Critiquing the Latest Mock Drafts of Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay recently released updated mock drafts. They feature changes to reflect the trade between the Washington Redskins and St. Louis Rams, as well as some movement based on combine performances.

The upcoming slides compare Kiper and McShay's mock drafts with my mock draft. We have a lot of similar thoughts, but the three viewpoints offer some intriguing talking points. An interesting development is that we all agree on the outcome of the first three picks.

This begs the question: Is the first part of the draft already set in stone?

No. 1: Indianapolis Colts

McShay's Pick: Andrew Luck, Quarterback Stanford

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford

My Pick: Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford

As soon as the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning parted ways, Andrew Luck became the face of the franchise. Despite the negative attention surrounding the exit of Manning, Indianapolis set itself up for a quick rebuilding process.

Luck will have a decent offensive line in front of him that features Anthony Castonzo, Ben Ijalana and Winston Justice. Re-signing Reggie Wayne gives Luck a veteran and reliable presence at the wide receiver position.

The hire of Chuck Pagano as head coach means this team will have a new focus on the defensive side of the ball. Luck may never reach the same level as Manning, but he may not have to because of the presence of a better defensive game plan.

There isn't much mystery here, as we all feel Luck will be the top overall pick.

No. 2: Washington Redskins (from St. Louis)

McShay's Pick: Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Baylor

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Baylor

My Pick: Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Baylor

The Washington Redskins' offense is going to be significantly more explosive next season. Teaming Robert Griffin III with Pierre Garcon will give the Redskins one of the better vertical threats in the entire NFL.

This, combined with a young group of running backs, should help this team improve on last season's win total.

Griffin III isn't just a good deep passer; he also possesses the all-around accuracy to move the offense. Washington paid a steep price to land Griffin III, but he will quickly prove that he's worth the price it paid. Finding a quarterback with his upside is a very difficult task.

Washington didn't pull the trigger on this trade to land another prospect; Robert Griffin III will be the pick at No. 2.

No. 3: Minnesota Vikings

McShay's Pick: Matt Kalil, Offensive Tackle, USC

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Matt Kalil, Offensive Tackle, USC

My Pick: Matt Kalil, Offensive Tackle, USC

At this point in the process, the first three picks of the 2012 draft seem pretty much set in stone. Barring another trade, the Minnesota Vikings are a safe bet to add Matt Kalil as their franchise left tackle. Kalil is a good athlete who excels at protecting the passer and opening running lanes.

Minnesota needs to surround Christian Ponder with the pieces needed to succeed. This starts by providing him the time necessary to locate open targets. Last year's starter, Charlie Johnson, needs to be replaced if the Vikings hope to help Ponder's development.

There's an outside chance Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon is the pick at No. 3. However, Minnesota could address the wide receiver position in the second round.

No. 4: Cleveland Browns

McShay's Pick: Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

My Pick: Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

The Cleveland Browns have a glaring need at both the running back and wide receiver positions. These needs put both Trent Richardson and Justin Blackmon in play for the No. 4 pick. I'm leaning towards Blackmon because there's some good second-round running back talent.

However, McShay's pick of Richardson makes an equal amount of sense. Richardson is by far the most talented running back in this draft class, with a big talent drop-off between him and the No. 2-ranked running back.

Cleveland's evaluation of position depth and team need will determine the direction of this pick. However, the latest trends suggest that highly productive running backs can be added in the later rounds.

I'm not buying into the Ryan Tannehill hype and feel he isn't a real option at No. 4.

No. 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

McShay's Pick: Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

My Pick: Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

Mel and I agree again, both having the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selecting Trent Richardson. Tampa's free-agency additions filled most of its major needs, which gives it some options in the draft. Teaming Richardson with LeGarrette Blount will make the Buccaneers a top-notch running team.

The signing of Eric Wright doesn't exactly solve the team's issue at cornerback, as he's shown nothing more than average play. This makes McShay's selection of Claiborne another very likely direction for the Buccaneers.

Tampa's decision on the futures of Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib will play a major role in this selection.

