This is my first mock draft of the NFL Draft season, and take it with a grain of salt. It is very early in the draft process as the combines and pro days can cause a Jeremy Lin-esque rise up the rankings, or having to answer if your mom is a prostitute can help you fall down the board. There’s also the impending free agents, such as Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn that can change the top of the board completely.
1
Indianapolis
Andrew Luck
QB
Stanford
There's been talk of possibly RG3 here, but there's no chance Luck doesn't go 1 even if the Colts plan to keep Manning around.
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2
St. Louis
Justin Blackmon
WR
Oklahoma State
I think St. Louis' asking price for teams trying to trade up to get RG3 will be too high, so they will pick either Blackmon or Kahlil, it's a tossup for now until the combine/pro days.
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3
Minnesota
Matt Kalil
OT
USC
It'd take a lot to keep the Vikings from adding some beef for AP
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4
Cleveland
Robert Griffin III
QB
Baylor
This is the slot I think RG3 goes, but I'm not certain it's the Browns that take him. If Miami doesn't get Peyton, then they might come up with a package to trade up for Griffin here and the Browns pick up another 1 next year, maybe a 2 this year, because they need more than just a quarterback.
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5
Tampa Bay
Trent Richardson
RB
Alabama
LeGarrette Blount has been a find, but if you don't have Adrian Peterson then you probably need two solid backs and the Bucs don't have many glaring holes besides off course the one's where they actually play hard.
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6
Washington
Riley Reiff
OT
Iowa
I can't believe I'm saying this, but Rex Grossman wasn't that bad last season. With Mike Shanahan's ego, he might actually think he can go to battle with him, so he will need protection.
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7
Jacksonville
Michael Floyd
WR
Notre Dame
Name a receiver on the Jaguars. Exactly. Gabbert needs someone to throw to, and I think Floyd and possibly Alshon Jeffery will shoot up draft boards once they are seen running by cones and jumping in spandex.
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8
Carolina
Michael Brockers
DT
LSU
This guy can control the line of scrimmage as Trent Richardson found out twice last year. This gives the Panthers' defense an anchor so that maybe Cam won't have to score 40 a week to win.
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9
Miami
Morris Claiborne
CB
LSU
If the Dolphins don't trade up, I think they take the best player available (maybe the second best overall on some boards).
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10
Buffalo
Melvin Ingram
DE
South Carolina
The Bills are switching to a 4-3, and the undersized Ingram could slight in perfectly. He may not measure well, but all you have to do is watch the fake punt or pick six he had this year to know this guy is just a stud.
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11
Kansas City
Jonathon Martin
OT
Stanford
There's a good possibility the Bills take Martin a pick sooner, but if he's available then the Chiefs will snatch him up.
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12
Seattle
Devon Still
DT/DE
Penn St.
The Seattle pass rush was non-existant outside of Chris Clemons with their second highest sacker Leroy Hill only managing 4 all season.
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13
Arizona
David DeCastro
OG
Stanford
I hate to say it, but DeCastro will probably go here, one pick ahead of the Cowboys. Arizona's whole line needs help, and DeCastro is the best lineman available.
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14
Dallas
Dre Kirkpatrick
CB
Alabama
As much as the Cowboys need an interior offensive lineman, they have too many other needs to trade up. If DeCastro is gone, I think this is a decision between corners with possible personality issues, Kirkpatrick and Janoris Jenkins. Kirkpatrick appears to have less of a problem so I think the Cowboys take possibly the 4th best player in the draft at 14.
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15
Philadelphia
Luke Kuechly
ILB
Boston College
With the Cowboys spending two high draft picks on middle linebackers, they have to pass on Kuechly who will now haunt them for 10+ years. This guy just knows how to tackle as he has had over 100 tackles for three straight years after filling in for the cancer-stricken Mark Herzlich as a freshman.
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16
New York Jets
Courtney Upshaw
DE/OLB
Alabama
Depending on Jim Leonhard's recovery, the Jets could go Barron here, but I think they will pick his teammate to add some depth to Rex Ryan's pass rush.
