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1. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - ANDREW LUCK (QB), STANFORD
As expected, the Indianapolis Colts utilized their #1 overall pick to secure a long-term option at quarterback following the untimely retirement of Peyton Manning. Luck was the clear-cut option to be the top pick, and with good reason. In his final collegiate season, Luck posted a 171.6 quarterback rating, completing an NCAA-best 68% of his passes for 31 touchdowns and just six interceptions on his way to leading the 10th ranked passing offense in the nation. The Cardinal finished the regular season with a 12-0 (9-0) record, earning the Pac-10 conference championship and a berth in the BCS national championship game against #2 Michigan State, where they fell just short 28-26. Luck was named a 2nd team All-American, and finished 2nd and 7th for the O'Brien and Maxwell trophies, respectively. With limited options at the position, Luck is expected to be thrown into the fire in his rookie season.
84 OVERALL - A POTENTIAL
Speed - 82
Agility - 79
Awareness - 77
Throw Power - 88
Short Accuracy - 88
Middle Accuracy - 80
Deep Accuracy - 76
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2. ST. LOUIS RAMS - JEREL WORTHY (DT), MICHIGAN STATE
The Rams had the nation's top-ranked defense in 2011, but a lack of offensive players with first round draft grades in positions of need essentially forced the team's hand. Worthy was considered by most to be one of the best players available in the draft, and in the end was a player that the team simply could not pass up. As a junior, Worthy recorded 46 tackles and three sacks as the leader of college football's 5th ranked defense, was named to the All Big Ten team, and helped his team win their first national title in the BCS era by holding the high-scoring Stanford offense to 26 points. Worthy's dominating size and power will make running the ball against St. Louis a tough task in 2012.
85 OVERALL - A POTENTIAL
Speed - 67
Agility - 66
Awareness - 84
Strength - 89
Tackle - 91
Power Moves - 85
Finesse Moves - 66Comment
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3. CINCINNATI BENGALS - JULIAN MILLER (DE), WEST VIRGINIA
In a draft heavy with highly-projected defensive ends, West Virginia's Julian Miller was seen as the cream of the crop. In his final collegiate season, Miller finished with 61 tackles, a team-high 7.5 sacks, and forced two turnovers. As a team, the Mountaineers ranked 4th in the NCAA with 39 sacks on the year, and while his primary skill set lends him to putting the quarterback on the ground, Miller will also surely help bolster the Bengals' 31st ranked rushing defense.
88 OVERALL - A POTENTIAL
Speed - 78
Agility - 77
Awareness - 74
Strength - 75
Tackle - 82
Power Moves - 74
Finesse Moves - 88Comment
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4. CHICAGO BEARS - MICHAEL EGNEW (TE), MISSOURI
Missouri's Michael Egnew was just one of two prolific pass catchers with a 1st round projected grade in this year's draft, and the Bears wasted no time in securing a long-term option at tight end that will not only bolster the team's 23rd ranked passing offense that has struggled to find a go-to target for Jay Cutler, but should also serve to strengthen the blocking for offensive workhorse Matt Forte with a few years of tutelage. Egnew finished 2011 with 40 catches for 547 yards and five touchdowns, and his imposing 6'6", 245 lb. frame should help create mismatches at the next level. Experts have questioned just how quickly Egnew will be able to adapt to the fast-paced NFL and make an impact, but should he prove to be a fast learner, the Bears could field a more balanced offensive attack in 2012.
72 OVERALL - A POTENTIAL
Speed - 83
Agility - 84
Awareness - 65
Route Running - 70
Catching - 71
Catch in Traffic - 70
Run Block Strength - 60
Run Block Footwork - 63Comment
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5. DENVER BRONCOS - JERRY FRANKLIN (MLB), ARKANSAS
As a senior, Jerry Franklin recorded a team-high 85 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, and a touchdown. Now he joins fellow 1st round picks Von Miller (OLB), D.J. Williams (OLB), Robert Ayers (DE), Brodrick Bunkley (DT), and Ty Warren (DT), as well as sack maven Elvis Dumervil (DE) to form perhaps the most imposing front seven in all of football. So long as this group of players can come together as a unit, Denver's 20th ranked rushing defense and 12th ranked total defense should soar to the top of the NFL in dominating fashion, providing the mistake-prone Tim Tebow with a solid support structure.