No. 6: St. Louis Rams (from Washington)

McShay's Pick: Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU

My Pick: Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU

The St. Louis Rams' dream scenario would be to land Justin Blackmon, which is exactly what McShay predicts. However, it's very likely that Blackmon isn't around when St. Louis comes on the clock at No. 6.

He's a possible target for Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns, both of whom select before the Rams.

Mel and I project Morris Claiborne as the Rams' pick, but I only do so because Blackmon is off the board. Teaming Claiborne with the newly signed Cortland Finnegan significantly upgrades the entire Rams defense.

Their coverage abilities will provide pass-rushers like Chris Long and Robert Quinn more time to get after the quarterback.

No. 7: Jacksonville Jaguars

McShay's Pick: Melvin Ingram, Defensive End/Linebacker, South Carolina

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Quinton Coples, Defensive End, North Carolina

My Pick: Quinton Coples, Defensive End, North Carolina

Re-signing Jeremy Mincey doesn't lessen the Jacksonville Jaguars' need to upgrade their pass rush. The fact that all three of us project a pass-rusher as the pick only supports that truth. Mel and I's picks differ from McShay's only because of our prospect evaluations.

To me, Quinton Coples is the best all-around defensive line prospect available in this draft. He not only rushes the passer but holds up well against the run as well. In the right system, he could consistently surpass the double-digit sack mark.

This doesn't mean that Melvin Ingram isn't a talented player. The deference between the two is pretty small, and both project as top-notch pass-rushers at the next level.

No. 8: Miami Dolphins

McShay's Pick: Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback, Texas A&M

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

My Pick: Melvin Ingram, Defensive End/Linebacker, South Carolina

The Miami Dolphins failed to land a significant upgrade at the quarterback position during free agency. This is likely the main reason McShay projected Ryan Tannehill to come off the board here at No. 8. However, pulling on the trigger on Tannehill here could be a major mistake.

Tannehill is a talented player with upside, but I have him rated as a third-round prospect. His inconsistent technique, lack of accuracy and poor decision-making limit his ability to develop into an elite quarterback. Miami might be better off addressing one of its several other needs.

Melvin Ingram would be a great replacement for Jason Taylor, while providing some relief for Cameron Wake.

No. 9: Carolina Panthers

McShay's Pick: Quinton Coples, Defensive End, North Carolina

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Dontari Poe, Defensive Tackle, Memphis

My Pick: Luke Kuechly, Linebacker, Boston College

The presence of playmakers like Cam Newton, Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams gives the Carolina Panthers the ability to address this defense early in the 2012 draft. Each of us has them adding a significant defensive piece at No. 9.

Carolina has problems on all levels of the defense, meaning it could focus on adding the best defensive player available. This draft has depth along the defensive line, which could allow the Panthers to find talent in the second round.

However, the linebacker position only has a few top-level talents, increasing the value of someone like Luke Kuechly.

The pass-rushing duo of Charles Johnson and Quinton Coples would give opposing teams nightmares and might be very intriguing to Carolina.

No. 10: Buffalo Bills

McShay's Pick: Courtney Upshaw, Defensive End/Linebacker, Alabama

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Melvin Ingram, Defensive End/Linebacker, South Carolina

My Pick: Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

Both Kiper and McShay made these projections prior to the Buffalo Bills' addition of Mario Williams. With Williams on board, Buffalo's need for a pass-rusher is significantly less. It actually seems unlikely that it would invest more money and assets in the defensive line.

The Bills have a major hole at left tackle, a position that has been a problem since they traded Jason Peters. Jonathan Martin possesses the quickness needed to reach the edge and protect the passer. His addition would really help improve the efficiency of the offense.

Keep an eye out for someone like Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, who would give Buffalo a nice complement to Stevie Johnson.

No. 11: Kansas City Chiefs

McShay's Pick: Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Luke Kuechly, Linebacker, Boston College

My Pick: Dontari Poe, Defensive Tackle, Memphis

McShay's pick is again impacted by free agency, as the addition of Eric Winston likely takes Riley Reiff out of consideration for the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, there's a possibility that they bring in Reiff to play guard, but it might actually make more sense to select Stanford's David DeCastro instead.

