2012 SFL Mock Draft V1.0- Early Bird Special
1.1- Detroit Lions- WR Josh Gordon- Baylor
The Lions get stud WR Josh Gordon out of Baylor University. Gordon has an SFL-ready frame at 6'3" 225 lbs and will be a nightmare for defensive coordinators to try and game plan for both Dezmon Briscoe and now Josh Gordon. He isn't a perfect prospect (there is no such thing) but his blazing speed to go along with his size makes him the ideal candidate for the #1 overall pick.
1.2- Miami Dolphins- WR Alshon Jeffery- South Carolina
The Dolphins need to think about restocking the cupboard at WR with Calvin Johnson entering regression protocol a year from now Jeffery would be an excellent replacement with a 6'3" ,218 lbs. frame already worthy of an SFL roster, he also displays some of the best hands in this draft class.
1.3- Baltimore Ravens- CB Casey Hayward- Vanderbilt
The Ravens have youngsters Malcolm Jenkins and Bradley Fletcher but neither have his SPD, at 6'0" which is the preferable size of most cornerbacks he also has excellent football IQ, add ballhawk to his resume and an excellent open field tackler, he could come in and start day 1 or play in a NCB role in year 1 to get a glimpse of the speed of the SFL.
1.4- San Diego Chargers- CB Stephon Gilmore- South Carolina
The Chargers corners all look like safeties and the position is in need of a major overhaul. Gilmore could come in day 1 and start for them. At 6'1" 190 lbs. he has ideal size to go along with his above average CTH and another excellent open field tackler.
1.5- Tennessee Titans- WR Brian Quick- Appalachian State
The Titans add a new #1 WR to their arsenal, he is a large human being at 6'4", 220 lbs. , he can also catch the ball, plus his athletic ability and being able to go up and grab those contested catches from defenders makes him an excellent choice here for the Titans.
1.6- Tennessee Titans- ILB Luke Kuechly- Boston College
After getting word that the Titans may have traded ILB James Laurinitis then I'd say this becomes a big need with Watson regressing. Luke is 1 of my favorite prospects in this draft class at 6'3" 242 lbs., 82 Strength, boat loads of athletic ability, can cover and a tackling machine, a great start to that rebuild.
1.7- Carolina Panthers- OT Matt Kalil- USC
RT Alex Barron gave up 22 sacks, I don't care if Stanton is running around back there add Matt Kalil and he has more time to run around or throw the football. He's a 6'7" freak athlete, quick feet, great strength and already an elite run and pass blocker. Drew Stanton says ....FUCK YEAH!
1.8- New Orleans Saints- LOLB Melvin Ingram- South Carolina
Ingram check all the boxes of a dominant OLB, speed-check, strength-check, football IQ- check, .
1.9- Arizona Cardinals- CB Dre Kirkpatrick- Alabama
Add Dre with Keenan Lewis and you have a great young tandem, he adds another big corner along with Browner 6'4". Lewis 6'1" and now Kirkpatrick 6'2". His size, athletic prowess and Ball hawking skills to go along with his great tackling make him a top notch pick here in the desert.
1.10- Buffalo Bills- QB Chandler Harnish- Northern Illinois
The Bills can afford to groom a top franchise QB after a SB runner up performance this past season. Harnish is the top QB in this draft, he lacks ideal height at just 6'0" but is top notch everywhere else including 74 AWR, 96 THP, 86 THA and should be able to come in right away and start out of the gate. I believe he'll for sure have rookie moments but with the right playbook he doesn't have to be a liability.
1.11- Kansas City Chiefs- OLB Bobby Wagner- Utah State
What Wagner lacks in height he makes up just about everywhere else. He stands at 6'0" tall but weighs 240 lbs., he's a pure athlete, unreal strength and an above average tackler right out of the gate who can start immediately.
1.12- Cincinnati Bengals- OLB Demario Davis- Arkansas State
With Thomas Howard entering the regression protocol next season the Bengals may want to get a head start on his replacement and Demario Davis looks like a solid addition. He's 6'3" 231 lbs. with tremendous athletic ability, excellent strength and above average tackling.
1.13- San Francisco 49ers- LT Mike Adams- Ohio State
Adams is a mountain of a man at 6'7" 320 lbs., excellent pass blocking but his run blocking could use some work, not many will be able to push him around with 94 STR. He would be able to come in and start immediately at LT and some day be the anchor of the OL with his combo of quick feet and raw power.
1.14- Miami Dolphins- DT Fletcher Cox- Mississippi State
Fletcher isn't a run stuffing NT but what he does offer is a particular set of skills, mainly his athletic ability for a 6'4" 295 lber, 92 STR to go along with above average tackling. This isn't a sexy pick like a WR or corner but Daren gets the best player at his position and in a few years when Tubbs has regressed completely he can slide right in and not miss a beat.
1.15- Tennessee Titans- OT Riley Reiff- Iowa
The Titans gave new franchise QB Mark Sanchez a shiny new toy in WR Brian Quick and now he gets some protection on the right side of the OL. He has ideal height at 6'6" but lacks the meat that you like your OT to have, his unreal athleticism will make up for that as he has some of the quickest feet in this class, he's an almost elite pass blocker and will need to work on his run blocking at the next level but that might be his only knock.
1.16- Denver Broncos- CB Morris Claiborne- LSU
I think Claiborne would be a great fit in Denver since the Broncos GM Tom Collins isn't stuck on height at the position and besides he's literally 1 inch from 6'0" but boasts amazing speed, great closing speed to get in front of WR for the pick, his are the best in this class and his tackling is 2nd best which to me is a steal at 16.