79 OVERALL - A POTENTIAL
Speed - 84
Agility - 79
Awareness - 78
Tackle - 90
Block Shedding - 82
Hit Power - 81
Play Recognition - 79Comment
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Fantastic updates man.
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6. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - BRANDON WEEDEN (QB), OKLAHOMA STATE
Tarvaris Jackson turned out to be a solid option at quarterback for the Seahawks, completing 54% of his passes for 1,744 yards, 11 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. But injuries forced him to the bench for nearly half the year, and veteran Donovan McNabb didn't fare nearly as well. The Seahawks finished the season ranked 25th in passing, averaging just 176 yards per game. With the 6th overall pick in the draft, Seattle seized the opportunity to grab the 2nd highest projected quarterback in the draft. As a senior, Weeden finished with a quarterback rating of 147.7, completing 55% of his passes for 2,745 yards, 34 touchdowns (2nd most in the NCAA), and just five interceptions to lead the nation's 14th ranked passing offense. There are concerns about how fast he can transition to the speed of the NFL, so Weeden may not be a day one start, but his uncanny arm strength should translate into a great NFL career with a few years of tutelage.
66 OVERALL - A POTENTIAL
Speed - 69
Agility - 67
Awareness - 60
Throw Power - 87
Short Accuracy - 70
Middle Accuracy - 67
Deep Accuracy - 65Comment
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7. ARIZONA CARDINALS - D.J. FLUKER (T), ALABAMA
Arizona allowed 32 sacks last season, ranking square in the middle of the league. Feeling solid in their offensive skill positions for 2012, the Cardinals pulled the trigger on the draft's #1 offensive tackle to bolster their pass protection and run blocking. Fluker had a team-high 42 pancake blocks, and allowed just four sacks while the runningback combination of Eddie Lacy and Trent Richardson rushed for 2,300 yards and 29 touchdowns behind Alabama's front five, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Fluker will likely take the starting spot at left tackle in 2012 after the team released Levi Brown in the offseason.
69 OVERALL - A POTENTIAL
Speed - 65
Agility - 63
Strength - 87
Awareness - 64
Pass Block Strength - 80
Pass Block Footwork - 62
Run Block Strength - 85
Run Block Footwork - 65Comment
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8. MIAMI DOLPHINS - DOMINIQUE DAVIS (QB), EAST CAROLINA
The dynamic duo of Daniel Thomas and Reggie Bush gave Miami the 3rd ranked rushing offense last season, but Matt Moore was decidedly less impressive at quarterback, leading the nation's 30th ranked passing attack. As such, drafting the talented Dominique Davis at number eight was a no-brainer. The Pirates struggled to a 4-8 (1-8) record in their first year with the ACC, but Davis was clearly the best player on the offense, completing 47% of his passes for 2,532 yards, 21 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Davis will compete with incumbent Matt Moore for the starting spot in preseason, but all signs point to the rookie taking the reigns in 2012.
80 OVERALL - A POTENTIAL
Speed - 69
Agility - 66
Awareness - 72
Throw Power - 91
Short Accuracy - 84
Middle Accuracy - 81
Deep Accuracy - 75Comment
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9. SAN DIEGO - VINCE BROWNE (DE), NORTHWESTERN
In 2011, San Diego featured a mediocre pass rush and an abysmal rush defense, a product that was a combination of an aging defense, and untimely injuries to star players. But the team has made strides to improve their play in the trenches, landing star free agent John Abraham, and now adding Northwestern's Vince Browne to the other side. As a senior, Browne recorded 47 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble, while the team as a whole did a decent job at stopping the run, ranking in the top half of the league. Browne will join the recently-acquired Abraham and Igor Olshansky to form the team's defensive line in 2012.
84 OVERALL - A POTENTIAL
Speed - 81
Agility - 75
Awareness - 78
Strength - 78
Tackle - 82
Power Moves - 82
Finesse Moves - 69Comment
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10. NEW YORK GIANTS - JONATHAN MARTIN (T), STANFORD
Stanford's prolific passer opened up the 2012 draft, and his blind side protector rounds out the top ten. Last season, the Giants were one of the best at protecting their quarterback, but their ground game was average at best. Martin provides an injection of youth on an aging offensive line, and should also improve the running lanes for the runningback duo of Bradshaw and Jacobs. Jonathan Martin finished his junior season with 30 pancacke blocks, and allowed just two sacks. As a unit, the offensive line allowed just 25 sacks in 13 games, leading the Pac-10 in quarterback protection. Martin will likely take over for William Beatty as starting left tackle next season, while Beatty is expected to move over to right tackle and compete with James Brewer for the starting spot.
