FIRST ROUND IS ON HIM
NFL writer Sam Farmer offers a mock draft with some well-educated guesses. A QB cluster at top is a safe bet
Three quarterbacks in the first four picks of next month’s draft? Four first-round choices from Alabama, and three each from Stanford and Louisiana State? And the rarity of more first-round guards (three) than tackles? That’s the way Times’ NFL writer Sam Farmer sees it. Here’s how he thinks the opening round 1INDIANAPOLIS: could go:
QB Andrew Luck,
Stanford — The Colts have made some noise recently about considering Robert Griffin III, but this pass has been telegraphed for months. It’s Luck.
2WASHINGTON: QB Robert Griffin III,
Baylor — Griffin has it all. He’s very bright, freakishly athletic and has pinpoint accuracy on his deep passes. Now, it’s on the Redskins to capitalize on that.
3MINNESOTA: OT Matt Kalil, USC — The Vikings need a left tackle to hold down the spot that Bryant Mckinnie maintained for the last decade. Kalil is a good fit here and will be reliable.
4CLEVELAND: QB Ryan Tannehill,
Texas A&M — Mike Holmgren loves Tannehill, but Browns could go for an RB (Trent Richardson), WR (Justin Blackmon) or CB (Morris Claiborne).
5TAMPA BAY: RB Trent Richardson, Alabama — If Cleveland doesn’t take Richardson, the Buccaneers might find him too good to pass up, even though they also have a desperate need at corner.
6ST. LOUIS: WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State — Sam Bradford would love having this target. Blackmon had 121catches last season. With an aging Steven Jackson, Richardson fits too.
7JACKSONVILLE: CB Morris Claiborne, LSU — The Jaguars need pass rushers too, but Claiborne is a safer pick than DE Quinton Coples. GM Gene Smith is the type to play this one safe.
8MIAMI: DT Dontari Poe, Memphis — If you’re going to gamble, gamble on a huge guy who plays hard, and that’s Poe. Of course, if Tannehill is on the board, the Dolphins will go quarterback.
9CAROLINA: DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina — At his best, Coples can be dominant. The question about him is whether he gives his maximum effort snap after snap.
10BUFFALO: OT Riley Reiff, Iowa — Reiff is smart and technically sound. He’s not as athletic as Kalil, but he has what it takes to lock down a starting job for the Bills for many years to come.
11KANSAS LSU — Lots CITY: of mock DT Michael drafts have Brockers, Poe going Brockers to the can Chiefs, play inside and that or outside, makes sense. and he 12SEATTLE: upgrades the run defense. ILB Luke Kuechly, Boston to re-sign College middle linebacker — The Seahawks David Hawthorne. have yet enough Kuechly to be the is Day instinctive 1starter and in that athletic spot.
13ARIZONA: DE/OLB — With Melvin Joey Porter Ingram, done and South Clark Carolina Haggans near the end of his career, to a team Ingram needing would pass be rushers. a welcome addition
14DALLAS: — If CB all the Dre elite Kirkpatrick, pass rushers Alabama are off the the back board, end the of Cowboys their defense. will look At nearly to solidify 15PHILADELPHIA: 6-3, he has very good size for a corner.
Mississippi State — DT If Cox Fletcher is still Cox, around for the Eagles. at this point, He’s very he will agile be and hard can to put resist
16NEW more weight on his 6-foot-4 frame.
YORK JETS: WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame — The Jets need
to weapon. give Mark Floyd Sanchez can stretch another defenses receiving and is
17CINCINNATI: big enough to go up and CB get Stephon the ball. Gilmore, is a little South raw Carolina and still learning — Scouts to say play Gilmore with his huge back potential. to the ball, but he’s athletic and has
DIEGO: TE Coby Fleener, Stanford
18SAN 19CHICAGO: the baton end and of his — run With career, with Antonio it. Fleener He might Gates could not nearing take last the until the Stanford second — round. Andrew OG David Luck Decastro, says DeCastro of also 20TENNESSEE: player could plays who be angry, a can spot help and for Chicago’s a that’s receiver. just line. the This kind Illinois — The DE Titans Whitney have Mercilus, only two true Wimbley defensive and ends Derrick on the Morgan. roster, Kamerion They also might use their top pick on a corner.
21CINCINNATI: Georgia — The OG Bengals Cordy could Glenn, use a running but Glenn back could and help at least solidify one the pass offensive rusher, line, 22CLEVELAND: something Andy Dalton would appreciate.
WR Kendall Wright,
upgrade Baylor a lackluster — Griffin’s Browns top receiving target would corps. caught 23DETROIT: The 108 passes speedy, last field-stretching season. Wright
S Mark Barron, Alabama
improve against — Think the pass? Detroit Matt needs Flynn to threw for speed 480 to yards play on either the Lions. corner Barron or safety. has the
24PITTSBURGH: OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama — Upshaw is a physical 3-4 outside linebacker who’s a good fit for an aging defense. Reminds some of Lamarr Woodley.
25DENVER: RB David Wilson, Virginia Tech — Wilson has the breakaway speed that Knowshon Moreno doesn’t. The Broncos also could use a receiver for Peyton Manning and will consider a center.
26HOUSTON: WR Rueben Randle,
LSU — Lined up opposite Andre Johnson, Randle could take some of the pressure off that Pro Bowl receiver. Randle is tall and lean at 6-4, 205 pounds.
27NEW ENGLAND: DE Nick Perry,
USC — Scouts call Perry a relentless “high-motor” guy, and he appears to be just the type Bill Belichick likes. He had a Pac-12high 9 1⁄ 2 sacks last season.
28GREEN BAY: OG Amini Silatolu, Midwestern State — The Packers are always looking to upgrade their offensive line, and Silatolu would be a quality addition, although a lightly experienced one.
29BALTIMORE: C Peter Konz, Wisconsin — The Ravens are looking for their next Matt Birk, and that just might be the reliable Konz, the best center in this draft class.
30SAN FRANCISCO: DT Devon Still, Penn State — The 49ers are a physical team who will look to build on what they established in their first season under Jim Harbaugh. Still fits that pattern.
31NEW ENGLAND: DT Kendall Reyes, Connecticut — Reyes might be around if the Patriots wait, and they also need secondary help, but his stock is climbing and he wouldn’t be a bad pickup here.
32NEW YORK GIANTS: DT Jerel
Worthy, Michigan State — But for all the talent at defensive tackle in this draft, Worthy would go in the top half of the first round. The Giants need depth on the interior.