Mock Draft 4.0

Matt Kalil

There are now just three days to go until the 2012 NFL Draft begins at Radio City Music Hall with all 32 NFL teams busy putting the final touches to their draft boards.

After a lengthy Draft process from Senior Bowl to Combine, to Pro Days to the game film, it’s now all or nothing for scouts.

As the Draft moves closer, several rumors are flying around on the web, with a number of trades being discussed.

The first two players expected to be picked are Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III but after that, there could be a few surprises.

Tune in this Thursday night to watch the Draft unfold but for now, here is my final Mock Draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts- Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford.

Pick analysis: Colts won’t spend too much time debating between Luck and RG3. Luck is clear choice.

2. Washington Redskins (Trade with St.Louis Rams) – Robert Griffin, Quarterback, Baylor.

Pick analysis: Redskins have an easy decision here. RG3 will have a Cam Newton type impact.

3. Minnesota Vikings- Matt Kalil, Offensive Tackle, USC.

Pick analysis: Vikings bring in Kalil to protect Ponder. He has All-Pro potential and will start from day one.

4. Cleveland Browns- Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama.

Pick analysis: Browns need playmakers on offense. After much debate, they go for Richardson over Blackmon.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU. 

Pick analysis: Buccaneers bring in Claiborne. He will be the eventual replacement for Ronde Barber.

6.  St.Louis Rams (Trade with Washington Redskins) – Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State.

Pick analysis: Rams must select Blackmon to help out Bradford. He will turn out to be a Pro Bowl caliber player.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars- Melvin Ingram, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, South Carolina.

Pick analysis: Jaguars decide to pass on Michael Floyd. Ingram could have an Aldon Smith type impact.

8. Miami Dolphins- Nick Perry, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, USC.

Pick analysis: Dolphins decide not to pass on Michael Floyd. Perry will have a huge Rookie season.

9. Carolina Panthers- Dontari Poe, Defensve Tackle, Memphis.

Pick analysis: Panthers must add some depth on their defensive line. They go with Poe over Brockers.

10. Buffalo Bills- Luke Kuechly, Middle Linebacker, Boston College.

Pick analysis: Bills need a left tackle. However, Kuechly is a safer pick than Reiff and should be a solid pro.

11. Kansas City Chiefs- Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa.

Pick analysis: Chiefs are still waiting for Branden Albert to develop. Reiff will compete to start at left tackle.

12. Seattle Seahawks- David DeCastro, Guard, Stanford.

Pick analysis: Seahawks won’t take a risk on Brockers. DeCastro will help protect Matt Flynn. 

13. Arizona Cardinals- Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame.

Pick analysis: Cardinals add another receiver to the offense. Floyd will have early success alongside Fitzgerald. 

14. Dallas Cowboys- Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama.

Pick analysis: Cowboys defense was disappointing last season. Barron is a great addition to the secondary.

15. Philadelphia Eagles- Michael Brockers, Defensive Tackle, LSU.

Pick analysis: Eagles clearly need help on their defensive line. Brockers is a risk, but could a potential star.

16. New York Jets- Quinton Coples, Defensive End, North Carolina.

Pick analysis: Jets have several needs on defense. Like Brockers, Coples is a boom/bust type prospect.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (Trade with Oakland Raiders) – Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Baylor.

Pick analysis: Bengals bring in another first round receiver. He will start immediately alongside A.J. Green.

18. San Diego Chargers- Courtney Upshaw, Outside Linebacker, Alabama.

Pick analysis: Chargers won’t pass on Upshaw if he’s available. He should contribute early on as a Rookie.

19. Chicago Bears- Devon Still, Defensive Tackle, Penn State.

Pick analysis: Bears defense could use some added youth. Still will bring toughness to their defensive line.

20. Tennessee Titans- Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, North Alabama.

Pick analysis: Titans lost Cortland Finnegan to the Rams. Jenkins could be a key player for the Titans.

21. Cincinnati Bengals- Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama.

Pick analysis: Bengals defense is looking good for next season. Kirkpatrick could move to safety in the NFL.

22. Cleveland Browns (Trade with Atlanta Falcons) – Zach Brown, Outside Linebacker North Carolina.

Pick analysis: Browns already got a playmaker in Richardson. Brown will bring some speed to their defense.

23. Detroit Lions- Dont’a Hightower, Middle Linebacker, Alabama.

Pick analysis: Lions lack depth in their linebacking corp. Hightower will fit in well alongside Stephen Tulloch.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers- Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle, Stanford.

Pick analysis: Steelers offensive line adds another tackle in Martin. He could play at both left/right tackle.

25. Denver Broncos- Jerel Worthy, Defensive Tackle, Michigan State.

Pick analysis: Broncos will be be looking at defense with this pick. Worthy could turn out to be a steal.

26. Houston Texans- Coby Fleener, Tight End, Stanford.

Pick analysis: Texans offense could use an added target. Fleener will challenge Owen Daniels for reps.

27. New England Patriots (Trade with New Orleans Saints) – Whitney Mercilus, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Illinois.

Pick analysis: Patriots defense is still lacking in pass rushers. Mercilus is a versatile player to add to the team.

28. Green Bay Packers- Fletcher Cox, Defensive Tackle, Misissppi State.

Pick analysis: Packers would definitely take Cox if he fell. He could play at defensive end/nose tackle.

29. Baltimore Ravens- Kelechi Osemele, Guard/ Offensive Tackle, Iowa State.

Pick analysis: Ravens offensive line lost Ben Grubbs to the New Orleans Saints. Osemele could start at guard.

30. San Francisco 49ers- Jared Crick, Defensive End, Nebraska.

Pick analysis: 49ers already have a superb defense. Crick is a physical player very similar to Justin Smith.

31. New England Patriots- Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback, South Carolina.

Pick analysis: Patriots already found their pass rusher. Gilmore could see early playing time.

32. New York Giants- Lamar Miller, Running Back, Miami.

Pick analysis: Giants need a running back to replace Jacobs. Miller gets a slight edge over Doug Martin.

So that’s my fourth and final Mock Draft.

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Thanks for reading.