Mock Draft 1.0

Updated October 25, 2011

At last, here is the first installment of our 2012 NFL Mock Draft. For the 1.0 edition, we did not give our reasons as to why each player would be picked there, because we will be doing editing throughout the next few months until our final mock draft. Our rankings on where each team will draft are based on where we project the team to finish based on record.

                                                       Blaise                                                  Brendan                                           

1.  Indianapolis Colts           Andrew Luck QB/Stanford            Andrew Luck QB/Stanford                                     

2.  Miami Dolphins                 Landry Jones QB/Oklahoma              Landry Jones QB/Oklahoma

3.  Seattle Seahawks           Trent Richardson RB/Alabama      Matt Kalil OT/USC

4.  St. Louis Rams                  Justin Blackmon WR/Oklahoma St.   Justin Blackmon WR/ Oklahoma St.

5.  Jacksonville Jaguars      Matt Kalil OT/USC                        Jonathan Martin OT/Stanford

6.  Minnesota Vikings             Quinton Coples RB/North Carolina   Morris Claiborne CB/LSU

7.  Denver Broncos           Dre Kirkpatrick CB/Alabama        Alshon Jeffery WR/South Carolina

8.  Carolina Panthers              Alshon Jeffrey WR/South Carolina     Riley Reiff OT/Iowa

9.  Cleveland Browns          Michael Floyd WR/Notre Dame    Michael Floyd WR/Notre Dame

10. Arizona Cardinals             Jon Martin OT/Stanford                    Quinton Coples DE/North Carolina                   

11. Kansas City Chiefs       Matt Barkley QB/USC                   Brandon Thompson DT/Clemson

12. Tennessee Titans              Devin Taylor DE/South Carolina       Luke Kuechly ILB/Boston College

13. Washington Redskins   Jerel Worthy DT/Michigan State   Matt Barkley QB/USC

14. Cincinnati Bengals            Janoris Jenkins CB/Northern Alabama      Trent Richardson RB/Alabama

15. Dallas Cowboys             Alfonzo Dennard CB/Nebraska     Dre Kirkpatrick CB/Alabama

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers   Vontaze Burfict LB/Arizona State      Vontaze Burfict/ILB/ Arizona State

17. Buffalo Bills                   Cordy Glenn OG/Georgia             Alfonzo Dennard CB/Nebraska

18. Cincinnati Bengals(from OAK)  Jared Crick DT/Nebraska         Janoris Jenkins CB/North Alabama

19. San Francisco 49ers      Morris Claiborne CB/LSU            Jared Crick DE/Nebraska

20. New York Giants             Bradon Thompson DT/Clemson        Courtney Upshaw OLB/Alabama

21. Philadelphia Eagles       Luke Kuechly ILB/Boston College   Manti Te'o ILB/Notre Dame

22. Chicago Bears                 Andrew Datko OT/Florida State       Melvin Ingram DE/South Carolina

23. Cleveland Browns (from ATL) Chase Minnifield CB/Virginia  Cliff Harris CB/Oregon

24. San Diego Chargers         Michael Brewster C/Ohio State         Cordy Glenn OG/Georgia

25. Houston Texans            Donte Paige-Moss OLB/UNC       Mark Barron S/Alabama

26. New York Jets                 Riley Reiff OT/Iowa                          Kendall Reyes DT/Connecticut                        

27. Pittsburgh Steelers        Nate Potter OT/Boise State           Alameda Ta'amu DT/Washington

28. Detroit Lions                     T.J. McDonald S/USC                      Ronnell Lewis OLB/Oklahoma

29. New England Patriots (from NO) Courtney Upshaw OLB/Alabama  Michael Brewster C/Ohio St.

30. Baltimore Ravens              Jeff Fuller WR/Texas A&M              Bruce Irvin DE/West Virginia    

31. New England Patriots    David DeCastro OG/Stanford       Jerel Worthy DT/Michigan State

32. Green Bay Packers          Dont’a Hightower LB/Alabama          David DeCastro G/Stanford

Brendan Phillips' Early 2012 NFL Draft QB/RB/WR Rankings

Updated October 31, 2011

Top QB

1.       Andrew Luck, Stanford

                  2.       Landry Jones, Oklahoma University
3.              Matt Barkley, USC

    4.          Robert Griffin III, Baylor

    5.     Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

      6.    Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

     7.    Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma Stat
8.            Nick Foles, Arizona

           9.       Ryan Lindley, San Diego State

10.      Kellen Moore, Boise St.

Top RB

1.       Trent Richardson, Alabama

2.      Lamar Miller, University of Miami
3. Ray Graham, Pitt
4.       Lamichael James, Oregon

5.       Isiah Pead, Cincinnati

6.   Chris Polk, Washington   
7.       Andre Ellington, Clemson

8.       Chris Rainey, Florida

9.      Knile Davis, Arkansas
10.   Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

Top WR

1.       Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St.

