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For the past few months I have been picking players that I would like to see the Jets draft in April. The one thing I never really did, was go through who every other team might take. Without getting an idea of who the other teams will be taking, It's hard to say what players will be available by our pick. Here is my first 32 pick, 1st round, mock.
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford: This pick is pretty much a lock at this point. The marriage between the Colts and Peyton manning seems to be coming to an end this offseason. The future of the Colts starts now, and it starts with the Luck.
Matt Kalil, OT, USC: The Rams could very well trade this pick to someone looking for a QB, but I don't see why they would with the best tackle in the draft sitting there at #2. The Rams have a huge need for a tackle on the blind side. Sam Bradford needs to be protected if the Rams ever plan on making a move in the NFC West.
3. Washington Redskins (Via trade with Minnesota)
Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor: Someone is going to trade up to get Griffin, it's just a matter of who. In my mock, that who is the Redskins. They know very well that they need a franchise QB to compete in the AFC East. Griffin has all the makings of a QB that can be just that for the Skins.
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State: With the top two QBs off the board, the Browns won't be reaching for the next best arm. Instead, they will build the weapons around the future QB, but getting the best playmaker in the draft. Blackmon would make an immediate impact on that sorry offense.
Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU: Things aren't looking too good for Tampa's secondary. Aqib Talib will probably be in jail by the time the season rolls around, and "the other Barber" will most likely be retiring soon. In short, the Bucs need some help with their corners.
6. Minnesota Vikings (Via trade with Washington)
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama: The Vikings could go two ways with this pick. They can bring in another tackle to protect Ponder's blind side, or they too can fix their secondary problems. Like Tampa, the Bucs have one CB in legal trouble, and another with one foot in retirement.
Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame: With Jacksonville not having the guts to pull the trigger on one of the top two QBs, the next need up is WR. It's hard to say who will be the next WR taken. It could be Floyd, Jeffery, or the dark horse, Kendall Wright.
Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford: The Dolphins luck out here, with the 2nd best tackle left on the board. Sparano brought in his old friend Colombo to be the right tackle for the Phins, and that ended horrible for both of them. Miami can have the two best tackle tandem in the NFL with this pick.
Michael Brockers, DT, LSU: The Panthers have a huge need for an interior defensive linemen. Carolina spent a few picks last year on this position, but only Fua has shown even a little promise so far. The Panthers had one of the worst pass rushes in football last year, and a guy like Brockers could make a world of difference.
10. Buffalo Bills
Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE, Alabama: Besides Dareus, there is no one on the Bills roster that can attack the QB. Upshaw has been showing how much of a beast he is at the Senior Bowl practices. I don't see him going any further than pick number 10.
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: The Chiefs have two options here. They can replace one of the worst offensive tackles in the NFL in 2011, or bring in the top RB prospect to split carries with Charles who hasn't proved he can carry the load himself. I'm going with the latter. It would be hard to possibly pass up on the best RB tandem in football.
12. Seattle Seahawks
Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College: David Hawthorn is one of the premier linebackers hitting the free agent market. If Seattle doesn't retain him quickly, he will get a lot of looks somewhere else. If he leaves, Seattle will need to replace him. Kuechly is the top ILBer prospect, and can't be passed up at this spot.
Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa: The Cardinals spent a lot on QB Kevin Kolb. If they want to keep him as their QB, they are going to need to protect him a lot better. Levi Brown started to play better at left tackle as the season went on, but over on the right side, help is needed.
14. Dallas Cowboys
Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama: The Cowboys might feel the need to trade up to get one of the top 2 CB options, but I think they should sit back and pick between Jenkins and Dennard. Either way, the Cowboys need a CB very badly. Rob Ryan gets all kinds of excited when he sees Rex and Revis.
Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor: DeSean Jackson, in all likelihood, will be leaving the Eagles in free agency. He is no longer brave enough to be the WR he once was. With Kuechily off the board, the eagles should look to get their next big play speedster.
16. New York Jets
Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB/DT, South Carolina: This was a tough pick for me. I personally love Mercilus as our guy, but Ingram is coming on strong this offseason. He has proven that he is a big time player, that can play multiple positions. Ingram has more of an ability to stand up if he were asked to do so. It will come down to who has the better combine. Barron is too much of a reach here, and there are no tackles worthy enough of the 16th pick. A pass rusher needs to be the pick.
David DeCastro, OG, Stanford: With the best guard still on the board, it would be very hard to pass on grabbing a replacement for Nate Livings. The Bengals might also be looking to find a CB to fill in for Leon Hall who might not be ready for 2012. They might also be looking to add another playmaker on offense at either RB or WR. Luckily for them, the Bengals have another 1st round pick.
Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois: The Chargers need a pass rushing boost badly. Their secondary isn't all that bad, but they can't cover receivers forever. Mercilus is one of the best pass rushers in the draft, and would instantly improve that pass rush led by Larry English.
19. Chicago Bears
Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina: The Bears are full of number 2s and 3s at WR. There isn't a true #1 receiver of the bunch. If Jeffery can prove to the Bears that he can get separation at the next level, he will be Jay Cutler's man. The Bears could also go after Dennard since almost all of their CBs are set to hit free agency.
20. Tennessee Titans
Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin: Eugene Amano is one of the worst centers in the NFL. The whole interior of the Titans O-line needs to be reworked, but it should all start with the center. Chris Johnson can't be Chris Johnson if the line doesn't help him out a little bit.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska: The secondary was one of the Bengals strengths last year, but Leon Hall suffered a torn Achilles Tendon. He probably won't be back in football shape until 2013. If the Bengals bring in Dennard, they will be one of the more dominant secondaries in football.
22. Cleveland Browns
Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: Other than rookie Jabaal Sheard, there is no one on the Browns that can get after the QB. There offense got a boost with Blackmon, not their defense can become dominant with one of the best pass rushers in the draft. Coples falls in the draft because there isn't much of a need for a 4-3 DE.
23. Detroit Lions
Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina: The Lions will be picking the best player available here at 23. Right now that is Zach Brown. The Lions luck out here, because that is also a position of need. Stephen Tulloch will probably not be retained. Zach Brown could come right in and take over.
Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia: The Steelers offensive line has been atrocious and injury laden for two years. Max Starks tore his ACL late in the season, and probably won't be ready by the start of 2012. Kemoeatu is also getting up there in age, and was benched a few times last year. Glenn can play either position.
25. Denver Broncos
Devon Still, DT, Penn State: Neither of the Broncos DTs offered much hope for the position. A guy like Still can add a lot of pressure from the inside, and help out Miller and Dumervil. At 25, grabbing Still here is a bargain.
26. Green Bay Packers (Via trade with Houston)
Nick Perry, OLB/DE, USC: The Packers pass rush was almost nonexistent this year. Teams were able to take Matthews out of the game. Once that was taken care of, the Packers had little to no one else that could get the job done. Green Bay can't afford to wait for the 2nd round to get a pass rusher. Nick Perry's stock is rising really fast. There is a chance he could be gone by now, but since he is still around, the Pack trade up to steal Perry from the Pats
27. New England Patriots:
Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia: I don't think the Patriots plan on using Edelman as one of their secondary weapons next year. I know they just got McCourty two years ago, but he was ugly this year, and needs to turn it around. Minnifield is great in both man and zone coverage, and has the size to matchup with taller receivers. Since all the best pass rushers are gone, Chase seems like the best pick.
28. Houston Texans (Via trade with Green Bay)
Mark Barron, SS, Alabama: The Texans' defense surprised everyone with how good they were in 2011. Their pass rush was on point, and their secondary improved. One glaring weakness was at strong safety. Glover Quinn just isn't going to cut it going forward.
29. Baltimore Ravens:
Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama: Newsome has gone on record as saying a replacement for Ray Lewis could be coming in the 2012 draft. At 29, the Ravens might have their pick. They could either take the completely undisciplined, but crazy athletic Burfict, or the more well rounded ILBer in Hightower. I think the Ravens have a good eye from problem players, and will go with Hightower.
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers: The 49ers need some more weapons on the offense. Gore and Davis are nice, but 1 more guy is needed to put that offense over the top. Alex Smith improved a lot last year, and there is no reason to think he can't get any better. Braylon didn't work out for San Fran, but Sanu would be a great #1 receiver to take away pressure from Davis.
31. Cleveland Browns (Via trade with New England)
Lamar Miller, RB, Miami: We all know very well that New England will not be keeping both of their 1st round picks. Some team always trades with them. This year's Patriots helper is the Browns. The Browns try to leap frog the Colts and the Bucs to get the next best RB, Lamar Miller. Peyton Hillis will probably not be brought back after what took place this season. Lamar Miller would be another big play threat to an offense that just got Blackmon. They are a free agent QB away from being a team.
32. New York Giants
Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson: Where do the Super Bowl champions go with this pick? Their only glaring need, is a play making TE, to round off the best offense in January/February. Ballard has filled in nicely, but he isn't the future at TE for the Giants.