National Football Post 1st round mock (with trades)

[Quesadilla Joe]

1. Indianapolis Colts: Stanford QB Andrew Luck
With news coming out this past weekend that the Colts possibly have already made up their mind on QB Peyton Manning, Luck is looking more and more like a slam dunk.


2. -TRADE- Washington Redskins via St. Louis Rams: Baylor QB Robert Griffin III
RG3 is the kind of athletic quarterback that would be an ideal fit in the Washington offense. He can make plays outside the pocket, throw on the run and create second lives with his legs.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Southern Cal OT Matt Kalil
Quarterback Christian Ponder has shown flashes in year one, but he needs to stay healthy. Therefore, bringing in the top offensive tackle prospect in the draft who has a chance to mature into a Pro Bowl-caliber lineman seems like an easy selection at three.

4. Cleveland Browns: Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon
Quarterback is the biggest missing piece in Cleveland. However, if they can’t land RG3, getting one of the best offensive weapons in the draft is a nice consolation prize.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LSU CB Morris Claiborne
Tampa Bay has done a great job over the past two drafts improving the overall talent along its defensive line. Therefore, adding a playmaking corner who can capitalize on all the potential pressure is a must for this defense to take that next step.

6. –TRADE- St. Louis Rams via Washington Redskins: LSU DT Michael Brockers
As bad as the Rams need to add talent on the outside at receiver, they are also in need of some talent inside at DT. Brockers has the talent to develop into an All-Pro caliber lineman for the Rams and they can always add a receiver with their additional picks from the Redskins later in the draft.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alabama CB Dre' Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick adds a physical element to the Jaguars secondary. He’s got the ability to press off the line, make plays in zone and consistently tackle the ball carrier. Plus, he has the size to handle some of the bigger wideouts in the AFC South.

8. Carolina Panthers: Penn State DT Devon Still
The Panthers need a big body inside who can anchor on contact, push the pocket and find the football. Still isn’t a dynamic pass rusher and there are some other linemen on the board with a little more talent. But he has the size to fend off blocks inside and in my mind is one of the safer defensive tackle prospects in this year’s draft.

9. Miami Dolphins: Iowa OT Riley Reiff
Who knows how the Dolphins offensive line is going to look after free agency. They have some potential holes looming and bringing in a talent like Reiff who can play both inside and out gives the Fins another talented blocker who eventually should win in both the run and pass game.

10. Buffalo Bills: Stanford OT Jonathan Martin
Martin is a finesse tackle with good feet, natural range and the ability to mirror in space. He has some holes in his game, but offers the Bills a better athlete than anyone playing their tackle spots now.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Stanford OG David DeCastro
The Chiefs need to improve at a number of spots up front on their offensive line and DeCastro is by far the best prospect still on the board.

12. Seattle Seahawks: North Carolina DL Quinton Coples
The Seahawks have a real unique blend of athletes on the defensive side of the ball and because of that it makes me think Coples would be able to fit right in and fill a number of roles at both DT and DE. Plus, Pete Carroll seems like the kind of coach that could get the most out of Coples’s talent.


13. Arizona Cardinals: Southern Cal DE/OLB Nick Perry
Finding a long term complement for OLB Sam Acho this offseason is becoming more and more of a need for the Cardinals. Perry is a little tight, but has a great first step, is learning to use his hands better and can cleanly turn speed into power off the edge.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Wisconsin OL Peter Konz
Center and guard are both needs in Dallas and the idea of adding a potential blue-chip lineman who has the skill set to play either spot is simply too good to pass up even at 14.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Boston College ILB Luke Kuechly
A tackling machine with good size, natural instincts and knowledge to fend off blocks and find the football. Is the kind of talent the Eagles need inside to improve their struggling linebacking corps.

16. New York Jets: Alabama OLB Courtney Upshaw
Upshaw is a thick, powerful kid who can line up all over the Jets 34 front and get after the passer. He’s got the power to win consistently on contact vs. both the run and pass game.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Alabama RB Trent Richardson
Running backs always seem to fall on draft day and the Bengals get a steal at 17. Richardson has the ability to be the workhorse back in Cincinnati for the next 5-7 years and gives the Bengals another talented young skill position player.


18. San Diego Chargers: Alabama ILB Dont’a Hightower
ILB Takeo Spikes will turn 36 next season and adding a physical body inside like Hightower will go a long way in improving their front seven. Hightower is a “plus” run defender who can be used as a blitzer inside or a pass rusher off the edge.

19. Chicago Bears: Ohio State OT Mike Adams
You have to think after the struggles the Bears have had at left tackle this season, drafting a guy like Adams who has the size and athleticism to handle premier NFL pass rushers is a must for them this off-season.

