By Rick Valente
The annual NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone, so it’s time for an updated mock draft. The biggest winner was the St. Louis Rams because there is no way there won’t be multiple teams offering an arm and a leg for a chance to get Robert Griffin at the #2 spot. A quarterback at that slot is slated to get around $22 million over four years with the new rookie pay scale, which only increases the value of the pick. Grabbing two first-round picks and then some will really add some talent to the Rams, who really stand to have the most to gain on draft weekend. There have also naturally been some post-combine risers and fallers, some of whom crept into this mock, some of whom have fallen out.
Out: Kendall Wright, Mohamed Sanu, Jerel Worthy, Lamar Miller, Alshon Jeffrey, Dwayne Allen
In: Ryan Tannehill, Stephen Gilmore, Dontari Poe, Dont’a Hightower, Stephen Hill, Zach Brown
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Andrew Luck would have been the 1st pick of the draft last year, and he did nothing this year to change his status as the best player coming out of college. It will be interesting to see how the Peyton Manning situation shakes out in Indy, but if the Colts cut ties with the best player in their franchise's history, there will be significant salary cap room and a deep free agent class to build around their quarterback of the present and future.
On a side note, Luck's decision to return to Stanford last year had far more of an impact on this year's NFL than you might initially think. If Luck was available in last years draft, Cam Newton would have fallen to the Broncos at the #2 spot. That means Tebowmania, the biggest story in the NFL this year, either would never have happened, or would have happened somewhere other than Denver.
2. Cleveland Browns
2. Cleveland Browns
Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
The Browns will have to give up a fortune, but it will be worth it to get the most exciting player coming out of the draft. This Cleveland team needs help everywhere except for their pretty good pass defense. Griffin will not only make this painfully boring Cleveland offense instantly more exciting to watch, but he also has the opportunity to become the new face of Cleveland sports. Kyrie Irving might be good, but I don't see his "WOW" factor. Griffin is fast, but he is also a pass-first quarterback and pretty accurate to boot (72% completion rate and a 36-8 TD/INT ratio last year.) Cleveland's wide receivers have a good amount of talent and are loaded with potential; they just didn't have someone to get them the ball. Griffin would help turn the third worst scoring offense in the NFL into something respectable at worst.
3. Minnesota Vikings
Matt Kalil, OT, USC
The NFL is a passing league; so quite naturally, quarterback is your most important position. I like Christian Ponder, but he is still not where he needs to be when it comes to reading the field. The kid needs a little more time to read the field to be successful, and you’re not going to be able to give him that time if you don’t upgrade from a bottom-five offensive line. Kalil is the best lineman in the draft, and only solidified his stock in the combine, putting up solid speed and power numbers. Kalil will be a nice blind-side protector of Ponder and will hopefully help give him enough time to make plays. With the serious knee injury sustained by Adrian Peterson at the end of last year, the Vikings better hope so.
4. St. Louis Rams
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
The Rams might need more help in regards to acquiring talent than any other team in the NFL. By trading their #2 pick to the Browns, they will get the Browns’ two first-round picks as well as a couple more high-round picks to be determined (I’m guessing two second-rounders and a fifth). Since the Rams were probably going to take Blackmon at #2 anyway, they have a great opportunity to improve their team this April. I don’t think Blackmon will ever be a top-five receiver in the NFL, but I he will be able to immediately help a Rams passing game that didn’t break double digits in touchdowns thrown. Eventually, I see his great hands and ability to run after the catch enabling Blackmon to be a top-ten to top-twelve wide receiver in the NFL.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
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| Claiborne will be the first DB off the board. |
There is much uncertainty at the cornerback position in Tampa. Come to think of it, after dropping their last ten games of the year, there is much uncertainty everywhere in Tampa, but it is especially bad on the defensive side. With Barber being an aging free-agent, and Aquib Talib’s distaste for the law, you really don’t want to have E.J. Biggers next in line for your top cornerback job. Claiborne is a solid overall cornerback who could immediately help a secondary that gave up 30 TD passes last year. Many people like Trent Richardson here, but Claiborne is a top-five talent at a position of need where Richardson is neither of those things.
