We’ve updated our NFL mock draft order for 2012. We based that order on early season power rankings. In our latest mock update, we’ve also considered team needs and taken them into account.
1. Seattle, Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Sea team needs: QB, DE, OLB, SS, TE
The Seahawks are to being bad at football what white 18-34 year old women are to watching “Grey’s Anatomy.” (See what I did there- a little local pop culture reference.
Yes, Luck was extremely nuts to give up all that money that comes with being the #1 pick. And yes, that’s unprecedented, a #1 overall staying in school. We’ll never know why, we just know he’s going to be the first pick next year. As of now.
Luck as a NFL prospect, possibly the #1 NFL Draft prospect,- his strong arm, excellent read-and-recognitions, quickness and mobility, poise and intelligence on the field or his excellent standing off of it.
In preparation for his match-up with Luck and his Stanford last year, Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly discussed what impresses him most about the redshirt quarterback.
“He was hitting the wide field, go route, intermediate, and the thing that really got my attention is his ability to run. I think he had a 50 something yard run for a touchdown. So his ability, his escapability, I didn’t know what it was. I now know what it is. The guy is extremely athletic, as well, and he can run. So he brings a big dimension to the table and not just throwing the football,” Kelly said.
To learn more about Andrew Luck GO HERE
2. Cleveland Browns, Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Cle team needs: OL, RB, LB, DT, SS
You can say the Browns have bigger needs at other positions but Kalil is one of those franchise building LTs, as he’s one of the best OL prospects to come along in quite some time. We all know QBs are the highest paid, the men who protect the blind side of those signal callers are the next highest paid. The Browns obviously already have that locked up in Joe Thomas, but can you imagine what Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis could accomplish with two studs instead of one in front of them on the line?
3. Minnesota Vikings, Matt Barkley, QB, USC
Min team needs: DT, OLB, QB, OT, OG
This year it looks like there’s a big disparity between the Vikes and the rest of their division, meaning it could be a long season. They have plenty of needs on both sides of the ball, but Donovan McNabb is clearly on his last NFL legs. Time to find his replacement
For bikini photos of the USC Song Girls (their cheerleaders) swim charity event go here
4. Carolina, Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Car team needs: OL, DB, WR, OLB
It’s been fun watching last year’s #1 overall pick Cam Newton throw for a ton of yards, but the Panthers will end up right back here as long as they keep giving up just as many yards as they throw for.
Kirkpatrick is a big, physical defensive back with speed and agility. He won the Bobby Johns Defensive Back Award and captured the Bart Starr Most Improved Player Award in the spring.
Hightower sung his praises:
“He’s one of those guys who stepped up a lot in trying to be one of those vocal leaders on the team, trying to get everyone amped up and ready to go.”
To learn more about Kirkpatrick GO HERE
5. Kansas City, Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State Spartans
KC team needs: QB, ILB, OT, RB, DT,
K.C. looks like a hot mess right now, and likely to be a top 5 team on draft day.
Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy’s NFL Draft stock is about as high as anyone on the Spartans, or even anyone in the Big Ten. He also has a tattoo that entails everything that makes college football such an awesome game. Go here to see it. Take a closer look and notice the tattoo’s homage to the rivalry with Michigan. What an affront it is to the Wolverines, love it!
To learn more about Worthy go here
6. Cincinnati Bengals, Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
Cin team needs: OLB, CB, WR, RB, OG, OC
Time to finally find Chad Ochocinco’s heir apparent. Although the Bungles have so many needs it’s going to be difficult to predict their drat day.
7. Indianapolis Colts, Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
Ind team needs: OT, WR, DB, DT, OLB
I’m hesitant to say QB is a need yet for the Colts, but it wouldn’t hurt to take out an insurance policy either way. Peyton will probably never be the same again, and there’s a solid chance he won’t be back next year. Neither Kerry Collins or Curtis Painter are the answer. Jones has put up “video game numbers,” to use a trending term, and he’s going to break most of Sam Bradford’s OU records for passing.
8. Denver, Donte Paige-Moss, DE/OLB, North Carolina
Den team needs: DL, S, CB, RB
The Broncos could use a versatile pass-rusher to augment their defensive front. In recent years, it seems that have to keep winning shootouts.
9. Arizona, Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
Arizona team needs: WR, OL, OLB, S, CB
Zona needs to find more depth and rotation in the athletes who will generate the pass rush from the outside. Their DBs aren’t as weak as they appear sometimes, because they could use more help from pressure up front.
10. San Francisco, Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame
S.F. team needs: LB, FS, OL, QB, RB
When he was a freshman, the 6-2, 245lb LB posted the third-most tackles ever by an Irish rookie; and ranked fourth on ND with 63 stops in 2009. His 2010 season was even better as he had 133 total tackles (most for an Irish defender since 1983), 9.5 for a loss, a fumble recovery and three pass breakups.
