NPC Final Mock Draft With Trades (3 Full Rounds, Steelers Picks in Rounds 4-7)
Round 2
33. St. Louis Rams: Kendall Reyes DT (Connecticut)
If the Rams smartly take Justin Blackmon or Morris Claiborne in Round 1, they will likely be looking to find a Defensive Tackle like Kendall Reyes early the following day. An All-Big East performer in 2010 and 2011, Reyes performed well as a Defensive Tackle during his time with the Huskies, and registered 13.5 Tackles For Loss and 4.5 Sacks this past season. Although he played mostly as a 4-3 Tackle, Reyes has the frame (6’4″ 296 lbs.), to fit perfectly into a 3-4 scheme as a 5-Technique Defensive End or a 3-Technique in a 4-3 scheme.
(Previous Selection: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina)
34. Indianapolis Colts: Coby Fleener TE (Stanford)
Coby Fleener would be a great match for a team that just lost Jacob Tamme, is unsure of whether Dallas Clark will be at full health, and was Andrew Luck’s favorite target in college. Selecting as many play-makers as possible over the next few seasons will be key to Luck’s development, and what better way to help him get comfortable than drafting somebody he is comfortable with in the passing game. In 2011 alone, Fleener racked up 36 catches for 667 yards and 10 TD’s. Without any big play threats at WR in 2011, Luck used his weapons at TE like Fleener to perfection. And to his credit, Fleener responded with some great catches all season long while he worked in all areas of the field and kept producing.
(Previous Selection: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina)
35. Minnesota Vikings: Devon Still DT (Penn State)
Minnesota should at least try to recapture the effectiveness of “The Williams Wall,” and add a run stuffer or two to their roster this offseason. Devon Still could very well be a player that the Vikings have their sights set on to help along the Interior of their Defensive Line in the future. Standing 6’4″ 310 lbs., Still has the frame to play either a DT in a 4-3 system as he did in college, or even spend some time as a 3-4 DE (or even smaller NT) in the professional ranks, and his frame and ability to take on blockers could allow Jared Allen to be matched up one-on-one on occasion as well.
(Previous Selection: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska)
36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: David Wilson RB (Virginia Tech)
The Buccaneers will be looking for a RB to pair with LeGarrette Blount in the future, and could use a early pick to do it. During his career at Virginia Tech, Wilson displayed great speed, toughness, an ability to run through the tackles, and used his 5’10 205 lb. frame effectively. In addition to his prowess on Offense, Wilson also was a solid Kick Returner in college and could be called upon in Tampa Bay to fill that role early in his career. If Wilson can work on his ball-security skills, he could be a solid value pick early in Round 2.
37. Cleveland Browns: Chandler Jones DE (Syracuse)
Cleveland could stand to use some help rushing the passer from the Defensive Line, and if Chandler Jones is available at #37, they should take him. A 2011 All-Big East selection and standing 6’5″ and weighing 265 lbs., Jones has a stout “tweener” frame to play DE in a 4-3 and pack on about 10 more lbs., or stand up to play OLB in a 3-4 set at his current weight. Putting Jones along the Browns’ Defensive Line in sub and pass-rushing packages early in his career would make Cleveland’s improving Defense even better.
(Previous Selection: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State)
38. Jacksonville Jaguars: Rueben Randle WR (Louisiana State)
If Jacksonville wants “The Blaine Gabbert Experiment” to pan out, they’d better think about getting him some WR threats to air it out to in 2012. Mike Thomas is a solid possession guy, but the Jaguars still had better think about getting a competent deep man to pair with him. Randle is an imposing figure at 6’3″ 208 lbs. and can immediately come in and become Jacksonville’s most potent deep threat. Adding a guy which stretches the Defense vertically is vital not only for Gabbert’s development, but it helps guys like Thomas and TE Marcedes Lewis find pockets of space underneath.
39. St. Louis Rams: Doug Martin RB (Boise State)
Steven Jackson could stand to stay fresh after busting his butt for a losing franchise for so long. That being said, the Rams would be wise to acquire a Running Back to help shoulder the load with Jackson in the coming seasons. Doug Martin is a tough inside runner that has a bowling-ball frame of 5’9 223 lbs. and ran for 1,299 Yards last season. In addition to his running prowess, Martin is an adept pass catcher, and any and all weapons that Sam Bradford can throw to the better.
(Previous Selection: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State)
40. Carolina Panthers: Bobby Massie OT (Mississippi)
Massie is an early entry guy from Ole Miss that has played against top competition in the S.E.C. and started 2.5 of the 3 years he was with the Rebels. Experience aside, Massie could use some work with honing his athleticism and using his height to his advantage, and it wouldn’t hurt if he added a bit more weight to his already imposing frame (6’6” 318 lbs.). Nevertheless, Massie should develop into a solid Tackle (Right or Left) if developed for a year or two and log some serious playing time for the Panthers in the future. With Jeff Otah injury-prone, Carolina must protect Cam Newton as their Franchise Quarterback at all costs.