6. Washington Redskins
Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
The Redskins need to improve their offense at the skill positions, but there is nobody available here that is worth taking at the #6 spot. Brockers is the best DT prospect in the draft and the Skins could use some beef in the middle of their defensive line. Brockers, has had no known incidents off the field at LSU, and has no injury history in college, making him a better choice then Still from Penn State. Brockers is a very good tackler, possesses good pass-rushing moves for an inside lineman, and has enormous upside. Washington was average in almost everything it did last year, which will leave you disappointed. With Brockers and Kerrigan, the Redskins will be on their way to a well-above-average front seven.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
Qinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
Jacksonville is built to be a smash-mouth team right now. They have a dominant running game with MJD, and a solid defense that could be scary good if you add an elite pass rusher into the mix. Enter Qinton Coples. Coples is easily the best pass rusher in the draft, and is also a three-down player who can push the pile back on a run or pass play. The Jaguars passing game is lacking someone to effectively throw the ball, and anyone to effectively catch it. That could be a slight problem. If the Jags want to win games this year, it will be establishing a lead and controlling the clock with the running game, while leaning on the defense to keep Blaine Gabbert from having to pass. It’s not a good sign when your best chance of winning lies in keeping the ball out of your first-round quarterback's hands, but you can't take that draft pick back now. Maybe owner Shahid Khan can trade his yacht for a decent field-general.
8. Miami Dolphins
Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
Riley Reiff has the versatility and quickness that makes him a perfect fit for Miami's offensive line. Riley can immediately start at right tackle for the Dolphins opposite Jake Long, instantaneously upgrading the Dolphin's pass-protection. He also has the quickness to get up field or out in the flats, which will help Reggie Bush continue his success with the Dolphins. Reiff did have an incident with the police for public intoxication in his freshman year, but this is unlikely to affect his draft status since he went the rest of his career at Iowa without incident. The Dolphins have a lot of issues to address this off-season, but the addition of Reiff gives them a good start.
9. Carolina Panthers
Devon Still, DT, Penn State
The Panthers struck gold last year with Cam Newton revitalizing their offense. While the Panthers improved from being the worst team in football, they are still in the bottom third of the league because of their defense. The Panthers would ideally like Michael Brockers to fall to them at #9, but with Brockers off the board, the Panthers get the next best thing in Devon Still. Still is less NFL-ready than Brockers, but he still possesses the tools to contribute in the middle of the Panthers' 4-3 scheme. He isn't going to rack up many sacks, but his ability to clog the middle will be a needed asset on this team.
10. Buffalo Bills
Nick Perry, DE, USC
The Buffalo Bills couldn't rush the passer and couldn't stop the run last year. It was these two weaknesses that led to them falling apart at the end of the season. Nick Perry is a player who is strong in both of these aspects of the game. He led the Pac-10 with 9.5 sacks while also possessing the instincts to contribute in stopping the run. Perry, being a hybrid-type player fits in well with the 3-4 scheme run by Buffalo. Buffalo has talent on its defensive front with Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus, and Paul Posluszny, but it just wasn't enough last year. Perry's skill could be key in filling the holes that last year's line left open for rushers, as well as being able to take pressure off the secondary by getting to the quarterback.
11. Kansas City Chiefs
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
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| Richardson leads a strong class of prospects from Alabama |
Kansas City is a team that likes to run the football. The injury to Jamaal Charles forced them to pass more than they would have liked last year, and certainly exposed their depth at the running back position. Thomas Jones is past his expiration date as a runner with any significance in the NFL, and Jackie Battle showed he isn't more than a depth guy in the backfield. If Charles isn't able to return to his former self, Richardson would be able to step in as the bell-cow back and would be more than a decent option to lead the running game. However, if Charles can return to form, he and Richardson could split carries to become perhaps the best slash and smash combo in the NFL. While Haley is out as head coach, I'm sure the trend of limiting Charles' carries will continue with Crenell, and Richardson would ensure that an elite running back is always on the field for the Chiefs.
12. Seattle Seahawks
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
Once again, there is a long way to go between now and the draft, including the signing of free agents. However, I think Seattle will be left out of the Matt Flynn and Peyton Manning sweepstakes, leaving them with Tavaris Jackson as their starter again. Tannehill won’t be able to start on a team right away since he lacks the experience, starting off at Texas A&M as a wide receiver in his freshman and sophomore seasons. Tannehill is FAR from the 11th best player in the draft, but teams that are desperate for quarterbacks have no problem reaching for them. Just look at the Titans taking Jake Locker at #8 last year.
13. Arizona Cardinals
David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
The Arizona Cardinals clearly need help on the offensive side of the ball. Getting a player like David DeCastro helps the running and passing game, while adding a quality player to the locker room. Arizona gave up the second most sacks in the NFL and also had a very inconsistent running game. DeCastro is an elite talent in both run blocking and pass protection, so while adding a guard is not the sexiest pick to make, it is actually the pick that would help the Cardinals out the most. An addition like Castro allows Beanie Wells to run better and buys more time for Larry Fitzgerald to get open, which are both keys to scoring more points for the Arizona Cardinals offense.
