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This one is from Prisco:
The NFL's scouting combine is this week in Indianapolis, which means it's time to do a mock draft.
It's my first.
It won't come close to resembling the final one the night before the draft. That much I know.
This is really just to give you draft junkies a taste. We know free agency starts in mid-March and many of the decisions made there will impact what happens in the draft.
That's what makes pre-free agency mocks so hard.
But with an insatiable appetite for draft talk and the combine upon us, here's my first go.
Print it if you want. Just don't hold me to it.
Please.
1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford -- This is an easy choice. I know some will want to say Robert Griffin is in the mix, but this is Luck all the way.
2. St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil, T, USC -- They need a lot of help on their offensive line and this Kalil could allow them to move Rodger Saffold to the right side.
3. Minnesota Vikings: Riley Reiff, T, Iowa -- The offensive line really struggled last season. Reiff would help fix that.
4. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor -- This is based on the Browns not getting a quarterback in free agency.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU -- They have to get better in coverage. Claiborne is the class of this group.
6. Washington Redskins: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State -- They have to get a down-the-field threat. His 40 time will be huge.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quentin Coples, DE, North Carolina -- They have to improve their pass rush. Coples showed well at the Senior Bowl. They could also go corner.
8. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU -- They have big problems stopping the run last season. Brockers is a force inside.
9. Miami Dolphins: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina -- Whether they use a 3-4 or a 4-3, this kid can fit. He makes sense.
10. Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, OLB-DE, Alabama -- At some point, they have to find an outside rusher. Upshaw has the body to make the move to down end.
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Martin, T, Stanford -- They've had problems on the right side of their line, and Martin could step in there, even though he was a left tackle in college.
12. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama -- Marshawn Lynch is a free agent, and this explosive back would be a nice replacement.
13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G, Stanford -- The interior of their line was bad last season. DeCastro can fix that, even though this is high for a guard.
14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre' Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama -- Did you see them play coverage last season? Now you know why this makes sense.
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College -- Their middle linebacker spot was a disaster. Kuechly can fix that.
16. New York Jets: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor -- Speed. The Jets lack speed. Wright is the perfect answer to that problem.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama -- Nate Clements isn't a kid, and Leon Hall is coming off an injury. Jenkins is value here.
18. San Diego Chargers: Alameda Ta'mu, NT, Washington -- They need a wide body in the middle of their line. This kid is close to 340 pounds.
19. Chicago Bears: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson -- Israel Idonije is a free agent and Branch would be a nice complement to Julius Peppers.
20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry, DE, USC -- The Titans love fast edge rushers, and Perry is that type of player. Their pass rush was lacking in 2011.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami -- They need to a replacement for Cedric Benson and Miller would give them more speed.
22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame -- After taking Griffin, they need a young receiver to grow with him. Floyd isn't a burner, but he has good size.
23. Detroit Lions: Mike Adams, T, Ohio State -- He impressed during Senior Bowl week and has the size teams love. They need an upgrade at right tackle.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia -- He is a physical player who can also pass protect, which is now a must in Pittsburgh.
25. Denver Broncos: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M -- The Broncos need to get somebody who can push Tim Tebow. Tannehill can play a more conventional style of quarterback.
26. Houston Texans: Devon Still, DT, Penn State -- They could use help on the nose as age is creeping in there, so Still could make some sense.
27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois -- At some point they have to find somebody who can rush the passer from the outside who isn't getting up in years.
28. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson -- The Packers need help up front in their 3-4 scheme. Thompson is a good, powerful tackle who can play 3-4 end.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Pete Konz, C, Wisconsin -- Matt Birk might retire, so why not take a shot on a replacement?
30. San Francisco 49ers: Reuben Randle, WR, LSU -- They need to get some outside help for their passing game.
31. New England Patriots: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska -- They really had issues in their secondary. It's time for Bill Belichick to hit one of his secondary picks.
32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford -- They lost two tight ends to ACL injuries in the Super Bowl. This kid gets the nod over Dwayne Allen from Clemson.
