In case you guys don't want to go to the home page i'll put it here too. But it looks way better on the home page.
1) IND 2-14 Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
This is pretty much a no brainer here. Luck is the consensus number one pick in this years draft and will probably spell the end of Peyton Manning in Indianapolis. A new coach usually means a new quarterback but Peyton Manning could at least get the franchise off on the right foot but The Colts can not afford to pay both Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning.
2) STL 2-14 Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
St. Louis could really go a number of ways here but with the talk of Brandon Llyod following Josh McDaniels to New England next year is going to leave a void at wide receiver. Blackmon is a stud wide out and will help Sam Bradford make his rebound from a pedestrian year although mired with injuries.
3) MIN 3-13 Matt Kalil, LT USC
Minnesota’s line last year was not terrible but could have been a hell of a lot better. Kalil is arguably the best tackle in this draft and can start from day one on the Viking’s offensive line. Christian Ponder will be elated to have Kalil protecting his blindside.
4) CLE 4-12 Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor
Colt McCoy has been serviceable as the quarterback for the Browns but he hasn’t been much more than just a average QB. Robert Griffin is appealing to a lot of GMs in the NFL after the year Cam Newton had. Cleveland is hoping Robert Griffin can bring the same magic he displayed at Baylor to the NFL.
5) TB 4-12 Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
If the Greg Schiano rumors are true I doubt it changes the plans of the front office in the draft. Josh Freeman did not have as good a year as he has had in the past but he can easily rebound. It would be nice to add a weapon to the offense but with the possible jail time Aqib Talib could be facing and Ronde Barber not getting any younger, Tampa needs to address the corner position and Morris Claiborne is the best defender in this draft and likely a thorn in the side of NFC South Quarterbacks.
6) WAS 5-11 Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
Originally i had Landry Jones slotted to go here but I forgot he was returning for his senior season. So As desperate as the Redskins are to find a new signal caller, I believe they pull an epic reach here by selecting Ryan Tannehill. Rex Grossman and John Beck could not get it done behind center this year and an upgrade is definitely needed.
7) JAC 5-11 Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
This is probably the first time Baylor has ever had 2 people taken in the first round, let alone in the top ten. Jacksonville GM Gene Smith is known for taking first round picks way before they should and I don’t think this will change this year either. Kendall Wright is a stud and can vertically stretch the field. Blaine Gabbert will finally have a downfield threat albeit taken way earlier than he should have been.
8 ) CAR 6-10 Michael Brockers, DT LSU
I’m buying into the Michael Brockers hype that has been running rampant for the past week. Carolina needs a presence up the middle of their defense and Brockers is an absolute freak athlete. Carolina was absolutely piss pour against the run last year and is in desperate need of help to stop that from happening in 2012. Brockers will be more than capable of filling that need.
9) MIA 6-10 Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
This pick really could go either way as we find out what new head coach Joe Philbin is going to do with the defense. But as of right now I’m going to put defensive end Quinton Coples here. If they make the change to the 4-3 he’ll be a stud defensive end but if they go to the 3-4 he is going to have to learn to stand up and rush the passer. Luckily Cameron Wake will be playing opposite of him and if he needs to learn how to play the position, Wake would be a hell of a mentor.
10) BUF 6-10 Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
Buffalo pretty much screwed themselves by giving Ryan Fitzpatrick that big contract so they can’t go QB here; not that there is a QB worthy of taking here. Buffalo has always struggled to get to the quarterback since they switched to the 3-4 so Upshaw should be able to remedy the lack of the pass rush. Upshaw may be a bit of a reach here but worth the pick because he will be long gone by round two.
11) KC 7-9 Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
Kansas City has a lot of needs but none of which are so pressing that they have to commit to a certain position. The offensive line has been only OK in the past year and could definitely use an upgrade at the right tackle position. Reiff has been flying up draft boards and could be a great fit in Kansas City.
12) SEA 7-9 Melvin Ingram, DE, Alabama
Seattle did a terrible job at rushing the passer this year. It's evident in the fact that they ended up towards the bottom of the league in sacks. This is about the right place for Ingram to land in the draft. No quarterback is worth drafting at this point so the front office and Pete Carroll will address the defensive line instead.
13) ARI 8-8 Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Arizona could go numerous ways with their first round pick but shoring up the offensive line is a top priority. The offensive line was in shambles last year and an upgrade is needed in a bad way. Jonathan Martin is a franchise tackle and someone who can really protect Kevin Kolb from the pass rush. Just another good player from Stanford this year.
14) DAL 8-8 David Decastro, OG, Stanford
Dallas still needs to address the offensive line even after spending a pick on Tyron Smith last year. Tyron played well but the interior offensive line is still filled with a lot of question marks. Decastro is one of the next great guards in the NFL and at number 14 he isn’t a reach either. Tony Romo and Demarco Murray will be pleased to have him anchored on the inside of the offensive line.
15) PHI 8-8 Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College
Philadelphia had the worst linebackers I’ve probably ever seen in my life last season. You can’t put the whole blame of the defensive failure on the linebackers but they were a big reason. Luke Kuechly is an immensely talented interior linebacker and would fit in as the heart of the defense.
16) NYJ 8-8 Trent Richardson, RB Alabama
If New York is going to continue to believe in the ground and pound offense they need to bring in Trent Richardson. LaDanian Tomlinson will not be retained this offseason and Shonn Green is good but not great. Richardson is the best runningback in the entire draft and will help take pressure off the passing game.
