2012 draft class, but he's really undersized for his position, which means he'll be lucky to crack the first round." -
Jeff
Howe
of
NESN