USA TODAY International Edition
Mock draft: Luck leads QB trio at top
The NFL draft is scheduled for April 26- 28. Dane Brugler of Nfldraftscout.com projects how the first round will play out:
1. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
With Peyton Manning’s health uncertain, Luck is the best choice for the Colts’ short- and long- term future.
2. St. Louis Rams
Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California
The Rams offense has many needs, but Kalil would stop the revolving door at left tackle.
3. Minnesota Vikings
Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Minnesota tied for last in the league in interceptions, making the ballhawking Claiborne an enticing option.
4. Cleveland Browns
Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
The Browns seek an upgrade at quarterback and are in no position to pass on the Heisman Trophy winner.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Richardson is the complete package at running back. He immediately upgrades the Buccaneers’ 30th- ranked running game.
6. Washington Redskins
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texasa & M
Mike Shanahan continues searching for a quarterback, and Tannehill fills the bill.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
The Jaguars haven’t had a No. 1 wide receiver since Jimmy Smith retired, and Blackmon would be a value at this spot.
8. Carolina Panthers
Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
Brockers, a surprise addition to this draft class, has a high NFL ceiling. How high? Think Richard Seymour.
9. Miami Dolphins
Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
Reiff isn’t yet a finished product, but he’ll already serve as a hike in passblocking quality over aging Marc Colombo.
10. Buffalo Bills
Courtney Upshaw, DE- OLB, Alabama
The Bills finished tied for 27th in the league in sacks. Upshaw can team with former Tide teammate Marcel Dareus to create pressure in the 3- 4 or 4- 3 scheme.
11. Kansas City Chiefs
Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
The Jared Gaither experiment didn’t work out, and Martin would give the Chiefs an improvement at right tackle over Barry Richardson.
12. Seattle Seahawks
Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
Despite questions about his work ethic and maturity, Coples has elitelevel skills with the potential to be as good as he wants to become.
13. Arizona Cardinals
David Decastro, G, Stanford
A physical blocker, Decastro provides stability to a line in need of it.
14. Dallas Cowboys
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Off- field issues aside, Kirkpatrick has the natural ability to start immediately for the Cowboys.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
Kuechly isn’t flashy but has tremendous instincts. He’s the closest there is to a sure thing this draft class has to offer.
16. New York Jets
Melvin Ingram, DE- OLB, South Carolina
Ingram might be the most versatile defender in this draft. He finds ways to create pressure in the backfield.
17. Cincinnati Bengals ( from Oakland Raiders)
Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
The Bengals value cornerbacks in the first round and have shown willingness to take chances on players with questionable character. Jenkins might have the top pure cover ability in the draft.
18. San Diego Chargers
Nick Perry, DE- OLB, Southern California
The Chargers have gotten moderate production from their pass rush of late, and Perry is an athletic rusher off the edge.
19. Chicago Bears
Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
After Matt Forte went down, Chicago’s skill- position depth was exposed. Speedy and productive Wright makes plays at all levels of the field.
20. Tennessee Titans
Devon Still, DT, Penn State
At 6- 5, 310 pounds, the Big Ten defensive player of the year has rare movement skills, flexibility and footwork.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Mark Barron, S, Alabama
The consensus top safety in 2012, Barron can contribute against the run or drop in coverage with rangy athleticism.
22. Cleveland Browns ( from Atlanta Falcons)
Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
The Browns have a dire need for playmakers.
23. Detroit Lions
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
The Lions must add depth on the offensive line to maintain their high level of offense.
At 6- 5, 350 pounds, Poe is a talented nose tackle to groom behind aging and injured Casey Hampton in the middle of the Steelers’ three- man front.
25. Denver Broncos
Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson
Making the tight end position a bigger part of the offense would further Tim Tebow’s development.
26. Houston Texans
Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
Although WR Andre Johnson isn’t finished, the Texans saw what life was like without him for most of the season, and it wasn’t pretty.
27. New England Patriots ( from New Orleans Saints)
Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
The Patriots received better- than- expected production from an aging lot of pass rushers but lack true pressure personnel.
28. Green Bay Packers
Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
The Packers tied for 27th in sacks and need to get younger and stronger in the front seven.
29. Baltimore Ravens
Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
If 14- year veteran center Matt Birk retires, Konz would be the ideal target for the Ravens, who also could lose OT Bryant Mckinnie and G Ben Grubbs in free agency.
30. San Francisco 49ers
Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
The 49ers led the league in rush defense and takeaways but did it without depth at the cornerback position.
New York Giants
Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia
The Giants’ aging line needs a facelift, and Glenn provides them with a versatile guard who also can play tackle.
New England Patriots
Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia
With the NFL’S 31st- ranked pass defense in 2011, the Patriots realize they can’t spackle together a Super Bowl secondary every season.