~Anthony Constantino
After many requests, I have decided to put my mock draft online. My mock draft does not account for draft day trades nor silly decisions made by teams. Let's see just how well I do this year! The picks will be listed at the top for those who just want to see names. I will have a comment for each pick beneath that. Thanks for taking a look!
1. (IND) Andrew Luck 2. (WAS) Robert Griffin III 3. (MIN) Morris Claiborne
4. (CLE) Trent Richardson 5. (TB) Matt Kalil 6. (STL) Justin Blackmon
7. (JAX) Melvin Ingram 8. (MIA) Ryan Tannehill 9. (CAR) Michael Floyd
10. (BUF) Luke Kuechly 11. (KC) Mark Barron 12. (SEA) Quinton Coples
13. (ARI) David DeCastro 14. (DAL) Fletcher Cox 15. (PHI) Dont'a Hightower
16. (NYJ) Montari Poe 17. (CIN) Stephen Hill 18. (SD) Riley Reiff
19. (CHI) Cordy Glenn 20. (TEN) Stephon Gilmore 21. (CIN) Kevin Zeitler
22. (CLE) Kendall Wright 23. (DET) Dre Kirkpatrick 24. (PIT) Shea Mcclellin
25. (DEN) Michael Brockers 26. (HOU) Chandler Jones 27. (NE) Courtney Upshaw
28. (GB) Harrison Smith 29. (BAL) Mike Adams 30. (SF) Whitney Mercilus
31. (NE) Johnathan Martin 32. (NYG) Jerel Worthy
1. Indianapolis Colts- Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford)- The Colts won the "Suck for Luck" competition last season. The Colts shipped out Peyton Manning and will replace him with another quarterback that looks to have the same characteristics. Colts have already told the world, Luck is the top pick this year.
2. Washington Redskins- Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor)- The Redskins have not had a franchise quarterback in my liftetime (20+ years). They traded away three 1st round picks and a 2nd round pick to the St. Louis Rams for this draft pick. It is hard to believe that Washington would give up so much to draft any other player in a quarterback driven league like the NFL. RG3 should start shopping for property in the DC area now.
3. Minnesota Vikings- Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU)- The Vikings could go many different directions here. The signing of WR Jerome Simpson tells me that Justin Blackmon is not the pick here. It makes sense to draft the best cornerback prospect in the draft with quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford in your division. Claiborne is the best available at his position so this is where the Vikings should go if they are unable/unwilling to trade down.
4. Cleveland Browns- Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama)- With the departure of Peyton Hillis to Kansas City this seems like the best pick for their organization. The Browns can't possibly pencil in Montario Hardesty as their starter Week 1 can they? The Browns need playmakers and reports say they are not impressed by Justin Blackmon. Trent Richardson will help the Browns play ball control football for years to come, if he can stay healthy.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Matt Kalil (OT, USC)- The Buccaneers are in a unique position to let the draft come to them. This is another likely spot for a trade to take place, especially if Morris Claiborne or Trent Richardson do not fall to them. I look at this as an opportunity to have one of the best offensive lines in football for Legarrette Blount to run behind. This in turn helps Josh Freeman bounce back from a tough season and that would be fantastic news for Tampa Bay.
6. St. Louis Rams- Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma St.)- The Rams offense struggled last season and one big reason was the lack of weapons on the outside. Head coach Jeff Fisher has been known to value defense over offense, so DT Fletcher Cox could be the selection. Both options are a good fit for the Rams as they look to head in a new direction.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars- Melvin Ingram (DE, South Carolina)- This team has a tremendous amount of holes. This pick could be a linebacker, a cornerback, a lineman on either side of the ball. I'm sure if Blackmon was there they would take him to help out Blaine Gabbert, but I can't see Blackmon lasting. I have a good feeling about Ingram here.
8. Miami Dolphins- Ryan Tannehill (QB, Texas A&M)- The Fins missed out on every quarterback they pursued in free agency. No doubt Tannehill will be available, I also have little doubt the Miami will overdraft him.
9. Carolina Panthers- Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame)- There has been much talk about the Panthers as another potential landing place for DT Fletcher Cox. I just don't see it. The Panthers have a glaring hole at wide receiver. Steve Smith is their only viable option on the outside, and Floyd grades out well enough to be a top 10 pick. In this situation, I see Floyd as the hands down best option.
