Apr 28, 2011; New York, NY, USA; NFL draft logo prior to the start of the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Hi gang,

This is my 2012 NFL Mock draft v. 2.0. Some things have changed since my first one with the Free Agency signings and teams have until April 20 to sign their RFAs. Names continue to rise and fall but here’s my current snapshot into the first round:

1) Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Everyone thinks this kid is a sure-fire franchise QB, but he has shown some chinks in the armor – for him – in his sabremetrics against tough opponents as opposed to the season before last with his BDR (Bad Decision Rate) jumping. According to those, he actually regressed from his sophomore to his junior (final) college seasons. Robert Griffin III has a chance to wind up being the better professional player. That said, Luck has elite accuracy, pocket presence, and for-position athleticism. He has good instincts and a deceptively strong arm. Cam Newton and Andy Dalton raised the bar very high for incoming rookies, and people seem to think Luck after Manning will be plug-and-play. I say not so fast; the team cleaned house for one thing. Either way, Luck does appear to be the consensus pick here and I’ve seen nothing yet to change it. Obviously, he’s a day-one starter.

2) Washington Redskins (from St. Louis): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
In this text-messaging world, when fans hear “RG3,” they know exactly who you mean. This kid came into the Combine a riser already and blew everyone away with his 4.41 speed and athleticism, but it was his Football IQ that most executives raved about. You could see his athletic ability on tape, but raw football IQ isn’t as simple as that. The kid is just plain smart. My own concern is that Mike Shanahan has never developed a franchise QB. He inherited a mature and experienced John Elway. He didn’t really get Jake Plummer to play better. Brian Griese. Rex Grossman. John Beck. *yawn* However, Shannie’s finally got something special to work with. Another Day One starter, as it should be this high up.

3) Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC
The younger brother of the Panthers’ Ryan Kalil is the top Tackle in the draft and is the smart pick to protect 2nd-year pro Christian Ponder’s blind side. He already has WR Percy Harvin, so at least that’s something. Besides, it’s hard to throw with your face planted in prescription athletic turf. Kalil is often noted as “prototypical” – a fancy term for “the best.”

4) Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Richardson’s pro day solidified his standing of the head and shoulders to RB in this year’s class. He has a very good combination of speed (4.45), size (227 lbs), and strength (25 reps) and his game tape shows a relentless guy who can overpower larger guys and run by some smaller ones. His toolbox as a runner is vast, and he showed an intensity in blocking drills that literally knocked over the Browns’ RB coach. Richardson is the most complete back to enter the NFL perhaps since Adrian Peterson. There’s some pressure to take Ryan Tannehill here, but you cannot “whiff” a top pick this high, and Richardson’s presence will help out the offense on the ground. He’s a top-5 talent and a very safe pick despite recent tendencies of RBs to slide. He’s a better back than his ex-teammate, Mark Ingram, and has the potential to be one of those increasingly rare feature-type backs that can do everything and do it well. Richardson has evoked some comparisons with Pocket Hercules (MJD) in league circles already.

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Widely regarded as the top defender in this year’s draft, the already-overhauled squad gets a corner they can count on. Claiborne’s skills are more polished than fellow LSU CB Patrick Peterson’s were at the same point last year. The Bucs are taking the Best Available and a player who can also make wild man Aqib Talib expendable if necessary. Claiborne is a franchise NFL corner with rare fluidity in transition and can play all the coverages (ex. off, press, press-bail) well as he was often in man coverage in college. He’s a tad weaker in zone on his angles but should improve with coaching and is by far the best total-package CB in the draft. Claiborne was second on the Bucs’ list – next to Trent Richardson.

6) St. Louis Rams (from Washington): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.
Blackmon had begun to slide a little bit due to his pedestrian Combine and still some character concerns, but ran in the high-4.4 range at his Pro Day and likely cemented his status here with the Rams. Unless the Dolphins want this pick really badly, the Rams take the wideout for Bradford. This pick makes sense on a lot of levels as Blackmon has the strength to get off the line if pressed and has long arms to reach out for the ball. He plays a little bigger and a little faster than he really is, and that’s what you want. They take the safe (and popular) choice, having picked up CB Cortland Finnegan and lost WR Brandon Lloyd to the Pats in Free Agency.

7) Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
The Browns pull their own Atlanta trade this year, shipping their 22nd overall, their 2nd-rounder, and next year’s first-rounder so they can pick up Richardson to give the offense immediate help while taking Tannehill here in front of Miami to sit behind McCoy until he’s ready to take the reins. They’ll still need help at WR, and multiple ones at that, but now they think they’ve got their QB situation finally settled with only the time-frame in question. However, Tannehill simply should not go this high when all is said and done. A 13-7 record as a starter at Texas A&M, poor play against top competition, and losing his last 5 college starts all wind up stacking the deck against him. Throw in a broken foot that hampered his development and he’s a project at the NFL level. He had a near-flawless Pro Day, but the teams know those are scripted. Still, he impressed by making his throws and QBs are overdrafted (Gabbert, Ponder last season) more than any other position. The Browns know they’ll be bottom-feeders in the division without stronger QB play down the road and feel the need to take care of things here.

8 ) Miami Dolphins: Reilly Reiff, OT, Iowa
The ‘Fins actually have split feelings on Tannehill being snatched up right before them. On the one hand, they know the kid better than anyone (via Mike Sherman) and need a franchise QB, but on the other hand, Cleveland just made the choice for them. With the QB gone and franchise LT Jake Long entering a contract year in addition to having an actual need at RT, Reiff is a safe and logical choice. He can easily slide over to play the left side if needed since Jake has some history of injuries and will give them leverage in contract talks in the offseason. Reiff serves as both a good fit at a position of need and a money-saving, cap-friendly franchise LT if necessary after his rookie season. Don’t forget, Matt Moore was 6-3 in his starts last season and played better as the season progressed, Miami owner Stephen Ross wants to “win today, not tomorrow,” and either way they still need receivers with the Brandon Marshall trade. Tannehill needs to “cook” a while and likely will sit for half a season at least no matter who drafts him, so this actually will work out better for Miami in 2012. It’s actually a perfect situation for both Reiff and Miami under the circumstances, as Reiff played RT at Iowa and wouldn’t be asked to slide to the left as a rookie with Long’s presence. They’ll have to look at a Brandon Weeden or other 2nd-tier QB in round 2 if they want to add to Moore and Garrard.

9) Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
Most agree that DT is the position the Panthers will fill here but with a very deep class the question is which one? Memphis’ Dontari Poe is massive at 350 pounds and demonstrated unique athletic ability at the Combine but underproduced at a lesser college where his game tape didn’t match up to his athleticism. Brockers is the exact opposite, having average measurables but nearly flawless game tape while playing top competition week in and week out. He’s also only 20 yrs old, has very long arms, and was as stout a defender against the run in college as any of them. That’s what Ron Rivera needs most out of the position, so Brockers is the logical choice and should shine at the 3-technique once he gets his sea legs. He probably won’t live up to his full potential until his second or third season, but should immediately help the Panthers’ defense slow down the run enough to make a difference. Brockers possesses elite instincts as he’s rarely fooled on counters, reverses, or screens, which should help him play faster than his measurables. Les Miles says he’s beginning to show some moves rushing the passer, only adding to his value. He’s a safer pick than Poe and better against the run than Cox although each guy brings something special to the table. The game-tape gap wins this argument. Rivera’s run defense becomes relevant starting right here.

10) Buffalo Bills: Luke Keuchley, LB, Boston College
The Bills organization is FINALLY showing signs of sanity with their dealings and added the biggest FA from the defensive side of the ball this offseason in Mario Williams. Marcel Dareus was drafted for line help against the run, and the Bills add another piece to a front seven that is much improved over the unit from last year. Keuchley led the BC Eagles in tackles the past 3 seasons, showed up heavier and more athletic than he was thought to be at the NFL combine, and has given nobody ANY reason to make him slide down their boards. This pick is too high for the remaining LT prospects and the Bills have gotten smart the past 2 years with their moves. I think the shrewd choices continue with Keuchley. Buffalo should go deep into the season in the wild-card hunt in 2012 as Keuchley had Patrick Willis-type ability.

11) Kansas City Chiefs: Pontari Poe, DT, Memphis
The Chiefs settle for the 350 pound Haloti Ngata clone…if that’s considered “settling.” Stanford’s DeCastro is tempting here but the Chiefs take this huge young man at 11 overall. Poe’s game tape could cause some concerns though, and he could go anywhere from 9th to the late first round because of it. Every draft seems to have “That One Guy…” However, his strong athletic showing at the Combine has helped his stock. If he’s coachable, he’s got great potential and can play any position in the 3-4 at Arrowhead and that helps too.

12) Seattle Seahawks: Quentin Coples, DE, UNC
Coples is considered the best pass rushing prospect on the board this year, but questions about his motor have kicked him just out of the top ten. Seattle has a deceptively good squad overall but needs a lot of help rushing the passer. Coples has good size, burst and is very strong but doesn’t have elite agility and lateral movement to go with it so he could slide a bit further if not for the fact that nearly everyone outside Denver and New York Blue needs a pass rusher.

13) Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G, Stanford
Going from the Cardinal to Cardinals, DeCastro is the best interior OL in the draft. Arizona had major issues at several spots on the line last season and was heavily involved in Free Agency to help strengthen it. DeCastro can do it all – zone-blocking, power, or moving/pulling and holds up just as well in pass protection. Whisenhunt wants to be a power running team, and DeCastro opened holes for Stanford’s run-first offense in college. DeCastro is a special kid that I wouldn’t be surprised to see becoming an All-Pro someday.

14) Dallas Cowboys: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina
Okay, we know about the short T-rex arms. We know that! That is what we know. Okay. That aside, he’s strong, quick, and has a good initial burst that can augment DeMarcus Ware’s pass-rushing from the other side or play DE in nickel sets. Projects as a 3-4 OLB, having played as both an OLB and DE in college. Since pass coverage is usually what takes the longest for college players making the DE/OLB transition to make, the former Gamecock has some experience doing just that. Since he’s such a good edge rusher, however, he just won’t be asked to cover that often.

15) Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT, MSU
Cox isn’t the run-plug the Eagles wanted as they coveted Michael Brockers too. With Poe gone, Andy Reid turns to the gap-penetrator style player. The Mississippi State standout won’t hold up to constantly being run at but he’ll be a guy that can be a disruptive force inside collapsing the pocket and getting in the face of the likes of divisional foes Eli, Tony, and RG3. Cox is actually a good fit as a 3-tech or a 5-tech and has the frame to add 15-20 pounds. It’ll be interesting to see how Reid deploys him in their “wide-nine” defense as he ran a sub-4.8 40 at 300 lbs at the combine. Keep a close eye on their situation at LT up until the day of the draft with the injury to Jason Peters forcing them to take a long look at Cordy Glenn or Jonathan Martin here.

16) New York Jets: Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois
With multiple gaping needs, this pick fits right in with Rex Ryan’s pressure defense. Mercilus led the NCAA with 16 sacks, initially fits the 3-4 better than does Upshaw, and besides he’s got the coolest name of any defender in the draft: “Merciless.” The Jets could use Barron at Safety but Rex wants his new toy to rush the passer.

17) Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, T/G, Georgia
Glenn is physically similar to Dontari Poe of the defensive line in this year’s class. At 350 pounds with nimble feet, he can play anywhere but Center as the most versatile lineman in the draft. The consensus is he could be a Pro-Bowl guard, which is likely where the Bengals will use him. His versatility and SEC pedigree means he shouldn’t slide far and the Bengals badly need a guard. Great fit here.

18) San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
What’s to say here? Martin protected Luck’s blind side at Stanford and the “choker” label is starting to stick on Philip Rivers. With the Charger need at LT, he’s a great fit. His glaring lack of speed (5.43-40) and other measurables at the combine means this is about as high as he’ll go, but you cannot coach the intangibles. He opted for Stanford instead of becoming the first 4th-generation black student at Harvard so his pedigree is impeccable and should also be a great locker room presence and should be an over-achiever if anything at the next level.

19) Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
The Bears’ OL woes are well-known so they’ll likely address it later in this year’s draft. Adams or Sanders would be too much of a reach here and even with the Brandon Marshall deal, DAAA Bearssss have very little else at wideout. Floyd isn’t quite the deep threat some think him to be and had 3 alcohol-related arrests at Notre Dame, keeping him out of the top-15. He’s a good positional and value fit here, so they nab him while looking to round 2 for an OT, CB, or DE to play opposite Julius Peppers. DAAA Bearssss need help in the air game on both sides and Floyd would give them a pair of big WRs they lacked last season. If they can get line help later, Cutler should complete more passes to guys on both sides of the ball.

