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

[Rain Man]

Is this draft really that heavy on OL and CBs?

[Chris Meck]

this is pretty poor positional value. I don't know that I've even seen a G taken at #11 overall before and I doubt they were better than, say, Will Shields in round 3.

Plus, we've got Asamoah and Hudson, two recent highish picks at G. We need a C and a RT badly-but that's not what he's got us taking here. Fail, I say.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

this is pretty poor positional value. I don't know that I've even seen a G taken at #11 overall before and I doubt they were better than, say, Will Shields in round 3.

Plus, we've got Asamoah and Hudson, two recent highish picks at G. We need a C and a RT badly-but that's not what he's got us taking here. Fail, I say.

What if on a scale of 100 -1 with 100 being the best, DeCastro rates as a 92 guard, while Konz and Adams rate as an 86 at C and RT respectively. Do you take the lower graded player because one is a C and the other RT?

[DJ's left nut]

I don't necessarily like taking a G there, but by all accounts DeCastro is a stud guard prospect.

Look at it this way - would we have been okay taking Ty Warren at 11? I hated Jackson at 3 because A) he was doomed to mediocrity and B) his position value is ass in this defense. But if we had moved back to 11 and get a guy who's ceiling is not merely mediocre, I'd have been a lot less annoyed by it.

It's not the pick I'd make, but if you can get an elite player at #11, even if he's just a guard, you're doing alright.

I'd rather have Richardson or Tannehill (or see Reif or Martin slip another slot), but DeCastro wouldn't set me off like that stupid Still pick would.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

What if on a scale of 100 -1 with 100 being the best, DeCastro rates as a 92 guard, while Konz and Adams rate as an 86 at C and RT respectively. Do you take the lower graded player because one is a C and the other RT?

No, I think I'd take the 99 running back in round one and take an 80 something RT in the second. Especially since our super playmaker RB is coming off ACL surgery.

[The Bad Guy]

If you're going to cite poor positional value, then how can you justify taking a RB in the first round?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

If you're going to cite poor positional value, then how can you justify taking a RB in the first round?

Because the idea that a RB is a poor positional value pick is a fairly novel one.

Just because the last few years has shown a dearth of quality high-round RBs doesn't mean that it's not historically easier to get them from there. If you have a chance to get the best RB in the draft, and arguably the best to come out in several years, at 11 - that's not a poor value at all.

RB is still an incredibly valuable position to fill and fill well.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

No, I think I'd take the 99 running back in round one and take an 80 something RT in the second. Especially since our super playmaker RB is coming off ACL surgery.

You're overvaluing RB to begin with, IMHO.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Because the idea that a RB is a poor positional value pick is a fairly novel one.

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.

Just because the last few years has shown a dearth of quality high-round RBs doesn't mean that it's not historically easier to get them from there. If you have a chance to get the best RB in the draft, and arguably the best to come out in several years, at 11 - that's not a poor value 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.

RB is still an incredibly valuable position to fill and fill well.

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.

[Amnorix]

This article was from 2004, BEFORE the rules change that swung things even more heavily in favor of passing attacks.

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com...overrated.html

[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

[Saul Good]

Where is Dontari Poe?

[O.city]

He is waiting for us to get him in the 2nd round.

[BossChief]

Heres how I see it.

Dont look at this as we are building around Cassel...that scews the whole thing. Look at it like we are building around somebody else (Stanzi, Tannehill..maybe Barkley or somebody else next year) because Cassel is gonna fail regardless.

What better situation could a rookie quarterback go into than ours if we take Richardson, if the draft were to fall that way?

Charles was a guy they had to somewhat limit the carries of prior to the ACL, now you would like to think that they will bring him along slowly. Richardson is not only a perfect compliment to Charles style and durability/injury recovery, he is the perfect insurance policy.

There are a ton of things a Trent Richardson does for a football team like ours.

He moves the sticks and lets your defense not only rest, but time to show stills and make adjustments during the flow of the game instead of having to just go bak out there and play right away because we went 3 and out.

He gives you a versatile and effective weapon in short yardage. That's something we haven't really had since Tony Richardson left. He has the power to go right up the a gaps and push the pile...the speed and shiftiness to hit the pylon on a toss...the ability to catch the ball and take it in...he really is a threat that would leave defenses wondering how to cover our wideouts and stop the run.

Lets face it.

These guys are gonna give Cassel one more chance and he is out.

Trent Richardson would open up the passing game for the next man up.