Mel Kiper Jr. 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Most Interesting Predictions from ESPN Guru

The mocks are coming in droves these days now that the 2012 NFL draft is so close at hand. ESPN guru and Pomade proponent Mel Kiper Jr. has been busy predicting how the proceedings will play out, with more than a few picks stirring up the pot among gridiron geeks.

Like, say, these three keepers, courtesy of Kiper.

Michael Floyd to the Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals could use a helping hand (or four) at several spots across the field, including tackle (both offensive and defensive) and outside linebacker.

Kiper, though, has the Cards opting for Michael Floyd at No. 13.

A strange pick at first glance, considering Arizona already has one of the league's best wide receivers on its roster in Larry Fitzgerald.

However, without much talent to complement Fitzgerald on the other side of the field, and with so much still invested in quarterback Kevin Kolb, adding a pass catcher of Floyd's caliber actually makes a ton of sense, especially at this point in the draft.

Dre Kirkpatrick to the Tennessee Titans

You'd think that the Titans would know better than to pick up a troubled cornerback in the first round, after adding Adam "Pac-Man" Jones with the sixth-overall pick in the 2005 draft.

But that regime has long since left the Music City, taking former Pro Bowler Cortland Finnegan along with it.

As such, taking Dre Kirkpatrick at No. 20 isn't exactly perplexing, though given his checkered past (and the presumed availability of South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore), you'd think Tennessee would consider going in a slightly different direction.

Brandon Weeden to the Cleveland Browns

The Browns won't have a shot at Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III and, according to Kiper, are unlikely to reach for someone like Brock Osweiler with the Atlanta Falcons' pick at No. 22.

Never fear, though, Clevelanders! Some good ol' fashioned American splendor may well be on its way, even after the passing of Harvey Pekar.

And his name is Brandon Weeden. The 28-year-old Oklahoma State star is slated to go 37th overall on Mel's big board, in a spot similar to that in which the Cincinnati Bengals found Andy Dalton last year. The Browns would love nothing more than for the next Dalton to fall into their lap, if for no other reason than to find someone to push (or replace) Colt McCoy.

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