20) Tennessee Titans: ‘Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Good size (6’2″) and quickness for that size, he’ll be the second CB off the board. He’s a borderline steal at 20 with the CB-needy Lions coming up soon, and the team lost their top corner, Cortland Finnegan, to Free Agency and the Rams. Kirkpatrick fits well here.

21) Cincinnati Bengals: Stephen Hill, WR, GT
The Bengals want to add help for Andy Dalton and AJ Green and once more look to the state of Georgia to find it. Hill played in a triple-option offense and only had 49 catches in his career, but his 27 yds/rec make scouts’ eyes bug out. Physically, the best comparison in the NFL is Megatron since Hill is a 6’5″ 4.36-40 guy. While he lacks the agility of Green due to his size, the one good thing about his triple-option days is that he’s an accomplished run-blocker coming in. He probably won’t set the world on fire initially but will begin to assert himself as the season wears on and won’t be drawing coverage because of Green’s presence. This is an example of a guy needing to go to the right team because of his unique physicality and college system. Dalton will love this guy almost as much as he’ll love being protected by Green’s ex-teammate Cordy Glenn.

22) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Cleveland): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
Upshaw’s a high-motor guy with good pass-rushing skills that he showcased in college, but his “‘tweener” size (6-2, 272) gives teams a pause. Right now, he’s better as a weakside DE in a 4-3 who may need to see significant reps before he plays against the run, and will ideally be a 3rd-down and nickle DE his rookie season as he learns the position. Upshaw has the physical tools to do the job and will battle his way through the learning curve in northern Florida.

23) Detroit Lions: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
CB is Detroit’s most glaring need, and at this point Gilmore is an upgrade over what they have (very little) at the position. A bit of a reach for a need here perhaps, Gilmore does have the speed (4.40) and ball skills to become a solid NFL corner and was a very vocal leader in college. He’s a good tackler who excels in zone coverage and fits nicely with the Lions’ scheme. The rub on him is his transition in his backpedal is average and lacks elite straight-line speed to recover when beaten. He has elite football IQ and if he can spend some time in a zone-coverage scheme, Detroit’s killer DL will force some bad throws that he’ll be waiting for. If he winds up in the Jets’ scheme, he might never see the field as he’d be a liability if repeatedly matched up in man coverage. Jahvid Best has battled concussions in his 2 years and Mikel Leshoure appears to be doing his best impression of Onterrio Smith with two marijuana arrests in the past 6 weeks, but the Lions won’t address issues at RB here.

24) Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama
Hightower is not the Bubba Smith guy from the Police Academy films, but has the talent to make a name for himself at the NFL level like the actor did. He has the size and athletic ability to play any spot, but likely will be Larry Foote’s replacement on the inside. If any of the linemen already taken in this mock are available here, it’ll be an interesting dilemma for the Steelers’ front office. As the board sits now, however, Hightower’s the guy.

25) Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, PSU
Kendall Wright is tempting here, but the Broncos’ acquisition of Peyton Manning means their young group of WRs just got that much better and John Fox is a Defensive-minded coach. With Dumervil returning from injury last year and Von Miller’s D-ROY campaign, Fox has the 2 pass rushers in place required to help pressure enemy QBs trying to keep pace with Manning’s scoring. I’ve always thought Fox was one of the better coaches in the NFL, and he’ll want to make sure opposing offenses don’t just grind it out to keep Manning off the field. This pick helps the entire team as much as any pick would, and the top 3 DTs should all be long gone by 25. Still, (ha, a pun!) Devon will help the Broncos toughen up against the run which should, in turn, let the Bronco defense be more aggressive and open up the playbook so Dumervil and Miller can pin their ears back more often. He has a nice combo of size and strength who should start to come on in the 2nd half of the season as he works on his technique and conditioning, but an NFL training camp will help with the latter. He also has a pedigree, being a cousin of both Art Still and Levon Kirkland.

26) Houston Texans: Nick Perry, OLB, USC
With Super Mario gone to upstate New York, the NFL’s #1 defense a year ago reloads here. The Texans decide on Perry over Clemson’s Andre Branch. Both are going to need some time to adjust but Perry’s the better athlete by a whisker. Perry may take some time to get up to speed and develop his game in the NFL, but has all the physical tools to do so.

27) New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
Jenkins has 4 children with 3 different women and his college coach, Terry Bowden, didn’t even know about any of it until about 6 weeks ago. The Patriots’ organization will provide him with structure and all the other tools to succeed in the NFL, but the rest is up to him. The fact he’s a 4-times Dad at such a young age may actually help him realize “hey, this is my big chance,” and if he’s going to succeed New England will provide him as good a chance as he’ll see anywhere. It’s up to him to seize it and if he does he could be the steal of the draft here. Otherwise, his physical tools approach those of top-5 talent Morris Claiborne and Jenkins is the highest risk/reward choice in the entire draft.

28) Green Bay Packers: Kendall Reyes, DE, UConn
At 6-4 and 300, he has the size to play end in the Packers’ 3-4 scheme. He has the strength to set the edge against the run and showed more pass-rushing ability at the Senior bowl than he was thought to possess. While he isn’t the plug-and-play edge rusher the Packers would love, he has great lower-body strength to be effective against the run from the start while he develops his skills as a pass rusher. The potential is there but he won’t get a lot of sacks until the end of his rookie season or his second year.

29) Baltimore Ravens: Mark Barron, S, Alabama
With Hightower off the board and future HOF’er Ed Reed’s career winding down, the Ravens look to Barron as the heir-apparent. Barron is a bona-fide playmaking safety who should learn quickly from Reed and become the secondary’s signal caller without that much of a need to transition. Barron would start for most teams and if he lives up to his potential he’ll actually be a steal here. The Ravens will look to nab a LB or WR with their subsequent pick but cannot lose with this young man – assuming he lasts this long.

30) San Francisco 49′ers: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
The Niners could go with a guard here, but Wright is too explosive a player for them to pass up. They added Randy Moss and Mario Manningham in Free Agency but with the lack of production from the WR spot, especially in the NFC Championship game, was a glaring weakness. Moss is too old to be much more than a stopgap and Manningham has had an up and down career. Michael Crabtree was many things coming out of college, but never was considered a home-run threat and still struggles to produce at times. Braylon Edwards is a career underachiever and Wright is probably the most elusive WR in the draft with his acceleration, balance, and change of direction skills. He reminds me of a young Wes Welker and his 5-10 190 frame will see action both in the slot and as a split end. Wright shows great skills for the position and naturally catches the ball away from his body. If he’s still around at 30, he won’t get by Harbaugh.

