Mel Kiper 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Teams with Best Hauls in 3-Round Mock
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. released a three-round mock draft Wednesday, in which the long-time draft observer broke down the top 100 picks in the way he would go about the draft. Of course, Kiper makes it very clear that this way won't mirror what NFL teams do next week.
Still, here's a look at which teams got the best three-round hauls. There are several:
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Rd. 1 (No. 19): DE Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
Rd. 2 (No. 50): WR Brian Quick, Appalachian State
Rd. 3 (No. 79): DT Devon Still, Penn State
New Bears GM Phil Emery would do cartwheels if the draft fell to him like this. While the offensive line isn't addressed in the first three rounds, the Bears do get a pass-rusher in Mercilus, a receiver to replace Johnny Knox in Quick and an absolute steal in Still in the third round.
Emery can then play with his later-round picks to find a player or two on the offensive line. It will be hard for Emery to beat that kind of improvement with his first three selections next week.
Rd. 1 (No. 10): WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
Rd. 2 (No. 41): OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford
Rd. 3 (No. 71): LB Mychal Kendricks, Cal
Kiper gives Buffalo arguably the top haul in his three-round mock. Not only does it get an elite receiver to team with Steve Johnson in Floyd, but Martin and Kendricks are both great values at need positions.
Martin, who protected Andrew Luck's blindside for three years at Stanford, can immediately start at left tackle, and Kendricks is one of the draft's real hidden gems.
This is the kind of draft—when teamed with what the Bills did in free agency—that could easily propel the Bills into the playoffs next season.
Rd. 1 (No. 9): LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
Rd. 2 (No. 40): DE Nick Perry, USC
The Panthers only get two picks in the top 100, but they absolutely make the most of them in Kiper's mock.
Kuechly is a tackling machine who could either play in the middle or outside, depending on what the Panthers want to do with former Pro Bowler Jon Beason. Perry is the kind of slippery pass-rusher that Carolina needs to take the next step on defense.
Defensive tackle would still need help, but Perry and Kuechly represent a solid defensive tandem here.
Rd. 1 (No. 8): QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
Rd. 2 (No. 42): WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
Rd. 3 (No. 72): G James Brown, Troy
Rd. 3 (No. 73): CB Brandon Boykin, Georgia
Tannehill is the reach Miami has to make at No. 8, but I like what the Dolphins do after the first round.
Wright is a tremendous value in the early second round, and Brown could be a day one starter at guard. Boykin, who might fall because of his lack of height, is an underrated cover guy who can also add some punch on special teams.
Rd. 1 (No. 30): G Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin
Rd. 2 (No. 61): WR Rueben Randle, LSU
Rd. 3 (No. 92): DT Mike Martin, Michigan
49ers fans won't cheer a guard in the first round, but Zeitler is an immediate improvement inside and should be a starter right away. Getting Randle late in the second is a big-time value pick, and Martin is the kind of non-stop motor player who could contribute as a rotational guy on the 49ers defensive line.
Not a sexy first three picks, but there's plenty of value here for San Francisco.
Rd. 1 (No. 27): OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
Rd. 1 (No. 31): CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
Rd. 2 (No. 48): CB John Robinson, Central Florida
Rd. 2 (No. 62): G Brandon Brooks, Miami (Ohio)
Rd. 3 (No. 93): WR Chris Givens, Wake Forest
The Patriots get an obvious bonus due to the five top-100 picks they possess in this draft. But you still have to make the most of the picks, no matter how many or how few. Kiper absolutely does that for them here.
Upshaw is the kind of versatile defender that Bill Belichick will love, and Jenkins is worth the risk at the end of the first round. He'll be fine in that locker room.
Robinson is another value pick to upgrade the secondary, even if he's more athleticism than football tools at this point. At guard, Brooks is one of the most underrated prospects in this draft.
And just to top it off, New England gets a route-running master in Givens, who would make life very difficult for some of the veterans the Patriots have signed this season at receiver. He'd see playing time in year one.
By my count, that's five players who could play a role next season on a team that went to the Super Bowl in 2011.
Rd. 1 (No. 1): QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
Rd. 2 (No. 34): DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
Rd. 3 (No. 64): WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
The Colts are at the beginning of a long rebuilding process, but they get a good start here with three solid picks.
Luck is an obvious No. 1 pick, but Worthy and Broyles both represent good value at the start of the next two rounds.
Worthy will be the penetrating defensive lineman they need, and Broyles is player who could have been a much higher pick had he not blown out his knee last season. He'll make things easy once Reggie Wayne starts regressing.
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