Luke Kuechly would be a great addition on the Chiefs' emerging defense. His nose for the football and range will help improve Kansas City's rush defense, which allowed over 130 yards per game.

However, Dontari Poe's space-eating ability makes him a better option to improve their run defense.

No. 12: Seattle Seahawks

McShay's Pick: Luke Kuechly, Linebacker, Boston College

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback, Texas A&M

My Pick: David DeCastro, Guard, Stanford

The Seattle Seahawks' signing of Matt Flynn likely changes Kiper's prediction of Ryan Tannehill at No. 12. His addition gives them good depth as well as some hope for the future. There's not much reason for Seattle to waste an early pick on another unproven quarterback like Tannehill.

McShay's pick of Luke Kuechly offers the great value at a position of need. Kuechly's consistency immediately puts him in contention for a starting role. Seattle likely must find a replacement for both David Hawthorne and Leroy Hill in the linebacking corps.

However, there's a chance Kuechly is off the board by the time Seattle picks. This is the scenario in my mock, which prompted the selection of David DeCastro.

Adding DeCastro to an offensive line already featuring Russell Okung, James Carpenter and Max Unger would give Seattle one of the best young lines in the NFL.

No. 13: Arizona Cardinals

McShay's Pick: Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

My Pick: Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

The Arizona Cardinals' investment in Kevin Kolb didn't work out as planned. However, a lot of that had to do with the limited talents surrounding the quarterback.

The biggest talent void is along the offensive line, more specifically the left tackle position. McShay and I project the top remaining tackle to land with the Cardinals at No. 13.

However, re-signing Levi Brown could make the position less of need in the eyes of Arizona. If this is the case, Kiper's pick of Michael Floyd makes a ton of sense. Larry Fitzgerald needs someone to help draw coverage away from his side of the field.

No. 14: Dallas Cowboys

McShay's Pick: Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, North Alabama

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

My Pick: Michael Brockers, Defensive Line, LSU

The Dallas Cowboys' investment in Brandon Carr doesn't solve the problems in the secondary, but it does lessen the urgency.

However, it opens up the opportunity for them to bring in more talent along the defensive line. Michael Brockers' skill set fits the five-technique position, where Dallas could use an upgrade over Kenyon Coleman and Jason Hatcher.

Dallas' playoff hopes were spoiled by the poor play of the secondary, and that issue isn't solved by adding Carr. This makes both Janoris Jenkins and Mark Barron possible candidates at No. 14.

Thanks to the Washington Redskins' addition of Baylor's Robert Griffin III, stopping the pass in the NFC East won't get any easier.

No. 15: Philadelphia Eagles

McShay's Pick: Dontari Poe, Defensive Tackle, Memphis

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Michael Brockers, Defensive Tackle, LSU

My Pick: Devon Still, Defensive Tackle, Penn State

Boston College's Luke Kuechly, the draft's top linebacker, is already off the board in our projections, forcing the Philadelphia Eagles to go in a different direction.

Outside of adding linebacker help, the Eagles need some depth along the interior of the defensive line. Kiper, McShay and I all have them selecting a defensive tackle with their first pick.

In my mock, Dontari Poe and Michael Brockers are off the board, so I went with Devon Still. However, I have both players rated ahead of Still in my rankings. Poe's addition would make the biggest impact as he's the top run-stuffer, an area of need for Philadelphia.

**Update** Philadelphia's recent acquisition of DeMeco Ryans makes adding Kuechly less of a need. However, Kuechly is versatile enough to play on the outside.

No. 16: New York Jets

McShay's Pick: Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Courtney Upshaw, Linebacker, Alabama

My Pick: Cordy Glenn, Offensive Line, Georgia

The New York Jets have several obvious needs, which are well represented by the predictions above.

McShay's Mark Barron pick could change after the Jets' addition of LaRon Landry via free agency. Landry's skill set make him a better fit as an in-the-box safety, which is similar to the role Barron would fill.

Wayne Hunter's struggles at right tackle are well documented, making this a position of need. Cordy Glenn possesses the size, strength and foot quickness necessary to anchor the right tackle slot. His ability to open running lanes fits what the Jets like to do on offense.

