Todd McShay 2012 Mock Draft: Where ESPN Expert Went Wrong in Latest Projection

Todd McShay's latest 2012 mock draft largely agrees with my assessment of the first round, expect for three picks that he misses wildly on.

The fact that I only found three bad picks in his entire projection is actually impressive. But here are the following mistakes he made, and my assessment of what will happen at each spot.

9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

McShay has Cox going to the Panthers here with Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe still on the board. The Panthers will snag Poe if he's here. 

At 6'4" and 346 pounds, Poe is a once-in-a-generation athlete who absolutely blew up the Scouting Combine this year, while Cox is a nice player who has the ability to get after the quarterback and stand up to tough offensive linemen against the run. 

Ron Rivera knows the importance of having a force at defensive tackle. Poe has as much upside as anyone in this year's draft and I think he will be the pick at this spot in the the draft.

16. New York Jets: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

Jones is certainly an underrated prospect but I think 16 is far too high for him. Rex Ryan may like Jones' raw skill, but I think he'll want a more polished prospect at this spot.

The Jets need an edge rusher but looking at the guys Ryan has had in the past, I don't think Jones fits the profile of of that kind of player. Ryan likes tough, rugged guys who can not only rush the passer but also hold their ground against the run. Jones is more of a pure rusher.

Alabama's Courtney Upshaw is a much better fit. At 6'2" and 272 pounds, Upshaw will fit perfectly as a 3-4 outside linebacker in New York and is the kind of guy that Ryan will absolutely love.

Jones is generally an underrated commodity, but McShay has grossly overrated his value in his latest mock draft.

19. Chicago Bears: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore has enough talent to come off the board higher and I think he will. The Bengals could grab him at No. 17, and even if Gilmore lasts until here, the Bears desperately need to upgrade their offensive line. 

Yes, Chicago could use a cornerback but there are more pressing needs on the team's roster. A defensive end would be a fit as well, but an offensive tackle like Mike Adams, Cordy Glenn (who can also play guard) or Jonathan Martin is what the Bears desperately need. 

McShay was making a guess here because the Bears share a division with quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford, but he's off on this one.