ChiefsPlanet - 12-1-11 Walter Football Mock (Chiefs take a QB!)

http://walterfootball.com/draft2012.php

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
If the Colts land the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft - and that's certainly looking like the case now that everyone else has at least two victories - the question isn't whom they'd select; it's what they would do with Andrew Luck.

2. St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Some mocks will have Justin Blackmon slotted here. I think Matt Kalil is a no-brainer pick though. St. Louis' front office has way too much invested in Sam Bradford to have him suffer David Carr syndrome. The offensive line is a mess, as right tackle Jason Smith stinks and left tackle Rodger Saffold is too overmatched to be stationed on the blind side.

Getting better protection for Bradford is paramount, especially now in the wake of the Brandon Lloyd trade. And besides, Kalil is a (slightly) better prospect than Blackmon.

Pick change; previously Justin Blackmon, WR

3. Minnesota Vikings: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
The Vikings have to use this selection to give Christian Ponder some help - whether that's spending it on a left tackle to upgrade Charlie Johnson, or a wide receiver to give him a downfield threat. In the wake of Carolina's victory over the Colts, Minnesota now has Justin Blackmon available.

Blackmon, the top player available, wouldn't just be a No. 1 receiver for Ponder; he'd make defenses respect the pass more, which would open things up for Adrian Peterson.

If the Vikings win another game and can't draft Blackmon, they'll definitely consider Morris Claiborne, given how atrocious their secondary is.

Pick change; previously Alshon Jeffery, WR

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
Blaine Gabbert has been terrible this year and has shown no signs of improvement. However, general manager Gene Smith was extended recently, so he'll have to stick with Gabbert.

The top non-quarterback available excluding Trent Richardson is Quinton Coples, who happens to fill a huge need for Jacksonville.

The Jaguars have ignored their pass rush long enough. They can't keep relying on Jeremy Mincey and Matt Roth to get to the quarterback if they want to knock off Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub next year.

5. Carolina Panthers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
The Panthers have major issues stopping both the run and the pass, so if Matt Kalil and Justin Blackmon are off the board, they should take the best defensive player available.

The top defender on the board is Morris Claiborne, who would instantly upgrade Carolina's poor group of corners. The Panthers are dead last against the pass (8.3 YPA) for a reason.

Pick change; previously Matt Kalil, OT

6. Miami Dolphins: Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor
Matt Barkley and Robert Griffin are 2 and 2a behind Andrew Luck. Well, I think Griffin is a player that owner Stephen Ross will covet over Barkley. All Ross wants to do is bring people to his stadium and hang out with celebrities, so a flashy player like Griffin might just be what he's looking for.

I guess this selection depends on how the Dolphins finish. If Matt Moore continues to play well and the Dolphins win enough games to save Tony Sparano's job, Miami could draft Morris Claiborne, Michael Floyd or Riley Reiff. If not, a new regime will want its own quarterback.

7. Washington Redskins: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
Rex Grossman has inexplicably improved over the past two weeks, but the Redskins would be fools to give him another shot next year. He's a nice backup, but he's not anywhere near close to being a franchise quarterback.

As mentioned, Matt Barkley and Robert Griffin are 2 and 2a right now behind Andrew Luck. It'll depend on which team is drafting in terms of determining who goes before whom. Mike Shanahan is more traditional, so I think he's prefer the USC product. Not that it matters given the projected picks in this current mock.

8. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
I've been writing for a couple of weeks that this is a tough spot for the Cardinals because none of the top players available fit their needs. Well, that's not the case anymore because Arizona is drafting late enough that one of the offensive tackles is no longer a reach. And Riley Reiff has improved his stock well enough that he's the No. 2 consensus player on the board behind Trent Richardson.

Reiff, who has passed Jonathan Martin, would address a colossal need, as tackles Levi Brown and Brandon Keith are struggling again. The Cardinals need to protect their $65 million investment in Kolb.

9. Philadelphia Eagles: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
I wrote last week that no one in Philly believes DeSean Jackson will be back next year; once you speak out against Andy Reid, you're done as an Eagle. And this was before Jackson was benched after dropping three passes against New England.

Reid and the front office seem to believe Jackson is too injury-prone to receive the amount he's asking for, and they're right - he's barely done anything since suffering a concussion against the Texans last year. If Jackson leaves, the Eagles will need a new receiver, and Alshon Jeffery is the top prospect on the board, save for Trent Richardson.

Pick change; previously Morris Claiborne, CB

10. Kansas City Chiefs: Landry "Lance" Jones, QB, Oklahoma
It was rumored that Todd Haley could be fired following a slow start at the beginning of the season. The scuttlebutt died down once the Chiefs won a few consecutive games, but if they finish with four or five victories, Haley's as good as gone.

If Haley leaves, I think Matt Cassel is going with him. Cassel is owed $5.25 million in 2012, so Scott Pioli could easily get rid of him in the spring. If so, he'll definitely be interested in one of the four franchise quarterbacks available in the 2012 NFL Draft.

11. Seattle Seahawks: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Marcus Trufant will be released this offseason because he's coming off a back injury and is due $7.2 million in 2012. Rookie Dick Sherman has played well in relief, but Seattle needs another starting cornerback, as Walter Thurmond and Brandon Browner would be better utilized as backups.

Besides, Dre Kirkpatrick is the top talent available, save for Trent Richardson. He's just slightly ahead of Michael Floyd, who would also make sense in this spot.

Richardson would definitely make sense if Marshawn Lynch leaves via free agency, but reports indicate that Seattle is negotiating a deal with him.

12. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
It's becoming pretty apparent that Peyton Hillis will not be back with the Browns next year. Montario Hardesty, meanwhile, cannot stay healthy. Cleveland needs a new running back so it doesn't have to start anyone named Chris Ogbonnaya in 2012.

Why not Trent Richardson? He's easily the best player available, and his pass-catching ability makes him a great fit in Cleveland's West Coast offense. Colt McCoy needs play-makers, and Richardson certainly qualifies as one.

13. San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
How many years has everyone been yelling at A.J. Smith for not drafting an offensive tackle? Well, it's finally coming back to haunt the San Diego general manager, as Philip Rivers' pass blocking has been atrocious this year.

I know some of it has to do with injuries, but Jeromey Clary is still a sieve at right tackle. Smith signed Clary to what is essentially a 1-year deal this past offseason, so maybe, just maybe, he'll finally upgrade his offensive front.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
All indications are that the Buccaneers will go with a cornerback in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Aqib Talib could be going to jail, while Ronde Barber will be heading for retirement soon. The corner position is a dire need for Tampa.

The Buccaneers love Alfonzo Dennard, so much so that they'd take him over Dre Kirkpatrick, in my estimation. We've seen them take a player they're enamored with over a "better" consensus player this past April when they chose Adrian Clayborn over Cameron Jordan.

14. Buffalo Bills: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
The Bills just paid Ryan Fitzpatrick a ton of money, so they need to find some help for him. Coincidentally, Michael Floyd happens to be the best player available.

Buffalo could definitely stand to upgrade the receiver position across from the butterfingered Steve Johnson - especially after David Nelson committed the unforgivable sin of giving a football to a Cowboy cheerleader.

15. Tennessee Titans: David DeCastro, G, Stanford
Head coach Mike Munchak has publicly criticized the offensive line, blaming the unit for not opening up enough running lanes for Chris Johnson. Munchak could look to upgrade the front early in the 2012 NFL Draft.

David DeCastro is one of the top interior linemen prospects to come along in years, and he's the highest-ranked prospect on the board who makes sense for Tennessee. This is a perfect match.

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