The Expert Fan
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Ok, after a lot of delay, I finally have my revised mock draft finished, exactly one week before the start of the first day. Take a look, and as always, feel free to comment/criticize.

 

1. Indianapolis Colts - QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

With the Colts calling Luck and telling him that he's their guy, the Luck-RGIII debate has quietly come to a close.

2. Washington Redskins - QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor

See above. ???Skins are not disappointed by any means.

3. Minnesota Vikings - OT Matt Kalil, USC

Still some debate about maybe taking Morris Claiborne here, but I still think the Vikes will focus on keeping their 2nd year QB off his back.

4. Cleveland Browns - WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

I'm reading a lot of press suggesting they are going to take Richardson here because the WR pool is pretty deep. Well so is the RB pool, and a great receiver will be a bigger help to Colt McCoy than a great RB. I also can't see a RB going in the top 5 picks in today's pass-centric NFL.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB Morris Claiborne, LSU

I originally had Michael Brockers here. I still think the bigger need is in stopping the run, but everything I've seen and read points to Claiborne being the choice here.

6. St. Louis Rams - RB Trent Richardson, Alabama

No change here. Though Richardson falls outside of the top 5, it's just outside the top 5.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

With Claiborne off the board, the Jags have the freedom to pursue whoever they want. With only 31 sacks all of last year, they need to improve the pass rush. Ingram is the man to do that. Could also possibly trade down if a team really wants Ryan Tannehill.

8. Miami Dolphins - QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

I'm just gonna come out and say it: This is the pick, and it's a huge mistake. GM Jeff Ireland has said he won't feel the pressure to take a QB just to take a QB. Yeah, right. I didn't even have Tannehill go in the first round in my initial mock. And I still think he shouldn't.

9. Carolina Panthers - DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State

I originally had Dontari Poe going here, but Cox is a better fit for the 4-3 and a better player overall.

10. Buffalo Bills - WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

I've seen a lot of mocks have the Bills taking an OT here. Why? The Bills gave up the fewest sacks last year. They need to give the over-paid Ryan Fitzpatrick another target to throw to.

11. Kansas City Chiefs - ILB Luke Kuechly, Boston College

No changes here. It is possible they try to trade up for Tannehill at no. 7, but I just don't see that happening.

12. Seattle Seahawks - OT Riley Reiff, Iowa

I thought that he would be the pick for Miami (and probably should be) but no one is happier he wasn't than Pete Carroll.

13. Arizona Cardinals - OG David DeCastro, Stanford

Another benefit to the ???Phins taking Tannehill over Reiff. DeCastro will immediately help an offensive line that gave up 54 sacks and only averaged 101.6 rushing yards per game last year.

14. Dallas Cowboys - DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina

Coples has risen on many draft boards from what I've heard. I had the ???Boys originally going with Melvin Ingram here, but with Ingram now in Jacksonville, Coples becomes the pick.

15. Philadelphia Eagles - S Mark Barron, Alabama

Another pick I don't see the need to change.

16. New York Jets - OLB/DE Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

I think the Jets would be better served with taking an O-lineman like Cordy Glenn here, but all indications are they will go with defense. Upshaw is the top remaining defensive end, though he'll most likely play the OLB position in Rex's 3-4.

17. Cincinnati Bengals - WR Kendall Wright. Baylor

I seriously debated on taking a DT like Brockers or Poe here, both of which I had going in the top 10 my first mock. But the bottom line is the Bengals are fairly set at that position, and on defense overall. They need to give the Red Rocket another target to speed his development. They can focus on defensive depth later.

18. San Diego Chargers - DT Dontari Poe, Memphis

The Chargers re-signed NT Antonio Garay, but at age 32, he won't be there forever. Poe is a better fit in the 3-4 than Brockers, and he'll probably need a year or two to develop. The Chargers pull the trigger on the mobile big man.

19. Chicago Bears - OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford

The Bears could use some defensive depth, but they saw what happens when Cutler goes out for an extended period of time. They still take Martin to shore up a long-underwhelming offensive line.

20. Tennessee Titans -  DT Michael Brockers, LSU

The Titans have the freedom to go 1 of 3 ways. They could take Dre' Kirkpatrick or Stephon Gilmore. They could take DE Whitney Mercilus. Or they could take Brockers. Of the four, Brockers is the best player available, so he's the pick.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Stephon Gilmore, CB South Carolina

With Brockers off the board, the Bengals focus on taking Gilmore, who not only fills a position of need, he's also the best player available.

22. Cleveland Browns - Cordy Glenn, OG Alabama

The Browns are going to go ???Bama with this pick either direction, offense or defense. The defensive option is CB Dre' Kirkpatrick. But with Glenn they get another stout body to put along the line with other former 1st rounders Joe Thomas and Alex Mack to give the Browns one of the youngest, most talented lines in the NFL.

23. Detroit Lions - Doug Martin, RB Boise State

I don't see a change here. The Lions starting CBs logged 9 picks between them last year, and they are set at the safety and linebacker positions. Martin will give them some insurance in case Kevin Smith's injury problems keep hindering his playing ability.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Andre Branch, OLB Clemson

Yet another pick I'm staying with. The Steelers lost James Farrior, and Branch has both the size and the ability to replace that production.

25. Denver Broncos - DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

I originally had them going with offensive line to help protect the $94 million man, but then something occurred to me. Peyton Manning does not get sacked. He gets rid of the ball too fast. He might take 14-15 sacks a year. With the loss of Brodrick Bunkley to the Saints, DT is the bigger need.

26. Houston Texans - ILB Donta' Hightower, Alabama

This pick is all about replacing Mario Williams and/or DeMeco Ryans.

27. New England Patriots - Nick Perry, DE USC

The Pats lost 3 defensive ends in the offseason. They run the 3-4, so they need a guy who has the size close to that of a 4-3 defensive tackle. At 6-2, 271, Perry is the best fit for this defense.

28. Green Bay Packers - CB Dre' Kirkpatrick, Alabama

With the signing of Jeff Saturday, center is not the biggest position of need, so they can go best player available. No doubt that Kirkpatrick fits the bill.

29. Baltimore Ravens - Coby Fleener, TE Stanford

No change here, Flacco needs more weapons, particularly ones that can actually catch.

30. San Francisco 49ers - OG Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin

Yet another pick I'm keeping the same. They are set on defense and signed 2 WRs for Alex Smith to throw to. Now they need help keeping him upright and to give Frank Gore better running lanes.

31. New England Patriots - RB Lamar Miller, Miami

Even before letting "the law firm" leave in free agency, the Pats only averaged 110.3 rushing yards a game. Tom Brady isn't going to be able to keep putting up monster passing numbers for much longer, and they need another option to keep his arm rested.

32. New York Giants - Devon Still, DT Penn State

The G-Men need help a RB, but I see them taking a guy like LaMichael James with the last pick in round 2. So they focus on shoring up their defensive line.

Up Next: Round 2 Mock Draft

Follow me on Twitter @expertfan1

 

 

April 20, 2012  11:15 AM ET

Nice. Go Bears.

 
April 20, 2012  12:25 PM ET

I don't see why the Lions would reach for Doug Martin in the first round... Would be a stupid pick on their part.

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