31) New England Patriots: Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson
Branch came into his own in upstate South Carolina in 2011 with 10.5 sacks and will initially be used in nickel/3rd down situations while he learns how to better defend against the run, but shows elite explosiveness off the ball and should make some plays early as a situational speed-rusher. The Patriots well know that opposing teams will be playing catch-up, so Branch is a very good pick here to get a lot of snaps and upgrade their anemic pass rush.

32) New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
This is an unusually deep draft for Tackles on both sides of the ball and the Giants’ O-line play left much to be desired. Adams gives them an athletic, versatile blocker who can be a solid starter from day one. He plays with a good knee bend to get his 6-7 frame under defenders’ pad level and has a nasty streak in his run-blocking. He’s still a bit rough around the edges and clearly has some growing up to do with multiple off-field incidents in his time as a Buckeye; otherwise he would likely go higher. The Giants will not take a RB in round one to replace Brandon Jacobs and could opt for yet another 1st-round DT prospect in Jerel Worthy here. One way or the other, the BPA on Big Blue’s board should be a lineman.

Jan 1, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn (10) throws a pass during the game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Lions 45-41. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

DENVER AND TENNESSEE: Well the Peyton Manning saga continues today in Durham as he’s working out for the Denver Broncos. The hometown Titans is the other team in the Manning sweepstakes and yesterday they re-signed Pro Bowl Guard Steve Hutchinson and signed Peyton’s old Center, Jeff Saturday. Clearly, Titan owner Bud Adams is doing all he can to sign the HOF QB. With Denver sending the team jet to North Carolina to work Manning out, however, and it appears that the Titans are not a lock to land him. Since Manning is from Tennessee, the Titans would be the natural fit, but I think Peyton developed a good relationship with John Elway during his visit to Colorado. After all, who understands a situation like Manning’s than another HOF QB? The Titans are glad they at least have Jake Locker and hope he has learned the ways of the NFL after a disappointing rookie season. He has work to do. Denver picks at 25, and with a deep DT class, they’re probably eyeing a Michael Brockers and hoping he falls to them there. The Titans probably have one of the best OLs in the NFL by signing Saturday and Hutch (too bad Saturday’s last name isn’t Starsky) and should be looking for WRs and CBs as they lost Cortland Finnegan in FA to the Rams. ‘Dre Kirkpatrick is an option in round one as there’s a good possibility he will be available when the Titans are on the clock at 20. If Manning does sign, they could take a look at a Kendall Wrignt or roll the dice on a Stephen Hill to give the oft-injured Kenny Britt some help.

SEATTLE AND MIAMI: Manning isn’t the only Free Agent that can send ripples through the draft process, either. QB Matt Flynn is visitng with the Seattle Seahawks and is thought to be going to Miami next. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has swung and missed on things lately more often than batters facing Nolan Ryan back in the day and they appear to be an organization heading the wrong direction. Trading away Brandon Marshall can’t make Flynn happy as Davone Bess is now their top WR. V-Jax signed elsewhere and Miami’s cupboard is bare at the position other than Bess, but they received 2 3rd round picks for Marshall so they’ll be draft-nimble. The big name FA WRs have signed – V-Jax in Tampa Bay and Marques Colston re-signed with the Saints, so look for Miami to improve their WR corps with at least 2 selections in the draft and take a hard look at Undrafted Free Agents post-draft. However, they still need help at RT, a pass-rushing DE, and a competent FS. At #8, they’ll likely pick Best Available because it should be RT Reilly Reiff. Reiff is basically a Matt Kalil clone with better run-blocking skills and has near-flawless game tape. He’s big, strong, nimble, durable and can play either tackle spot. What more do you want from a guy, seriously? Miami HC Joe Philbin may want to rebuild from the inside out, so shoring up the OL is likely their top priority as they do have one good pass rusher in Cameron Wake already. If the brass can convince Flynn they’re going to go OL at 8 to protect him first, and along with Pro-Bowl LT Jake Long, Flynn will likely sign in Miami. If not, look for the ‘Fins to take Ryan Tannehill at that 8 spot and sit a year behind Matt Moore. If they do sign Flynn, Tannehill likely goes to Seattle at 12 and I’ve said from the start that Miami is Flynn’s most natural spot since Philbin was his OC last season in Green Bay. Signing Flynn would mean the ‘Fins have a system QB running the system that he’s shown great aptitude for. Then again, look at the receivers in Green Bay, then look at Miami’s. Brian Hartline, Davone Bess, and Clyde Gates? Thank goodness for Reggie Bush; if he stays healthy again in 2012, he’ll likely be the team MVP. The strange thing is the ‘Fins also have intimate knowledge of Ryan Tannehill since new Dolphins OC Mike Sherman was Texas A and M’s Head Coach last year, so the Dolphins are armed with what no other NFL franchise can possibly have. It will be interesting to see which direction they press. If somehow the Seahawks grab Flynn in Free Agency, Mark Ingram won’t get by them at 12. If he’s gone, Luke Kuechley would help seal the middle of that defense, or perhaps WR Michael Floyd will make a nice toy for Flynn as they already have a solid OL. If the Dolphins like a particular WR other than Floyd, they have the draft-pick firepower this year to trade back into the latter half of the first round where Hill should be available, and he has Brandon Marshall-type size, sub-4.4 speed that Marshall lacked, and as far as we know, just one personality. The big knock on him is he played in an option offense at Georgia Tech. The upside is comparisons to Megatron. If this kid can learn and has a good work ethic, he could wind up being the steal of the entire draft. He’s that talented.

JACKSONVILLE must realize Blaine Gabbert isn’t the answer as they signed former Dolphin QB Chad Henne to shore up play there. Henne’s a decent QB, but his years in Miami proved he’s a bit timid as far as taking many chances downfield. He’s also somewhat erratic not game to game, but play to play. One pass you see and go “wow, nice throw” and the next you scratch your head wondering what he was thinking. His nickname in Miami was “Captain Checkdown,” so that should say something right there. He was rumored to be liked by the Jets, as their OC is Former Dolphins HC Tony Sparano, but Mark Sanchez’ hissy over the Manning talk probably forced their hand and they didn’t pursue Henne. Jacksonville still needs WRs in a desperate way and the same goes for 4-3 DEs. Since the Jags have a history of drafting busts there, they should love Quinton Coples at #7 overall. He probably is about as close as you can get to a lock at this point, and for the record I’m coming around on Coples and his “taking plays off” label. His rep isn’t nearly as bad as a Vernon Gholston’s was, and frankly DEs get tired chasing the QB every play over and over again. Hopefully the new regime in Jacksonville can make sure Coples’ head is on straight and keep him motivated. If they pass on him, they’ll take a WR. It will be very interesting if Justin Blackmon somehow falls here, but he shouldn’t get by the Rams at 6.