17) CIN 8-8 [From Oakland] Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Like you guys didn’t see this pick coming. Dre Kirkpatrick may like to smoke a little weed here and there but Cincinnati doesn’t care. The Bengals really missed Jonathan Joseph last year and after the Leon Hall injury, you could tell they lacked depth at the corner position. Kirkpatrick will be able to start right away across from Hall and continue to prove how good the Bengals defense is.
18) SD 8-8 Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia
San Diego in my opinion will go one of two ways. They either take an interior lineman or a safety. Mark Barron is the only option at Strong Safety but I think teams will realize how overrated he is. Cordy Glenn is not nearly as good as David DeCastro but will be a definite upgrade over what they have right now.
19) CHI 8-8 Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame
Angelo got the axe in the offseason so this is almost a no brainer here. I’ve heard talk they may think about an offensive tackle or guard but Jay Cutler has lacked a number one target ever since he arrived in Chicago. I can see Floyd’s stock rising as we inch closer to draft time and I believe Chicago would be ecstatic to see him fall to them at nineteen.
20) TEN 9-7 Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
A defensive end would probably be a better pick here but I honestly believe Jake Locker takes the reigns next year. If that is the case I’m sure Tennessee is going to give him all the weapons they can. Jeffery’s stock has fallen a bit in this draft but he is a big target for Locker to throw to and a nice redzone receiver. Britt can’t stay healthy and Nate Washington is very inconsistent.
21) CIN 9-7 Devon Still, DT, Penn State
Although I believe Still is better fit as a 3-4 DE this will be a depth/rotation move for Cincinnati. Pat Sims likely won’t be back next year and its pretty thin behind Domata Peko and Geno Atkins. A runningback would also be a good pick but unfortunately I don’t think Lamar Miller or David Wilson are good value picks here.
22) CLE 10-6 [From Atlanta] Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
Cleveland has quite a few needs on both sides of the ball but someone to play opposite of Joe Haden couldn't hurt. Defensive line is a big issue but because most of the elite pass rushing defensive ends are off the board the Brownies will have to look elsewhere. Dennard played great all year at Nebraska and his game should transition well into the NFL.
23) DET 10-6 Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
Hopefully some of the Detroit fans in this world share the same distain for Jeff Backus as I do. He has needed to be replaced ever since he started his first game as a Lion. Mike Adams is probably the last offensive tackle taken in the first round. Although this isn’t the world’s sexiest pick, it does make a lot of sense and will keep Matthew Stafford happy.
24) PIT 12-4 Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin
It’s always tough to draft for Pittsburgh. I never know what to pick for them because there are always many needs but they somehow make the best out of what they have. Zeitler is a good offensive guard for where the Steelers are drafting. He’ll be able to start right away and help protect the oft injured Ben Roethlisberger. By the way I spelled Big Ben’s name right the first time.
25) DEN 8-8 Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson
I’m sure the Bronco fans aren’t going to like this pick but oh well. If Denver is going to stick with Tim Tebow they need to give him all the weapons they can. Erik Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Willis McGahee are doing well at supporting him but Denver lacks a safety valve for Tim Tebow. Dwayne Allen is the best tight end in this draft and will be an excellent option for Tebow when he gets in trouble.
26) HOU 10-6 Dontari Pope, NT, Memphis
Houston probably made the greatest transition to a 3-4 in league history. Wade Phillips did a great job setting this franchise up for success. Enter Dontari Pope. Houston did not have a true nose tackle all year and Pope could fill that void magnificently. Pope is a pretty big guy and could take double teams with ease to allow the pass rush a better opportunity to get to the quarterback.
27) NE 13-3 [From New Orleans] Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois
This pick will probably end up being wrong because New Englad will either trade this pick away or take someone not on anyone’s radar. But for funs sake, Mercilus fits New England’s hybrid 3-4 4-3. He can play rush linebacker or pass rushing defensive end it doesn’t matter. This guy is a versatile weapon for a Patriots defense.
28) GB 15-1 Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
Some team is gonna bite on Barron in the first round and I think Green Bay is gonna be that team. The Packer’s defense was lackluster last season and ultimately their demise. Sure the offense was playing bad in the playoffs but the mediocrity of the defense could only get them so far this season. Barron is a reach in my opinion here but a definite upgrade over what they have now.
29) BAL 12-4 Donta’ Hightower, ILB, Alabama
Alabama puts yet another player on a team in the first round. It’s no surprise that Baltimore will be looking for life after Ray Lewis although he admitted he isn’t done. Baltimore would love to bring in a fresh rookie to learn from Ray Lewis on how to be an elite defensive playmaker. Hightower is a very talented backer and would benefit from playing behind Lewis.
30) SF 13-3 Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
It’s no surprise that Sanu will be coming to San Francisco come draft time. Michael Crabtree has not lived up to expectations at all and to get the 49ers over the hump this year they are going to have to give Alex Smith someone decent to throw to. Sanu is a very gifted athlete and I expect him to fly up the draft boards come April.
31) NYG 9-7 Vontaze Burfict, MLB, Arizona State
The Giants have played great defense down the stretch due to a great pass rush from Justin Tuck and JPP. Unfortunately they do still have a huge hole up the middle. They lack a true play maker at middle linebacker but luckily for them Vontaze Burfict is a good pick here. Burfict may be overrated by some but I think he fits their defense very well.
32) NE 13-3 Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
I know New England typically has high character players but look at the past two years with Ryan Mallet and Albert Haynesworth. Janoris Jenkins may have had trouble back at Florida but you can’t deny his talent. Jenkins will help continue to make one of the worst defenses last year into a huge headache for all teams in the NFL.
