2012 NFL Mock Draft: A Very Early Look Towards the 2012 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL draft has come and gone, and now it's time to focus in on the 2012 NFL draft—just kidding.
But maybe a quick glance at a 2012 NFL mock draft wouldn't hurt after all.
We all know that Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck will be the first overall pick in 2012, but who will fall after him? Will there be any surprise prospects that had a breakout year in 2012? We'll soon find out.
I have stated several times before, I am not an expert, but I consider myself an expert fan—a fan with strong insight and great knowledge of the NFL.
I hope you all enjoy this very early mock draft!
This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net. Be sure to follow Tony Santorsa on Twitter @ TonySantorsa.
1. Washington Redskins: Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
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Andrew Luck elected to stay his final season at Stanford to complete his degree. However, if Luck entered the 2011 NFL draft, then he would have been the obvious choice for first overall.
Luck is a once-in-a-decade type of quarterback and will go first overall in 2012.
2. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE North Carolina
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North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples played tremendously in 2010 while he filled in for the suspended Robert Quinn.
Coples recorded a total of 10 sacks in 2010 and will likely dominate his final season as a Tar Heel.
The Carolina Panthers defensive line is definitely not where head coach Ron Rivera would like it to be, and Coples would make a great addition to the team's defensive line.
3. Buffalo Bills: Matt Barkley, QB USC
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The Buffalo Bills need to find a quarterback for the future, and USC's Matt Barkley seems to be the right guy.
Barkley put up some quality numbers as a Trojan in 2010, as he threw 26 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions. As Barkley enters 2011, he's already emerged as a team leader and a quarterback who plays with great anticipation.
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4. Cleveland Browns: Matt Kalil, OT USC
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Matt Kalil is a 6'5", 295 lbs. offensive tackle that can play either right tackle or left tackle due his incredible athleticism and strength.
The Cleveland Browns could definitely use some help protecting young quarterback Colt McCoy, and Kalil looks to be the perfect fit.
Kalil will likely be the first offensive tackle taken in 2012.
5. Seattle Seahawks: Janoris Jenkins, CB Florida
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The Seattle Seahawks are one of the worst passing defenses in the league, and cornerback Janoris Jenkins will likely be slotted in as the best defensive back available.
Jenkins is a solid athlete with great athleticism and is a playmaker, as he snagged three interceptions last season.
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Jayron Hosley, CB Virginia Tech
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Virginia Tech's Jayron Hosley will be under the radar as he enters his junior season in 2011.
Hosley is a great cover-cornerback who has solid ball skills. In 2010, Hosley recorded an amazing nine interceptions.
7. Oakland Raiders: Landry Jones, QB Oklahoma
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Jason Campbell isn't the future for the Oakland Raiders, no matter how badly Al Davis wants him to be.
Oklahoma's Landry Jones is a very talented quarterback with all the intangibles to be great in the NFL.
8. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT Michigan State
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Jerel Worthy is a very active 6'3", 305 lbs. defensive tackle.
Worthy would be a great asset in Denver's defense, as he'd be a very disruptive player against opposing teams.
9. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford
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Jonathan Martin is an enormous offensive tackle standing at 6'6" and 305 lbs.—and he'll only get bigger.
Martin is a key pass protector for Andrew Luck, and he'll be the Arizona Cardinals' future left tackle for many years to come.
10. Miami Dolphins: Alshon Jeffery, WR South Carolina
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Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery had an incredible 2010 for South Carolina. He snagged 88 passes for 1,517 yards while scoring nine touchdowns.
Jeffery proved to be a great clutch and productive wide receiver, and he'd fit in nicely opposite of Miami Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall.
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Marcus Forston, DL Miami
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Miami's Marcus Forston has a huge amount of potential and upside and would be the perfect anchor for the Kansas City Chiefs' defensive line.
Forston is 6'3" and 310 lbs., and he'd demand double teams on nearly every play while clogging opposing teams' running holes.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State
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The Minnesota Vikings are going to need to find weapons for rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, and Justin Blackmon looks to be one of the best entering the 2012 NFL draft.
Blackmon was very productive his sophomore year, as he reeled in 111 balls for 1,782 yards while scoring an incredible 20 touchdowns.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cliff Harris, CB Oregon
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The Jacksonville Jaguars could definitely add some athlecisim to their team while adding a solid cornerback prospect in Cliff Harris out of Oregon.
Harris is most notable for his amazing playmaking ability, as he recorded six interceptions in 2010. Also, Harris is a very solid kick/punt returner.
14. San Francisco 49ers: D’Andre “Dre” Kirkpatrick
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Dre Kirkpatrick is an up-and-coming shutdown cornerback for Alabama.
Kirkpatrick will likely have a stellar season in the Southeastern Conference and would offer some much-needed help in San Francisco's secondary.
15. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame
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The Chicago Bears have yet to find a number one wide receiver for quarterback Jay Cutler, and Michael Floyd could be their best shot.
Floyd is a huge target as he stands in at 6'3" and 230 lbs.—a very, very physical wide receiver.
16. Houston Texans: Jared Crick, DT Nebraska
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Nebraska's Jared Crick may not be the most athletic guy, but he's got amazing strength and is very difficult to block.
