Mock Draft Updated February 22th, 2012

NEPD Staff Writer: Mike Loyko

1. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford (Scouting Report)
Luck would have been the #1 pick last year, and he did nothing to hurt himself by returing for his junior season. Luck will be the #1 pick in April and will replace Peyton Manning as the Colts QB, which is ironic since Luck is the most hyped QB to enter the draft since Peyton Manning in 1998. Luck has all the tools and leadership skills to be a superstar QB in the NFL.

2. St. Louis Rams
Matt Kalil, OT, USC (Scouting Report)
From what I have heard St. Louis really wants Matt Kalil. The Jason Smith pick has been an unmitagated disaster, so the Rams essentially have to repick their LT  of the future. Kalil is a much better prospect than Smith and one of the best LT prospects in the last 5 years. He has the size, athleticism and lineage that will make him a starter from day 1. Getting Kalil would slot everything together on the Rams line and protecting the franchise QB should be the #1 priority.

3. Minnesota Vikings
Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU (Scouting Report)
Minnesota’s secondary was just plain awful during the 2011 season. There’s no doubt that Minnesota would love to get their hands on Kalil, but if the Rams stay at #2 thats not happening. Leslie Frazier paid close attention to CBs in Mobile and getting Claiborne would be a great start in a rebuilding process in the secondary. Claiborne is a great athlete who has the best ball skills in the draft. He simply did not get beat this year. Playing in the NFC North and facing Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford 1/4 of their games a year, getting cover corners is a must.

4. Cleveland Browns
Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (Scouting Report)
Ultimately I think RG3 goes #2 or #3 so in order to get him the Browns will have to move up. They have plenty of draft capital and shouldn’t have a problem switching spots with the Rams or Vikings if they really covet RG3. Getting Griffin would give Browns fans something to be excited about. This team is in desperate need of playmakers on offense and gettin RG3 would give them the most dynamic player in the draft.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama (Scouting Report)
If the draft falls this way Tampa Bay will have their choice between Richardson and Blackmon. Richardson in my mind is the better prospect and RB is a much greater area of need. Richardson is as close to a can’t miss prospect as there is. His devestating running style is a great fit for any NFL team and give the Buccaneers a face of the franchise player.

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6. Washington Redskins
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State (Scouting Report)
This is a tough one as Washington would obviously love a shot to get Robert Griffin and they may try to move up to #2 to get him. Washington is likely to add a QB at some point this offseason and adding a dynamic playmaker like Blackmon will add a whole new dimension to this offense.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars
Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina (Scouting Report)
The Jaguars are perpetually looking for pass rushers and should get a chance to land the top one in this years class. The Jaguars desperately need WRs and just miss out on a chance to grab Blackmon, however getting a player with the upside of Coples could end up being a steal. Adding Coples to a defensive line with Knighton and Alualu would give the Jaguars a very solid young DL.

8. Carolina Panthers
Michael Brockers, DT, LSU (Scouting Report)
The Panthers had the worst run defense in the NFC last year and desperately need to improve the interior of their defense. Brockers is a huge, but raw DT. He has as much upside as anyone in the draft and should be able to play multiple “shades” giving Ron Rivera some versatility. The Panthers also need to add weapons around Cam Newton, but with such a deep WR class the Panthers will be able to address that position later in the draft.

9. Miami Dolphins
Reilly Reiff, OT, Iowa (Scouting Report)
This is a huge disappointment for Dolphins – fans who thought they had a legit shot at Luck and Barkley halfway through the season. Miami is switching to a 4-3, so if Coples is here it would make sense. Reiff is the best player left on the board and pairing Reiff with All-Pro LT Jake Long would give the Dolphins the best pair of young tackles in the league. I expect the Dolphins to address QB through FA or they may be the team that takes a chance on Ryan Tannehill.

10. Buffalo Bills
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama (Scouting Report)
Kirkpatrick is a big, physical and athletic CB. He plays an aggresive, attacking style which is an ideal fit for the Bills secondary. Buffalo forced a ton of turnovers last year, but don’t have that elite #1 CB. This is another team that would love to get their hands on Coples but at this point Kirkpatrick is the best player available.

11. Seattle Seahawks
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M (Scouting Report)
Seattle is one of the most likely landing spots for Tannehill. NFL.com’s Gil Brandt promised that Tannehill would go top 10 and when he speaks I listen. Seattle would love to wait a year and get their hands on USC QB Matt Barkley, but that is really unlikely. Tannehill has tremendous upside and if he is given a chance to sit and learn for a year or two would could be special. Tannehill combines a great arm with tremendous athleticism but, is still learning how to be a QB.

12. Kansas City Chiefs
Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford (Scouting Report)
This pick is a lay up. The Chiefs biggest weakness other than QB is the offensive line. Being able to sit at pick 12 and grab Jonathan Martin would be a steal. Martin doesn’t have the upside that Kalil does and isn’t quite as fundamentally sound as Reiff, but he is a tremendous athlete and should be able to start at LT as a rookie.

13. Arizona Cardinals
David DeCastro, OG, Stanford (Scouting Report)
Picking an interior lineman in the top 15 doesn’t happen every year. DeCastro has a chance to be special and might be the safest player in the draft. He is a starter from day 1, you can plug him in at RG or LG and not have to worry about the position for another 10 years. The Cardinals will also likely look at WRs, but simply can’t pass up DeCastro if he is there.

14. Dallas Cowboys
Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama (Scouting Report)
The Cowboys had a big contingent in Mobile including HC Jason Garrett and DC Rob Ryan who stated he was there to just watch defensive backs. Jenkins is the best CB left on the board and really helped his stock in Mobile. It would be tough passing up Courtney Upshaw here, CB is simply the much bigger need.

15.Philadelphia Eagles
Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College (Scouting Report)
Seemingly every mock draft has the Eagles taking Kuechly. Luke has incredible insticts and will be a tackling machine in the NFL. The Eagles need to sure up their LB unit and getting the best MLB in the draft will help.

16.New York Jets
Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama (Scouting Report)
Upshaw is a perfect fit for the NYJ. Upshaw is a versatile player whose best fit is as a 3-4 OLB. He can set the edge in run support and is a powerful pass rusher. The Jets would love to get younger at WR and passing on Michael Floyd maybe tough, but Upshaw is just too good to pass up here.

CONTINUE TO PICKS 17-32

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