(Previous Selection: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut)
41. Buffalo Bills: Mike Adams OT (Ohio State)
Losing Demetrius Bell was an enormous blow to a team that was already thin at Tackle like the Bills. That being said, Buffalo will likely look to select a Tackle on Day 2, and they could get themselves a steal if Mike Adams is still on the board. At 6’8″ 320 lbs., Adams could step in at Left Tackle and help protect Ryan Fitzpatrick from Day 1 and open up holes in the running game. At worst, Buffalo gets themselves a Right Tackle that can start for a 7-10 year period in Adams, and that’s if he fails to work out on the Left side.
(Previous Selection: Zebire Sanders, OT, Florida State)
42. Miami Dolphins: Alshon Jeffery WR (South Carolina)
Alshon Jeffery’s stock has gone up since his recent Pro Day, and he should contend for a possible selection in the 1st Round. If the 6’3″ 216 lb. prospect is still on the board at #42, the Dolphins would be hard pressed to let this potential weapon for whoever is taking the snaps for them next season slide past them. It will be interesting to see which team picks Jeffery and where because he is such a “boom-or-bust” prospect, but Miami has such a need to acquire pass catchers after Brandon Marshall left that passing up on an athlete of Jeffery’s quality in Round 2 would be asinine.
(Previous Selection: Kelechi Osemele, OG/OT, Iowa State)
43. Seattle Seahawks: Andre Branch DE/OLB (Clemson)
While the Seahawks did re-sign Red Bryant, they still could use a young pass-rushing threat to attack teams from the outside. For a while I had Melvin Ingram mocked to Seattle until his stock went up, but the Seahawks could find a formidable pass rushing threat like Clemson’s Andre Branch if he is still on the board. At 6’4″ and 259 lbs., Branch could be a versatile force if lined up next to Bryant, or even asked to pass rush off of the line of scrimmage in exotic formations on 3rd Downs. Putting Branch along Seattle’s Defensive Line or up as a Linebacker in sub and pass-rushing packages early in his career would make the Seahawks a scary team to face in passing situations.
(Previous Selection: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse)
44. New England Patriots: (Trade w/Chiefs) Harrison Smith S (Notre Dame)
Harrison Smith (6’2″ 212 lbs.) was a 3-year starter at Notre Dame and has quite a few tools to succeed for Safety-needy New England Patriots in the coming years. Smith is a tough player that can play near the line of scrimmage as a former Linebacker in college. His pass-coverage needs a little bit of work as he was burned a few times at Notre Dame, but many scouts still consider his upside to be high, and with multiple picks early New England could take a chance on him.
45. Dallas Cowboys: Ronnell Lewis OLB (Oklahoma)
A versatile “Swiss-Army Knife” player like Lewis could really help Dallas’ Pass Rush in 2012 and beyond. At 6’2″ 244 lbs., Lewis made his mark at Oklahoma by playing all over the field as an OLB and a Defensive End, and in 2011 earned 1st Team All-Big XII honors by recording 13 Tackles For Loss and 5.5 Sacks for the Sooners. Extremely quick off the snap, Lewis could step in Day 1 and help the Cowboys in passing situations before bulking up a tad and settling in to a starting role.
(Previous Selection: Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame)
46. Jacksonville Jaguars: (Trade w/Eagles) Vinny Curry DE (Marshall)
Jacksonville finished tied for 25th in the League in Sacks last season with a paltry total of 31.0. If the Jaguars wish to stop Matt Schaub, Andrew Luck, and Matt Hasselbeck/Jake Locker six times every season, they had better bolster their pass rush. One player which the Jaguars could target in Round 2 would be Marshall’s Vinny Curry. An underrated player, Curry, 6’3″ 263 lbs., was an All-Conference USA 1st team selection in 2011, and put up a ridiculous 11.0 Sacks and notched 21.5 Tackles For Loss to earn those accolades.
47. New York Jets: Mohamed Sanu WR (Rutgers)
Whether or not it’s Sanchez or Tebow taking the snaps, both guys will need a down-field target to throw to if the Jets wish to have any success on Offense in 2012 (Ranked 26th in Yards Per Attempt last season with 6.5). Dustin Keller and San-smokio Holmes are adequate options underneath, but adding Mohamed Sanu to that combo would be huge. Sanu, who stands 6’2″ and 215 lbs., established himself at Rutgers as a go-to guy in the passing game. A three year starter in college who is big and strong and uses his size well, Sanu would give Sanchez or Tebow an imposing target to find when teams key on the underneath routes.
48. New England Patriots: Lamar Miller RB (Miami FL)
Lamar Miller is known as a speedy guy that can shoulder the load early in his career with Danny Woodhead, and in time could give the Patriots a #1 RB for the first time since “Clock Killin'” Corey Dillon was grinding it out in New England. Inserting Miller in the game and getting him close to 15 touches would instantly make New England and their Offense more potent. A RS-Sophomore at 5’10” 215 lbs. that averaged 5.6 YPC on 1,272 Yards and scored 9 TD’s last season, Miller doesn’t have a lot of tread on his tires, so the Patriots should be getting him for the best years of his career barring an injury.