20. Tennessee Titans: South Carolina CB Stephon Gilmore
With starting CB Cortland Finnegan potentially leaving via free agency, getting a tall, physical defensive back who displays a natural feel in zone and can go get the football could become a pressing need in Tennessee.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: North Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins
Jenkins is a bit undersized and he does have some character concerns. However, he’s a fluid kid with a “plus” initial burst and when motivated he’s about as tough as any corner in the draft to separate from.

22. Cleveland Browns: Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill
The Browns missed on their quarterback in the top ten. However, they get a good athlete in Tannehill who can throw on the move, create with his legs and has as much upside as any prospect at the position outside of RG3.

23. Detroit Lions: Georgia OL Cordy Glenn
The Lions need to improve both their tackle and guard spots on the offensive line and Glenn has the talent to play either spot. He’s a gifted athlete for his size with natural movement skills and if he can ever put it all together he has the skill set to play at a high level in the NFL.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers Iowa State OG Kelechi Osemele
The Steelers have a ton of holes up front, but adding a talented body who can play some guard or right tackle like Osemele is a solid value at the end of round one.

25. Denver Broncos: Georgia TE Orson Charles
NFL teams are looking for mismatch tight ends who can play with their hand on the ground, split out into the slot and play in the backfield as well. The Broncos don’t have much in the terms of dynamic skill position guys and Charles can mature into a real safety blanket for QB Tim Tebow down the line.

26. Houston Texas: Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd
Floyd is a good value at this stage and would give the Texans a legit number two threat to take pressure off WR Andre Johnson in the pass game.

27. New England Patriots: Alabama SS Mark Barron
New England has had to piece together their secondary this year, but in terms of talent they could certainly use an upgrade at a number of spots. Barron is a smart, instinctive safety with good ball skills, can play in the box and be effective bumping/running with tight ends underneath.

28. Green Bay Packers: South Carolina OLB/DE Melvin Ingram
Finding another pass rusher off the edge is becoming more of pressing need for the Packers and Ingram has the ability to reach the QB in a number of ways off the edge.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict
If Burfict is going to end up going in round one, a team like the Ravens would be an ideal situation for him. He’s got a great role model to look up to in Ray Lewis and can be brought along slowly under him.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Baylor WR Kendall Wright
Wright might be the draft’s top vertical threat and has the ability to open up a lot of options for the 49ers offense down the field.

31. New York Giants: OLB Zach Brown: North Carolina (6-2, 230)
Brown’s a gifted run and hit athlete who adds some much needed range to the Giants linebacking core. He should be able to come in and make an impact on special teams early on as well.

32. New England Patriots: Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus
Age is creeping up on the Patriots at the defensive end position and Mercilus has the type of measurables to really move up draft boards with a solid post-season.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/...20.html&page=2

[Chris Meck]

this exactly.

I think there is no other player likely to be available to us at #11 that would have as much impact as Richardson, particularly considering that we have crap at QB.

I know, I know, Brady doesn't need a running game, and Eli didn't have one this year, and The Saints can't run the ball and look at what Brees did, yeah, yeah.

We don't have a QB that's even in the same ****ing sport as those guys. So we'd better find another way to move the chains. I don't know that you can count on Charles to be 100%-and you don't want him carrying 300+times anyway.

Just sayin'. I'd rather have a top notch QB, but it ain't happening.

[whoman69]

I don't buy the no value at RB. In this era where you can only win with a franchise QB, teams are going to have to take a different route if they don't have one. We beat the Packers because our offense kept them off the field and our defense disrupted their rhythm.

That said, I think Richardson would be a luxury pick when we have other needs. In this scenario I'd have us going with Hightower.

[O.city]

Hightower will be ther in the second IMO.

I wouldn't mind to have Richardson, but only if we resign Orton.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

It's novel because the game has changed. This isn't the 70s or 80s anymore. Teams don't win because they have John Riggins or Tony Dorsett or Franco Harris or Larry Csonka or Thurman Thomas. If you can have one of those, then GREAT, but you don't need one to win the SB. Not at all.



It's easier to get a better anything in the early rounds, historically. Janikowski etc. But that doesn't mean the pick is "worth" it in the larger sense.




No, no it isn't. You're better off building up your passing attack and pass rush attack, in general. Welcome to the new millenium.

So says the team with a HOFer at QB.

Having one of those is pretty damn nice - but we don't. And no amount of draft picks spent on WRs or tackles is going to change that.

However, getting a powerful RB that can force teams to slide their safeties up into the box might help. Further, having a guy like Richardson that's an excellent pass-blocker will help us keep from having to chip with a TE on passing downs as often so it frees up Moeaki to operate over the middle. Better still, Richardson's a very nice pass-catcher in his own right, so LBs or safeties will have to either account for him, or be burned by him.