14. Dallas Cowboys
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Terrence Newman is well past his prime, and can't be the number one cornerback in a good pass defense. Dre Kirkpatrick is your old-school Dallas Cwboys player that Jerry Jones loves. His nickname is "swag" and he shows plenty of it on the field. He is an all-around talent who can play press-man coverage, defend the run, and has the hand-eye coordination to pick off passes that come his way. The Cowboys' pass defense is really one of their only weaknesses, and if Kirkpatrick can step up and become a decent left cornerback for them, they could have a top-5 defense led by Rob Ryan. Kirkpatrick's stock if hurt by his arrest in Florida this year, but will still be a first round selection, especially after Nick Saban has still vouched for him after the incident.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
The Eagles are really lacking in the linebacker department, so adding the Butkus Trophy winner will be a key addition to this team. How good is Kuechly? He was second in the nation in tackling his freshman year, led the nation in tackles his sophomore year, and last year as well; not to mention, he is a two-time All American. Kuechly is very Bruschi-like in the sense that he lets his football intelligence and instincts carry him from average to elite. With the third best 40-yard dash time and sixth most bench press reps, Kuechly is a virtual lock for the first half of the first round. However, there is a big leap from ACC football to the NFL, which is the only question mark surrounding the BC standout.
16. New York Jets
Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
I think the Jets should take a look at Michael Floyd here too. Plaxico Burress is no longer even a legitimate second option, and Santonio Holmes is a time bomb about to explode. A guy with character issues and $15.25 million guaranteed to him over the next two years has no incentive to behave. But the Jets weren’t good on either side of the ball last year, and they need to get back to what they do best. I have the Jets going defense here. The Jets were much softer on defense compared to recent years, and they need somebody to help establish them as a top-level defensive team again because their offense is well below average. Courtney Upshaw would be a step in the right direction for this Jets team. The basis of the old Jets defense was to pressure the quarterback while Cromartie and Revis kept the receivers contained, but since the Jets are no longer effective at getting to the quarterback, their advantage of having two of the best corners in the game is compromised. Upshaw is an elite level pass-rusher who will help fill this hole.
17. Cincinatti Bengals
Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
Even with the emergence of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, the Bengals were in the bottom third in the NFL for pass yards, rush yards, and points scored per game. The defense really didn't get the credit that it deserved last season, and I think that offense should be the focus for the Bengals here. Floyd is a perfect compliment to a guy like AJ Green, and if both Green and Dalton progress from their rookie year, this trio could certainly go for over 2,000 yards. Where Green is a burner and a guy who relies on his quickness down field, Floyd is a much more physical receiver who relies on his size and athleticism to catch the ball. He has some off-the-field issues with alcohol, but when has character ever stopped the Bengals from acquiring a talented football
player?
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| Floyd showcasing his play-making abilities with the ball |
18. San Diego Chargers
Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina
Ingram was a late first to mid-second round projection not too long ago. Now, with his stock on the rise, San Diego would be happy if he makes it to the 18th pick, and could really use the help on the edge getting to the quarterback. The Chargers' defense is on the decline, and their offense is fine even if they don't resign free agent Vincent Jackson. They have good running backs, and the Floyd/Brown/Gates combo are more than enough for Rivers to work with. Ingram is still a little raw, but he is coachable, and playing in the SEC usually translates into a shorter adjustment period to the speed of the NFL. He has the size (6-2 276 lbs) and experience at SC to play standing up or next to the tackle. I'm always a little skeptical of guys who see their stick shoot up like Ingram's, because there was a reason they were initially projected later (see: Vernon Ghoulston), but many times their stock rises for good reason too (see: Jason Pierre-Paul).
19. Chicago Bears
Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
When the Bears played with Jay Cutler last year, it was obvious that their failure to protect him was singlehandedly losing them games. Watch the Bears game in Detroit in which they lost by 11, and you will see that the offensive line was the sole reason Chicago could only score 13 points that night. Cutler was only sacked three times, but he pulled multiple Houdini-like escapes and three-step releases by necessity, not design. Cutler was making throws with absolutely no time, making me believe that Cutler might be the right guy to lead the Bears franchise. Now only if his franchise would throw him a bone. Martin faced the pressure of protecting Andrew Luck for the past two seasons, and handled it very well. I think he would fit right in with Chicago and maybe keep Cutler in one piece this year. He doesn't bring the same raw talent as Kalil or Reiff, but has solid football intelligence and character. Certainly a player Lovie Smith would want in his locker room.
