THE G-NATION 2012 NFL DRAFT
FIRST ROUND TRACKER & ANALYSES
1. Indy - Andrew Luck QB Stanford
No surprise... the contentious number 1 overall pick.... leader, intelligent and more athletic than given credit for. Might not have the cannon of an arm but opens his hips and can make all the NFL throws. The rebuilding begins in Indy and he is good enough to build around.
2. Washington - Robert Griffin III QB Baylor
Saviour for the Redskins.... athleticism up the kazoo! The NFC East will not be too big enough of a stage for this kid - gun of an arm and can create with the legs - the 1b to Andrew Luck - these two will forever be tied together
3. Cleveland - Trent Richardson RB Alabama
They traded a 4th, 5th, and 7th to move up only 1 spot to land their man! In a division where you play Pitt, Balt and Cinnci twice a year - Cleveland needed that runner that can carry the load...will shorten games played in Nov and Dec and give them a chance to win some games in the 4th quarter.... can run inside and out - powerful runner that can break ankles and finish runs fot td's .... a Peyton Hillis with more speed... McCoy is smiling and so is Cleveland's #5 Defence!
4. Minnesota - Matt Kalil Tackle - USC
Minnesota trades down one spot - gest 4 more picks and still get their man.... have other needs (cr and wr) but Ponder needs this backside protection in order to get time to give Harvin the ball. The best Tackle in the draft will start day one and solidify an offensive line in desperate need of an anchor.
5. Jacksonville - Justin Blackman WR - OK ST
Great pick - best wr in the draft - explosive and powerful - attacks defenders with his size but also is elusive for a big body. Beast-like aka Andre Johnson - gives Jacksonville the weapon they desperately need!
6. Dallas - Morris Claiborne CB - LSU
Jerry makes a splash and trades up with St. Louis in order to get his man - gives up a second round choice but in return they get the best corner in the draft - he is a day one plug and play player in a position they lack - the tape shows he is a special corner - long and has 4'4' speed who is a ball hawk! Can play man or zone - tracks the qb and what makes him special is that when the ball is in the air he becomes the wide receiver! Like his teammate last year (Patrick Peterson) Claiborne will be a dynamic returner as well. Would have loved to have seen Barron but not at #6. Cowboys address one of their biggest weakness in the defence and more importantly give their secondary the type of player that can play in a Rob Ryan style defence. Stud!
7. Tampa Bay - Mark Barron Safety - Alabama
Solid pick - huge upside - guaranteed pro bowl safety - big and mobile... was smart enough to stay in school after his jr year... comfortable in the box and in coverage - has good hips and vision - thought he would have went to the cowboys but Tampa gets a safety that will bring them instant creditability in their Tampa Two!
8. Miami - Ryan Tannehill QB -Texas A&M
3rd qb in the first round - guy with a huge upside but may not be ready to contribute this year.... he struggles in throwing the deep digs/in but excels in the outs and corners. Only has 19 starts but the dolphins were lookin for a qb to develop and landed one in Ryan - raw but athletic (played wr for 2 years!) and has all the tools.
9. Carolina - Luke Kuechly LB - Boston College
Pure LB - best coverage lb in the draft - instincts and physical... will add much needed toughness to the Panthers LB corp.
10. Buffalo - Stephon Gilmore CB - South Carolina
Starter in college from high school (rare) and will step in day one. Great cover guy in a division that needs to defend against the pass. Will compliment a good defensive front that just added Mario Williams and he will compete at a high level
11. Kansas City - Dontari Poe DT - Memphis
Uhmmmm..... a standout at the combine and is strongest guy in the draft but seems to disappears when you put the game tape on which explains his free fall from an early top 5 pick status. Big boy and skilled and has freakish athleticism for his size - a DT who's best down is 3rd down! Tape shows no vision and on the ground too much but who better than Crennal to teach this bad boy how to play!
12. Philadelphia - Fletcher Cox DT - MissSt
They trade up 3 spots (give up a 4th and 6th to Seattle) to grab their guy.... huge guy who is fast - 21 year old rookie (had one year left in college) who can play inside and outside the box who can play the 1,3,5, and 7 - versatility for Philly's wide 9 packages!!!
13. Arizona - Michael Floyd WR - ND
Someone who will line up opposite Fitzy.... at 6'3 and 220 will be hard to press on the line and will get on top of the corner and snatch the ball from the air. One of the best blocking wr on tape in the draft... a bit tight in his hips and slow to come back to the qb on routes but is a ball snatcher and can make all the catches - wont need a perfect pass to get a completion. He will be a great student for Fitzy to mentor and teach to how to be a pro.... will even remind Fitzy and Arizona of Anquian Boldin.
14. St. Lious - Michael Brockers DT - LSU
They finally stop trading down to stop and make a pick (were to pick at 6) at a position that they have been beaten up at last year. Not a great pass rusher yet but solid at the point of attack - something needed when playing SF twice a year. A pick made to take a step to win the division and fill a gap in that brutal defensive line that couldn't stop tumble weed last year!