10. Buffalo Bills- Luke Kuechly (LB, Boston College)- The Bills have a tendency to go against the grain year after year. The biggest weakness for the Bills last season was defense. To be more specific, their run defense was atrocious. Kuechly looks to be the real deal. He can do anything you ask of him at his position and should be a pro bowler in no time. Buffalo could eye safety mark Barron here, or even one of the cornerback prospects available at pick 10. To me Kuechly is the safe pick and the easy pick, I'm not sure the Bills will see it this way.
11. Kansas City Chiefs- Mark Barron (S, Alabama)- With Romeo Crennel at the helm for the Chiefs, it is common knowledge that defense will get more serious consideration with this 1st round selection. Having said that Barron looks like a Crennel type guy. He is a smart football player that can tackle and make plays on the ball in flight. Putting Barron next to safety Eric Berry would be a nightmare for opposing offenses.
12. Seattle Seahawks- Quinton Coples (DE, North Carolina)- One thing that Seattle did not have last season is a pass rush. Adding a versatile player like Coples would certainly help in that department. This is the most sensible choice for the Hawks.
13. Arizona Cardinals- David DeCastro (OG, Stanford)- The Cardinals biggest need is any player on the offensive line. Last year their offensive line resembled a 1500lb turnstyle. It is hard to imagine any quarterback having success behind that. I hope for the health of Kevin Kolb and John Skelton that they draft a lineman here, DeCastro is the best on the board.
14. Dallas Cowboys- Fletcher Cox (DT, Miss. St.)- For Cox, the wait will be over at this selection. The Cowboys could use a big defensive tackle to take up space. If Cox hasn't been chosen by now, the Cowboys likely won't hesitate. If Cox is off the board I could see OT Reilly Reiff as an option or even DT Dontari Poe.
15. Philadelphia Eagles- Dont'a Hightower (LB, Alabama)- It is extremely likely that this pick will be traded. For days there has been talk of the Eagles trying to move out of this spot. If they stay at 15, a player like Dont'a Hightower could only help the Eagles. He can play any linebacker position as well as defensive end. Hightower will make an impact no matter where he goes.
16. New York Jets- Dontari Poe (DT, Memphis)- Rex Ryan's defense has not been the same without big Kris Jenkins at the nose. If the Jets are looking to bolster their 3-4 defense, no pick would make more sense than a space eating 350 lb manchild like Poe.
17. Cincinnati Bengals- Stephen Hill (WR, Georgia Tech)- Their biggest need in Cincy is likely at guard. The fact that they have two 1st round selections that are 4 picks apart (thanks Oakland), makes this even harder. The loss of Jerome Simpson at WR adds a new weakness to the Bengals. Wide receiver should be a major concern, since Andy Dalton needs weapons to be successful. Mark me down for a wide receiver at one of their two picks.
18. San Diego Chargers- Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa)- No more Marcus McNeill? No problem. At the 18th selection Reiff would be an absolute steal. This is a tackle that projects as a 10 year starter at left tackle. It wold be hard to say that San Diego would hold onto him for all ten of those years, but he is worthy of this pick and the pick make sense. The Chargers should be very interested in protecting Phillip Rivers.
19. Chicago Bears- Cordy Glenn (OT, Goergia)- The Bears have had the worst offensive line in football for several years. I cannot believe what little they have done to address this issue. Glenn could start at 4 out of the 5 spots on the line, with experience everywhere except center. This would be a fantastic pick for the Bears and anything other than offensive line is a terrible pick for them. I'm on the record.
20. Tennessee Titans- Stephon Gilmore (CB, South Carolina)- Most teams in the NFL don't have a player like Cortland Finnegan, so losing a player like that means something. Cornerback is the top priority for the Titans in my eyes. Gilmore is a fantastic talent that would thrive in Tennessee.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Kevin Zeitler (OG, Wisconsin)- The two first round selections for Cincy will likely be spent on WR and OG, the trick is to figure out who and when they will pick these positions. Zeitler is the next man in line if the Bengals miss out on Stanford's David DeCastro. The same line of thought applies at receiver. If Stephen Hill is off the board, Kendall Wright is the next man down the line.