1.17- Jacksonville Jaguars- WR Justin Blackmon- Oklahoma State
I believe Blackmon is the safest WR pick in this draft class, a solid prospect at every thing but not elite at any...Yet. Blackmon is 6'1" 215 lbs, not elite speed but offers plenty and solid hands. I think he'll be a consistent 1,000 yard 8 TD receiver for many years in this league.
1.18- Seattle Seahawks- DE Malik Jackson- Tennessee
Jackson is imo the best DE draft prospect in this class, he is a 4-3 DE at 6'5" 265 lbs. I don't think he's big enough to be a 3-4 DE but his 81 strength could make his case. He's the most athletic and offers better tackling than most but like all of these DL it seems, his AWR is pedestrian. I think he could eventually be a difference maker possibly right out of the gate.
1.19- Detroit Lions- TE Coby Fleener- Stanford
Fleener is another 1 of these hybrid WR/TE types who have the athleticism of a WR in a tight ends body. 6'6" 251 lbs. with amazing speed but can also catch. He's also an adequate blocker and should be a nightmare to try and cover.
1.20- Dallas Cowboys- QB Brock Osweiler- Arizona State
And some point GM's will need to start grooming QB's to be franchise QB's not just renting other people's in this new regression world we live in. Osweiler is the tallest QB in this draft class by 2", weighs 242 lbs., plenty of arm talent. accurate and excellent football IQ for a rookie QB but it's gross that he goes to a division rival.
1.21- Washington Redskins- WR Stephen Hill- Georgia Tech
Following in the footsteps of the great Calvin Johnson, Stephen Hill gives the Skins a huge target at 6'4" , 215 lbs, plenty f speed and great set of hands for a rookie plus doubles as a KR/PR as an added bonus.
1.22- Arizona Cardinals- OLB Nigel Bradham- Florida State
This is a great LB crop, Nigel Bradham has the size at 6'3" 235 lbs and 81 STR to play in any scheme fit. He has above average athleticism and excellent in pass coverage, he'll need to work on his football IQ and tackling at the next level but can groom a year behind Merriman.
1.23- New England Patriots- RB Doug "Muscle Hamster"- Boise State
The RB known as muscle hamster by his peers (I'd rather not know why) goes to the Pats here. There aren't many holes and if I had to pick a RB to build around in this draft it would be Martin. I'm not a fan of his 5'9" 210 lbs frame but everything else is solid. He has great athletic ability and to burn by defenders with his 93 SPD, decent strength at 77 that could go upwards and his CAR/BTK is the best combo in this class.
1.24- Arizona Cardinals- SS Harrison Smith- Notre Dame
What's not to like about Smith? He has ideal size for the position at 6'2" 213 lbs, an amazing athlete, his CTH is already almost top notch and his tackling is at an elite level. He won't be asked to start from day 1 but he could.
1.25- Indianapolis Colts- TE Michael Egnew- Missouri
The Tigers leading pass catch lands into the Colts' hands, a huge frame at 6'5" 252 lbs, runs like the wind and should be a mismatch for most secondaries to cover. his BTK, CTH and ability to run/pass block make him an awesome addition and this time Breck doesn't need to spend a top 10 pick on him.
1.26- Oakland Raiders- ILB Courtney Upshaw- Alabama
I tried hard to add an ILB to numerous teams but I found it hard to predict who would be in the market but I feel like Oakland could be that team and they get a very solid player at 26. Upshaw is another guy at 6'2" 262 lbs that can play in virtually any scheme, he's an athletic freak with great football IQ and almost an elite tackler.
1.27- Dallas Cowboys- ILB Dont'a Hightower- Alabama
Her goes the run on ILB and another solid 1, which there seem to be in this class. He can fit in any scheme, gives the Cowgirls much needed youth at the position as all of his seem ready for the nursing home. He can come in and start from day 1 which sucks for the rest of the NFC East.
1.28- Miami Dolphins- QB Kirk Cousins- Michigan State
This would be very un dolphin-like but at some point teams are going to have to start drafting and developing their own QB's. Cousins is a great prospect, the ex factor is his 24 year old age. He's already above most as far as football IQ, decent arm with the best accuracy of any of the QB's in this draft.
1.29- Arizona Cardinals- WR T.Y. Hilton- Florida A&M
The Cards channel their inner Rock Hewko here who took the smaller but blazing fast Emmanuel Sanders a few drafts back. Hilton is in the exact same mold, blazing fast, top notch CTH and to top it off you get an elite KR/PR as well.
1.30- Indianapolis Colts- DE Jared Crick- Nebraska
The Colts don't have many needs being a top notch playoff team but I see an opening at DE. Crick gives the Colts size at the position, has enough athletic ability to get to the QB or stuff the RB in the backfield and for once his football IQ is workable along with his tackling.
1.31- Buffalo Bills- WR Ruben Randle- LSU
The Bills added a brand new franchise QB at the top of the draft and now get him a weapon in 6'3" Ruben Randle. He won't wow anyone with his speed but he has a solid set of hands to go along with his size and gives Harnish another big target to work with.
1.32- Chicago Bears- FS Brandon Hardin- Oregon State
I have the bears taking the best player available with this pick and for me it's FS Brandon Hardin and at 6'3" 207 lbs, he as an athletic freak at his position for a man his stature, he'll be able to contest for jump balls with the best of them and his tackling is off the charts, solid choice by the SFL Champs.
