[fudelholf]

2012 mock draft, take three

Posted by Evan Silva on April 23, 2012, 1:00 PM EDT
AP 1. Colts: Andrew Luck, quarterback, Stanford.
Owner Jim Irsay has had his “heart set” on Luck for months.
2. Redskins: Robert Griffin III, quarterback, Baylor.
Washington gets its first franchise QB since Joey Sunshine.
3. Vikings: Matt Kalil, tackle, USC.
The posturing Vikes do what most people expect them to do.
4. Browns: Trent Richardson, running back, Alabama.
Cleveland drafts a means to move the chains on offense.
5. Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, cornerback, LSU.
The Bucs won’t miss on the first pick of the Greg Schiano era.
6. Rams: Fletcher Cox, defensive tackle, Mississippi State.
St. Louis opts for a dynamite pass rusher over receivers.
7. Jaguars: Justin Blackmon, receiver, Oklahoma State.
He gives the Jags a physical bookend for Laurent Robinson.
8. Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, quarterback, Texas A&M.
Owner Stephen Ross finally gets the quarterback he covets.
9. Panthers: Stephon Gilmore, cornerback, South Carolina.
Carolina drafts a local kid to complement Chris Gamble.
10. Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, cornerback, Alabama.
Three corners go in the top-ten picks in this mock draft.
11. Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, linebacker, Boston College.
New Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel loves Kuechly.
12. Seahawks: Dont’a Hightower, linebacker, Alabama.
Hightower is a thumping inside ‘backer with versatility.
13. Cardinals: Riley Reiff, tackle, Iowa.
The Cards will take the best offensive lineman available.
14. Cowboys: Mark Barron, safety, Alabama.
The Cowboys struggle to keep secrets; they love Barron.
15. Eagles: Chandler Jones, defensive end, Syracuse.
The long-armed Jones would be Philly’s left end of the future.
16. Jets: Melvin Ingram, defensive end, South Carolina.
Ingram becomes Rex Ryan’s new Adalius Thomas.
17. Bengals: Michael Floyd, receiver, Notre Dame.
This receiver-rich draft causes Floyd to slip down a bit.
18. Chargers: David DeCastro, guard, Stanford.
G.M. A.J. Smith can’t pass on the draft’s best guard.
19. Bears: Whitney Mercilus, defensive end, Illinois.
Rod Marinelli loves Mercilus’ relentless playing style.
20. Titans: Michael Brockers, defensive tackle, LSU.
Brockers gives Tennessee a true run plugger up the gut.
21. Bengals: Quinton Coples, defensive end, North Carolina.
If Coples falls — and he well may — Cincy will catch him.
22. Browns: Kendall Wright, receiver, Baylor.
Cleveland gets a field stretcher after solidifying its backfield.
23. Lions: Cordy Glenn, tackle, Georgia.
Detroit needs to get younger and more athletic up front.
24. Steelers: Dontari Poe, defensive tackle, Memphis.
Poe can be brought along slowly behind Casey Hampton.
25. Broncos: Doug Martin, running back, Boise State.
Tailback is quietly Denver’s primary offensive weakness.
26. Texans: Nick Perry, defensive end, USC.
Houston jumps at the chance to add an explosive edge rusher.
27. Patriots: Shea McClellin, linebacker, Boise State.
Bill Belichick will love McClellin’s versatility at a need spot.
28. Packers: Courtney Upshaw, linebacker, Alabama.
Clay Matthews uses speed; Upshaw rushes with power.
29. Ravens: Amini Silatolu, guard, Midwestern State.
Silatolu is a mauling run blocker in the Mike Iupati mold.
30. 49ers: Stephen Hill, receiver, Georgia Tech.
The Niners showed a ton of interest in this vertical wideout.
31. Patriots: Devon Still, defensive tackle, Penn State.
McClellin brings outside pressure; Still brings it up the middle.
32. Giants: Rueben Randle, receiver, LSU.
G.M. Jerry Reese drafts the best player available at 32.