2012 SFL Mock Draft V2.0- The Final Mock
1.1- Detroit Lions- ILB Luke Kuechly- Boston College
After seeing the WR haul in FA I think the Lions can focus on the defensive side of the ball where ILB Luke Keuchly will man the middle for many years to come, hopefully Lions GM Scott Gardiner can see it through. Kuechly is the best prospect in this draft class but I just didn't see a huge fit until after the free agency. He has unreal athletic ability, excellent strength that should help shed tackles with ease and almost elite tackling right out of the gate.
1.2- Tennessee Titans- WR Josh Gordon- Baylor
The Titans trade up really pays off as they come away with the drafts most explosive WR Josh Gordon, a smaller version of last years #1 Jonathan Baldwin but they have many similar traits. His speed, explosiveness makes him a true #1 WR but will need to work on those pedestrian hands. He can start off on the outside as the #2 while he works on catching.
1.3- Baltimore Ravens- WR Alshon Jeffery- South Carolina
Another Monster WR in Alshon Jeffrey at 6'3" 220+ lbs., he's a little less explosive than Gordon but unbelievable hands. Again in the same mold as Gordon but I know some GM's value JMP here and Jeffrey I guess will basically never jump for a contested ball? Either way he's a stud at the position.
1.4- San Diego Chargers- CB Casey Hayward- Vanderbilt
The Chargers land shutdown corner Casey Hayward, 6'0" , 97SPD/98AGI/95ACC makes him a day 1 impact starter for the Chargers and GM Anthony Cepparulo. As a bonus he's also a top notch tackler and ball hawk.
1.5- Tennessee Titans- LOLB Demario Davis- Arkansas State
Davis comes in day 1 as the starter at LOLB who is now manned by A.J. Edds, who? Exactly! Davis has the size 6'3" 230 lbs., strength-82 to play in any scheme, his athletic ability is a bonus.
1.6- Tennessee Titans- WR Brian Quick- Appalachian State
This is a WR heavy draft and that's a great thing for the Titans who are in need of a rebuild at the position. They nab the monster at #2 and now come back and take another 6'4" monster in Brian Quick who like Jeffery have some of the best hands in this class and should form a very strong trio along with Randall Cobb in the slot.
1.7- Carolina Panthers- RT 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- ROLB Melvin Ingram- South Carolina
Ingram checks all the boxes of a dominant OLB, speed-check, strength-check, football IQ- check. Like many of the linebackers in this class he should be able to play in any defensive scheme with his size of 6'2" 247 lbs. and the strength to shed tackles to get to ball carriers and QB's.
1.9- Denver Broncos- CB Stephon Gilmore- South Carolina
This one was tough because the broncos have needs along the DL but I couldn't find players worthy of this selection but Gilmore could start opposite of McCauley with Eric Wright in the slot now makes this a more formidable group in my opinion. Gilmore is 6'1" 190 lbs., excellent tackler and ball hawk.
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- Tampa Bay Buccaneers- TE Coby Fleener- Stanford
TE Lee Smith had a productive year as far as yards go (700+) but only a single TD has got to be souring on GM Bryan Mellon. I feel like that you can get that production from Fleener but 8-10 TD's to boot. He's a 6'6" 251 lbs beast who can run like the wind, I feel like Bryan would have fun looking for playbooks to utilize his full potential.
1.12- Cincinnati Bengals- OLB Bobby Wagner- Utah State
Wagner is a top notch athlete, a little undersized as far as height but that's the only measurable he doesn't excel at. He's an athletic freak, strength of a brahma bull, closing speed to run down RB's or get to the QB, decent in coverage and above average tackling make him very desirable.
1.13- San Francisco 49ers- TE Michael Egnew- Missouri
Egnew gives QB Kyle Orton a safety valve but he'll create so many mismatches that will drive opposing defenses nuts. 90 SPD/ 91 ACC/ 75 CTH to go along with very good blocking skills has to be appealing here where they got a total of 2 TD from that position last season.
1.14- Miami Dolphins- CB Dre Kirkpatrick- Alabama
Kirkpatrick slides due to his low ACC but that wont discourage GM Daren Roberts from selecting this giant at CB, he's the tallest in this draft class and if anyone can get his full potential it's that GM in Miami. Not only does he have the height but his 63 AWR is a great start and his 70 CTH is almost already in the elite category, both pluses and should be a shutdown corner for many years.
