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

ESPN NFL draft expert Todd McShay recently released his final mock draft of this year's process, and while much of his projection is sound, there are three spots where he is way off the mark.

Here is a look at where McShay got things wrong in his final mock of the 2012 NFL Draft.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

I agree with McShay that the Jaguars need to address their pass rush. And with Justin Blackmon off the board, there is no value present at their top need. Jacksonville's 4-3 defense needs a really good player off the edge to boost a pass rush that totaled just 31 sacks in 2011.

Mercilus is a nice player, but he's not close to the best edge rusher available. The Jaguars are more likely to land a guy like South Carolina's Melvin Ingram. He is the most versatile defensive player in the draft, and while he doesn't have ideal size for the position, Ingram was a big-time playmaker in college who should make an impact during his rookie year. 

If the Jags want to reach for someone like Mercilus, they might as well over-draft at receiver and take Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, who would fill the team's biggest need.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

McShay has the Chiefs on the board with nose tackle Dontari Poe and inside linebacker Luke Kuechly off the board. He has them taking Barron, a versatile safety who is one of the hottest names in this year's draft class. Clearly, his reasoning is likely that, with their top two choices gone, the Chiefs will go with the best player available.

He's wrong here because there are plenty of guys who could make a bigger impact for Kansas City than Barron. An edge rusher like Syracuse's Chandler Jones or a guy like LSU's Michael Brockers, who can play nose tackle, would also be a fit. Stanford guard David DeCastro could also be an option.

Barron is a solid player who should make an easy transition to the NFL, but I don't see any way he ends up with the Chiefs. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

I can tell you this right now: If David DeCastro is available at No. 18, the Chargers will grab him. In McShay's mock, they opt to pass on the Stanford guard and go with Ingram, a versatile athlete off the edge.

What people haven't been considering is that the Chargers are pretty much set at outside linebacker. They signed free agent Jarret Johnson in free agency and have a Pro Bowler in Shaun Phillips on the other side. For depth, the Bolts have Antwan Barnes, who racked up 11 sacks in 2011. He and Johnson will likely rotate in and out depending on down and distance.

San Diego's offensive line was a mess in 2011, and then Pro Bowler Kris Dielman retired in the offseason. Adding a guy like DeCastro will go a long way to fixing things up front of Philip Rivers.