2.       Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

3.       Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

4.       Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M

5.       Juron Criner, Arizona

6.       Brian Quick, Appalachian St.

7.       Mohammad Sanu, Rutgers

8.       Dwight Jones, North Carolina

9.       Nick Toon, Wisconsin

10.   Greg Childs, Arkansas 

Blaise Taggart’s 2011 NFL Draft Best Prospects QB/RB/WR

Blaise Taggart’s 2011 NFL Draft Best Prospects QB/RB/WR

QB

1. Cam Newton-Auburn

2. Blaine Gabbert-Missouri

3. Ryan Mallet-Arkansas

4. Andy Dalton-TCU

5. Jake Locker-Washington

6. Colin Kaepernick-Nevada

7. Tyrod Taylor-Virginia Tech

8. Christian Ponder-Florida State

9. Josh Portis-Cal U (PA)

10. Ricky Stanzi-Iowa

Sleepers: Pat Devlin-Delaware

Mitch Mustain-USC

RB

1. Mark Ingram-Alabama

2. Mikel LeShoure-Illinois

3. Ryan Williams-Virginia Tech

4. Daniel Thomas-Kansas State

5. Dion Lewis-Pittsburgh

6. Jordan Toddman-Connecticut

7. Taiwan Jones-Eastern Washington

8. DeMarco Murray-Oklahoma

9. Noel Devine-West Virginia

10. Kendall Hunter-Oklahoma State

Sleepers: Da’Rel Scott-Maryland

Bilal Powell-Louisville

WR

1. Julio Jones-Alabama

2. A.J. Green-Georgia

3. Jon Baldwin-Pittsburgh

4. Randall Cobb-Kentucky

5. Leonard Hankerson-Miami

6. Titus Young-Boise State

7. Greg Little-North Carolina

8. Torrey Smith-Maryland

9. Austin Pettis-Boise State

10. Greg Salas-Hawaii

Sleepers: Armon Binns-Cincinnati

Jeff Maehl-Oregon

Blaise Taggart's 2011 NFL Mock Draft 3.0

Blaise Taggart's 2011 NFL Mock Draft 3.0

I do think Arizona might trade out of the top 5, and Washington might trade up into the top 5. Projecting trades is just too hard to put in this mock draft.

1. Carolina- Cam Newton QB/Auburn

2. Denver- Von Miller OLB/Texas A&M

3. Buffalo- Marcell Dareus DT/Alabama

4. Cincinnati- A.J. Green WR/Georgia

5. Arizona- Patrick Peterson CB/LSU

6. Cleveland- Julio Jones WR/Alabama

7. San Francisco- Blaine Gabbert QB/Missouri

8. Tennessee- Da’Quan Bowers DE/Clemson

9. Dallas- Prince Amukamara CB/Nebraska

10. Washington- Nick Fairley DT/Auburn

11. Houston- J.J. Watt DE/Wisconsin

12. Minnesota- Stephen Pea DT/Oregon State

13. Detroit- Tyron Smith OT/USC

14. St. Louis- Robert Quinn DE/North Carolina

15. Miami- Mark Ingram RB/Alabama

16. Jacksonville- Cameron Jordan DE/California

17. New England- Ryan Kerrigan DE/Purdue

18. San Diego- Nate Solder OT/Colorado

19. New York Giants- Corey Liuget DT/Illinois

20. Tampa Bay- Aldon Smith DE/Missouri

21. Kansas City- Gabe Carimi OT/Wisconsin

22. Indianapolis- Mike Pouncey OG/Florida

23. Philadelphia- Jimmy Smith CB/Colorado

24. New Orleans- Mikel LeShoure RB/Illinois

25. Seattle- Jake Locker QB/Washington

26. Baltimore- Aaron Williams CB/Texas

27. Atlanta- Jon Baldwin WR/Atlanta

28. New England- Anthony Castonzo OT/Boston College

29. Chicago- Muhammed Wilkerson DT/Temple

30. New York Jets- Kyle Rudolph TE/Notre Dame

31. Pittsburgh- Brandon Harris CB/Miami

32. Green Bay- Ryan Williams RB/Virginia Tech

Blaise Taggart's 2011 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

Blaise Taggart’s 2011 Mock Draft 2.0

1. Carolina Panthers- Marcell Dareus DT/Alabama

-Huge, athletic defensive tackle that dominates the line of scrimmage.