1.15- Tennessee Titans- OT Mike Adams- Ohio State
The Titans gave Mark Sanchez some weapons and now get him a 6'7" 320 lbs beast to protect him, excellent strength, some of the quickest feet in this draft and top notch blocking skills.
1.16- Denver Broncos- DE Malik Jackson- Tennessee
The Broncos GM Tom Collins uses his 2nd 1st round pick to solidify the DL and take the best DE in this class. Jackson has decent size 6'5" 265 lbs, top notch athletic ability 83 SPD/78 AGI/83 ACC to go along with his 82 STR, he should have no problems shedding tackles to get to the QB.
1.17- Jacksonville Jaguars- WR Justin Blackmon- Oklahoma State
Probably my favorite WR in this class, I feel like the 6'1" 215 lbs Blackmon will skew upwards and has solid all around attributes which paired with Dez Bryant, Slot WR Golden Taint will form a very scary trio in Jacksonville and give QB Brian Brohm yet another target to help him finally get to the playoffs.
1.18- Seattle Seahawks- RB Trent Richardson- Alabama
Who knows what GM Rock Hewko is going to do here, my guess is restock the RB position and Trent Richardson is one of the top candidates. He hasa blend of speed and power with the STR to handle the workload, his CAR is a bit low but his BTK is adequate for a rookie.
1.19- Detroit Lions- CB Josh Norman- Colgate
The Lions already have a few corners that are progressing but other than Vontae Davis nobody has really solidified that CB2 spot. Norman has the size at 6'0", great athletic ability to be able to handle that position oir at the very least an excellent NCB.
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- Tennessee Titans- DT Fletcher Cox- Mississippi State
Apolo is just going down the line and selecting BPA at positions of need. Cox imo is the best DT in this class, he lecks the weight to play in a 3-4 but has decent STR, he's pretty athletic all around and above average tackler, he will form a solid duo down the road with Ellis.
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- Tampa Bay Buccaneers- ILB Dont'a Hightower- Alabama
The Bucs have 2 picks in the first round, seems like a record? Hightower would be the perfect fit in the 3-4 scheme with his 6'4" 260 lbs frame. His athletic ability combined with his size makes him ideal, his STR is a bit low but still adequate, He can drop into coverage plus he's a mauling tackler.
1.26- Oakland Raiders- WR Michael Floyd- Notre Dame
Floyd gives the Raiders another stud WR opposite of Carlton Mitchell, he could start right away for the regressing Sam Aiken or start as a slot WR for a season to progress his already strong attributes. He's 6'3" 220+ lbs with solid athletic attributes and great hands .
1.27- Green Bay Packers- WR T.Y. Hilton- Florida A&M
Hilton would be the perfect slot WR for the Packers since they already have 2 solid outside guys but Hilton can take it to the house on any given play, he's a small WR at 5-10" but he is blazing fast who can turn it up a gear once he gets into the open field and displays a solid pair of hands to boot.
1.28- Atlanta Falcons- CB Chris Greenwood- Alcorn State
With 2 CB in progression protocol and 1 heading there next season Greenwood would be a solid addition to the secondary at 6'1" 193 lbs. excellent athlete who can can come away with the ball in most jump ball situations. He'll need to work on his AWR, TAK and CTH at the next level but those are all progressable attributes.
1.29- Arizona Cardinals- OLB Nigel Bradham- Florida State
Harrison Smith will be the future in the secondary and 1 day ROLB Nigel Bradham will take over the linebacker duties. He's 6'3" 235 lbs, athletic, strong and excellent in coverage, he can work on his AWR, TAK while he works on his craft.
1.30- Minnesota Vikings- RB David Wilson- Virginia tech
Wilson would fill a huge void at the RB position, he's a bit undersized but his 80 STR, and top notch athleticism may be too tempting here.
He can also catch out of the backfield plus he has the best CAR/BTK attributes of the runners.
1.31- Buffalo Bills- OT Riley Reiff- Iowa
The Bills have no LT as of now, Riley Reiff is still on the board, he's 6'6'6" 305 lbs, strong as an ox, athletic with quick feet which makes this a great fit here this late in round 1. He has excellent AWR but will need to work on his RBK at the SFL level.
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.