New York's ability to re-sign Bryan Thomas and Aaron Maybin lessens the need to add an outside linebacker. This makes Kiper's selection of Courtney Upshaw a bit of a stretch.

No. 17: Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland)

McShay's Pick: Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama

My Pick: Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback, South Carolina

It's relatively easy to identify that the Cincinnati Bengals need to add some talent at the cornerback position.

Last offseason's loss of Johnathan Joseph forced players like Nate Clements and Adam Jones to play significant roles. This draft features several cornerbacks capable of coming in and making an instant impact.

Kiper and McShay have Dre Kirkpatrick rated higher than Stephon Gilmore, which is why they have him landing in Cincinnati. However, Gilmore is an underrated prospect who's capable of developing into one of the league's top cover guys.

No. 18: San Diego Chargers

McShay's Pick: Cordy Glenn, Offensive Line, Georgia

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Whitney Mercilus, Defensive End/Linebacker, Illinois

My Pick: Harrison Smith, Safety, Notre Dame

There's plenty of chatter suggesting San Diego Chargers GM A.J. Smith has a high grade on Harrison Smith. History shows that A.J. Smith isn't afraid to go against the grain and make a move to land his player.

A good example is his aggressive move up the draft to land running back Ryan Mathews. Pairing Smith with Eric Weddle would really help the defense against new division rival Peyton Manning.

San Diego's free-agent addition of Jarret Johnson makes adding an outside linebacker early in the draft unlikely. The Chargers can create a strong rotation among Johnson, Shaun Phillips and Antwan Barnes. Each brings a different strength to the table.

Cordy Glenn would be a nice addition to a team with a few needs along the offensive line. His versatility means he's capable of lining up at either guard or tackle. He could replace the retired Kris Dielman or ineffective Jeromey Clary.

No. 19: Chicago Bears

McShay's Pick: Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Mike Adams, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

My Pick: Whitney Mercilus, Defensive End, Illinois

The Chicago Bears addressed a major need by adding Brandon Marshall via a trade with the Miami Dolphins. However, Marshall's continued off-field problems bring uncertainty to his future, as he's always one incident away from a suspension. This makes the addition of someone like Michael Floyd still a possibility.

Chicago made a strong play to add Jeremy Mincey, but he decided to return to the Jacksonville Jaguars. This attempt shows that the Bears feel they need more help at defensive end.

Whitney Mercilus boasts the quickness needed to generate pressure on the quarterback. Getting younger on the defensive side of the ball needs to be a focus of this draft.

Kiper's prediction of Mike Adams only works if you see him as a left tackle, which isn't a slam dunk. He's similar to Chicago's first-round pick last year, Gabe Carimi.

No. 20: Tennessee Titans

McShay's Pick: David DeCastro, Guard, Stanford

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: David DeCastro, Guard, Stanford

My Pick: Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

The Tennessee Titans missed out on Peyton Manning but made some nice free-agency additions.

Kamerion Wimbley and Steve Hutchinson filled some major needs, which will allow Tennessee to shift gears in the draft. Adding Hutchinson makes both Kiper's and McShay's prediction of David DeCastro less likely.

Outside of the recovering Kenny Britt, Tennessee lacks explosive playmakers on the outside. If the Titans hope to see Jake Locker succeed, they must surround him with talent. Michael Floyd's combination of size and speed gives Locker another dangerous weapon.

No. 21: Cincinnati Bengals

McShay's Pick: Fletcher Cox, Defensive Line, Mississippi State

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Cordy Glenn, Offensive Line, Georgia

My Pick: Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

The shaky play of safeties Chris Crocker and Reggie Nelson played a major role in the Cincinnati Bengals' early playoff exit. Nelson was just re-signed, making Crocker's starting spot less secure.

Mark Barron's leadership and physical abilities would instantly improve the Bengals' safety play. Owning two first-round picks gives Cincinnati the luxury of adding to positions that might not be a major need.

That thought process also holds true for Kiper's prediction of Cordy Glenn. The Bengals don't necessarily need to make major upgrades along the offensive line, but a prospect like Glenn could make a major impact. He's someone they can line up at either guard or tackle.