SAN DIEGO signed WRs Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal in an attempt to replace Vincent Jackson’s production with two lesser players. Both have their strengths, but neither one is a guy who can help take over a game or make that big play regularly. Royal is a possession guy and has a 1,000 yard season on his resume. The upside is the Chargers should be able to turn attention to their defense and OL in the draft. Hard to say exactly which direction they’ll be going, but a Tackle wouldn’t surprise me – it’s a deep draft for OTs that can play LT, so guys like Stanford’s Johnathan Martin, OSU’s Mike Adams, and FSU’s Zebrie Sanders are all possibilities here and the Chargers need some youth injected into the tackle position. Otherwise, they’ll address the front seven. At 18, Courtney Upshaw or Big Board-riser Lavonte David out of Nebraska would make sense.

BUFFALO: The biggest defensive Free Agent signing this year was the Bills landing Super Mario and making him the highest-paid defender in history. He’s shown great versatility in his career in going from a 4-3 DE and successfully becoming a 3-4 OLB – at 300 pounds! OUCH!!! The point is, he can play either spot and do damage. Give the Bills some credit; they’ve been hitting that porous defense with some talented young players (the failed Aaron Maybin experiment, Marcell Dareus, and now Super Mario) and their offense has, in the last couple of years, been able to move the ball and put some points up. They’re now not-so quietly headed in the right direction and still have the 10th choice in the draft. Could they put a Melvin Ingram opposite Super Mario, following the Denver model last year with Von Miller/Elvis Dumervil? It sure seemed to work out there, but I wonder if they’d not be better served to take an ILB like Luke Kuechley. He’s only 20 years old and one of those sideline-to-sideline tackling machines in the Patrick Willis mold. Luke also showed up bigger and more athletic at the combine than many expected, so he kept his draft stock as high as it could be for the position – a borderline top-10 pick. He’d shore up Buffalo’s run defense in the middle and Super Mario will be putting some heat on opposing QBs – neither of which the Bills D was good at last season. Without the injury bug hitting again, they could be setting up for a playoff run, if only a wild card in the AFC Pats division. If they want to follow the “win your division first” model, Ingram will be the likely choice (if available) because of the presence of the New England Patriots.

Jan 2, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Stanford Cardinal quarterback (12) Andrew Luck against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Oklahoma State defeated Stanford 41-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

He went in the second round due to concerns over his knee.

Unless Andrew Luck pulls a Kellen Winslow, Jr. and drives a motorcycle into a curb at 35 mph, he’ll be Indy’s pick at the top of the draft despite what RG3 showed at the combine. Luck showed near-Cam athleticism at the combine with a 4.67 40…that’s hardly a burner and Cam is so fluid and agile when he runs, the Stanford product is a rung or two below Cam as a pure athlete. His arm is strong but not nearly as powerful as Newton’s. However, according to a man I have a lot of respect for, Herm Edwards, noted that Luck looked like “he’s carrying POTATOES out there – VERY VERY strong lower body.” I checked the tape and he’s right – Luck’s lower-body strength is apparent in the underwear the Combine rookies are forced to wear. Irsay has said he’s taking him first, and for now that’s good enough for me.

One last thing – I tossed in a couple of trades to reflect the likely trade activity in the first round, although I’ll be completely shocked if any particular trade unfolds as I’ve forecast here. Mock drafts are fun, and I just tried to add a couple of wrinkles – again, to better reflect the fluidity and inherent unpredictable nature of the April draft. So here goes:

1) Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford – I think most people know the reasons here by now. I won’t insult your intelligence.

2) ***TRADE*** (surprise?) Washington (from St. Louis): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor – it’s almost a given that the Rams will trade down. The rookie wage scale has made teams willing to trade up into the top of the draft once again, adding even more excitement to the NFL fans in late April. I think there are really only 2 teams that, as of this moment, are seriously willing to pay up to trade up to get this ultra-talented athletic, bright, and football-savvy young man. The other team is Cleveland, but the Rams can get more from Washington than from the Browns. In fact, with Dan Snyder’s history (JJ Arrington, Albert Haynesworth for example), he’ll have no issues out-bidding the Browns if it comes to a bidding war. Snyder’s been there, done that numerous times. Griffin is also the only QB in the draft (4.41 40-yard dash) that might actually be able to live for a while behind Washington’s sieve-like offensive line. It will be at least a first and second and probably a 5th this season PLUS Washington’s first-rounder next season along with another 6th or so in 2013. Mark my words – the Rams will be getting a #1 pick haul, plus a little, for the premium on RG3. They can thank Cam Newton for that.

3) Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC – It’s a no-brainer. Ponder’s upside is limited, but he can develop into a competent starting QB, if probably never a star player. Adrian Peterson tore his MCL and his ACL at the end of last season and most likely won’t be 100% come September, putting more pressure on the passing game early. The Vikings need help at WR and CB as well, but protecting their 1st-rounder from last year will be at the top of this team’s list. Kalil’s ceiling is quite high, and he is very polished in pass-protection already. He has the size, agility, and technique to defeat smaller, lightning-fast edge-rushers in the NFL and can latch the defender’s inside shoulder and ride him on the outside and behind the QB just like a good LT is supposed to. Day one starter, possible pro-bowler as a rookie. He’ll be that 12-year anchor.

4) Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama – having missed out on the RG3 sweepstakes, the Browns help themselves with a franchise RB. RBs have tended to slide out of the top-10 in the last few years as most teams today use the RB-by-committee approach. Cleveland was no different last year with Madden Cover-cursed Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty. The problem was neither one could stay healthy, and Hardesty especially was ineffective. Since the Browns will still be using Colt McCoy, They’ll give Justin Blackmon a look here, but Richardson is slightly higher rated. Add to that the fact he’s bigger, stronger, AND faster than ex-teammate Mark Ingram, he will likely be in the Adrian Peterson/MJD mold of the 6 or so “feature backs” in the NFL. What’s scary is he can catch the ball when asked, as well. His running should help Colt McCoy as Richardson will prove to be a threat early in his career and defenses will have to adjust. If McCoy still doesn’t improve, the Browns will most certainly target a QB in 2013 in the draft or in Free Agency then.

