OFFICIAL 2012 NFL DRAFT THREAD

[rock_lobster]

We are only a few weeks removed from the Super Bowl, and because I'm already having serious withdrawals from football season, we are gonna start talking draft.

Here are a couple of mock drafts for reference:

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Ideal Picks for Every Team | Bleacher Report

2012 NFL Mock Draft - WalterFootball.com

NFL Draft Mock 2012 | NFL Draft Mock Draft


I know there are a lot of variables with the first overall pick (Indy), but I think they will still go Luck...no matter what Peyton does. IMO, if Manning can't handle Luck behind him, then you have to make a business decision and get what you can for him.

I like RG3, as a person and as a player....but I fear for the Colts/Browns if they pick him. Not that I think he will necessarily bust or "won't fit" in the NFL, but he is undersized compared to the league's elite. Both Mannings, Rodgers, Brady, Big Ben, Rivers, Matt Ryan, etc....most of those are elite, and even the likes of Matt Ryan is good enough to get his team to the playoffs...all of them above 6'4" and pretty hefty on the weight. Brees is really the only exception to this. A lot of other QB's, Klaussen, Colt McCoy, etc... are "undersized" for the QB position and we see how well they turned out. Size doesn't necessarily equal an elite QB, but certainly with the beating they take all year, you need to have some size on you to maintain optimum performance.

[CivilWars]

You could be right about RG3. He is supposedly 6'2" I believe, and even Cam Newton, who many compare him to, is 6'5". I still think he will go #2 to someone.

[Morningfrost]

RG3's size could very well be an issue, but the odds are great that he goes #2 overall. Concerns about the beating he will take as an NFL QB could very well be legitimate, but at the end of the day he's a potential franchise QB with all the athleticism in the world, and just happens to have an extremely strong work ethic and intelligence. Basically, from what I've seen and heard of him, he's everything Michael Vick wishes he could have been coming out of college lol. He can run, and run well, but his main strength is his ability to throw the ball.

He had the determination to turn Baylor into a contender, and I think whoever ends up with him is going to get a great QB.

I don't think Indy will take him, because passing on Luck is silly lol. He's probably the best prospect to come out since Peyton himself was drafted. The bust potential for Luck is considered nearly non-existent, which turns their pick into a low-risk, high-reward decision....and I can't see them turning away. I think Cleveland and Washington have to be considered the front-runners in the RG3 derby, with Cleveland holding the clear edge thanks to having 2 first-round picks they can trade away. If the Rams can get those 2 picks and maybe a third- or fourth-rounder in exchange for their pick, that will go a long way towards allowing them to rebuild their roster with some fresh talent. Especially netting the #4 pick in the draft, since they can then grab either Matt Kalil or Justin Blackmon, both of which would become immediate starters that could help Bradford in year 3. That being said, I've actually seen one or two mocks on websites that usually carry what I would deem good information that had the Rams taking Richardson....I stopped reading those mocks after that point, because that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my entire life lol.

[CivilWars]

I tend to agree with you on RG3. I just looked and Vick is listed as 6'0". Even if RG3 measures out to 6'2" that is still better. I think RG3 has as much raw talent as Vick, and like you said way more intelligence and work ethic.

Mel Kiper has Luck as the highest rated draft prospect since John Elway. He even rates him higher than Peyton when he was coming out.

I don't see any way the Browns don't end up with RG3. I know strange things can happen, but I don't see it this year.

I could see the Rams taking Richardson. I don't think they will, but it wouldn't totally shock me. First, in today's NFL you need more than one RB to have a legit shot at winning. Second, SJ is 28, and coming off of a season where he missed significant time due to injuries. I would put it in the highly unlikely, considering their other needs, but not out of this world.

[Morningfrost]

I just think it's hard to see St. Louis passing on someone like Blackmon, who would finally give Bradford a receiving weapon. I definitely see them taking a RB early, but see it more along the lines of a Lamar Miller towards the top of the 2nd round if he's still available, or LaMichael James at the top of the 3rd. Someone who's not just a younger version of Steven Jackson, but someone who could be an effective complement to Jackson's pure power.

Of course, it's also possible that at the top of the 2nd the Rams take someone like Colby Fleener and give Bradford a big threat at TE....though to be honest I'm hoping the Bucs end up with both Fleener and LMJ lol.

[CivilWars]

Most of the rumors have the Bucs going for Richardson.

[space.cowboy]

though to be honest I'm hoping the Bucs end up with both Fleener and LMJ lol.

I could be a bucs fan if they were running two ducks.

[DuDDy]

I head somewhere that St. Louis is pretty much having an open auction for the 2nd overall pick atm. Sounds like the two bidders are Cleveland and Washington at this point, both trying to get RG3. And I also dont think that they would have a problem trading down to either My Vikes are at 3 (man this season sucked ass) and I see us taking one of the top guys left in the draft, Khalil Blackmon or Claiborne. I am perfectly OK with any of those 3 guys so long as the rest of out draft is quality talent at Secondary. Although I do fear they are going to do the moronic thing and trade down to someone for some ungodly reason. Only way I see them doing this is IF St. Louis doesnt trade down to either Cleveland or Washington and one of them wants to move up to get RG3. But I would much rather them have their pick of whats there first as opposed to taking whats left later.

[CivilWars]

Espn said Minny is holding the same lottery as STL.


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[Morningfrost]

I could be a bucs fan if they were running two ducks.

We're already running 1 in Blount, but LMJ would be a damned nice addition. Real speed threat at RB.

And Duddy, the Vikings should at least consider moving down if they have the option. They have so many holes that getting as many picks as possible should be their preferred course, because they can pick up a LOT of quality talent in the mid-late 1st round. There will be top CBs there (Kirkpatrick and Jenkins might both fall down there) and plenty of o-line talent. Not really any decent WRs, but those can wait till the 2nd round and go after Sanu or someone else. If the Vikings stay at #3 though, I think they almost have to take Kalil. As nice as Claiborne would be for you guys, getting the best LT to come out since Joe Thomas is an amazing option. You've got a young QB who's been injury-prone in the past, so keeping him upright is the most important thing you can do. Blackmon's not a truly "elite" talent, at least not top 5 talent. He'll be taken around there anyways (certainly in the top 10), but he's probably going to be more like Michael Crabtree in the NFL rather than Calvin Johnson lol.

And I know Civil, a LOT of mocks have the Bucs taking Richardson, and I'm seriously hoping they're wrong and we are able to get Claiborne. While Richardson is a very good RB, and probably the best to enter the draft since Peterson, top 5 is too high for a RB in today's NFL. They wear down so quickly. Maybe 5 years or less of elite production is what we could expect out of Richardson before injuries start to take their tolls. I'd rather have Claiborne, who can play for 15 years and probably at a high level that whole time. There's just more value in a legit CB than there is in a great RB....there's a reason the vast majority of teams use a stable of backs these days, and it's not because there aren't still elite RB talents.