VBR 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Pre Combine Edition
By Tim Tolley
Welcome to the 1st edition of Victory Bell Rings 2012 Mock Draft. I’ll be updating this after the combine and free agency, then again the week before the draft. Please enjoy! Also keep in mind that we will be holding a contest pertaining to the 1st round of the draft. That announcement will be coming late next month!
With the 1st pick in the Victory Bell Rings 2012 Mock Draft…
1. Indianapolis Colts
QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
I generally cheer for the Colts once my Browns are eliminated (in October) but Indy going from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck will make me hate them. That’s not fair.
2. St. Louis Rams
WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
Time to get the franchise quarteback an explosive weapon. It’s unlikely that Brandon Lloyd is back, so Blackmon becomes the top WR in St. Louis.
3. Minnesota Vikings
OT Matt Kalil, USC
The Vikings told Christian Ponder that he will be the starting QB entering next season. It’s time to protect his blind side.
4. Cleveland Browns
QB Robert Griffin lll, Baylor
Cleveland has had 137 QBs since returning in 1999, but they finally lock up a coveted, athletic, Hall of Fame, franchise QB.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CB Morris Clayborn, LSU
With Talib’s off-field nonsense and Tiki’s brother being ancient, Tampa Bay will be looking at CBs very carefully in the first round. Claiborne is the top CB in this draft and winds up as a perfect fit for the 5th pick.
6. Washington Redskins
QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
Dan Snyder and the Skins make the first crazy move of the draft. Desperate for a QB and armed with senile leadership, Washington reaches and prays for a franchise quarterback.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
OT Riley Reiff, Iowa
Drafted their franchise QB last year, this year they protect his blind side. Is Gabbert right handed? No matter, Jax has other needs, but at this pick, Reiff has the value.
8. Carolina Panthers
WR Michael FLoyd, Notre Dame
The Panthers think that Cam Newton has what it takes to be elite and they snag him the best available receiving weapon.
9. Miami Dolphins
DE Quinton Coples North Carolina
Sad that the Redskins didn’t leave Tannenhill on the board, the Dolphins remember that they’re switching to a 4-3 and they address that instead. Coples, opposite of Wake with Odrick in between gives the Dolphins a formidable unit up front.
10. Buffalo Bills
DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
Buffalo has needs all over their defense and a versatile, hybrid pass rusher could help them immediately.
11. Kansas City Chiefs
OT Mike Adams, Ohio State
The Chiefs actually have a lot of talent, but were devastated by injuries last season. Romeo uses his first pick as the head coach to solidify his offensive line.
12. Seattle Seahawks
CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
With no real option here at QB, Pete Carroll grabs a young cover man to put in his secondary with Earl Thomas.
13. Arizona Cardinals
DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
Much like last year’s draft, the 2012 version sees several teams looking for elite pass rushers to combat the constantly spreading offenses. With their offensive weapons in place, Arizona backs up their Patrick Peterson pick from 2011 with another defensive cornerstone…they hope.
14. Dallas Cowboys
LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
Kuechly is a tackling machine and will team up with Sean Lee and DeMarcus Ware to form an elite group of LBs.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
DT Devon Still, Penn State
After a monster senior season at Penn State, Devon doesn’t have to move too far and the Eagles get a steal with the best interior D-lineman in the draft.
16. New York Jets
RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
The Jets are ecstatic to get on of the 5 or 6 best players in the draft at 16. That plus their current running backs are not good.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland)
CB Janoris Jenkins, Northern Alabama
Cincinnati hasn’t drafted a guy with a criminal record in a few minutes…Oh look, there’s Janoris Jenkins! Perfect!
18. San Diego Chargers
S Mark Barron, Alabama
San Diego could use some pass rushing help, but with a weak safety class this year, they take the best one available here.
19. Chicago Bears
WR Alshon Jefferey, South Carolina
The Bears finally realize that they haven’t had a good wide receiver since forever and take a shot at Jeffery. Alshon may end up being a bit slow, but there’s no denying his production in the SEC.
20. Tennessee Titans
C Peter Konz, Wisconsin
This is a good situation for the Titans- Konz is still on the board and he fills a need for their team. They just gave Chris Johnson too much money and now they need somebody to make him look like he was worth it.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
RB David Wilson, Virginia Tech
With the convict quota filled, Cincinnati takes an offensive weapon to help Andy Dalton and AJ Green. Think, “the triplets” but with a red haired QB.
22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta)
WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
With their new All-World QB in the fold and no play-making receivers to help him, the Browns go for the best wideout on the board, who happens to be RG3’s college teammate.
23. Detroit Lions
CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
Detroit’s secondary is probably their biggest weakness. When Matt Stafford and Megatron are having problems outscoring opponents, something is wrong. The Lions make an attempt to fix it.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
ILB Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
Hightower is one of the best players available. Pittsburgh needs some youth at their interior linebacker spots. It’s an ideal match.
25. Denver Broncos
DT Michael Brockers, LSU
Some thought that the Broncos would take a DT with the 2nd pick last year but they hit a homerun with LB Von Miller. They still need a DT though.
26. Houston Texans
NT Dontari Poe, Memphis
The Texans will be looking to upgrade the nose tackle position this off season and the 26th pick isn’t a bad place to take a shot at the wide-bodied NT.
27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans)
CB Chase Minnifield, Virginia
The Pats secondary strengthened late in the season but at points they were using slot WR Julian Edelman as a defensive back. They use this pick, acquired from the Saints, to at least add some depth to the unit.
28. Green Bay Packers
DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
The Packers need a pass rusher opposite of Clay Matthews Jr. and they get great value late in the first round.
29. Baltimore Ravens
DE/OLB Nick Perry, USC
The Ravens are in a good spot to draft the best player available and I think Nick Perry is that guy.
30. San Francisco 49ers
DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State
Cox has some motivation issues. Accused of disappearing at times in games. Jim Harbaugh will fix all that.
31. New England Patriots
LB Zach Brown North Carolina
An extremely athletic and versatile LB, Zach Brown could be an immediate contributor on a soft defense.
32. New York Giants
OT Cordie Glenn, Georgia
Kareem McKenzie is a free agent and the Giants could have a chance to replace him with the last pick in the first round. Makes too much sense not to take the best Right Tackle prospect on the board.
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