His defensive coordinator Bob Diaco described him thusly:
“He’s definitely in the top cut of maturity. He’s just a mature person with a big heart. Always in service, in service to the student body, his teammates, his coaches, helping out his buddies. So when you factor that with his tangible skill set on the field, that’s really a special blend.”
Go here and HERE for more about Teo
11. Jacksonville, Jared Crick, DE/DT, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Jax teams needs: WR, DE, DT, CB, QB, LB
Do not call him the next Ndamukong Suh.
“We have different personalities, Suh is at the big time now, but we’re both humble guys. So that’s a similarity. But when we were playing together, he was more the bigger, stronger guy, more the anchor guy, and I was the quicker guy who would have to beat the 1-on-1 in order for the defensive line to succeed, and that’s still true now,” Jared said.
“I’m still not ever going to be as strong as Suh, or as big as Suh, but I still say that my game’s more on being faster than the offensive lineman and hustling to the ball. Suh and I have a lot of similarities, but the overall concept of our game is completely different and that worked for us.”
go here to learn more on Crick
12. Washington, Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
Was team needs: QB, OT, LB, WR
Sexy Rexy might be 2-0, but you know that’s not going to last. Grossman’s INTs and losses are coming. Therefore so is his eventual replacement.
13, Miami, Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina
Mia team needs: OLB, DT, SS, OL
The Dolphins need versatile play-makers on defense who can generate a rush and drop back in coverage. Their division has some powerful passing games in it.
14. Tennessee, Cliff Harris, CB/PR, Oregon
Ten team needs: WR, OL, DE, DB
The Titans could use another weapon in the return game and help in the secondary. Harris is fast- both on the field and in his car. As he was pulled over for going 117 m.p.h. recently.
To learn more with/about Harris go here
For the definitive collection of Hot Oregon Cheerleader pictures go here
15. Dallas, Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
Dal team needs: OL, DB, LB
Alfonzo Dennard is a 5-foot-10, 205-pound senior from Rochelle, Ga who had 4 INTs and 7 PBUs last year. He returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown in the NU regular-season win at Washington. Dennard was good enough to consider jumping to the NFL last season, but obviously elected to return.
He was a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season despite being overshadowed by New York Giants first-round draft pick and teammate Prince Amukamara.
To learn more about Dennard go here
16. Oakland, Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Oak team needs: OLB, S, CB,
The loss of Nnamdi Asomugha in free agency has made the entire Oakland secondary weaker. They can beef up by adding Gilmore who’s coverage and tackling skills will be welcomed in the black hole.
17. Buffalo, Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
Buf team needs: LB, DB, OT
18. Detroit Lions, Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa Hawkeyes
Det team needs: OL, DB, LB
19. Tampa Bay, Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
T.B. team needs: OL, LB, DB
20. Houston, Andrew Datko, OT, Florida State
Hou team needs: WR, OT, DB
21. St. Louis Rams, Mike Brewster, OL, Ohio State Buckeyes
Stl. team needs: DT, LB, DB, OL
Brewster is a 6-5, 293 senior from Orlando, FL with three years of starting experience. He was a NFL ready talent in 2011, but the best at the position don’t often get picked until the third round at the earliest. Therefore “Brewster’s Millions” (yeah, you knew it was coming, an ’80s pop culture reference, I just couldn’t past that up) must wait to 2012. And I think he made the right decision in putting the NFL off until after his senior season.
To learn more about Brewster go here
22. Cleveland from Atlanta), Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
23. San Diego, Baker Steinkuhler, DE/DT, Nebraska
S.D. team needs: DE, DB, OLB, OT
The Chargers front seven is aging, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they kept picking at various positions there for the next couple of drafts.
24. Chicago Bears, Devier Posey, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes
Chi team needs: OL, WR, DB
Posey may not have the same GQ wardrobe or late ’90s boy band good looks of Dane Sanzenbacher (now a current Bear), but he does have a ton of NFL potential. Scouts love his ideal size, speed and ball skills for a professional receiver. And as you obviously know, the Bears need real help at receiver. Their most pressing need is at OL, but they’ve been drafting for that position a lot lately- and failing horribly with those picks.
