One Round NFL Mock Draft

We’re a few weeks into free agency, and a few teams have addressed some of the needs they perhaps would have looked to the draft to fill. With that in mind, we’re forced to re-evaluate our mock draft,

1. Indianapolis (2-14) – Team Needs: QB, OG, SS, OC, 2CB, WR, NT, TE, DE, LB, RB – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts are trying to make the media think this pick won’t be Andrew Luck but they are not doing a good job. They have not even had a private meeting with Robert Griffin sighting “time constraints” as the reason. Luck is everything a team could want in a QB prospect and more. He has the athleticism and size of Cam Newton combined with the throwing ability of Aaron Rodgers. Whether or not he can put it all together and become one of the all time great QBs is all that remains.

2. Washington – from St. Louis (2-14) – QB, WR, LG, ILB, RT, CB, NT, TE, OC, SS, K, Rush LB – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The Redskins gave up three 1st round picks and more to move up four spots and they are not taking anyone but Griffin or Luck here. Griffin is a dream fit for Shanahan’s system because of his athleticism, accuracy, and arm strength. Griffin has the speed and athleticism of Michael Vick in his prime but the throwing ability and accuracy of Drew Brees. Even though the Redskins gave up a lot to get Griffin, if he fulfills his potential and becomes a franchise QB, it would be hard to say that it was not worth it.

3. Minnesota (3-13) – LT, CB, WR, S, OG, 2LB, DT, FB, RB3 – Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings have really two options here at No. 3. They can make the smart move and take Matt Kalil to protectChristian Ponder or they can make the dumb move and take Morris Claiborne. Even though Claiborne is a phenomenal prospect, you simply can’t pass up on a franchise LT when that is your biggest need. While Claiborne might be a better CB than Kalil is a LT, it is not often a team is in a position to get an elite LT prospect. If the Vikings take Claiborne and Kalil becomes a franchise LT, this will be considered one of the worst moves of all time.

4. Cleveland (4-12) – QB, WR, RT, DE, CB, OLB, RB, OG, FS, DT, K – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns options here are complicated. There are four players they could think about; Ryan Tannehill, Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon, and Trent Richardson. I have Tannehill rated as the 5th best QB in the draft but despite that, he is being talked about as a top 10 pick. He is going to have a career similar to Blaine Gabbert’s in my opinion. Both of them are grossly over-rated because of their “potential” but in my opinion, they just don’t have it. Outside of that, I think any of the three picks would be great but Richardson fills their biggest need and is the best prospect of the three players.

5. Tampa Bay (4-12) – 2CB, 2LB, RT, WR, OC, RB, LG, FB, DT, QB, K – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

This pick is about as certain as Andrew Luck is to the Colts. The Bucs biggest need by far is at the corner position and the best player available is Morris Claiborne. Claiborne is a lockdown corner who in terms of coverage, is better than Patrick Peterson was coming out of LSU. He has the size, speed, and ability to be a lockdown corner in the NFL on the level of a Revis.

6. St. Louis – from Washington (5-11) – 2OT, 2WR, 2OLB, FS, CB, DT, OC, RB, FB – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

This is another pretty obvious pick. Blackmon is the best player available and fills the Rams biggest need. While Blackmon may never be an elite WR, he should become a very good #1 WR in the league and at worst, a solid #2. He lacks elite size or speed but he has great hands and is a good route runner.

7. Jacksonville (5-11) – QB, WR, 2CB, DE, FS, RT, P, OC, LB – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

This is where the draft gets tough for me. The Jags are in a terrible spot here being forced to either reach to fill a need or take a player who does not fill a need that is better value. Floyd is their best option here because he fills their biggest need and has the potential to be the best WR in this class.

8. Miami (6-10) – QB, RT, Rush LB, NT, FS, RG, CB, TE, DE, ILB – Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

While I don’t think Tannehill is worthy of a first round pick, I am trying to be accurate and it is looking more and more likely that the Dolphins will take Ryan at No. 8. The Dolphins forced themselves into this spot because they were unable to get any of the FA QB’s to sign with them. Now they will be forced to reach for a QB prospect who is not very good.

9. Carolina (6-10) – DT, CB, LB, RT, 2S, RG, WR, K – Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox is a slight reach here but he is a perfect fit for the Panthers. He is a penetrating DT who can play any position in a 4-3 and can stop the run as well as rush the passer.

10. Buffalo (6-10) –Rush LB, WR, LT, CB, QB, TE – Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

The Bills were able to address many of their needs in free agency by signing Mario Williams along with Mark Anderson. However, Coples is the BPA by far and would give them another pass rusher to add to the mix. With Floyd off the board and DeCastro not fitting their needs, the Bills would have to “settle” for Coples. After landing Williams and Anderson and drafting Coples, the Bills would go from having one of the worst pass rushes in the league to one of the best.

11. Kansas City (7-9) – QB, RT, NT, CB, OG/OC, TE, RB, Rush LB, ILB – David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

12. Seattle (7-9) – RDE, OG, DT, LDE, CB, RB – Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

13. Arizona (8-8) – RT, WR, RG, DE, Rush LB, ILB, CB, QB, NT, K, P – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

14. Dallas (8-8) – OC, OG, S, DE, OLB, ILB, Backup QB, P (if McBriar not resigned) – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15. Philadelphia (8-8) – DT, CB, S, WR, TE – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

16. New York Jets (8-8) – OLB, RT, FS, SS, RG, LG, WR, DE – Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

17. Cincinnati – from Oakland (8-8) – CB, RB, S, OG, WR, DE, DT, Strong LB – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

18. San Diego (8-8) – OLB, SS, OT, OG, TE, CB, NT, ILB, RB, WR, QB – Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

19. Chicago (8-8) – WR1, OT, CB, DE, LB, OC, S, DT, QB – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

20. Tennessee (9-7) – OC, 2OG, DE, 2S, Weak LB, CB, WR – Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

21. Cincinnati* (9-7) – CB, RB, S, OG, WR, DE, DT – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

22. Cleveland – from Atlanta* (10-6) – QB, WR, RT, DE, CB, OLB, OG, FS, DT, K – Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

23. Detroit* (10-6) – CB, LT, SS, DE, OC, LB, RT, RB, QB, P – Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

24. Pittsburgh* (12-4) – OG, ILB, NT, OT, S, K, CB, QB, RB – Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

25. Denver* (8-8) – CB, RB, LG/RT, DT, OC, ILB, WR, K, SS, QB – Devon Still, DT, Penn State

26. Houston* (10-6) – CB, WR, NT, S, OG, LB, P – Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

27. New England – from New Orleans* (13-3) – WR, CB, DT, OLB, S, RG, DE – Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

28. Green Bay* (15-1) – LB, S, DE, CB, OC, RB, TE, OT – Kendall Reyes, DE, Connecticut

29. Baltimore* (12-4) – ILB, OC, LT, FS, OG, WR (big), CB – Donta Hightower, ILB, Alabama

30. San Francisco* (13-3) – WR, RG, Rush LB, QB, FS, CB, DE – Cordy Glenn, OG/OT, Georgia

31. New England* (13-3) – WR, CB, OLB, S, RG, DE – Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

32. New York Giants* (9-7) – ILB, OG, OT, CB, TE, OC, RB – Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

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