Fletcher Cox would add some depth at defensive tackle, a position which saw Jonathan Fanene leave via free agency.

No. 22: Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta)

McShay's Pick: Michael Brockers, Defensive Tackle, LSU

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Lavonte David, Linebacker, Nebraska

My Pick: Mike Adams, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

McShay's prediction of Michael Brockers makes the least sense among the projections. His addition would only provide the Cleveland Browns with depth behind entrenched starters Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin. The Browns have too many other needs to pull the trigger on Brockers here in the first round.

Linebacker is an area of need, but Lavonte David's limited size makes him a reach in the first round. However, he's a talented player that might carry better value in the second round.

Adding Mike Adams would give the Browns excellent bookend offensive tackles. At this point, Oniel Cousins is slated to start at right tackle. Adams' skills set makes him an instant upgrade for the Browns.

No. 23: Detroit Lions

McShay's Pick: Mike Adams, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback, South Carolina

My Pick: Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama

Eric Wright is far from an elite cornerback, but losing him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will impact the Detroit Lions defense.

This is why Kiper and I have the Lions selecting the top available prospect at the cornerback position. Stephon Gilmore and Dre Kirkpatrick are not only capable of replacing Wright but also provide an upgrade.

McShay's projection of Mike Adams serves as a long-term replacement for the aging Jeff Backus, who just re-signed. He also provides depth behind the inconsistent and injury-prone Gosder Cherilus.

No. 24: Pittsburgh Steelers

McShay's Pick: Dont'a Hightower, Linebacker, Alabama

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Dont'a Hightower, Linebacker, Alabama

My Pick: Courtney Upshaw, Linebacker, Alabama

The Pittsburgh Steelers must use the upcoming draft to add some youth to their aging defense. This team especially needs more explosive athletes at the linebacker position. Both Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw possess the skills needed to fit into Pittsburgh's system.

Hightower makes sense as a middle linebacker who could step in for James Farrior or Larry Foote. However, he's also versatile enough to play some outside linebacker in place of the oft-suspended James Harrison.

Upshaw's more of a fit at outside linebacker only but possesses more upside than Hightower. He features a lot of similar skills to LaMarr Woodley, who excels in Dick LeBeau's system.

No. 25: Denver Broncos

McShay's Pick: Jerel Worthy, Defensive Tackle, Michigan State

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Fletcher Cox, Defensive Line, Mississippi State

My Pick: Fletcher Cox, Defensive Line, Mississippi State

Peyton Manning coming to the Denver Broncos shouldn't have a major impact on their draft plans. Denver has several good pieces in place on offense but still needs help on the defensive side of the ball. Kiper, McShay and I all project a penetrating defensive tackle as the pick at No. 25.

Jerel Worthy is as talented as any defensive lineman in this draft class. However, he struggles with consistency, which limits his overall impact. He's the type of player who, if coached correctly, could prove a major steal.

The nonstop motor of Fletcher Cox makes him a safer pick in the first round. His combination of effort and athleticism will allow him to penetrate the pocket consistently.

No. 26: Houston Texans

McShay's Pick: Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Baylor

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Baylor

My Pick: Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Baylor

Kendall Wright's poor performance at the combine makes his upcoming pro day very important. If he's able to improve on his 4.61 40-time, he'll solidify himself as a first-round prospect.

Kiper, McShay and I all put more emphasis on performance on the field. This is why we still have him coming off the board late in the first round.

The Houston Texans really need to bring someone in to draw coverage away from Andre Johnson. Maybe more importantly, they also must find someone who can make plays when Johnson's out with injury. The past two seasons have seen Johnson miss some time with nagging injuries.

No. 27: New England Patriots (from New Orleans)

McShay's Pick: Whitney Mercilus, Defensive End/Linebacker, Illinois

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Kendall Reyes, Defensive Line, Connecticut

My Pick: Nick Perry, Defensive End/Linebacker, USC

Adding talent on the defensive side of the ball needs to be the New England Patriots' main focus in the draft.

Last season, this unit allowed over 410 yards per game, ranking it among the worst units in the NFL. The wide range of needs makes adding the best defender available a very realistic strategy.