Richardson will do more to help this offense due to his versatility than any other player we could draft at that spot, other than a premium quarterback. His contributions to the offense would go far beyond merely running the football. They would extend to the secondary through the threat he presents, to the blocking schemes due to his blocking ability, all the way to having a direct impact on the passing game itself because of his ability to catch balls out of the backfield.

Congratulations - you have a HOF quarterback. Beyond that, Patriots fans don't have the ****ing patent on football knowledge. If you didn't have Tom Brady, you'd still be the same pack of self-loathing shitheads you Massholes have always been. You'd shut right the **** up when it comes time to talk football because no amount of scrappy white WRs, Gronknandez's or RBs by committee would've won you a damn thing.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

So says the team with a HOFer at QB.

Having one of those is pretty damn nice - but we don't. And no amount of draft picks spent on WRs or tackles is going to change that.

However, getting a powerful RB that can force teams to slide their safeties up into the box might help. Further, having a guy like Richardson that's an excellent pass-blocker will help us keep from having to chip with a TE on passing downs as often so it frees up Moeaki to operate over the middle. Better still, Richardson's a very nice pass-catcher in his own right, so LBs or safeties will have to either account for him, or be burned by him.

Richardson will do more to help this offense due to his versatility than any other player we could draft at that spot, other than a premium quarterback. His contributions to the offense would go far beyond merely running the football. They would extend to the secondary through the threat he presents, to the blocking schemes due to his blocking ability, all the way to having a direct impact on the passing game itself because of his ability to catch balls out of the backfield.

Congratulations - you have a HOF quarterback. Beyond that, Patriots fans don't have the ****ing patent on football knowledge. If you didn't have Tom Brady, you'd still be the same pack of self-loathing shitheads you Massholes have always been. You'd shut right the **** up when it comes time to talk football because no amount of scrappy white WRs, Gronknandez's or RBs by committee would've won you a damn thing.

That's true, so why are we knocking ourselves out trying to be the best team in the NFL without a QB?

I'd rather have the best QB in football and the worst supporting cast than the other way around...and we're getting close to being the other way around.

[O.city]

Thank you DJ. I had been pondering how I was gonna fire back at Amnorix about that.



I wouldn't mind grabbing Richardson there if we kept Orton.

[O.city]

If we can pick up Richardson this draft and add some other nice pieces, then grab say Barkley next draft, I'd be extremely happy.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

That's true, so why are we knocking ourselves out trying to be the best team in the NFL without a QB?

I'd rather have the best QB in football and the worst supporting cast than the other way around...and we're getting close to being the other way around.

Preaching to the choir.

But this draft is a QB graveyard, it truly is. There are going to be guys going in the first round this year that would be 3rd or even 4th rounders a lot of years. Next year there are likely to be 5+ guys that are going to be better options than all but the top 2 in this year's draft. Beyond the obvious in Barkley (asshole), there's Jones and Manuel, not to mention underclassmen like Wilson and Bray that could come out, maybe even Murray. And there's always an off-the-radar guy that emerges and rises like a rocket.

All of those guys are likely to be better prospects than anyone we would consider that high, except for maybe Tannehill.

And I'm also pro-Tannehill, I wouldn't be at all upset if we took a HR swing on him. He could be our guy.

But then again, 'our guy' could possibly be even better next season and at a less significant opportunity cost (i.e. not giving up a potentially elite multi-purpose back like Richardson to get him).

But apart from using that pick on a QB, I really see no other great option for us to use it on.

[O.city]

If Orton were to sign here, I think I'd be 100 % on Richardson.

Richardson, Charles, McCluster, Baldwin, Moeaki, Bowe, Breaston, Joe Adams, Egnew

We could put a really really good lineup on the field offensively.

If we coudl swing Richardson in the first and Mike Adams fell to us in the second that would be a perfect situation.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by O.city

If Orton were to sign here, I think I'd be 100 % on Richardson.

Richardson, Charles, McCluster, Baldwin, Moeaki, Bowe, Breaston, Joe Adams, Egnew

We could put a really really good lineup on the field offensively.

If we coudl swing Richardson in the first and Mike Adams fell to us in the second that would be a perfect situation.

Mike Adams might not make it out of the top 15. If he's there in the second, I'll eat my hat.

And Orton sucks dog nuts. He's a shorter, less athletic Cassel. I mean, seriously. This is the guy who Denver cut for nothing in return. Not Brady Quinn, who is horrible. Not Tim Tebow, who can't break the 50% completion mark, but Kyle Orton. How ****ing bad do you have to be to have a team drop you and keep Brady Quinn instead? The guy defines "tomato can."