15. Seattle - Bruce Irvin DE - West Virginia
Probably the best natural pass rusher in the draft but has a lot of red flags off the field. Many teams took him off their boards but Pete Carrol never afraid of taking a chance. If it pays off he has just landed a beast of a pass rusher - 1st pass rusher off the board....a situational pass rusher but in a pass first league will be on the field more so than not.....Risk-Reward pick here.... pretty gutsy for a 1st round pick!
16. New York Jets - Quinton Coples DE - North Carolina
As a Jr was awesome - as a Sr was exposed on tape although had a good game at the Sr bowl.... can play inside or out on the front..at 6'5 and an incredible first step could pay off for the jets depending on which Quinton they drafted.
17. Cinnci - Dre Kirkpatrick CB - Alabama
Despite signing some cb (old veteran like Pacman and Newman) in the off season, they were in desperate need of youth in this position. Physical, Physical, Physical.... will attack the wr....sometimes that gets him exposed but is long, well coached and ready to step in on an already good defence. Will bring size and toughness to cinnci - good pick for the the Zimmer
18. San Diego - Melvin Ingram DE/LB - South Carolina
His pro day was awesome - although size is an issue - not big and short arms - but has played DE, DT and LB - can play standing up and down and in a 3-4 team San Diego will have plenty have options to get this disruptive play maker on the field.
19. Chicago - Shea McClellin DE - Biose State
Versatility who can get after the QB....he will trade in the blue turf for the frozen tundra of Chicago. Well coached - technique ready who fits a 3-4 team but will be able to put his hand in the dirt to play for the Bears
20. Tennessee - Kendall Wright WR - Baylor
Special speed is what Kendall has plenty off..has the ability to run under the football - can not overthrow this guy - excellent cuts....gets in and out smoothly and quickly.... RG III favourite target - Wright will be explosive with Johnson and Britt.
21. New England - Chandler Jones DE - Syracuse
They trade up (unusual as they usually trade down) with Cinnci and give up a 3rd rounder to move up 6 spots to pick up this versatile DE.... has durability issues but can rush of the edge and guard against the run and pass and can also drop back into coverage
22. Cleveland - Brandon Weeden QB Oklahoma St
At 28 years old...age is a concern but is a QB who can make all the throws. By drafting him in the 1st round Cleveland must think he can compete and possibly start next year! Remember he beat all the other qb taken ahead of him!
23. Detriot - Riley Reiff Tackle - Iowa
Can play right or left tackle who is capable of protecting Detroit's franchise QB.
24. Pitt - David DeCastro - Guard - Stanford
Plug and Play Guard on a team that had problems on the line last year - has leverage and can skip and pull with excellent mobility....quick hands and feet....only issue is core strength against bigger defenders
25. New England - Dant'a Hightower LB - Alabama
They trade away the rest of their picks to get back again into the 1st round and pick up another explosive defensive thoroughbred in this first round. Can play the run and the pass and should be able to win a starting job day 1. NE young defense just got added more talent.
26. Houston - Whitney Mercilus DE - Ill
One year wonder with 16 sacks last year - Speed of the edge...natural pass rusher going to an already great defence.
27. Cinnci - Kevin Zeitler G - Wisc
With their 2nd pick in the 1st round they get a well coached offensive guard who will compete day 1 to start...technical, big and strong - gets to the second level - plugs a big hole in their offensive line.
28. Green Bay - Nick Perry DE - USC
Their first of 12 picks.... Nick was hot and cold - can rush and drop but did disappear throughout the year. Capors and company will have him practicing at a high level as he will be needed to improve a defence that had problems getting off the field last year.
29. Minnesota - Harrison Smith DB - Notre Dame
Traded up with Balt to select a pure zone safety who is more athletic than given credit for. Will tackle in space and break up passes deep in the zone. Can play in the box and will come down hill to stuff the run. Vikings address a great need in their defence with Smith.
30. San Fran - A.J. Jenkins WR - Ill
6 ft 190 - vertical threat who is smooth in his cuts... 2nd round talent who makes the bottom end of the 1st round - if Moss is not productive Jenkins will have his opportunity.
31. Tampa Bay - Doug Martin RB - Boise St
Traded up with Denver to select a 3 down back.... great burst with patience... tape shows he has cuts and footwork like Matt Forte - will also help on special teams - Josh Freeman should be happy - good pick!
32. New York Giants - David Wilson RB - Virginia Tech
Can make you miss laterally and north and south....will drop his shoulder... a pure football player. Needs to improve his pass blocking and catching out of the backfield.
- Quickest First Round in the History of the NFL! (3 hours)
- 4 qb taken including a 28 year old!
- Trades Galore - thanks new CBA!
- no TE takens
