NFL Mock Drafts

[onejayhawk]

I'm not getting paid to do this this year, so a little less, and a little later.

1) Carolina - Da'Quan Bowers, DE Clemson
2) Denver - Nick Fairley, DT Auburn
3) Buffalo - Patrick Peterson, CB LSU
4) Cincinnati - AJ Green, WR UGa
5) Arizona - Prince Amukamara, CB Nebraska
6) Cleveland - Von Miller, DE/OLB Texas A&M
7) San Fransisco - Cameron Jordan DE Cal
8) Tennnessee - Blaine Gabbert, QB Mizzou
9) Dallas - JJ Watt, DE Wisconsin
10) Washington - Ryan Kerrigan, OLB
11) Houston - Robert Quinn, DE/OLB UNC
12) Minnesota - Marcell Dareus, DT Alabama
13) Detroit - Tyron Smith, LT USC
14) St. Louis - Mark Ingram, RB Alabama
15) Miami - Julio Jones, WR Alabama
16) Jacksonville - Cameron Newton, QB Auburn
17) New England - Anthony Castonzo, OT BC
18) San Diego - Aldon Smith, OLB Mizzou
19) NY Giants - Akeem Ayers, OLB UCLA
20) Tampa Bay - Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio St
21) Kansas City - Phil Taylor, DT Baylor
22) Indianapolis - Stephen Paea, DT Oregon St
23) Philadelphia - Nate Solder, OT Colorado
24) New Orleans - Cory Liuget, DT/DE Illlinois
25) Seattle - Ryan Mallet, QB Arkansas
26) Baltimore - Jimmy Smith, CB Colorado
27) Atlanta - Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin
28) New England - Brandon Harris, CB Miami
29) Chicago - Martez Wilson, LB Illinois
30) NY Jets - Allen Bailey, DE Miami
31) Pittsburgh - Justin Houston, DE/OLB UGa
32) Green Bay - Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa

Have at it.

J

[Hornsby]

If Newton or Mallet are still there when Minnesota picks, I don't see the Vikings passing on them for a D-lineman. They've ignored the QB position for too long, and unless they can deal for Kolb, the smart money is on drafting for need.

[revo]

With Gabbert's stock failing and Newton's rising -- Buffalo said they're considering him at #3 -- I can't foresee Newton not being the 1st QB taken, and he won't drop as low as 17.

Why would STL take Mark Ingram?

[chancellor]

I think the Packers will follow the template from last year - OL early, unless the cupboard really goes bare. TT is a big value shopper, however, so if a highly regarded player drops, he won't hesitate to pull the trigger and draft them. But I'd wager the Pack goes OL first round.

[onejayhawk]

How the QBs will play out is a big issue this spring. The whole Newton/Gabbert thing has a lot of play left. Newton has the physical package, and a skin on the wall. Gabbert is a lot closer to Pro ready. Buffalo has a lot of options, including Locker in round two. IMO no QB should go before #10, but at least one will. I give you Minnesota. Newton would be the pick. Mallet, no.

The Pack will go for a line man, I think, not neccessarily an OL

J

[onejayhawk]

I have not done one of these in a while. This is quick and loose.

1) Carolina: Marcell Dareus, DT
2) Denver: Da'Quan Bowers, DE
3) Buffalo: Cam Newton, QB
4) Cincinatti: AJ Green, WR
5) Arizona: Von Miller, OLB
6) Cleveland: Patrick Peterson, CB
7) San Francisco: Nick Fairley, DT
8) Tennessee: Blaine Gabbert, QB
9) Dallas: Prince Amukamara, CB
10) Washington: Julio Jones, WR
11) Houston: Robert Quinn DE
12) Minnesota: Tyron Smith, OT
13) Detroit: Ryan Kerrigan, DE
14) St Louis: Mark Ingram, RB
15) Miami: Phil Taylor, DT
16) Jacksonville: Alson Smith, DE/OLB
17) New England: JJ Watt, DE
18) San Diego: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE
19) NY Giants: Brandon Harris, CB
20) Tampa Bay: Cameron Jordan, DE
21) Kansas City: Torrey Smith, WR
22) Indianapolis: Derrock Sherrod, OT
23) Philadelphia: Gabe Carimi, OT
24) New Orleans: Jimmy Smith, CB
25) Baltimore: Mike Pouncey, OG
26) Seattle: Jake Locker, QB
27) Atlanta: Anthony Costonzo, OT
28) New England: Benjamin Ijalana, OG/OT
29) Chicago: Corey Luiget, DT
30) NY Jets: Cameron Heyward, DT/DE
31) Pittsburgh: Adrian Clayborn, DE/OLB
32) Green Bay: Stephen Peae, DE

J

[Erik]

Any appropriately-ranked OL is a good bet for the Eagles.