2. Denver Broncos- Nick Fairley DT/Auburn

-Dominant force in the middle will only help the Broncos lack luster defense.

3. Buffalo Bills- Da’Quan Bowers DE/Clemson

-Even with knee injury, too much to pass up. And they weren’t afraid to take McGahee with a knee injury.

4. Cincinnati Bengals- Von Miller OLB/Texas A&M

-The Bengals have little depth at linebacker, and Miller is a good character guy.

5. Arizona Cardinals- Patrick Peterson CB/LSU

-After DRC, the Cardinals don’t have much at the cornerback spot.

6. Cleveland Browns- A.J. Green WR/Georgia

-The Browns need playmakers, and Green fits the description.

7. San Francisco 49ers- Cam Newton QB/Auburn

-Harbaugh said he hasn’t seen a QB with this much potential in 10 years. Enough said.

8. Tennessee Titans- Blaine Gabbert QB/Missouri

-With Young to be gone, they need a franchise QB

9. Dallas Cowboys- Prince Amukamara CB/Nebraska

-Bad defensive backfield play, Amukamara would be a huge upgrade.

10. Washington Redskins- Julio Jones WR/Alabama

-Redskins need playmakers and Jones is a rare athletic specimen.

11. Houston Texans- Jimmy Smith CB/Colorado

-With Dunta Robinson leaving last offseason, Smith teams up with Kareem Jackson for a nice, young tandem.

12. Minnesota Vikings- J.J. Watt DE/Wisconsin

-Freakish athlete that provides nice depth to the pass rushers of the Vikings.

13. Detroit Lions- Robert Quinn DE/North Carolina

-Lions need defensive help. Might take O-Linemen, but might be a reach at 13.

14. St. Louis Rams- Corey Liuget DT/Illinois

-Liuget makes a young and forceful D-Line for the Rams.

15. Miami Dolphins- Mark Ingram RB/Alabama

-Ingram is the next Emmitt Smith? Well I don’t know about that but he sure is good.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars- Cameron Jordan DE/California

-More D-Line help for a rebuilding and young Jaguars team.

17. New England Patriots- Anthony Castonzo OT/Boston College

-One of two picks in the first round for the Pats, Castonzo from down the road at BC.

18. San Diego Chargers- Nate Solder OT/Colorado

-Need to start switching to a younger O-Line, and Solder is a start.

19. New York Giants- Gabe Carimi OT/Wisconsin

-Giants need more youth at the O-Line position.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Akeem Ayers DE/UCLA

-Ayers it’s the young Bucs mold as a potential dominant pass rusher.

21. Kansas City Chiefs- Ryan Kerrigan DE/Purdue

-Athletic pass rusher with a large frame and high potential.

22. Indianapolis Colts- Tyron Smith OT/USC

-More help to portect the best QB ever, Peyton Manning.

23. Philadelphia Eagles- Mike Pouncey OG/Florida

-Andy Reid loves linemen, and hopefully Mike works out as well as brother Maurkice did.

24. New Orleans Saints- Mikel LeShoure RB/Illinois

-As we could tell last year, the Saints had RB injury problems so taking LeShoure here would be an upgrade for the whole RB group.

25. Seattle Seahawks- Jake Locker QB/Washington

-Take the local QB star, and groom him to become the eventual starter.

26. Baltimore Ravens- Aaron Williams CB/Texas

-Large, athletic CB that the Ravens could definitely use in the defensive backfield.

27. Atlanta Falcons- Rahim Moore S/UCLA

-Falcons are a couple players away from a Super Bowl team, start here with the talented safety, Moore.

28. New England Patriots- Stephen Paea DT/Oregon State

-Very strong, the Belichick would find a place for.

29. Chicago Bears- Muhammed Wilkerson DT/Temple

-Need youth at the DT spot.

30. New York Jets- Kyle Rudolph TE/Notre Dame

-Saw the two TE success in New England, Rudolph would go well with Keller.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers- Danny Watkins OG/Baylor

-Need more O-Line depth and better protection for Big Ben.

32. Green Bay Packers- Aldon Smith OLB/Missouri

-Upgrade the depth and add another playmaker on an already great, young defense.

Note: I will make one more Mock Draft before the NFL Draft on April 28, 2011.