20. Tennessee Titans
Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
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| Jenkins raised his stock in the Senior Bowl |
The Titans are most likely losing Cortland Finnegan to free agency as well as safety Michael Griffin. Getting an elite player for the secondary in the draft might avert a major hole in the Titans defense next year. However, while Jenkins might be the best cornerback in this draft, he was arrested twice while at Florida, and kicked off the team, forcing him to join Division II North Alabama this year. In the cut-throat world of SEC football, it speaks pretty loudly about a player's character if a coach is willing to cut ties with a First Team All-SEC cornerback. However, Jenkins was a standout at the Senior Bowl, and Tennessee could use some secondary help. If Jake Locker can give the Titans anything to work with next year, the offense with Kenny Britt and Chris Johnson should be adequate enough, so Tennessee should definitely go defense here.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Mark Barron, S, Alabama
Cincinnati relied on its defense to make it to the playoffs last year. The secondary is getting older, and is losing Reggie Nelson to free agency, so filling that hole would help the Bengals to stay a playoff team. Barron is a classic ball hawk, and would add a play-maker to a Bengals secondary that doesn't have one. I'm not going to compare him to Ed Reed, if you're wondering. Every year the best play-making safety gets compared to Reed, but it is really like saying Andrew Luck is the next Tom Brady or Drew Brees; he might be, but it’s ridiculous to proclaim. Although the offense was slow at times, it should take a big step as Dalton and Green get a full offseason under their belts, so focusing their attention to the secondary would be wise.
22. St. Louis Rams
Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia
Glenn is a riser on my board, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him taken even a few spots higher than here. He can play tackle, but would probably be better suited for an interior position on the line. Glenn is an enormous man at 6’5” and 345 lbs. but still put up some of the best times in the speed drills at the combine. He can pass protect as well as run block, and started 36 games in college. Glenn will be able to help protect Bradford as well as open up holes for Stephen Jackson, immediately upgrading this offense. The Rams will be a much better team on offense with Blackmon and Glenn.
23. Detroit Lions
Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi
Detroit already has a very good defensive line, but the looming potential loss of Cliff Avril could weaken one of Detroit’s biggest stregths. Even if Avril stays, the Giants have shown that having a bunch of quality defensive lineman to rotate is a recipe for success. He would be a guy to have on the field in passing downs, keeping that stable of solid defensive lineman rotating for Detroit. He has the potential for even more physical growth, which would push him into an every down role on a team. Cox is certainly a raw talent who currently struggles with the double team, but wouldn’t have to worry about that much with the support he will face on Detroit’s line.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
If the Pittsburgh Steelers like having Ben Roethlisberger as their quarterback, which I'm assuming they do, they had better start protecting him. They need depth on their line, and having Konz will certainly help since he can play center and guard. He can also step right in to play, which the Steelers need, since his 30 games started in the Big 10 is plenty of experience for a lineman. This pick also helps the Steelers in the run game too, as Konz can block at the line, down field, and has the mobility to pull. A big reason why Rashard Mendenhall struggled all year was the O-line's inability to clear any room for him. This was another factor in putting excess pressure on Big Ben, eventually leaving him hobbled to end the season and playoffs.
25. Denver Broncos
Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
The Broncos could use a running back and a tight end more than anything, but there are no players at this spot that would be worth taking. Cornerback is also an area of need for Denver, as Champ Bailey cannot anchor the secondary forever, and Gilmore is showing that he is worth a late first round selection. He has the size to move to safety, but also possesses the size, athleticism and coverage skills to start games right away in the NFL. Whether or not you are a believer in Tebow, it’s a fact that the new Denver offense leans on its defense to keep them in games. The Denver front seven are one of the best units in the NFL, so improving the secondary should be the focus if they want to repeat as AFC West champions.
26. Houston Texans
Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
If I had to make a choice right now, I would take Houston to come out on top of the AFC this year. They are an overall solid team on both offense and defense, who won games despite having three of their four best players (Williams, Johnson and Schuab) miss significant time with injuries. I don’t think Mario Williams is staying in Houston, but that isn’t why I have them taking Dontari Poe here. When you have a team as complete as the Texans, you take the best available player on the board, and Poe is that guy. He isn’t a guy that is going to buzz around the field and make plays, but he can eat up a ton of space and draw the double team to open up opportunities for his teammates to make plays. Since Houston has guys like Brooks Reed, JJ Watt, Brian Cushing and DeMeco Ryans in their front seven, this is a perfect fit for Poe, and would make a good defense even better. Scary.
