1. Indianapolis Colts – QB from Stanford – Andrew Luck – We all expect this and I think it’s safe to say the Colts want this to happen as well. They simply can’t win football games with career backup quarterbacks starting for them on game-day or with Peyton Manning on the sidelines. However, if Manning can’t make a full recovery (which seems to be the case), the Colts need to play it safe and smart and take Andrew Luck. He has all the right skill sets to be in the NFL and in some ways can be compared to Peyton Manning. I compare him to Ben Roethlisburger or Phillip Rivers but the way he can air it out and his football IQ is quite similar to Manning. I don’t think the Colts can go wrong with this pick.
2. St. Louis Rams – WR from Oklahoma State – Justin Blackmon – After his game against Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl, Blackmon’s, stock rose to the number two player on my big board. The Rams need offensive playmakers and with Josh McDaniels jumping ship to go back to New England, Brandon Lloyd’s future with the team as their number one receiver is in doubtl. The Rams need to surround their franchise QB Sam Bradford with some weapons. No bigger weapon in this draft class than Blackmon.
3. Minnesota Vikings – OT from USC – Matt Kalil – With the injury to Adrian Peterson and with an aging offensive line, I think it’s obvious that the Vikings need to draft the best OT in this years draft. It’s pretty easy to put some pieces to the puzzle in the secondary (the teams biggest need) from free agency and in the later rounds. But with a guy like Kalil available, a guy who hasn’t allowed a sack all year, you can’t pass him up. You solidify your LT position for the next 10 years or so. You also now know that the highest paid RB can run to the left and that your first round QB in Christian Ponder can stay upright against your division of the Packers, Lions and Bears, who are pass rushing specialists.
4. Cleveland Browns – RB from Alabama – Trent Richardson – It’s only been two years for Colt McCoy, you can’t give up on him just yet. Many believe that Robert Griffin is the selection here, I don’t think so. Peyton Hillis wasn’t very productive in the backfield this year and finding yourself a sure thing at RB is a priority when you have a young quarterback like Colt McCoy. Finding a guy like Richardson will be hard to do in the future so there is no questioning this pick. The Browns need to score points as they ranked 30th in the league at that. Richardson will help right away.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CB from LSU – Morris Claiborne – With Richardson off the board, the Buccaneers will try and figure out a way to get a back like LaMichael James in the 2nd or 3rd round and possibly develop a power/speed combo with Blount and James. For now it’s time to fix your aging secondary. Morris Claiborne is the obvious selection and should be able to step right in and make plays for this defense that needs some help.
6. Washington Redskins – QB from Baylor – Robert Griffin III – Fortunately for the Redskins the Heisman trophy winner is avaiable here. Of course a team like, Seattle might be able to trade into the top 5 and take him or even Cleveland might take him at 4th overall but I don’t see that happening. Griffin won’t come in and make that immediate impact like Cam Newton did for the Panthers but he will show some very positive signs for the future. The Redskins will have to sort out their backfield with Ryan Torain, Evan Royster and Roy Helu but they will also have to get Griffin some weapons. Either way, you set yourself up for success in the future with this pick.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – WR from Baylor – Kendall Wright – Every team has to take a chance and the Jaguars will be that team. Just like the Oakland Raiders did in the 2009 NFL draft with Darrius Heyward-Bey, the Jaguars will do the same with Kendall Wright. Wright is a kick returner as well so he brings many different tools as a player. But I think most important is that Wright can help out Blaine Gabbert and getting Gabbert to play like the best is your top priority. Kendall Wright makes a lot of sense here in my eyes. The alternative is a trade or Quinton Coples from North Carolina.
8. Carolina Panthers – DE from North Carolina – Quinton Coples – The Panthers lack a pass rush. Here at the eigth spot they’re in position to get the best pass rusher on the board. I think they get Coples and produce someone who can be very comparable to Julius Peppers. I like Coples, I don’t think he’ll be as dominant in the middle as he would be off the edge but the Panthers have a defensive minded coach in Ron Rivera, he’ll figure out where to put him. Solid pick for the Panthers.
