2012 Mock Draft

Too Early? ESPN doesn't think so

Cleveland Browns

2010 record: 5-11 | Needs: ROT, OLB, CB, OG, WR
Andrew Luck*, QB, Stanford

Luck is a once-in-a-decade kind of talent with all the tools to be an elite NFL quarterback. He returned to Stanford for the 2011 season even though coach Jim Harbaugh moved to the NFL, and the team with the No. 1 overall pick in 2012 should trade its existing quarterback to draft Luck. He's that good. If not, the pick will be up for public auction.

Carolina Panthers

2010 Record: 2-14 | Needs: WR, DE, OLB, CB, RB
Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples is a 6-foot-6, 255-pound end with great versatility. He explodes off the ball, is powerful and quick and was all over the field in 2010.

Washington Redskins

2010 record: 6-10 | Needs: QB, DL, ILB, WR, CB
Matt Barkley*, QB, USC

Barkley came into his own in 2010, showing natural anticipation and more consistency. He also emerged as a strong leader.

Buffalo Bills

2010 record: 4-12 | Needs: QB, OLB, TE, LOT, S
Matt Kalil*, OT, USC

Kalil is a 6-5, 295-pounder with great feet, and he is so strong at left tackle that 2011 first-round pick Tyron Smith stayed on the right side while at USC. Kalil's brother, Ryan Kalil, is the starting center for the Carolina Panthers.

Denver Broncos

2010 record: 4-12 | Needs: DT, MLB, QB, RB, CB
Jerel Worthy*, DT, Michigan State

At 6-3 and 305 pounds, Worthy is an active tackle who can be disruptive in the backfield and flashes the ability to get to the quarterback.

Arizona Cardinals

2010 record: 5-11 | Needs: QB, OT/G, OLB, S, TE
Donte Paige-Moss*, DE, North Carolina

Another Tar Heels defensive lineman with NFL potential, Paige-Moss has the build and athleticism to play right defensive end in a 4-3 scheme or outside linebacker in a 3-4 like Arizona's.
Seattle Seahawks

2010 record: 7-9 | Needs: NT, CB, WR, RB, S
Alshon Jeffery*, WR, South Carolina

I'll be interested to see how Jeffery runs and to study more tape on his route-running, but he passes the eyeball test with flying colors and has delivered clutch performances in big games during his short career.
Tennessee Titans

2010 record: 6-10 | Needs: OG, CB, DT, ILB, DE
Jayron Hosley*, CB, Virginia Tech

Hosley is an underrated cover corner with good ball skills.
Oakland Raiders

2010 record: 8-8 | FS, QB, TE, WR, OT
Jonathan Martin*, OT, Stanford

Martin is technically sound, and at 6-6 and 305 pounds, he can continue to improve his feet and strength. He is a two-year starter entering his junior season.
Cincinnati Bengals

2010 record: 4-12 | Needs: CB, DT, RB, SS, PK
Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida

Jenkins' status is unknown after he was dismissed by Florida in late April following a second arrest on a charge of marijuana possession in a three-month span. He could elect for the 2011 supplemental draft, but at this point, he remains one of the top 2012 corner prospects. Watch his handling of 2010 first-round pick A.J. Green to see just how good Jenkins is.
San Francisco 49ers

2010 record: 6-10 | Needs: DT, CB, DE, QB, PK
Dre Kirkpatrick*, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick is yet another Nick Saban-coached defensive back on his way to the NFL. He needs to fill out his long frame but has the ability to become an effective press-man corner at the next level.
St. Louis Rams

2010 record: 7-9 | Needs: OLB, DT, RB, OG, FS
Trent Richardson*, RB, Alabama

Richardson has a rare combination of size, power and burst, and he piled up more than 1,800 yards of total offense the past two seasons while sharing time with 2011 first-round pick Mark Ingram.
Minnesota Vikings

2010 record: 6-10 | FS, OT, DT, OLB, WR
Marcus Forston*, DT, Miami

The Vikings weren't able to address their need for a full-time starter at defensive tackle in the 2011 draft, and heading into his junior season, the 6-3, 310-pound Forston has the size and strength to become an impact every-down starter in the NFL.
Jacksonville Jaguars

2010 record: 8-8 | DE, OLB, MLB, FS, CB
Luke Kuechly*, LB, Boston College

Kuechly is a high-motor, hardworking linebacker with good football tools and even better mental makeup. His instincts and tackling skills helped him pile up a ridiculous 183 total tackles in 2010.
Miami Dolphins

2010 record: 7-9 | QB, FS, ILB, TE, DE
Landry Jones*, QB, Oklahoma
It will be interesting to see how Chad Henne does behind an upgraded offensive line, and if he is unable to get the job done, Miami will be one of the quarterback-hungry teams entering the 2012 draft. We still need to study more film on Jones. Although he continues to improve and has prototypical size and the arm strength to make all the throws, to work his way up to this point, he needs to become more consistent in terms of footwork, accuracy and decision-making in 2011.