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17
Cincinnati (Oak)
Janoris Jenkins
CB
North Alabama
Jenkins would probably have been a top 5/10 pick if not for the issues that got him kicked off of Florida's team, but this is the Bengals. Character issues? Sounds like a match. Either way the Bengals will be happy to have him with Leon Hall most likely out for next season with his knee injury.
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18
San Diego
Quinton Coples
DE
North Carolina
The Chargers need offensive line help with the possible release of LT Marcus McNeil, but unless one of the top 3 tackles slides, no others merit a pick here. I think they will go best available with Coples who might supplant an earlier DE if he shows well at the Combine.
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19
Chicago
Kendall Wright
WR
Baylor
Picture Devin Hester but being to run routes and catch. There's not a team outside of the Eagles that can match up two corners to keep up with Hester and Wright, and imagine the punt/kick return schemes that they can employ.
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20
Tennesee
Cordy Glenn
OG
Georgia
Glenn had a great Senior Bowl week, and Chris Johnson's contract can't allow him to be blamed for the failure to run the ball last season.
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21
Cincinnati
Nick Perry
DE
USC
The Bengals need a running back, but I think they can wait until the solid string of 2nd rounders starts. Perry can add some depth to a decent pass rush.
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22
Cleveland (Atl)
Mark Barron
SS
Alabama
T.J. Ward fell off from his rookie season last year, and the Browns should probably just go best available. Barron is one of the more solid safety prospects in the last few years.
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23
Detroit
Lamar Miller
RB
Miami
The Lions don't have many holes, but running back has to be high up on their list. Kevin Smith and Jahvid Best just can't stay healthy, and Miller could be their new workhorse next to Stafford.
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24
Pittsburgh
Dontari Poe
DT
Memphis
Poe is a raw product with a lot to improve, but his workouts will validate his first round status at 6'5'' 350. The Steelers could mold him into their type of hard-nosed defensive player.
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25
Denver
Fletcher Cox
DE/DT
Mississippi St.
Cox will help strengthen the Denver defensive line, as he will probably play more DT. With Miller and Dumervil off the edges, this could be a fearsome pass rush for years to come, much in the mold of the current Super Bowl Champions.
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26
Houston
Alshon Jeffery
WR
South Carolina
I think Jeffery will end up the best pro of all of the wideouts in this class. This guy made Stephen Garcia look good at times and his size (6'4'' 233) and massive hands.
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27
New England (NO)
Alfonso Dennard
CB
Nebraska
I think the Patriots might end up trading this pick to someone looking to get the slipping Hightower, but if they stay then they get DB help in Dennard.
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28
Green Bay
Mike Adams
OT
Ohio St
Like the Patriots, the Packers don't have many holes outside of maybe defensive back, but there aren't any worth taking this high. I suspect they add offensive line depth with possibly the second best available player in Adams.
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29
Baltimore
Dont'a Hightwoer
ILB
Alabama
This might end up being the steal of the draft. Hightower could be groomed by the greatest middle backer ever and end up being a top 3 player from this draft class because of the situation.
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30
San Francisco
Reuben Randle
WR
LSU
The 49ers desperately need help at wide receiver due to Michael Crabtree's lack of impact, as Alex Smith only completed one pass to a wide receiver (a 3 yard screen) in the NFC Championship Game. Randle gives them this help, but watch out for Mohammad Sanu from Rutgers who could be the pick depending on how he and Randle work out.
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31
New England
Whitney Mercilus
DE/OLB
Illinois
The Patriots go best available with Mercilus who has good size at 6'4'' and a motor to get to the quarterback.
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32
New York Giants
Vontaze Burfict
ILB
Arizona St.
The thinnest part of the defending Super Bowl champions is definitely their linebacker situation, as one of their starters last season had been substitute teaching when they called him. The two-time All-American Burfict could start right away.
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