Mock Draft 3.0

3. Minnesota Vikings-Matt Kalil-Offensive Tackle-USC
The
Vikings are looking to trade this pick as they know that they can get
Kalil a little later down the line. The problem is that there isn’t a
player talented enough to make another team trade up to this spot.

4. Cleveland Browns-Trent Richardson-Running Back-Alabama
Running
back Peyton Hillis is now with The Kansas City Chiefs and The Browns
need play makers on offense. Trent Richardson will be the team’s best
running back since Jamal Lewis.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Morris Claiborne-Cornerback-LSU
Cornerback
Aqib Talib is facing the possibility of being in prison next season and
Ronder Barber’s best years are in the rear view mirror. At this point
of the draft, Morris Claiborne is the best player available. Claiborne
could have the kind of impact for The Bucs that his college teammate
Patrick Peterson had in the secondary last season as a rookie for The
Arizona Cardinals.

6. St. Louis Rams-Justin Blackmon-Wide Receiver-Oklahoma State
The
Rams were a vertically challenged football team last season, and for
them to contend in The NFC West they have to upgrade the passing game.
Justin Blackmon can catch bb’s in the dark and will a nice target on the
outside for Rams quarterback Sam Bradford.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars-Melvin Ingram-Outside Linebacker-South Carolina
Melvin Ingram is the best player available and will give The Jaguars a formidable presence as a pass-rusher.

8. Miami Dolphins-Ryan Tannehill-Quarterback-Texas A&M
I think this might be a reach, but The Dolphins were spurned this
off-season by quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn. Joe Philbin is
the new head coach in Miami and might want to start fresh with a new
face at quarterback.

9. Carolina Panthers-Dontari Poe-Defensvie Tackle-Memphis
Dontari
Poe is a trouble maker on the defensive line and in a good way.
Drafting Poe will make The Panthers a contender for a Wild Card spot in
The NFC.

10. Buffalo Bills-Riley Reiff-Offensive Tackle-Iowa
The
Bills opened up the vault to pay quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and wide
receiver Steve Johnson. Giving Fitzpatrick protection up front to throw
to Johnson will be key.

11. Kansas City Chiefs-Michael Brockers-Defensive Tackle-LSU
If
The Chiefs draft Michael Brockers, they will have three former LSU
Tigers on the defensive line as Brockers will join Glenn Dorsey and
Tyson Jackson.

12. Seattle Seahawks-Luke Kuechly-Inside Linebacker-Boston College
Since
taking over in Seattle, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is all about
drafting the best athletes available. In this case The Seahawks need a
middle linebacker since releasing Lofa Tatupu last year.

13. Arizona Cardinals-David DeCastro-Guard-Stanford
Cardinals
head coach Ken Whisenhunt loves to run the football and with a
quarterback controversy looming between John Skelton and Kevin Kolb, The
Cards will be relying on running the ball.

14. Dallas Cowboys-Cordy Glenn-Guard-Georgia
The Cowboys need to improve the offensive line. Cordy Glenn is a physical lineman that will bring toughness.

15. Philadelphia Eagles-Johnathan Martin-Offensive Tackle-Stanford
Offensive Tackle Jason Peters recently ruptured his Achilles tendon and The Eagles must protect quarterback Michael Vick.

16. New York Jets-Michael Floyd-Wide Receiver-Notre Dame
The
Jets could be in line to get a pass-rusher, but Michael Floyd is the
best player available. The Jets need some explosion from the wide
receiver position as well.

17. Cincinnati Bengals-Dre Kirkpatrick-Cornerback-Alabama
Cornerback
Nate Clements is on the wrong side of 30 and Kirkpatrick would give
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis another great defender.

18. San Diego Chargers-Whitney Mercilus-Outside Linebacker-Illinois
The Chargers drafted Larry English a few seasons ago to be a
pass-rusher and he has not given them the production that they were
hoping for. I think that San Diego will try once again with Mercilus.
They know that will have rush the passer in a division with quarterbacks
Carson Palmer and Peyton Manning.

19. Chicago Bears-Amini Silatolu-Guard-Midwestern State
This
might look like a reach on the outside, but The Bears must protect
quarterback Jay Cutler as he has not been able to stay healthy in the
last two seasons.

20. Tennessee Titans-Quinton Coples-Defensive End-North Carolina
This
is another case where a team will take the best player available.
Quinton Coples is a freakishly good athlete than will come in
immediately and start in Nashville.

21. Cincinnati Bengals-Kendall Wright-Wide Receiver-Baylor
I
know that The Bengals drafted wide receiver A.J. Green in the first
round last year, but that doesn’t mean that they cannot take a receiver
to compliment him. Kendall Wright is a speedster that can stretch the
field and will give quarterback Andy Dalton another option to throw to.

22. Cleveland Browns-Coby Fleener-Tight End-Stanford
The Browns were in line to take Kendall Wright, but Coby Fleener is
not a bad choice to fall back on. Fleener could be tight end/h-back for
The Browns giving them some much needed versatility on offense.

23. Detroit Lions-Mike Adams-Offensive Tackle-Ohio State
Offensive tackle Jeff Backus is 34-years old. It will be interesting
to see if The Lions will plug Mike Adams in at left tackle, or move
Gosder Cherilus over to the left and place the rookie Adams at right
tackle.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers-Stephon Gilmore-Cornerback-South Carolina
If anyone saw The Steelers lose in The AFC Wild Card to The Denver
Broncos then they had an opportunity a secondary get barbequed by The
Broncos. The Steelers also have some issues on the offensive line, but
Stephon Gilmore is too much of a talent to pass up on.

25. Denver Broncos-Fletcher Cox-Defensive Tackle-Mississippi State
The
Broncos have a huge void on the defensive line and Cox is an athletic
defensive tackle. Broncos head coach John Fox struck gold last year with
first-round pick Von Miller and he will continue to work on the
defense.

26. Houston Texans-Jerel Worthy-Defensive Tackle-Michigan State
The Texans could go for another outside linebacker after losing
Mario Williams to free agency, but they don’t have a pressing need at
that position. The Texans need a player who can disrupt things for
opposing offenses as an interior defensive lineman. Worthy could put on a
few pounds and become a Pro-Bowl caliber nose tackle.

27. New England-Shea McClellin-Outside Linebacker-Boise State
Patriots
head coach Bill Belichick loves versatility. If he decides to keep this
pick I would be surprised, but picking McClellin gives him another
interchangeable part on defense.

28. Green Bay Packers-Devon Still-Defensive Tackle-Penn State
Devon
Still could come in immediately and be a starter for Green Bay. Nose
tackle B.J. Raji would welcome Still with open arms as Raji would see
less double and triple-teams by opposing offenses.

29. Baltimore Ravens-Peter Konz-Center-Wisconsin
As
always, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome drafts a player in the
first round that will be a starter in Baltimore for the next decade.

30. San Francisco 49ers-Janoris Jenkins-Cornerback-North Alabama
Janoris Jenkins has top ten talent, but his track record of off the
field conduct has allowed his stock to fall. The 49ers get an early
Christmas present this late in round one.