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU – The Bucs have several holes to fill and places to upgrade. With Richardson gone, they’ll look to the defensive side of the ball once again. 2 years ago, they drafted DTs. Last year it was ends. This year, it’ll be the pass defense, and Claiborne is reported to be a more polished corner than teammate Patrick Peterson was last year. Morris has been cemented for some time as the head and shoulders (hat tip to Troy Polamalu) top CB in the draft this year with no real weaknesses. Quentin Coples reminds me too much of one Vernon Gholston and should be this year’s draft-slider (remember Nick Fairley?). Then there’s the Aqib Talib soap opera, and the Bucs also face Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, and Cam Newton twice a year each as divisional opponent QBs. YEE-OUCH!!!!

6) St. Louis Rams: (from Washington) Justin Blackmon, WR, OSU – Blackmon _might_ go to the Bucs, but TB’s division has scary-good passers and the only time-tested way to disrupt such QBs is to pressure them, but having a top-flight CB doesn’t hurt either. St. Louis has needs all over the field, and more than half the teams need help at CB anyway and won’t reach for one here. So, they take Washington’s higher offer in the trade, thinking they might be able to land one of the two guys they covet – Kalil and Blackmon – knowing Kalil will probably be gone by now. Blackmon’s “okay” showing at the Combine won’t help him, as he didn’t run the 40, but otherwise he didn’t hurt himself much. His pro day will make or break his top-ten status, as his deep speed is his only real question mark. He did show well above-average change of direction skills and route-running at the Combine and coaches have all taken note of it. Blackmon is similar to Dez Bryant but smarter and without the character issues Dez brought to Dallas. The Rams get Bradford a big target with baby-soft hands and a receiver who is accustomed to shielding the ball and catching it away from his body. So what if he might run in the mid 4.5-range if he can run polished routes and catch nearly everything that comes his way?

7) ***TRADE*** Philadelphia Eagles (from Jacksonville Jaguars): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina – Ingram improved his stock at the Combine, going from a mid-late first-rounder to a likely to-10 pick. While he’s still a bit raw and needs to develop counter-moves, his quickness and initial burst should be able to defeat the average to lesser Tackles in the NFL. He needs work on his technique, but then again most college players picked as pass-rushers do with few exceptions every season (exceptions in 2011: Von Miller, JJ Watt). Ingram is a good deal larger than Miller at 276 pounds and Philadelphia certainly can use a DE/OLB in Andy Reids 3-4 scheme. If the Jags stay put, they could draft him as a 4-3 DE, but also have thoughts about Stephen Hill being this year’s Julio Jones thanks to the combine.

8 ) Miami Dolphins: Reilly Reiff, OT, Iowa – This pick fits this team in so many ways. He’s a RT, which the Dolphins need with perennial Pro-bowler Jake Long at LT. However, the ‘Fins need an RT anyway as former RT Vernon Carey slid inside last year to guard and Marc Columbo is a barely-average NFL RT on his best day. Jake Long is entering a contract year, and Reiff is able to play LT from day one, which will give the Dolphins some leverage in negotiations with Long this coming off-season. The Dolphins brass feels they are _this_ close offensively, and my own feeling is that the new Joe Philbin regime will go after Matt Flynn in Free Agency. The coaches know him better than any other coaches in the NFL since Philbin was the Packer’s Offensive Coordinator during Flynn’s time as “AR-12′s” backup. For the same reason, South Florida is probably Flynn’s top choice, knowing the coaches and the system already, and could come into camp and have complete command of the offense from day one. The ‘Fins need a pass rusher to complement Cameron Wake since Jason Taylor retired, but owner Bobby Ross wants to win now. The Dolphins’ defense was top-ten again last season so they’ll most likely try to finish creating their offense to take a little pressure off their defensive unit indirectly with this pick. Reiff seems almost destined to go here. Look for Miami to pick up a pass-rusher and/or TE in rds 2 and 3 depending on how the board looks when they choose later.

9) Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis The Panthers are another team that could trade back a bit if they can get a 2nd or 3rd rounder in addition to a lower 1st since they lack a 3rd this draft and have many needs. He would make a great pick as a 3-technique guy if he’s here for the Panthers at 9, which he likely will be. He’s a monster athlete with outstanding size at 6’4″ 330 lbs and would be an instant upgrade at either DT spot. Has the size and strength to help collapse the pocket but not an explosive gap penetrator. Compared to current Ravens star Haloti Ngata as a massive man with excellent agility. Fletcher Cox from MSU is another possibility here as a more polished DT but the thought is Poe has a higher ceiling. Other possibilities: Stephen Hill, WR, GT; Quentin Coples, DE, UNC; Michael Floyd, WR, ND. My thinking is the Panthers could look to trade back into the middle of round one if they can pick up the 3rd-rounder they are missing, and still be able to get at least one of the 3 guys listed as possibilities. Chase Minnefield may well be on their radar for a CB in early round 2.

10) Buffalo Bills: Luke Keuchly, ILB, BC – Another team drafting in the top-ten all the time. Why? They keep drafting players that don’t produce. C.J. Spiller hasn’t done anything and Marcell Dareus, the 3rd overall pick last year, was injured and they need to plug the middle. They also need 2 pass-rushing OLBS/DEs, a WR2, and someone to replace Jason Peters, whom they inexplicably got rid of 2 years ago and never replaced. The feeling here is Keuchly along with a healthy Marcell Dareus will vastly improve their run defense, but the Bills are still at least a year away from making a sustained playoff run in the AFC East. They can put some points up, however, so this should be a defense-heavy draft overall for the Bills. They also have a history of sometimes questionable picks, but Luke should be a safe pick for the Bills here as the draft’s premier ILB. The Pats took Jerod Mayo here. Keuchly doesn’t have 4.55 speed, he has 4.58 speed! He also has a good nose for the ball, having led Boston College in tackles his last three seasons there.

11) Kansas City Chiefs: Cordy Glenn, G/T, UGA – KC will be glad to draft this guy who can play pretty much anywhere but Center. The Chiefs will be looking to use him at Tackle to help keep their QBs healthy with the knowledge they can move the most versatile OL in the draft around in case of injuries to others on the line. It may seem a tad high for Glenn, but his versatility is exactly what KC can use. In 2011, Chief QBs were on a first-name basis with paramedics, and that’s never a good thing. Eventually, they may draft another tackle and move Glenn inside, where he’d likely develop into a Pro-Bowl talent down the road if he doesn’t at Tackle.

