2012 NFL Mock Draft: Ryan Tannehill and Players Who Will Force Teams to Trade Up

With Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III all but guaranteed to go first and second in the upcoming draft, it is going to leave every other QB-needy team scrambling to land the next-best QB, Ryan Tannehill. 

He isn't the only player that is going to send teams scrambling to move up. In my latest mock draft I am going to highlight these players. The mock won't include trades, but it will point out which players are going to force teams to trade and which teams will consider moving up. 

Langford's 2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Plenty of teams would like to trade up for a shot at Luck, but the Colts won't let him go anywhere but Indianapolis. 

2.  Washington Redskins via St. Louis: Robert Griffin III 

The Redskins already proved that Griffin was a player that would force teams to trade up. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is a supremely talented and proven tackle. 

 

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns will likely be torn between Richardson and Justin Blackmon here. Richardson will get the nod because he is the better prospect.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Why Claiborne Will Force Teams to Trade Up

Claiborne is a big, physical corner with quickness. He doesn't have the jaw-dropping size/speed ratio that his former teammate Patrick Peterson blew scouts away with, but it is still impressive. 

Claiborne's real strength is in his feet. His footwork is pro-ready and his balance is amazing. He will excel in man-to-man and has the size to excel in a Cover 2 scheme as well. He is easily the best corner in this draft. 

Which Teams Will Be in the Hunt

The Jaguars at No. 7 may tempted to offer a swap if Claiborne falls this low, although they will likely be content to wait and take a defensive lineman. 

The Bills will definitely be working the phones. They desperately need CB help, and at No. 10 the jump would not be too costly.

The real dark horse is New England. The Patriots have plenty of picks to offer and they could use Claiborne's skill. 

6. St. Louis Rams via Washington: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Rams will be ecstatic if Blackmon is still available. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Coples is exactly what the pass rush-starved Jaguars need. 

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Why Tannehill Will Force Teams to Trade Up

Tannehill is raw, but his ceiling is through the roof. He is a potential QB of the future and easily the best prospect behind Luck and Griffin. 

He has perfect size, a strong arm, solid accuracy and he is mobile. There are plenty of teams that would love to land Tannehill and groom him to be the QB of the future.

Which Teams Will Be in the Hunt

The Chiefs and Cardinals sit at Nos. 11 and 13, respectively. They both could use a QB of the future and have decent starters to hold down the fort in the meantime. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State 

The Panthers must solidify their defensive line. Still will be a nice start. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick has some serious character concerns, but the Bills have serious secondary needs.  

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford 

The Chiefs need to restock their offensive line, and DeCastro is a perfect fit.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Seattle needs to find a defensive tackle that can provide the occasional QB pressure up the middle.  

13. Arizona Cardinals: Johnathan Martin, T, Stanford

Martin will help add toughness and run-blocking to the Cardinals line. 

 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly will help the Cowboys solidify their run defense and bring needed consistency. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

If the Eagles are smart, they will take the best offensive tackle available. 

16. New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Ingram will bring speed and athleticism to a slow Jets front seven. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals via OAK: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

The Bengals will add another skill-position cornerstone to their offense. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois 

The Chargers need a boost of intimidating physicality. Mercilus will instantly toughen them up. 

19. Chicago Bears: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Konz is a fabulous center and will be an instant upgrade for the Bears in the middle of their offensive line. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Why Barron Will Force Teams to Trade Up

Barron is an ideal safety prospect. He has a good/size to speed ration, solid footwork, good awareness, the feet to play in coverage and the toughness to crowd the line and stuff the run. 

He is easily the best strong safety prospect in this draft, and strong safety is a thin position in the NFL these days. Good free agents are hard to find and they are pricey when they are. Barron will be a comparative bargain. 

Which Teams Will Be in the Hunt

The Broncos must replenish their aging secondary. They are thin at every position, and they need a strong safety. 

The Patriots could be in play here as well. They had a patchwork safety combo last year, and they have plenty of picks to play with in this draft. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins is a supremely gifted man-to-man corner, and the Bengals will not be deterred by his character concerns.  

22. Cleveland Browns via ATL: Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

Mike Holmgren likes drafting hungry defensive players. Brown will be a nice fit with a promising defense.

23. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Glenn is a potential bully. He will add needed toughness to the Lions offensive line. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Steelers want to get back to a more physical brand of football. They aren't going to do that without some new lineman. 

25. Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Denver is as thin at defensive tackle as it is at safety. Cox will be a nice fit.

26. Houston Texans: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd has the talent to be drafted much higher. His hefty baggage will weigh him down. 

27. New England Patriots via NO: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

If the Patriots hold onto their picks they will stock up on defense. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

The Packers defense fell apart last season. Finding another pass-rusher will be a good start towards rebuilding it. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Hightower is the exact kind of linebacker the Ravens love. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

The 49ers will continue to add talent to their receiving corps. 

31. New England Patriots: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

The Patriots need some youth on their defensive line. Branch is a nice fit for end in a 3-4.

32. New York Giants: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

The Giants will keep their defensive line stocked.