1st Round Mock Draft 2.0

My first version, published last week, has some changes. A few recent free agent pick-ups force some major re-shuffling.

1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
Done and done. Luck should already be looking at real estate on Indy’s Geist Reservoir.

2. Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor
‘Skins didn’t trade away their future for Matt Kalil at this spot.

3. Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT USC
Vikings need an anchor tackle for Christian Ponder and Adrian Peterson. Justin Blackmon could be tempting, but Kalil is the conservative pick.

4. Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson, RB Alabama

I think this pick will come down to Richardson & Justin Blackmon. The Browns have a big need at both positions. This draft is deep at WR, and Richardson is elite, so he gets the nod to replace Peyton Hillis.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne, CB LSU
Cornerback is Tampa’s biggest need, and it just so happens Claiborne is a top tier talent there for the picking. The Bucs signed Eric Wright, but Ronde Barber is on social security, and AqibTalib may be living off prison food for the foreseeable future.

6. St. Louis Rams – Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma St.
Jackpot for the Rams. They may have taken Blackmon at 2 and they still get him after the Washington trade. Sam Bradford needs playmakers. Newly signed Steve Smith isn’t enough.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Quentin Coples, DE North Carolina
I may be on an island here, but Quentin Coples now makes sense for the Jags. I originally had Michael Floyd here, but the recent signing of Lee Evans changed that. I hear the Jags like Melvin Ingram, but Coples is a better fit in the 4-3 scheme and is a beast loaded with potential.

8. Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill, QB Texas A&M
I previously had Coples here, and argued that Jeff Ireland needs an impact player right away. Outside Coples, however, I don’t see another player worth the #8 pick. I’m not that high on any other pass rushers here. I wouldn’t cry if Michael Floyd is the pick, but there are other WR options later in the draft. So, the Dolphins get another crack at a future QB to learn under David Garrard / Matt Moore. Dolphin OC Mike Sherman re-unites with his QB at A&M.

9. Carolina Panthers – Fletcher Cox, DT Mississippi St.
It may be odd having Cox in the top 10. He’s probably not the 10th best player in the draft but this pick makes sense for the Panthers. Their biggest need is at DT. Dontari Poe could be an option, but he may appeal more to a 3-4 team, and a lot of experts seem to think he’s sliding.

10. Buffalo Bills – Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame
Most people think Floyd is a reach here. I disagree. I’ve watched a lot of Notre Dame football and I see virtually no flaws in him. Injury prone? Character Issues? Whatever. He’s a beast in the mold of Larry Fitzgerald or Brandon Marshall. I’m so high on him, I’d take him over Blackmon. A Stevie Johnson / Floyd duo will help Ryan Fitzpatrick immensely. The Bills could take Bobby Massie in Round 2 to help their OT issues.

11. Kansas City Chiefs – Dontari Poe, DT Memphis
Chiefs filled a huge need on the OL by signing Eric Winston, and are able go with a run stuffing NT. Free agent Kelly Gregg is 35 so this a big need.

12. Seattle Seahawks – Luke Kuechly, ILB Boston College
Seattle gets lucky. The best player available matches their biggest need. Kuechly could plug in at ILB for a long time.

13. Arizona Cardinals – Riley Reiff, OT Iowa
The Cardinals re-signed Levi Brown, but still need help at tackle. If Reiff falls to 13, I have to think the Cards scoop him up. Stanford G David DeCastro may an option as well at guard. An upgrade over Rex Hadnot would not be a bad thing.

14. Dallas Cowboys – Mark Barron, S Alabama
The Cowboys signed CB Brandon Carr and S Brodney Pool, but the Dallas secondary still needs help. Barron is the best safety in the draft.

15. Philadelphia Eagles – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Alabama
Popular belief is this pick will be for the DL because the Eagles have a history of taking DTs in the first round. Maybe they break the mold this year. Philly might be shopping Asante Samuel and Rogers-Cromartie will be a FA after this year.

16. New York Jets – Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB South Carolina
Jets need a pass rusher in a bad way. In this mock I have both Ingram and Courtney Upshaw available. That would be a good problem to have for the Jets.

17. Cincinnati Bengals – David DeCastro, G Stanford
The Bengals have two first rounds picks and need a pair of guards. DeCastro has been labeled elite by a number of scouts, and would start immediately.

18. San Diego Chargers – Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB Alabama
The Chargers may have a bigger need on the OL, but they could use pass rushing help as well. The value pick is Upshaw if still available.

19. Chicago Bears – Stephon Gilmore, CB South Carolina
Similar to San Diego, the Bears need OL help, but I couldn’t quite justify taking Cordy Glenn here. Corner is also a big need, and with potential options like Kirkpatrick and Stephon Gilmore available, I think they go that route.

20. Tennessee Titans – Peter Konz, C Wisconsin
Titans need a Center. There’s a big drop-off in talent after Konz in this draft, so this pick would make sense.

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Janoris Jenkins, CB South Alabama
Risk/Reward pick. It would make sense for the Bengals to take a corner with one of their first round picks. Leon Hall is coming off a late season Achilles tear, and as Dolphin fans know, Jason Allen is better suited in the either the CFL or Pop-Warner.

22. Cleveland Browns – Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford
This is a tricky pick, but I think Mike Holmgren plays it safe and plugs a hole at RT. Cleveland needs a WR, but there are solid options in round two. However, they could take a WR here if they have their sights set on QB Brandon Weeden in the second.

23. Detroit Lions – Cordy Glenn, OT/G Georgia
Safe pick for the Lions. However, they also need a corner.  If one of Kirkpatrick, Gilmore or Jenkins fall – they could be the pick.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers – Donta Hightower – ILB Alabama
Steelers get an ideal replacement for James Farrior. Hightower would start Day 1.

25. Denver Broncos – Michael Brockers, DT LSU
If a quality interior DT like Brockers, Poe, or Cox is here for the Broncos I think they would grab one. Peyton Manning will make everyone on offense instantly better so the Donkeys need to toughen up their run defense.

26. Houston Texans – Stephen Hill, WR Georgia Tech
The Texans need a sidekick for Andre Johnson. I see this pick coming down to Hill, Kendall Wright or Rueben Randle.

27. New England Patriots – Nick Perry, DE/OLB USC
The Patriots need a pass rusher and may have the options of Branch, Whitney Mercilus and Nick Perry. Perry may fit the Pats hybrid 4-3/3-4 defense nicely.

28. Green Bay Packers – Shea McClellin, DE/OLB Boise St.
This is a tough pick to call. I’m thinking the Packers go with a pass rusher to pair with Clay Matthews. McClellin projects well in the 3-4 scheme and is stock is rising fast.

29. Baltimore Ravens – Rueben Randle, WR LSU
If center Peter Konz is available I think he’s the pick but in this mock he’s gone. This is a deep WR draft, but by the time Baltimore picks again many could be gone. I think they’d take Randle early over the 5’10 Kendall Wright. They’ve already got a small speedster at WR in Torrey Smith.

30. San Francisco 49ers – Coby Fleener, TE Stanford
The 49ers could use OL help, but Fleener is the value pick here. A double TE set with Fleener and Vernon Davis would be scary.

31. New England Patriots – Jerel Worthy, DT Michigan St.
If the Pats hold on to both their first round picks I could see them using them on bolstering their D-line. Picking Perry & Worthy would bring a solid youth movement to their defense.

32. New York Giants – Doug Martin, RB Boise St.
The Giants need a RB to replace Brandon Jacobs.  They love their 2 back system, and Martin is solid.