22. Cleveland Browns- Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor)- Wright's stock is likely a product of what Robert Griffin III did in Waco. However, the Browns have a serious need at receiver. After missing on Braylon Edwards (save the one productive year he had), it makes sense for Cleveland to be gunshy on picking Justin Blackmon. They can't pass on WR twice in the first round, at least not with Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs as your best players at the position.
23. Detroit Lions- Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama)- The Lions have a solid offense through and through. This pick should be spent on defense and likely will be. Some say pass rusher, which wouldn't be a bad idea. If the Lions are choosing a DE, look for Chandler Jones or Courtney Upshaw at 23. Kirkpatrick could be a steal at 23, and the Lions need to build their defense anywhere possible.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers- Shea Mcclellin (LB/DE, Boise State)- Pittsburgh figures to add some youth to the defensive side of the ball. A difference making hybrid player is their usual course of action. Mcclellin can play all over the front 7 for the Steelers, espcially in their exotic 3-4 scheme. This pick would be dynamite.
25. Denver Broncos- Michael Brockers (DT, LSU)- This would be a fantastic landing spot for Brockers. The Broncos are in serious need of help at DT. Brockers would have an endless leash in Denver to succeed at DT. The reason for this is that there is nobody behind him to threaten for his job. Not one DT on the Broncos roster is a capable starter. If Brockers is gone, DT Jerel Worthy out of Michigan St. will likely be the pick.
26. Houston Texans- Chandler Jones (DE, Syracuse)- Losing a player like Mario Williams is never good. However, the Texans seemed to get by just fine without him. Defensive end J.J. Watt is almost unblockable by himself. Adding in another athlete on the defensive line could make that Texans defense look a lot better. Chandler Jones could be that guy for Houston.
27. New England Patriots- Courtney Upshaw (LB/DE, Alabama)- The Patriots have become synonymous with trading down and stockpiling draft picks. Here they are again with two first round picks. Of course trading down is always an option, but let's say they actually use this draft pick. Defensive end is the top need for the Pats. Upshaw played linebacker at Alabama and looked great doing it. He is projected to play defensive end and his versatility can only excite Bill Belichick if that is even possible.
28. Green Bay Packers- Harrison Smith (S, Notre Dame)- Last year the Packers gave up more yards than any team in the history of the NFL. Wow. It is easy to say that defense should be addressed. With the release of Nick Collins it appears that safety is the biggest hole for the Packers, who are not very deep at that position. This pick could also be a defensive end like Andre Branch or a linebacker like LaVonte David. Lots of options here for the Packers, but the biggest need are all on one side of the ball.
29. Baltimore Ravens- Mike Adams (OT, Ohio State)- The window is quickly closing for Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to win another championship. Joe Flacco needs time to make decisions in the passing game. He is not very effective when pressured, and gets nervous too easily. This pick would help shore up an offensive line that spent a lot of time hanging its collective head last year, despite making a deep playoff run.
30. San Francisco 49ers- Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois)- Go ask the New York Giants how nice it is to have a 5 premier pass rushers. I'll bet they tell you it is the best luxury in the world. Their last two Super Bowl titles have been won mainly because of their defensive line and not their QB. The 49ers are extremely deep as a team and adding Randy Moss gives them a respectable group of wide receivers. Almost every other position is solid and defensive line is crucial. Look for San Fran to grab a player that adds depth and can produce right from the start of the season.
31. New England Patriots- Johnathan Martin (OT, Stanford)- If teams don't overdraft Martin, he is a late 1st or early 2nd round talent. This plays right into the hand of the Patriots. Longtime left tackle Matt Light is at the end of his career and strongly considering retirement. The Patriots drafted Nate Solder out of Colorado last April and have been grooming him as Light's replacement. This pick would solidify the right tackle spot for the Patriots and give them two young and talented 1st round picks at each OT spot.
32. New York Giants- Jerel Worthy (DT, Michigan St.)- The age old expression "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind when the Giants step up to draft. They have stockpiled exceptional talent in their defensive line; it is the strength of the team. Adding a player like Worthy only provides another force on that front, creating more opportunities for Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul to get to opposing quarterbacks.
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