To learn more about Posey go here
25. NY Jets, Brandon Jenkins, OLB/DE, Florida State
NYJ team needs: DE, OLB, DB, OL, WR
26. NY Giants, Marcus Forston, DT, Miami
NYG team needs: LB, TE, WR, DT, DE
27. Pittsburgh Devin Taylor, DE/OLB, South Carolina
Pitt team needs: WR, OG, TE, OLB, DB
28. Philadelphia Andre Branch, DE, Clemson
Phi team needs: DE, TE, OG
29. Baltimore, Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Bal team needs: OLB, DB, C, OT
Blackmon could be better than fellow former Cowboy WR Dez Bryant. This isn’t the Ravens most pressing need, but imagine what Flacco could do pairing this rookie wideout with ANquan Boldin? There’d be a lot less Ray Rice screen patterns that’s for sure!
30. New England Patriots (from New Orleans), Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
NE team needs: S, DL, OLB, OL, WR
How much longer are the Pats going to go with the Law Firm and Woodhead approach at tailback? Don’t get me wrong, it’s working for them, but we wonder if they’ll ever bring back a feature back mentality like they had with Corey Dillon. Many draftniks thought they were going to take Richardson’s predecessor in Mark Ingram, but it didn’t happen.
Richardson also talked about the influence Ingram has had on his career.
“He’ll always have a big role in my life. I try to follow in his footsteps, he’s one of the best running backs I’ve ever seen come through the collegiate level and play the game. He helped me out a lot with my vision, he had great vision. He could stop on a dime and cut real fast, that’s one thing I tried to pick up from him,” Richardson said.
Many runners have influenced Richardson, including Reggie Bush and the Vikings Adrian Peterson.
Richardson is frequently compared to Emmitt Smith, but his physique and running style are more similar to Earl Campbell. He’s also drawn comparisons to Michael Turner the Burner and O.J. Simpson (on the field, not off of it, of course).
To learn more about Richardson go here
31. Green Bay Packers, Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
GB team needs: C, DB, LB,
Going with a value pick here, After all it is a Ted Thompson pic.
With three alcohol related legal offenses during his time in South Bend, you know character concerns will be front and center. Of course, no story about Michael Floyd is complete without mentioning that the true key to his realization of that enormous potential is staying healthy. Floyd led all FBS wideouts in the nation with a 29.09 yards per catch average and he was tied for the national lead in receiving TDs when he suffered a broken collarbone against Michigan State in ’09.
But last year he only missed one game, and had his true breakout year. When you look at his stats and size, you see what makes him a blue-chip prospect. He’s passed up Golden Tate, Jeff Samardzjia and Tim Brown to claim all the major receiving records in ND history
32. New England Patriots, Jeff Allen, OL, Illinois Fighting Illini
NE team needs: S, DL, OLB, OL, WR
Allen, is yet another in a great line of OLs to come from Champaign to the NFL (Tony Pashos, David Diehl, Jon Asomoah, Brad Hopkins). The Illini switch guards and tackles given the play call. SO there is no true right/left guards and tackles. This versatility will serve him well for the next level.
The Pats line is aging, and not all that gracefully, so they’d be wise to add more depth to the unit, in order to keep that high octane machine of an offense humming.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site that generates millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
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Please tell me that you’ve never watched an Eagles game. B/c if you did, you would know we have plenty of DE’s but no linebackers. Also we need a safeties.
Wow. You’re Redskins analysis is terrible. First, we have Trent Williams and Jamaal Brown as our OTs. They are both fine and improving in our system. We need a LG and Center for the line. For LB, all we need is a MLB. WR is not a need right now. We have skill players and in a two TE set, which is how we should be playing as our base we don’t need a WR.
Now to your pick. You really think Ryan Tannehill will be taking anywhere near the top 15? We can probably get him early second at the absolute earliest and maybe hold back until late-mid 2nd round.
You need to do research before you post a draft like this.
@Glenn: I agree with you on the LB’s that you need.
I see your points and you make your case, but when I consider team needs I look at the entire unit and consider depth. Not just the current starters.
Most teams draft for need to find a new starter to step in right away, but many teams don’t and look to add depth at positions where they already have someone solid starting.
Like value GMs and those drafting for long term successors.
I appreciate your feedback and analysis, and please keep coming back to the site.
re: Tannehill
Look at the last draft, how many QBs had no business being taken in the first round, but were anyway? There were a few 3-4 round talent signal callers taken in the first round, because it’s consistently the most over-drafted position every year, for understandable reasons as it’s the most important position.
that’s why a QB goes #1 overall almost every year
You’re right the Browns have way more needs so why would they pick Matt Kalil when they already have a franchise LT and their RT aint too shabby?
I like your Raider pick too, our biggest weakness right now is the secondary (minus Stanford Routt)
Maybe it was an oversight, but I don’t understand how you left Vontaze Burfict, ILB for Arizona State, out of the first round.
It is just an oversight. he’s only increased his draft stock this season, and he was in my last one.
good call.