27. New England Patriots
Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
There is no question that the Patriots need help at cornerback, as most teams who break the record for most passing yards allowed in a season (only to be re-broken by the Packers minutes later, but I digress) generally do. With that being said, Bill Belichick won't simply draft a player for need. He knows that you need the right guys in the locker room and on the field who are football players and are willing to not just specialize in one part of the game, but multiple aspects. Dennard is a pretty complete cornerback, which makes me think he is a good fit for the Pats. His one weakness is man coverage on quick receivers down field, but the Patriots play much more zone coverage in the secondary than man. Dennard is also a solid tackler, can recognize screens, and can move up to stop the run. Dennard can also be a special teams contributor, almost a necessity for any rookie looking for playing time under Belichick.
28. Green Bay Packers
Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
Whitney Mercilus was the nation's top play maker on defense last year, leading the country with 16 sacks and forcing 9 fumbles, second most in NCAA history. The Packers relied on making big plays last year to stay competitive on defense, giving up the most yards per game in the NFL, but finishing in the middle of the pack in points allowed. Mercilus is not only the best player on the board at this spot, he is also a perfect fit for the team, adding to a pass rush that was tied for third worst in sacks in the NFL. The Pats could take Mercilus in the 27th spot, but the Packers would have no problem taking Dennard here either, despite it not being quite as good of a fit.
29. Baltimore Ravens
Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
It’s not a secret that the Baltimore Ravens are getting older on defense. It’s also evident that Joe Flacco and the Blatimore offense can’t elevate to a level where the offense carries the defense, so this Ravens team better work on getting younger on defense. Dont’a Hightower would be a great fit in this system because he does enough right to move in and help them right away, but also has a few flaws that could keep him from becoming a Pro Bowl player in the NFL. What better mentor to have to work on those flaws that Ray Lewis, a guranteed Hall of Famer? Hightower is big and imposing much like Lewis, but doesn’t have the same range as Lewis had. That is where developing instincts and gaining some of the savvy that Lewis has will come in handy. He also comes from Alabama, which has an extensive track record of producing quality inside linebackers at the next level.
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| Stephen Hill |
30. San Francisco 49ers
Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
There is so much to love about Stephen Hill, but there are also many red flags that come with the wide receiver. Starting with the bad, Hill comes from an option-based offense in Georgia Tech that is far less complex for a wide receiver than an NFL offense. He didn’t showcase great route-running capabilities or the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands and was really used as a one-trick pony for the Yellow Jackets. I would also be worried about drafting a guy who has made 49 total catches in three years of college.
Now that the Stephen Hill bashing has ended, let’s look into why I still have him going in the first round. Even though he only caught 28 passes last year, he did average a ridiculous 29.3 yards per catch. He also has a unique combination of blazing speed and size. He is 6’5” and had the best 40-yard dash time for a wide receiver at 4.36 seconds. He was also a top-five performer in the vertical jump. San Francisco has plenty of play-makers in the short game, but no deep threat, and Stephen Hill has the potential to be one of the most dangerous downfield pass catchers in the game.
31. New England Patriots
Andre Branch, DE, Clemson
Assuming that the Patriots stay in this slot, it would make sense to continue to feed talent into the defensive side of the ball. Branch is a high-motor guy who fits the Belichick mode for a guy in this position, meaning that he can play OLB in the 3-4 and DE in the 4-3 defense, and is a very Colvin-like 6'4" and 260 lbs. The Pats seem to have a lot of talent on the inside of the line and far more questions at the OLB/DE slot. With Mark Anderson and Andre Carter being free agents, Branch might have an opportunity to contribute early. Also, I believe Belichck hasn't taken a pass-rusher in the draft in recent years because of the fact that they are so hit-or-miss, making pass rushers a big gamble to spend a first round pick on. However, with the Super Bowl loss, and the Brady championship window always slowly closing, coupled with the fact that they have two first round picks, it might be about time Belichick pulled the trigger on a guy who can get to the quarterback.
32. New York Giants
Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina
Just like Stephen Hill, Zach Brown has some qualities about him that suggest he will be great, but also some question marks that could land him as a bust in the NFL. That’s why these guys last to the end of the first round. Brown is the fastest linebacker in this draft class, and is really one of the fastest to come out in a while. His amazing athleticism allows him to be great at defending the edge on run plays, as well as being able to cover speedy tight ends and running backs well. That is the type of player the Giants do not have right now, and could definitely use. On the other hand, Brown had a knack for disappearing for games at a time, and his work ethic has been questioned. He would be best suited on a team that will stay on top of him to realize his full potential. Tom Coughlin is a coach who will do just that.
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