My First 2012 NFL Draft Mock Top 10!

So, with the NCAA football season coming to an end within the next few days, and with the NFL regular season at an end, I am transitioning into full time NFL Draft Mode! Here is a preliminary look at the Top 10. These predictions are subject to change, of course... except one...-



1. Indianapolis Colts- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Duh. No brainer. Even if they keep Manning. It might be someone else drafting here if they are blown away with a trade offer, but Luck is the #1 pick.

2. St. Louis Rams- Justin Blackmon, WR, OK State
He wouldn't be my pick. The WR class is deep, and the Rams need to protect Bradford. However, the new coach will want to give the team the #1 receiver they don't have, to play opposite Brandon Lloyd if he is back.

3. Minnesota Vikings- Matt Kalil, OT, USC
They aren't going to draft RG3 here. They will take time with Ponder, and protect his hide by getting the best OL prospect.

4. Cleveland Browns- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Hello Heisman. I think that the Browns are desperate for a splash, and RG3 provides just that. The rest of their draft will be used finding people to help him on that awful offense.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Doesn't it seem like the Bucs draft a ton of CBs? They could go with another defensive player here, but with Ronde Barber getting another year older and Aqib Talib getting suspended every few games for his Mary Jane habit, they need to add another one. Claiborne is the best.

6. Washington Redskins- Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
This pick assumes that the Skins don't trade up for RG3 or Luck, and don't trade down when neither of them make it past #5. With Blackmon off the board, look for the Skins to sure up that O-line. Martin is smart, super-athletic, and could be good enough to move Trent Williams back to right tackle. Reily Reiff from Iowa would be the other O-Line option.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars- Dre Kirkpatrick, DB, Alabama
They need help everywhere except RB, so they take the best player available. Could also take Quinton Coples from UNC.

8. Carolina Panthers- Quinton Coples, DE, UNC
He gets to stay in Carolina and help an awful defense. If Blackmon fell here, the Panthers would love it, but working on a D to go along with Cam Newton's offense is the biggest issue.

9. Miami Dolphins- Reily Reiff, OT, Iowa
Matt Moore is still the QB. Jeff Fischer might be the new head coach. Reiff and Jake Long would be a top 5 OT tandem. Not a bad way to build an offense.

10. Buffalo Bills- Courtney Upshaw, OLD/DE, Alabama
He is hopefully more like Von Miller than Aaron Maybin, and would help a defense whose top sack-machine only got to the QB 5.5 times. If there was an OT here, I would beg the Bills to take them, but it is Buffalo, so they won't.


That's the Top 10 for now. Enjoy the playoffs!