Crick would be a perfect five-technique defensive tackle in Houston's 3-4 defensive alignment.
17. Dallas Cowboys: Courtney Upshaw, LB Alabama
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The Dallas Cowboys could use some help at the linebacker position, and Courtney Upshaw is one of the best inside linebackers in the 2012 draft class.
Upshaw tallied up seven sacks and 52 tackles for Alabama in 2010—he'd fit very nicely in Dallas' 3-4 defense.
18. Cleveland Browns (via Atlanta Falcons): Jeff Fuller, WR Texas A&M
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Wide receiver Jeff Fuller proved to be a very productive playmaking wide receiver in 2010 at Texas A&M.
The Cleveland Browns need to find a number one wide receiver for Colt McCoy, and Fuller is one of the best available due to his amazing size (6'4" and 215 lbs.) and very solid production at the college level.
19. Tennessee Titans: Stephon Gilmore, CB South Carolina
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The Tennessee Titans could definitely use some help in their defensive backfield, and Stephon Gilmore is the best cornerback available.
In 2010 for South Carolina, Gilmore was extremely productive, as he recorded 71 tackles and three interceptions.
20. New York Giants: Manti Te'o, LB Notre Dame
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o was a tackling machine in 2010, as he brought down 129 ball carriers. He's a very aggressive and physical linebacker that's only going to improve.
Te'o would be an infusion of youth in the New York Giants' linebacker corps.
21. Detroit Lions: Matt Reynolds, OT BYU
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The Detroit Lions addressed all of their defensive needs in the 2011 NFL draft, and now they need to add some offensive linemen to protect Matthew Stafford.
BYU's Matt Reynolds is an enormous and aggressive offensive tackle who stands in at 6'7" and weighs 330 lbs.—certainly has enough size and power to excel at the next level.
22. New England Patriots (via New Orleans): Luke Kuechly, LB Boston College
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Luke Kuechly was freakishly productive in 2012, as he recorded an incredible 183 tackles to go along with three interceptions and one-and-a-half sacks.
Kuechly is a versatile linebacker that could be molded into an either outside or inside linebacker in New England's 3-4 defense.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Billy Winn, DT Boise State
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are a very complete NFL team, but still need to add a lot of depth at multiple positions, defensive line being one.
Boise State's Billy Winn is a solid prospect who should have a breakout season in 2011.
24. San Diego Chargers: Vontaze Burfict, LB Arizona State
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Vontaze Burfict is a solid 6'3", 245 lbs. linebacker out of Arizona who was very productive in 2010 when he tallied up 89 tackles. Burfict should have an even better season in 2011, as he's still got a lot of developing to do.
San Diego could use some help at the linebacker position, and Burfict appears to be the best fit.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zach Brown, LB North Carolina
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a young, up-and-coming defense but still need some depth added to their linebacker corps.
North Carolina's Zach Brown will be one of the best 4-3 linebackers in the draft, as he's set to have a very productive season in 2011.
26. Indianapolis Colts: Ray-Ray Armstrong, S Miami
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Miami's Ray-Ray Armstrong is a playmaking defensive back who would be a solid selection for the Indianapolis Colts.
Armstrong had a very satisfying season in 2010 for the Hurricanes, as he recorded 79 tackles and three interceptions.
27. St. Louis Rams: Trent Richardson, RB Alabama
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Alabama's Trent Richardson ran for 700 yards and six touchdowns in 2010 and is only going to get better in 2011.
The St. Louis Rams have an elite running back in Steven Jackson, but he's not getting any younger and could use some pressure taken off of him—so Richardson may be the best selection at this point for St. Louis.
28. New York Jets: Keenan Robinson, LB Texas
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Texas linebacker Keenan Robinson is definitely going to be under the radar entering the 2011 NCAA season, but he's been a very impressive player for the Longhorns.
Rex Ryan and the New York Jets could always use help at the linebacker position, and Robinson would likely be the best selection available that offers the most value at this point.
29. Philadelphia Eagles: Travis Lewis, LB Oklahoma
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Travis Lewis is a very athletic and quick linebacker who is best suited for a 4-3 defense such as the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles will need to add some depth at the linebacker position and definitely could use some youth, and Lewis offers the most value at this point of the draft.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Jenkins, DE Florida State
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The Baltimore Ravens defense isn't getting any younger, but they've done a nice job over the years by infusing youth at positions that are aging.
Defensive end Brandon Jenkins looks to be a player that will offer a lot of value for the Ravens in the later-first round of the draft. Jenkins was a sack machine at Florida State in 2010, as he ended up with 13.5.
31. Green Bay Packers: Robert Lester, S Alabama
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Defensive back Robert Lester offers too much talent and potential to pass on, and the Green Bay Packers will gladly select the Alabama star.
Lester was one of the team's top playmakers in 2010, as he snagged eight interceptions while mixing in 52 tackles.
32. New England Patriots: Andre Branch, DE Clemson
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After another year of an inconsistent pass rush, the Patriots will be forced to take Andre Branch out of Clemson.
The Clemson defensive end had a very solid season in 2010, when he tallied up 54 tackles, six sacks and seven tackles for a loss.
Branch, as of right now, looks to be very well-rounded and could be a solid fit in New England's 3-4 defensive front.
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