And don't take this the wrong way O. I like you. Just not when you hypothesize Kyle Orton being on this team.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Top rusher the last 12 years. Generally their teams are one-and-done in the playoffs. Last great rusher really spearheading SB winners was Terrell Davis in Denver in the late 90s and, to a lesser degree, Corey Dillon for the 2004 Patriots (think he had 1500 yards that first year).



1999 Edgerrin James Indianapolis Colts 1553 16 Rookie season
2000 Edgerrin James (2) Indianapolis Colts 1709 16
2001 Priest Holmes Kansas City Chiefs 1555 16
2002 Ricky Williams Miami Dolphins 1853 16
2003 Jamal Lewis Baltimore Ravens 2066 16 Highest rushing total of the 2000s.
2004 Curtis Martin New York Jets 1697 16 Only rushing champion to win after 30th birthday (31)
2005 Shaun Alexander Seattle Seahawks 1880 16
2006 LaDainian Tomlinson San Diego Chargers 1815 16 Also set record for rush TDs (28)
2007 LaDainian Tomlinson (2) San Diego Chargers 1474 16 Last player to repeat rushing titles
2008 Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings 1760 16 NFC's last rushing champion
2009 Chris Johnson Tennessee Titans 2006 16 Also set NFL record for yards from scrimmage (2,509)
2010 Arian Foster Houston Texans 1616 16 Texans' first rushing champion
2011 Maurice Jones-Drew Jacksonville Jaguars 1606 16 Jaguars' first rushing champion

That's interesting, because the top passer in any year has never won the SB that year.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Dont look at this as we are building around Cassel

I know that I don't.

This is about the team. We have a lot of needs but we are close to being good.
We need a QB badly! But there is not a realistic option available to us right now. So we need to build the team and be patient. We don't want to be like the Colts either. Hopefully next season with what looks like a much deeper QB class next year there might be one in range or the team will be in a position to be able to afford to give up more to move up.

I know everyone is tired of waiting. I know it has been a bazillion years.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

I know that I don't.

This is about the team. We have a lot of needs but we are close to being good.
We need a QB badly! But there is not a realistic option available to us right now. So we need to build the team and be patient. We don't want to be like the Colts either. Hopefully next season with what looks like a much deeper QB class next year there might be one in range or the team will be in a position to be able to afford to give up more to move up.

I know everyone is tired of waiting. I know it has been a bazillion years.

we should...they're moving from one #1 draft pick QB to another...

we're moving from Cassel to Cassel/Orton

[Chris Meck]

Here's why I'd rather NOT take Tannehill at 11:

There is absolutely NO way that he could play in 2012. None, zip, zero. It's unlikely that he could go in 2013, but that would be the absolute soonest.

IF our QB situation is as bad as it looks, we will have a shot at one of the five or more quality first round options next year, which could, at the earliest, be ready to play in 2013.

So, do you take the guy that can't play until at least 2013 or just wait until 2013 to do that and take a guy that can help you now?

I think you take the guy that can help you now and take a less inexperienced guy next year.

[whoman69]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Top rusher the last 12 years. Generally their teams are one-and-done in the playoffs. Last great rusher really spearheading SB winners was Terrell Davis in Denver in the late 90s and, to a lesser degree, Corey Dillon for the 2004 Patriots (think he had 1500 yards that first year).



1999 Edgerrin James Indianapolis Colts 1553 16 Rookie season
2000 Edgerrin James (2) Indianapolis Colts 1709 16
2001 Priest Holmes Kansas City Chiefs 1555 16
2002 Ricky Williams Miami Dolphins 1853 16
2003 Jamal Lewis Baltimore Ravens 2066 16 Highest rushing total of the 2000s.
2004 Curtis Martin New York Jets 1697 16 Only rushing champion to win after 30th birthday (31)
2005 Shaun Alexander Seattle Seahawks 1880 16
2006 LaDainian Tomlinson San Diego Chargers 1815 16 Also set record for rush TDs (28)
2007 LaDainian Tomlinson (2) San Diego Chargers 1474 16 Last player to repeat rushing titles
2008 Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings 1760 16 NFC's last rushing champion
2009 Chris Johnson Tennessee Titans 2006 16 Also set NFL record for yards from scrimmage (2,509)
2010 Arian Foster Houston Texans 1616 16 Texans' first rushing champion
2011 Maurice Jones-Drew Jacksonville Jaguars 1606 16 Jaguars' first rushing champion

Teams are going to have to figure out another way to do things. If you don't have a franchise QB these days, you have to figure out how to slow the game down, keep those offenses off the field and throw off their timing. I think more teams are going to take the route of the Ravens and 49ers if they don't have that QB. It may take more than one running back with all the pounding they take.