9. Miami Dolphins – OT from Iowa – Riley Reiff – When you invest money in a guy like Reggie Bush you need to protect him. Also if you want a guy like Matt Flynn to join your squad, you need to protect him. He has his weapon in Brandon Marshall, get some protection for the guy and you might have something. Reiff is very athletic and is very aggressive. I like what I’ve seen from him. He looks like he’ll play RT at the next level especially if thats with the Dolphins since they already have Jake Long. This will be a very good pick up for the Dolphins and could be a future pro bowler.
10. Buffalo Bills – OLB from South Carolina – Melvin Ingram – The Bills have stated that they will do whatever it takes to bring in a pass rusher to the organization and moving to a 4-3 might be somewhat easier to do in free agency. However I think it will be hard for the Bills to find an OLB who can get after the quarterback in free agency. Fortunately for the Bills, they pick 10th and Melvin Ingram should be available here and makes a lot of sense in my mind. With Shawn Merriman pretty much showing that he can’t stay healthy, they have to find someone who can be. Ingram can be that guy. At 6’2 270 he could do just about anything you ask him to do. Put his hand in the ground, drop back into coverage or do exactly what you’re telling everyone you want to do, get after the quarterback. He had 8.5 sacks for the Gamecocks this year and I don’t see why this man couldn’t do the same for the Bills. I like this pick for the Bills.
11. Kansas City Chiefs – OT from Stanford – Jonathan Martin – With Jamaal Charles returning from injury and your starting RT Barry Richardson plays on an inconsistent basis, it’s time to regroup and get some youth on that offensive line. Martin looks very good on film. He played all over the offensive line this past season but in my eyes he’s best fit to play on the right side of the line. Depending on his combine and pro days, he might be taken before Riley Reiff of Iowa. Either way the Chiefs should get a RT and right now I think that guy will be Martin.
12. Seattle Seahawks – DT from Penn State – Devon Still – He might be off the board already in some mock drafts but not mine. He is the best DT in the draft but not the best defensive lineman. He’s still good though. The Seahawks will love this kid and he should fit well in their organization. Still is 6 foot 4 and is 310 pounds. Still hasn’t shown the elite quickness to be a great pass rusher but he will get to the quarterback from time to time but still needs some work. However, his run stopping skills are fantastic and should fit well with the Seahawks and the run heavy division they play in.
13. Arizona Cardinals – OT from Ohio State – Mike Adams – Some might consider Adams a reach here at 13. I don’t think so. The Cardinals need a left tackle to protect their million dollar man in Kevin Kolb and Adams could step right in and play LT. He shutdown Coples in the Senior Bowl and could shut down plenty of other defensive ends in the league. Adams played at Ohio State so he was coached well and knows what it’s like to be on the big stage. I would like to see Adams fall to the Lions but I don’t see that happening. A great pick for the Cardinals.
14. Dallas Cowboys – OLB from Alabama – Cortney Upshaw – Anthony Spencer is going to be a free agent this offseason. So with that said there is going to be a hole for the Cowboys and filling it is definitely a need. Especially since Spencer doesn’t look like he’ll be back in a Cowboys uniform. However, I might get hassled and told that what the Cowboys are looking for is a secondary player and yes this is true but the depth at the CB and safety position in free agency looks good and the Cowboys might actually be willing to dig in their pockets a bit for a guy like Cortland Finnegan of the Titans so I think as of right now, Upshaw is their pick. He likes to be the weakside backer and come off the edge to hit the quarterback. Why does Upshaw like to do that? Because he’s good at it, really good at it. I think the Cowboys will like the production from this kid.
15. Philadelphia Eagles – ILB from Boston College – Luke Luechy – This guy can just flat out tackle. He Might be considered the steal of the first round if he falls to 15th however teams like Dallas, Buffalo and possibly even Tampa Bay might take a look at this guy. In just his three seasons at BC, Luechy has recorded 532 tackles. That’s an ACC record and NCAA record. Absolutely insane. If he’s available, the Eagles are taking him no ands, if or buts about it.