Detroit Lions

2010 record: 6-10 | CB, WLB, SLB, OT, DE
Stephon Gilmore*, CB, South Carolina

Depending on what the Lions do in free agency, corner still could be a need in next year's draft. Gilmore is a smooth, fluid athlete with good size and a chance to become one of the elite cover corners in the nation next season with better technique and recognition skills.
Kansas City Chiefs

2010 record: 10-6 | ROT, ILB, TE, NT, LS
Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame

Te'o has developed into a solid player and should emerge as one of the elite linebackers in the nation in 2011. He continues to improve his recognition skills and has the quickness and power you look for in a starting inside linebacker in the NFL.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2010 record: 10-6 | Needs: CB, OLB, OT, RB, OG
Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Brown is your prototypical weakside linebacker. He's slightly undersized with room to improve at the point of attack, but he is a smooth athlete who can flat-out fly all over the field.
Chicago Bears

2010 record: 11-5 | Needs: WR, OLB, CB, ILB, C
Justin Blackmon*, WR, Oklahoma State

The Bears remain in the market for a big wideout to complement their speedsters on the perimeter, Johnny Knox and Devin Hester. Anyone who saw Blackmon use his size and strength against Prince Amukamara last season knows he would be the right man for the job.
Houston Texans

2010 record: 6-10 | Needs: FS, NT, OG/C, OT, ILB
Ray-Ray Armstrong*, S, Miami

After loading up the defensive front this year, the Texans could be in the market for a playmaker in the secondary next year. Armstrong has steadily improved in the past two years and has been the No. 1 ball hawk for the Hurricanes. He would be a perfect fit for Wade Phillips' scheme, which puts as much pressure on its safeties as it does the corners in zone looks.
Dallas Cowboys

2010 record: 6-10 | DE, S, CB, ILB, C
Cliff Harris*, CB, Oregon

Harris has a lot of work to do as a corner, but few individuals in college football show more explosiveness and big-play ability than he does. Harris is also one of the most dangerous return men in the nation.
San Diego Chargers

2010 record: 6-10 | Needs: OLB, ROT, NT, ILB, C
Vontaze Burfict*, LB, Arizona State

Burfict is a work in progress and needs more game experience and coaching, but he is a physical specimen who can play sideline-to-sideline and blow plays up like no other linebacker in the country.
New York Giants

2010 record: 10-6 | Needs: OLB, MLB, LOG/C, OT, TE
Keenan Robinson, LB, Texas

Robinson is maybe the most underrated defensive prospect in the nation. He constantly jumped out during film study on other players last year, doing a great job of getting off blocks and showing good closing burst in pursuit.
Philadelphia Eagles

2010 record: 10-6 | Needs: CB, OLB, ROT, TE, DL
Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma

Lewis is a quicker-than-fast weakside linebacker and one of the most productive in the nation the past two years. I'll be interested to see after studying film how much of that is due to the scheme and how much is due to his tools, but he does appear to have the closing burst to contribute in the NFL.
New York Jets

2010 record: 11-5 | OLB, OT/G, S, TE, WR
Brandon Jenkins*, DE, Florida State

Jenkins is a throwback Florida State pass-rusher with the frame (6-3, 234) to fit nicely on the outside in a 3-4 scheme like New York's. His 13.5 sacks as a sophomore in 2010 were the most on a team that led nation with 48 sacks.
Cleveland Browns (from ATL)

2010 record: 5-11 | Needs: ROT, OLB, OG, WR
Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Adams is 6-7 with a lean frame and needs to add bulk. Although he's not as athletic as 2010 first-rounder Nate Solder, he has similar potential to make a big move as a senior.
Baltimore Ravens

2010 record: 12-4 | Needs: S, ILB, DE, OLB, RB
Robert Lester*, S, Alabama

The 6-2, 215-pound Lester made big strides as a sophomore and has good straight-line speed to go with natural playmaking instincts, all of which could put him into the early rounds in 2012.
New England Patriots (from NOR)

2010 record: 14-2 | Needs: OLB, DE, WR, FS, C
Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

Branch is a 4-3 end at Clemson, but at 6-4 and 255 pounds, he continued to jump out as we studied 2010 tape of former Tigers DE Da'Quan Bowers. Branch has the look of the kind of 3-4 outside linebacker the Patriots like.
Indanapolis Colts

2010 record: 10-6 | Needs: WR, SS, CB, OLB, RB
Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M

Fuller broke out as a playmaker in 2010 and should only get better in his second year with QB Ryan Tannehillin 2011. Fuller has the size (6-4, 215), ball skills and playmaking ability to transition nicely to the NFL.
Pittsburgh Steelers

 

Gotta go with baby Kalil don't we?

 

Wide receiver.

 

This will be fun to revisit next year.

 

Jeffrey or Blackmon.

I love Te'o but hardly a need.

 

The only thing that is certain about the 2012 draft is that the Panthers will have the top pick.