12) Seattle Seahawks: Quentin Coples, DE, UNC – Yep, he slides but not horribly far. His ability is never questioned, it’s his motor. The Seahawks decide to look into round 2 for a 2nd-tier QB instead of buying into the Tannehill hype this high up. At best, Tannehill would probably have to sit for at least half a season, and the Waterfowl have other needs, DE being one of them, so they pull the trigger on what may turn out to be the best value pick of the draft. Coples may be the highest risk/reward guy in the draft.

13) Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame – Difficult team to predict. On the one hand, they seem to want to be a power-running team, but there is no OT here worthy of a #13. At 6-3 230 with speed, Floyd will help open up the defense for Kevin Kolb and give him 2 big targets to get the ball to with Larry Fitzgerald on the other side. This duo could evolve into the most dangerous tandem of WRs in the game, which should in turn open the inside for the power running game. Like the Dolphins, the Cardinal offense is only 2 or 3 players away from being really explosive. Since Floyd is very probably a game-breaker with Fitz on the other side, he gets the nod over DeCastro – barely.

14) Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, G, Stanford – Many have the Cowboys taking a CB here to replace Orlando Scandrick opposite Terrence Newman, but they’ve already made noise about obtaining one via Free Agency. I’m assuming they get the corner they need in FA, so the next worry is keeping Tony Romo’s collarbone literally in one piece. Their line is in the bottom-third of the NFL, and DeCastro was the anchor for Andrew Luck’s power running offense and would be an instant upgrade at either guard spot for the Cowboys and a starter from day one. This guy is for real, and the with the rookie wage scale in place, interior OL are creeping up the board a bit. Last year, the Dolphins took C Mike Pouncey at 15, so this fits right in.

15) ***TRADE*** Jacksonville Jaguars (from Philadelphia): Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama – Upshaw is one of those “tweener” types, but can play DE in a 4-3 scheme. In trading back 8 spots, the Jags feel more comfortable taking a DE here and will look for help at WR later. And probably 2, at that. Gabbert needs all the help he can get as he looked lost last season so look for the Jags to do just that – but not in round one.

16) New York Jets: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson – Their team is in disarray after a disappointing season all around. Buffalo Bill reject Aaron Maybin led them in sacks, and that just won’t do for the introverted (ha!) Rex Ryan. They reach a bit and take Branch here, although it’s not all that much of a reach because of his combine showing.

17) Cincinatti Bengals (from Oakland): Mark Barron, S, Alabama – This is a need for the Bengals, and Barron is the best safety in the draft and at 223 pounds, he has the size to play in the box to support the run, if needed. Judging by the gashing they took on the ground late in the season, Barron could fill multiple roles.

18) San Diego Chargers: Mike Adams, OT, OSU – It’s unclear if V-Jax will stay in San Diego. I think he wants out, but several teams are franchising WRs this offseason, which could limit his options. It’s 50-50 right now and seems to be moving in the direction of him staying in San Diego at least for 2012 at this moment. It could change tomorrow, but right now their biggest need is at RT to give Rivers, who had a ‘down’ season last year, that little bit of extra time to make his reads.

19) ***TRADE*** New England Patriots (from Chicago): Stephen Hill, WR, GT – The first semi-surprise in the first round, the REAL surprise being the Pats actually trading up for a change. Stephen Hill showed sub 4.4-40 speed at the Combine and the Pats haven’t had a certified deep threat since Randy Moss. While GT ran an option offense and rarely threw the ball to him, Hill is a big, fast WR with comparisons to Megatron, and that’s good enough to catapult him to a WR-needy team in the first round. BB should be able to work this young man into Brady’s offense and we need to watch how Hill performs especially after the halfway point.

20) Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama – Janoris Jenkins has better physical tools, but his off-field baggage hurts him especially with the team that had the misfortune of drafting Pac-Man Jones 5 or 6 years ago. Kirkpatrick is 6′ 2-1/2″ and can match up against the every-growing bunch of larger, more physical WRs in the NFL. While he doesn’t have the bulk to match up in press coverage at 197 pounds, he can be taught enough technique to at least challenge heavier guys at the line. Even with his short arms, he can be coached to make it difficult for larger WRs to get a clean release if he can learn to use his tall frame as leverage to kick WRs to the shoulder they don’t want to release to. He reminds me of the Dolphins’ Sean Smith, but with a bit more overall talent.

21) Cincinnati Bengals: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin – With Benson out, they’ll pick up an RB in round 2 or 3. Right now, they go with the talent that best fits their needs, and the guy with the name that would suggest he should be forced to play in Chicago and nowhere else, he’s allowed to go to Cincy and should be a solid starter from day one. I foresee many gifts and buffets paid for by his soon-to-be new best friend, Andy Dalton. Whether Peter likes it or not.

22) Cleveland (from Atlanta): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M – With a very limited body of work from college since he switched from WR to QB his junior season, and with an injury forcing him to sit out the combine, if Seattle doesn’t grab him at 12, he could well fall here or even beyond. While he seems to have a huge upside, he’s still got too many question marks around him to go in the top 12 otherwise. If he goes here, Colt McCoy will most likely still be the starter in Cleveland for the season opener, but a healthy Tannehill could push him the second half of the season and the training camp battle should make both QBs better. Since they lost the RG3 sweepstakes, this is the Browns’ “plan B.” After all, if this were 2005, Aaron Rodgers would still be available so I think #22 overall is a bit high for Tannehill but not so much of a reach that the Browns can pass him up here.

23) Detroit Lions: Harrison Smith, S, ND – Janoris Jenkins would be far and away their top choice here if not for his off-field issues. Goodness knows, the Lions have enough ON-field issues with Suh stomping around, but they have other needs as well. Louis Delmas is pretty good but not exactly a ball-hawk. Smith would give them a very solid safety tandem and has the higher ceiling. They’ll look for a CB in rd 2 while shoring up the deep middle with Smith. Their pass rush can do the corners’ covering for them to a point. Talk about a Fearsome Foursome, Detroit has that, plus 2 reserves that can do damage and keep guys fresh. They have the most relentless DL pass-rush in the NFL, but can use someone off the edge from the Will. If Detroit ran a 3-4, the pick would be Chandler Jones.