However, their decision to let Mark Anderson and Andre Carter test the free-agent market makes finding a pass-rusher No. 1 on the list of needs. McShay and I project players who showed the ability to generate pressure during their college careers.

Whitney Mercilus and Nick Perry are versatile players capable of lining up in either a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. Bill Belichick values versatility, especially at the defensive end and linebacker positions.

Kendall Reyes is one of my favorite prospects, who's capable of playing many roles along the defensive line. Belichick could line him up at the five-technique, three-technique or nose tackle spots.

No. 28: Green Bay Packers

McShay's Pick: Andre Branch, Linebacker/Defensive End, Clemson

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Nick Perry, Linebacker/Defensive End, USC

My Pick: Peter Konz, Center, Wisconsin

Finding a replacement for Scott Wells, who left via free agency, and another pass-rusher are the Green Bay Packers' most pressing needs. Those needs are represented well in the above projections. The center position doesn't feature a lot of good prospects, so adding Peter Konz here might be necessary.

However, Nick Perry and Andre Branch boast the quickness to generate a lot of pressure on the quarterback. The Packers need to find a way to balance need vs. best player available. Selecting any of the above players would improve the team.

No. 29: Baltimore Ravens

McShay's Pick: Peter Konz, Center, Wisconsin

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Peter Konz, Center, Wisconsin

My Pick: Kendall Reyes, Defensive Line, Connecticut

The free-agent losses of Cory Redding and Jarret Johnson thinned out the front seven of the Baltimore Ravens defense.

Redding's departure leaves Pernell McPhee and Arthur Jones to battle for his starting spot. Both are good players, but bringing in Kendall Reyes will only strengthen the competition.

McShay and Kiper like Peter Konz for the Ravens as an immediate replacement for Ben Grubbs, who signed with the New Orleans Saints. He also gives them a long-term replacement for Matt Birk, who's due to retire in a few years.

No. 30: San Francisco 49ers

McShay's Pick: Stephen Hill, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Stephen Hill, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

My Pick: Stephen Hill, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

The San Francisco 49ers brought in Randy Moss and Mario Manningham, but neither possesses the potential of Stephen Hill.

At 6'4", 215 pounds, Hill brings a rare combination of size, speed and leaping ability. Adding a young and explosive playmaker like Hill could make this offense a dangerous unit for years to come.

Hill's mind-blowing performance at the combine could result in a major jump in his stock. It has already been reported that he met with Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith. If Hill is off the board, look for the 49ers to add the best player available.

No. 31: New England Patriots

McShay's Pick: Devon Still, Defensive Tackle, Penn State

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, North Alabama

My Pick: Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, North Alabama

Janoris Jenkins is exactly the type of player Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots would select late in the first round. He possesses top-10 talent, but off-field issues have hurt his draft stock.

Belichick feels his system and "the Patriot way" can overcome any character issues. He took chances on players like Chad Ochocinco, Albert Haynesworth, Randy Moss and Aaron Hernandez.

As I mentioned earlier, placing a heavy focus on the defensive side of the ball should be the Patriots' draft plan. McShay's projection of Devon Still fits that mold and would provide New England with a disruptive presence up front.

No. 32: New York Giants

McShay's Pick: Coby Fleener, Tight End, Stanford

Kiper Jr.'s Pick: Coby Fleener, Tight End, Stanford

My Pick: Doug Martin, Running Back, Boise State

Adding Martellus Bennett via free agency doesn't eliminate the New York Giants from selecting a tight end early in the 2012 draft. Bennett has mostly underperformed during his career, making him someone New York shouldn't rely on.

Coby Fleener's size, quickness and route running make him a major mismatch. Eli Manning hasn't had a threat like this at tight end since Jeremy Shockey.

New York has been running a two-headed running back attack for the past several years. The decision to part ways with Brandon Jacobs leaves a hole at the No. 2 running back spot. Doug Martin doesn't have the same measurables as Jacobs but might actually be a better short-yardage back.

It might not take too long for Martin to overtake Ahmad Bradshaw as the starter.