77 OVERALL - A POTENTIAL
Speed - 61
Agility - 66
Strength - 91
Awareness - 78
Pass Block Strength - 85
Pass Block Footwork - 79
Run Block Strength - 84
Run Block Footwork - 76Comment
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I really like what Baltimore did in FA. Seymour, Langford and D'Qwell Jackson...Baltimore is gonna be a tough unit to go up against in 2012.Maddon & Friedman: Pissing off the AL East since 2008
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FIRST ROUND
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11. NEW YORK JETS - TYRONE CRAWFORD (DE), BOISE STATE | 83 OVR, A POT
The Jets were mediocre at best when it came to stopping the run and rushing the passer in 2011. Crawford should help strengthen both of those areas.
12. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - JUSTIN BLACKMON (WR), OKLAHOMA STATE | 62 OVR, A POT
DeSean Jackson finished last season with a pedestrian 638 yards and eight touchdowns, and was promptly released in the offseason. Taking his place will be Justin Blackmon, the only wide receiver with a first round draft grade, who finished his junior season with over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns as well as over 1,000 yards in the return game. Alongside Jeremy Maclin, the team's leading receiver in 2011, perhaps Philly can revitalize an average passing attack.
13. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - ALFONZO DENNARD (CB), NEBRASKA | 80 OVR, A POT
Just like Blackmon, Alfonzo Dennard was the only player at his position with a first round draft grade. In his senior season, the hard-hitting Dennard recorded 52 tackles and nine interceptions (2nd in the NCAA) on his way to winning the Bednarik award. Paired up with Aqib Talib, the Bucs now feature a pair of dominant cornerbacks which should take the team's average pass defense and turnover ratio, and push it towards the top of the league.
14. CAROLINA PANTHERS - DAVID DECASTRO (G), STANFORD | 77 OVR, A POT
The Panthers were decidedly average in every offensive aspect last season. They also allowed 40 sacks over sixteen games, and the team's offensive guards were responsible for allowing nearly half of those, ranking them 30th in the nation. DeCastro, the third player taken from Stanford, should help to remedy that situation next season.
15. BUFFALO BILLS - JAKE BEQUETTE (DE), ARKANSAS | 81 OVR, A POT
When you play Tom Brady twice every year, you better have a good defense. The addition of Jake Bequette, the fourth defensive end taken in the draft, should do wonders for the team's 21st ranked rush defense. Bequette's presence may also open up more blitzing opportunities for the linebackers, and allow extra players to be thrown into coverage.
16. MINNESOTA VIKINGS - BRADLEY SOWELL (T), OLE MISS | 77 OVR, A POT
Christian Ponder, Troy Smith, and Sage Rosenfels all felt the nasty bite of the injury bug at one point or another during the regular season, and one surefire cure to QB injury woes is to decrease the amount of hits he has to take. Enter Bradley Sowell, who will likely step into a starting spot immediately.
17. TENNESSEE TITANS - NIGEL BRADHAM (OLB), FLORIDA STATE | 80 OVR, A POT
Rushing the passer, stopping the run, defending the pass...Tennessee was average in nearly every major defensive category. The addition of Bradham, who missed most of last season with a broken collarbone, will do nothing but improve a mediocre linebacker corps.
18. BALTIMORE RAVENS - TANK CARDER (OLB), TCU | 77 OVR, A POT
Baltimore's once dominant defense is starting to show it's age. Tank Carder provides a much-needed dose of youth, and should boost a mediocre pass rush. Carder is the fourth person to join Baltimore's revamped front seven this offseason.
19. CLEVELAND BROWNS - KEENAN ROBINSON (OLB), TEXAS | 76 OVR, B POT
Journeyman Chris Gocong and and Scott Fujita have performed well enough at outside linebacker for the Browns, but Robinson will give the team a permanent fixture at the position for years to come if he can fully recover from a torn achilles tendon that sidelined him for most of 2011.
20. CLEVELAND BROWNS - MARCEL JONES (T), NEBRASKA | 77 OVR, A POT
Cleveland spent their second straight first round pick on Nebraska's Marcel Jones, who should immediately improve an offensive line that allowed 34 sacks last season, and do nothing but strengthen the Browns' top-ranked rushing attack. He'll play right tackle, opposite of Joe Thomas.Comment
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