24) Pittsburgh Steelers: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford – The Steelers need help just about anywhere on the OL aside from Maurkice Pouncey for Big Ben’s overall health. Roethlisberger got banged up during the season and was far from 100% by the time they lost at Denver in the playoffs. Martin may not be quite as good as a Kalil, who should anchor the left side for 12 years probably for the Vikings, but he’ll learn the “Steeler Way” and should be starting at RT on opening day with the possibility of sliding to the left side once he’s gotten acclimated to the NFL. Farrior was cut, and ILB is another need area for the Steel Curtain, but Martin is the better fit at 24 overall.

25) Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT, MSU – One thing the Broncos have is a pass rush, drafting Von Miller in 2011 2nd overall while getting the 2009 NFL sack leader, Elvis Dumervill, back off IR. Cox has overtaken LSU’s Brockers because Cox seems to do everything pretty well. He’s stout in the middle in the 3-technique against the run and in a 4-3, he’ll get some chances as a penetrator. While Cox lacks great lateral movement, so do most NFL guards and he’ll power-rush his way into the opposing team’s backfield at times, giving the Broncos a very solid DL.

26) Houston Texans: Chandler Jones, OLB/DE, Syracuse – It looks as if Mario Williams may hit the FA market, and Houston needs to fill his massive shoes. Jones had an incredible Combine, projecting as a 3-4 DE. He lacks great coverage skills, but then again Mario Williams was no Darrell Revis, either. A second-rounder before the Combine, this year it’s Chandler, not Julio (no relation I’m aware of), Jones that helped himself there this year.

27) ***TRADE*** Chicago Bears (from New England through New Orleans): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama - Da Bearssss had designs on Hill themselves, but decided to trade down to get a first, second, and sixth-rounder from the Pats. They need bodies and lots of them, so it makes sense for both teams. With needs on the interior OL, at CB, WR, and at OLB, they knew they’d get more help trading down and adding that 2nd rounder especially. Lovie Smith has been an NFL Head Coach for some time now, and should be able to handle Jenkins as well as anyone can. Jenkins has the physical tools to be a top-15 talent but this is what bad behavior does. It costs a rookie millions of dollars. The 5’9″ Jenkins will have trouble covering the 6-3, 6-4 WRs but with teams in the nickel package 60% of the time, chances are he’ll match up quite well with the slot receiver and the Bears will bring him along slowly unless his on-field play demands otherwise, which is quite possible, given this young man’s natural talent. Jenkins has by far the highest upside of any corner in the draft.

28) Green Bay Packers: David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech – Another case where the Combine made a difference. Coaches and GMs don’t like to admit it, but it happens sometimes. Lamar Miller is the other choice here, and ran a 4.4-40 as opposed to Wilson’s 4.49-40, but here’s a news flash for you: THE FORTY TIME AIN’T EVERYTHING! Perhaps I wasn’t clear, so let me reiterate: THE FORTY TIME AIN’T EVERYTHING! Got it? Good. Wilson showed more all-around athleticism with his agility drills and his ability to catch the ball. While the Packers need to get some help for Clay Matthews, they also need to bring their own offense more into balance. Yes, The Aaron Rodgers offensive machine will overpower most teams either way, but Wilson gives them a complete back that has the strength to grind it out in the 4th quarter and shorten games for the Packers, and as a credible receiver out of the backfield, he’s yet another weapon for the Nuclear-armed Packers offense. The one strike against him is 5 fumbles last year, but ball security is something relatively easily coached. The Pack looks for a guard or pass rusher in rds 2 and 3.

29) Baltimore Ravens: Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama – NOOOO, I’m NOT referring to the late, great Bubba Smith from the Police Academy movies, if that’s what you were thinking! Surprisingly, the Ravens can use a LT. Mr. “Blind side” is only that if Flacco goes ambidextrous or gets injured and they have a left-handed QB to back him up. With Adams and Martin off the board, they turn to the heir apparent to Ray Lewis: a player very much in his mold, even 12 pounds heavier and more mobile than the aging HOF MLB.

30) San Francisco 49′ers: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor – Kendall had a very poor 4.61-40 at the Combine, which will hurt his stock. However, he seemed to play faster than that at Baylor and organizations go more on game tape than they do snapshots of 40-times (Remember- the 40 time ain’t everything!) on a particular day especially if the time is slower than a player looks like in games. Wright has a lot of other skills that he brings to the table and if he can improve his 40 time at his pro day to the 4.5 range or thereabouts, it’ll only help. If he doesn’t, he will probably fall completely out of the first round. He’s not big, but he seems to get open and is a playmaker and that’s all that matters in the end.

31) New England Patriots: Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn – I can easily see the Pats trading back into the 2nd round here, especially since they just traded one of their second-rounders to move up. If they don’t, Reyes should be in the top 3 best available on BB’s best available list, and considering the Albert Haynesworth fiasco prior to last season, they could shore up their DL with this pick – he can play inside in a 4-3 and outside in a 3-4, and BB loves guys who can mix it up, as he’s been known to play entire games using the 4-3. Reyes is a great fit for the Patriots’ scheme, and although not the accomplished pass-rusher the Pats need, he will make them that much more versatile and that much more difficult for opposing teams to game-plan. This is where the “cerebral” factor enters the Pats’ draft board. Yes, they love Vince Wilfork but Reyes adds to the mix, and the Pats rarely draft directly on need, as we saw last season.

32) New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford – Eli Manning is going to absolutely adore this guy. He can work tight like a normal TE or split out wide for a mismatch. He’s got quick feet and is able to run the pivot route against zone coverage and has the explosiveness to YAC (Yards After Catch/Contact, take your pick here) things up some. At almost 6’6″ and 250 pounds, he has the size to body-shield the ball against smaller defenders or go up and get it high. He’ll be the TE Eli hasn’t had since Jeremy Shockey and comparisons to Jimmy Graham are murmuring around the league already.

CAVEAT! All draftees’ position subject to change without notice, except for the top 3 spots. Luck, RG3, and Kalil regardless of which team drafts in the top 3 spots. I’ve got Michael Brockers falling into the early 2nd-round because of limited game tape and only 19 reps at the Combine. He needs to improve his upper-body strength. However, the limited amount of game tape on him shows the kid can play and very well could go in the first half of the first round. I just feel there are other DTs out there that are as good, maybe with a bit less upside but more polished (Dontari Poe, Cox, Reyes) perhaps. It’s hard to whiff your first-round pick and Brockers has a few question marks. High risk/reward guy. But as always, things can and do change.

In any case, once Free Agency ends, the draft board will change quite a bit, and this mock is by no means definitive. It’s simply something to look at and see what your favorite team(s) may be considering in the first round.