[onejayhawk]

Any appropriately-ranked OL is a good bet for the Eagles.

Carimi is a prime candidate for multiple Pro Bowls, but not LT.

J

[chancellor]

If I'm reading this right, and Solder is available at 32, there better not be anyone between the Packers and the podium on draft day, 'cause they're gonna get run over. I apologize if I've misread your list and he's on there.

I don't think there's any chance Carimi, Pouncey and Costanzo last to 23/25/27 or go after a notably undersized Tryon Smith. If Pouncey is on the board at 24, even though it's not typical for Thompson, Green Bay will try and trade up with New Orleans to get him.

[onejayhawk]

If I'm reading this right, and Solder is available at 32, there better not be anyone between the Packers and the podium on draft day, 'cause they're gonna get run over. I apologize if I've misread your list and he's on there.

I don't think there's any chance Carimi, Pouncey and Costanzo last to 23/25/27 or go after a notably undersized Tryon Smith. If Pouncey is on the board at 24, even though it's not typical for Thompson, Green Bay will try and trade up with New Orleans to get him.

Tyron Smith is not notably undersized. Where did you get that? His official Combine weight was 307, plus the long arms that have proven necessary for a LT. He should be the first LT off the board, and not before midround. Carimi is a stud RT, and is the best OT in this class, but he is not a LT. Pouncey is the best OG, but is not the prospect his brother was last year. Costanzo is near maxed out sizewise and already substitutes technique for athleticism. Compared to the last four years, this is an awful OL class.

That being said, I changed it. I had omitted Aldon Smith. There are a number of ways the Pack can go. They have first pick of the mediocre safety class. Solder, as you mention, though he is major project, several OLB to balance Matthews, RB, DE, trading down. Williams was a BPA type pick, since no one ever has enough CB. Peae can pay DE in a 3-4.

J

[Stephen]

As a Cowboys fan, I'd be happy with Amukamara, but I wish they would trade up and select Patrick Peterson.

[Erik]

Carimi is a prime candidate for multiple Pro Bowls, but not LT.

J

Andy Reid often drafts college tackles and turns them into guards or centers. In any case, they are tied up at LT for a while. The issues are at RG and RT (and C, if Jamaal Jackson can't get healthy.)

[chancellor]

Tyron Smith is not notably undersized. Where did you get that? His official Combine weight was 307, plus the long arms that have proven necessary for a LT.

And it was clear the weight he gained to get to 307 wasn't all muscle - he played at 285. He does have great feet, long arms, and pretty decent technique. He'd do well in a pass-first offense. OTOH, I disagree completely about your read on Carimi, and so do a number of teams - there's more than one that considers his feet plenty good for LT.

Per Pouncey, that's hindsight. A number of scouts considered him second round material last year; the best I saw him projected at was right where the Steelers took him.

[onejayhawk]

And it was clear the weight he gained to get to 307 wasn't all muscle - he played at 285. He does have great feet, long arms, and pretty decent technique. He'd do well in a pass-first offense. OTOH, I disagree completely about your read on Carimi, and so do a number of teams - there's more than one that considers his feet plenty good for LT.

Per Pouncey, that's hindsight. A number of scouts considered him second round material last year; the best I saw him projected at was right where the Steelers took him.

No, he did not play at 285. He was listed in the guides at 285. His playing weight is harder to pin down. In any event, any weight he added for the Combine did not slow him down.

As for Carimi, you may be right. If any, and I do mean any, team considers him a solid LT, he will go much higher.

Andy Reid often drafts college tackles and turns them into guards or centers. In any case, they are tied up at LT for a while. The issues are at RG and RT (and C, if Jamaal Jackson can't get healthy.)

True, as do many teams, though not, as a rule, with premium talent. The last 1st round position switch, that I can recall, is Branden Albert in 2008. He was a better graded OG than Pouncey, but was drafted as a LT, which has worked out.

J