The NFL's scouting combine is this week in Indianapolis, which means it's time to do a mock draft.
It's my first.
It won't come close to resembling the final one the night before the draft. That much I know.
This is really just to give you draft junkies a taste. We know free agency starts in mid-March and many of the decisions made there will impact what happens in the draft.
That's what makes pre-free agency mocks so hard.
But with an insatiable appetite for draft talk and the combine upon us, here's my first go.
Print it if you want. Just don't hold me to it.
Please.
1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford -- This is an easy choice. I know some will want to say Robert Griffin is in the mix, but this is Luck all the way.
2. St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil, T, USC -- They need a lot of help on their offensive line and this Kalil could allow them to move Rodger Saffold to the right side.
3. Minnesota Vikings: Riley Reiff, T, Iowa -- The offensive line really struggled last season. Reiff would help fix that.
4. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor -- This is based on the Browns not getting a quarterback in free agency.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU -- They have to get better in coverage. Claiborne is the class of this group.
6. Washington Redskins: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State -- They have to get a down-the-field threat. His 40 time will be huge.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quentin Coples, DE, North Carolina -- They have to improve their pass rush. Coples showed well at the Senior Bowl. They could also go corner.
8. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU -- They have big problems stopping the run last season. Brockers is a force inside.
9. Miami Dolphins: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina -- Whether they use a 3-4 or a 4-3, this kid can fit. He makes sense.
10. Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, OLB-DE, Alabama -- At some point, they have to find an outside rusher. Upshaw has the body to make the move to down end.
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Martin, T, Stanford -- They've had problems on the right side of their line, and Martin could step in there, even though he was a left tackle in college.
12. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama -- Marshawn Lynch is a free agent, and this explosive back would be a nice replacement.
13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G, Stanford -- The interior of their line was bad last season. DeCastro can fix that, even though this is high for a guard.
14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre' Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama -- Did you see them play coverage last season? Now you know why this makes sense.
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College -- Their middle linebacker spot was a disaster. Kuechly can fix that.
16. New York Jets: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor -- Speed. The Jets lack speed. Wright is the perfect answer to that problem.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama -- Nate Clements isn't a kid, and Leon Hall is coming off an injury. Jenkins is value here.
18. San Diego Chargers: Alameda Ta'mu, NT, Washington -- They need a wide body in the middle of their line. This kid is close to 340 pounds.
19. Chicago Bears: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson -- Israel Idonije is a free agent and Branch would be a nice complement to Julius Peppers.
20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry, DE, USC -- The Titans love fast edge rushers, and Perry is that type of player. Their pass rush was lacking in 2011.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami -- They need to a replacement for Cedric Benson and Miller would give them more speed.
22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame -- After taking Griffin, they need a young receiver to grow with him. Floyd isn't a burner, but he has good size.
23. Detroit Lions: Mike Adams, T, Ohio State -- He impressed during Senior Bowl week and has the size teams love. They need an upgrade at right tackle.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia -- He is a physical player who can also pass protect, which is now a must in Pittsburgh.
25. Denver Broncos: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M -- The Broncos need to get somebody who can push Tim Tebow. Tannehill can play a more conventional style of quarterback.
26. Houston Texans: Devon Still, DT, Penn State -- They could use help on the nose as age is creeping in there, so Still could make some sense.
27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois -- At some point they have to find somebody who can rush the passer from the outside who isn't getting up in years.
28. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson -- The Packers need help up front in their 3-4 scheme. Thompson is a good, powerful tackle who can play 3-4 end.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Pete Konz, C, Wisconsin -- Matt Birk might retire, so why not take a shot on a replacement?
30. San Francisco 49ers: Reuben Randle, WR, LSU -- They need to get some outside help for their passing game.
31. New England Patriots: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska -- They really had issues in their secondary. It's time for Bill Belichick to hit one of his secondary picks.
32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford -- They lost two tight ends to ACL injuries in the Super Bowl. This kid gets the nod over Dwayne Allen from Clemson.