The Senior Bowl this week and a little down time (until the Bears hired Phil Emery) gave me a little time to start looking ahead to the draft. Here’s my first cut at the 2012 Mock. This mock, along with dozens and dozens of others will be featured in DC Pro Sports Report, WalterFootball.com and hailredskins.com mock draft databases. Each site keeps track of a huge number mock drafts all over the web. Also be sure to check out NFL Mocks and With the First Pick for comprehensive NFL draft coverage year-round.
1. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
No doubt Luck goes #1 but you never know if someone desperate enough for a QB makes the Colts an offer they can’t refuse.
2. St. Louis Rams
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
I’ve had dreams of Blackmon in the Orange of Blue of the Bears, but he doesn’t make it out of the Top 7 picks. The Rams grab a top target for Sam Bradford.
3. Minnesota Vikings
Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Kalil is the top rated offensive tackle in the draft and the Vikings desperately need some help along their O-line. Just wait til he gets a shot from Julius Peppers.
4. Cleveland Browns
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
The Browns seem to be ready to part ways with Peyton Hillis and couldn’t ask for a better player than Richardson to step right in and take over at running back.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
The Bucs need help in plenty of areas, but in the NFC South, they need to bolster their secondary to compete with the likes of Brees, Ryan and and Cam Newton.
More after the jump.
6. Washington Redskins
Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
The Redskins are thrilled that RG3 drops to them at #6. Griffin offers Mike Shanahan a new dimension for the Redskins offense.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
Jeffery has good size, but some questions have come up about his top end speed. Might be a bit of a reach here, but the Jags have been known to reach.
8. Carolina Panthers
Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
The Panthers can’t resist taking the guy being called “the next Julius Peppers” in some circles to help bolster Ron Rivera’s defense.
9. Miami Dolphins
Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
The Dolphins could use some help at quarterback, but without reaching, they’ll do the next best thing and bolster their offensive line with a top tackle in Martin.
10. Buffalo Bills
Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
The Bills could use an edge rusher and can’t resist the unique talents of the Alabama outside linebacker.
11. Kansas City Chiefs
Riley Reif, OT, Iowa
Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel should be coming back next season and the Chiefs need to get someone to help take care of their guys to solidify the offense.
