Welcome to another fun season of NFL Draft analysis!
I've been hard at work watching what college football has to offer over the course of the past month, and now it's time for the first of many prognostications for the 2012 NFL Draft.
Because I know that many of you will just skim right over to whatever is written right here, let's do all ourselves a favor and get right to the pickin'.
Note: You can click on any player listed in red and see all the need-to-know information for that player.
1) Indianapolis Colts - QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
- This pick has been penciled in for a while now.
2) St. Louis Rams - OT Matt Kalil, USC
- Instead of trading down, the Rams can finally claim their franchise left tackle. They've tried twice now and both haven't worked.
3) Minnesota Vikings - CB Morris Claiborne, LSU
- Vikings were hoping for Kalil, but they get the top cornerback in the draft instead. He is going to be a stud in the NFL.
4) Cleveland Browns - QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor
- The people in Cleveland that are clinging to Colt McCoy being the franchise quarterback are getting fewer in number by the day.
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - OT Riley Reiff, Iowa
- Jeremy Trueblood showed once again last season why he needs to be replaced.
6) Washington Redskins - WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
- The Redskins could go QB here, but something about Tannehill and Shanahan just doesn't mesh to me right now. With Santana Moss up there in age, they desperately need a top flight WR.
7) Jacksonville Jaguars - CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
- Yes, Jenkins has off-the-field problems. But unless Jacksonville re-signs Rashean Mathis, they need two corners this off-season. Jenkins has talent that rivals Claiborne's. Rookie wage scale allows teams to take chances in the first round.
8) Miami Dolphins - DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina
- Back to the 4-3 for Miami, which means they need a true defensive end. They get their pick of the litter.
9) Carolina Panthers - DT Devon Still, Penn State
- Carolina drafted a pair of DT's in the mid-rounds in 2011, but they get a starter out of Still.
10) Buffalo Bills - DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
- Here's what you've all been waiting for. The Bills are in need of a player that can be able to transform along with the defensive front. Ingram can do it all, and has done it all for South Carolina in his career. Even-front defensive end? Check. Even-front defensive tackle? Check. Odd-front outside linebacker? Check. Odd-front defensive end? Check. Ingram provides the versatility to do a lot of different things in defensive looks. Not to mention, I think he's the best overall defensive end/pass-rushing prospect in this draft. He may not have the desired height (just a shade below 6-foot-2), but I can see him being used a little bit of everywhere by the Bills and Dave Wannstedt.
11) Kansas City Chiefs - QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
41) Buffalo Bills - LB Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma
- To me, Lewis can be best used as a 4-3 strongside linebacker that can get after the quarterback. With Kelvin Sheppard firmly in the middle, and Nick Barnett likely on the weakside, Lewis has shown he can take on blocks and shed them to get after the ball carrier and quarterback. I look at the way Denver has used Von Miller this past season as their strongside linebacker in a 4-3, and they use him in such a way that highlights everything he can do while getting after the passer. Even though Lewis isn't Von Miller, he has a skill-set that dictates he could succeed in that role. Not to mention when they give 3-4 looks, he can rush from the edge standing up and take Chris Kelsay off the field.
Hard to argue with these picks, definitely like Ingram over Upshaw at #10, If Mercilus is still on the board why not grab him at #41
02/15/2012 9:45PM
Mock draft
Looks pretty good to me, other than a few shockers. I doubt anyone would take a project like Ryan Tannehill that high (20 starts as NCAA QB), and Janoris Jenkins doesn't have enough talent to crack the top 10. I like him to Dallas at 14 at most.
As far as the Bills go, I like Melvin Ingram as a 4-3 DE over Courtney Upshaw, so good pick there. Outside of the pass rush though, I think the Bills need a good TE to help out Fitzpatrick, and they should do everything in their power, even trade up, to get either Coby Fleener or Dwayne Allen. I wouldn't complain with Ronnell Lewis, he's a late 1st to early 2nd talent (much like Aaron Williams last year), but the offense was dreadful last year once they lost Freddie.
02/15/2012 10:35PM
No Way in Round 1
There is no way the Bills draft Ingram in Round 1. Upshaw is a lock if he is still available. He is a mean, fast dominate player playing in a pro system at Alabama. No surpasses, no "reach" picks. Take the best available and that would be him.
02/15/2012 11:04PM
Two holes plugged ... on to the next one
Was hoping to land best available OT in the 2nd round, but I'd be very happy if it shaped up like this for us ... two solid picks to bolster the D. They'd be looking pretty good in long run if they went this route.
02/15/2012 11:16PM
wr
need wr with one of the picks/ 4 wide one back is what we mostly run. sick of seeing other teams practice squads players
02/16/2012 1:50AM
????
joe do u even know the needs of other teams??? 49ers will NOT pass on sanu if hes there and if rodgers leave they will draft a DB, do some more research
02/16/2012 8:20AM
wait- who's the top running back?
I want to be prepared to root for him when the Bills pick him at #10.
02/16/2012 8:46AM
2nd round - BRANCH
Like Ingram in the 1st. I definitely agree. But I think the 2nd round we should take Branch, DE, Clemson. We really need a pass-rush, and the best way to develop a constant rush is to draft pass-rushers!
02/16/2012 12:44PM
This is good but we need another WR
Not just a 4th, 5th, 6th, rounder, even though that has worked, we need a high round draft pick WR. I also agree with Bulldog. Yetersay he said that he prefered that the Bills resign Johnson and draft a WR rather than not resigning him and picking a WR.
02/16/2012 1:20PM
Ingram??
Ingram over Upshaw?? If it was up to me The Bills would take every player they could from Bama.
02/16/2012 1:35PM
I want
A QUARTERBACK! WAHHHH WAHHHH WAHHH!!!!!! WHY AREN'T WE PICKING A QUARTERBACK! Too bad you can't draft a new owner...or can you?
02/16/2012 3:56PM
Can't go Defense first 2 rounds of draft.. again
Sorry Joe but the needs at CB, LT and WR far outweigh taking another pass rusher in round #2.. Also think someone trades up to take Blackmon - most talented player in the draft.. would love to see the Bills go get him but they don't have the b@lls.
02/16/2012 4:23PM
Love how people in Buffalo want Upshaw
People in Buffalo watch one college football game all year, and love the player they see in the Nat'l Championship. Ingram is a reach over Upshaw? Shows how much people up there watch college football.
02/17/2012 3:15PM
both these picks should be...
quarterbacks...
02/18/2012 1:08PM
Safe picks
Upshaw would be a safe pick. Ingram would only be picked because of upside. The bills need Vontaze Burfict. Burfict has the talent to stop the run and get after the quarterback. This allows the bills to start evaluating a potential second round QB pick.
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